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Trio of Meyer Shank Racing Cars in Top Eight in Indy 500 Final Carb Day Practice

Indianapolis, Ind. (24 May 2024) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) has three cars in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500, marking the first time MSR has ever started three cars in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race since first entering the series in 2017.

But if today’s final Carb Day practice showed anything, it is that MSR is nowhere near content with just qualifying for the 108th running of the Memorial Day classic, it came to be a contender at the end of 200 laps.

Drivers Helio Castroneves (No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Cleveland-Cliffs Honda), Tom Blomqvist (No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda) and Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda) showed speed and consistency in Friday’s final practice for Sunday’s 500-mile race, with all three drivers finishing in the top eight in today’s two-hour session.

The oldest and most-seasoned driver on the squad showed the way today for MSR as Castroneves prepared for his 24th Indy 500 start by posting the second-best time of the day with a best lap at 226.939mph. Castroneves also ran just over half the race distance he will run Sunday, making 103 orbits of the 2.5-mile circuit.

Rookie Blomqvist ended his day by taking the fifth spot on the speed sheets after 62 laps, stopping the clocks at 225.450mph as he preps for his Indianapolis 500 debut. Rosenqvist also had a solid day, logging 89 laps as his top effort of 225.310mph put him eighth on the day’s
chart.

Rosenqvist will start on the outside of Row 3 on Sunday while Castroneves starts 20th with Blomqvist set to take the green flag from the 25th spot.

NBC and Peacock will air the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 live Sunday with pre-race coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET. SiriusXM will also host live INDYCAR Radio coverage on XM Ch.
218.

Meyer Shank Racing Driver Quotes:

Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 AutoNation / SiriusXM Honda) – “I think we’re in the window, we ended practice pretty happy. The track went hotter and hotter every run, so it’s like every change you did it got worse. It’s tough condition to set the car up in, so I think we’ll just go back to the set up that we had – which we did in the end and we were pretty happy with it.”

Helio Castroneves (No. 06 Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian Cleveland-Cliffs Honda) – “Great carburetion day. The Cliffs machine and Sirius XM car looks really, really strong. The 06 boys did an amazing job putting it together and the pit stops, some of the guys flew in this morning they’re like, flawless, looking very, very strong. But at the end of the day, we just got to start it and middle and in the end, we got to make sure that we read the race and go to that number five.”

Tom Blomqvist (No. 66 AutoNation / Arctic Wolf Honda) – “This whole thing is pretty intense. Every lap I do, every session I do I feel more and more confident and understand what I need and how things change. I feel pretty good out there, we’re happy where we’re at.”

Dylan Sprouse Named Indy 500 Grand Marshal

Countdown to Race Day Continues with Final Pre-Race Announcement

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 24, 2024) – Actor Dylan Sprouse will serve as grand marshal of the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

As grand marshal, Sprouse will give the traditional command for drivers to report to their cars during the official pre-race ceremonies and will walk the Indy 500 red carpet.

Sprouse is also promoting his upcoming film “The Duel,” which was filmed at several Hoosier locations. Directed by Justin Matthews and Luke Spencer Roberts, and executive produced by Sprouse, the film centers around two modern friends who decide to settle their differences with an old-school duel, taking their friend group on an outrageous adventure to a mysterious and stunning estate.

This dark comedy premiered at the Mammoth Film Festival where it won the Audience Award and went on to win Best Picture and Best Screenplay awards at other prestigious festivals across the country. Made in the fall of 2020 and produced by Indiana’s own Pigasus Pictures, Lionsgate and Grindstone will bring “The Duel” to theaters this summer.

“Dylan’s film ‘The Duel’ was partially filmed in the Hoosier State, making him an ideal grand marshal for the Indy 500,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The energy and excitement Dylan brings to his on-screen roles will be evident to both spectators at the track and everyone watching on NBC and Peacock as he commands drivers to their cars.”

Sprouse will be joined at the race by his wife, Victoria’s Secret supermodel Barbara Palvin Sprouse, as well as other “The Duel” cast members, including María Gabriela de Faría, one of the leads in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman Legacy film, Hart Denton (Riverdale, 13 Reasons Why), Rachel Matthews (Happy Death Day, Frozen 2), Christian McGaffney (Simón), and others.

“The Duel” cast and crew say they cherish their relationship with Indiana and are planning to have their world premiere for the film in Indianapolis this July. The team plans to shoot more films in state and are excited to make attending the Indy 500 an ongoing tradition.

Live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge starts at 11 a.m. ET on NBC, Universo and Peacock.

Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 and for more information on the complete Month of May schedule at IMS.

RCR Race Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has earned eight NASCAR Cup Series victories on the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The team has six 600-mile wins to their credit (Dale Earnhardt – 1986, 1992, 1993, Kevin Harvick – 2011, 2013, and Austin Dillon – 2017). Both Kyle Busch (sixth) and Austin Dillon (ninth) scored top-10 finishes in the 2023 Coca-Cola 600.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway… RCR has also found success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway with five victories, most recently when Tyler Reddick captured the checkered flag in 2019. Dillon swept both spring and fall races on the 1.5-mile layout in 2015. Jeff Green gave the Welcome, N.C., based company its first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in 2002 (spring). In 2023, Austin Hill led the RCR stable with a fourth-place finish at the Concord, N.C. facility.

Honor and Remember… As a tradition like none other on Memorial Day weekend, RCR is honored to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Everyone at RCR, led by Richard Childress, expresses deep gratitude to those who have paid the price for this country both near and abroad. During the Coca-Cola 600, please take a moment to remember their loved ones left behind as each life will not be forgotten.

In Memory of Patrick Gottsch… All five RCR cars entered this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway will carry a special decal to remember the life of Patrick Gottsch. Gottsch dedicated his time to building Rural Media Group, parent company to RFD-TV, The Cowboy Channel, The Cowgirl Channel, and Rural Radio SiriusXM. Launching in 2017, The Cowboy Channel became the first 24-hour network dedicated to western sports and the western lifestyle. Gottsch suddenly passed away on May 18 and was survived by his wife, Angie, and three daughters, Raquel, Gatsby, and Rose.

RCR in the News… Earlier this week, two exciting partnerships for Dillon and the No. 3 Cup Series program were announced. On Tuesday, Marine Toys for Tots®, America’s premier children’s Christmastime charity, joined the storied race organization to highlight the charity’s year-round programs. Watch the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet on track at Darlington Raceway in September. On Wednesday, a unique design was unveiled as Dow and their partners, Ducks Unlimited and Rivers Are Life, teamed up to support healthy ecosystems that benefit communities and the planet. The Dow Water and Nature Camaro will take to the track at WWT Raceway in June.

Catch the Action on Saturday… The BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 25 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action at Charlotte… The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, May 26 beginning at 6 p.m. ET on FOX. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Austin Dillon earned his career-first NASCAR Cup Series win with a victory in the Coca-Cola 600 in May 2017. A native of North Carolina, Dillon has raced in 15 NASCAR Cup Series events at his home state track, posting five top-10 results. Dillon has completed 96 percent of the laps competed on the 1.5-mile racetrack and is a two-time winner at the speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

Supporting Our Heroes… Bass Pro Shops has a strong affinity for the armed forces and their families, a value that starts with the noted conservationist and visionary founder, Johnny Morris. His lifelong respect and gratitude to servicemen and women was strongly shaped by his father, John A. Morris, a decorated World War II veteran who proudly served his country in the Battle of the Bulge. There is no adequate way to properly thank our military and veterans, but Bass Pro Shops strives to honor their sacrifices and celebrate their heroism every day. Bass Pro Shops proudly employs over 4,000 Veteran Outfitters across North America.

Red, White, and Blue… Dillon’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Camaro features a special patriotic scheme for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 race. To honor all United States armed forces, both past and present, the No. 3 Chevrolet will sport red, white, and blue colors.

Honoring Captain Jennifer Moreno… As part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program, the windshield header on the No. 3 Chevrolet will feature the name of United States Army Captain Jennifer Moreno. Moreno lost her life on October 6, 2013 in the Zhari district of Afghanistan. She served as a nurse and was part of the Army Special Operations Command attached to Bravo Company of the 3rd Ranger Bn. She was killed while trying to reach Sgt. Tom Block, who had been severely injured by a female suicide bomber. As a nurse, Moreno’s first response was to rush to the aid of Sgt. Block and other wounded Rangers. As she ran forward, she set off an IED and was killed. Moreno was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain and was also awarded a Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart after her death in the line of duty. Sgt. Block, the ranger who Moreno rushed to aid, was the son of Timothy Collins, the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Hunting Lead in Owatonna, Minn.

Meet Dillon… On Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. ET, Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at Boot Barn, located at 7940 Lyles Lane NW, Concord, N.C. 28027. On Sunday, May 26 at 12:15 p.m. ET, the veteran racer will participate in a question and answer session at the Speed Street Fan Zone Stage at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stop by to hear Dillon, John Roberts, and Kenny Wallace.

Questions, Please… Dillon is scheduled to join BetMGM head of partnerships Kyle Wachtel to discuss this weekend’s race and RCR’s partnership with BetMGM on Saturday, May 25 at 3:45 p.m. The media availability will take place on Speed Street in front of the BetMGM display. Media are invited to stop by to learn more about BetMGM.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

Where does the Coca-Cola 600 rank on your list of favorite races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule?

“The Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 are two of my favorite races of the year. The Coca-Cola 600 is one of the toughest races on the calendar. It’s a rough track. It is a challenge to run 600 miles, but I enjoy challenges, so I always look forward to the race. I was able to win the Coca-Cola 600 in 2017 and we were close last year and finished ninth.”

What does racing on Memorial Day weekend mean to you?

