Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Author: Official Release

Stewart-Haas Racing: Indianapolis NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)
COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Indianapolis NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview
- Event: Indianapolis 250 (Round 20 of 33)
- Date: Saturday, July 20
- Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Layout: 2.5-mile oval
- Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 p.m. EDT on USA/IMS Radio/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Cole Custer Notes of Interest
- Cole Custer has had a weight lifted off his shoulders as he heads into Saturday’s Indianapolis 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 26-year-old defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion locked himself into the 2024 playoffs with his first win of the season last Saturday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. After coming close to a victory several times this summer, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse finally sealed the deal at Pocono, where he scored a Stage 2 win and led 25 laps on his way to the race win. It was his 14th career Xfinity Series win and his second at the 2.5-mile Pocono triangle, making him the only driver to have multiple Xfinity Series wins at the track. In addition, he moved up to sixth on the all-time Xfinity Series win list for Ford drivers, tying him with Matt Kenseth. The next driver on the list is Jeff Burton with 17 wins. Custer has been the picture of consistency this season. He has earned 15 top-10s, collected a total of 174 stage points, won three stages, and led 425 laps overall – second-most in the series behind Justin Allgaier, who has led 517 laps.
- Unlike many of his competitors, Saturday’s Indianapolis 250 will not be Custer’s first start on the oval at Indianapolis. It’ll mark his fourth Xfinity Series start on the iconic Brickyard layout. His most recent start came in September 2019, which was his last year in the Xfinity Series prior to moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 41 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing. He started that race 11th and worked his way to a seventh-place finish. His best Xfinity Series finish of fifth came in his first start at the track in July 2017. Custer has an additional start on the Indianapolis oval during his rookie Cup Series campaign in 2020. He earned an impressive fifth-place result after starting 30th.
- Win and you’re in. That’s the philosophy of the NASCAR Playoffs. Only seven races remain until the Xfinity Series Playoffs kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, and Custer has punched his ticket into the postseason field. After his first win of the season last Saturday at Pocono, Custer clinches a spot in the Round of 12. He also leads the regular-season Xfinity Series standings by a stout 51-point margin over second-place Justin Allgaier. Custer has held the points lead since his sixth-place finish June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. If Custer holds onto the lead through the regular-season finale on Sept. 20 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, he will take home the regular-season championship trophy and 15 bonus points to start the playoffs. Custer finished fourth in the regular-season standings last season on his way to the championship.
Riley Herbst Notes of Interest
- Riley Herbst is ready to take on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Saturday’s Indianapolis 250. The driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Hose is coming off a solid rebound after a late-race pit-road penalty last Saturday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. After starting 18th for the 90-lap race, Herbst quickly worked his way forward to finish seventh in Stage 1 and fourth in Stage 2. He looked to be in contention in the final stage until the pit-road penalty he was required to serve after a round of green-flag pit stops. The penalty sent him a lap down. He received the free pass back onto the lead lap during a caution on lap 69, then rallied in the final laps to an 11th-place finish. He hopes to carry that speed and resilience into this weekend while leaving the mistakes behind him as he gets to race for the first time on an iconic track layout he’s dreamed of racing on since his childhood.
- During Herbst’s rookie Xfinity Series season in 2020, the series made the switch from the 2.5-mile oval to its grand prix road course. It was his first of four starts on the circuit, best of which was his sixth-place finish in July 2022. While Herbst has never made a start on the oval, he should feel right at home as the Xfinity Series cars will utilize a superspeedway package for the race. Herbst has been in contention to win each of the superspeedway races the past several seasons. His success in this style of racing has also been seen in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he earned best finishes of 10th and ninth, respectively, in his series debut in last year’s Daytona 500 and last fall’s stop at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, where he also led his first laps in a Cup Series car.
- With seven races remaining before the Xfinity Series Playoffs kick off Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Herbst sits seventh in the driver standings, 72 points above the top-12 cutline. Herbst’s strong runs thus far have put him just four points behind fifth-place AJ Allmendinger and three points behind sixth-place Jesse Love. Herbst has earned a total of 145 stage points – fifth-best in the series – and he won one stage March 23 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). He hopes to keep the momentum rolling through the regular-season finale Sept. 20 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You’re one of the few drivers in the series who has had a chance to run a race on the Indianapolis oval. Do you feel like that will help give you an advantage this weekend?

