Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Author: Official Release

  • BMS ADDS CLOCK TO MLB SPEEDWAY CLASSIC MONUMENT TO BEGIN OFFICIAL COUNTDOWN UNTIL AUGUST 2, 2025

    BMS ADDS CLOCK TO MLB SPEEDWAY CLASSIC MONUMENT TO BEGIN OFFICIAL COUNTDOWN UNTIL AUGUST 2, 2025

    Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play historic MLB game in state of Tennessee at BMS on Aug. 2, 2025

    BRISTOL, Tenn. (Dec. 5, 2024) — Today, Bristol Motor Speedway team members, with help from their mischievous mascots Bump and Run, unveiled the official MLB Speedway Classic countdown clock that is clicking down the days, hours and minutes until the ceremonial first pitch is thrown out on August, 2, 2025 and play gets started in the historic Major League Baseball game featuring the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves at BMS.

    For social media enthusiasts, baseball fans and ticketholders who would like to grab a selfie with the new clock, The MLB Speedway Classic Countdown Clock is located at BMS Entrance 1 just off Volunteer Parkway next to the It’s Bristol Baby! monument.

    For those of you who are keeping count, at the time of the official countdown clock unveiling today, there were 240 days, 4 hours and 17 minutes remaining until the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com game.

    Sports fans will need to hustle on over to MLB.com/SpeedwayClassic if they want to be a part of the historic national regular season game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds that will be played at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 7 p.m. (ET).

    The game at The World’s Fastest Half-Mile will be the first American or National League game ever played in the Volunteer state. Tennessee becomes the fifth different state across the United States to host an MLB game for the first time since 2016.

    The game is expected to be a one-of-a-kind experience for sports and entertainment enthusiasts and the many die-hard fans of both legendary baseball clubs who live throughout the five-state region surrounding BMS. Bristol Motor Speedway’s position within the Appalachian Highlands was called a “perfect location” for this game by MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr., due to the relative proximity of both MLB markets.

    General public tickets for the MLB Speedway Classic presented by BuildSubmarines.com are available for purchase by visiting MLB.com/SpeedwayClassic. A maximum of 8 tickets are allowed per order and all ticket sales will be conducted online. All tickets will be delivered digitally and available on mobile devices through the MLB Ballpark app and the Ticketmaster app.

    All questions regarding ticket purchases should be directed to speedwayclassictickethelp@mlb.com. The ticket help desk is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.

    MLB Speedway Classic
  • Mazda Tabs 2024 Whelen MX-5 Cup Champion Wagner for Heritage Collection at Sebring

    Mazda Tabs 2024 Whelen MX-5 Cup Champion Wagner for Heritage Collection at Sebring

    SEBRING, Fla. (Dec. 5, 2024) – The Mazda Heritage Collection will wrap up its 2024 competition season this weekend at the Mission Foods HSR Sebring Classic 12 Hour in Florida. Mazda Motorsports is set to bring a trio of cars and drivers for the event, including newly crowned Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Champion, Gresham Wagner.

    The cars of the Mazda Heritage Collection have not been driven in anger since the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August, but the team at Flis Performance have been hard at work making sure they are race ready. The three cars remain the same as Monterey, but the drivers have changed.

    In the GTP class are the 1989 Mazda 767B driven by Andrew Carbonell and the 1992 Mazda RX-792P driven by Tom Long. In the GTO class, behind the wheel of the 1991 Mazda RX-7 GTO, however, is Wagner, the latest Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion. He’ll be taking part in his first-ever historic racing event.

    “It’s not often you get an opportunity to drive one of the cars you see in so many posters, movies, and video games while you were growing up, so I’m really excited to see what the RX-7 GTO is all about and put on a show for all of the Mazda and endurance racing fans that still connect with the history of the car,” Wagner said. “I’m really thankful to Mazda Motorsports and Flis Performance for putting on this program and giving me such a unique chance to be part of it.

    “I’ve never done any vintage racing, but it’s a really neat opportunity to see a lot of the standout cars from the history of the sport we all love. The cars are our lasting ties to those eras and memories, and it’s pretty awesome to have a manufacturer like Mazda still actively supporting and showcasing some of the most successful cars from such an iconic time in sports car racing.”

    A unique element of the HSR event at Sebring is the display of historic war planes, which is fitting, seeing as how the racetrack started life as a WWII airfield and a regional airport continues to operate nearby.

