Category: NASCAR Cup PR

STATESVILLE, N.C. (April 9, 2024) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB today announced a partnership with OLIPOP, the world’s first functional beverage that combines a classic soda taste with the benefits of plant-based fiber, prebiotics, and other botanical ingredients to support gut health. OLIPOP is a new kind of soda with only 2-5 grams of sugar, and 9 grams of fiber per can.

The partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB will prominently feature the OLIPOP on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek for eight key events throughout the 2024 season beginning at Texas Motor Speedway on April 14.

“Partnering with OLIPOP is a win-win for everyone,” said Nemechek. “The business-to-business opportunities on the No. 42 makes so much sense and I am a huge fan of this product. I’m really health-conscious and OLIPOP comes in so many flavors so there are a bunch of options. It’s nice to know I can enjoy a beverage like this that is actually good for you at the same time.”

OLIPOP, renowned for its innovative approach to soda, offers a diverse range of flavors, from nostalgic Vintage Cola and Classic Root Beer to unique Strawberry Vanilla, Watermelon Lime, and more. OLIPOP sales have even surpassed major soda brands including Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Canada Dry at a leading national retailer. This illustrates not only the shift in consumers’ evolving preferences towards health-conscious choices, but also the way OLIPOP is changing the traditional soda category on a larger scale.

Co-founders Ben Goodwin and David Lester share a vision of a healthier, more flavorful tastier future, by borrowing the best from soda, but swapping the sugar and chemical additives for all-natural ingredients.

“We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB,” said Steven Vigilante, VP of Growth. “John Hunter Nemechek is a rising star in the sport, and we felt that he was the perfect entry point for OLIPOP into the world of NASCAR. OLIPOP is thrilled to join this community and bring a healthier soda alternative into the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, as we see the synergy with John Hunter’s commitment to a healthier lifestyle as an athlete and with his audience and partners.”

The first official outing for OLIPOP on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE will be this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

ABOUT OLIPOP: Launched in 2018, OLIPOP created the first healthy alternative to soda with only 2-5 grams of sugar and 9 grams of fiber. OLIPOP, now the fastest growing functional beverage, was formulated by CEO, Ben Goodwin, and a team of leading scientists to capture the nostalgic soda flavors you want, but with the benefits of plant-based fiber, prebiotics, and other botanical ingredients to support digestive health. OLIPOP is available in a variety of flavors including classic options like Vintage Cola, Classic Root Beer and Lemon Lime and innovative flavors like Strawberry Vanilla, Banana Cream, and Tropical Punch. OLIPOP is non-GMO, paleo, vegan, and gluten-free and is available online at www.drinkolipop.com as well as almost 30,000 grocers nationwide, including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger and more.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as Club Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

LaJoie to Showcase Schluter Livery in Four NASCAR Cup Series Races in 2024

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 9, 2024) – Schluter®-Systems, a key partner for Corey LaJoie and Spire Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) efforts over the last several seasons, will return to the primary position on the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for four races in 2024, beginning with this weekend’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

In addition to this weekend’s 267-lap contest at the mile-and-a-half Fort Worth oval, Schluter Systems will also be showcased aboard LaJoie’s Chevy Camaro at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (June 23), Charlotte Motor Speedway (10/13) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (10/27).

“As we mark our eighth year with Corey Lajoie, the journey continues to be an exhilarating ride,” said Dee DeGooyer, Chief Sales Officer, Schluter Systems, N.A. “We have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Corey’s success and are grateful for the culture at Spire Motorsports that’s provided such an exceptional experience for our customer base. Our partnership and the synergy of our brands exemplifies collaboration and teamwork and we look forward to accelerating our shared success on and off the track again this year.”

LaJoie continues to be a Cup Series mainstay, logging 244 starts over eight seasons in NASCAR’s premier series. His resume includes four top-five five and nine top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish in the 2024 Daytona 500.