“I mean, experience always helps, but there is a lot that has changed with how we’re running the oval now. We’re using a superspeedway package instead of an intermediate, so that’ll throw a curveball in for us. No one really knows what to expect from it, yet. Still, the time I’ve had on this track not only in the Xfinity Series but also the Cup Series should help me. I have previous knowledge that I can use while we prepare. We also have an entire practice session on Friday, which will help us get our No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang Dark Horse better for the race. On top of all that, we’re riding a wave of momentum from the past few races that should help the team’s confidence heading into the weekend. I’m excited to get back on the oval at Indianapolis and hopefully contend for the win.”

The win at Pocono last weekend must make you feel like a weight is off your shoulders as you have now locked yourself into the postseason. Does your perspective change now as you head into the final seven races of the regular season?

“It does a little bit. You’ve got that postseason playoff spot locked in, which is a big deal. It allows you to try more things and take more risks to try to get more wins. There’s not this weight of points racing on your shoulders to try and make it into the playoffs. Still, we also want to keep this regular-season points lead through the checkered flag at Bristol. It’s not even about the title of regular season champions, it’s that 15 extra playoff points. It could make or break you in a round. They carry over until the final race and if you happen to have a bad race during the playoffs, it could save you from being eliminated. We’re going to have to do some juggling, but it’s definitely not as stressful as it was prior to getting the win at Pocono.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

While you have four prior starts on the Indianapolis road course, Saturday’s race will mark your first on the historic 2.5-mile oval. How do you feel heading into this weekend?

“Excited is an understatement. This was one of the tracks that I was so excited to run when I got into the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Then they changed it to the road course for my 2020 rookie season, and I was honestly bummed about it. We had some strong runs on the Indianapolis road course, but there’s something about getting to run on the historic oval that makes a driver excited. You grow up as a race fan and see all the history surrounding that layout of the track – who wouldn’t want to run it and possibly win there. It’ll be a struggle to learn the track quickly, but we do have a full session of practice on Friday to help. I know my No. 98 Monster Energy team will provide me with a fast car, so I’m excited.”

With only seven races to go in the regular season, you’re 72 points to the good of the Xfinity Series playoff cutline. What is your outlook on keeping and growing that points gap to secure your spot in the playoffs?

“A win would obviously solve everything, but we have to look at the situation we’re in and move on from there. We have to protect that points gap if we don’t want to be in the same position we were last year that led to us not making the playoffs. I don’t want to have to go through that again. So for right now, we’re going to go for stage points and strong finishes, but if the opportunity for a win comes, we’re also not going to pass that up. We’ve had so much speed this year, but the finishes haven’t always been there. I think we would be first or second in points had it not been for those bad finishes. Hopefully, we’ll have a good run at Indianapolis to help us move closer to securing our spot in the playoffs.”
July 17, 2024
Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 gener8tor Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 17, 2024) – Todd Gilliland and the No. 38 team head to The Brickyard for the final race before the two-week Olympic Break.

Following a 34th place finish at the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Gilliland returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after participating in the Goodyear tire test in June. This will be Gilliland’s third NASCAR Cup Series race at the iconic track, but first race on the oval. Gilliland captured his career-best finish on the Indianapolis Road Course, a fourth-place in 2022.

gener8tor will debut a new scheme for the return on the Brickyard 400, showcasing a black and gold livery for the 400-mile event.

On track action for the Cup Series will begin Friday July 19 with practice at 2:30 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports App and qualifying on Saturday, July 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. The Brickyard 400 will be at 2:30 p.m. ET, Sunday July 21, and televised on NBC. Fans can also listen to the action on SiriusXM Channel 90.

No. 38 gener8tor Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

“I’m excited for this weekend. It’s nice to see NASCAR bring back this iconic race. For me, the tire test was the first time I had been on the oval. For a lot of the younger guys however, they have never been on it, so Ryan (Bergenty) and I have an advantage from the data we gathered at the test.

“We’re all looking forward to the break. It will be a nice change of pace from the typical race schedule and a good break during the hardest part of the season. Hopefully we can head into the break with a good result from Indy.”

CREW CHIEF RYAN BERGENTY:

“We’re so close to the two-week break, but there is still a lot of work to do. Todd (Gilliland) and I had left the tire test with some pretty good info, and I think it will help us a lot on Sunday.

