Category: NASCAR Cup PR

RICK WARE RACING
NASCAR Season Finale

Date: Nov. 10, 2024
Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Phoenix Raceway (1-mile oval)
Format: 312 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps / 125 laps / 127 laps)
Champion: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)

Race Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 1 Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford)

RWR Race Finish:

● Corey LaJoie (Started 20th, Finished 32nd/ Running, completed 309 of 312 laps)
● Kaz Grala (Started 31st, Finished 34th/Running, completed 308 of 312 laps)

RWR Points:

● Corey LaJoie (33rd with 489 points)
● Kaz Grala (35th with 206 points)

RWR Notes:

● This was LaJoie’s 15th NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix. His best finish remains 18th, earned in November 2022.
● This was Grala’s second NASCAR Cup Series start at Phoenix. His best finish remains 30th, earned on March 10.

Race Notes:

● Joey Logano won the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale to score his 36th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his fourth of the year and his fourth at Phoenix. His margin over second-place Ryan Blaney was .33 of a second.

● Logano earned the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix by virtue of his win. It was Logano’s third NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022 and 2024), making him the 10th different driver to win three or more championships all-time, and the only active fulltime driver to accomplish the feat.

● This was Ford’s 740th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory, its 12th of the season and second straight. Blaney won last Sunday at Martinsville for the Blue Oval.

● This was Ford’s series-leading 20th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Phoenix. The manufacturer won the first two races at Phoenix with NASCAR Hall of Famers Alan Kulwicki on Nov. 6, 1988, and Bill Elliott on Nov. 5, 1989. It has now won three of the last six races at Phoenix with Briscoe (March 2022) and Logano (November 2022 and 2024).

● Ford’s NASCAR Cup Series championship streak extended to three in a row with Logano’s victory in the season finale at Phoenix.

● Ford has won the Cup Series championship 12 times by nine different drivers. In addition, Ford has won at least two NASCAR championships in each of the last three seasons, including a sweep of all three last year.

● Logano is the first Ford driver to win at least three NASCAR Cup Series championships and the 10th driver in NASCAR history to do so, joining fellow three-time winners Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time titleholders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

● There were four caution periods for a total of 33 laps.

● Only 19 of the 40 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Next Up:

The 2025 season begins with the non-points Busch Light Clash on Feb. 2 at historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before kicking off its 36-race slate of points-paying events with the 67th Daytona 500 on Feb. 16 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

STEWART-HAAS RACING
NASCAR Season Finale

Date: Nov. 10, 2024
Event: NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale (Round 36 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Phoenix Raceway (1-mile oval)
Format: 312 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/125 laps/127 laps)
Champion: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)

Race Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 1 Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford)

SHR Finish:

● Noah Gragson (Started 21st, Finished 12th / Running, completed 312 of 312 laps)
● Josh Berry (Started 39th, Finished 24th / Running, completed 311 of 312 laps)
● Chase Briscoe (Started 12th, Finished 29th / Running, completed 310 of 312 laps)
● Ryan Preece (Started 33rd, Finished 37th / Running, completed 302 of 312 laps)

SHR Points:

● Chase Briscoe (14th with 2,184 points)
● Noah Gragson (24th with 612 points)
● Ryan Preece (26th with 584 points)
● Josh Berry (27th with 579 points)

SHR End of an Era (2009-2024):

● Phoenix marked SHR’s 576th and final NASCAR Cup Series race. The team made its official debut on Feb. 15, 2009 in the Daytona 500 with drivers Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman, who finished eighth and 36th, respectively. However, that was not the team’s first on-track outing. Some important dates led up to that moment…

●  Dec. 17, 2008: Newman tests at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham. It is the first-ever on-track activity for SHR. 

●  Jan. 14, 2009: Stewart and Newman test at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. It marks the first SHR test for Stewart, and the first test where both SHR teams are on track together.

●  Feb. 4,  2009: SHR’s two transporters leave the team’s Kannapolis, North Carolina-based shop at exactly 1:08 p.m. EST bound for Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

●  Feb. 6,  2009: Stewart drives his No. 14 machine during Budweiser Shootout practice at Daytona. It marks the first official on-track activity for SHR.

