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PROCK, KALITTA, ANDERSON & M. SMITH RACE TO PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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NORWALK, Ohio (June 28, 2024) – Funny Car points leader Austin Prock set the track record on Friday at Summit Motorsports Park, powering to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position for John Force Racing at the 18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 10th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Prock made the quickest run in both sessions on Friday, going 3.863-seconds at 327.51 mph under the lights in his 11,000-horsepower AAA Chevrolet Camaro SS, which also puts him in line for a remarkable seventh No. 1 qualifier in 10 races.

Prock is the only John Force Racing driver competing this weekend in Norwalk, as John Force remains hospitalized following his crash on Sunday during the first round of eliminations at Virginia Motorsports Park. His daughter, Brittany, is also not racing this weekend in Top Fuel, remaining at the hospital with her father and family.

“That was a heck of a lick right there tonight and two great runs for us today,” Prock said. “I’m thinking of Brittany and John, and the whole Force family. I miss all of them out here – it’s just not the same. But the race car is running (well) and that always helps a little bit.

“It’s just how hard this team works. My dad (Jimmy), Thomas and Nate have been doing a really good job analyzing the racetrack and making the right decisions. How this car is running, it’s really shortening my learning curve because I’ve had so many attempts up there. We’ve made a lot of runs already this year. I’m really proud to be behind the wheel. We had a great day today, got to get our minds off the world for a little bit and just go to work and try to make John Force Racing proud.”

J.R. Todd jumped up to the second spot under the lights in Norwalk, going 3.865 at 332.02, and Bob Tasca III is currently third with a run of 3.894 at 323.74.

Reigning Top Fuel world champ Doug Kalitta made the most of his run under the lights in Norwalk, vaulting to the top spot with an impressive run of 3.692 at 332.92 in his 11,000-horsepower Applied Innovation/Toyota dragster. It was the only run in the 3.60s in the category, as Kalitta and his team, led by crew chief Alan Johnson, had an aggressive approach after struggling during the first run. It certainly worked, as the Top Fuel points leader now has a chance to earn his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season. After winning two of the last three races, Kalitta also continued his strong momentum and put on a show at the home track for Kalitta Motorsports.

“That 3.69 was a solid run. The conditions were great, the track – they have this place in very good condition — and once again the hospitality the Baders have for the fans is outstanding,” Kalitta said. “It just ended up being a really good night for us. The Kalitta Motorsports effort was good tonight, and hopefully our main man John Force is proud of us. Best wishes for him.

“For Alan and the guys tuning, they went up there to throw down, and it stuck. It was really an incredible run for us.”

Antron Brown went to second after his run of 3.722 at 330.72 and Tripp Tatum is third on the strength of his 3.739 at 324.36.

In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson was the only driver to dip into the 6.50s, making a strong run right off the trailer and taking the No. 1 spot with a pass of 6.592 at 207.69 in his Summit Racing Equipment/HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Sporting a special Summit Racing Equipment wrap for this weekend’s race in Norwalk, Anderson delivered a strong run that could give the five-time world champion his third No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 127th in his career. This event has always meant a great deal for the winningest driver in Pro Stock and Anderson would love nothing more than to pick up his fourth career victory at “America’s Racetrack.”

“(The first session) went great. It was perfect, actually,” Anderson said. “In Q2, I should have just stayed at the trailer. We had a five-dollar part fail, a relay that fires the ignition coils. I had no spark, the car started up and it killed the ignition. It shut right off after two seconds of running and I was dead in the water.

“No matter what, I have to call today a success. I ran great the first run, but I feel like I could have run even better on the second run. I think it’s there, it’s ready to run well, and the car looks and runs great. It just feels like home racing here at Summit Motorsports Park.”

Erica Enders, the defending world champion, put together a strong effort in the second session and currently sits No. 2 with a 6.601 at 207.15. Deric Kramer’s 6.605 at 208.17 puts him third.

Qualifying continues to go well for six-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Matt Smith, going a track-record 6.748 at 201.31 on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell. It puts Smith in line for his third No. 1 qualifier in the past four races as the bike continues to impress in qualifying. He ended Gaige Herrera’s string of No. 1 qualifiers in Chicago and has controlled that area recently, but Smith is focused on getting the job done on Sunday. Friday’s run gives him a good start on the weekend, but Herrera has been unbeatable for the past 10 races, something Smith hopes to change this weekend.

“Qualifying doesn’t mean anything if you can’t back it up on Sunday, and that’s what I’ve learned so far this year,” Smith said. “We’ve had a good bike in qualifying a couple races and we haven’t closed the deal. But we’re right where we should be here, and all in all, I’m happy with our Denso/Outlaw Beer bike. We’ve got a great team right now – Angie (Smith) is second, Jianna (Evaristo) is fourth. We have three bikes in the top four right now, (and) we just have to keep digging.”

A. Smith is currently second with a 6.798 at 200.26, while Herrera is right behind after going 6.799 at 198.88.

Qualifying at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals continues at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park.

NORWALK, Ohio — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 18th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.692 seconds, 332.92 mph; 2. Antron Brown, 3.722, 330.72; 3. Tripp Tatum, 3.739, 324.36; 4. Doug Foley, 3.744, 319.98; 5. Tony Stewart, 3.748, 322.65; 6. Shawn Langdon, 3.750, 330.15; 7. Justin Ashley, 3.753, 328.14; 8. Clay Millican, 3.761, 326.24; 9. Shawn Reed, 3.767, 321.19; 10. T.J. Zizzo, 3.771, 331.77; 11. Billy Torrence, 3.777, 330.63; 12. Jasmine Salinas, 3.782, 331.45; 13. Steve Torrence, 3.788, 324.90; 14. Dan Mercier, 3.790, 320.89; 15. Tony Schumacher, 3.791, 327.66; 16. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.801, 304.39.

Not Qualified: 17. Spencer Massey, 3.807, 314.09; 18. Josh Hart, 3.827, 319.98; 19. Travis Shumake, 3.927, 280.49.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.863, 329.10; 2. J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.865, 332.02; 3. Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.894, 329.42; 4. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.903, 331.04; 5. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.910, 323.58; 6. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 3.911, 326.95; 7. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.929, 328.78; 8. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.931, 328.22; 9. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.942, 327.03; 10. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.950, 324.98; 11. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.006, 307.16; 12. Dave Richards, Toyota Camry, 4.083, 306.81; 13. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.090, 307.72; 14. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.161, 308.00; 15. Joe Morrison, Charger, 4.764, 177.60; 16. Chris King, Charger, 5.554, 129.38.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.592, 207.69; 2. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.601, 207.15; 3. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.605, 208.17; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.606, 206.35; 5. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.607, 207.94; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.608, 208.17; 7. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.608, 208.36; 8. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.611, 207.40; 9. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.615, 207.43; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.618, 207.18; 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.621, 208.04; 12. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.622, 206.10; 13. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.638, 206.45; 14. David Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.644, 206.26; 15. Cristian Cuadra, Mustang, 6.647, 206.67; 16. Larry Morgan, Camaro, 6.674, 206.95.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.748, 201.31; 2. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.798, 200.26; 3. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.799, 198.90; 4. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.802, 201.13; 5. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.803, 199.52; 6. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.809, 198.82; 7. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.812, 200.08; 8. John Hall, Beull, 6.817, 198.99; 9. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.878, 196.10; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.884, 196.04; 11. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.901, 196.02; 12. Ron Tornow, Victory, 6.962, 195.76; 13. Eiji Kawakami, Suzuki, 7.148, 185.66; 14. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.516, 177.11.

Eckes leads every lap en route to third Truck victory of 2024 at Nashville; cashes in on third Triple Truck Challenge bonus

By
Andrew Kim
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LEBANON, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Christian Eckes, driver of the #19 Adaptive One Calipers Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 28, 2024 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images).

Christian Eckes capped off a perfect run that involved leading every lap en route to a resounding NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on Friday, June 28.

