Category: NASCAR Cup PR

Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DOVER, Del. (April 27, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday.

MARTIN TRUEX JR., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

What’s it like coming back to Dover Motor Speedway as the defending winner?

“Yeah, it’s always nice to come back to Dover (Motor Speedway) – a place where I’ve had a lot of success. It’s been a good track for me over the years, so we’re excited about it. We’ve had really fast cars all year long. Not quite been able to get the win yet, but I feel like we’ve been right there and our time is coming, and hopefully this weekend we can do what we did last year.”

How do you and your team break down this track when you look at it? Obviously, you had success here last year, but throughout this week, how did you prepare?

“Yeah, I mean this is our third year here with the Next Gen car, so just trying to go back through all of that and try to figure out how to be even better than last year because everyone’s programs evolve and they learn things. So yeah, they understand what I’m looking for here; what I want to feel. For here, it’s always about – ok, what’s the weather going to be; what are the tires like; how much rubber is going to go down on Sunday. I think today is a warmup and a qualifying session, and tomorrow is going to be a completely different racetrack, so being prepared for that is going to be important. Figuring out how it’s going to change will be a big deal.”

What has the feel been like going from the previous generation car to the Next Gen car?

“You know for here (at Dover Motor Speedway), it’s just kind of been a process of figuring it out. These cars are quite a bit different; the way they feel with the tires and the bigger wheels. They’re so stiff and so rigid. This place gets really rough and really bouncy when it gets rubbered up in the race, and it’s been a challenge to figure out how to get this car to ride nice; not so stiff and have some grip. Yeah, it’s been a challenge and it’s a totally different feel than what we used to get here.”

You talked about the weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be a lot warmer, and the sun is going to be out. What do you take from today’s practice session with what we have out there now that you can apply to tomorrow?

“Yeah, I mean you basically just get a feel for the car; the overall balance and kind of get a baseline, and then, try to figure out which direction to go from there, which is always probably the biggest challenge that we deal with. The crew chiefs and engineers deal with it every weekend it seems like. It’s always the hottest on Sunday. That’s a good thing for the racing, for sure, and I enjoy that, but it’s a big challenge for them to get the car right.”

Looking ahead to Kansas Speedway, last fall didn’t go to great, but you have had success there in the past. Can you talk a little bit about what it takes to have a solid day there?

“Yeah, for sure. I felt really good about our car there last year, but it didn’t last very long with the tire issue. Kansas (Speedway) is a really fun racetrack. It’s a place where you can move around; the tires wear out and it gets slippery. It’s just a fun place to race. At the same time, I think it’s a real measuring stick of your cars and where you’re at. It takes everything to get around there. You have to have horsepower and downforce; a good setup with a lot of tire grip and things like that. It’s a big challenge and usually the guys that have the fastest cars are upfront there, so hopefully we’ll be one of those guys because it seems like our Camry’s have been really strong this year.”

Last year at Dover Motor Speedway, you and Ryan (Truex) obviously swept the weekend. Going into this year with both of you on the entry lists again in your respective series, have you talked with him about last year? Also, what would you be able to do to build off that momentum?

“Yeah, we’ve talked about it some between then and now. It’s a new year; there’s new challenges. Really in this sport, what you did last year doesn’t mean a thing. He (Ryan Truex) felt pretty good about his car yesterday. He didn’t get the lap he wanted in qualifying. And for us, we’ll see how today goes and go from there. Honestly, I feel great with what my team’s been able to do this year. We’ve got some things we need to figure out during the race that we can do better, but our cars have been really fast and the guys have been making great decisions and giving me fast cars to drive, which has been awesome. Hopefully that continues here, and we’ll go out and do what we know how to do.”

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 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th 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 26 electrified options.

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

Toyota Racing – Erik Jones and Corey Heim
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DOVER, Del. (April 27, 2024) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB drivers Erik Jones and Corey Heim were made available to the media prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Heim, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s reserve driver, will fill-in for Jones as he recovers from a lower back injury suffered from an on-track incident in last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.

ERIK JONES, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

COREY HEIM, reserve driver, No. 43 Dollar Tree/Petty’s 75th Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Can you take us through the process last week?

JONES: “I think, for me, it is pretty straight forward. It hurt when I crashed. I’ve never broken a bone in my life, so I didn’t even know what that would feel like. I got out of the car on my own, and I was feeling better. Obviously, adrenaline is going, and I’m pumped up still. Got to the care center, told them what was wrong – that my back was hurting – they poked and prodded all over me, like they normally do, and I said everything felt okay and I told them multiple times that it felt like muscle strain to me. From there, I got up and I was getting around. I walked into the care center. I got up to leave, and was feeling good, was getting released. I talked to a couple of nurses on the way out, and they said if anything changes, just come right back because they were under the same impression – lot of adrenaline – and they could tell that I was hurting a little bit. By the time I got back to the motorhome, after the interviews, I was in more and more pain as time was passing. Got changed into my clothes, and knew I was going to have to go back. It really hurt, and I had some trouble getting around, so I went back right away, and said there is probably more wrong than what I was letting onto you guys. It is really starting to cause me some pain, so then we made the decision to transport. We took an x-ray there, saw some possible problems, wasn’t really sure with the equipment, so we went ahead and transferred to UAB after that.”

How much pain are you in right now? What is your approach mentally on coming back?

JONES: “To be honest right now, I’m feeling pretty good. As a driver, probably any driver, they want to just hop back in. I would love to say that I could get back in and do it right now. Is that possible? I don’t know. I don’t know how I would truly feel in the car, especially a place like Dover. I get pretty sore at night, and when I’m not moving around. My range of motion is a bit limited right now, but the soreness has faded away. It was pretty bad earlier in the week, and I was just resting. By yesterday and today, I’m feeling better and better. There are certain motions that cause a lot of pain. The thing that is probably the worst – it is allergy season, and when I have to sneeze, that hurts pretty bad, but other than that – sitting here right now, talking, I feel pretty good. As far as coming back, I think it is week-to-week. My injury is fortunately, on the mild side, so we will just have to see how it is healing up, how I’m feeling – again, I’m feeling better and better every day. I have an appointment next week, and kind of will make a decision from there.”

Do you have any idea of the g-forces are? Are you in a back brace? Do you need a scan to get approval to go?

JONES: “I’m not in any back brace. It is kind of up to see how the x-rays look and how everything is healing – making sure everything is healing good with the neurosurgeon I’m seeing in Charlotte. That is kind of week-to-week and how that is looking, so no brace or anything. On the wreck, I went to NASCAR and looked at the car on Tuesday or Wednesday. The wreck was really similar to Ryan Blaney’s at Daytona last summer. The g’s and the impact were similar to that, and kind of talking it over with NASCAR on what has to get fixed to see an improvement there. Obviously, Ryan was uninjured in his, and I had an injury in mine, so trying to figure out what the difference is there, but it was real similar to his wreck.”

What are you trying to do for your mental health?

JONES: “It is a unique perspective for me. I’ve never missed a Cup race and this is my eighth season. I’ve never had the chance to sit back and watch a Cup race in a long time now, and obviously never seen my team perform without me. You have to look the at the positives and at least I’ll be able to take a view of my team from a side that I’m not involved for a weekend at least and see how things look. It is definitely more challenging I thought, waking up this morning, to be honest and getting ready for today and realizing that you are not getting in the car. You see the suit, it’s hanging up, that’s tough. For me, taking a week off, I had another guy text me about it – kind of exactly what you are saying – take this time to reflect and see where you are in life. Yeah, it’s not where we want to be as far as the season yet, and where our team and our cars have been. It is unfortunate to continue that process to get better. I want to be in that, but right now, I’m just trying to find the positives. We can take at least a week and see what the group looks like from the outside, watching in. You can see that advice from people around you – it is going to be interesting to see for myself this weekend.”

Can you take us through your last week?
HEIM: “Yeah, it certainly has been a busy week for me. I’ve never sat in one of these things – till about an hour from now. For sure, just trying to do the best I can for this group. They’ve consistently been getting better throughout the year, and super grateful for everyone at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, and the people there for doing everything they possibly can to get me ready, including Erik (Jones). He’s sat in all of our meetings. Huge props to him for that, and Jimmie (Johnson) as well. There is just a long list of men and women at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB that have helped me get prepared for this race. I would be lying to you if I wasn’t a little nervous about it, because I’ve never sat in one of these cars before, but my job is to do the best I can for this 43 group until Erik comes back.”