“This weekend is about remembering those who gave everything to our country. It’s great to see the impact the 600 Miles of Remembrance program has on service members’ families. Captain Jennifer Moreno will race with me on the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Chevrolet this weekend and I’m very proud to honor her and her family at Charlotte Motor Speedway. There’s nothing like the National Anthem during the Coca-Cola 600. It’s a weekend of freedom.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 36th NASCAR Cup Series start on the 1.5-mile oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch won the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 in one of the most dominating performances of his career. The Las Vegas native started from the pole and led 377 of 400 laps on the way to his first win at the Concord, N.C. facility. His average running position in that race was a staggering 1.21 and Busch was the only driver to run all 400 laps inside the top-10. In 35 Cup Series races, Busch has 22 top-10 finishes, scoring a top-10 result in 62.85 percent of his starts – including six of his last seven at the speedway. Busch also has earned three pole positions – 2008 (spring), 2014 (fall), and 2018 (spring).

Stats of the Week… Among active Cup Series drivers, Busch sits second all-time in laps led (1,487) and is tied for the most top-five finishes (16) on the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Points Update… Busch currently holds the 13th position in the Cup Series driver championship point standings, 34 points behind 10th-place.

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Honoring LCPL Jacob Levy… The windshield header on the No. 8 zone Chevrolet will feature the name of LCPL Christopher Phoenix-Jacob Levy, who lost his life on December 10, 2011 in Landstuhl, Germany – two and a half days after being wounded in Kajaki, Afghanistan. Jacob, as he was known to family and friends, made up his mind that he wanted to join the military when he was just nine years old to help get the perpetrators of the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers. He joined the USMC JROTC in middle school, the Army JROTC in high school, and became a proud member of the Lumbee (Tuscarora/Waccamaw-Siouan) tribe of N.C. During his first deployment, Levy and his platoon were just outside the perimeter of where Bin Ladin was killed. He returned home on Mother’s Day 2011. Levy desired to be a part of something bigger than himself and make a difference. Not only did he pay the ultimate sacrifice, but he was an organ donor and seven people are living better lives today because of his donation.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

You have five top-five finishes in the last seven Coca-Cola 600 races. Why does that race fit your driving style so well?

“The Coca-Cola 600 has been pretty good for me over the years. I’ve really just enjoyed that race. I’m probably one of the few guys left that have run the 600 miles for as long as I have, versus the rest of the guys only doing 400 mile races lately. You definitely know that you have to be ready for a long, long day. I used to think that running Xfinity and Truck races in the same weekend would allow your longevity to be longer for a 600 miler but I don’t get to run those as much. I don’t think that plays as much into the races currently.”

Last year the Coca-Cola 600 was rain-delayed to Monday and was then briefly stopped again before being completed. How mentally challenging is that for a driver to manage?

“Anytime you have rain delays it’s always tough. It’s not really what you set yourself up for but it’s a part of our sport. Being used to it and being around for 20 years, it gives you the opportunity to just have that experience of getting back going whenever the race does get back going. I think it’s a little bit frustrating when you’re starting the race and you know weather is coming and you run 20 laps even though you know the weather is coming. We might as well just not race at all and just postpone it. That saves the fans’ day, that saves the drivers’ day, the families’ day, everything in that respect plus it’s a 600 mile race. It’s long anyway so let’s not make it longer.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Jesse Love will make his inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday. Despite not having NASCAR race experience at the Concord, N.C. facility, the 19-year-old is already a race winner at the speedway. Last May in the ARCA Menards Series event, Love started from the pole position, led 67 laps, and secured the victory.

Testing 1, 2, 3… Prior to the start of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Love was able to participate in a rookie test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Menlo Park, California native turned his first laps behind the wheel of the No. 2 Chevrolet on that day in January and spent hours making laps around the 1.5-mile oval.

Points Check… Love currently sits in the fourth position in the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings, 57 points behind points leader Austin Hill. in addition, Love continues to be ranked first in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Point standings, 138 points above Shane van Gisbergen.

Manufactured in America… The No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet will sport a special red, white, and blue paint scheme this Memorial Day weekend to honor those who have and are currently serving our country and local communities. As a company that is “Trusted to Protect First Responders,” Whelen proudly manufactures all products in America and is committed to providing reliable products that keep first responders and their communities safe.

About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

Meet Love… On Saturday, May 25 at 10:15 a.m. ET, Love and his teammate Austin Hill are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Zone at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stop by to get your No. 2 gear and meet the rookie sensation.

JESSE LOVE QUOTES:

One year ago, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, you won the ARCA Menards Series race from the pole and led the most laps. What about Charlotte do you think fits your driving style and made you so comfortable? “I perform well at tracks like Charlotte Motor Speedway that are banked and have a lot of grip. Going to a big and fast race track is good for me and suits my driving style really well. Race tracks like Kansas Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway really work with my driving style.”

How does your experience in the ARCA Menards Series car translate to the NASCAR Xfinity Series car? Do you think it has shortened your learning curve? What has that adjustment been like? “The ARCA time really helped to shorten my learning curve. The biggest thing was knowing how to drive a car on an intermediate sized track. The Xfinity car is definitely different from anything I’ve ever driven, but I wouldn’t say that it’s any harder. It suits my driving style, but overall driving the ARCA cars last year was a big advantage to me this year.”

Your first time in a NASCAR Xfinity Series car was at Charlotte Motor Speedway during a test and you had the opportunity to spend eight hours on the track. How is that experience going to help you going into this race? “It gives us a little bit of an advantage. Just knowing how the car is going to trend and how to unload in Charlotte, because I have laps there, is super important. Other races this year have shown that we can already unload fast, but now I know how the car will trend over the course of the run. We also have the qualifying run there, so going back there for a second time is a big advantage.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has made three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval, posting a fourth-place result one year ago while driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The Winston, Ga. native has also competed in two NASCAR Truck Series races and one ARCA Menards Series event at the 1.5-mile speedway.

Top of the Hill… For the third time this season, Hill has returned to the top of the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings. The 30-year-old currently has a three-point lead over second-place Cole Custer.

Love Country. Love Trucking… Hill’s Bennett Transportation and Logistics Camaro will feature a special design at Charlotte Motor Speedway, highlighting Bennett Family of Companies’ patriotism core value and representing the hundreds of United States Military Veteran truck drivers in their fleet. The scheme showcases various specialized trucks hauling military freight, with the motto “Love Country. Love Trucking.” and highlights Bennett’s strong commitment to support the missions of our government to protect our country and advance freedom. For over 20 years, Bennett has been a tier one supplier to the United States government, with their team of secure truck drivers safely moving military vehicles, aircraft parts in support of the F-35 program, arms, ammunition, and explosives to bases across the country.

About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.

In Memory of Uncle Duane… The Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet will carry a special in memory decal at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as Hill and the RCR team help honor Maurice Duane Green. Green, the uncle of Bennett Family of Companies’ Vice President, Lynette Mathis, was a loyal race fan and supporter of Hill, who loved cheering on the No. 21 each week.

Meet Hill… On Saturday, May 25 at 10:15 a.m. ET, Hill and his teammate Jesse Love are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Zone at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stop by to get your No. 21 gear and have Hill sign the items purchased.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

Talk about your Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway one year ago.

“Last year, it took a handful of laps for our car to come in at the beginning of a run, but once we got going, the handling would come alive. We made gains all day and made it better on the short run. Before our final pit stop under green, I was starting to run a couple guys down when they got to battling, but every time I would get closer to them, our car would get really tight. The track went through a change and our car would get loose. We played a pit strategy, thinking that the leaders wouldn’t be able to make it on fuel. Somehow, they did, but overall to get a top-five finish was good for our No. 21 team. I look forward to going back to Charlotte Motor Speedway again, especially with the Bennett Love Country. Love Trucking. military scheme. Our armed forces are the lifeline of our country and to honor them on this Memorial Day weekend is special.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 33 Rebel Bourbon/BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro SS at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 27th NASCAR Xfinity Series start on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval. In 26 previous starts, Busch has nine wins (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2020) and 22 top-10 results. Along with scoring a top-10 in 84.6 percent of his starts, Busch has an average finish of 6.40 and completed 96.5 percent of competed laps. In the veteran racer’s last Xfinity Series victory at the Concord, N.C. speedway in 2020, Busch led 94 laps and edged Daniel Hemric in NASCAR Overtime to secure the checkered flag.

Stat Leader… Busch leads all active NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers in every major statistical category at Charlotte Motor Speedway – wins (9), top-fives (19), top-10s (22) and laps led (1,475).

Did You Know? On May 24, 2003, Busch made his first-career Xfinity Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway, scoring a second-place finish and leading 33 laps.

About Rebel® Bourbon… Distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky, by Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller John Rempe, Rebel Bourbon features a wheated mash bill that is true to its original recipe dating back to 1849. Known for its smoother, sweeter flavor, highlighted by delicious caramel and vanilla flavor notes, Rebel celebrates the “Rebel spirit in all of us” – especially those who embrace freedom, defiance and a little attitude. In 2023, Rebel Bourbon 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was awarded a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Double Platinum ASCOT award. The brand’s Rebel 100 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was awarded gold medals at the 2023 SIP and ASCOT awards.

About Luxco®… Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco® is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP® Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from four distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers®, home of Ezra Brooks®, Rebel®, Blood Oath®, David Nicholson® and Daviess County®; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery®, maker of Yellowstone® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case® Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch® Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor®, Exotico® and Dos Primos®; and Ross & Squibb® Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Remus® Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union® Straight Rye Whiskey are produced. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Penelope® Bourbon, Everclear® Grain Alcohol, Pearl® Vodka, Saint Brendan’s® Irish Cream, The Quiet Man™ Irish Whiskey, Green Hat® Gin and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.

About BetMGM… BetMGM is a market-leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Entain Group, BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM’s U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain’s U.S.-licensed, state-of-the-art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands, including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino, and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. Always Bet Responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

For the first time in your career, you will drive a RCR Xfinity Series car this weekend. How special is it and why was this opportunity so appealing?

“I’m definitely looking forward to running the Rebel Bourbon/BetMGM Camaro this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I think it’s going to be fun. I’m grateful for the opportunity from Richard Childress and everybody in the Xfinity shop. It’s been pretty good to talk with crew chiefs Danny Stockman and Andy Street to get their insight and try to help them with some ideas and concepts to be ready to roll. This opportunity is appealing not only to get out there and run in the Xfinity Series again, but also to help RCR’s development.”