    The GTP and GTO classes are grouped together, which means all three of the Mazda Heritage Collection cars will be on track at the same time and race together. The first of two eight-lap sprint races is Friday at 1:20pm ET, the second on Saturday at 9:20am ET. A full entry list, schedule and link to timing and scoring can be found here.

  • Historic Sportscar Racing IMSA Classic to Debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona

    Historic Sportscar Racing IMSA Classic to Debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona

    IMSA’s Earliest Golden Eras to be Celebrated Annually at IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Daytona Opener

    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 5, 2024) – The earliest golden eras of IMSA’s success will now share the spotlight at each year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona as IMSA celebrates its past while continuing to write the next and greatest chapter yet in the history of sports car racing in North America with the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

    Officials from IMSA and Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) announced today the IMSA Classic invitational race that will annually showcase the sanctioning body’s more than 50-year history beginning at next month’s 63rd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, January 23 – 26. The inaugural IMSA Classic will feature cars from the first three decades of IMSA sports car racing from 1973 through 1993.

    “For several years now, the rich history of the Rolex 24 has been celebrated with pre-race demonstration events, such as the 24 Minutes of Daytona and similar exhibitions, but this will be the first time an actual race featuring these great competition cars from IMSA’s past will be part of a Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “We are proud of the pioneering and current era that we have all worked tirelessly on to bring IMSA to an unprecedented level of high-tech competition and entertainment, but what better time to take a moment to remember our past than just before our longest and season-opening race? The IMSA Classic will add to the grandeur of the Rolex 24, and we are grateful to both Daytona International Speedway (DIS) and HSR for the partnership and cooperation in making this vision a reality.”

    Open only to a limited number of on-track competitors, invitations to apply for the inaugural HSR Classic

    are presently being distributed to HSR member competitors and other notable teams and entrants in the vintage and historic sports car racing arena. All received applications will then be reviewed by a selection committee to determine the participants in the inaugural IMSA Classic.

    “We often refer to HSR as a rolling time machine and a high-speed motorsports museum, and that will be perfectly personified by the IMSA Classic,” said HSR President Chris Ward. “To be able to join IMSA in annually featuring some of the greatest racing machines from their first half-century of competition is truly an honor. We look forward to welcoming a spectacular lineup of legendary IMSA race cars to the Rolex 24 At Daytona next month.”

    A three-day race event on Rolex 24 weekend, the IMSA Classic starts with an opening practice session Thursday afternoon that will be followed by qualifying Friday morning and a qualifying race early that evening. The main event will be the 30-minute IMSA Classic feature race Saturday morning that will set the stage for the Rolex 24 as the last on-track activity prior to the twice-around-the-clock WeatherTech Championship season opener.

    Competing IMSA Classic cars and competitors will be paddocked in a large tent open to the public in the DIS Rolex 24 Midway. Several non-competing IMSA cars of historical significance will also be under the tent in addition to an additional group on display in the DIS FanZone as they have been in the past.

    Plans for future editions of the IMSA Classic call for each annual running to feature a specific period of IMSA era cars.

    The introduction of the IMSA Classic is the latest in a series of new HSR racing series and major race event since IMSA purchased HSR in early 2022. The HSR Prototype Challenge presented by IMSA, for modern-day LMP3 cars retired from contemporary competition, debuted this year along with the HSR NASCAR Classic Presented by Petty’s Garage racing series for historic stock cars.

    Just under three months ago, HSR announced what is now the HSR Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods. Building on the success of the HSR Classic races at Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen, the Mission Foods Classic Endurance series will be a points-paying championship beginning next year for the season’s long-distance races, which also includes the new-for-2025 HSR Road Atlanta Classic 10 Hour Presented by Mission Foods.

    For more information, please visit www.HSRRace.com.

    Next up on the 2024 HSR schedule is this weekend’s season-ending Mission Foods HSR Classic 12 Hour Pistons & Props, Presented by Alan Jay Automotive Network, at Sebring International Raceway, December 5 – 8. The event also includes the Sebring Historics, which closes the curtain on HSR’s full-season racing series and points-paying championships.

    More information on both the HSR Classic 12 and HSR Sebring Historics events, including entry lists, ticket purchases and the event schedule, can be found on the official event page by clicking here.