The 2019 ARCA Menards Series champion from Greenville, New York, led all 150-scheduled laps in an event where he started in third place, quickly assumed the lead from pole-sitter Stewart Friesen on the first lap, swept both stage periods and withstood a flurry of caution flags and restart periods from start to finish. Retaining the lead both on the track and on pit road, Eckes had enough muscle to power away from teammate Daniel Dye and the field during the final restart period with 32 laps remaining to win by two seconds and cash in with both his third Truck victory of the 2024 season and first $50,000 prize as part of the Triple Truck Challenge.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup on Friday, Stewart Friesen notched his first Truck pole position of the 2024 season and his first since 2019 after posting a pole-winning speed at 158.980 mph in 30.117 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Grant Enfinger, who clocked in the second-fastest qualifying lap at 158.859 mph in 30.140 seconds.

Before the event, Nick Sanchez dropped to the rear of the field in a backup truck after he wrecked his primary truck during Friday’s qualifying session. Timmy Hill also dropped to the rear of the field due to a transmission change. Ty Dillon, Matt Mills and Tanner Gray all started at the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.

The start of the race lasted for three turns as a multi-truck wreck that involved Dean Thompson, Bret Holmes, Mason Massey, Mason Maggio, Timmy Hill and Akinori Ogata, all of whom started towards the rear of the field, wrecked in Turn 4. Prior to the early carnage, Eckes, who started in third place and behind Friesen on the inside lane, had muscled past both Enfinger and Friesen through the first two turns to assume the lead.

The start of the next restart period on the seventh lap lasted only a lap as Holmes, who was trying to continue after being involved in the opening lap wreck, spun and wrecked his No. 32 Golden Eagle Chevrolet Silverado RST against the outside wall in Turn 2. At the time of Holmes’ incident, Eckes had managed to fend off Friesen from the inside lane to retain the lead.

When the event restarted under green on Lap 14, the field fanned out to multiple lanes as Eckes muscled ahead of Friesen to retain the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch. Behind, Riggs battled and overtook Friesen for the runner-up spot while Majeski, Honeycutt and Enfinger followed suit in the top six. Amid the early battles, Eckes led by half a second over Riggs by the Lap 20 mark.

Through the first 25 scheduled laps, Eckes was leading by seven-tenths of a second over Riggs followed by Friesen, Kaden Honeycutt and Corey Heim while Ty Majeski, Daniel Dye, Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth and Clint Bowyer were scored in the top 10. Behind, Tyler Ankrum trailed in 11th place and ahead of Stefan Parsons, Chase Purdy, Tayor Gray and Ben Rhodes while Bayley Currey, Jake Garcia, Matt Crafton, Matt Mills and Jack Wood were mired in the top 20 ahead of Brenden Queen, Lawless Alan, Connor Jones, Ty Dillon and Dawson Cram.

Ten laps later, Eckes extended his advantage to over Riggs while third-place Honeycutt was up to third and trailing by less than four seconds despite reporting the sight of smoke and the smell of gear oil within his No. 45 AutoVentive/Precision Chevrolet Silverado RST. Another lap, however, Honeycutt surrendered third place and nursed his truck to the garage due to his mechanical issue. Honeycutt’s early misfortune moved Heim, Friesen and Enfinger in the top five on the track while Eckes retained his advantage by more than a second.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 45, Eckes captured his fourth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Riggs followed suit in second place ahead of Heim, Enfinger and Daniel Dye while Caruth, Friesen, Majeski, Bowyer and Tyler Ankrum were scored in the top 10. By then, 25 of 36 starters were scored on the lead lap while select drivers, including Tanner Gray and Nick Sanchez, were lapped by the field.

Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Eckes pitted for service. Following the pit stops, Eckes retained the lead after exiting pit road first while Heim, Riggs, Caruth, Enfinger, Dye, Taylor Gray, Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Ben Rhodes followed suit in the top 10. Amid the pit stops, Matt Mills was penalized for equipment interference.

The second stage period started on Lap 52 as Eckes and Heim occupied the front row. At the start, however, the caution quickly returned when Taylor Gray, who restarted in the top 10, was bumped by Rhodes as Gray got sideways before he shot back across the track and wrecked his No. 17 Caden Ingram Foundation Toyota Tundra TRD Pro against the Turn 1 outside wall as he was taken out of contention. The start of the following restart on Lap 59 also did not last a single turn as the field got jumbled up through the frontstretch, with Bowyer ramming into the rear of teammate Purdy, who was stacking up the field after he ran into the rear of Ankrum, while Lawless Alan, who was rammed in the rear by Dawson Sutton, rammed and sent the No. 46 Faction46 Chevrolet Silverado RST piloted by Dawson Cram for a spin through the frontstretch’s grass.

As the event restarted under green on Lap 65, the field fanned out as Eckes fended off Riggs and Heim to retain the lead. With the field still fanning out through the frontstretch during the following lap, Enfinger and Dye battled for fifth place in front of Rhodes while a flurry of competitors including Friesen, Ankrum, Majeski, Crafton, Jack Wood, Jake Garcia, Stefan Parsons and Bayley Currey battled for positions as high as eighth place. Amid the battles, Eckes stabilized his advantage to half a second over Heim by the Lap 70 mark.

Just past the Lap 75 mark, Eckes stretched his advantage to a second over Heim while Caruth battled and overtook Dye for third place. Meanwhile, Riggs dropped to sixth place as he was running behind Enfinger while Rhodes, Friesen, Parsons and Crafton were mired in the top 10 ahead of Ankrum, Currey, Majeski, Wodd and Conner Jones. Meanwhile, Sanchez was racing back in 20th place ahead of Brenden Queen while Bowyer, who pitted for extensive repairs to his truck, was running in 24th place ahead of teammate Purdy.

By Lap 85, Eckes continued to lead by a second over Heim while third-place Caruth trailed by three seconds. Dye and Enfinger continued to run in the top five ahead of Rhodes and Friesen while Riggs, who was continuing to lose ground of the leaders, was trying to fend off Parsons for eighth place. Shortly after, Parsons and Riggs both made contact entering the frontstretch while battling for eighth place, which allowed Crafton and Ankrum to overtake them for positions.

Then on Lap 92, Riggs, who was fiercely battling Parsons for 13th place and had made repeated contact with Parsons as both dropped out of the top-10 mark on the track, rammed into the rear of Parsons’ No. 75 Popsells.com Chevrolet Silverado RST as Parsons was sent sideways and wrecked against the outside wall in Turn 4. The incident was enough for NASCAR to enforce a two-lap penalty on Riggs with the driver forced to serve the penalty in his pit stall for reckless driving.

As a result of the Riggs and Parsons incident, the second stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 95 officially concluded under caution as Eckes proceeded to captured his fifth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season and sweep both stages at Nashville. Heim settled in second followed by Caruth, Dye and Enfinger while Rhodes, Friesen, Crafton, Ankrum and Majeski were scored in the top 10.

During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Eckes returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Eckes retained the lead after exiting pit road first followed by Caruth, Dye, Rhodes, Ankrum, Friesen, Crafton and Wood while Heim exited in ninth place due to losing seven spots as he struggled to launch his truck out of his pit box following his service.

With 48 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Eckes and Caruth occupied the front row. At the start, the field fanned out through the frontstretch as Eckes muscled ahead with the lead while Dye and Rhodes quickly overtook Caruth to move up to second and third, respectively. As Eckes continued to lead in front of Dye, Rhodes and Caruth for the following lap, Friesen, who endured a slow pit service earlier in the event that cost him spots, muscled his way back into the top five while Ankrum, Heim, Crafton, Tanner Gray and Connor Jones were battling within the top 10.

Down to the final 40 laps of the event, Eckes was leading by more than half a second over teammate Dye while Caruth, Rhodes and Ankrum trailed in the top five. Behind, Heim carved his way up to sixth place while Friesen, Tanner Gray, Matt Mills and Crafton battled in the top 10 ahead of Garcia, Enfinger, Wood, Connor Jones and Bowyer.