In eight NCS events in 2024, LaJoie has logged one top-five and two top-15 finishes. The Concord, N.C. racer has 10 previous NCS starts at Texas Motor Speedway and earned a venue-best 14th-place finish in September 2022.

“I’m ready to jump into the No. 7 Schluter Systems Chevrolet Camaro at Texas Motor Speedway with our new 2024 scheme,” said LaJoie. “It’s been a blessing to have the orange gang as a part of my career in the Cup Series for eight years. We both have experienced tremendous growth the better part of this decade on the track and off. I’m thankful to have them onboard for another year.”

The Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 from Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, April 14, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The ninth of 36 races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR RaceDay’s pre-race coverage on FS1 will take the green flag at 2 p.m. EDT.

About Schluter®-Systems …
Schluter Systems provides innovative, easy to use installation systems to support the durability, integrity and design of tile installations. With over 8,000 products within its growing portfolio, Schluter Systems is continuously improving the landscape of the tile industry. Their educational workshops and intuitive approach to product design supports Schluter’s position as an industry leader in quality and service. Schluter Systems services North America with multiple Training, Distribution and Manufacturing facilities in Plattsburgh, NY, Montreal, QC, Reno, NV, and Fort Worth, TX. For more information, visit www.schluter.com.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on March 1, 2024, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Cook Out 400 – Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville, Va. – April 7, 2024

NASCAR TRACKS – MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY – NASCAR 101

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/LIBMAN FORD MUSTANG

START: 14TH STAGE ONE: 15TH STAGE TWO: 15TH FINISH: 23RD POINTS: 21ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Menards/Libman Ford Mustang, was in contention for a top-15 finish in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway until an incident in the closing laps relegated the driver to a 23rd-place result. Cindric started the 400-lap race from the 14th position and reported early on that he was struggling with drive. The 25-year-old NASCAR Cup Series driver made his first trip to pit road at the conclusion of Stage 1 for fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. After restarting 16th for the launch of the second segment, Cindric radioed in to his team on Lap 105 to communicate an improvement in the car on exit. When a caution slowed the field a handful of laps later on Lap 113 for debris, the No. 2 stayed out and restarted 15th, and remained there through the end of Stage 2. After paying a visit to the Menards/Libman pit crew for a four-tire service stop, Cindric lined up 15th for the restart, but dropped down the scoring pylon a few positions after the green flag waved. He made his final trek to pit road with just under 90 laps to go and was in contention for a top-15 result in overtime, but was involved in accident that dropped the Team Penske driver back to 23rd when the checkered flag flew.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We had solid speed in the Menards/Libman Ford Mustang, but the strategy didn’t quite pan out and I lost us a couple spots with the choose. It’s just so hard to make up track position. We have some areas to improve on and we’ll regroup this week and get ready for Texas.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS FORD MUSTANG