    About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter X at @HSR_race and Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

  • Kaulig Racing Announces Progressive Roster Moves

    Kaulig Racing Announces Progressive Roster Moves

    Team Names Multiple-Race Winner Mike Cook as Technical Director; Lands Aussie Andrew Dickeson as Crew Chief for Ty Dillon and Reunites Veteran AJ Allmendinger with Crew Chief Trent Owens

    WELCOME, N.C. (December 5, 2024) – The winds of change continue to sweep through Kaulig Racing, as it announced major competition leadership moves for the upcoming 2025 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season.

    Mike Cook joins the burgeoning team as Technical Director following more than a decade as a winning, lead engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing with drivers Kurt Busch, Aric Almirola and Chase Briscoe.

    Australian native Andrew Dickeson has been named Crew Chief for Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 Chevrolet with driver Ty Dillon. Dickeson joins the team after years as engineer at Richard Childress Racing.

    Long-time crew chief Trent Owens will reunite with three-time NCS winner AJ Allmendinger in support of the Californian’s return to full-time Cup series competition. Allmendinger won the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race at Las Vegas in October, launching him into the championship race for the second time in his career.

    “I think this is the most impressive competition leadership group we have ever had,” said Kaulig Racing President Chris Rice. “We have such a great core team with all the men and women of Kaulig Racing, and bringing in smart people with fresh eyes will really help us compete on the track.”

    “After a decade of learning and honing my craft, I am really excited to contribute to the continuing growth of Kaulig Racing,” said Cook, winner of the 2017 Daytona 500. “Nothing in racing happens overnight, but I know I have the tools and the support I need to bring immediate impact.”

    “Andrew has the demeanor and stability that I think will give Ty the best opportunity he has ever had at the Cup level,” continued Cook. “AJ and Trent are just in sync and have a great working relationship. Both drivers are hungry and dedicated, so I know that team is going to be strong and impress some people in 2025.”

    Owens has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, accumulating a win in each of NASCAR’s top series, one NCS win, five NXS wins, and one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) win.

    Dickeson brings a wealth of engineer experience, developed while racing in Australia in the V8 Supercars Super2 Series and the United States. Dickeson most recently worked for Kaulig Racing’s technical alliance partner Richard Childress Racing.
     
    About Kaulig Racing

    Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

  • AO Racing Eyes Back-to-Back Titles with Fierce Lineup for 2025 IMSA Season

    AO Racing Eyes Back-to-Back Titles with Fierce Lineup for 2025 IMSA Season

    ST. CHARLES, Ill., (December 5, 2024) — AO Racing has officially confirmed its return to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the 2025 season, bringing Rexy, the beloved Porsche 911 GT3 “Rawr,” back to the GTD PRO class. With an all-star lineup in place, the team is ready to defend its championship title. Laurin Heinrich, the 2024 Drivers’ Champion returns to continue building on the success of last season. Joining him for the full campaign is Klaus Bachler, with two-time European Le Mans Series champion Alessio Picariello rounding out the trio for endurance rounds.

    “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Porsche in the GTD Pro category for 2025,” said Team Principal Gunnar Jeannette. “Winning the championship in our first year in such a highly competitive class still feels surreal, and we’re eager to carry that momentum into the new season. Laurin showcased his speed and competitiveness in Rexy throughout 2024, and with Klaus and Alessio joining him, we’re confident we have a strong lineup. The introduction of torque sensors is a new development for IMSA teams in GTD, but we’re optimistic that Porsche’s experience in 2024 will give us a strong foundation to stay competitive from the outset.”

    AO Racing has become an immediate standout for Porsche success in a short time, proud to represent the German manufacturer in the highly competitive North American series. Their achievements included three victories (and three golden teeth for Rexy), along with the prestigious Michelin All Hands Award, recognizing the crew with the least time spent in pit lane.

    The 2025 calendar will see the team’s GTD PRO squad return to the same 10 tracks as 2025, beginning with Daytona International Speedway for the Roar Before the 24 January 17-19. The Roar stands as the first official test of the new year before competitors dive into the Rolex 24 At Daytona January 13-16.

    Laurin Heinrich

    After clinching the 2024 title, I’m very happy to be back with AO Racing and Rexy. I enjoyed working with Klaus for one race last season, so I’m pleased to have him back, and with Alessio, we have another quick driver from the Porsche family. Personally, I’d love to accomplish my goal of winning one of “the big ones” such as Daytona, Sebring, and Petit. Thanks to AO Racing and Porsche for giving us such a strong package to come back and try to defend our title!