Two laps later, the caution flew when Jack Wood, who was running in 13th place, received a tap from Connor Jones that sent Wood’s No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevrolet Silverado RST spinning down the apron in Turn 4 and just past the entrance of pit road, though Wood managed to continue without sustaining any significant damage. During the caution period, some including Friesen, who had a loose left-rear wheel, pitted while the rest led by Eckes remained on the track.

As the event restarted under green with 32 laps remaining, Eckes fended off teammate Dye to retain the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch while Caruth was trying to fend off Rhodes and Ankrum for third place. With Heim charging his way back into the top, he then made a bold three-wide move to boost his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro all the way up to third place during the following lap. Soon after, Ankrum overtook Rhodes for fifth place and Tanner Gray carved his damaged No. 15 Dead On Tools Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to seventh place while Eckes retained the lead by eight-tenths of a second over teammate Dye with less than 30 laps remaining.

With 25 laps remaining, Eckes extended his advantage to more than a second over teammate Dye while third-place Heim and fourth-place Caruth both trailed the lead by more than two seconds. Eckes would add another second to his advantage with 20 laps remaining, thus leaving Dye to trail teammate Eckes by two seconds as Caruth, who overtook Heim for third place earlier, was trying to close in on Dye’s No. 43 NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST for the runner-up spot. By then, Heim, Ankrum and Rhodes remained in the top six while Enfinger and Garcia overtook Tanner Gray for seventh and eighth on the track.

Down to the final 15 laps of the event, Eckes stabilized his advantage to more than two seconds over teammate Dye and by nearly three seconds over Caruth as Heim and Ankrum continued to round out the top five. Behind, Rhodes, Enfinger, Garcia, Matt Mills and Friesen were in the top 10 while Majeski, Connor Jones, Tanner Gray, Nick Sanchez and Brenden Queen trailed in the top 15. As Crafton, who had been drifting out of the top 10, pitted his No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 under green and dropped out of the lead lap category, Eckes grew his advantage to three seconds over teammate Dye with 10 laps remaining.

With five laps remaining, Eckes’ advantage barely decreased as he was still leading by less than three seconds over teammate Dye while third-place Caruth continued to trail Dye by four-tenths of a second. Meanwhile, Heim and Ankrum trailed Eckes by three and four seconds, respectively, in the top five.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Eckes remained as the leader by two seconds over teammate Dye while Heim overtook Caruth’s No. 71 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado RST amid a fierce late-race battle for third place. With the latter three unable to gain any ground on Eckes, Eckes was able to navigate his No. 19 Adaptive One Calipers Chevrolet Silverado RST around the Nashville circuit smoothly for a final time before he cycled back to the frontstretch and claimed the checkered flag by two seconds over teammate Dye.

With the victory, Eckes, who joins Corey Heim as the second competitor to achieve three or more victories through the first 13-scheduled events, became the first competitor to lead every lap en route to a Truck Series win since Timothy Peters made the last accomplishment at Bristol Motor Speedway in August 2012. In addition, Eckes achieved his eighth career win in the Craftsman Truck Series, his first since winning at Martinsville Speedway in early April and his first at Nashville Superspeedway. The victory was the third of the season for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing and the ninth of the year for the Chevrolet nameplate.

As an added bonus, Eckes pocketed his first $50,000 bonus by winning the third and final Triple Truck Challenge event of the 2024 season, thus becoming the 15th competitor to achieve the bonus in the initiative’s sixth season of existence.

“It was just a badass truck,” Eckes said on FS2. “Man, I can’t say enough about these [No. 19] guys. We felt like we should’ve won last time at Gateway and came up a little bit short, finished second and we were really motivated to get this truck better. [The truck]’s done its job for the day. What an Adaptive One Chevy. That was an ass-kicking today. I love it. I saw [Corey Heim] have four [race-winning stickers] on [his truck]. I got a little bit upset when I walked in, so now, we got another one to go catch.”

Teammate Daniel Dye was also left smiling on pit road as he achieved his first top-five career result in the Truck Series by notching a runner-up result in his 36th series start. With the result, Dye trails the top-10 cutline to make the 2024 Truck Series Playoffs by 14 points with three regular-season events remaining on the schedule.

“Man, the confidence is so important when you’re driving a race car and to finish second like this,” Dye said. “Obviously, Christian [Eckes] drove away, but I think there at the end, we were running similar speeds. Man, it feels really good. Our NAPA Nightvision Chevy was really fast. Just super excited that this happened…To finish runner-up feels good.”

Corey Heim rallied from his late pit road issues to finish in third place for his ninth top-three result of the 2024 season, Rajah Caruth nabbed his first top-five result since winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March by finishing in fourth place and Tyler Ankrum recorded his fourth top-five result of the season by finishing in fifth place.

Grant Enfinger, Ben Rhodes, Matt Mills, Ty Majeski and Jake Garcia finished in the top 10.

Notably, Stewart Friesen came home in 11th place, Brenden Queen ended up in 19th place in his second Truck career start, Matt Crafton ended up in 23rd place while two laps down and Frankie Muniz settled in 31st place in his Truck debut while scored 20 laps down.

In addition, Clint Bowyer nursed his damaged No. 7 Rush Truck Centers Chevrolet Silverado RST to a 17th-place result in his 15th Truck Series career start, first since 2016 and first with Spire Motorsports.    

“I will be back!” Bowyer exclaimed while being interviewed by former team owner Michael Waltrip. “I promise you there’s no way in hell I’m ending on that note.”

There were no lead changes for a single leader. The race featured seven cautions for 42 laps. In addition, 20 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the 13th event of the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series season, Christian Eckes continues to lead the regular-season standings by 40 points over Corey Heim, 89 over Nick Sanchez, 92 over Ty Majeski and 163 over Rajah Caruth.

Results.

1. Christian Eckes, 150 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner

2. Daniel Dye

3. Corey Heim

4. Rajah Caruth

5. Tyler Ankrum

6. Grant Enfinger

7. Ben Rhodes

8. Matt Mills

9. Ty Majeski

10. Jake Garcia

11. Stewart Friesen

12. Conner Jones

13. Nick Sanchez

14. Tanner Gray

15. Ty Dillon

16. Jack Wood

17. Clint Bowyer

18. Dawson Sutton

19. Brenden Queen

20. Dawson Cram

21. Chase Purdy, one lap down

22. Spencer Boyd, one lap down

23. Matt Crafton, two laps down

24. Lawless Alan, two laps down

25. Layne Riggs, two laps down

26. Stefan Parsons, two laps down

27. Timmy Hill, three laps down

28. Dean Thompson, four laps down

29. Bayley Currey, four laps down

30. Akinori Ogata, six laps down

31. Frankie Muniz, 20 laps down

32. Mason Massey – OUT, Brakes

33. Kaden Honeycutt, 66 laps down

34. Taylor Gray – OUT, Accident

35. Mason Maggio – OUT, Mechanical

36. Bret Holmes – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, for the CRC Brakleen 175. The event is scheduled to occur on July 12 and air at 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Nashville

By
Official Release
-

Nashville Superspeedway
Sunday, June 30, 2024
1.33-Mile Tri-Oval
3:30 PM ET
Location: Lebanon, Tennessee
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (19 of 36)
Radio: SiriusXM, logo

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 1st (tie)

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

TOP OF THE WORLD: With his fourth-place finish Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson moved into a tie with teammate Chase Elliott for the NASCAR Cup Series points lead following his league-leading eighth top-five finish of 2024. The Elk Grove, California, native also has a series-best eight stage wins this season and has accrued 23 playoff points, the most of any driver.

TENNESSEE BYWAY: During his 10-win 2021 Cup Series championship season, Larson started fifth and led 264 laps en route to victory at Nashville Superspeedway. The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet is one of two competitors to finish in the top five in each of the three races at the Tennessee track, including a fourth-place result in 2022 and a fifth-place finish one year ago. Larson’s 3.33 average finish is his best at any track (minimum of three starts).