How frustrating is it to not be in the car, but healthy enough to be here?

JONES: “It’s two-fold like you said. I’m not in the car, but the wreck and the injury I had – it could have been a lot worse in a lot of ways. I think that is a testament to the safety. I think NASCAR has gotten some of a bad rap this week, the Next Gen car gets a bad rap. I think the car did its job. Unfortunately, this is an injury that we’ve seen in the Truck Series, and obviously, that is the old-style car and this is the first time we’ve seen this injury in this car, but it is an impact that has caused that injury before. Fortunately, as you said, it’s not worse.”

What are your emotions like being at the track, not being able to race tomorrow?

JONES: “It’s definitely depressing in a way. I never – especially when I was younger, starting my career – never thought I would miss a race for anything. You see guys along the way racing through injuries and sickness, and I was like I will never be one of those guys, I will make every race. As long as I race, there is nothing that can keep me out. I think we all think that as drivers, no matter what age or how old or how long you’ve been doing it. So when you get faced with that reality, it’s definitely a changing perspective for you for sure, but the only thing that went my mind through it – I found out on Tuesday that I wasn’t going to be able to race this weekend, was going and helping these guys get ready. Talking to Corey (Heim) helping him. Talking with Dave (Elenz, crew chief) – obviously he hasn’t worked with anyone else in a minute, and I don’t think anyone ever making their Cup debut, that is a bit of a different weekend for him as well. Just trying to get these guys ready to go is the biggest thing from me.”

What has it been like working with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on the simulator before this week and during this week?

HEIM: “Working with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB since the start of the year has given me a little bit of a head start, I guess, for this week. You never expect something like this to happen, but at least being able to talk to Dave (Elenz, crew chief) and the other two teams at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and being able to start those relationships at the beginning of the year and kick start this week a little bit better for me. It’s been a pleasure for sure, just getting the virtual seat time in a Cup car has helped me for sure and being able to tune on the simulator side of things this year. I didn’t really get to dive too deep into things this week, but I think the three or four days that I got in preparation and leaning on all of the drivers at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB to be as ready as I can is the biggest thing for me. I will definitely learn a lot in the next couple of hours, but I think the last three or four days have been really beneficial for me versus over not getting a heads up, that would a lot tougher for sure.”

Can you talk a little bit about the conversations you’ve had with Corey Heim?

JONES: “A lot of it has been the differences in the car. I think I would say making your Cup debut now is somewhat more challenging than when I did it, less practice, completely different car – there is a lot of things that I would say is tougher. When I was getting to make my first Cup start, we will take out when I jumped in Bristol for Denny (Hamlin) – that was kind of last minute – but when I got in for Kyle (Busch) in Kansas – I had a lot of time to prepare and get ready, and then two or three practice throughout the weekend. It is challenging now. I think the biggest thing is setting expectations. I think for me, in my first Cup start, my mind was to win the race. That was probably the wrong plan, and I ended up wrecking myself towards the end of the day, so I think getting expectations set – running all the laps and not crashing – is a great debut for most. I talked to him a little bit about that, and the rest has been just about the car and what the differences are there and trying to prepare going from Trucks and Xfinity to this car and what it is going to be like.”

How important is the advice that Erik Jones has given you?
HEIM: “It’s huge for sure. I think any good advice that I’ve gotten has been real crucial for me throughout the weekend. I think for us, we are just going to try to take it one step at a time. We’ve got the 20-minute practice and then qualifying. We are going to take it stage by stage there. It is certainly not going to be easy, but it is a longer race than I’ve been accustomed to with the Trucks and the Xfinity stuff, and I also have the Xfinity race as well to kind of lean on as well. I’ve got the time this weekend to sort of figure it out. I don’t know if I will feel that I’ve got it figured out by the end of the weekend, but any advice is super important. I’ve been reaching out to as many people as I possibly can to try to gather all of the information and try to have a decent idea. With these 20-minute practices, it is pretty brutal to wrap your head around a completely different kind of race car within that time frame, but my job is just to do the best I can for this 43 group and move forward from there.”

How do you balance the excitement and nerves with knowing you need to go out and execute?

HEIM: “Mentally, I’ve not been able to digest this quite yet. It is definitely kind of a last second and big opportunity for me under unfortunate circumstances. It is definitely cool for me to be able to make my debut with the 43 group. I think they’ve been going the right direction and got a cool paint scheme on the car. I get to be teammates with Jimmie (Johnson) and John Hunter (Nemechek) – to do that is super cool, but in the moment, I’m so focused on practice and qualifying right now, I’ve not really been able to focus on that. I think when I reflect on it – it will be a really cool moment for me, but right now, I’m just focused on the present.”

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 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th 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 26 electrified options.

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

Toyota Racing – Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DOVER, Del. (April 27, 2024) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver Jimmie Johnson was made available to the media prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, No. 84 Dollar Tree/Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Have you gotten a chance to look at Erik Jones’ car or do you have any concerns on how his care center trip was handled?

“No, I have not seen the car, and certainly not concerned with Erik’s (Jones) trip back to the care center. In my experience with crashes and injuries, it takes a little bit of time for stuff to sink in. I think Erik did the right thing going back to the infield care center. Once he got to his bus, his environment changed a little bit, and he handled that very well. I think the care center reacted perfectly. It was not much he could have done differently in that moment. I think everybody did a great job.”

What have you told Erik Jones about when he should return?

“It’s really a week-by-week basis, and there is a process that takes places with physicians and NASCAR to be reinstated, so being a driver and a competitor and having injuries. I know where my head would be trying to get in the car as soon as possible. I would assume it is certainly a priority for Erik (Jones), and we want him back as quickly as he can, but as safely as we can. As we run through the process each week, I would anticipate that Erik is going to be eager. We are going to physicians and try to get approval from NASCAR – we are trying to make sure that timing is right. It is really tough to tell with injuries. I’m sure you can tell from your experience in sports, we all wish we had the crystal ball and know when someone could come back but it really is a dynamic environment. We will go through the right steps and make sure that Erik is truly ready when he gets back in the car. I think driving is one aspect of it but going through another significant impact and crash. That is something that we have to be mindful of.”

How does Dover feel to you?

“No, I’m expecting it to be a much different environment than I had so much success with. You really have to drive this car with a lot of steering wheel input, ride height attitude, charging the diffuser – there is just a whole different – it is just a different mousetrap. It is really a different environment, a different feeling. I spun out at the Coke 600. I had some issues at Texas. Those are truly my only two proper oval experiences, and just the way the car responds and loses traction, turns around is just very, very different. I can now remember why watching the first half of the season when the Next Gen car came out. I would see these spins and people turning around and everybody’s confusion then is what I’m going through. I just feel like it is my turn to go through this adaptation period of the car and try to understand it. I think I’m making progress. I think running all of the laps at Texas, really taught me a lot. Not only from driving the car, to also improvements we need to make and where we sit as a company right now. I have to learn how to drive it off of the right front – there is no doubt about it. That is what this car wants. I was always a right rear guy.”

How important is to have this stretch of races for you?

“Super helpful. Glad that our partners stacked up this way. I’m glad there was some flexibility. I was able to pick this race. It fits in perfectly. It is part of the plan to make sure I can get reps on similar tracks. I know Dover is an outlier, but again it falls in a great rhythm. I think Dover, in the past for me, surprisingly car setup wise applied to Charlotte – and I’m running the 600 later this year, running both Kansas events was intentional, so that I can continue to build reps and help my own advancement, along helping with the technology for the race team as well. I think we have a good plan for this year. Last year, our plan was to focus on road course racing – we thought that was something we needed help with, but as the year went on and the tragedy that my family went through, everything was off the table at that point. In the offseason, we focused hard on mile-and-a-halves and the performance gains that we hoped to improve and thought that running a third car at least nine events at basically all mile-and-a-half tracks would help us develop as an organization.”

With your success at the track here in Dover, is there any extra motivation or expectation this weekend in Dover?

“It is just so different. I realized that quickly at Texas. I have a few wins at Texas, and that didn’t carry in. It is really on me. It is such a different environment as a driver and to spot these drivers in the garage a two-year head start on the little nuances that you need from the prep side on a Tuesday, all of the way to the completion on a Monday, when you debrief and work through it all. There is just a lot of distance to make up, and first and foremost, I need to do my part and get in tune with this car. Through this stretch, I will be able to do so.”

Can you talk about mentoring the drivers at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB compared to your time at Hendrick Motorsports?