    Klaus Bachler

    I’m really excited to be back in IMSA, competing in the GTD Pro class. Partnering with AO is something I’m truly looking forward to. With Laurin and Alessio, I have two incredibly fast and smart teammates whom I respect and enjoy working with. A big thank you to Porsche Motorsport and AO for this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait for the new season to start!

    Alessio Picariello

    I am very happy to join AO Racing, Laurin, and Klaus as the third Driver for the long races in IMSA. I respect them both a lot and I’m sure we will form a strong trio together with the whole crew in order to fight for those big trophies. I am also looking forward to jumping into the now-iconic Rexy!

    About AO Racing

    Founded in 2022 by PJ Hyett and Gunnar Jeannette, AO Racing has swiftly risen to prominence in the world of professional sports car racing. With an unwavering commitment to on-track excellence and fan engagement, AO Racing commands attention with its fun liveries and fan-friendly presence, becoming a dynamic force in the sport. Central to AO Racing’s success is its unique blend of performance and personality. The iconic liveries of “Rexy” and “Roxy,” the T-Rex Porsche 911 GT3 Rawrs and “Spike” the LMP2 Dragon have captivated fans worldwide, earning AO Racing a dedicated following. With a focus on making racing accessible and enjoyable for enthusiasts of all ages, AO Racing has become a beloved favorite among motorsport lovers. The team has a global footprint, with strong efforts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. With passion, precision, and a touch of flair, AO Racing is writing the next chapter in the annals of motorsport history.

  • CrowdStrike Racing by APR Takes Aim at Rolex 24

    CrowdStrike Racing by APR Takes Aim at Rolex 24

    • George Kurtz to drive CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA 07 LMP2 at Daytona
    • Toby Sowery, Malthe Jakobsen, Colton Herta to join Kurtz in No. 04 prototype
    • CrowdStrike Racing by APR seeks first win after consecutive runner-up finishes

    AUSTIN, Texas (December 5, 2024) – CrowdStrike Racing by APR (Algarve Pro Racing) is returning to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway for the biggest prize in North American sports car racing – the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

    For the third consecutive year, George Kurtz will be part of the LMP2 grid for the opening round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. He is teaming with Colton Herta, Toby Sowery and Malthe Jakobsen as the CrowdStrike by APR team aims for its first Rolex 24 victory.

    CrowdStrike Racing by APR have finished as class runners-up by a combined 6.816 seconds the last two years at Daytona. Notably, in 2023, CrowdStrike by APR was part of the closest finish in the 61-year history of the Rolex 24, missing the win by a razor-thin 0.016 seconds.

    This year’s race marks Kurtz’s fifth Rolex 24 appearance, with prior starts in the LMP2 and LMP3 prototype classes. Both Sowery and Jakobsen made their Rolex 24 debuts last year, delivering standout performances. Jakobsen was the second-fastest LMP2 driver in the race, trailing only then-teammate Colin Braun. Jakobsen carried that momentum into last month’s IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona, where he topped the LMP2 field over two days.

    CrowdStrike Racing by APR is continuing its preparations for the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona, scheduled for January 25-26. The team will participate in the three-day Roar Before the 24 on January 17-19.

    For more information, visit CrowdStrikeRacing.com. Follow #CrowdStrikeRacing

    on Facebook, X and Instagram for updates.

    CrowdStrike by APR Team Quotes

    George Kurtz, CrowdStrike by APR Driver: “Daytona is a benchmark for endurance racing, and I’m excited to return with CrowdStrike Racing by APR for another shot at the Rolex 24. Over the past two years, we’ve been incredibly close to victory, and that fuels our determination. The November test showed the power of our team, with Malthe and Toby delivering exceptional speed and consistency. I’m confident we’re ready to rise to the challenge and aim for the top.”

    Stewart Cox, Team Principal, Algarve Pro Racing: “Nobody goes into a series like the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship or an individual race like the Rolex 24 At Daytona to finish second, and it’s demoralising when you miss out on the victory after 24 hours. Having finished runner-up the last two years, CrowdStrike Racing by APR has done even more preparation in readiness for the 2025 edition of the Rolex 24 and, from a team perspective, we feel we’re a little further down the road. We will once again be among some really strong team-driver combinations, but we have the car and line-up to win it and just have to join the dots. We’ve got a job to do!”

    About CrowdStrike

    CrowdStrike (Nasdaq: CRWD), a global cybersecurity leader, has redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced cloud-native platform for protecting critical areas of enterprise risk — endpoints and cloud workloads, identity and data.