I’LL TAKE THE CHEVY: With eight races to go in the regular season, the 31-year-old Larson has led 755 laps, which is 105 more than anyone else. He also leads the Cup Series in pole positions (four) and is tied for most wins (three).

I DRIVE FASTLY: In just his fourth year driving for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson has already accumulated 20 points-paying race wins, which rank him third in team history. He trails only NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (93) and Jimmie Johnson (83) in victories for the organization, which has won Cup races with a record 20 different drivers.

THIS ONE’S FOR MY CREW: The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team holds the eighth-fastest average four-tire pit stop time in 2024 at 10.974 seconds. Larson’s pit crew consists of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer).

MY KINDA PARTY: Special edition home race hats are back! This weekend marks another “home” race weekend for the No. 5 team. For every HENDRICKCARS.COM home race this season, there will be an exclusive hat that is only available for sale on the trackside merchandise haulers, or available to win on HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be made available to the public. This week’s Nashville-themed hat can be found here.

GET YOUR SHINE ON: The Nashville market is home to three Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Customers can shop at three different showrooms or at one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s other 90 dealerships nationwide. In shopping from the convenience of home, consumers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 1st (tie)

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

KEEP ON: With the NASCAR Cup Series now 18 races into the regular season, Chase Elliott is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the points lead. His 9.61 average finish – a career best for the driver at the 18-race mark – leads the series, and his average starting position of 11.33 ranks fourth. Elliott’s seven top-five finishes are tied for second-most on the year, and his nine top-10s are tied for fifth-most.

SUCCESS: Elliott has finished all 18 points-paying races inside the top 20, making him the first driver to do it since Ricky Rudd in 1991. His father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, also accomplished it in 1988. Chase Elliott’s lowest result this season is 19th, which matches Bill’s worst finish through 18 events in 1988. Elliott has completed all but one lap this season, which is the best mark since Kurt Busch finished every lap through the first 18 races of 2016. The 28-year-old driver’s only performance not on the lead lap occurred at Bristol Motor Speedway where he still drove to an eighth-place finish.

GUITAR TOWN: Elliott is a previous Cup Series winner at Nashville Superspeedway. In June 2022, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native led the final 39 laps at the 1.33-mile oval to earn his second win of the season. It started a string of five consecutive top-two finishes, which included three victories (Nashville, Pocono Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway). Across his first three starts at Nashville, the 2020 Cup Series champion has led 56 laps, spent the second-most laps inside the top 10 (779) and captured two top-five results, including the 2022 victory. Elliott also has a triumph at another Music City venue, winning the All-American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2013 when he was just 17 years old.

EVERY MILE A MEMORY: In 61 Cup starts on tracks measuring 1 to 1.37 miles in length, Elliott has four wins. His first came at Dover Motor Speedway in 2018 and was followed by his championship-clinching performance at Phoenix Raceway in 2020. His two most recent victories on a track of this length came in 2022 at Dover and Nashville. Accompanying the quartet of triumphs are 23 top-five finishes, 30 top-10s and 1,287 laps led across his starts on this track type. In five races on this variation of track in 2024, Elliott’s best finish is fifth (at Dover) and top start is first (at New Hampshire Motor Speedway).

CONCRETE DREAMS: On concrete tracks in NASCAR’s premier series, Elliott has three wins (Nashville in 2022 and Dover in 2018 and 2022) with two coming in the Next Gen race car – the second-best mark in the Cup Series.

FAST AS YOU: The No. 9 crew ranks first in average four-tire pit stop time (10.604 seconds) through the first 18 races of 2024. In April at Texas, the squad knocked out the fastest four-tire stop of any team this season with a time of 9.076 seconds. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group has remained the same since 2018 and 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).

LOTTA BOOT LEFT TO FILL: Veteran crew chief Alan Gustafson is in his 20th season atop the pit box in the Cup Series, all with Hendrick Motorsports. On tracks measuring 1 to 1.37 miles in length, he has 11 wins with four different drivers, including Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Kyle Busch and Elliott. His most recent victory on this track type came with Elliott at Nashville in 2022, and his first was with Busch in 2005 at Phoenix. In 138 Cup races on this track variation, the Ormond Beach, Florida, native has 47 top-five finishes and 72 top-10s with more than 2,500 laps led.

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T KNOW: NAPA Auto Parts is on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. The Atlanta-based company was also the primary sponsor for Elliott and No. 9 team’s win at the Tennessee track in 2022. In fact, the longtime Hendrick Motorsports partner’s livery has adorned Elliott’s Chevrolet in 13 of his 19 career Cup Series victories.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 7th

No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

RECORD YEAR: William Byron’s 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season started off hot with three wins (currently tied for the most) including his first career DAYTONA 500. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has six top-five finishes (tied for fifth) and is tied for the second-most top-10s (10) so far. He has the best average starting position (9.28) and the sixth-best average finish (13.22). After 18 races, he is seventh in the 2024 Cup Series standings with 16 playoff points.

I WALK THE LINE: Sunday’s race at Nashville Superspeedway will mark Byron’s 49th start on tracks 1 to 1.37 miles in length. In his previous 48 starts, the 26-year-old driver has collected two pole awards, two wins, 10 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s and 537 laps led.

THE NASHVILLE SCENE: With three Cup Series starts at Nashville, Byron’s best showing came in 2021 when he qualified fourth and raced to a third-place finish. He has one other start at the 1.33-mile oval, also coming in 2021, in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, where he qualified 10th and was running up front before suffering a mechanical issue just past halfway.

STAND BY YOUR MAN: Crew chief Rudy Fugle also has three Cup Series starts under his belt at Nashville, all with Byron and the No. 24 team, with a best finish of third in 2021. The Livonia, New York, native has three other starts at Nashville, including two in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2010 when he recorded one top-10 finish and two top-15s. He earned a 16th-place result in Truck Series in 2011.

BOOT SCOOTIN BOOGIE: After 18 races in 2024, the No. 24 pit crew continues its success from last year. The five-person team ranks second for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.764 seconds). The No. 24 over-the-wall crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).

I RUN TO YOU: On Wednesday, Valvoline Global, a worldwide leader in automotive and industrial solutions creating future-ready products and best-in-class services for partners around the globe, announced it has expanded and extended its strategic partnership with 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports through 2029. The brand will increase its presence on Byron’s No. 24 from three primary sponsorship races annually to eight in 2024 and six in the 2025-2029 seasons. This weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway will be Valvoline’s third appearance as the primary sponsor of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in 2024. Established in 1866, the company’s heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. For more on the Valvoline extension news, click here.

48 ALEX BOWMAN

Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 12th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

FAST CAR: Going into Sunday’s event at Nashville Superspeedway, Alex Bowman ranks 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, 144 markers behind the leader. With eight races to go in the regular season and six playoff spots left undecided, he ranks 14th in the playoff standings, 59 points above the cut line. In 2024, the 31-year-old driver has secured four top-five finishes and 10 top-10s, with nine in the last 14 races. It is his most top-10 finishes through 18 races in a season.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: This weekend NASCAR takes on Nashville Superspeedway, the largest concrete-only track on the Cup Series schedule. Bowman has won on a concrete surface before, going to victory lane at Dover Motor Speedway in 2021. On Sunday, he will make his fourth Cup start at the 1.33-mile oval in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. For the third year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. designed the team’s scheme for the Ally 400 (2021, 2022 and 2024). This year’s special scheme pays tribute to the city’s culture with bright colors, stars, musical notes, vinyl records, guitar picks and more. Check out all angles of the new look here.