●  Feb. 8, 2009: Newman and Stewart place both SHR cars within the top-10 during Daytona 500 time trials. Newman posts the third-quickest time and Stewart notches the 10th-fastest time.

● Twenty different drivers have competed for SHR in the NASCAR Cup Series: Kevin Harvick (360 starts), Stewart (262 starts), Aric Almirola (216 starts), Newman (180 starts), Danica Patrick (180 starts), Kurt Busch (177 starts), Chase Briscoe (144 starts), Clint Bowyer (144 starts), Cole Custer (108 starts), Ryan Preece (72 starts), Josh Berry (36 starts), Noah Gragson (36 starts), Daniel Suárez (36 starts), Mark Martin (12 starts), Brian Vickers (five starts), Regan Smith (four starts), Ty Dillon (three starts), Austin Dillon (two starts), Jeff Burton (two starts) and Max Papis (one start).

● SHR’s final win tally stands at 106: 70 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series wins, six non-points-paying NASCAR Cup Series wins, 29 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins and one ARCA Menards Series win.

● SHR’s final championship tally stands at four: two in the NASCAR Cup Series (2011 with Stewart and 2014 with Harvick) and two in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2018 owners’ championship and 2023 drivers’ championship with Cole Custer).

SHR Race Notes:

● This was Gragson’s milestone 75th career NASCAR Cup Series start.

● Gragson earned his 16th top-15 of the season and his second top-15 in three career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Phoenix.

● This was Gragson’s fourth straight top-20. He finished 18th Oct. 20 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 19th Oct. 27 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and 11th last Sunday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

● Gragson’s 12th-place result equaled his previous best finish at Phoenix, originally earned in March.

Race Notes:

● Joey Logano won the NASCAR Cup Series Season Finale to score his 36th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his fourth of the year and his fourth at Phoenix. His margin over second-place Ryan Blaney was .33 of a second.

● Logano earned the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix by virtue of his win. It was Logano’s third NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022 and 2024), making him the 10th different driver to win three or more championships all-time, and the only active fulltime driver to accomplish the feat.

● This was Ford’s 740th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory, its 12th of the season and second straight. Blaney won last Sunday at Martinsville for the Blue Oval.

● This was Ford’s series-leading 20th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Phoenix. The manufacturer won the first two races at Phoenix with NASCAR Hall of Famers Alan Kulwicki on Nov. 6, 1988, and Bill Elliott on Nov. 5, 1989. It has now won three of the last six races at Phoenix with Briscoe (March 2022) and Logano (November 2022 and 2024).

● Ford’s NASCAR Cup Series championship streak extended to three in a row with Logano’s victory in the season finale at Phoenix.

● Ford has won the Cup Series championship 12 times by nine different drivers. In addition, Ford has won at least two NASCAR championships in each of the last three seasons, including a sweep of all three last year.

● Logano is the first Ford driver to win at least three NASCAR Cup Series championships and the 10th driver in NASCAR history to do so, joining fellow three-time winners Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time titleholders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

● There were four caution periods for a total of 33 laps.

● Only 19 of the 40 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

Sound Bites:

“Today was a good improvement from where we were in practice, and then from where we qualified we just continued to stay in the fight and inch our way up front. We were looking at a top-10 day and just faded a little bit too much there on the last run. But, overall, today’s about the memories and the people. The people of Stewart-Haas are in a challenging position right now with everything that’s gone on this year, but we all rally behind each other and support each other. And today is about all those people who are looking for jobs, who build these racecars, got our race team to the racetrack and back, and work so hard and sacrifice so much. So, overall, I’m super grateful and I’ll cherish this moment today.” – Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 10 Nitro Circus Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“Man, this is just such a special group and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone at SHR for all they did this season. We had some really tough circumstances and a lot of uncertainty, and the No. 4 group still showed up and gave it their all and I am just so thankful.” – Josh Berry, driver of the No. 4 Texas A&M University Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“That was definitely not the day we wanted? Just couldn’t really ever get the car driving right, definitely not the finish we wanted, but I told the guys before we took off whether we win or finish 36th, let’s just have fun today and enjoy it. I mean, this is probably the most smiling and laughing we’ve ever had after a 29th-place finish. So, yeah, we obviously would’ve loved to have a better result, but at the end of the day, it was all about just enjoying each other and the people and everything that makes Stewart-Haas so special. It’s been a place I’m so thankful to have called home for the last seven years. I knew, honestly, it was going to be a little bit emotional but, I mean, I was crying before we rolled off pit road. Just appreciative of the opportunity Tony (Stewart) and Gene (Haas) gave me. My dream was to make it to the Cup Series and the 14 car was the car I always cheered for, so the fact that I got to drive it and do it for my childhood hero was pretty cool. Definitely something I never took for granted.” – Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“It was a good year and I really appreciate all the hard work.” – Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The 2025 season begins with the non-points Busch Light Clash on Feb. 2 at historic Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before kicking off its 36-race slate of points-paying events with the 67th Daytona 500 on Feb. 16 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Cup Series Championship
Avondale, AZ – November 10, 2024

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 11TH STAGE ONE: 10TH STAGE TWO: 13TH FINISH: 13TH POINTS: 11TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang team finished 13th in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, adding to a solid day for Team Penske that ended with teammate Joey Logano’s win and championship. After qualifying in the 11th position, Cindric showed solid speed in his No. 2 Ford throughout the first stage as he finished 10th. After the first pit stops of the day, the No. 12 team was part of a pit crew reshuffling as the jackman for the No. 22 Ford came down with an illness. Cindric’s jackman, Pat Gray, was moved to Logano’s team and Cindric’s crew was backfilled thanks to the depth of the Team Penske pit crews. Despite the changes to his team, Cindric continued to maintain a position in the first half of the running order, nearly racing himself into position for a top-10 finish in the series’ final standings before finishing 13th in the 312-lap event and coming just 10 points short of the top 10 in points. The No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang team picked up their second NCS victory earlier this year at World Wide Technology Raceway, and Cindric’s 11th-place points finish is his career-best mark.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “First off a huge congratulations to Joey, Mr. Penske and everyone on the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil team. Three championships in a row just shows what kind of team we have at Team Penske. Those guys set a high bar and it makes me hungry to get to Daytona for next season. Great effort today, all year really, by this Discount Tire Ford Mustang team. We took some big steps in our growth, and I’m proud to go racing with Brian (Wilson) and all the guys. A great season and looking forward to next year.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/RICHMOND WATER HEATERS FORD MUSTANG

START: 17TH STAGE ONE: 6TH STAGE TWO: 1ST FINISH: 2ND POINTS: 2ND

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford Mustang team came only a few feet from winning their second-consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway before finishing second to Team Penske teammate Joey Logano. In Saturday’s qualifying session, Blaney was one of several drivers to bobble in the center of Turns 1 and 2, resulting in a 17th-place starting position. Many in the garage, however, pointed to the race speed in the No. 12 Ford and Blaney wasted little time in driving to the front of the field after the green flag dropped. Following a sixth-place finish in the first stage, Blaney restarted fourth for stage two to set up a run to the race lead as that stage concluded. A caution on Lap 66 brought Blaney and other leaders down pit road for four fresh Goodyear tires as Championship 4 contender, William Byron, elected to stay out with tires only 16 laps old. After restarting from the sixth position, Blaney became boxed in by Byron’s teammate, Kyle Larson, as he attempted to run down Byron and Logano, who drove to the lead after restarting fifth. Once he dispatched of Larson, Blaney began to take chunks of time out of Logano’s lead, eventually making it a Team Penske battle at the front for the last six laps of the race. As the two raced cleanly, Blaney gave it a valiant effort before crossing the finish line in second. The No. 12 team finished the year with three wins, helping give Team Penske its first 1-2 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship standings.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Yeah, just worn out really and just couldn’t quite get there. And tried really hard to do so, just restart didn’t really work out and just got too far away from me and took me a while to pass a couple guys and just could never get by Joey. Yeah, ran out of time.