    Powered by the CrowdStrike Security Cloud and world-class AI, the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform leverages real-time indicators of attack, threat intelligence, evolving adversary tradecraft and enriched telemetry from across the enterprise to deliver hyper-accurate detections, automated protection and remediation, elite threat hunting and prioritized observability of vulnerabilities. Purpose-built in the cloud with a single lightweight-agent architecture, the Falcon platform delivers rapid and scalable deployment, superior protection and performance, reduced complexity and immediate time-to-value.

    CrowdStrike: We stop breaches.

    Learn more: https://www.crowdstrike.com/

    Follow us: Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

    Start a free trial today: https://www.crowdstrike.com/free-trial-guide/

    2023 CrowdStrike, Inc. All rights reserved. CrowdStrike, the falcon logo, CrowdStrike Falcon and CrowdStrike Threat Graph are marks owned by CrowdStrike, Inc. and registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and in other countries. CrowdStrike owns other trademarks and service marks, and may use the brands of third parties to identify their products and services.

  • BRENT SEXTON WRAPPED UP HIS 2024 SEASON AT THE TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX

    BRENT SEXTON WRAPPED UP HIS 2024 SEASON AT THE TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX

    (Lakeside, CA, December 4, 2023) A little over 10 months after it all began, Sexton Gatlin Racing’s Brent Sexton wrapped up the 2024 campaign on Thanksgiving weekend in the 83rd running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at the Ventura Raceway. The veteran racer competed in the Inland Rigging Ultimate Sprint Car Series portion of the program.

    The two-night show matched Lakeside, California-based Sexton against a stellar field of drivers from around the nation. Friday’s preliminary night saw 50 cars show up at the tiny 1/5 of a mile track on the beach at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Sexton, a 52-year-old Tennessee native, qualified fifth fastest in his group with a lap of 12.789. Powered by a former Rico Abreu Shaver 360 engine, the three-time lightning sprint car champion had a good starting position in his heat race on the inside of row three. Unfortunately, a tap with another car saw his right rear go flat. The deflation saw him finish 10th.

    That flat tire meant that Brent had to go to one of the B mains. The race was only 12 laps long and would go by in the blink of an eye on the little track. Starting ninth in the 10-car field, the wily veteran had to finish third to transfer to the A main. The laps wound down quickly and Sexton drove his way to sixth. However, time ran out before he could get past three more cars, and he was done for the night.

    The following evening, Brent had one shot at making the A-main. That came in one of the three B mains. It was a 12-lapper like Friday night, and he was starting ninth. However, this time he only had to get to fourth. Once again, he began passing cars and raced his way up to sixth. But like the night before, the laps ticked off quickly. Brent ended up two spots shy of the transfer. That ended his racing weekend and put wraps on his 2024 season.

    SGR is already making plans for the 2025 campaign, with the first race of the year coming in February. If you would like to join the team for a fun, exciting ride on the sprint car trail, call Brent Sexton or email him at the contact information at the top of this release.

    Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2024 season possible. East County Electric Works, Keys Brothers, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Valley Lubricant Services, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt.

    Brent Sexton 2024 Results

    2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 15th A Main

    3/1/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 4th A Main

    3/2/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main

    3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 12th A Main

    3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 16th A Main

    3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

    3/23/24 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main

    4/6/24 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 17th A Main

    4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 25th A Main

    4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main

    4/27/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main

    5/18/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main

    5/25/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 1st A Main

    6/1/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 10th A Main

    6/8/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 5th A Main

    6/22/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

    7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 15th A Main

    7/13/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 9th A Main

    7/20/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th B Main

    8/10/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 14th A Main

    8/31/24 Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

    9/1/24 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main

    9/13/24 Bakersfield Speedway California Lightning Sprints 7th A Main

    9/14/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 14th A Main

    9/21/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main

    10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

    10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 13th A Main

    11/1/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 18th B Main

    11/2/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 10th B Main

    11/29/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Turkey Night Grant Prix 6th B Main

    11/30/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Turkey Night Grant Prix 6th B Main

    Grant Sexton 2024 Results

    2/24/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 18th A Main

    3/8/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 9th A Main

    3/9/24 Imperial Valley Raceway Imperial Valley 360/410 Sprint Cars 5th A Main

    3/16/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main

    3/23/24 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 16th A Main

    4/6/24 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main

    4/20/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Cars 16th A Main

    4/27/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 19th A Main

    5/11/24 Barona Speedway So Cal Lightning Sprints 3rd A Main

    5/18/24 Bakersfield Speedway USCS Sprint Car Series 5th A Main

    6/1/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 3rd A Main

    6/22/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 6th A Main

    7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main

    7/20/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 7th A Main

    8/10/24 Santa Maria Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 23rd A Main