“Not being in the car as often, and having so little Next Gen experience, I can’t be as detailed and as nuanced as I was in my Hendrick days. Big picture, more from a 30-thousand-foot view, more from an organizational point of view, partner point of view – life experience, there is things that I’m always here for and happy to help these guys with, and been very engaged with them both. Personally, I hold them both in high regard, professionally – same thing, so I’m really enjoying my time with both of them and hope to be more of a help as I get more reps and specifically talk about the Next Gen car.”

Is there a give and take with your team and drivers tomorrow?

“No, the reason we run the third car – the reason that I’m out here – is to help our two primary cars. It is not to help me. It is upon me to study, learn, ask the right questions, listen in. I don’t want to take anything away from the 42 or 43 programs. I’m really here to help. I will be doing plenty of listening. Just studying for this event with SMT and also driving the sim, it drives so much different than my last time here.”

What was your mindset coming into Dover knowing your success here?

“I try not to carry too much confidence into any event. It was just hard to hide my excitement to come here and drive. I first ran here in ASA, in the late 90s and fell in love with the track. I hadn’t been on an oval that scared me like being here. It is kind of a mixed back of emotions. The exhilaration of running a lap here, combined with confidence and the success that I’ve always enjoyed – thankfully in a Cup car with Hendrick Motorsports, and the relationship I had with Chad (Knaus) – we were able to truly dial in and build a car that always showed up and performed here. I try to not be over confident because this garage area is so intelligent, so smart. They studied us. They studied our approach here, and towards the end of my career – we didn’t have the guaranteed win success, but we always ran really well, so that was nice to see that carry on. I wish that guaranteed me a good result this weekend, but it is just a new environment and I’ll know a lot more with the 10 or 15 laps I will get in practice, and two more in qualifying. I wish practice was a lot longer. At least 45 minutes – and yes, I’m lobbying for more practice. I know that has been a conversation. I think it would be beneficial for all.”

Was there a difference from your first lap at Texas to what you ran by the end of the race?

“Yeah, from what I experienced in the vehicle – great reps – I came a long way of understanding the car. Unfortunately, the way the rules work, you make decisions a week in advance. The car, the shocks, the nose weight – all of the major pieces of the puzzle are in place. It goes into the transporter and it’s off. We made a few small changes with air pressure, and such, during Saturday and Sunday at Texas, but that is all you can do. It just puts so much pressure on unloading correct, and if we had a chance to change some springs in practice, had a longer session and it was allowed for us to make some more conceptional changes to the car, I think it would take the pressure off and the expense off, of all of the other tools that we need to create and work with to unload so spot on. I think that is the process that we are missing. I would like to see one shot to change a spring, especially from the era of racing that I ran in. We’d tear the car completely apart overnight – suspension off, a-frame changes, geometry changes, nose weight – you name it, wholesale changes. Now it is just tire pressure and wedge.”

As long as Erik Jones is out, would Corey Heim continue to drive the no. 43 car or would you consider getting in the car?

“Next weekend, I’m in the car in Kansas. We really haven’t looked really far down the road. We are taking it week-by-week, but Kansas for sure – it would be Corey (Heim) and not me.”

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 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th 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 26 electrified options.

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

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY
WÜRTH 400
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
APRIL 27, 2024

 ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Dover Motor Speedway. Tomorrow’s WÜRTH 400 will mark Bowman’s 300th career NASCAR Cup Series start.

Media Availability Quotes:

OBVIOUSLY YOU MISSED THE RACE HERE AT DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY LAST YEAR DUE TO INJURY. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO BE BACK AT A TRACK THAT YOU’VE HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS AT IN THE CUP SERIES?

“Yeah, for sure. I think this is always one that I’ve had circled. I was excited last year to get to come here again and obviously that didn’t pan out. But yeah, really, this is my favorite racetrack that we go to. I struggled greatly here for a long time, and then got to be teammates with Jimmie Johnson for a couple of years and honestly have been pretty successful ever since a conversation we had in 2019. So yeah, really excited to get back here, and hopefully we unload fast and are a threat for the win tomorrow.”

SPEAKING OF THAT, YOU MENTIONED ‘CIRCLE THE CALENDAR’ KIND OF TRACK – YOU HEAR THAT IN SPORTS ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW MUCH SUCCESS YOU HAVE AT THIS PARTICULAR EVENT. FOR A DRIVER THAT’S STILL TRYING TO SEARCH FOR THAT FIRST WIN AND CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT, HOW MUCH MERIT DOES THAT ‘CIRCLE THE CALENDAR’ SAYING HAVE AT THIS TRACK?

“Yeah, I mean I think it’s just a place where I enjoy going to. I feel like I bring a little something to the table and know what I want and know what I need in my race car to be successful here. But at the same time, we’re all-in every weekend, right? We’re ten-tenths every weekend trying to get back into victory lane. This is just a place where I feel like maybe it’s a little more natural or maybe I have a better idea of exactly what I need to be successful. I can say that all I want, and we can unload and struggle this weekend, but I feel like it’s a place that I’m pretty confident going to.”

YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LIKE THIS TRACK. YOU’VE HAD PREVIOUS SUCCESS HERE IN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION CAR AND THIS GENERATION CAR, SO HOW DOES THAT TRANSFER OVER FROM ONE STYLE OF CAR TO ANOTHER, THAT YOU’RE STILL ABLE TO HAVE THOSE TOP FINISHES?

“Yeah, I mean I think in 2022 when we came here, I was pretty uncertain on how everything from the previous generation car was going to apply. I feel like, obviously race car things don’t apply, but some of just the fundamentals of ways to get around this place and ways to race well here still works. So yeah, I mean we had a shot to win here in 2022 with the Next Gen car, as well. It didn’t work out, but we had a good, solid day.

I feel like there’s still things that, as far as how I approach it, that pay off in both cars.”

YOU HAVE A WIN HERE AT DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY IN 2021. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE EMOTIONS COMING TO DOVER AND JUST KNOWING THAT YOU’RE DRIVING THE NO. 48 AND HOW MUCH SUCCESS THIS TEAM HAS HAD OVER THE YEARS WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON?

“Yeah, for sure. I attribute a lot of my success here to Jimmie (Johnson), as well. Yeah, definitely a special place for the No. 48 car. When you think of kind of the dominance that team had kind of throughout that whole era, this is a place that comes to top of mind. So, it’s super cool to have also been successful here in the No. 48 car, but yeah I think even my own successes here, I definitely attribute to him, as well.”

YOU’VE HAD SUCCESS AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY. IN THE PAST, WE’VE TALKED ABOUT SINCE YOUR FAMILY KIND OF CAME FROM THAT NECK OF THE WOODS, YOU REALLY LIKE TO RUN WELL THERE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT TRACK THAT YOU THINK SHOWS OFF YOUR STYLE?

“Yeah, I mean I think that was one of the first immediate tracks I got to race at way back in ARCA, so I got a lot of laps there. Yeah, for whatever reason, just was kind of naturally pretty successful there off the bat, even in the Cup car. Obviously we haven’t won there, but we’ve had a lot of good days there. So, looking forward to getting there, as well. I think these two weeks are a fun two weeks for me. It’s two racetracks that I really like going to, so hopefully we’re a threat there next weekend, as well.”

 

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.

Richard Childress Racing at Dover Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has four NASCAR Cup Series victories at Dover Motor Speedway. Dale Earnhardt won three times, including a sweep of both races in 1989 and the 1993 spring event. Jeff Burton won the 2006 fall event to claim his first win at Dover and first victory of the season. The Welcome, N.C. based organization has 24 top-five and 59 top-10 finishes at the Monster Mile.

Xfinity Series Stats at the Monster Mile… RCR owns three NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at Dover Motor Speedway, two of which belong to Clint Bowyer (fall races in 2006 and 2009). Jeff Burton won the spring event in 2006, rallying from the 36th-place starting position and giving RCR a sweep of the Xfinity Series races.

Big Power on the Drafting Tracks… ECR has dominated all three drafting tracks in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway). ECR has won and swept the pole position in all three events. How strong has ECR been on those tracks? ECR teams have led 315 of 413 possible laps (76.27 percent) and 640.14 of 890.10 miles (71.91 percent).