“But congrats to him, congrats to the 22 team and Pennzoil and Ford. They put together a great playoffs, and we’re happy. If we’re going to race somebody, I’m happy it was him for the championship, and happy to be one-two for Roger, three in a row for Roger, super amazing, and Ford.

“But on my side, I hate it for Menards, Advance Auto Parts, Body Armor, Dex Imaging, Wabash, the Wurth group, everybody who really puts a lot of effort into our program.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 2ND STAGE ONE: 1ST STAGE TWO: 3RD FINISH: 1ST POINTS: 1ST

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang team fought through more adversity than any of the other Championship 4 drivers in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway, but sheer perseverance won out as he took the checkered flag to capture his third NCS title. Logano joins a list of five other NASCAR legends with his third career title and gives Team Penske its 47th championship in team history. The third-consecutive NCS title for Team Penske places a capstone on a remarkable season for the team as a whole, adding to wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Indianapolis 500 along with championships in IMSA and WEC. Logano began the 312-lap race from the second position before quickly assuming the to win the first stage with ease. As issue on the first pit stop of the day and the loss of jackman Graham Stoddard to illness dealt the team significant curveballs in the first half of the race, but over the second half of the event Logano stayed within sight of the lead and passed the No. 24 of William Byron for the top spot with 53 laps to go following a yellow-flag pit stop for fresh tires after a Lap 66 incident. As the race wound down, Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney was able to drive to the rear bumper of the No. 22 Ford but could not muster a run to make the pass through clean racing between the last three NCS champions (Logano – 2022 and 2024, Blaney – 2023). The No. 22 team finishes the 2024 season with four points-paying wins – three in the NCS Playoffs – and a dominating victory in the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “I love the playoffs. I love it, man. What a race! What a Team Penske battle there at the end. Had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12. And he had a lot of long run speed there, and it was all I had there to hold him off.

“Man, three of them, that’s really special to get that. What a team. To fight through today, we went through a little bit of adversity throughout the race. I can’t thank Ford enough and Shell and Pennzoil and Hunt Brothers Pizza, Paul Wolfe. What a crew chief do I have?

“I’ve got the best team. I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team, and together we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most. We’ve got a mentally tough team that can make things happen when it matters.”

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off with the return to the historic Bowman Gray Stadium for the NASCAR Clash. The non-points event is scheduled for Sunday, February 2, 2025 and will be broadcast live on FOX.

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team finished 16th in Sunday’s Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway as their Ford teammates Joey Logano and his No. 22 crew won the season title in their Team Penske Mustang.

Burton started Sunday’s season finale from ninth place and had a steady drive all day to post his seventh finish of 16th or better this season. Burton and the Wood Brothers also secured 16th place in the final points standings, thanks to a win at Daytona in August that put them in the Playoffs.

On Sunday, Burton dropped back a few spots on the initial start and ended the first 80-lap Stage in 14th place.

In the second Stage, Burton and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team continued to race mostly inside the top 20 before ending that segment in 19th place.

In the third and final portion of the 312-lap race, Burton worked his way forward, taking 18th place on Lap 264, 17th by Lap 274 and 16th with 24 laps remaining.

Sunday’s race marked Burton’s final drive in the No. 21 Mustang. Next season will see Josh Berry take the wheel with Miles Stanley as crew chief.

Eddie Wood offered his congratulations to Team Penske and to Ford Motor Company for their championship and added his thanks for those who supported his team in 2024.

“We congratulate Roger Penske and his organization and everyone at Ford on a hard-fought championship,” Wood said. “They were most deserving.

“And as we close out the season I’d like to thank Harrison and all the members of our 21 team, as well as all of our sponsors and fans for all they do for us.

“We wish all of you a happy and safe offseason, and we are all working hard and looking forward to a successful 2025 season.”