    8/31/24 Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 20th A Main

    9/1/24 Santa Maria Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 24th A Main

    9/14/24 Ventura Raceway USCS Sprint Cars 9th A Main

    9/21/24 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main

    10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 21st A Main

    10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 11th A Main

    11/1/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 26th A Main

    11/2/24 Mohave Valley Raceway Western World Championships 23rd A Main

    Braydin Collie 2024 Results

    7/6/24 Santa Maria Speedway California Lightning Sprints 6th A Main

    8/3/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 5th A Main

    8/17/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 9th A Main

    9/28/24 Barona Speedway SoCal Lightning Sprints 6th A Main

    10/18/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 7th A Main

    10/19/24 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Lightning Sprints 2nd A Main

    10/26/24 Barona Speedway So Cal Lightning Sprints 7th A Main

    AJ Bender 2024 Results

    9/14/24 Ventura Raceway California Lightning Sprints 5th A Main

  • Back-to-Back Indy 500 Winner Newgarden Unveils Second Image on Borg-Warner Trophy

    Back-to-Back Indy 500 Winner Newgarden Unveils Second Image on Borg-Warner Trophy

    INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024) – 2024 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge winner Josef Newgarden unveiled his likeness on the Borg-Warner Trophy on Dec. 4 in Indianapolis, one of the most significant honors since he won his second Indy 500 on May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    Newgarden, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, earned his second victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. This was the 20th Indy 500 victory for Team Penske, and Newgarden is the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves won his second Indy 500 while driving for Team Penske in 2002.

    The unveiling ceremony took place at COhatch Polk Stables, a coworking space for entrepreneurs and startups located in downtown Indianapolis.

    The bas-relief, sterling silver image of Newgarden is the 111th face to be affixed to the iconic trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 since 1936.

    “Having my face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy is one of the coolest parts about winning the race,” Newgarden said. “Seeing the finished product, with two side-by-side images of my face, is an unbelievable honor, and I look forward to hopefully adding a third likeness to the row after this year’s Indy 500.”

    Renowned sculptor Will Behrends created Newgarden’s image, as he has for every winner since 1990.

    Each face on the trophy is unique, even for a back-to-back winner like Newgarden. Behrends starts from scratch each year and begins his creative process by studying a series of 360-degree photos of the winner to get a baseline for sculpting before constructing a full-scale model of the driver’s face. Normally a driver would visit Behrends’ studio in Tryon, North Carolina, for an in-person session. This year’s visit was impacted by Hurricane Helene, so Newgarden and Behrends met virtually to make the final adjustments to the full-scale model.

    This life-size clay version is used as reference for Behrends to construct the smaller model, a piece created out of a mixture of oil-based clay. The smaller clay model is turned into a mold and cast in wax before being sent to a jeweler to be transformed into sterling silver. Behrends completes his process by polishing and buffing the sculpture before attaching it to the trophy.

    “Today is a special day for Josef and BorgWarner,” said Michelle Collins, global director marketing and public relations for BorgWarner. “Josef is one of only six drivers to win back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories in the race’s 113-year history, and unveiling his face on this spectacular trophy cements his mark not only in INDYCAR, but all of motorsports. BorgWarner is honored to uphold the tradition of the Borg-Warner Trophy and celebrate Josef’s historic 2024 Indianapolis 500 win.”

    Originally designed in 1935, the sterling silver trophy measures over 5 feet, 4-3/4 inches tall and weighs more than 110 pounds as it carries the sculpted face of every victor since 1911.

    Early next year, Newgarden will receive his BorgWarner Championships Driver’s Trophy, also known as a “Baby Borg,” a miniature replica of the large-scale Borg-Warner Trophy.

    Tickets for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and all Month of May events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are on sale at IMS.com.

  • TOYOTA TO CONCLUDE NHRA INVOVLEMENT FOLLOWING 2025 SEASON

    TOYOTA TO CONCLUDE NHRA INVOVLEMENT FOLLOWING 2025 SEASON

    PLANO, Texas (December 4, 2024) – After over two decades of on-track success, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) will conclude its participation in NHRA Drag Racing competition following the upcoming 2025 season.