Catch Saturday’s Action… The Dover 200 will be televised live on Saturday, April 27 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action in Dover… The Wurth 400 will be televised live on Sunday, April 28 beginning at 2 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Dover Motor Speedway… Austin Dillon has made 18 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover Motor Speedway, earning a best finish of seventh in October 2018. The Welcome, N.C. native has eight NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, earning one pole award and a best finish of fourth. He has made two NASCAR Truck Series starts at the track with a best finish of fourth. He also has one ARCA Menards Series East race under his belt at the one-mile concrete oval.

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 Dover Motor Speedway. 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 Austin Dillon… Fans traveling to Dover Motor Speedway this weekend will have the chance to meet the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet. Dillon is scheduled to appear at the RCR Merchandise Hauler on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to greet race fans and sign RCR gear.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

What does the sensation of speed at Dover Motor Speedway feel like?

“Racing at Dover Motor Speedway is like a rollercoaster ride with no tracks. There isn’t another track like it. You carry a lot of pace there. When you drive down into the corner to get to the bottom of the track, it feels like you’re coming off a four-story building with the banking. You just try to catch your breath and get back on the gas to drive off the corner. We do that for 400 laps. Once you get into the race, you get into a rhythm, and you start to feel comfortable. The first couple of laps are always hard on you though. It’s a hard concrete track. We have to make sure our shock package is good, and hopefully, the No. 3 Chevrolet handles well. Maybe the line will move around, but it’s usually right around the bottom. As the rubber lays down, it gets harder to do more with the car. Dover is a Monster, but my team is up for the challenge.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 FICO Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Dover Motor Speedway… Kyle Busch will make his 36th start at Dover Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend. Busch enters Sunday’s race with three wins at the one-mile Delaware speedway (2008, 2010, and 2017), which is third best among active drivers. In 2008, Busch led 158 of 400 laps and finished with an average running position of 1.913. The Las Vegas, Nevada native has 21 top-10 finishes, giving him a top-10 in 60 percent of his Cup starts at Dover. He won the pole in 2017 and started first in 2018 and 2023 after qualifying was canceled. Busch has led 1,341 laps in 20 Dover races, the second-best among active Cup drivers.

Welcome FICO… FICO, Richard Childress Racing and Kyle Busch are teaming up to raise awareness about the need for financial education. For the millions of NASCAR fans across the country, knowledge about money, financial planning, how credit works and the importance of building good financial habit are critical life skills. FICO, RCR and Kyle Busch want to share information and resources so that everyone in the NASCAR community can achieve their financial goals, such as paying for education, buying a home, or running a business.

FICO is a leading analytics software firm best known for its gold standard FICO® Score. Learn more about the FICO, RCR and Kyle Busch partnership, here: https://www.fico.com/en/newsroom/fico-and-richard-childress-racing-kick-financial-and-credit-education-partnership-nascar.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

Last year rain cut Cup Series practice short at Dover Motor Speedway and you started the race on a green track. How big of a challenge is that?

“Track conditions at Dover are challenging because they’re always changing. When you’re on a green racetrack, you really fight tire wear and you’re wearing out the tires quite rapidly. As the weekend progresses and as the race progresses, rubber gets put down on the track and that makes tire life better.”

Is racing at Dover Motor Speedway physically demanding for a driver?

“Racing at Dover is physically demanding. You’re in the corner around that track longer than you are going straight on the straightaways which means the time in which you’re doing the most work is the longest. It’s also very physically taxing just because of the roughness of the concrete surface and the constant beating that the driver takes in the seat from going over all the joints in the track.”

How easy is it for a driver to get into trouble at Dover Motor Speedway?

“I would say it’s pretty easy for drivers to find trouble at Dover. Typically, the looser you are, the faster you are, but when you get too loose, it’s really easy to spin. If you spin it at Dover, more than likely you are going to hit both the outside and inside walls. As crashes happen, you’re going so fast that sometimes you can’t get checked up fast enough.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro SS at Dover Motor Speedway… Jesse Love has made two career starts at Dover Motor Speedway, both in ARCA Menards Series East competition in 2021 and 2022. During the 2022 event, the Menlo Park, California native qualified in the fourth position, led a total of nine laps, and finished in second place. Love will make his inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the Monster Mile this Saturday.

First Career Victory… In just his ninth start, Love secured his first career Xfinity Series win last Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway. The victory locked Love into the Playoffs and extended the 19-year-old’s lead to 122 points in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings.

Stacking the Top-10s… The top-10 streak for Love and the No. 2 Whelen Camaro currently sits at six consecutive weeks, dating back to their second-place result at Phoenix Raceway on March 9.

Did You Know? Love’s win at Talladega Superspeedway was not only his first career Xfinity Series victory, but it also marked Whelen Engineering’s first win as a primary partner in the series. Whelen Engineering has been a loyal partner in the Xfinity Series for 28 years.

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

Dashing 4 Cash… After capturing the checkered flag at Talladega Superspeedway, Love enters Dover Motor Speedway with a chance to win an extra $100,000 through the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash program. Love will battle Ryan Sieg, Riley Herbst, and Anthony Alfredo on Saturday afternoon, with the highest finisher earning the Dash 4 Cash title. This marks Love’s second career attempt at competing for the bonus.

Meet Love… On Saturday, April 27 at 9:45 a.m. ET, Love is scheduled to sign autographs with fellow Xfinity Series drivers in the Fan Zone at Dover Motor Speedway. Directly after at 10:40 a.m. ET, Love and his RCR teammate Austin Hill are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Fan Zone at Dover Motor Speedway. A limited-edition, new t-shirt highlighting Love’s win at Talladega Superspeedway will be available for purchase.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

Why is Dover Motor Speedway one of your favorite tracks? What will it take to have a good race on Saturday?

“I feel like Dover suits my driving style well. I like the sensation of speed, the high banks, and the concrete surface. I personally prefer concrete surfaces over asphalt. Coming off our first win though, the No. 2 Whelen team is looking to keep that momentum rolling. It will take a good car to be able to lead laps and run consistently up front at Dover, but I know that Danny Stockman and all the guys have worked hard this week to make sure we are in the best position possible once we unload. The goal is to maximize points, but thankfully the pressure is now off with having locked ourselves into the Playoffs.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Nuthin Fancy Co. Chevrolet Camaro SS at Dover Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has made two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Dover Motor Speedway, securing a fourth-place finish last season while driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. The Winston, Ga. native has competed in six NASCAR Truck Series races (best finish of seventh) and three ARCA Menards Series East events (two wins – 2013, 2014) at the high-banked, Delaware oval.

Points Check… Hill currently holds the third position in the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings, 16 points behind leader Chandler Smith.

Did You Know? With his laps pacing the field at Talladega Superspeedway, Hill has led in 14 straight superspeedway races, tying Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the all-time record in the Xfinity Series.

About Nuthin Fancy Co… Nuthin Fancy Co. is an outdoor lifestyle clothing brand founded in the foothills of Maryland. Serving as the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts, we cater to individuals who truly embrace an active lifestyle. Whether it is hunting, fishing, golfing, relaxing by the lake, or attending race days, our brand is dedicated to offering top-quality clothing that will elevate those experiences. For more information and to purchase Nuthin Fancy Co. gear, please visit nuthinfancyco.com.

Meet Hill… On Saturday, April 27 at 10:40 a.m. ET, Hill and his RCR teammate Jesse Love are scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Trailer located in the Fan Zone at Dover Motor Speedway. A limited-edition Nuthin Fancy Co. hat will be available for purchase.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

Do you get a sense of speed from inside the car at Dover Motor Speedway?

“You definitely get a very big sense of speed at Dover. The first laps that I always make there take your breath away until you get settled in. You feel like you’re running 200 miles per hour around that place.”

You had success at Dover Motor Speedway dating back to your first race there in 2013. What do you like about that track?

“I won the first time that I was there in the ARCA Menards Series East back in 2013 and then when we came back the following year, I won again. I didn’t win at the Truck Series level, but it always seemed like we had speed and ran inside the top-five a lot. Dover is so fast and it’s so much fun to get around. From the first time I went there, I understood how you had to approach the entry of the corner to be good on exit. That’s one of the key elements that makes me pretty good around Dover.”