ALLY 400: After hosting several NASCAR Xfinity Series and Truck Series races, Nashville Superspeedway sat dormant for 10 years until 2021. Ally helped bring racing back to the Music City four years ago with the inaugural Ally 400. Nashville acts as an intersection for motor sports, culture and music, and Ally invites fans to visit the track this weekend for the first-hand experience. The Ally fan zone space will feature a roll-a-ball, victory wheel, an No. 48 Ally show car, a Hendrick Motorsports 40th anniversary street car, “Bowman bucks” and more. Luke Combs will serve as the honorary pace car driver, and new Ally Financial CEO Michael Rhodes will wave the green flag for Sunday’s race.

48TH START FOR BOWMAN AND HARRIS: Sunday will mark the 48th Cup Series race together for the driver and crew chief of the No. 48 team. Bowman has been the full-time driver for the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet since Jimmie Johnson retired in 2021. He was paired with Greg Ives until he retired as a full-time crew chief in 2022. At the start of the 2023 season, Blake Harris was hired to lead the Ally Racing team. Now in their second season together, the duo has earned one pole position, seven top-five finishes, 18 top-10s and led 87 laps.

TEAMMATES IN THE FAN ZONE: On Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson will join Bowman in the Nashville fan zone at 11:30 a.m. local time for a joint appearance. Ally and Hendrick Automotive Group have teamed up to celebrate Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary by giving away a 40th Anniversary Edition Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE through the Ally “Win Your Wheels fueled by HendrickCars.com” sweepstakes. Fans can enter to win at Ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar. The sweepstakes will end Sept. 20, 2024.

THE RIDE: Check out views from the driver’s seat of Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend. Fans can ride along for Sunday’s 399-mile competition by tuning into NASCAR’s in-car camera on-board. Visit nascar.com/drive to experience the behind-the-scenes perspective.

NASHVILLE HUMANE ASSOCIATION: Since 2024, Bowman and Ally have teamed up to support Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. Every race weekend, the pair donates a total of $4,800 to help homeless pets. This weekend, the charitable donation will go to the Nashville Humane Association. If you’re in town for the race, check out the animals available for adoption at the shelter located 40 miles west of the track. Not ready to adopt? Visit their website for further details on how to help save a life by donating, volunteering or fostering. Learn more about the new Best Friends “Bring Love Home” campaign here.

REBUILDING IN THE COMMUNITY: Ahead of the race weekend, the No. 48 team made a trip to the outskirts of Nashville to volunteer with Rebuilding Together, a local non-profit that restores, rebuilds and provides critical repairs at homes of low-income residents. Bowman, his Ally Racing crew and retired NFL player Bernard Pollard visited Trinity Community Commons to assist with improving garden areas and building tables, benches and shade structures. Racing is the team’s passion, but giving back to communities where they race helps them “do it right.”

FUELING THE PIT CREW: The Ally Racing pit crew ranks 10th on pit road for the best average four-tire stop this year (10.986). 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.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

2024All-TimeNashville
Races181,3633
Wins7*308*2*
Poles5*251*0
Top 525*1,257*6*
Top 1038*2,150*7*
Laps Led1,17580,932*334
Stage Wins101081

*Most **Most (tie)

THE NASHVILLE SCENE: Hendrick Motorsports has won two of the three races held at Nashville Superspeedway since it was added to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule in 2021. It also leads all organizations in top-five finishes (six) and top-10s (seven) at the 1.33-mile tri-oval.

CELEBRATING 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The team holds the all-time NASCAR Cup Series records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), wins (308), pole positions (251) and laps led (80,932). This season, it leads all Cup organizations with seven points-paying victories through 17 races.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on previous results at Nashville Superspeedway: “Nashville (Superspeedway) has been a good track for us. We got the win in the inaugural event and have backed it up with a couple more top fives. We’re heading into the weekend with the hope the HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet will be up front in contention for another victory there.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on previous results with two different types of race cars: “Nashville is definitely a fun and unique track. We enjoy going there, but it’s been a bit of a struggle in the Next Gen era. We’ve been able to pull off a few good finishes with making good adjustments to the car during the last couple of races. We haven’t unloaded quite as fast as we would have liked, so we have done a lot of work to hopefully be quicker off the truck this weekend.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Nashville: “I look forward to going to Nashville Superspeedway. It’s obviously a really cool town and market to be in, and the track’s been really racy the last couple of years. There are a lot of different lines to choose from and, overall, it’s been super solid.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to Nashville: “I’m looking forward to going to Nashville. I feel like overall it’s been a good track for us. There’s a lot of lanes and good opportunities for passing. I’m optimistic about the weekend. The team has really good chemistry right now and we all work well together. We all just want to go and perform our jobs at a high level. I think we have an opportunity to go there and get some good stage points and hopefully be there at the end with a shot at the win.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how the temperature will play a factor this weekend: “I think a big factor this weekend will be managing the heat. The first time we raced at Nashville (Superspeedway) with the Next Gen, it was a lightning delayed night race, and then last year was a scheduled night race. Now we’re going there during the day where it’s been super hot. You’re going to have a low grip situation in the car, and it’s going to be hot in the car and for the guys working on it. It’s just an added element when most of our notes are from racing there at night, and we should be done well before that this time if we don’t get any weather.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how Nashville Superspeedway compares to other intermediate tracks: “I think now that we’ve raced at Iowa (Speedway), that’s going to compare a lot to racing at Nashville (Superspeedway). You’ll probably use the brakes more there, but you’ll still have a bit of grip to work with. The track is fairly flat, though. From an aerial view it looks like it has a lot of banking, but it’s pretty flat compared to Las Vegas (Motor Speedway) or Charlotte (Motor Speedway). You don’t have as much banking to hold onto you entering or exiting the corner. You have a tighter turn radius, so it’s harder to turn in the center. It really does have a lot of the characteristics of Iowa, so that’s a positive after we just ran there a couple weeks ago.”
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Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway: “I’m excited to get there. It’s been a rough place for us the past couple of years, but I feel like the places we have historically struggled at we are getting better at. Like New Hampshire (Motor Speedway), we’ve fought hard for a long time and last weekend we had a pretty good run going there compared to the past couple of years before our issue. I think Nashville can be really good, and I always look forward to all that Ally has going on at and around the track for this race specifically.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his 48th start with Alex Bowman and expectations for the weekend at Nashville Superspeedway: “If it’s our 48th start this weekend at Nashville (Superspeedway), then we definitely need to add a win to the column together. The Ally 400 is a big race for our team with Ally as the primary partner on our No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro. I think we’ve got a lot to build on this year from similar intermediate tracks so far. It’s going to be hot and slick out there. We’re looking forward to getting out on track in the Music City.”

RCR Race Preview: Nashville Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville Superspeedway… Nashville Superspeedway opened for business in 2001 and hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series event in 2021. Kyle Busch led RCR in last year’s Nashville race, scoring a ninth-place finish. He is a two-time winner at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Austin Dillon owns a victory in the NASCAR Truck Series at Nashville in 2011.

Did You Know? RCR entries have completed all 1,800 possible laps (2,399.40 miles) in three previous Cup Series races at Nashville Superspeedway.

Racing in Music City… NASCAR has a rich tradition in Nashville with the Cup Series competing at Fairgrounds Speedway dating back to 1958. Car owner Richard Childress made 20 starts at the .596-mile oval as a driver from 1971-1981. He had six starts there as an owner with drivers Ricky Rudd and Dale Earnhardt from 1982-1984. The duo combined to score three top-five finishes led by Earnhardt’s third-place effort in July 1984.

RCR In the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Nashville Superspeedway… Richard Childress Racing has 40 starts in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at Nashville Superspeedway. The organization has three wins at the 1.33-mile track with three different drivers: Kevin Harvick (2001), Clint Bowyer (2005) and Scott Wimmer (2008). RCR owns two 1-2 finishes at Nashville: Harvick and Bowyer in 2006 and Wimmer and Bowyer in 2008. The Welcome, N.C., based organization has 17 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes entering Saturday’s race.