What are your expectations for the race?

“Our expectation is obviously to win. I’ve won 102 of these races, so it shouldn’t be too foreign to me to get into another car, try to go out there and win the race. There’s obviously going to be some stiff competition. I’m looking forward to working with Austin Hill and Jesse Love. They’ve been fast at the mile-and-a-half tracks this season and they’ve done a good job. I’m just excited to see what it’s all about.”

Will you be able to work closely with RCR drivers Jesse Love and Austin Hill? Can you teach rookie Jesse Love something at this level?

“Jesse Love is so new and fresh to it that the opportunity of his learning and asking questions is wide-open. He probably has more questions than I have answers, but he’s learned a lot already and done a really good job for as young as he is. Austin Hill has been around the Truck and Xfinity Series long enough now that there’s probably not too much to tell him. It’s all about car feel and my description of everything to the crew chief and to the team. How they describe might be different than what I do. Even if we have the same setup, we could say it different ways.”

CHEVROLET INDYCAR AT INDIANAPOLIS: Team Chevy Indianapolis 500 Race Advance

Photo Credit: Chris Owens and Joe Skibinski, Penske Entertainment

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
THE 108TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE

CHEVROLET SEEKS MAKING HISTORY AT THE 108TH RUNNING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS 500

DETROIT (May 24, 2024) – “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500, takes the green flag Sunday with Chevrolet showcasing performance, prowess, and prestige on motorsports’ biggest stage.

Illustrating strength and performance all month long at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Team Chevy captured the 13th pole in history for the Bowtie brand, with Scott McLaughlin and the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet crew stunning while setting the fastest pole position qualifying run in track history with his four-lap average of 234.220 mph.

Further proving prowess at the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an iconic venue where Chevrolet has a long-standing history at, drivers representing the Bowtie brand not only locked out the first two rows of the starting grid for the third time in the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 era since 2012, but also the top eight starting positions. Additionally, each car in the Firestone Fast Six was Chey-powered.

“After two days of intense but successful qualifying with all 16 Chevy-powered cars in the Indianapolis 500 field, we are now focused on Sunday’s race,” said Mark Stielow, Director of Motorsports Competition Programs. “We have one more practice on Friday to go through all of the race engine processes to ensure optimum performance for the driver and their team on race day.

“Every year, before the race season begins on track, our Chevrolet engineering team sets goals for the year,” Stielow added. “Winning the Indianapolis 500 is one of our primary goals. Our Chevrolet engineering group has worked tirelessly with our teams to give the Team Chevy drivers their best opportunity to win the biggest race in the world. Thank you to our partners at Ilmor for the lock-step collaboration to continue to maximize our engine performance in an effort to reach the ultimate goal. The Borg Warner Trophy is the one we want to see awarded to a Chevrolet driver, not to mention the Corvette E-Ray pace car. We are well prepared and ready for ‘Drivers Start Your Engine’ on Sunday.”

Approaching race day, Team Chevy looks to capture its 13th prestigious Borg Warner trophy in history. The first win came from Rick Mears in 1988 with Team Penske in the Pennzoil “Yellow Submarine,” the inspiration behind Scott McLaughlin’s livery this year. That same year, Team Penske locked out the front row with Rick Mears on pole, Danny Sullivan starting second, and Al Unser, Sr. starting third. Mears was the first to break the 220 mph lap speed barrier in time trials and went on to win his third Indianapolis 500. The three Penske cars led 192 of 200 laps combined, and it was the sixth consecutive win by Chevrolet with the Indy V-8 engine constructed by Ilmor.

For the 35th time, Chevrolet will pace the field to the green flag at Indianapolis – the 21st with a Corvette. This year’s honorary pace car driver is Ken Griffey Jr., an outfielder in Major League Baseball for 22 years and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 2016. He will lead the field to the green flag in the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. The first electrified and fastest production Corvette ever, the E-Ray pairs two separate propulsion systems to provide naturally aspirated V-8 power with electrified responsiveness powered by eAWD, making it one like none. A 6.2L V-8 is complemented by the electric motor that channels an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels for 655 combined horsepower. Designed for year-round performance, the Corvette E-Ray and its electrified All-Wheel Drive (eAWD) capability is up for any challenge, and the Arctic White exterior and interior of the Corvette E-Ray will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off the track.

The 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 takes the green flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway live on NBC at 11 a.m. ET. Additional coverage is available through by Peacock, INDYCAR Radio, and SiriusXM Channel 160.

CHEVROLET AND “THE DOUBLE”

The only manufacturer in motorsports currently that can help create the opportunity to achieve such a drive in each series, this is the first time in “double” history that Chevrolet has supported and powered each car on both ends of the historic motorsports day. Backing Larson, Chevrolet has had influence from start to finish, aiding in simulation, technology, and tech transfer through the General Motors Charlotte Tech Center. Additionally, Chevrolet has also been involved in planning while collaborating with Hendrick Motorsports and Arrow McLaren, including car design, livery, and engine support.

  • Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series, is embarking on a history-making run in 2024 competing in “The Double.”
  • Larson is only the sixth driver in history to attempt both the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the same day.
  • Larson is supported and backed by Chevrolet in each event, a first time for the Bowtie brand and the only manufacturer in motorsports to be able to do so currently.
  • Tony Stewart, driving an Oldsmobile in the Indianapolis 500 and Pontiac in the Coca-Cola 600, is the only driver to complete the full 1,100 miles/600 laps in “the double” history. If Larson were to do so, he would be the second in history.
  • Should the Coca-Cola 600 go into overtime in Charlotte, Larson could be the first driver to exceed the 1,100 miles/600 laps in “the double” history.
  • Larson turned the fastest single qualifying lap by a rookie in Indianapolis 500 history, 233.453 mph on the first lap of his Top 12 Qualifying attempt. The previous record was 233.297 by Benjamin Pedersen. Larson then qualified fifth in the Firestone Fast Six with a four-lap average of 232.846 mph.

CHEVROLET AT INDIANAPOLIS:

Wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 12

1988: Rick Mears

1989 Emerson Fittipaldi

1990 Arie Luyendyk

1991: Rick Mears

1992: Al Unser, Jr.

1993: Emerson Fittipaldi

2002: Helio Castroneves

2013: Tony Kanaan

2015: Juan Pablo Montoya

2018: Will Power

2019: Simon Pagenaud

2023: Josef Newgarden

Earned Pole Awards at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: 13

1987: Mario Andretti

1988: Rick Mears

1989: Rick Mears

1990: Emerson Fittipaldi

1991: Rick Mears

2002: Bruno Junqueria

2012: Ryan Briscoe

2013: Ed Carpenter

2014: Ed Carpenter

2015: Will Power

2018: Ed Carpenter

2019: Simon Pagenaud

2024: Scott McLaughlin

Number of Team Chevy Podiums at Indianapolis (V6 era since 2012): 17

Number of laps led by Team Chevy at Indianapolis (V6 era since 2012): 1,248

2024 CHEVROLET BY THE NUMBERS:

203: NTT INDYCAR Series races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.

113: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR Series since 2012.

129: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 134 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather.

8: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.

7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.

12: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

5: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.

32: Number of times Chevrolet has swept the podium in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era. In total, a manufacturer has swept the podium 50 times since 2012 in the V6 era.

26: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.

9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.

46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.

*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.

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.

Noah Gragson Set to Lead Rette Jones Racing to Xfinity Series Debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C.: The time is here.

After announcing last month that Rette Jones Racing (RJR) will launch a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series team this season, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway race weekend has finally arrived, and the Mooresville, N.C.-based team is ready to turn heads.

The team has hired Cup Series driver Noah Gragson to pilot their No. 30 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300, the first of a four-race campaign. The team plans to expand its participation in the series in 2025.

The team has formed a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing for its limited schedule, which includes Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on June 29, Michigan International Speedway on August 17 and Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on August 31, 2024.

Gragson, a native of Las Vegas, Nev., is no stranger to the Rette Jones Racing team. Gragson and RJR have partnered for various Super Late Model events, including the Snowball Derby at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway in December 2023.

Gragson, who pilots the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang Darkhouse in the NASCAR Cup Series, will return to the Xfinity Series for the first time since Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on November 22, 2022.

Since 2018, Gragson, 25, has made 135 Xfinity starts, earned two poles, won 13 races, delivered 62 top-five and 96 top-10 finishes, and finished a career-best second in the Xfinity Series championship standings driving for JR Motorsports during the 2022 season.

On Friday afternoon, Gragson must turn one of the 33-fastest laps in qualifying to ensure the team successfully makes its Xfinity Series debut. Without the benefit of owner points, the team must qualify on speed to earn a starting berth in the 38-car field.

Nobody is worried.

“I am looking forward to getting one of the most exciting weekends in motorsports kicked off with the Rette Jones Racing family in Saturday’s race,” offered Gragson.

“Helping launch the RJR Xfinity Series program at a place like Charlotte Motor Speedway is special and I am grateful for the opportunity to return to the series that we created such great memories in.”

For their Xfinity debut together, Auto Parts Centres (APC) has increased its involvement with the organization and will support the team this Memorial Day weekend.

APC Auto Parts Centres | Canusa is a family-owned automotive parts business started in 1981 with over 50 branches stretching across Ontario. APC’s target market is purely trade-based, supplying garages, specialty installers, dealerships, and muffler shops throughout the province.

Auto Parts Centres takes full advantage of the marketing power of motorsports by sponsoring numerous race cars and speedways around the province. APC is the proud title sponsor in the APC Pro Late Model Touring Series that has been recognized as one of Canada’s top series.

“We are all incredibly excited about this weekend,” said Rette Jones Racing co-owner Terry Jones. “We have put a lot of emphasis and countless amount of time and effort into ensuring our debut is productive and competitive.

“This weekend, though, would not have been possible without the support of Ivor Jones, John Jones, Luke Ramsay, and the rest of the APC Auto Parts Centres | family.

“Their belief in our team program is allowing us to make Charlotte possible. We know we have the right man with Noah (Gragson) behind the wheel, and we look forward to contending for a top-10 on Saturday afternoon.”