RYAN PREECE
Dover Advance
No. 41 Morton Buildings Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Würth 400 (Round 11 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 28
● Location: Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1-mile, concrete oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 120 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 150 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● After securing his third consecutive top-15 of the season, Ryan Preece is set to tame the track affectionately nicknamed the “Monster Mile.” Sunday’s Würth 400 at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway marks the first appearance of the season for Morton Buildings as primary sponsor of Preece’s No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing. Morton Buildings, the industry-leading company in post-frame manufacturing and construction, previously adorned the hood of Preece’s Ford Mustang during one race in 2023, and for several races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series when the Connecticut native made select starts during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

● During last weekend’s race on the high banks of Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Preece and the No. 41 team qualified an impressive 11th, just missing out on the second round of qualifying by .007 of a second. At a racetrack where momentum reigns supreme, Preece went on to earn two stage points and ran up front with his Ford teammates throughout the 500-mile race. Despite getting caught up in a multicar accident coming to the checkered flag, Preece still managed a 14th-place result.

● Heading into Dover, Preece sits 23rd in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 162 points, having moved up one spot with his strong showing at Talladega. He’s climbed seven positions in the standings over the last three races and sits just two points behind John Hunter Nemechek.

● Preece has seven previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Dover with a best result of 17th, which came in his first start with Stewart-Haas last May. He has an additional three starts there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a best finish of fourth, earned in October 2018, one of his two top-10s in those three starts.

● Morton Buildings, based in Morton, Illinois, is distinguished by meticulous attention to detail. The company sets itself apart with leading-edge innovations, top-tier warranties and highly skilled field craftsmen, all aimed at exceeding customer expectations. With a construction legacy extending over a century and a clientele exceeding a quarter-million satisfied customers, Morton Buildings takes pride in its 100-percent employee ownership structure. Recognized for its commitment to employee ownership, the company holds the prestigious rank of No. 65 on the National Center for Employee Ownership’s 2022 Employee Ownership 100 list, which showcases the nation’s largest companies predominantly owned by employee stock ownership plans. For additional details, visit www.mortonbuildings.com.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 Morton Buildings Ford Mustang Dark Horse

A few weeks ago, you said that April would be an important month for you and the team to build momentum. Results say that things have gone in your favor, but do you feel like you’ve done what you hoped to achieve over the course of the month?

“I would definitely say that, outside of Richmond, we’ve had a decent amount of races throughout the month. We’re going to continue to build on that going into Dover, which I feel pretty good about based on the direction that we’ve headed at places like Martinsville and even Texas. We’re heading in a good direction, and I’m really hopeful that we can continue to work on the speed, as well as qualifying, and running good at Dover and the other tracks coming up.”

You scored your best finish at Dover in the racetrack’s most recent race held last spring. What do you need in the car to keep the momentum rolling and post a strong run this weekend?

“I think it’s just working on the direction that we’ve been heading in. My cars have been getting more and more comfortable. We certainly seem to make the cars better from when the weekends start to end. So, we’re just going to keep making decisions based on the notes that we take and keep making those decisions positive ones, like we’ve been doing in the past few weeks.”

Dover is very close to the Northeast. You’re a Northeast guy. Does that add any extra confidence or motivation into the mix?

“Dover is definitely a track where you get a lot of people from Long Island, Connecticut, and just the Northeast area in general, so it’s a track where I certainly want to run well. I think Dover is a track that suits my driving style somewhat, so I’m definitely excited to get there and, hopefully, we will have a really solid run.”

Are you and the team drawing from experience and data from the tracks you’ve already run this year to apply to your setup at Dover?

“Yes, I think looking at what we had here last year and some of the differences that we’ve seen this year with the new aero package at the short tracks that we’ve been to already helps us understand the right feel for what we’re looking for to be fast. Most drivers in the past were able to go test and find what worked for them and what didn’t. Now, drivers have to go through entire races and those weekends to see what works and what doesn’t for them. I think it’s really about taking what we know from experience to this point and making educated decisions.”

No. 41 Morton Buildings Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

JUSTIN HALEY | KAZ GRALA
Dover Advance

Event Overview

● Event: Dover 400 (Round 11 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 28
● Location: Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1-mile, concrete oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 120 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 150 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 Walmart Health & Wellness Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 Walmart Health & Wellness Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing (RWR), makes his third NASCAR Cup Series start at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway on Sunday.

● Haley made his first start at the 1-mile, concrete oval on May 2, 2022. He led 19 laps en route to an 11th-place finish, his best Cup Series result at Dover to date. In that same race, RWR earned its best result at Dover, a 25th-place finish with driver Ryan Preece.

● Outside of the Cup Series, Haley owns one top-five finish and two top-10s over four NASCAR Xfinity starts. He also competed in two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Dover with a best finish of third in May 2018.

● On September 20, 2016, Haley arrived at Dover just 200 laps away from claiming his first NASCAR championship. Leading the ARCA Menards Series East standings by 29 points, he needed only to finish 25th or better in the season finale. Until that point, the then-17-year-old had put together an astonishingly consistent season, finishing no worse than ninth in 13 starts. After leading the first 42 laps, Haley captured a fourth-place finish to clinch the championship.

● #HaleYES! On Tuesday, Haley announced his candidacy for the NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote in conjunction with the May 19 event at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The 24-year-old racer from Winamac, Indiana, promises to rip down the wall, lower inflation and fight the establishment in the 200-lap race around the .625-mile oval. And the fans enable him to prevail, Haley promises that puppies will never age, every day will be 70 degrees and sunny, and the Jibbitz charms you put on your Crocs won’t ever fall off.

Kaz Grala, Driver of the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Boston native Kaz Grala returns to the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse to make his first Cup Series start at Dover this weekend.

● In four Xfinity Series starts at Dover, Grala has two top-five finishes, both earned in 2018. Grala also has two Truck Series starts there with a best finish of second in 2017. His current RWR teammate Haley – and GMS Racing teammate at the time – finished eighth in the same 2017 Truck Series race.

● Grala has two ARCA Menards Series East races under his belt at Dover with a runner-up finish in the 2014 season finale.

Rick Ware Racing Notes

● NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican and the Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series look for continued improvement at this weekend’s NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the previous round two weekends ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Parts Plus driver qualified fourth, then scored the victory in the first round of eliminations to advance to the semifinals.

● The Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) tour returns to action with RWR drivers Briar Bauman, Kody Kopp and Shayna Texter-Bauman taking on the half-mile dirt track at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Following three rounds, Kopp owns two wins and is on his way to claiming a third-straight championship. Texter-Bauman returns to Texas looking to add to her win tally at the track. The 450 rider scored victories at Fort Worth in 2017 and 2019. In the Mission SuperTwins class, Bauman looks for his first podium finish of the year after matching his season’s best result of fourth during the last round in Senoia, Georgia.

● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the LMP3 class of the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX), where RWR won the 2022 SX2 championship with rider Shane McElrath.

Justin Haley, Driver Q&A

The No. 51 team performed really well at Talladega. Should we expect that to continue this weekend at Dover?

“I’ve always really enjoyed racing at Dover. I feel like I’ve done well there in the past and experience has been a huge help while we work to get things moving in the right direction. We’ve had really good speed and I think we’re showing how much things have changed at RWR, we just need a little bit of luck to get the finishes that match the effort.”

Why is it so tough to find success at Dover?

“I think everything has to go right. You aren’t going to come back from being two laps down and win. It takes a lot of commitment to driving harder into the corners than you may be used to, you’re going to have a pretty big drop in elevation coming off the corner, and if your car isn’t handling great, it’s going to be a really long race. You don’t have to be perfect from the start. The track is going to change a lot as it starts to take rubber, so everyone will have some work to do, but you’ve got to be close and I think we can get close in practice.”

Kaz Grala, Driver Q&A

You’re back in the No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Dover. Are you looking forward to taking on the Monster Mile?

“Dover has always been a really good track for me. I’ve finished well there in ARCA, Trucks and Xfinity, and I feel like we’re on the right track with the No. 15 team to come out with a good finish. This is a track where you have to do every little thing right, so if we can keep putting the pieces together, it’ll be a good day for RWR.”

What is it about Dover that suits your driving style?

“It’s a tricky track, but you have to be very precise and I feel like that’s where I do my best, but you also need to be able to commit to moving around to make something work. You carry so much speed and, if you’re off by the smallest amount, that’s when things tend to go wrong.”

5 KYLE LARSON

Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)

Hometown: Elk Grove, California

Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels

Standings: 1st

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

5 IN FIVE: Kyle Larson has run the most laps in the top five this season (1,532) and is in a six-way tie for the most top-five finishes (four), which includes Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and William Byron. The 31-year-old driver ranks second in average running position (9.47) and fifth in average finish (12.70) among NASCAR Cup Series full-time drivers. Larson has also been atop the point standings after five Cup Series races in 2024. Following the event at Talladega Superspeedway this past weekend, he became the first driver this year to lead the standings after three consecutive races.