Catch the Action on Saturday… The Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway will be televised live on Saturday, June 29 beginning at 5 p.m. ET on USA. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action at Nashville… The Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway will be televised live on Sunday, June 30 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

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Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet at Nashville Superspeedway… Austin Dillon has competed in all three previous NASCAR Cup Series races at Nashville Superspeedway, never finishing worse than 14th (12th in 2021, 14th in 2022 and 13th in 2023). He has completed all 900 laps run in the Cup Series at Nashville Superspeedway. Dillon also has experience at the track in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Truck Series. He made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Kevin Harvick, Inc. at the track in 2011, finishing seventh in the April race and third in the July race. Dillon earned one win and one pole award in four NASCAR Truck Series starts at Nashville.

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Team Up with Dillon… Dillon and the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team will be supported by BREZTRI AEROSPHERE®, an AstraZeneca product, at Nashville Superspeedway. This partnership is about more than just racing. You can learn more about Austin Dillon and his family’s personal connection to the brand at Breztri.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and Biopharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

Meet Dillon… Dillon is scheduled to make an appearance at the Echo Park Speedway Experience Stage in the Fan Zone at Nashville Superspeedway with John Roberts and Kenny Wallace for Trackside Live on Sunday, June 30 at 11:30 a.m. CT.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

Describe the atmosphere in racing in Nashville Superspeedway.

“The atmosphere in Nashville is electric, the fans that show up, the artists, the country music singers, it’s always a good time. You know that you’re surrounded by a large fan base that always knows their stuff about NASCAR and wants to have fun at the track. I love going to Nashville. Cool city and fun racetrack.”

What are your expectations for Nashville Superspeedway this weekend?

“I’m excited about our No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway. We have had some success here in the past, and I am happy to be in Group B for qualifying this week. We will have to be aggressive with pit strategy when we can, I think the track is going to change quite a bit. It changed in the past when the PJ1 track spray was applied. As the track rubbers up, you can move up or down as needed.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Nashville Superspeedway… Kyle Busch will make his fourth NASCAR Cup Series start at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend. Busch scored a ninth-place finish at Nashville in 2023, his best in three starts at the 1.333-mile track. He has completed all 900 possible laps and has led 76 total laps. His best qualifying effort at Nashville Superspeedway is second in the inaugural Cup Series race in 2021. Busch has made 11 starts in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at Nashville Superspeedway, owning two dominating victories (2009 and 2021). In 2009, Busch won from the pole, leading 173 of 225 laps. He scored his second Nashville Superspeedway victory in 2021 after leading 122 of 189 laps, marking his 100th Xfinity Series victory.

Did You Know? Busch owns the best finish by an RCR driver in Cup Series competition at Nashville (ninth-place) and is the first RCR driver to lead laps in Cup competition at the track (once for 12 laps).

Points Update… Busch enters this weekend 17th in the Cup Series driver championship point standings, 45 points below the Playoffs cutline.

Welcome, Thorntons… Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Thorntons operates more than 200 stores that provide high quality fresh foods, beverages, and fuel in six states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida. Thorntons’ mission is to be people’s favorite place to stop when they are on-the-go and people’s favorite place to work. Thorntons has its own blending plants, transportation fleet and food commissary. Thorntons has a passion for giving back to the communities where Guests and Team Members live and work. Thorntons volunteers make their communities better through community service, humanitarian day events and fundraising projects. Learn more about Thorntons by visiting www.mythorntons.com. Connect with Thorntons on Facebook www.facebook.com/thorntonsllc, Instagram @thorntons_llc and Twitter @ThorntonsLLC.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

You have said that brakes are very important at Nashville Superspeedway. What can you do to take care of the brakes? Does finding the right balance with the setup help you to not abuse the brakes?

“With the old car, I feel like brakes were way more important but with the new car, the brakes are so good that I don’t feel like brakes are really an issue. It’s all about being enough on the brakes to get the slowing down that you need done, but then getting off the brakes so you can roll the speed for the middle of the corner and the exit to make your lap time fast.”

This will be the fourth Cup race at Nashville Superspeedway. What trends have you noticed over the three previous events?

“What I’ve noticed over the last couple of events at Nashville Superspeedway is the way the groove is and how it widens out throughout the weekend. It makes for a pretty fun track to drive. Nashville is just so unique. There’s really no other track like it.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 C4 Ultimate Energy Chevrolet Camaro SS at Nashville Superspeedway… Jesse Love will make his inaugural start at Nashville Superspeedway this Saturday. The Menlo Park, California native’s first-ever laps at the 1.333-mile concrete track will take place during NASCAR Xfinity Series practice on Saturday morning.

ROTY Points Check… With 466 points, Love continues to hold a strong lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings. Throughout the 2024 Xfinity Series campaign, the 19-year-old has captured one win, three top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. Love currently has an 82-point lead over second-place Shane Van Gisbergen.

About Nutrabolt… Nutrabolt is a fast-growing, global active health and wellness company with a portfolio of market leading performance-oriented brands that energize and fuel active lifestyles. The company’s disruptive and innovative products compete in the Functional Beverage and Active Nutrition segments, under three consumer-loved brands: C4® (one of the fastest-growing energy drink brands in the United States and the #1 selling global pre-workout brand), XTEND® (the #1 post-workout recovery brand in the United States), and Cellucor® (an award-winning sports nutrition brand created in 2002). Since being founding 20 years ago, the goal has been to meet the discerning needs of performance athletes and fitness enthusiasts, while appealing beyond this core group to include consumers around the globe who are making healthy, active living a daily priority.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

Describe your thoughts heading to Nashville Superspeedway for the first time.

“I personally enjoy racing on concrete surfaces, so I look forward to getting on track at Nashville Superspeedway. I’ve never raced there before, so there may be a little learning curve as there has been at the majority of tracks we have been to so far this season. However, a lack of laps on the actual track hasn’t tapered the speed that our Richard Childress Racing team is showing each week. We’ve put in the work with studying film, spending time in the simulator, and preparing for Saturday’s race. Our No. 2 Chevrolet has a new look with C4 Energy this weekend and the goal is to get them the best finish possible. Since I’ve been working with the C4 team over the past few years, it means the world to finally get them on track.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet Camaro SS at Nashville Superspeedway… Austin Hill has three career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Nashville Superspeedway, all since NASCAR’s return to the Lebanon, Tennessee track in 2021. Last season, the Winston, Georgia native overcame early left rear damage to cross the finish line in fourth place. Hill has earned a top-10 result (ninth in 2021 and eighth in 2022) in all three of his Xfinity Series events. In addition, Hill has participated in one NASCAR Truck Series race, posting a ninth-place finish.

Did You Know? In four career starts at the 1.333-mile concrete oval, Hill has never finished outside of the top-10.

About Global Industrial Company… Global Industrial Company (NYSE:GIC), is a value-added distributor. For 75 years, Global Industrial has gone the extra mile for its customers, currently offering hundreds of thousands of industrial and MRO products needed to run businesses and facilities. Global Industrial is committed to its customer-centric strategy, and utilizes a team of subject matter experts, Global Industrial Exclusive Brands™ products and national vendor relationships to help customers succeed. Global Industrial. “We Can Supply That®”.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

Does a concrete surface race differently than the traditional asphalt surface?

“The biggest difference is how the rubber lays down. Once the rubber lays down over a run, the surface starts to turn darker and somewhat looks like asphalt. When a caution comes out, we pick up all the pieces so it’s important to clean your tires before the restart. No matter if you are on old or new tires, but especially when you are on old tires, it feels like you are on a brand-new track until the rubber gets laid down again. As we get later into the race, we will pick the rubber back up under caution, but it seems to lay back down quicker. Staying ahead of the rubber buildup and anticipating the changes in the track will be keys during the race.”

Veterans’ Voices Hit High Speeds: Operation Song Partners with JD Motorsports and Garrett Smithley at Nashville

By
Official Release
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GAFFNEY, SC – Johnny Davis Motorsports is excited to announce a brand-new partnership with the nonprofit organization, Operation Song, for our race at Nashville Superspeedway. The race will be held this weekend on Saturday, June 29th, with live coverage on USA Network, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Operation Song is a Nashville-based 501(c)3 that pairs veterans with professional songwriters to turn their stories into song. During cathartic writing sessions, personal experiences of service become songs about bravery, camaraderie, heartbreak, and humor. Operation Song’s catalog of over 1,700 songs can be heard on the organization’s BandCamp page HERE.