START: 9TH STAGE ONE: 12TH STAGE TWO: 20TH FINISH: 5TH POINTS: 5TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang team paired strategy and late-race speed to rally for a fifth-place finish Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, marking Blaney’s fourth top-five finish in his last five starts at the Virginia short track. Following a 12th-place finish in Stage 1, Blaney had to make an additional trip to pit road during the stage break to tighten a loose wheel, sending him back to 24th for the ensuing restart. The handling began to settle in for the Advance Auto Parts Ford over the course of the second stage, but passing was at a premium throughout the afternoon as Blaney settled for a 20th-place finish in Stage 2. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the call for right side tires only as the field hit pit road during the stage break, gaining the 12-team a dozen positions with the strategy play and allowing Blaney to restart from eighth for the final run of the day. Blaney settled into 10th in the running order over the course of the longest green flag run of afternoon before being called to pit road on lap 297 for four tires and a round of adjustments. He cycled to seventh in the running order after a majority of the field completed the green flag pit cycle when Blaney began to make his charge to the front, climbing to fifth on the leaderboard with 55 laps to go. The caution flag flew with three laps remaining to set up a green-white-checkered finish for the second-consecutive week and Blaney took the green flag from the outside of row two, but the top lane was unable to gain any momentum in the final two laps resulting in a fifth-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We got good at the end. It was an uphill battle for sure. We had the issue on pit road and had to restart in the back and nobody could pass anybody. [Crew chief] Jonathan [Hassler] made a good call to put two on it at the start of the third stage and we kind of established ourselves a little bit back in the top-10. We were able to work on our car again once we got a little clean air and seeing what the car was doing and how to get it better. After the green flag stop I was really fast. I passed a handful of guys. I was kind of shocked. I held on pretty good but stalled out when I got to the 11. Overall, I am proud of the fight back from our group. Obviously not the first half of the race we wanted and we didn’t get any stage points, but I am proud of the fight and perseverance of the Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang 12-team. We will go on to Texas.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 6TH STAGE ONE: 6TH STAGE TWO: 5TH FINISH: 6TH POINTS: 14TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano wheeled the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang to a sixth-place finish Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, marking an even 10-straight races with a top-10 result at the Virginia short track. Logano started from sixth and maintained his track position throughout the 80-lap first stage before crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call for right side tires only during the stage break as the 22-team won the race off pit road to restart Stage 2 from the point. Logano was able to keep the field in his mirror for almost the entirety of the second stage before the left side tires began to wear out as he lost the battle for the lead with 11 laps left in the segment before ultimately coming away with a fifth-place finish in Stage 2. After restarting the final stage from seventh, Logano settled in on four fresh tires as a long, green flag run ensued before the pit cycle began with just over 100 laps to go. Wolfe called Logano to pit road on lap 299 for four tires and fuel and the No. 22 cycled to eighth in the running order as the laps began to wind down. With three laps to go, the caution flag flew for a single-car incident to set up a green-white-checkered finish for the second-consecutive week. Logano took the green flag from the inside of row four and carried the momentum from the low line to cross the line sixth. Logano led a season-high 84 laps on the afternoon while gaining five spots in the driver points standings with the result.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It was a solid day. I think we got fifth or sixth place points in each stage, somewhere around there. We led a bunch of laps. We got out front, but the tire came apart at the end of that stage there, which cost us a stage win, unfortunately. We took that risk to do it and ended up in the same spot that we were going to be, so really no risk there. After that, we kind of lost control of the race, and once that happened, once you lost the lead, nobody was going to pass anybody. The only car I saw passing was the 12. That was pretty impressive. The rest of us just followed each other all day.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway for Round 9 of the 2024 season on Sunday, April 14 for the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. Coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

No. 17 Charges Through Field for Solid P15; Keselowski 24th

RIDGEWAY, Va. (April 7, 2024) – Chris Buescher led the RFK contingent with a 15th-place finish in the BuildSubmarines.com Ford Sunday afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, in a 400-lap race that featured just three non-stage cautions.

Brad Keselowski finished 24th in the Body Guard Ford, and was caught up in an incident with two laps remaining in NASCAR Overtime.

6 Recap
Keselowski had the better of the two RFK qualifying efforts in Saturday’s single-car session, putting the No. 6 car 13th-quickest among the field. Track position reigned early on with no cautions in the opening stage, as the two-time Martinsville winner crossed the line 14th at lap 80.

The No. 6 crew gained two spots on pit road in the first stop of the day, putting Keselowski 12th on the restart for stage two. A debris caution was displayed 20 laps later with Keselowski in 16th, and he restarted there after staying out in that caution break. From there, he finished stage two 25th.

Just two cautions occurred over the final 200 laps, including one with three laps to go with Keselowski in 22nd. He would pit for right side tires in the last opportunity of the day, and apparently sustained left-front damage in the final two laps to finish 24th.

17 Recap
Buescher had ground to make up throughout the race after starting from 30th. He slowly worked his way forward, up to 26th to end the first stage, before firing off 23rd to begin stage two. He took right side tires at lap 115 and went on to end the stage in 22nd (lap 180).