OUT FRONT: Larson has led at least one lap in seven of the 10 races this season for a total of 531 – 132 more laps out front than the nearest competitor. His laps led in 2024 are the most ever by the Elk Grove, California, native through 10 races in a season. When he set the Cup Series record for most laps led during a 36-race schedule in 2021, Larson had paced the field only 379 times through 10 events.

I SECOND THAT: Larson holds the second-best average finish for drivers with two or more Cup Series starts at Dover Motor Speedway. His 8.60 average in 15 starts trails only David Pearson, who averaged 8.00 in 16 starts.

DOVER DOWNLOAD: The “Monster Mile” is the track where Larson has led the most laps (899) in his Cup Series career. In 15 starts at Dover, Larson has one win (2019), seven top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. He has led over 80 laps on five occasions at Dover and has never finished outside the top five in those races.

CONCRETE KING: Dover is one of three tracks—Bristol Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway are the others—to utilize a concrete racing surface. Coincidentally, Larson has won at all three venues. While with Chip Ganassi Racing, he won at Dover in October of 2019. In his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, he was victorious in 2021 at both Nashville and Bristol as part of his 10-win championship season. Larson is the only active driver to win a points-paying Cup Series race at all three concrete facilities.

THROWING IT BACK TO TERRY: With the throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway fast approaching, the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Throwback Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was revealed on Wednesday’s broadcast of “NASCAR Race Hub.” Larson’s paint scheme for the May 12 race at the South Carolina track will pay tribute to Terry Labonte’s classic livery that he drove to the 1996 Cup Series championship, which marked the second of 14 premier series titles for team owner Rick Hendrick. Larson was the team’s most recent champion in 2021. Check out all angles of the throwback paint scheme here.

SUNDAY SIGNING: Larson will be at the Hendrick Motorsports merchandise hauler on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET to sign autographs for the first 100 people who purchase any No. 5 1:24 scale die-cast after the merch hauler opens on Friday afternoon. Those individuals who purchase a die-cast will receive a wristband to return for an autograph.

YOUR CAR NEEDS: Larson will drive the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend. From the convenience of home, customers 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. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s dealership locations nationwide.

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

9 CHASE ELLIOTT

Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)

Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia

Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia

Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson

Standings: 3rd

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

RUNNING STRONG: Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team remain among the frontrunners during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. After 10 races, he is a season-high third in the points standings. Elliott has secured one win (Texas Motor Speedway) and ranks seventh in laps led (131) thus far. Additionally, he ranks fourth in laps run in the top five (899) and top 10 (1,568). Elliott holds the third-best average finish (10.80) and the fourth-best average running position (10.95).

DOVER DOMINANCE: Elliott has 13 premier series starts at Dover Motor Speedway, recording two wins (2018 and 2022), one pole, one runner-up finish, nine top-fives – a track best for the driver – and nine top-10s. His 394 laps led at the 1-mile venue are his fourth-most on active tracks and his average finish of 9.85 is the fifth-best all-time (minimum two starts) in the Cup Series. In the five races where Elliott has led laps at the Delaware track, he has never finished outside of the top five.

CONQUERED THE MONSTER: The Dawsonville, Georgia, native became the youngest Cup Series winner at the “Monster Mile” in October of 2018 at the age of 22 years, 10 months and nine days. Elliott’s other triumph at the Dover, Delaware, track came in May of 2022 – his first of five wins, propelling him to the Cup Series regular-season championship that year.

MILE(STONE) MOMENTS: Elliott is part of two distinct milestones for the organization at Dover. He is not only the youngest Cup Series winner at the track but also was part of Hendrick Motorsports’ top-four sweep in May of 2021, with the No. 9 team finishing third.

NEXT GEN NUMBERS: Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, Elliott has earned six wins, placing him in a three-way tie for the fourth-most victories. In that span, he holds the best average finish (12.48), ahead of Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. In the Next Gen era at Dover, Elliott ranks sixth in laps run in the top five (304) and top 10 (539).

WINNER’S CIRCLE: Elliott leads his current teammates in wins at Hendrick Motorsports, tallying 19 victories. He ranks third on the organization’s all-time list, trailing team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (93 wins) and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jimmie Johnson (83 wins).

AG IN DE: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson will oversee his 36th Dover Cup Series race atop the pit box on Sunday afternoon. He has recorded three wins with two drivers on the 1-mile track, the first with Gordon in 2014 and the subsequent victories with Elliott in 2018 and 2022. In addition to Gustafson’s three victories, he has tallied 18 top-five finishes, 20 top-10s and 665 laps led.

FOUR TIRES FAST: On lap 84 at Texas, the No. 9 pit crew laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of the 2024 season, according to data from Racing Insights. The over-the-wall squad has remained the same since 2018 and currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.858 seconds) this season. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).

GET UP AND GO: NAPA Auto Parts, the Atlanta-based company that has been a primary partner of Elliott in all nine of his full-time seasons at Hendrick Motorsports, will be on board the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend at Dover. This will mark the 11th time the brand has been the primary sponsor at the “Monster Mile” in the Cup Series. NAPA was on board for both of Elliott’s Dover victories with the No. 9 team. Get a look at all the angles of the 2024 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON

Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle

Standings: 4th

No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

STEADY STREAKING: Avoiding mayhem during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, William Byron came home with stage points and a top-10 finish, crossing the line in seventh in the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Sunday’s result marks his fifth consecutive top-10 finish this season – currently tied for the longest top-10 streak in the series.

24 IN ’24: Byron’s 2024 Cup Series season has been impressive. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native leads the series in wins (three), is in a six-way tie for first in top-five finishes that includes Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman (four) and in a two-way tie for the lead in top-10s (seven). Byron is also tied for first in average finish among series regulars (10.00) and has led the sixth-most laps (149). He sits fourth in the 2024 Cup Series points standings after 10 races.

NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen Cup Series car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have a series-leading 11 wins. The duo is ahead of teammates Larson (eight wins) and crew chief Cliff Daniels (seven wins). Byron also has the second-best average finish (12.87) in the Next Gen car behind teammate Chase Elliott. Fugle and Byron rank fourth for the most wins by an active driver and crew chief pairing with 12 victories.

SIMILAR IN SIZE: This Sunday’s race at Dover Motor Speedway will mark Byron’s 45th start on tracks 1 to 1.37 miles in length (Darlington Raceway, Dover, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and WWT Raceway). In his previous 44 starts, the 26-year-old driver has collected two pole awards, two wins, 10 top-five finishes, 19 top-10s and 535 laps led.

DOVER DIGEST: With nine Cup Series starts under his belt at the Delaware track, Byron has three top-five finishes at Dover, all being fourth-place efforts over the last four races. Since the inception of the Next Gen car, Byron has spent 308 laps running in the top five—the fifth-most of any driver—and 555 laps in the top 10—fourth-most of the field.

MONSTER MILE MINUTES: This Sunday’s race will be Fugle’s fourth at the Cup Series level at the “Monster Mile,” finishing fourth in two of those three previous races, including last year’s 400-miler. The Livonia, New York, native has 11 other national series starts at the 1-mile track already under his belt, with eight in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Fugle captured one Truck Series win (in 2013) and one of those previous starts was with Byron (in 2016), where the duo started on the pole, led 80 laps and raced to an 11th-place result.

TWO-FOUR HISTORY: With Byron’s three wins thus far in 2024, he has extended the legacy of the No. 24 in the Cup Series. The No. 24 has five wins at Dover—all coming with team vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. If Byron visits victory lane on Sunday, it will propel the No. 24 into a tie with the No. 9 for the fourth-most wins by a car number at the “Monster Mile.”

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 10 races in the 2024 season, the No. 24 pit crew continues their success from last year. The five-person crew ranks second for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (11.060 seconds). The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler).

LIBERTY U IS BACK: Byron will sport Liberty University on board his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the third weekend in a row. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the Liberty University No. 24 will surely stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron, starting in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since its founding in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offer more than 600 degree programs, from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at Byron’s Liberty University paint scheme, click here.

48 ALEX BOWMAN

Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)

Hometown: Tucson, Arizona

Resides: Concord, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Blake Harris

Standings: 10th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the Dover Motor Speedway media center on Saturday, April 27, at 9:15 a.m. local time.