The No. 21 team will return to the track on Feb. 2 for the Busch Light Clash at a familiar venue for the Wood Brothers – Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 100 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last eight decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

DANIEL HEMRIC
No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

• Daniel Hemric qualified 22nd for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.
• After an early caution on lap one, Hemric restarted 21st but began trending free laterally and on throttle. The remainder of the opening stage finished without incident, as Hemric fell down one lap to the leader. He finished the stage in 33rd and received the free pass position.
• During the first stage break, crew chief Trent Owens made the call to pit for four tires, fuel, an air pressure and a wedge adjustment on the No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet. Hemric started the second stage from 33rd place. Hemric gained three positions on the initial start and made it as high as sixth place as green-flag pit stops began. He pitted under green on lap 134, receiving tires and fuel and went on to finish the second stage in 28th place, one lap down to the leader.
• During the second stage break, Hemric pitted for tires, fuel and and an air pressure adjustment to tighten up the No. 31 Chevy. He started the final stage from 28th place. A timely caution on lap 251 allowed Hemric to pit under caution from 21st place. After receiving tires and fuel, Hemric restarted 24th with 54 laps remaining. The race stayed green, and Hemric finished 23rd.

“We clawed all day and made the No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet much better there the last few runs. Trent [Owens] made great adjustments, as always. I’m proud of the hard work everyone on this team has put in this season. Today was bittersweet, but I can’t thank Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, and everyone at Kaulig Racing for these past few years.” – Daniel Hemric  

DEREK KRAUS
No. 16 Western States Flooring Camaro ZL1

• Derek Kraus qualified 26th for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship to close out the 2024 season.
• The first caution of the day fell on the opening lap. Kraus and the No. 16 Western States Flooring Chevrolet stayed out to restart 29th from the top line. Kraus slowly lost several positions, dropping to 35th as he reported his car was running free into turns. He finished the first stage a lap down in 35th.
• During the stage break, Kraus reported he lacked grip and could not trust the car. The No. 16 pitted for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Kraus restarted 35th and one lap down. As a caution-free stage two went on, Kraus pitted under green-flag conditions on lap 179 for four tires, fuel and adjustments. Kraus restarted in 36th and two laps down, reporting he was still tight. He remained silent on the radio and finished 34th, two laps down to the leaders.
• During the final stage break, Kraus noted he trended tighter on the long runs and couldn’t lean on the car. Kraus took the wave around with crew chief Andrew Dickeson opting to stay out. The No. 16 restarted 32nd. As the final stage ran green, the No. 16 pitted with 78 laps to go, taking four tires, fuel and adjustments, reentering the field 33rd and three laps down. The caution flag came out for the No. 71 on lap 249, allowing Kraus to take the wave around, restarting 31st and one lap down. As green flag runs continued, Kraus ended the race in 25th.

“Overall a great weekend here at Phoenix Raceway. I learned a lot, and had fun running all the laps. I can’t thank Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice enough for this opportunity, and we will see what 2025 brings.” – Derek Kraus  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Race | Sunday, November 10, 2024

FORD WINS CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR AS JOEY LOGANO CAPTURES TITLE IN SEASON FINALE AT PHOENIX RACEWAY

• Ford’s NASCAR Cup Series championship streak extended to three straight today after Joey Logano won the title in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
• This marks the first time Ford has won the Cup title three years in a row and the first time Team Penske has achieved that feat. Logano (2022), Blaney (2023), Logano (2024).
• Ford has won the Cup Series championship 12 times by nine different drivers.
• In addition, Ford has won at least two NASCAR championships in each of the last three seasons, including a sweep of all three last year.
• Overall, Ford has won eight of the last 10 titles in NASCAR’s top three touring series dating back to Logano’s Cup championship in 2022.
• Logano is the first Ford driver to win at least three Cup Series championships and the 10th driver in NASCAR history, joining fellow three-time winners Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time titleholders Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONS

1965 – Ned Jarrett
1968 – David Pearson
1969 – David Pearson
1988 – Bill Elliott
1992 – Alan Kulwicki
1999 – Dale Jarrett
2003 – Matt Kenseth
2004 – Kurt Busch
2018 – Joey Logano
2022 – Joey Logano
2023 – Ryan Blaney
2024 – Joey Logano

Ford Performance Results:

1st – Joey Logano
2nd – Ryan Blaney
9th – Chris Buescher
12th – Noah Gragson
13th – Austin Cindric
15th – Brad Keselowski
16th – Harrison Burton
20th – Todd Gilliland
24th – Josh Berry
29th – Chase Briscoe
31st – Michael McDowell
32nd – Corey LaJoie
34th – Kaz Grala
36th – Chad Finchum
37th – Ryan Preece