Mark Rette, the other co-owner of Rette Jones Racing and the 2009 ARCA Menards Series championship crew chief, is thrilled to extend another branch of competition for Rette Jones Racing and to have the opportunity to lead the organization as crew chief with Gragson at the helm.

“This is one of the most important weekends of Rette Jones Racing’s journey,” said Rette. “Without a doubt, we have all the confidence in the world in Noah, and we expect to unload competitively, but we can’t just be good for one lap; we have to be good for 200 laps.

“Once we know we have a good balance for Noah to get into the race, we can quickly focus on our in-race plan. We don’t have a lot of time with the practice being short, but the experience of this Rette Jones Racing team has us feeling nothing but confident with our No. 30 Auto Parts Centres Ford Mustang.”

In addition to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Gragson will compete for Rette Jones Racing in two ARCA Menards Series races in 2024. Gragson will compete in the upcoming ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June and bookend his two-race ARCA program with RJR in the ARCA Menards Series final road course race of the season at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in September.

RJR will continue to field a full-time ASA STARS National Tour effort for Canadian Kyle Steckly and compete in select ARCA Menards Series races through October 2024.

For more on Noah Gragson, like him on Facebook (Noah Gragson Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@noahgragson), TikTok and X | Twitter (@NoahGragson).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing), or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and X | Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The BetMGM 300 (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., May 24, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag on Sat., May 25, 2024, shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plans to field a full-time entry in 2024 in the ASA STARS National Tour Series while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series platform and NASCAR respectively.

Rette Jones Racing also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Young’s Motorsports Charlotte Motor Speedway Truck | Xfinity Team Preview

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | North Carolina Education Lottery 200

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Mason Massey
Primary Partner(s): Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Inc.
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
2024 Driver Points Position: 22nd
2024 Owner Points Position: 26th
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Settled In: In February, Young’s Motorsports announced that Mason Massey will compete full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series this season aboard the team’s flagship, No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST, which will continue with Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

Massey arrived at Young’s Motorsports after running a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule last season for SS-GreenLight Racing, including a top-10 performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Douglasville, Ga. native started his 2023 Truck Series season with Reaume Brothers Racing and competed in seven races with a season-high 11th place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, but later shifted his presence to Xfinity for five races throughout the 33-race season.

About Mason: Massey has over 20 years of experience behind the wheel, launching his racing career at age five. Since then, he has garnered over 200 feature wins, 11 championships, and 10 track records across multiple series, including the U.S. Legends Pro National Championship.

Amongst the many Late Model victories to Massey’s credit during his tenure in the Bill Elliott Racing Development Program is the 2012 triumph in the Alabama 200. He eventually graduated to NASCAR in 2019, competing in the Truck Series before advancing to the Xfinity Series in 2020.

After part-time Xfinity stints in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Georgian captured the attention of many with an impressive sixth-place finish in the spring 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series contest at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in front of the hometown crowd.

With 42 more NASCAR starts to his resume since his first career NASCAR top-10 effort, Massey has landed with Young’s Motorsports, a longtime fixture in the Truck Series, hoping to impress and land the organization back in Victory Lane this season.

All-Aboard!: For the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Young’s Building Systems and Randco Industries Inc. return to serve as the co-primary marketing partners on the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 134-lap race on Friday night.

Since 1981, Young’s Building Systems has been providing West Texas with all their metal building needs. This family-owned and operated business has become an industry favorite due to the experience gained and the professional results completed. Young’s Building System is a division of Randco Industries, Inc. We have expanded into a company that has the ability to erect any type of building, from a small single story to a city high-rise.

Our customers have multiple uses for our buildings, including commercial, residential, agricultural, industrial, skid-mounted buildings and compressor station buildings.

We also have a team that specializes in stairs and railings of all shapes and sizes. Young’s Building Systems is fully insured for your peace of mind, so we carry workmen’s compensation and general liability coverage that goes above and beyond State requirements.

Our company is fully equipped with moving and lifting equipment along with compressors, generators and welding equipment. We have the tools and equipment needed to support large, demanding projects. Our work ethic is based on the principles of quality, promptness, and customer experience.

Young’s Building Systems continuously raises our standard of excellence and works hard to make sure that each and every one of your needs are met.

Mason Massey Truck Series Charlotte Motor Speedway Stats: Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will mark Massey’s first Truck Series start at the iconic 1.5-mile North Carolina oval.

However, Massey does own one NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte for B.J. McLeod Motorsports during the 2020 pandemic season.

Massey delivered his Xfinity-track best of 20th after starting 31st in the Alsco 300 for B.J. McLeod Motorsports.

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series is approaching the halfway point of its 2024 season with a stop in Concord, North Carolina, where they join the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend for an action-packed Memorial Day weekend of racing.

The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 is part of a double-header to kick off the weekend of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It will be held in conjunction with the premier ARCA Menards Series, which will race before the Truck Series.

During his short Truck Series career, Massey’s average finish is 21.5 in 11 speedway races with tracks measuring one to two miles in length.

Mason Massey Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Charlotte, Massey has 24 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit. He has earned a career-best 11th-place finish twice, most recently at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway after starting 29th in the Long John Silver’s 200 for Young’s Motorsports.

Massey also finished 11th at Texas Motor Speedway after starting 27th in the 2023 edition of the SpeedyCash.com 250 for Reaume Brothers Racing.

Since 2019, he has carried an average finish of 24.0.

North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway | Wright Brand 250 Race Recap: In the 10th race of the 2024 Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Massey searched for another solid finish at the historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway.

In his Truck Series debut at the historic track in Wilkes County, N.C., Massey was able to muscle forward despite qualifying being canceled due to inclement weather.

Over the course of 250 laps, Massey battled traffic and the balance of his race truck to remain competitive and on the lead lap for most of the race. Receiving the free pass late in the race allowed Massey to make a surge forward climbing to 23rd at the checkered flag.

The finish allowed Massey to climb one position in the Truck Series standings to 22nd.

In 2024, Massey has delivered two top-15, four top-20s, six top-21 finishes and seven top-22 efforts, highlighted by a career-best outing at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, where he steered the team’s flagship truck to an 11th-place finish.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 23rd and 24th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best 13th-place finish at the track on May 17, 2019, with Tyler Dippel at the wheel in the 2019 North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.6 and an average finish of 25.6 in 22 Charlotte Motor Speedway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 486 starts from 63 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.0.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Mason Massey, please visit masonmassey.com, like him on Facebook (Mason Massey Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@mason_massey) and X |Twitter (@mason_massey).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Mason Massey Pre-Race Quote:

On Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: “I’ve been looking forward to Charlotte for a couple of months now. I’ve only raced there once back in 2020, but it’s a fun, challenging mile and a half.

“It always seems to put on a good truck race. We had a lot of speed at Kansas a couple of weeks ago, and I’m hoping we can bring that to Charlotte and have a good run on Friday night.”

No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Memphis Villarreal

Primary Partner(s): Laredo Trailer Supply

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST

2024 Driver Points Position: 54th

2024 Owner Points Position: 39th

Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome To The Team: For the fourth intermediate track of the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes back Memphis Villarreal aboard the team’s No. 20 Laredo Trailer Supply Chevrolet Silverado RST for Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

About Memphis: Memphis Villarreal is a 21-year-old race car driver hailing from Corpus Christi, Texas.

Like many racers, Villarreal started his racing career at a young age, running Bandoleros, as part of the INEX Series. In only his first season, in a limited number of starts, finished second in championship points, achieving multiple podium finishes in only nine starts. His performances also earned him Rookie of the Year honors.

He then quickly jumped to Pro Late Models and Modifieds and even made frequent starts in the Allison Legacy Series, quickly visiting Victory Lane.

This diverse program became a staple of his racing career, recording wins across the lower levels of NASCAR and running multiple classes across the south.

Along the way, Villarreal collected 30 wins and numerous top-five and top-10 finishes, which eventually landed him in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2023.

When he is not behind the wheel at a race track, Villarreal coaches drivers of all ages by teaching the many aspects of racing, such as lines, passing, and strategies. He also believes that if he is going to race the cars, he must also know how to work on them

All-Aboard!: For the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Laredo Trailer Supply will serve as the primary marketing partner on the No. 20 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 134-lap race on Friday night.

Laredo Trailer Supply is a one-stop shop for all your truck and trailer needs.

LTS first opened 17 years ago and has single-handedly changed and revolutionized the way you shop for truck parts.

LTS was established by Homer Valdez Junior, who has more than 30 years of experience in the truck and trailer supply world.

At LTS, you can find all kinds of oils, valves, lights, electrical components, and chrome accessories, just to name a few.

Laredo Trailer Supply has two locations in the Lone Star State: 101 Flecha Lane, Laredo, TX 78045, or 5673 State Hwy 359 Laredo, TX 78043.

Memphis Villarreal Truck Series Texas Motor Stats: Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will mark Villarreal’s inaugural Truck Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway, nestled just outside Charlotte’s Queen City.

Memphis Villarreal Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Charlotte, Villarreal has five career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit, earning a career-best 24th place finish at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway after starting 29th in the Long John Silver’s 200 for G2G Racing.

In addition to Martinsville, Villarreal has made Truck Series starts at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway and, most recently, Texas Motor Speedway, respectively.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 30.8.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 23rd and 24th NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best 13th-place finish at the track on May 17, 2019, with Tyler Dippel at the wheel in the 2019 North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.6 and an average finish of 25.6 in 22 Charlotte Motor Speedway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 486 starts from 63 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 23.0 and an average finishing position of 22.0.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Memphis Villarreal, please like him on Facebook (MemphisVillarreal30), and follow him on Instagram (@memphisvillarreal) and X |Twitter (@MemphisVRacing).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Memphis Villarreal Pre-Race Quote:

On Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: “I am really excited to be back in the No. 20 Young’s Motorsports truck in Charlotte. I am confident we can put it in the show and gain more experience on these mile and a halfs but also get more laps in these trucks in general.

“I can’t thank Laredo Trailer Supply enough for continuing to support me through this and Tyler (Young) and everyone at Young’s Motorsports for making this possible!”