“Operation Song’s mission really speaks to my heart. Letting veterans, active-duty military members, and their families share their stories through the power of song is really inspiring to me. Having many family members that served in the military, partnering with an organization like this really brings a great deal of pride into my heart,” says Smithley.

“Operation Song is thrilled to partner with Garrett Smithley and the JD Motorsports Team,” says Mike Byer, Operation Song’s Executive Director of Veteran Engagement. “We’re proud that Garrett will be representing us in front of this spirited, patriotic audience. We’re even more proud that Garrett has accepted Operation Song’s invitation to write with us as we work to turn the story of every veteran, active-duty military, and their families into song.”

About Operation Song

Operation Song empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting. Those we serve need no musical or writing skills, only a willingness to share their stories and, with the help of professional songwriters, transform them into songs. For more information or if you would like to donate to their cause please visit: https://www.operationsong.org/

About JD Motorsports

JD Motorsports is a prominent team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, known for its passion for racing and commitment to excellence. Founded by team owner Johnny Davis, JD Motorsports has been a fixture in the series since its inception. With a focus on developing talent and achieving success on the track, JD Motorsports continues to be a force to be reckoned with in one of NASCAR’s premier racing series. https://www.teamjdmotorsports.com

The Importance of Hiring a Skilled Lawyer for Accident Cases

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SM
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Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA at pexels.com

Accidents can happen anywhere, from busy roads to bustling workplaces, and they can bring serious problems. People who get hurt often face not only physical pain but also emotional and financial stress. In tough times like these, a skilled lawyer can help.

Here, we explore important reasons why having an experienced lawyer is so important for car accident cases. Whether it’s handling paperwork or fighting for your rights, a good lawyer for accident cases can make a big difference in your recovery and peace of mind. Read on to learn why legal help is crucial after an accident.

Expert Knowledge of the Law

Navigating the legal world can be tricky and overwhelming if you don’t have legal training. An injury attorney understands the laws, rules, and regulations related to accident cases. This knowledge helps them give good advice and create effective plans to get the best results for their clients.

Accurate Case Valuation

Figuring out the true value of an accident claim takes experience and a good understanding of different factors like medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and emotional distress. Skilled lawyers can accurately determine the worth of a case, making sure that victims get fair compensation for all the damages.

Negotiation Skills

Insurance companies often try to pay as little as possible. This can lead to unfair settlements for accident victims. An Experienced lawyer uses strong negotiation skills to fight for their clients, helping to get the highest compensation possible. Their ability to negotiate well can greatly affect the final settlement amount.

Legal Representation

If an accident case goes to court, having a skilled lawyer is essential. They represent their clients, showing evidence, questioning witnesses, and making strong arguments in front of a judge or jury.

Sweet Lawyers in Phoenix know courtroom procedures and can move through the legal system efficiently, which is important for getting a good verdict.

Handling Paperwork and Legal Procedures

The legal processes in accident cases are often complicated and need careful attention to detail. Lawyers take care of all the paperwork, filings, and communications with everyone involved. Their skill in handling these tasks helps prevent mistakes that could harm the case.

Emotional Support and Advocacy

Accident victims face not only physical injuries but also big emotional and psychological challenges. A caring lawyer offers more than just legal help. They provide support and stand up for the victims. This reduces stress and allows them to focus on getting better.

Knowing that a professional is handling the legal stuff can bring a huge sense of relief.

Learn The Importance of Hiring a Skilled Lawyer for Accident Cases Today

In conclusion, getting a skilled lawyer for accident cases is very important for anyone wanting justice and fair compensation. A good lawyer’s expertise, ability to negotiate, and support are key in handling the legal challenges of accident claims.

They help ensure you get the compensation you deserve and ease the stress of legal proceedings. So, if you’re in an accident, consider hiring a lawyer to guide you through the process and fight for your rights.

Did you find this article helpful? Check out the rest of our blogs for more!

Alejandro Agag on launching Racing’s New Frontier

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Official Release
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EDITORIAL USE ONLY ‘Pioneer 25’, the world’s first hydrogen motorsport race car, is unveiled by Extreme H, aboard the St Helena ship in front of Tower Bridge, London. Picture date: Thursday June 27, 2024. PA Photo. The unveiling marks electric racing series Extreme E’s rebranding to Extreme H - a new, more environmentally friendly racing format, debuting in 2025. Photo credit should read: Jack Hall/PA Media Assignments

The evolution from Extreme E to Extreme H is one of the most thrilling advancements in motorsport and sustainable technology I have ever been part of.

When we launched Extreme E, our goal was to create a platform for innovation and solutions in mobility, showcasing what new technologies can achieve in the fight against climate change. Now, with Extreme H, we are taking that mission to a new level by embracing hydrogen, the magic molecule in the future of green power.

The launch event aboard the St. Helena along the River Thames yesterday was spectacular as we welcomed a new era for motorsport and the world’s first hydrogen racing series. It was a truly special moment.

The evolution to Extreme H feels like a natural progression. It’s a testament to the success of Extreme E and our unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The core values remain unchanged: we’re still dedicated to creating a pioneering motorsport series that emphasises sustainability, gender equality, and thrilling competition. However, with hydrogen, we’re stepping into an even more promising realm of clean energy.

Hydrogen’s potential is immense. It’s not just about e-mobility; it’s about creating green power solutions that can be applied anywhere, from remote locations to bustling cities. By launching Extreme H, we’re not only showcasing the viability of hydrogen as a fuel source but also testing the wider hydrogen ecosystem including recharging and hydrogen transportation – as well as helping to create a market for it. This aligns with our broader goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving net-zero emissions.

What excites me most about Extreme H is its role in the energy transition. Green hydrogen, which we will use, is produced using renewable energy and emits no pollutants. This makes it the cleanest and most sustainable form of hydrogen. By being the first motorsport championship powered by green hydrogen, we’re setting a new standard and providing a unique platform for energy companies to test and develop hydrogen solutions.

The racing itself will be just as exhilarating, if not more so. Our format, with our action-packed racing allowing us to optimise the cars for hydrogen use, delivering peak performance and frenetic excitement.

Fans can expect the same thrilling battles on track, now powered by cutting-edge, sustainable technology. The learnings from Extreme E, including our pioneering approach to gender equality with equal male and female driver participation, will carry over and continue to define our series.

We’ve seen incredible progress in closing the performance gap between male and female drivers, leading to some of the most exciting and competitive racing. This will continue to be a hallmark of Extreme H, alongside our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Partnering with organisations that share our vision for sustainability has been crucial to our success. Their support has been instrumental in driving the championship forward, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration in our hydrogen future.

It was fantastic to reveal the Pioneer 25 in a special Red Bull livery at the official launch, marking the arrival of the energy drink giant as the championship’s Official Energy Drinks Partner. We are excited to partner with a huge brand such as Red Bull for our new racing venture.

Embarking on this journey with Extreme H feels akin to the early days of Formula E – full of adventure and uncharted territory. The key is to take that first step, and we’re ready to lead the way in demonstrating the potential of hydrogen for future mobility.

Extreme H marks a new chapter in our mission to advance e-mobility and extreme motorsport. It symbolises our commitment to pioneering solutions in green technology, ensuring that our championship remains at the forefront of sustainable energy developments. We aim to remain leaders in this field, always staying true to our values and continuing to raise awareness of the climate crisis through the powerful platform of motorsport.

This evolution promises not only faster and more intense racing, but also a significant step forward in exploring hydrogen as a sustainable and powerful energy source. It’s an exciting time for motorsport, and I am proud and thankful to the whole team for their work on its development so far, and I am thrilled to be a part of this new chapter.