FOUR TOP FIVES: Alex Bowman led the way for Hendrick Motorsports at Talladega Superspeedway with a fifth-place finish. This marks his fourth top-five of the season and ties him for the NASCAR Cup Series lead with five others, including Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson. Bowman’s four top-fives are his most through 10 races in a season. In addition to Talladega, his top-fives have come in the prestigious DAYTONA 500 (finished second) at Bristol Motor Speedway (finished fourth) and at Circuit of The Americas (finished fourth).

RISING IN THE STANDINGS: Through 10 races in the 2024 Cup Series season, Bowman and the No. 48 Ally Racing team are 10th in the driver points standings. He is in a six-way tie for the third-most top-10s this year (five). Among drivers who have started in all the points-paying races this season, Bowman ranks eighth in average finish (14.20).

CAKE AND CONFETTI: Bowman has multiple occasions to celebrate heading into this weekend at Dover Motor Speedway. On Thursday, he turns 31 years old. Bowman will start his 300th career Cup Series race on Sunday at one of his favorite tracks. Seven drivers have been victorious in their 300th premier series start. During Bowman’s eight seasons with Hendrick Motorsports (2016 and 2018-present), he has tallied seven wins, 36 top-five finishes, 84 top-10s, four pole positions and 1,307 laps led.

LEADING THE SWEEP: In 2021, Bowman drove the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet to victory lane at Dover. His win established a historic day for Hendrick Motorsports, with the team becoming the third organization (and fourth occurrence) in Cup Series history to finish 1-2-3-4 in a single event. Bowman took the checkered flag ahead of teammates Larson (second), Chase Elliott (third) and Byron (fourth). It was the first time that the organization had a four-car sweep atop the scoreboard. The victory also marked the No. 48’s series-best 12th win at the “Monster Mile.”

DOVER DATA: In Bowman’s 12 Cup Series starts at Dover, he has scored one win, five top-fives finishes (his most at any track) and 142 laps led. He has finished in the top five in all three of his most recent starts at the 1-mile track in “The First State.” The driver of the No. 48 has run the 10th-most laps in the top five (133) in the Next Gen era (since 2022) at Dover. Bowman missed last year’s race due to a back injury.

FINANCE FUN: April is Financial Literacy Month. The No. 48 team’s primary partner and online banking company, Ally, knows that financial behaviors are learned early. Earlier this month, Bowman joined Ally in its largest single-day “Adventures with Money” reading event. Together, they visited Clara Love Elementary School near Texas Motor Speedway with over 70 volunteers to reach over 900 students. Last week, Bowman, his five-person pit crew and Ally volunteers visited University Meadows Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina, to read books and play Jeopardy games about financial literacy with kids in the team’s local community. These readings are two of many that Ally will lead nationwide this year, educating thousands of students on the importance of financial knowledge.

PIT ROAD REPORT: The No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew ranks seventh on pit road for the fastest average four-tire stop (11.331 seconds). The five-person crew is composed of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Brandon Grier (tire carrier), Allen Holman (jackman) and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer).

AUTOGRAPHS WITH ALEX: Bowman will be active in the fan zone this weekend in Dover. He will be at the Hendrick Motorsports merchandise hauler on Sunday at 10:35 a.m. ET to sign autographs for the first 100 people to purchase a No. 48 1:24 scale die-cast this weekend. Fans can buy these die-casts on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday until his signing (or until 100 have sold). These individuals will receive a wristband to come back for the designated autograph session time.

RESCUE A DOG IN DOVER: Looking to rescue a furry friend? Visit Brandywine Valley SPCA this weekend in Dover, Delaware. This shelter is located just 15 minutes from the track and is the beneficiary of Ally and Bowman’s donation to a Best Friends Animal Society shelter in this weekend’s race market. The 2024 season marks the fourth consecutive year in which Bowman and Ally are supporting Best Friends and their vast network of partners. Since the start of the 2022 season, the pair has been committed to a combined weekly donation of $4,800 to a Best Friends network partner local to each weekend’s race.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

2024	All-Time	Dover
Races	10	1,355	77
Wins	5*	306*	22*
Poles	4*	250*	10
Top 5	15*	1,247*	79*
Top 10	20*	2,132*	124*
Laps Led	817	80,574*	7,549*
Stage Wins	6	104	3

*Most **Most (tie)

FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Among the categories that the organization holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for are all-time wins (306), poles (250), laps led (80,574) and championships (14).

DORTON NOMINATED: Engine builder Randy Dorton was named one of 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Dorton served as the director of engine operations for Hendrick Motorsports up until his passing in an Oct. 24, 2004, plane accident. His development, leadership and management of the engine program had a tremendous impact on Hendrick Motorsports – both in the organization’s rise to prominence as the team to beat in the Cup Series ranks and its innovation. The Hendrick Motorsports engine department has earned 513 NASCAR national series wins. Three-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Jack Sprague, crew chief Harry Hyde and driver Ricky Rudd are the other nominees with Hendrick Motorsports ties on the ballot. Click here to learn more about the nominee list.

HENDRICK HOMECOMING: On May 24 and 25, Hendrick Motorsports will hold “Hendrick Homecoming.” The free fan event, taking place over the same weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500, will celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary and feature autograph sessions with past and present drivers, games, displays, giveaways and more. For more information on the schedule of appearances (as they are announced) and how fans can register to enter the raffle for autograph sessions, click here.

WINNING TRIO: In 2024, William Byron (three wins), Chase Elliott (one win) and Kyle Larson (one win) have combined to tally five wins through the first 10 races of the season. The Concord, North Carolina, based squad has won at least five races in a year in 22 of the last 24 seasons. The five-victory start to this year is the team’s second-best start, with 2007’s seven wins through 10 races as the best start to a campaign in organizational history.

PIT POWER: Based on Racing Insights data, all four Hendrick Motorsports pit crews rank in the top seven among Cup Series teams for the fastest average four-tire pit stop. The No. 9 pit crew tops the board (10.858 seconds), followed by the No. 24 pit crew in second (11.060 seconds) and the No. 5 pit crew in third (11.088 seconds). The No. 48 pit crew is seventh (11.331 seconds).

THE FIRST STATE: Dover Motor Speedway is one of three racetracks where Hendrick Motorsports has posted more than 20 points-paying wins. The team’s 22 victories at the Delaware venue is one more than its total at Charlotte Motor Speedway and surpassed only by its 29 at Martinsville Speedway, which represents the record for wins by any team at a track. The team has won 28.57% (22 of 77) of the Cup Series races at Dover and led 7,549 laps (second only to its total at Martinsville). No other team has won more than 10 Cup Series races at the 1-mile track.

MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: Seven different drivers have contributed to Hendrick Motorsports’ Dover win total: Jimmie Johnson (11 victories), team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (five), Elliott (two), Bowman, Rudd, Geoff Bodine and Ken Schrader (one each).

MONSTER MOMENT: The “Monster Mile” is home to Hendrick Motorsports’ only sweep of the top-four finishing positions in a race. In 2021, Bowman, Larson, Elliott and Byron placed first, second, third and fourth, respectively. It marked only the fourth time in Cup Series history that any team accomplished this feat. At Titusville-Cocoa Speedway in December of 1956, Peter DePaolo Racing’s five-car effort became the first to record a top-four sweep and repeated the achievement in April of 1957 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Forty-eight years later, Roush Fenway Racing did it in November of 2005 with four of its five entries at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In this race, Hendrick Motorsports’ percentage of laps led (95.50%; 382 of 400 laps led) is the second-most for a single event in team history. The top-four sweep is one of four times that the group has held at least the top-three spots of the final running order, with the most recent coming earlier this month at Martinsville in their 40th anniversary race.

DOVER DETAILS: Since the start of 2019, all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers are among the six active drivers with at least three top-five finishes at Dover. Bowman shares the lead in this statistical category with five top-five finishes, Elliott has four top-fives and Byron and Larson have three top-fives.