Race Information:

The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 11th of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2024 schedule. The one-day show begins with practice on Friday, May 24, from 1:35 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. Qualifying kicks off immediately following practice at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag later that night shortly after 8:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series

Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | BetMGM 300

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:

Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.

Primary Partner(s): Professional Building Suppliers

Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro

Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott

2024 Driver Points Position: 19th

2024 Owner Points Position: 22nd

Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Movin’ on Up!: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced it would graduate from the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time in 2024 with rising star Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel of the team’s No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race season continuing with Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

About Leland: The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.

After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into the Bandolero competition in 2015 and was crowned a Bandolero National Champion two years later. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021, where he earned championship-runner-up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.

Honeyman, 19, returns to the Mooresville, N.C.-based organization, where he ran an impressive ARCA Menards Series East Series campaign, finishing third in the 2022 championship standings.

During the 2023 season, he made eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, highlighted by a 21st-place finish at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Road Course.

All-Aboard!: For the 12th of 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes Professional Building Suppliers as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 200-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

Professional Builders Supply was founded on one fundamental belief …it’s about the service!!!®

With a clear focus on supplying local, quality building materials for new construction and an unequaled level of service to home builders and other large project clients, we’ve been providing custom home builders and others in the Triangle area and beyond with nothing less since our founding in Raleigh in 2003.

We know that reputations are built like houses, and ours is set upon a foundation of dependability, honesty, and integrity. Voted one of the Best Places to Work by the Triangle Business Journal and once named the No. 2 fastest-growing company in the Triangle, we continue to set high expectations so we can exceed them rather than just meet them.

Your business is genuinely respected and appreciated. Give Professional Builders Supply the opportunity to show you the difference …it’s about the service!!!®

Glad To Have You Too: In addition to Professional Building Suppliers, US LBM will serve as an associate marketing partner for Saturday afternoon’s race.

US LBM is the largest privately owned, full-line distributor of specialty building materials in the United States.

Offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialty products, including windows, doors, millwork, wallboard, roofing, siding, engineered components and cabinetry, US LBM combines the scale and operational advantages of a national platform with a local go-to-market strategy through its national network of locations across the country.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Series Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 will mark Honeyman’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway, nestled just outside Charlotte’s Queen City.

Leland Honeyman Jr. NASCAR Xfinity Career Stats: Entering Charlotte, Honeyman has 19 career NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best fourth-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway after starting 33rd in the Ag-Pro 300 for Young’s Motorsports in April 2024.

Since 2023, he has carried an average finish of 22.8.

Darlington (S.C.) Raceway | Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 Race Recap: In the 11th race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season, Young’s Motorsports and Honeyman searched for another solid finish at the track Too Tough To Tame.

With practice and qualifying washed out on the Friday afternoon leading up to the race, Honeyman started the 147-lap race from the 22nd position.

Maintaining his pace, Honeyman was hovering just outside the top 20 when his No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro developed significant handling issues. Methodically, the Young’s Motorsports team continued to work on the issue throughout the race, with Honeyman delivering a frustrating 30th-place finish at the checkered flag.

Calling the Shots: Guiding Honeyman Jr. as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 109th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 108 races, he has four top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 12th race will be his fourth tango in the Tar Heel State as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Nevertheless, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team has 22 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at the famed North Carolina race track.

The organization posted a team-best 13th-place finish at the track on May 17, 2019, with Tyler Dippel at the wheel in the 2019 North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Since 2013, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 22.6 and an average finish of 25.6 in 22 Charlotte Motor Speedway Truck Series starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the Mooresville, N.C. – based organization has logged 11 starts and maintains an average starting position of 27.3 and an average finish of 21.5.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing) and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and X |Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Leland Honeyman Jr. Pre-Race Quote:

On Charlotte Motor Speedway: “I’m excited to head to Charlotte Motor Speedway after growing up racing there when I was 10 years old.

“I’m extremely grateful to be racing there after winning a bunch of races on the Quarter Mile. I know my Young’s Motorsports crew is gonna do a great job getting me ready for this weekend and hopefully we have another successful finish!”

Race Information:

The BetMGM 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., May 24, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Sat., May 25, 2024, shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

AM Racing | Hailie Deegan Charlotte Motor Speedway May Xfinity Preview

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | BetMGM 300

Fast Facts
No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Hailie Deegan
Primary Partner(s): Airbox
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Joe Williams Jr.
Spotter: Michael Fisher
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. X-006
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines

Notes of Interest:

Sophomore Journey: After a successful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season with driver Brett Moffitt, AM Racing will embark on its sophomore journey in 2024 with driver Hailie Deegan for the entire 33-race tour, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The Statesville, N.C.-based team hopes to expand its footprint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series by running two cars throughout the season with its partial No. 25 AM Racing entry.

Future Focused: Last October, AM Racing announced that Hailie Deegan joined the family-owned operation to pilot the team’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in a multiyear agreement.

Deegan, a native of Temecula, Calif. has been a staple in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the past three seasons but will embrace her rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of the Ford Performance program.

Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began that transition in 2018 in the ARCA Menards Series West (previously NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), She became the first female driver to have won races in the West Series, doing so in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively.

Deegan, 22, arrives at AM Racing after a stint driving for ThorSport Racing in 2023.

Giving You Peace of Air: For the 10th time in 2024, AirBox will serve as the primary marketing partner of Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In 2017, AirBox was established to focus on building the world’s best air purifiers for indoor occupied spaces. This coincided with people starting to wake up to issues with indoor air quality. With new challenges to air cleanliness, such as COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, people are looking for effective and proven solutions to ensure they receive cleaner air, at last.

Their history in delivering clean air systems and services gives them an expertise that is unmatched. AirBox uses some of the most effective air filtration technologies that exist with Certified HEPA and Advanced Molecular Adsorption. Coupled with their Indoor Air Quality Assessment, AirBox is the total solution for all indoor air quality needs, ensuring their customers meet and exceed current and future ventilation standards.

Today, AirBox filtration systems are used across the country, purifying the air and capturing harmful irritants to create healthier, safer spaces. They’ve become the trusted choice for hospitals, educational centers, offices, warehouses, construction zones, public assembly, sports facilities, and more.

They’re proud to build all products to the highest standards in the USA at their North Carolina production facility. Every day, AirBox is working hard to give the American people the safer learning, working, and living environments they deserve—helping people breathe easy and live better.

AMerican Heroes: NASCAR and its fans have always put Patriotism and American Pride at the forefront of every race weekend. That same passion runs just as deep at AM Racing, a team whose family lineage is deeply rooted in the Armed Forces and First Responders workforce.

We’re a team whose blood bleeds Red, White and Blue every day, which is why we are proud of our AMerican Heroes this weekend at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

The No. 15 AM Racing team will recognize several Armed Forces members who tragically lost their lives while bravely fighting for our freedom.

1st Sgt Mike Flor, Cpl Mark Baca, Cpl Adam Buyes, Cpl Kevin “Jack” Dempsey, Cpl Riley Pape, Cpl Ryan Pape, Cpl Alejandro Romero, GySgt Javier Obleas, HM2 Michael Milam, LCpl Luke Holler, LCpl Joseph Whaley, Sgt Colin Arslanbas, Sgt David Caruso, Sgt Justin Hansen, Ssgt Patrick Dolphin, SSgt David Galloway, SSgt Caleb Medley, SSgt Michael Roots and SSgt Vincent Sabasteanski will all be honored on the hood of Deegan’s Ford Mustang for the 200-lap race on Saturday.

We are a nation that is united by one flag, which represents all the liberties and freedoms that we would not be able to enjoy without the sacrifices of those willing to answer the call.

Starting at Charlotte Motor Speedway for Memorial Day weekend and continuing throughout the remainder of the season, the team will work to salute all the men and women, past and present, who truly deserve the title of Hero every weekend.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s BetMGM 300 will mark Deegan’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.5-mile speedway, nestled just outside Charlotte’s Queen City.

Deegan, however, does own three prior NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts at the famed North Carolina race track from 2021 – 2023.

Her track-best result occurred in her debut during the 2021 North Carolina Education Lottery 200, where she steered to a 13th-place finish after starting 12th for David Gilliland Racing (now TRICON Garage).

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Deegan has a career-best 12th-place finish after starting 31st for AM Racing at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April 2024.

In addition to her 11 Xfinity Series starts, she has achieved 70 ARCA Menards Series starts, including three wins and 69 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts to her credit.

Thanks For Your Support: With 36 percent of the 2024 Xfinity Series season complete, AM Racing and Hailie Deegan would like to thank their marketing partners for their support: AirBox, Flying Circle, Klutch Vodka, Mechanix Wear, Monster Energy Drink, Mobil 1, Viva Tequila Seltzer and WIX Filters.

Darlington (S.C.) Raceway | Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200 Race Recap: The 11th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Darlington, S.C. on Saturday, May 11.

Flying the AirBox colors for the sixth consecutive weekend, Deegan, in her Too Tough To Tame Xfinity debut, started 32nd after practice and qualifying were washed out.

Despite no practice, Deegan was methodically moving forward and on the lead lap when another car made contact with her No. 15 Airbox Throwback Ford Mustang, cutting down the left rear tire and causing extensive damage to her race car.

The damage, which included the fuel cell area, forced the team to retire and suffer a frustrating 36th-place finish.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Joe Williams Jr. is Hailie Deegan’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 143rd NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his fifth at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In his previous 142 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one win (Auto Club Speedway | February 2022), eight top-five and 30 top-10 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Hailie Deegan, please visit hailiedeegan.com, like her Facebook page (HailieDeegan4), or follow her on Instagram (@hailiedeegan), YouTube and X | Twitter (@hailiedeegan).

Hailie Deegan Quoteboard:

On Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway: “I am confident heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway because my AM Racing team has been able to bring me some fast No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustangs on the intermediate tracks this season.

“Without question, the year has been frustrating. We have definitely shown a lot of promise, but for one reason or another, we can’t deliver the finishes I know we deserve. We’ll look to bounce back from the misfortune of Darlington with a strong finish on Saturday afternoon.”