The Race for the Planet is not over, it’s only just begun.

To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com

AM Racing | Hailie Deegan Nashville Superspeedway Xfinity Series Race Preview

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Official Release
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AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway | Tennessee Lottery 250

Fast Facts
No. 15 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Hailie Deegan
Primary Partner(s): AirBox
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Matt Lucas
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 Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

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 win 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 17th time in 2024, AirBox will serve in a major partnership role on Deegan’s No. 15 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

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.

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Nashville Superspeedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway. will mark Deegan’s inaugural Xfinity Series start at the 1.33-mile track nestled in Lebanon, Tenn.

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

Her track-best result occurred in her debut during the 2021 Rackley Roofing 200, where she steered to a 21st-place finish after starting 14th for David Gilliland Racing (now TRICON Garage).

Hailie Deegan NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: In 17 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 17 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 48 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.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway | SciAps 200 Race Recap: The 16th race of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicked off in Loudon, New Hampshire on Saturday, June 22nd.

Flying the Viva Tequila Ford Mustang colors in the series’ lone trip to the “Magic Mile,” Deegan started her No. 15 Ford Mustang from the 30th position after Mother Nature washed out practice and qualifying earlier in the day.

Starting the race on wet weather tires, Deegan maintained a steady pace while waiting for the track to dry out before making an effort to climb through the field.

Deegan made progress throughout the race, running as high as 14th before experiencing a double dose of setbacks in Stage 3, including an untimely pit road violation and being collected in a late-race accident.

At the checkered flag, she finished a disappointing 32nd.

From the Pit Box: Industry veteran Matt Lucas is Hailie Deegan’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 109th NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday and his first in the Music City.

In his previous 108 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, he has collected two wins, 22 top-five and 39 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 Nashville Superspeedway: “Honestly, I am just hoping for a clean and productive weekend with our No. 15 AirBox Ford Mustang. Even though Saturday will be my first Xfinity Series start at Nashville, I am hoping that some experience from the Truck Series will carry over this weekend.

“A productive race weekend and a solid finish will be a much-welcomed boost to our team as we continue to fight through the summer stretch.”

Race Information:

The Tennessee Lottery 250 (188 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 17th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 11:00 – 11:20 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 11:30 a.m. The 38-car field is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 4:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. ET) with live coverage on the USA Network, the Performance Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central).

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.

JEGS NHRA SPORTSNATIONALS PART OF MASSIVE DOUBLEHEADER WEEKEND AT NATIONAL TRAIL RACEWAY

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Official Release
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 27, 2024) – One of the biggest events of the year on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series circuit, the JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals returns to National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio on July 10-11.

The race has enjoyed a storied history, but this year may be the biggest JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals yet, offering the largest purse ever for the program.

This year’s event will offer more than $350,000 to the hundreds of racers competing, which includes more than $100,000 in contingency offerings. It’s also part of a huge doubleheader weekend that includes a North Central Division Regional event at the popular facility on July 12-13. Combined, it’s one of the biggest race weekends of the year for the standout drivers in the Lucas Oil NHRA Drag Racing Series.

The JEGS SPEEDweek doubleheader event will attract more than 600 competitors from all seven NHRA divisions across the country. Drivers in eight different categories will be competing for more than $400,000 at the action-packed weekend, laying its claim as one of the marquee events of the sportsman season.

“JEGS is excited to continue our partnership with the NHRA and the sportsman racers at the 2024 JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals,” said David Salin, JEGS Director of Marketing and Sponsorships. “We are lucky to be a part of an event that commemorates the very racers that have developed the sport of drag racing.

JEGS, an industry-leading DTC, e-commerce retailer and distributor of high-performance automotive aftermarket parts and accessories, will have a strong presence on and off the track, with several Team JEGS racers competing at both the SPORTSnationals and regional event.

The week begins with a special racer appreciation breakfast served by the National Trail Raceway and NHRA staff, moving right into nonstop action on the track. That includes Stock and Super Stock Class Eliminations, as well as special shootouts added to the Wednesday schedule.

Also on the line is the one-of-a-kind copper Wally branded with JEGS for the winners at the JEGS NHRA SPORTSnationals, adding another level of prestige to the event. Event champions who double-up two years in a row will also receive the elusive JEGS Crown Trophy, yet one more incentive for drivers competing at National Trail Raceway.

“Each year we look forward to hosting this massive JEGS SPEEDweek doubleheader. It is an honor to host such a marquee event on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series schedule,” National Trail Raceway owner Jay Livingston said. “Last year, we had such a great time getting out with our racers on Wednesday morning and cooking breakfast that we had to bring it back for this year. We’re excited for another great event and we can’t wait to see everyone.”

Among the 600-plus cars competing during JEGS SPEEDweek are the talented drivers in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes, giving fans 270-mph racing during the regional event. In all, fans will have the chance to take in four days of incredible racing

“As a longtime partner with National Trail Raceway, we are looking forward to hosting the event at this state-of-the-art facility,” JEGS Social Media and Events Manager Makenna Brown said. “Since it is located in JEGS’s backyard of Central Ohio, it adds to how important this event is to us. Racers, get excited, it’s almost go time!”

For more information on the NHRA and the JEGS SPORTSnationals, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About JEGS

JEGS Automotive, Inc. (“JEGS”) is a leading DTC, e-commerce retailer and distributor of automotive aftermarket parts and accessories to enthusiast customers, primarily through its online platform (JEGS.com) and third-party online marketplaces. The Company offers over two million different SKUs spanning across 800+ brands including its own private-label product offering, providing a wide variety of automotive parts for a diverse selection of vehicle types and vintages. JEGS operates two locations with approximately 400 employees and is headquartered in Delaware, OH.

About Lucas Oil

Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products was created with the simple philosophy of producing only the best line of lubricants and additives available anywhere. Today, it encompasses the most diversified range of products in the automotive, powersports, marine, industrial, outdoor, and motorsports marketplaces, many of which were created by Forrest Lucas himself. In total, the company boasts more than 300 premium products, representing the largest variety of shelf products of any oil company in the United States with a distribution network across 48 different countries. For more information, please visit www.LucasOil.com.

About NHRA

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.

Magnus Racing Strategy Secures Podium Finish at Six Hours of the Glen

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Official Release
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 27, 2024) – After a challenging 2024 season, Magnus Racing triumphantly returned to the podium in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The No. 44 Flex-Box Aston Martin Vantage GT3 team showcased exceptional race craft and strategic acumen, surmounting various obstacles to gain ten positions in Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen. Drivers John Potter, Andy Lally, and Spencer Pumpelly celebrated their achievement with champagne on the third step of the podium.

“The race had thrills, spills, and chills,” said Team Somebody John Potter. “The only thing more uncertain than the weather was the red flag officiating! The car ran great all day, and the Magnus crew did an excellent job on the stops. Andy and Spencer handled the weather uncertainty of their stints perfectly.”

The team’s performance on Sunday was a testament to learning from past challenges and applying those lessons to future races. In 2022, severe weather at Watkins Glen International led to a lengthy red flag period, causing the team to miss the minimum required drive time for Andy Lally. This year, with predicted storms once again threatening the race, Magnus Racing meticulously planned to ensure all three drivers met the required drive time, even in the event of a red flag.

John Potter began the race from 13th position and masterfully cracked into the top ten in the 21-deep GTD field before he concluded his driving duties. He handed off to Andy Lally for a single stint, setting the stage for their eventual podium finish. Spencer Pumpelly took over with just under two and a half hours of racing complete, clocking in his required drive time and skillfully navigating the Aston Martin through multiple cautions, incidents, and a brief squall. Lally returned to the driver’s seat for the final third of the race in fifth place, ensuring he met the drive time requirement despite a late red flag period. He crossed the finish line in fourth, but race control’s scrutiny of drive times altered the final results.

Magnus Racing’s strategic foresight paid off when the No. 120 Porsche’s finishing driver failed to meet the drive time requirement, elevating Magnus Racing to third place.

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