After restarting the stage in 22nd, Buescher’s final pit stop of the day came at lap 299 from 20th, and from there he slowly picked off positions and into the top-15 with 50 laps remaining. Despite the late-race restart, he held on for the 15th-place result, his third-straight at ‘The Paperclip.’

Up Next
Texas Motor Speedway hosts race No. 9 on the season next weekend. Race coverage on Sunday is set for 3:30 p.m. on FS1, with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
COOK OUT 400
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
APRIL 7, 2024

Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Claim Memorable Victory at Martinsville Speedway

• Enduring a green-white-checkered finish, it was William Byron and the No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 team that claimed the checkered-flag in the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.
• The victory marked Byron’s series-leading third win of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, and the Team Chevy driver’s 13th career victory in 224 starts in NASCAR’s premier series.
• Already the winningest manufacturer and organization in NASCAR Cup Series’ history at Martinsville Speedway, Byron’s victory extended each series-leading win record at the track – recording Chevrolet’s 61st NCS victory and Hendrick Motorsports’ 29th NCS victory at the .526-mile Virginia short-track.
• Byron delivered Chevrolet its fifth victory in eight points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races this season; and the manufacturer’s 856th all-time victory in NASCAR’s premier series.
• All four Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1’s placed in the top-10 of the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, with Byron leading the organization to a sweep of the top-three finishing positions. The feat marks the first time in series’ history that an organization has swept the podium at Martinsville Speedway.

 TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10:
POS. DRIVER
1st William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Ruby Camaro ZL1
2nd Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Ruby Camaro ZL1
3rd Chase Elliott, No. 9 UniFirst Ruby Camaro ZL1
8th Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Ruby Camaro ZL1

 RIDGEWAY, Va. (April 7, 2024) – William Byron and the No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 team delivered Hendrick Motorsports yet another monumental victory in the organization’s 40th anniversary season – enduring a green-white-checkered finish to claim the victory in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

Martinsville Speedway holds a special place in Hendrick Motorsports’ NASCAR history as the site of the organization’s first victory. Now, 40 years later, the winningest organization in NASCAR Cup Series’ history only solidified its lasting legacy with Byron taking Hendrick Motorsports back to victory lane at the .526-mile Virginia venue – delivering the organization its series-leading 29th NASCAR Cup Series victory at the track.

Byron’s monumental victory brought Hendrick Motorsports to its 305th all-time victory and Chevrolet’s 856th all-time victory in NASCAR’s premier series – extending their record as the winningest manufacturer and team partnership in series’ history.

“On behalf of everyone at Chevrolet, congratulations to Rick and the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization on such a special win at Martinsville Speedway,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports. “40 years ago, Geoff Bodine’s victory at Martinsville started a legacy that’s led Hendrick Motorsports to the title as the winningest organization in NASCAR Cup Series history with 305 victories and 14 championships – all in partnership with Chevrolet.”

Byron also led the organization to a series-first record at Martinsville Speedway, with a one-two-three finish by Bryon and his teammates Kyle Larson (second) and Chase Elliott (third) marking the first time that an organization swept the top-three finishing positions in a NASCAR Cup Series race at the .526-mile Virginia venue.

“Today’s win by William Byron and the No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 is extremely special for everyone at Chevrolet,” added Campbell. “We congratulate Rick and Hendrick Motorsports on 40 years of success.”

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season will continue at Texas Motor Speedway with the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, April 14, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage of the 267-lap event can be found on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

 
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:

William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Ruby Camaro ZL1

Finished: 1st

HOW SPECIAL IS THIS TO YOU TO DELIVER THIS WIN TO EVERYONE AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS?

“Yeah, it’s awesome and it’s way bigger than me. There are so many men and women that this is a tribute to with all the hard work in the shop. It’s just a really good environment to work in. They have built something so special over the years, and I am thankful to be a part of it and drive the No. 24. It’s pretty special.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PATIENCE YOU HAD TO COME FROM 18TH TO CONTEND FOR THE LEAD?