Race Information:

The BetMGM 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the 12th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice will occur on Fri., May 24, 2024, from 3:35 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag on Sat., May 25, 2024, shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the Performance Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Eastern).

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

The family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events in its eighth year of competition.

The team has named Hailie Deegan, Christian Rose, and Austin Wayne Self as their primary drivers for the 2024 Xfinity, ARCA Menards Series, and Dirt Modified seasons, respectively.

Toyota: Evolved Liquid Hydrogen-Powered GR Corolla to Participate in Super Taikyu Fuji 24 Hours Race

Liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla

Improved durability from upgraded liquid hydrogen pump and extended cruising range from custom-shaped tank

Toyota City, Japan, May 24, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) will enter the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2024 Empowered by BRIDGESTONE Round 2 NAPAC Fuji SUPER TEC 24 Hours Race, to be held from May 24 to 26, with the #32 ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept, a hydrogen-powered GR Corolla running on liquid hydrogen.

Toyota will continue to refine cars and people in the challenging world of motorsports and evolve together with its partners to achieve carbon neutrality.

Further evolution of the liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla

(1) Improved durability of liquid hydrogen pump

The durability of the pump, which boosts the pressure of liquid hydrogen before sending it to the engine, has been greatly improved in the hopes of completing the 24 Hours Race without the need for replacement. The pump was replaced twice during last year’s 24 Hours Race.

The liquid hydrogen-powered engine generates power by injecting hydrogen, the fuel, directly into the engine for combustion. The liquid hydrogen-powered GR Corolla uses a reciprocating pump that pumps the fuel, converted to a gas inside the car, through the reciprocating motion of a piston when transferring hydrogen from the fuel tank to the engine. Because of the high pressure range this pump generates, the bearings which allow smooth rotation of the shaft and gears on one side of the crank, which transfers torque to the motor by converting reciprocating motion into rotational motion, were unevenly loaded, causing them to wear out and degrade quickly.

This time, a dual-drive crank mechanism has been implemented to improve the pump’s durability. The application of motor torque from both ends of the crank enables the boosting piston to move in a well-balanced manner, thereby significantly increasing pump durability.

(2) Improved cruising range with a custom-shaped tank

The shape of the liquid hydrogen tank mounted to the vehicle has been changed from a cylindrical shape to a custom oval shape, increasing the amount of liquid hydrogen that can be carried and extending the cruising range.

Cylindrical tanks are used for gaseous hydrogen fuel to evenly distribute high pressure, but since liquid hydrogen is lower pressure than gaseous hydrogen, custom-shaped tanks are possible. For this race, the tank has been changed to an oval to make more efficient use of cabin space. As a result, the tank has a capacity 1.5 times higher than that of the cylindrical tank. This doubles the hydrogen volume, and thus cruising range, over the 70 MPa compressed gaseous hydrogen tanks used until 2022.

(3) Automated CO2 capture device process changeover

CO2 capture technology uses the large-volume air intake and heat generated by internal combustion engines to capture CO2 from the atmosphere through a CO2 capture device installed in the engine compartment.

More specifically, a CO2 absorption device is installed at the inlet to the air cleaner, and a CO2 separation device that uses heat from engine oil is installed next to the air cleaner. The separated CO2 is then captured in a small tank filled with an absorbent.

In the final round of the Fuji race in 2023, mechanics manually switched the CO2 absorption and separation processes. However, this time, a mechanism was implemented that automatically switches them by slowly rotating the CO2 absorption filter while driving.

Driver lineup

Masahiko Kondo, director of SUPER GT and Super Formula racing in Japan and the chairman of JRP, which manages Super Formula, and TGR-WRT team principal Jari-Matti Latvala will compete in the Fuji 24 Hours Race. They will join Morizo and other drivers in tackling new challenges in the liquid hydrogen-powered Corolla.

Toyota Times Sports will once again broadcast live in 2024!

Toyota Times Sports will broadcast live from Fuji Speedway for 24 hours from 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 25.

This broadcast will include coverage of the race, live driver appearances, pit stops, and more.

Even if you can’t make it to the venue, cheer on the race together with Toyota Times!We’ll be looking forward to your comments in the chat. https://youtube.com/live/4kTUduc00jc?feature=share

Toyota Times Sports articles archive. https://toyotatimes.jp/sports/

For the full press release, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/40849748.html.

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/90976/

URL: https://plus.google.com/+toyotaglobal | Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/ToyotaMotorCorporation/ | Twitter : https://twitter.com/TOYOTA_PR/ | Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/toyotajpchannel/ | Linkedin : https://linkedin.com/company/toyota

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Charlotte

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 1st

No. 5 HendrickCars.com/McLaren Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

DOUBLE DAY: On Sunday, Kyle Larson will attempt to become the fifth driver to complete “The Double” by competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Arrow McLaren will field the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet in a car owned by Rick Hendrick. The effort, dubbed the #Hendrick1100, is sponsored by HENDRICKCARS.COM. Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 airs at 12:45 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by the Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX.

FIFTH IN THE FAST SIX: Larson continued his Indianapolis 500 preparation on Sunday with Arrow McLaren at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. During the Fast 12 qualifying session, the 31-year-old driver posted a four-lap average speed of 232.788 mph, securing a spot in the Fast 6. On his single attempt in the final round at the 2.5-mile track, Larson’s speed of 232.846 mph earned him the fifth starting position for INDYCAR’s most prestigious event.

ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE: Following a late caution at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Larson maneuvered to a fourth-place finish in Sunday’s non-points NASCAR All-Star exhibition race. The top-five finish came despite starting at the rear of the field due to his absence from qualifying while participating in Indianapolis 500 time trials.

FACTS ON THE FIVE: Larson and his No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team are having a strong NASCAR Cup Series season. Through 13 races, he leads the standings by 30 points. The Elk Grove, California, native is one of three drivers with multiple wins in 2024 (Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway) and has series-best marks in top-five finishes (six), laps led (649) and stage wins (seven).

CHARLOTTE STATS: Larson has achieved notable success at the 1.5-mile layout of Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 14 starts, he has one win, two top-five finishes, six top-10s and 399 laps led. Over the last six races on the oval, he has led the most laps of any driver (379). In 2021, Larson won the Coca-Cola 600 in a dominant performance, leading 327 laps – the fifth-highest total in the event’s history. The victory marked the 269th Cup Series win for Hendrick Motorsports, surpassing Petty Enterprises as the winningest team in Cup Series history.

1.5-MILE MUSCLE: Larson’s dominance on intermediate layouts has been impressive with three victories in the last five races, including two in 2024. On 1.5-mile tracks since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, he has secured eight victories, tallied the most stage wins (21) and holds the longest active streak of races led (11).

HONOR AND REMEMBER: As part of this weekend’s 600 Miles of Remembrance, each car in the field will carry the name of a fallen service member on the windshield. U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone is honored on the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. You can check out every angle of the scheme, featuring Basilone’s name on the windshield, here.

PUTTING IN WORK: In the Cup Series, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew has the season’s fifth-best average four-tire pit stop time (10.966 seconds). The five-person crew is comprised of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: The Coca-Cola 600 is a home race for the HENDRICKCARS.COM team, which will wear its “home” white firesuits this weekend. Hendrick Automotive Group is headquartered in Charlotte with numerous dealerships located throughout North Carolina. For the week of every HENDRICKCARS.COM home race this season, there is a new hat released and only available for purchase at trackside merchandise haulers or to win at HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be available to the public. This week’s #Hendrick1100-themed hat was revealed Tuesday and can be seen here. Fans can enter for a chance to win one of five sets of the special edition hats autographed by Larson.

WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 4th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center on Friday, May 24, at 2:45 p.m. local time.

KEEP IT ROLLING: Chase Elliott has been impressive this season. After 13 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2024, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native sits fourth in the standings, just 49 points behind the leader, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson. Elliott has secured one win (Texas Motor Speedway), and his five top-five finishes are in a three-way tie for second in the Cup field. His average finish of 9.85 is the best in the series and ranks as his best average finish through 13 races since 2019 (9.62). Additionally, Elliott ranks sixth in laps run in the top five (959), fourth in laps run in the top 10 (2,009) and fourth in average running position (11.71). The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is the only driver to finish inside the top 20 in all 13 events and has completed all but one lap of competition in 2024, tied for best.

BIG 3-0-0: At just 28 years old, Elliott will make his 300th career Cup Series start Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2020 NASCAR Cup champion is in his ninth full-time season in the premier series, with 19 points-paying wins, 98 top-five finishes, 158 top-10s, and one All-Star Race victory.

QUEEN CITY PERFORMANCE: Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will mark Elliott’s 13th start in a points-paying Cup event at Charlotte. In his previous 12 races at the 1.5-mile track, the six-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award winner has five top-five finishes, six top-10s and 338 laps led. Elliott has three second-place results at the track – including two runner-ups in the Coca-Cola 600 – and a victory in the 208-lap Thursday night premier series event in 2020. The Hendrick Motorsports driver holds the longest active streak of oval races led at Charlotte, having paced the field in each of the last six events. He led 223 laps across those races, third-most in the series.

1.5-MILE PERFORMANCE: In three premier series starts on 1.5-mile tracks this season, Elliott has one win (Texas), two top-five finishes and two top-10s. His average finish of 5.33 across those starts is best among series regulars, and he’s tied for the third-most points earned (110). Elliott has 81 career Cup Series starts on mile-and-a-half tracks, with three victories (Kansas Speedway 2018, Charlotte 2020 and Texas 2024), 24 top-five finishes and 40 top-10s. He’s paced the field for over 1,000 laps on 1.5-milers in his Cup career.

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, Elliott has earned six wins, placing him in a three-way tie for the fourth-most victories. In that span, he holds the best average finish (12.26).

FAST FIVE: Last month at Texas, the No. 9 pit crew laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of any team in the 2024 season. The over-the-wall squad has remained the same since 2018 and currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.643 seconds) this season. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).