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW – WHAT MAKES YOU FIND A DIFFERENT LEVEL IN THESE SITUATIONS? “I love the playoffs. I love it, man. What a race. What a Team Penske battle there at the end. I had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12. He had a lot of long run speed there and that was all I had there to hold him off. We have three of them. That’s really special. What a team to fight through today. We went through a little bit of adversity in throughout the race. I can’t thank Ford enough and Shell and Pennzoil and Hunt Brother’s Pizza. Paul Wolfe, what a crew chief I have. I’ve got the best team. I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team and together we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most. We’ve got a mentally tough team that can make things happen when it matters.”

WHAT DID YOU FIND TO KEEP BLANEY BEHIND YOU? “Coleman Pressley. He was telling me where he was. He was up there telling me the best lanes to run and it’s a balance of putting dirty air on him and running the fastest laps for my Ford. We just got a little too tight there at the end and I couldn’t really wrap the bottom as good as I wanted to, so a 1-2 for Team Penske – three championships in a row since this Next Gen car. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone at the shop that’s built these things. Our pit stall is way over there because of what happened. I’m kind of bummed out. I don’t see them out here yet.”

HOW MUCH OF THIS CHAMPIONSHIP STORY IS ABOUT MAXIMIZING THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAD? “The race started in Vegas for us. The amount of work and effort that went into building this race car right here, the amount of time, I don’t think anyone works harder than us. We were up at 6 o’clock in the morning going over stuff and the guys just want it bad. I’m glad we delivered. It was looking iffy there for a minute, but that late-race restart was really the difference maker. I’m so proud of the team.”

ONE OF ONLY 10 DRIVERS TO WIN THREE TITLES. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? “It’s special, for sure, but I can’t help but think about everybody that this affects even more so than just a stat like that. Everyone works so hard and there are so many important things that happen when you win a championship and it affects so many people’s lives – two or three or four or five, whatever, this affects a lot of people. That’s what I care about the most. That’s me getting a little older and caring about others more, but that’s probably the thing that comes back to my mind about the amount of people that this affects, especially with a 1-2 with Blaney like that – 1-2 in the race and 1-2 in the championship. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

TALK ABOUT THE FINAL LAPS. “The restart was everything. Getting a good start and getting cleared quick. The 12 got mired back there a little bit. I knew he was the fastest car and I knew that when we came here that he was gonna be wicked fast and hard to beat, but we had to out race him. I knew that coming into it. I said, ‘I’ve got to outsmart him and outrace him’ because I know he’s got speed and the 22 team did that. They showed up under pressure.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I’m just worn out. I just couldn’t quite get there. I tried really had to do so, but the restart didn’t really work out and just got too far away from me. It took me a while to pass a couple guys and I just could never get by Joey and I ran out of time. Congrats to him. Congrats to the 22 team and Pennzoil and Ford. They put together a great playoffs and we’re happy. If we’re gonna race somebody, I’m happy it was him for the championship and happy to be 1-2 for Roger. Three in a row for Roger. It’s super amazing and Ford, but on my side I hate it for Menards, Advance Auto Parts, BodyArmor, DEX Imaging, Wabash and Wurth group – everybody who puts a lot of effort into our program and just super fast, just didn’t quite have enough there at the end. At least a Penske car won it, but it was a heck of a battle. Hopefully, the fans enjoyed it and hopefully we can come back even stronger next year.”

DID YOU THINK YOU HAD JOEY ONCE YOU GOT PAST THE OTHER TWO CARS? “I didn’t know. I had to work really hard to get by the 5 and the 24 and Joey was pretty far away. I was working really hard to try to get to Joey, so I was kind of nervous that if I ended up getting close to him, a lot of my stuff would be burned off of it and it kind of was, but I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t really wait. It just took too long. The restart just didn’t play out for us. I feel like if I came out behind Joey and didn’t have two cars in between us to pass, I would have been able to have a better shot, but the restart didn’t work out and that’s just the way it goes sometimes. I’m just so proud of the 12 team for their effort and really, really happy with our year and happy for Roger Penske and Joey Logano and Paul Wolfe and all those guys. We’ll try to restack and go at it again.”