    “Our NHRA Drag Racing involvement has brought much success and pride across our entire organization,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager, motorsports, TMNA. “Our NHRA drivers and teams have truly become part of our Toyota family. We look forward to competing for more wins and championships with our supported teams in the upcoming season, and we will work diligently along the way to make sure each team and driver have the tools necessary to compete at the highest level for the years to come.”

    Toyota currently provides its NHRA teams with tow vehicles, along with engineering, technology and trackside support through TRD U.S.A., which will continue through the balance of the 2025 season. Toyota partners with AB Motorsports, DC Motorsports, Kalitta Motorsports, Ron Capps Motorsports, SCAG Racing’s Top Fuel program and Torrence Racing.

    TMNA first entered NHRA Drag Racing competition in 2002 and won for the first time at the Winternationals in March of 2004. Since then, Toyota has captured over 200 race wins, 12 world championships, including back-to-back titles in Top Fuel with Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown, and enters 2025 with a 43-race final round consecutive streak. Toyota has also held the official car of the NHRA title since 2014 and won its first manufacturers cup championship this year.

    About Toyota

    Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

    Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th 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 29 electrified options.

    For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

  • Delaney Gray secures 2024 INEX North Carolina Bandolero Bandit championship

    Delaney Gray secures 2024 INEX North Carolina Bandolero Bandit championship

    LA GRANGE, N.C. (Dec. 4, 2024) – For the first time in INEX history, a female competitor has captured the North Carolina Bandolero Bandit state championship.

    That competitor is 12-year-old Delaney Gray, who secured the state championship thanks to an incredible season that included 21 victories and 31 top five finishes. Her wins came at a variety of tracks, including Southern National Motorsports Park and New River All American Speedway.

    “Seeing Delaney’s hard work and determination pay off is extremely gratifying,” said Brandon Gray, Delaney’s father. “She has to work extremely hard to race at a competitive level and it’s simply amazing to see what God is doing in her life and the lessons she is learning. She has a big heart and a ton of drive to be successful and she has a great mentor in her crew chief, Blaise Brinkley.

    “Blaise has helped her development to a point she could contend for a state title. This is just as much his as it is hers. I’m so proud of what they have accomplished together.”

    The INEX North Carolina Bandolero Bandit state championship is a monumental achievement for Gray, who began her racing career just a few short years ago.

    Last year she ranked fourth in the North Carolina Bandolero Bandit standings after scoring 11 wins, which gave her all the motivation she needed to pursue the championship again during the 2024 season.

    “Being crowned the North Carolina Bandit champion is an honor and my largest accomplishment so far,” said Delaney Gray. “Being the first female to accomplish this in my age bracket is so amazing. I’m so thankful God has blessed me the ability and platform to perform at a high level. I hope that I can encourage other your females to follow their dreams and show them that hard work pays off.

    “I owe a big thank you to my Mom and Dad, crew chief Blaise Brinkley, Matt and Zach for always believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. I want to Thank my sisters Emalyn and Olivia for traveling all over and giving up valuable family time for me to race. Mr. Mike Gordon, I do not know what else to say. Words cannot express how grateful I am that you took me in, treated me like family and gave us bad fast cars. And finally, Miss Tonya from MPM Marketing, you are much more than my agent, you are a life coach, mentor and a dear friend to me.”

    Delaney is already looking forward to the upcoming 2025 season. Her plans will be announced soon.

    Delaney would like to thank her family and all of her sponsors, including Carolina Family Pool & Patio, MPM Marketing, Bob’s Muffler Shop of Goldsboro, W.G. Speeks Inc., Carolina Mobile Refrigeration, K1 RaceGear and Swift Springs.

    About McCallister Precision Marketing

    McCallister Precision Marketing (MPM) focuses on assisting up-and-coming race car drivers with career advancement and promotion. McCallister Precision Marketing helps drivers build confidence in front of and behind the camera, giving them the tools they need to advance to the next level. The company also provides companies with a strategic plan for their sales, marketing and promotional needs. We believe in building positive relationships with our clients so that we may provide them with the most professional, yet personal guidance they need, in order to achieve their racing goals. Our clients include race car drivers, race team owners, companies and racing series’. We also work closely with charities and charity events. For more information on McCallister Precision Marketing, visit www.MarketWithMPM.com, email TonyaMac44@MarketWithMPM.com or call 803-361-6199.