“It wasn’t pretty. The first stage, we were pretty good – coming from the back and getting up to eighth or ninth. And then we stalled out. We had a couple of pit stops not go our way and then we got too tight. We just had to keep working on that and we eventually got this No. 24 Axalta Chevy where it needed to be; get it turning and doing what it needed to do. Just really proud of the team.”

WHAT DID YOU TELL YOURSELF AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THAT GREEN – WHITE – CHECKERED?

“I knew the shot was going to come from behind and that is just the way it is here. I used a little bit more of the racetrack in (turns) one and two to make sure I could get clear off of two and he gave me a shot over there. We raced pretty clean. He gave me a chance to make the corner and that is all you can ask for.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Ruby Camaro ZL1

Finished: 2nd

SUMMARIZE YOUR RACE DAY HERE THIS AFTERNOON.

“Yeah, it pretty alright I guess. We had great track position from qualifying, so I was able to maintain that all race and get that Stage One win, which was great. We kind of just lost a few spots there in Stage Two and was never really able to overcome that small track position loss.

But William (Byron), he did a really good job. He was able to pass cars and they pitted a lap before we did during the green-flag cycle. I really thought that helped him carve his way to the lead because his tires were just ready before ours were. He did a good job; kind of schooled us all and deserved to win. So that was really cool to see him win.

Really awesome to have an HMS top-three on a day like today, with what it means to the company and celebrating 40 years; having all the Hendrick Motorsports’ employees here with their families to celebrate with. It will be a long night of celebrating and taking pictures and all that, but we are excited for Hendrick Motorsports and I am happy to contribute to a good day.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 UniFirst Ruby Camaro ZL1

Finished: 3rd

DESCRIBE THAT OVERTIME RESTART AND WHAT DID YOU NEEDED TO GET BY YOUR TEAMMATE?

“I just burnt the rear tires off of it a little bit too much. I had an opportunity. I kind of got William (Byron) up off the bottom and I had a shot at him off of (turn) four, but I just couldn’t get the power down to get underneath him. Really cool for HMS to get a win on the 40th (anniversary) weekend. Wish it could have been us, but I am proud of a couple top fives these last couple weeks. We’ll try to keep it rolling.”

IT LOOKED LIKE YOU GAVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAD ON THAT LAST RESTART AND JUST COULDN’T QUITE GET THERE AND UNFORTUNATELY LOST A SPOT WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE.

“Obviously number one, congrats to William (Byron) and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. Rick and Linda (Hendrick), Jeff (Gordon), Jeff (Andrews), Chad (Knaus) and all the people that put this together for us. They have an unbelievable program and I think we are all proud to call home. It was awesome hosting over 1,000 people from Hendrick today; employees and their families. Glad one of us could get it done. Obviously wish we could have got it done, selfishly, like anybody would.

But it is nice to have a good couple of solid weeks and being in contention for a win. We haven’t been in contention to win one for a while, so kind of nice to get to that last restart when it actually mattered. So, enjoyed that aspect and certainly hungry for more.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Lucas Oil Camaro ZL1

Finished: 16th

“We made an improvement this weekend from how we ran last year at Martinsville Speedway. The first run of the race the Lucas Oil Chevrolet got looser as went. We pitted for tires and adjustments and the next run we were a little free everywhere but tight at the three-quarter mark of Turns 3 and 4. At the end of Stage 2 we pitted again but the adjustments didn’t seem to work, and we lost track positions. Crew Chief Randall Burnett and the guys kept working and never gave up. We made the car better by the end of the race and we were able to get a decent finish, but we still have work to do to get to where we want to be.”