“We’re bringing an awesome paint scheme this weekend, and I think fans are going to love it. Hopefully we can get it into Victory Lane and go into the break with a win and a ticket to the playoffs.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

July 17, 2024
Toyota Racing Weekly Preview 07.17.24
This Week in Motorsports: July 15 – 21, 2024
- NCS/NXS: Indianapolis Motor Speedway – July 19-21
- NCTS/ARCA: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park – July 19
- NHRA: Pacific Raceways – July 19-21
PLANO, Texas (July 17, 2024) – NASCAR makes its return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) oval with the Cup and Xfinity Series, culminating with the 30th anniversary Brickyard 400 on Sunday. The Truck Series, along with the ARCA Menards Series, are back at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, just outside of the “Circle City” for short track action Friday night.

NHRA is back on track for the first time in three weeks, traveling to the Pacific Northwest and Pacific Raceways just outside of Seattle, Washington.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Hamlin back on favorable IMS oval … The return to the IMS oval is a welcome sight for many, including Denny Hamlin. Coming into the weekend, Hamlin has finished inside the top-10 in six of the last nine Brickyard 400s as he looks for that long-awaited triumph on the yard of bricks.

Reddick’s top-10 streak continues … The sixth-place finish on Sunday in Pocono gave Tyler Reddick his fourth consecutive top-10 finish and seventh in the last eight races. His 14 top-10 finishes are also the most in the Cup Series. The strong finishes from the driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE have put him in prime contention for the regular season championship, as he’s risen to third in the points standings and sits only 15 points back of the top spot. Reddick returns to Indianapolis this weekend as a former winner as well, capturing victory on the road course in 2022.

Johnson back in No. 84 Camry XSE … For the first time since Charlotte back in May, Jimmie Johnson is behind the wheel of the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend in Indianapolis. Sunday marks Johnson’s 695th career Cup Series start as he nears the milestone, 700. He’ll also make his 19th Brickyard 400 start on Sunday, where he’s captured four wins (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012), second all-time, along with six top-fives and seven top-10s.

Daly debuts in GR Supra … Indianapolis native and long-time IndyCar Series veteran, Conor Daly, will pilot the No. 26 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing this weekend in Indianapolis. Daly has made two career starts in the Xfinity Series, lastly in 2023 at the Charlotte ROVAL and makes his debut on his home track in a stock car this weekend. Daly has made 10 starts in the Indianapolis 500 around the famed 2.5-mile oval, with a career-best finish of sixth in 2022.

Toyota seeks repeat Xfinity win on IMS oval … With the Xfinity Series also returning to the IMS oval, it allows Toyota to go for a repeat victory after being triumphant in 2019 with former Toyota driver, Kyle Busch. Toyota also seeks four wins in the last seven races around the oval, as Busch won half of the eight previous Xfinity Series races there.

Heim on hot streak … Following his dominant victory at Pocono, Corey Heim has now captured victory in four of the last seven Truck Series races heading to Indianapolis this weekend, seeking his sixth victory of the season. Sweeping the stages last Friday now gives Heim six stage wins on the year, the most in the Truck Series, and he also leads the Playoffs points standings, while sitting second in the regular season standings. This weekend will be Heim’s third start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park where he has two top-10 finishes.

Sawalich back in Tundra TRD Pro … Toyota Development Driver, William Sawalich, is back behind the wheel of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro with TRICON Garage this weekend in Indianapolis. This will be the Minnesotan’s ninth career Truck Series start and first since Martinsville in April. His best career finish to-date is sixth in this same race a season ago. He’ll be doing double duty on Friday, also participating in the ARCA Menards Series race Friday afternoon.

Sauter returns to a Tundra TRD Pro … Long-time NASCAR veteran, Johnny Sauter, is back with Team Toyota as he’ll drive the No. 16 Tundra TRD Pro for Hattori Racing Enterprises Friday night. This will be Sauter’s third Trucks start of 2024 and the 323rd of his career. This will be his first run in a Tundra TRD Pro since 2022 at Talladega.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Sawalich seeks third straight win … Before he climbs into his Tundra TRD Pro, Sawalich will go for his third straight win in the ARCA Series and fourth of the season at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park Friday evening. Sawalich made his debut in Indianapolis last year, coming home fourth in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Toyota Top Fuel dragsters control point standings … Heading to Seattle this weekend, Toyota currently owns the top-five of the Top Fuel point standings with four races remaining before the Countdown to the Championship. Defending Top Fuel World Champion, Doug Kalitta, sits atop the standings leading Justin Ashley (second), Shawn Langdon (third), Antron Brown (fourth) and Steve Torrence (fifth), who is going for a repeat win Seattle. In Funny Car, J.R. Todd is in fifth place going into the weekend with Ron Capps sixth and Alexis DeJoria in eighth.