DOUBLE DUTY: Before Elliott takes the green flag for the Coca-Cola 600, he will strap into the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday afternoon at Charlotte. It will mark his first of two starts this season for the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports team (with Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31), which will reunite Elliott with his former Xfinity Series crew chief Greg Ives. The duo won the series championship in 2014 during Elliott’s rookie season. In five Xfinity Series starts at Charlotte, Elliott has three top-10 finishes.

A HERO REMEMBERED: In Sunday’s Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte, the windshield of Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will don the name of U.S. Army Technician 5th Grade Clifford Strickland, who was captured and died as a prisoner of war during World War II. Strickland entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Colorado and was a member of the 803rd Engineers Battalion, Philippine Department, tasked with defending the Philippine Islands and training the Philippine Army. He was captured following the American surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, and forced on the Bataan Death March. He was interned in the notorious Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province, where he died July 29, 1942. Strickland’s remains were accounted for Dec. 20, 2023, and will be laid to rest in Colorado in June.

SALUTE TO OUR FALLEN: NAPA Auto Parts will trade out its classic blue, yellow and white scheme for a grayscale digital camouflage livery on the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the Memorial Day weekend race. Get a look at all the angles of the patriotic scheme here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 5th

No. 24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, May 25, at 4:15 p.m. local time.

HOME SWEET HOME: Charlotte, North Carolina, native William Byron is one of only a handful of drivers born and raised in the “home of NASCAR.” After visiting U.S. Legend Cars International headquarters with his father in 2012, Byron found himself behind the wheel for the first time the next year competing in the Young Lion Division. Winning 33 of his 69 legend car events across the United States in 2013, he went on to lock up the U.S. Legend Car Young Lions national championship and the Thursday Thunder Young Lion title at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The next season, he progressed to the Legend Car Pro Division and signed with JR Motorsports’ developmental program. From that point, Byron hasn’t slowed down as he climbed the ranks before making it to the top-level NASCAR Cup Series in 2018.

CUE CHARLOTTE: Byron has seven career Cup starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile oval, with six of them being the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. In just his second Charlotte start in 2019, he became the event’s youngest pole sitter at 21 years, 5 months and 24 days. On the oval, Byron has three pole awards, two top-five finishes and three top-10s with 153 laps led, including a personal-best Charlotte finish of second in last year’s 600-miler. Byron has led four consecutive races on the oval – tied for the second-longest active streak – and is one of four drivers to finish both 2023 Charlotte Cup events (the oval and ROVAL) in the top 10 after scoring a pair of runner-up results. At Charlotte, the 25-year-old driver also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and one NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearance.

24 IN ‘24: Byron’s 2024 Cup Series campaign has been impressive. He is tied for the series lead in wins (three) and top-10 finishes (eight) while having the fourth-best average finish (12.46). After 13 points-paying races, the driver has spent 1,838 laps in the top 10 (sixth overall) and sits fifth in the season standings.

NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have 11 wins, which lead the Cup Series. Byron also has the second-best average finish (13.14) in the Next Gen car behind only teammate Chase Elliott. In night races during the Next Gen era, he has three wins (most), five top-five finishes (tied for the third-most) and 10 top-10s (tied for most).

1.5-MILE MAGIC: During his Cup career, Byron is no stranger to success on intermediate tracks. Since the start of 2021, he has three wins, two runner-up finishes, 10 top-fives and 18 top-10s in 26 races on 1.5-milers (not counting events held at Atlanta Motor Speedway after its reprofiling). In fact, Byron’s two Next Gen wins on 1.5-milers rank second to teammate Kyle Larson.

RUDY RUNS CLT: Sunday will mark Rudy Fugle’s fourth time atop the pit box for the Coca-Cola 600 as he looks to build on the No. 24’s team’s runner-up showing in 2023. In his three previous starts, the crew chief has three top-five starting positions, including one pole award, with two top-five finishes and two top-10s. The Livonia, New York, native has also called eight Truck Series races at the Charlotte oval with two wins (2013 and 2019), two poles, four top-five finishes and six top-10s. In trucks, his drivers have led 29% of all laps raced (310 of the 1,077) and completed 100% of the laps. One start came with Byron in 2016 when the duo won the pole and led 25 laps en route to a 10th-place finish.

LIBERTY U PATRIOTIC SCHEME: Liberty University will be back on Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend for the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. As part of NASCAR’s annual “NASCAR Salutes” program, the Liberty University Chevy will sport a special patriotic paint scheme as a part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance to honor those who have served and continue to serve in branches of the U.S. military. The special scheme includes blue and gray digital camouflage down the sides of the car. To see Byron’s scheme for this weekend’s race, click here.

MAJOR TOBY LEWIS: This weekend, the No. 24 Liberty University patriotic paint scheme will feature a tribute to Marine Corps Maj. Tobin’s service began in 2008, and he received numerous awards including the National Defense Service Medal. He was selected to the MV-22 Osprey and was deployed in the Red Sea, the Philippines and Australia. Prior to his time in the Marines, Lewis attended Liberty University where he was a Military Aviation major who also walked on the school’s soccer team.

PIT PROWESS: After 13 points races in 2024, the No. 24 pit crew continues its success from last year. The five-person crew ranks third in the Cup Series in the category of fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.849 seconds). It consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).

HOME TRACK FEEL: In addition to Byron, two other No. 24 crewmembers are North Carolina natives who claim Charlotte Motor Speedway as their home track: mechanic Jacob Bowman from Pilot Mountain and jackman Bishop from Pinehurst.

48 ALEX BOWMAN

Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 9th

No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

CLT ON TAP: This weekend, NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway where driver Alex Bowman has one top-five finish, four top-10s and 228 laps led in 12 Cup Series starts. In the last six Charlotte oval races, the 31-year-old driver has led the second-most laps (228) behind only Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson (379). In the 2020 Coca-Cola 600, Bowman led 162 of 400 laps but finished 19th following a late-race strategy call.

2024 NUMBERS: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team sits ninth in the Cup Series standings, 121 points behind the leader. Bowman has posted four top-five finishes in 2024: at Daytona International Speedway (second), Bristol Motor Speedway (fourth), Circuit of The Americas (fourth) and Talladega Superspeedway (fifth).

HALFWAY THERE: At the midpoint of the 2024 Cup Series regular season, Bowman’s eighth-place performance at Darlington Raceway on Mother’s Day marked his fourth consecutive top-10 finish to give him eight in 13 races. Bowman is tied for the series lead in top-10s with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. It matches his personal best for most top-10s through 13 starts, set in 2022. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet ranks sixth in average finish among series regulars (12.7) and is tied for third in top-five finishes (four).

ALLY PATRIOTIC: For the fourth consecutive year, primary sponsor Ally has developed a patriotic paint scheme with Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports in support of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance. On Sunday at Charlotte, the No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will honor Army Capt. Arthur “Bo” Felder, who passed away while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. Described as a “gentle giant” at 6’4” and 290 pounds, Felder joined the Army while in high school. Raised in a family with military service dating to World War I, he was deployed to Bosnia and Honduras before going to Iraq where he served as command of Headquarters Company of the 39th Infantry Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard.

LIVE FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Join Bowman with views from his driver’s seat this weekend during NASCAR’s longest race. On Sunday, fans can ride along for all 600 miles of competition by tuning into NASCAR’s in-car camera on the No. 48 Ally Patriotic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Visit nascar.com/drive to experience the race from Bowman’s perspective.

PACKAGES FOR OUR TROOPS: On Wednesday, Bowman, the No. 48 team, sponsor Ally and United Service Organizations (USO) volunteers held a fifth annual packing event (2019, 2021-2024) for soldiers ahead of the Coca-Cola 600. The group assembled approximately 2,000 care packages for deploying service members from the state of North Carolina as they wait to be sent to their assignment. Packages included cards, snacks and hygiene kits for those serving overseas.

FOUR TIRES FAST: In 2024, the Ally Racing team ranks fourth in the Cup Series in four-tire pit stop average at 10.958 seconds, giving Hendrick Motorsports three of the top-four spots. The five-man No. 48 crew is composed of jackman Allen Holman, tire carrier Brandon Grier, front-tire changer Donnie Tasser, rear-tire changer Andrew Bridgeforth and gasman Jacob Conley.

SAVE A (FURRY) LIFE THIS MEMORIAL DAY: 2024 marks the fourth consecutive year Ally and Bowman have supported Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. This weekend’s beneficiary of the pair’s $4,800 donation is the Charlotte Humane Society, located just 22 miles southeast of Charlotte Motor Speedway. To learn more, visit the shelter this weekend or go online to view its dogs and cats available for adoption.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

2024All-TimeCharlotte
Races131,35875
Wins6*307*21*
Poles4*250*19
Top 519*1,251*70*
Top 1028*2,140*113*
Laps Led97380,730*6,026*
Stage Wins81068*

*Most **Most (tie)

1,100 MILES: For the first time in his NASCAR Hall of Fame career, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick will be a car owner for the Indianapolis 500, doing so with the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet driven by Kyle Larson. The entry, fielded through a unique partnership with the Arrow McLaren INDYCAR Team, will see the 2021 Cup Series champion become the fifth driver to attempt “The Double” by racing the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

HENDRICK HOMECOMING: On Friday and Saturday, Hendrick Motorsports will hold “Hendrick Homecoming” to celebrate the team’s 40th anniversary in NASCAR. The free fan event, which takes place over the same weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 at nearby Charlotte Motor Speedway, will feature appearances by past and present drivers, along with games, displays, giveaways and more. For information on the two-day event, click here.

FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The organization holds the all-time NASCAR Cup Series records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race wins (307), pole positions (250) and laps led (80,730).

WINNING TRIO: Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron (three wins), Larson (two) and Chase Elliott (one) have tallied six Cup Series victories through the first 13 points-paying events of 2024. Based in Concord, North Carolina, the organization has won at least six races in 19 of the last 24 seasons. Six victories matches the team’s second-best total (1996 and 1997) at this point in a season. Hendrick Motorsports’ best start came in 2007 when it recorded nine wins in the first 13 races.