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

Finished: 28th

“Today was a hard-fought one. We started out super tight, and I felt like I just killed the right-side tires early on. Trent [Owens] made some great calls, and we continued to get the No. 31 Cirkul Chevy close to where it needed to be during the second stage. We tried gambling a little and running long during the final stage, but unfortunately, we never caught a caution. I’m definitely proud of the hard work this team put in this weekend that we can bring back here in the fall. We definitely made the car more competitive and are going in the right direction.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Camaro ZL1

Finished: 34th

“Long day for the Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off-Road Chevrolet team at Martinsville Speedway. We had a problem with a left front tire locking up and I think the power steering was going out pretty much the whole race. When it went out with about 200 laps to go, I had to fight hard to gain positions. I can at least say I finished the race with no power steering, I’m going to be a little sore tomorrow, but we’ll keep fighting. It’s not the finish we wanted today, but we will go to Texas Motor Speedway next week to try and regain some momentum.”

 
 
 

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.

RICK WARE RACING
Cook Out 400
Date: April 7, 2024
Event: Cook Out 400 (Round 8 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval)
Format: 400 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/100 laps/220 laps)
Note: Race extended 15 laps past its scheduled 400-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

Race Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Race Finish:

● Kaz Grala (Started 31st, Finished 26th/ Running, completed 413 of 415 laps)
● Justin Haley (Started 27th, Finished 30th/ Running, completed 413 of 415 laps)

RWR Points:

● Justin Haley (32nd with 85 points)
● Kaz Grala (33rd with 82 points)

RWR Notes:

● This was Grala’s first career start at Martinsville.
● This was Haley’s seventh career start at Martinsville. His best finish remains 27th, earned in October 2022.

Race Notes:

● William Byron won the Cook Out 400 to score his 13th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third of the season and his second at Martinsville. His margin of victory over second-place Kyle Larson was .550 of a second.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 51 laps.

● Only 14 of the 37 drivers in the Cook Out 400 finished on the lead lap.

● Kyle Larson leaves Martinsville as the championship leader with a 14-point advantage over second-place Martin Truex Jr.

Sound Bites:

“I thought we had a chance at getting a top-25 finish with that overtime restart, but I’m not really sure what was going on. It was tough to get the balance right, tough to pass and at the end of these races everyone races with so much urgency even in the back of the field. So, I’m not sure what to take away from it. We’ll have to debrief and see what we can learn from today.” – Kaz Grala, driver of the No. 15 N29 Capital Partners Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“We really struggled with our handling in practice and qualifying, so I know the start of the race wouldn’t be great. We made big swings when we got the chance and it really helped, but we were already two laps down and there’s only so much you can do when you don’t get cautions to use to your advantage. We’ll keep trying, see what we have next week at Texas.”– Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 Ohanafy Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, April 14 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Mechanical Issues at Martinsville Speedway Challenge Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Team

Finish: 34th
Start: 28th
Points: 31st

“Long day for the Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off-Road Chevrolet team at Martinsville Speedway. We had a problem with a left front tire locking up and I think the power steering was going out pretty much the whole race. When it went out with about 200 laps to go, I had to fight hard to gain positions. I can at least say I finished the race with no power steering, I’m going to be a little sore tomorrow, but we’ll keep fighting. It’s not the finish we wanted today, but we will go to Texas Motor Speedway next week to try and regain some momentum.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch Claims 16th-Place Finish in Lucas Oil Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway

Finish: 16th
Start: 11th
Points: 15th

“We made an improvement this weekend from how we ran last year at Martinsville Speedway. The first run of the race the Lucas Oil Chevrolet got looser as went. We pitted for tires and adjustments and the next run we were a little free everywhere but tight at the three-quarter mark of Turns 3 and 4. At the end of Stage 2 we pitted again but the adjustments didn’t seem to work, and we lost track positions. Crew Chief Randall Burnett and the guys kept working and never gave up. We made the car better by the end of the race and we were able to get a decent finish, but we still have work to do to get to where we want to be.” -Kyle Busch