Toyota seeks to continue streaks … The return to NHRA action allows Toyota to extend some incredible streaks with its Top Fuel Dragsters and GR Supra Funny Cars. Should one of Toyota’s six Top Fuel drivers capture victory on Sunday, it will have 11 wins in the last 12 Top Fuel races, dating back to Kalitta’s Pomona win last November. And should one of Toyota’s nine drivers across Top Fuel or Funny Car reach the finals, it will be 34 straight NHRA events with a Toyota racer in the final round.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 28 electrified options.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
July 17, 2024
Kleenex® Donates $500,000 to Donors Choose and Celebrates with Kroger Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Kleenex® and Kroger® Partner for Local Back-to-School Supply Drive

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (July 17, 2024) – Kimberly-Clark’s U.S. Kleenex® Brand and Kroger today announced a significant back-to-school promotion alongside Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the Kroger Racing team at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year, Kleenex® is proud to donate $500,000 to DonorsChoose, the #1 nonprofit funding site for U.S. public school teachers. Additionally, Kleenex® and Kroger will host a back-to-school supply drive and celebration at 20 Indianapolis Kroger stores, benefiting local school classroom projects.

“It’s exciting to see Kleenex® utilizing their Kroger® Racing partnership to help bring awareness around this cause and the important role teachers and classrooms have with kids,” said Stenhouse Jr. “They’re all working together to ensure teachers are able to receive proper funding for their classroom needs to help all kids grow and thrive.”

As part of this initiative, Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Camaro will feature Kleenex® and DonorsChoose branding during the Brickyard 400 to help raise awareness and encourage fans to support local teachers’ classroom projects with purchases of Kleenex®, the #1 Facial Tissue Trusted by Teachers. The local school supply donation event tour kicks off Wednesday, July 17, at Kroger® on Rockville Rd. from 2:00 PM ET to 6:00 PM ET. The tour continues to other Kroger® Indianapolis locations daily from Wednesdays through Sundays, culminating at the South Emerson Ave Kroger® on August 11. Stenhouse Jr. will make an appearance at the Kroger® store located at 975 N. Green Street, Brownsburg, Ind. on Friday, July 19, from 3:30 PM ET to 5:00 PM ET to visit with local shoppers and race fans.

Since 2020, Kleenex® has donated nearly $5 million to support classrooms across the country, funding nearly 25,000 projects on the DonorsChoose platform and reaching more than 10,000 schools in the U.S.

“Kleenex® is proud to help ensure that teachers can count on the supplies they need for their students to thrive,” said Will Dunn, Senior Brand Manager for U.S. Kleenex® Brand. “As we celebrate our partnership with DonorsChoose alongside Stenhouse Jr. and Kroger® Racing, we’re excited to continue Kleenex’s legacy of care during all of life’s big and small moments.”

Live coverage of the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 21, begins at 2:30 PM ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Kimberly-Clark:

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies(R) by Ethisphere for the sixth year in a row. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.

July 17, 2024
Meyer Shank Racing Looking For Toronto Turnaround

Pataskala, Ohio (17 July 2024) – The summer stretch that features four NTT INDYCAR SERIES races in a three-week stretch will wrap up this weekend in Toronto and Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is looking to reclaim some momentum after a pair of hard-luck weekends.

Both MSR machines will enter the Toronto race weekend with new looks as the No. 60 and No. 66 MSR cars will adorn SiriusXM Canada branding with the series set to race across the border. David Malukas’ No. 66 SiriusXM Honda will feature a special livery in collaboration with SiriusXM Canada to showcase Canadian rock band, The Tragically Hip (SiriusXM channel 757).

After starting the season with four consecutive top-10 results, MSR has been in the top half of the 27-car field in most races since, but has struggled to card a top-10 result in the last five events. The team has made solid progress since putting Malukas (No. 66 SiriusXM Honda) in the cockpit of the No. 66 car as the young driver has taken that mount to its best finishes of the 2024 season including a season-best 12th-place run at Mid-Ohio after starting third.

Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Honda) has maintained his solid qualifying form with top-five starting positions at Laguna Seca and the second Iowa Speedway race, but has suffered some unforeseen problems such as the mechanical failure last Sunday that scuttled a potential top-five run in Iowa.

Rosenqvist has led the team’s efforts thus far in 2024, scoring seven top-10 qualifying results through the year’s 11 points-paying races. He brought MSR its first-ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole when he led Long Beach qualifying and is just seven points out of the top-10 in the championship standings.

Toronto would seem to be a proper launching point for a Rosenqvist turnaround as the Swedish driver has always shown an affinity for the 11-turn, 1.786-mile street course that weaves throughout the city’s Exhibition Place. Rosenqvist has three previous Toronto starts and has started eighth or better in all of them and has top-10 results in all three starts – capped by a third-place run in 2022. Malukas has two starts, highlighted by a fifth-place qualifying results in his 2022 debut.

MSR will wrap up a three-weekend streak of racing with the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, which takes place on the streets of the Canadian city. Qualifying takes place on Saturday 2:45 p.m. E.T., with the race broadcast set for Sunday July 21st at 1p.m. on Peacock. The races, along with all other INDYCAR action can be heard live on Sirius XM Radio, Channel 218.

Meyer Shank Racing Driver Quotes:

Felix Rosenqvist: “We had a rough weekend in Iowa and the last few rounds have been a little but disappointing for different reasons, especially with the pace that we started out the season with. Toronto is certainly a track that I have been good at in the past and I have enjoyed racing there. Normally our street course car is pretty good. We’re excited because we have a new chance to bounce back from Iowa.”

David Malukas: “I’m looking forward to switch things up at my first street course this season at the Honda Indy Toronto! Although our recent race results haven’t been what we hoped for, we’re focused on turning things around and are optimistic about what this weekend holds. The Meyer Shank Racing team has been working hard, and I have full confidence in our abilities. Together we’re ready to rise to the occasion and show what we can do on track.”

July 17, 2024
Layne Riggs and the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford F-150

Indianapolis Raceway Park Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 17, 2024) – Layne Riggs is back in action this Friday night, under the lights of the Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP).

Following a 30th place finish at the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Riggs and the team look to bounce back at a place that has been good for the 22-year-old rookie. With only two previous starts at the 0.686-mile track, Riggs has finished in the Top-10 twice, posting a seventh-place result in 2022 and a third-place result in 2023.

Long John Silvers will join Riggs in his return at IRP, bringing the fan-favorite scheme to the No. 38 Ford F-150.

It will be a one day show for the team with practice and qualifying at 3:30 pm ET. The 200-lap event is scheduled for later that evening at 8:30 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on FS1 or listen in from the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford F-150:

DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:

“This is a big weekend for the team and me. We have shown a lot of speed on short tracks this year, and it’s the type of racing I grew up on in my late model days, so I am confident in our performance this weekend. Like I’ve been saying all year, just need to bring a fast Long John Silver’s Ford F-150 and execute on all fronts and I think we have a shot to win.”

CREW CHIEF DYLAN CAPPELLO:

“This track has Layne’s (Riggs) name written all over it. He is a short track guy through and through. We had a good sim session and are confident that we can execute a solid race, it just comes down to qualifying up front and staying up there.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

July 17, 2024
NHRA AT SEATTLE: Team Chevy Race Advance | Notes & Quotes
CHEVROLET IN NHRA
2024 NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS
PACIFIC RACEWAYS
KENT, WASHINGTON
TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & STATS
JULY 19-21, 2024

CHEVROLET KICKS OFF NHRA’S WESTERN SWING AT PACIFIC RACEWAYS WITH JOHN FORCE RACING FOR THE NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS

Notes:
- Team Chevy heads to the 2024 NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceway near Seattle, Wash., the 11th round of the season, July 19-21.
- Returning to competition, Brittany Force will driver her Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster at Seattle this weekend, a place where she holds the Pacific Raceways speed record at 334.73 mph. Force currently sits No. 10 in the NHRA Top Fuel championship standings.
- Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, enters the NHRA Northwest Nationals leading the Funny Car championship points standings with 914 points, over Bob Tasca III in second by 178 points, and Matt Hagan by 181 in third.
- Prock, who captured his first pro victory in NHRA at Seattle five years ago, is also the quickest qualifier in seven of the first 10 events this season while also owning the quickest 1,000-foot time over the last seven years (3.820 seconds at Gainesville).
- John Force Racing last raced to the Seattle winner’s circle with Robert Hight in 2022, defeating JR Todd while also setting low event E.T. (3.960 seconds) and best reaction time (.050). In the same event, B. Force raced to the final round.
- Pro Stock returns to competition at Pacific Raceways this weekend after a brief hiatus, last competing at the northwestern track in 2022. Troy Coughlin, Jr. took the win over Erica Enders.
Quotes:

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

“The Funny Car is such a challenge to drive. You have the same amount of horsepower (as a dragster) but you’re missing 175 inches of wheelbase. I loved driving the Top Fuel car, but Funny Car is where I belong. I always dreamed of driving one like my grandpa (Tom Prock, a Funny Car contemporary of Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Tom McEwen) and I am having an absolute blast. I’m loving every second of it. I love the challenge. I love sitting behind the engine. I love the body dropping (down over me) and, to top it off, I’m doing all of it with my family (dad Jimmy is crew chief on the Cornwell Camaro along with brother Thomas).”

BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE FLAV-R-PAC CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

“I’m glad to get back to the racetrack after a tough few weeks. I want to thank (crew chief) David Grubnic, John Collins and my team for their patience and support of my decision to stay with my father while racing continued in Norwalk. Missing a race was tough, but I needed to be with my dad and family.

“I’m proud to be running our Flav-R-Pac dragster this weekend to honor our longtime partner, Frank Tiegs. He always reminded me to make sure I was still having fun because that is when you perform at your best. We won a championship together in 2022 and I’m proud to carry him and his family on the car this weekend.

“Our team’s current focus is to improve our starting position in the Countdown. We’ve made great strides in our last few races and I’m eager to take that next step and put our Flav-R-Pac dragster in the winners’ circle for the Tiegs family and my dad!”

How to Watch:

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series action from Pacific Raceways near Seattle airs first with qualifying from the weekend on Friday, July 19 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s qualifying airs Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, with Finals starting at 4 p.m. ET on FOX. Qualifying will air with the NHRA on FOX team on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:

1,460: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time).
626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 630.
167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).
164: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.
84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.
84: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.
47: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.
28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.
26: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.
20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.
16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.
7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.
2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

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.
July 17, 2024
Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Horizon Hobby Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 17, 2024) – Michael McDowell and the No. 34 team return to The Brickyard for the final race before the two-week Olympic Break.

McDowell is the defending winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the Verizon 200 last year on the road course and locking his place in the NASCAR Playoffs. For the oval configuration, it will be his 12th career Cup Series start with a best finish of 7th-place in 2020, the last time the Cup Series raced on the oval.

Horizon Hobby is back on the 34 for the first time since the Phoenix Raceway in March, where McDowell scored his second Top-10 of the season with an 8th-place finish. The 34 will also have LOSI branding on the car, the makers of the 1/12th scale NASCAR RC Race Car, featuring McDowell’s Ford Mustang Ford Dark Horse.

On track action for the Cup Series will begin Friday July 19 with practice at 2:30 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports App and qualifying on Saturday, July 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. The Brickyard 400 will be at 2:30 p.m. ET, Sunday July 21, televised on NBC. Fans can also listen to the action on SiriusXM Channel 90.

No. 34 Horizon Hobby Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER MICHAEL MCDOWELL:

“It is cool to go back there because we won last year and there will be banners there with us in victory lane. That is cool. It is going to be fun. It’s a great feeling returning to Indy as the defending race winner – even though we’re back on the oval, not the road course. There’s something really special about going to Indy – it’s almost hard to explain. That track has so much history and so many emotions associated with it, it’s a place where you really want to win. At the end of the day, a lot of the time you’re battling the track itself. It can be difficult to pass because the corners are so tight and you can’t really run well in a pack. Track position and restarts will be the key to a good run.

“It’s super exciting to see Horizon Hobby back on our Ford Mustang Dark Horse. They have been such a fun partner to represent and it’s going to be fun to see them again this weekend.”