GOING STREAKING: The 14-time Cup Series championship-winning organization has two win streaks of at least three races at the concrete track in Dover, Delaware. There was a four-race win streak from September of 2013 to May of 2015 and a three-race run from September of 1995 to September of 1996. The Rick Hendrick-owned team has had a driver finish in the top 10 at this track in 24 straight races, the longest top-10 streak at the track by one organization.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Dover Motor Speedway: “I love going to Dover (Motor Speedway)—it’s a track where I have led a lot of laps, have a win and a lot of good finishes. Similar to Bristol (Motor Speedway), I like the concrete surface and it seems Hendrick Motorsports always has fast cars there.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the challenges of Dover for a race team: “The No. 5 team really loves Dover (Motor Speedway). Kyle (Larson) does a great job there—the track is a much bigger version of a Bristol (Motor Speedway) with high-banked concrete. A lot of bumps and the track changes a lot from sunlight to cloudy days and higher temps to cooler temps. It’s just a lot of fun to have to keep up with it—definitely a big challenge from the character of the track surface itself. You know it’s a lot of fun to go there and embrace the challenge, know that Kyle is going to be really fast and then just work on getting the car dialed in. We focus on executing a solid weekend. The team has been doing a great job. If we can just go have a smooth weekend, make the right adjustments and be there during the race, hopefully we have a great, great Sunday.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on how well the No. 9 has gelled together: “I think we work really well together. Everybody is driven to work for and with each other and push one another to be better. That’s a special thing and it’s really fun to be a part of. I hope that we can all stay together for a long time, but unfortunately, that’s just not how it works. We do have a really good group right now and I think we’re all really driven to make the very most of that while things are clicking.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the keys to success at Dover: “At Dover (Motor Speedway), the entries of the corners are pretty challenging. So, comfort on entry is really the biggest thing—it kind of all starts there. Having some comfort on entry where you can carry a good bit speed and then after you land, you can turn good and put the throttle down. It’s a really fast track. So, not only having a good balance, but having some comfort in the car to where you don’t feel on edge all the time is pretty critical.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he likes about racing at Dover: “I love this race track (Dover Motor Speedway). It’s really fast and puts on a good race. You get good restarts with short runs and side-by-side racing. Then, there are times you get long runs where your car has to handle and adapt to the track taking rubber. As good as the racing is, it can be treacherous in practice and qualifying. You tend to see accidents and tire failures happen on Saturday because everyone’s car is so on edge. Last year, we had a really good car and I’m looking forward to improving on that this weekend.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on where the No. 24 team can improve: “This year we haven’t really led as many laps and collected as many stage points or stage wins. In past years, we usually qualified up front and that set us up to really control things early on in the race. We sometimes would have troubles, though, in the second half of the race and fall back. We have really worked on our consistency to get better throughout races, but I would really like to get some more stage points, wins and to lead more laps. That’s what we think the next step is. We’ll keep grinding and work on being more complete as a team.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at Dover: “I’m super excited to get to Dover (Motor Speedway). It’s my favorite race track and running my 300th (NASCAR Cup Series) start there this weekend is pretty special. That milestone is certainly something that, say 10 years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be able to achieve. This race weekend in Dover was something that I was going to be excited about regardless of how Talladega (Superspeedway) went, but Talladega was good to us and our No. 48 Ally Racing team has been trending in the right direction. I’m looking forward to it and we should be in contention for a win this Sunday.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on preparing to run Dover for the first time with Bowman: “The team was really bummed to not have Alex (Bowman) at Dover (Motor Speedway) last year. This year will be Alex and I’s first trip there together. Alex won there in 2021 and statistically runs really strong there. Dover is probably one of his favorite tracks, so we look forward to getting on track there. We saw some good data points last year from teammates, even when he didn’t get to run. It would be great to pick up a win in Dover this weekend.”

JOSH BERRY
Dover Advance
No. 4 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Würth 400 (Round 11 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 28
● Location: Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway
● Layout: 1-mile, concrete oval
● Laps/Miles: 400 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 120 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 150 laps
● TV/Radio: FS1 / PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Josh Berry returns to Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway Sunday for his third career start at the high-banked, concrete mile oval on the Delmarva Peninsula. Berry made his NASCAR Cup Series debut there in May 2021, driving a Spire Motorsports entry to a 30th-place finish. Berry’s second premier series start at Dover came last May behind the wheel of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports entry, when he subbed for an injured Alex Bowman, and this time in a NextGen racecar. In that event, Berry started 23rd and charged through the field before taking the checkered flag in 10th.

● Last Sunday, Berry expanded his NASCAR Cup Series notebook after completing 188-laps at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The 33-year-old driver started the race 29th and made his way to 12th by the end of the first stage, despite a loose-handling No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Berry finished the second stage 18th and visited pit road under caution at the end of the stage for a significant chassis adjustment. He started the final stage fourth and made his way to the lead for three circuits and continued to run with the leaders until the final lap of the race, when he was collected in a multicar accident and had to settle or a 16th-place finish.

● The 33-year-old rookie is no stranger to success at Dover in the Xfinity Series, where he made three starts under the JR Motorsports banner and earned the victory in April 2022 after starting fourth and leading 55 laps. In fact, Berry’s 2022 victory was bookended by runner-up finishes there in 2021 and 2023. Berry showcased his race craft during last year’s runner-up finish when he started the race 19th – his worst starting position at the “Monster Mile” – and finished the first stage fifth, gaining 14 positions in just 50 laps. Berry also has one Dover start in the ARCA Menards Series East, which came in May 2021 and resulted in another runner-up finish from the seventh starting position.

● Crew chief Rodney Childers will climb atop the pit box for his 34th Cup Series race at Dover this weekend. Childers’ career as the shot-caller there is impressive, tallying three wins with former No. 4 driver Kevin Harvick (9.1 percent of races he has been the crew chief), nine top-five finishes (27.3 percent), 14 top-10s (42.4 percent), and four pole positions. Childers’ drivers also have an average Dover starting position of 9.6 and an average finish of 15.2 with just three DNFs.

● Berry heads to Dover second in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, 21 points behind leader Carson Hocevar. He is 28th overall in the Cup Series standings.

● Overstock.com adorns Berry’s No. 4 Ford Mustang at Dover. The partnership amplifies the recent relaunch of Overstock.com, home of crazy good deals that offer quality and style for less. Overstock.com is for the savvy shopper who loves the thrill of the hunt and it includes product categories customers know and love, like patio furniture, home furniture and area rugs, while reintroducing jewelry, watches and health-and-beauty products.

Josh Berry, Driver of the No. 4 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

You have been a model of consistency at Dover Motor Speedway. What has led to your success at that track?

“I don’t feel like I have done anything specifically that has made me run better, I just think Dover is a place I have done well at because it fits my style and I feel comfortable there. I have always felt good there even though I haven’t made a lot of starts there, and I always had good cars there, so it helped me a lot when I was learning the track and getting used to the layout.”

Why does Dover fit your driving style?

“I just think that Dover is a place that takes a lot of commitment to drive it hard and you have to be able to maneuver and change lanes and have some race craft similar to how I came up in the Late Model cars. I don’t have a great explanation or a specific reason on why I have run well there, it just seems to come naturally to me.”

Walk us through your first start at Dover Motor Speedway. What do you remember about the track and how daunting it felt before you hit the track?

“I was definitely nervous going there for the first time because it’s such an intimidating place. There is a lot of elevation change when you get into the corners, so feeling that and figuring out how the car feels when it lands was all new to me. It just takes some time to get used to and, the first time I went there, we didn’t have practice or anything, so it was sort of trial by fire. It’s one of my favorite tracks and hopefully I can continue to have success there this weekend.”

You ran in the Cup Series car there last year behind the wheel of the No. 48. What did you learn that day, and how can you carry that over to this weekend?

“That was a good experience for me and I think I learned some of the nuances of the NextGen car compared to the Xfinity car, but overall Dover is still Dover and that was the mindset I had going into the weekend. I thought it went well for me, especially in a substitute role, so being able to build off of that and make sure we can improve our Ford Mustang Dark Horse in some of our weaker areas is our focus. I think we should be able to run well and continue to be competitive this weekend.”

No. 4 Overstock.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Josh Berry

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Robert “Cheddar” Smith

Hometown: Whitewater, Wisconsin

Engineer: Dax Gerringer

Hometown: Gibsonville, North Carolina

Engineer: Billy Kuebler

Hometown: Saline, Michigan

Spotter: Eddie D’Hondt

Hometown: Levittown, New York

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Daniel Coffey

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Daniel Smith

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Mason Flynt

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Jack Man: Brandon Banks

Hometown: High Point, North Carolina

Fuel Man: Evan Marchal

Hometown: Westfield, Indiana

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Tyler Trosper

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Mechanic: Chris Capaldi

Hometown: Armada, Michigan

Tire Specialist: Zac Lupien

Hometown: Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Engine Tuner: Robert Brandt

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Transporter Co-Driver: Jake Zierhoffer

Hometown: Billerica, Massachusetts

Transporter Co-Driver: Stephen Mitchell

Hometown: Woodville, Ohio