JOSH WILLIAMS

No. 16 Alloy Employer Services Camaro ZL1

• Josh Williams qualified 33rd for the Cook Out 400.
• Williams reported no issues with his Alloy Employers Services Camaro ZL1 over the course of an uneventful stage one that saw no cautions. He finished the opening stage in 34th place, one lap down to the leaders.
• The team pitted during the stage break for four tires and fuel with a rear track-bar adjustment. Williams started the second stage from the 35th position. The first caution of the day came out early in the second stage, and the No 16. pitted for four tires, fuel and a left-rear adjustment, restarting 33rd after a speeding penalty on pit road. Williams went on to close out stage two in the 31st position.
• The No. 16 elected not to pit during the third and final stage break in an effort to get back on the lead lap. While on older tires, the gamble paid off, as an early caution came out that allowed Williams and the team to pit for four tires, fuel and a rear track-bar adjustment before restarting from the 28th position. As the field cycled under green-flag pit stops, Williams and the No. 16 climbed to a race-high 18th position before eventually pitting on lap 327 for four tires and fuel. Williams went on to finish 27th, as he did not pit during the caution that led to NASCAR overtime.
•  
• “We survived today and got to complete all the laps. Overall, it was an up-and-down day, but thankfully we gained a few spots during the green-white-checkered there at the end. Really proud of everyone at Kaulig Racing, as I continue to learn and compete at the highest level.” – Josh Williams  

DANIEL HEMRIC

No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

• Daniel Hemric qualified 36th for the Cook Out 400.
• Hemric relayed his No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1 was tight in the front end and had already worn down the right-side tires with just under 15 laps complete. The opening stage remained caution-free, and Hemric went on to finish 35th and one lap down in stage one.
• During the stage break, Hemric radioed that he lacked front grip and rear drive in his No. 31 Cirkul Chevy. He pitted with the lapped-down cars for fresh tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment to help free up the car. The first caution of the second stage came out on lap 112. Hemric relayed he was still struggling with a tight-handling No. 31 Chevy and pitted during the caution for tires, fuel, and another air pressure adjustment. Firing off better that run, Hemric made it as high as 27th and earned the free pass when the second stage ended.
• During the second stage break, Hemric pitted for more of the same adjustments, as he was much happier with the handling of the No. 31 Chevy and the direction the team was going. He started the final stage from the 25thposition. The first caution of the stage came out on lap 202, and crew chief, Trent Owens, made a strategy call to pit for tires. Hemric restarted 25th on lap 209. The race remained green, and Hemric made it as high as 10th, as the green-flag pit stops began. The No. 31 team ran long and gambled, hoping to catch a caution. The caution never came, and Hemric made his green-flag pit stop on lap 335 for tires and fuel. When he rejoined the field, he sat 28th, until a caution finally came out to go into NASCAR overtime. Unable to take the wave around, Hemric pitted for tires. He restarted 30th and went on to finish 28th.

“Today was a hard-fought one. We started out super tight, and I felt like I just killed the right-side tires early on. Trent [Owens] made some great calls, and we continued to get the No. 31 Cirkul Chevy close to where it needed to be during the second stage. We tried gambling a little and running long during the final stage, but unfortunately, we never caught a caution. I’m definitely proud of the hard work this team put in this weekend that we can bring back here in the fall. We definitely made the car more competitive and are going in the right direction.” – Daniel Hemric  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and has won back-to-back regular-season championships. Before becoming a full-time NCS team, Kaulig Racing made multiple starts in the 2021 NCS season and won in its seventh-ever start with AJ Allmendinger’s victory at “The Brickyard” for the Verizon 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team expanded to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and added a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. In 2024, the team will once again field two, full-time entries in the NCS and continue to field three, full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

STEWART-HAAS RACING
Cook Out 400

Date: April 7, 2024
Event: Cook Out 400 (Round 8 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval)
Format: 400 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/100 laps/220 laps)
Note: Race extended 15 laps past its scheduled 400-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.