CREW CHIEF TRAVIS PETERSON:

“We’re excited to go back to Indy. It’s the track where I got my first win as a crew chief, so it will always be a special place, personally. Being back on the oval will have its own set of challenges compared to the road course. It’s a tough place to pass and track position and strategy will be key. Michael is one of the few Cup drivers with experience on the oval, so we’ll have a good gameplan for this weekend. We just need to capitalize on the opportunity.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

July 17, 2024
William Ashley is the official trophy provider of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto

Defending Toronto race winner Christian Lundgaard will reveal this year’s Waterford Crystal trophies tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. ET at the William Ashley store on 131 Bloor St. West

TORONTO (July 17, 2024) – William Ashley is back as an official partner and the trophy provider of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this Sunday at Exhibition Place, headlining the 36th edition of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto weekend, set for July 19-21.

The 2024 versions of the William Ashley Waterford Crystal trophies will be revealed tomorrow (July 18) at 10:30 a.m. ET inside William Ashley’s downtown Toronto flagship store located at 131 Bloor St. West with help from NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Christian Lundgaard. Lundgaard, driver of the No. 45 Hy-Vee Honda for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, claimed his first career INDYCAR win with his victory last year on the streets of Toronto.

The celebrated retailer for tableware, home décor and kitchenware has provided the spectacular William Ashley Waterford Crystal trophies to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto winner at every race since 2011. These custom-made masterpieces are crafted by Waterford and hand blown at their factory in Waterford, Ireland. The first-place trophy takes an artisan 48 hours to make and is etched by hand with a remarkable rendering of the Toronto skyline.

“We are proud to continue this decade-plus tradition of awarding these iconic William Ashley Waterford Crystal trophies at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. “The dedication and craftsmanship required to make these beautiful pieces reflects the same skill and precision INDYCAR drivers possess as they compete to win on Toronto’s downtown streets. We look forward to unveiling the 2024 William Ashley trophies tomorrow!”

Media members are invited to attend the event at the William Ashley store at 131 Boor St. West. The trophy will be revealed, and then both Jeff Atkinson, Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto president, and Christian Lundgaard will be available for interviews.

Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Honda Present Free Fan Friday returns for the 13th time at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto this year offering complimentary general admission on Friday, July 19, with a voluntary contribution to Make-A-Wish® Canada. These fundraising activities have been an integral part of Toronto’s marquee racing event for more than a decade with over $1 million raised toward granting wishes for children living with critical illnesses.

General Admission tickets for the weekend are still available with 2-Day Weekend General Admission tickets priced at $80. Single Day General Admission is $50 for Saturday and $65 for Sunday. Children 12 and under are admitted free (general admission) with a ticketed adult providing an exceptional family value.

About Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto:

Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation. To date, over $1 million has been raised for Make-A-Wish® Canada. As one of Ontario’s largest annual sporting events, the first race held in 1986 was known as the Molson Indy, later became the Honda Indy Toronto and is now titled Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. It has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens and more. Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (March 8-10, 2024), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid (July 5-7, 2024) and BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland (Aug. 23-25, 2024).

For more information, visit hondaindy.com, ‘like’ its Facebook page @IndyToronto or follow the event on X (formerly Twitter) @HondaIndy and Instagram @HondaIndy using #indyTO.

July 17, 2024
JR Motorsports — NXS Indianapolis Preview
JR Motorsports Team Preview
TRACK – Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
NXS RACE – Pennzoil 250 (100 laps / 250 miles)
TUNE IN – USA, IMS Radio Network, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 3:30 p.m. (ET)

Sam Mayer

No. 1 – Huck’s Market Chevrolet

Mayer 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 19

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 10

Laps Led: 118

Avg. Finish: 15.7

Points: 10th
- Sam Mayer heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start on the famed 2.5-mile oval configuration.
- In 20 starts on oval tracks measuring greater than two miles in length, the Franklin, Wis. native has earned four top-five and seven top-10 efforts, with a best of second coming last season at Pocono Raceway.
- Huck’s Market is back on board the No. 1 Chevrolet with Mayer for its third appearance at The Brickyard.
- After the 19th race of the regular NXS season, the driver of the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet currently sits 10th in the NXS point standings and is locked into the playoffs with seven races remaining in the regular season.
Sam Mayer

“I am super excited to run the oval at Indy for the first time in my career. I love coming to this track and we have run really well on the road course in the past, so I am anxious to see how we can do on this historic oval. Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and the guys continue to unload rocket ships every weekend for me and I have complete confidence that we can keep the momentum going this weekend at The Brickyard.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 Jarrett Chevrolet