PIT POWER: Hendrick Motorsports holds four of the top-five spots for the fastest average four-tire pit stop in 2024. The No. 9 team leads the way (10.643 seconds), with the No. 24 team in third (10.849 seconds), the No. 48 team in fourth (10.958 seconds) and the No. 5 team rounding out the top five (10.966 seconds).

MILE-AND-A-HALF MOJO: In this season’s three races on 1.5-mile intermediate tracks, Hendrick Motorsports has been victorious every time. Larson won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and Kansas Speedway in May. Elliott went to victory lane at Texas Motor Speedway in April. Across the three events, Hendrick Motorsports tops the board for all teams in laps led (378) and stage wins (four).

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Hendrick Motorsports’ eight wins on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen car is more than double the total of any other Cup Series team (three wins). Since 2022, Larson has a series-best four wins on 1.5-mile tracks and Byron two, making them two of the four drivers with multiple wins on intermediates. Teammates Alex Bowman and Elliott have each earned one Next Gen triumph on this type of track. Over the last 12 races on 1.5-milers, Larson and Byron are the only repeat winners.

BLACKJACK: Hendrick Motorsports has 21 wins at the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval, tied for the third-most Cup Series victories at any track by an organization. The team also holds the top-two spots on the list with its win totals at Martinsville Speedway (29) and Dover Motor Speedway (22).

DEEP SIX: Six drivers have combined for Hendrick Motorsports’ record 12 wins in the Coca-Cola 600. Jimmie Johnson’s four wins (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2014) are part of his track-best eight wins on the oval. Next on the list is Jeff Gordon, now the team’s vice chairman, with three victories (1994, 1997 and 1998). Darrell Waltrip was the first Hendrick Motorsports driver to win the prestigious event, which he did back-to-back in 1988 and 1989. Casey Mears (2007), Kasey Kahne (2012) and most recently Larson (2021) each have one win.

HISTORICAL HIGHS: In the 2021 edition of the Coca-Cola 600, Hendrick Motorsports earned its 269th Cup Series win, passing Petty Enterprises to become the all-time winningest team in the sport’s top series. Hendrick Motorsports finished first, second, fourth and fifth that night, marking the first time a single organization placed four drivers in the top five in the Memorial Day weekend event.

600 MILES OF REMEMBRANCE: The Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway remembers the men and women who gave their lives in service while defending the United States of America. The name of a fallen service member will appear on the windshield of every Cup Series car in the Coca-Cola 600 field.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on “The Double”: “We had a good qualifying session at Indy last weekend and we’ll get one final practice in on Carb Day (Friday). It’s cool, and I want to thank Hendrick Motorsports for getting the (No.) 5 team up here (to Indianapolis) Friday to be a part of it. Hopefully, the weather cooperates this weekend. We want to be sure to get in a good practice and qualifying on Saturday at Charlotte so we have a great chance to battle for the win at the end of 600 miles Sunday night.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on Charlotte prep: “We are certainly looking forward to getting to Charlotte for the 600. What a special weekend and what an awesome opportunity for really everyone on the (No.) 5 team, everyone at Hendrick Motorsports that’s part of the Cup effort, and of course, a part of the INDYCAR effort as well. Yeah, just a lot to look forward to. It’s a big challenge, and we certainly want to prove that we’re up for the challenge. A lot of belief in our team is in our process and the work ethic we’re putting in to make sure we can have a successful weekend and give Kyle a good car to go race with for 600 miles on our end. Wishing everybody up there in Indy a lot of luck for the 500 and really pulling for those guys.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his approach to the Coca-Cola 600: “Hopefully we can have a good run this year and have pace. But more than anything, I would like to just finish one of these things (the Coca-Cola 600) and get to the end. It is such a long race and a lot can happen in 600 miles. I’ve been a part of some (600s) where they’re really wild and crazy, and I’ve been a part of a couple where we’ve ran the whole thing almost green. I would just like to have a good, clean race and log a lot of laps and make it to the end.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing the Coca-Cola 600: “I think the biggest thing is just how long it is, and the extra stage points available are a big deal. The last two years we crashed out early and I think that probably put us on the back foot a little. So, focusing on getting qualified well and having a good car and being able to execute, stay up front and get as many stage points as possible is the key focus for us. It’s a long race and a race of attrition in a lot of ways. All those things make it difficult and hopefully, for us, we’ve learned from our recent experiences, which will help us navigate things on Sunday.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the importance of execution at Charlotte this weekend: “We’ve had the (Coca-Cola) 600 circled for this year for sure. We have really high hopes but more recently we want to get back on track. We want to start the weekend strong and then finish strong. We don’t want to over extend ourselves or make mistakes that take us 10 spots back. We’re preparing for a chance to win, and I think there’s a good chance we will. Everyone is approaching this race that way though. We hope we’re that team, but if not we just really need to execute the weekend. That’s generally our strong suit, but we’ve gotten off track a little. We’re going to put that gritty mindset to work and finish the best we can.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on why the Coca-Cola 600 is special: “It’s a huge weekend being Memorial Day weekend. The Coca-Cola 600 is a hometown race for William, and it’s in the backyard of Hendrick Motorsports. This is our longest race of the year on top of that, but to me it’s almost easier to run the extra miles because we get the extra stage. Every stage is the same, not one stage being significantly longer than the others like we typically have. It’s pretty straightforward. You can really get in a good rhythm. I don’t really notice the difference in length other than sitting on the box a little bit longer. You just want this one more than some of the others.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Charlotte: “It’s always special to race here in Charlotte. It’s such a big week ahead of the Coca-Cola 600, and there’s a ton going on at the Hendrick Motorsports campus with Hendrick Homecoming, especially with it being our company’s 40th anniversary. In honor of Memorial Day, this weekend we recognize Army Capt. Arthur “Bo” Felder on the windshield of our No. 48 Ally Chevy. The 600 is a challengingly long race, but I’m excited to return to tackle it. Hopefully our Ally Racing team can qualify well Saturday and we can get a good run at it Sunday.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s approach for this weekend: “We had a pretty good run last year (at Charlotte Motor Speedway). It was Alex’s first race back after his injury. We didn’t get to practice or qualify that race — got kind of boxed in and had a difficult day on pit road trying to get around people. I think if we can go back there and qualify well and get a good pit stall, we should have some high expectations for this weekend.”

NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS IN ST. LOUIS TO FEATURE FOUR QUALIFYING SESSIONS AT KEY COUNTDOWN RACE

ST. LOUIS (May 23, 2024) – Officials from NHRA and World Wide Technology Raceway announced today that the 13th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals, the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs, will feature four qualifying sessions during the event, which takes place Sept. 27-29 in St. Louis.

Fans will be able to enjoy two qualifying sessions on both Friday and Saturday during the pivotal playoff race in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, leading into eliminations on Sunday.

Friday will kick off with a special staging lane autograph session from 4-5 p.m. featuring all the top stars in Top Fuel and Funny Car, leading into the two can’t-miss qualifying sessions. The qualifying runs on Friday will take place under the lights at World Wide Technology Raceway, offering fans a special primetime dose of Friday night nitro featuring 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars.

Official qualifying times for both Friday and Saturday will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are delighted to host two rounds of NHRA professional qualifying under the lights on Friday, September 27,” said Chris Blair, World Wide Technology Executive Vice President and General Manager. “There’s nothing more electrifying than header flames and the thrill of 330 mph action. We have a great fun-filled evening the entire family will enjoy on Friday and we look forward to another spectacular weekend of NHRA racing.”

A staple in the Countdown to the Championship, the NHRA Midwest Nationals have long been a fan-favorite, drawing sellout crowds and a memorable atmosphere year after year. The 2024 race will be another weekend to remember in St. Louis, as all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will be in action, looking to pick up a key victory in the championship hunt.

Last year, Clay Millican (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up wins at World Wide Technology Raceway, with the top NHRA stars all looking forward to an extra qualifying session on Friday in 2024.

“It’s going to be great to have four qualifying sessions and to run at night,” said Hagan, the reigning Funny Car world champion for Tony Stewart Racing and current points leader. “Fans love seeing those huge header flames and to get four qualifying sessions, it really allows us to put on the best possible show. Everyone wants to see side-by-side racing in the Countdown and four sessions gives us a great opportunity to get these cars dialed in.

“It’s going to be fast, it’s going to be loud and the track conditions are going to be awesome. It’s a great facility with great fans who love drag racing, and we always look forward to coming to St. Louis. These Countdown races mean a lot and we’re excited to have a huge crowd on hand on Friday to kick off the weekend.”

In 2024, fans will get to see the biggest names under the lights on Friday and all weekend long in St. Louis, including Top Fuel’s Antron Brown, who has five wins at the facility and points leader Justin Ashley. Fans will also get an opportunity to watch Tony Stewart in action in the Top Fuel ranks for the first time. The legendary, Hall-of-Fame driver, three-time NASCAR world champ and IndyCar champion made his NHRA Top Fuel debut to start the 2024 season and Stewart will make his first St. Louis Top Fuel appearance in September, looking to add to his incredible racing resumé.

Ron Capps’ four wins leads the Funny Car category in St. Louis, while Pro Stock’s Erica Enders has an NHRA-best six victories at the track. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith leads in the two-wheeled category with five event victories.

“Everyone at World Wide Technology Raceway has done an incredible job making this event a great one for more than a decade and we’re excited to offer two qualifying sessions on Friday this year,” said Evan Jonat, NHRA Vice President of Live Events. “These night runs are always a huge thrill for our fans and race teams, and it’s a perfect way to kick off what will be another terrific weekend in St. Louis.”

For more information on NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com.


About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR, and NHRA racing in St. Louis’ Metro East region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering 700 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1.25-mile superspeedway; 1/4-mile drag strip; 2.0-mile road course; the Gateway Kartplex state-of-the-art karting facility; and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and Owner & CEO Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2023 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction; 2023 Innovation in Philanthropy Award by the St. Louis Business Journal; 2022 Explore St. Louis Hospitality Hero Recognition; 2022 Best in Show and Best Event & Festival from the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism; 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association.

Our mission: We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.

Please visit www.WWTRaceway.com or follow WWTR on social media (@wwtraceway) for additional information.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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