Race Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

SHR Finish:

● Ryan Preece (Started 22nd, Finished 9th / Running, completed 415 of 415 laps)
● Chase Briscoe (Started 5th, Finished 10th / Running, completed 415 of 415 laps)
● Noah Gragson (Started 26th, Finished 20th / Running, completed 414 of 415 laps)
● Josh Berry (Started 7th, Finished 25th / Running, completed 413 of 415 laps)

SHR Points:

● Chase Briscoe (16th with 188 points, 121 out of first)

● Josh Berry (23rd with 129 points, 180 out of first)

● Ryan Preece (26th with 112 points, 197 out of first)

● Noah Gragson (29th with 101 points, 208 out of first)

SHR Notes:

● Preece earned his first top-10 of the season and his first top-10 in 10 career NASCAR Cup Series start at Martinsville.

● This was Preece’s best finish so far this year. His previous best was 14th, earned March 17 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

● Preece’s ninth-place finish bettered his previous best result at Martinsville – 15th, earned last April.

● This was Preece’s third straight top-20 at Martinsville. He finished 15th last April and 20th in the series’ prior visit to the track in October.

● Briscoe earned his third top-10 of the season and his fifth top-10 in seven career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville

● This was Briscoe’s fifth straight result of 18th or better. He finished ninth March 10 at Phoenix Raceway, 13th March 17 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, 13th March 24 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas and 18th last Sunday at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.

● This was Briscoe’s fifth straight top-10 at Martinsville. In his past five NASCAR Cup Series starts at the .526-mile oval, Briscoe has finished ninth, ninth, fifth, fourth and 10th.

● Briscoe finished fourth in Stage 1 to earn seven bonus points and seventh in Stage 2 to earn four more bonus points.

● Briscoe led once for eight laps to bring his laps-led total at Martinsville to 142.

● Gragson’s 20th-place result bettered his previous best finish at Martinsville – 25th, earned in October 2022.

● Berry finished ninth in Stage 1 to earn two bonus points and 10th in Stage 2 to earn one additional bonus point.

Race Notes:

● William Byron won the Cook Out 400 to score his 13th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his third of the season and his second at Martinsville. His margin of victory over second-place Kyle Larson was .55 of a second.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 51 laps.

● Only 14 of the 37 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Larson leaves Martinsville as the new championship leader with a 14-point advantage over second-place Martin Truex Jr.

Sound Bites:

“We had a really good car. I wish we didn’t qualify so badly. I know the 24 (William Byron) started back there with us and he was able to get there probably with the help of a lot of things. At Martinsville last year, we had a good car but we didn’t have that good of a car, but now we’re definitely working toward something. I’m really happy with the direction we’re going in and we’re working on, and we’re going to be a lot better moving forward.” – Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“It was kind of a frustrating day for us. We ended up 10th, but we were definitely way better than 10th. We just couldn’t pass. We had not the greatest pit stop early in the race and lost some sports, and we were just kind of stuck anywhere from fifth to eighth for the rest of the race. I felt like if I ever could’ve gotten the lead, I would’ve been good enough to run up there, for sure. And then there at the end, we didn’t know if we should pit or not pit. We were kind of in a tough spot. We stayed out and lost two more spots. So, frustrating to run 10th. We definitely had better than a 10th-place racecar. This is how hard this Cup deal is. You’ve got to be perfect all race long. I made a couple of mistakes, and as a team, still, we just need to clean some stuff up. We’ll move on and continue with what speed we have. That’s encouraging. We just need to execute.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“Started out struggling with the balance of the car, went a lap down, and during the second stage got the ‘Lucky Dog’ and started rolling pretty good. It just seemed like the track changed a lot with the rubber being laid down. We found a good balance to start the run, but to end the run it gets super loose. But still proud of everybody on the Overstock team. It’s not our standard, but we’ll keep working to get there. It was a tough race, but had a lot of fun, too.” – Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 10 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“The car was fun. The field basically ran the same speed and you just can’t pass.” – Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 50th Anniversary Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 on Sunday, April 14 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The race begins at 3:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.