Allgaier 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 19

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 6

Top 10s: 11

Laps Led: 517

Avg. Finish: 13.5

Points: 2nd
- Justin Allgaier is a former winner on the hallowed ground of Indianapolis, taking the checkered flag on the oval in 2018.
- Overall, in six career NXS starts at the legendary oval, Allgaier has scored three top fives and three top 10s to accompany the 2018 victory.
- The Illinois native also scored a runner-up finish in the most recent NXS event on the 2.5-mile rectangular oval after leading for 24 laps.
- This weekend marks the return of Jarrett Logistics onboard Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet for the fourth time this season.
Justin Allgaier

“It’s great to be going back to the oval at Indianapolis. This is such a special place. I grew up watching races here and to be able to have the opportunity to go to Victory Lane again on the oval definitely means a lot. Hopefully our Jarrett Chevrolet will be just as strong as we have been throughout this season and we can put ourselves where we want to be in the end. If we can do that, I see no reason why we won’t have the opportunity to kiss the bricks come Saturday afternoon.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 TMC Chevrolet

Smith 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 19

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 10

Laps Led: 55

Avg. Finish: 16.1

Points: 11th
- Sammy Smith’s first visit to Indianapolis was last year on the road course. Although this is his second trip to IMS, he will now tackle the 2.5-mile speedway for the first time.
- According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics, Smith ranks second among all drivers in quality passes throughout the 2024 season with 764.
- Smith heads to Indianapolis off the heals of a top-10 finish last weekend at Pocono, a ninth-place effort which marks his best finish of the season on tracks two miles or greater.
- Smith additionally will be running double-duty this weekend as he will be competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday evening.
Sammy Smith

“I haven’t run the Indy oval yet so I’m looking forward to racing in a place with so much history. It’s going to be a busy weekend with us also running the Truck at IRP Friday night, so I’m grateful for my teams for bearing with me as I split my time between both tracks. We had a good car last weekend, we just needed more green laps to be able to put our original strategy to the test. I’m hoping we can carry that into this weekend for a good turnout with TMC.”

Brandon Jones

No. 9 Menards / Pennington Chevrolet

Jones 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 19

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 5

Laps Led: 20

Avg. Finish: 19.1

Points: 14th
- Brandon Jones has made four career starts on the 2.5-mile oval at IMS in the NXS and has finished inside the top 10 each time. His best finish of sixth came during his last race on this configuration in 2019.
- In 56 starts on tracks measuring greater than two miles, the 27-year-old Georgia native has eight top-fives, 24 top-10s and had paced the field for 168 laps.
- Pennington, a provider of lawn and garden products created with industry-leading innovation and excellence for over 70 years, will be making its first appearance at IMS on the hood of Jones’ No. 9 Chevrolet this weekend.
Brandon Jones

“I am looking forward to being back on the oval at Indy this weekend. I have had some great runs here in the past, so I am confident that we will have speed and hopefully be in contention to run up front. This No. 9 team is putting in the work to make sure I have a great car this weekend and I am ready to get them the finish they deserve.”

Carson Kvapil

No. 88 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet

Kvapil 2024 NXS Stats

Starts: 5

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 3

Laps Led: 38

Avg. Finish: 8.4

Points: 30th
- In a season of firsts, Carson Kvapil will make his first attempt at historic IMS in the NXS. It will be his sixth career NXS start.
- Kvapil will be seeking his fourth top-five result on Saturday at The Brickyard. In his starts so far this year, the second-generation driver has second-, fourth- and fifth-place finishes.
- The 21-year-old driver will jump to a speedway over two miles in length for the first time, taking on the 2.5-mile oval track. The largest track he has competed on thus far in the NXS is Darlington (1.366 miles).
- In 11 starts as a crew chief in the NXS, Andrew Overstreet has led his drivers to seven top-five and nine top-10 finishes.
Carson Kvapil

“Getting to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a big deal. It’s a big place, really has a lot of history to it. We’ll have a fast Clarience Technologies Chevrolet Camaro, thanks to Andrew (Overstreet) and the No. 88 team, and I look forward to my first laps at IMS.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway a combined 25 times in the NXS since its first trip there in 2012. In those starts at the 2.5-mile speedway, the organization has recorded two wins, 10 top-fives and 15 top-10s, with an average finish of 12.6.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones and Carson Kvapil will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / Legacy MC souvenir rig on Saturday, July 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ET.
July 17, 2024