ROGER PENSKE, Owner, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – THREE STRAIGHT TITLES WITH TWO OF YOUR CARS BATTLING FOR IT. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? “I was worried they were going to get together at the end, but I think Joey had a little bit left there. Ryan did a great job because he was held up a little bit there at the beginning, but great racing all day long. I can only thank everybody upstairs. They were tremendous and these Ford engines and obviously our Shell sponsor. Think about that. They were on the car at Indy for the 500 and for here, so a pretty good day.”

WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT YOUR GROUP IN MOORESVILLE, NC? “It’s all about the people. My name might be on the door, but it’s all about the people who make the difference and we sure have them on this team.”

JOSH BERRY, No. 4 Texas A&M University Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “Man, this is just such a special group and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone at SHR for all they did this season. We had some really tough circumstances and a lot of uncertainty and the No. 4 group still showed up and gave it their all, and I am just so thankful.”

NOAH GRAGSON, No. 10 Nitro Circus Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It was a good improvement from where we were in practice and then where we qualified and just continued to stay in the fight and inch our way up front. We were looking at a top 10 day and just faded a little bit too much there on the last run, but, overall, today is about the memories and the people – the people at Stewart-Haas are in a tough position right now with everything that’s gone on this year, but we all rally behind each other and support each other and today is about all those people that are looking for jobs, build these race cars, get our race team to the racetrack that work so hard and sacrifice so much, so, overall I’m super grateful and I’ll cherish this moment today.”

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It definitely wasn’t the day we wanted to end on. We just couldn’t ever get the car driving right and I sped on pit road. We weren’t gonna be very good probably anyway, but it wasn’t the finish we wanted. I told the guys before we took off whether we win or finish 36th, ‘let’s just have fun today and enjoy it.’ This is probably the most smiling and laughing we’ve ever had after a 29th-place finish. We would have loved to have a better result, but at the end of the day it was all about just enjoying each other and the people and everything that makes Stewart-Haas so special. It’s been a place I’m so thankful to have called home for the last seven years, and I didn’t think it would honestly be this emotional. I was crying before we even rolled off pit road. I’m appreciative of the opportunity from Tony and Gene. My dream was to make it into the Cup Series and the 14 car was the car I always cheered for, so the fact I got to drive it and do it for my childhood hero was pretty cool, so definitely something I’ll never take for granted.”

NASCAR CUP SERIES
PHOENIX RACEWAY
CHAMPIONSHIP RACE
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
NOV. 10, 2024

Byron Drives to Third-Place Finish in 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race

 TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10:

POS. DRIVER
3rd – William Byron
4th – Kyle Larson
8th – Chase Elliott
10th – Daniel Suarez

WITH 36 NASCAR CUP SERIES RACES COMPLETE:

Wins: 15
Poles: 10
Top-Five Finishes: 71
Top-10 Finishes: 147
Stage Wins: 23

 The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the track at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Busch Light Clash at Bowman Gray on February 2, 2025.

• In his second career Championship Four appearance, William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team drove to a third-place finish in the 312-lap season finale race – ultimately ending the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season third in the final points standings.
• The 26-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native closes out the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season with three trips to victory lane – highlighted by his first crown jewel triumph in the 66th running of the Daytona 500. Byron went on to prove his title potential early in the season, adding two more victories within the first eight points-paying races of the season (Circuit of The Americas – March; Martinsville Speedway – April). In addition to his three victories, the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 team tallied 13 top-fives and 21 top-10s at the conclusion of the 36-race season.
• Closing out the third season of competition for the Next Gen cars, Chevrolet leads its manufacturer competitors with 15 victories – recorded by eight drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations. Among those triumphs included two crown jewel victories, including the Daytona 500 with Byron and the Brickyard 400 with Kyle Larson. This marks the third-consecutive season that the Bowtie brand has earned the highest win count on the season, with the Next Gen Camaro ZL1 also recording 18 wins in 2023 and 19 wins in 2022.
• With 93 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has earned a winning percentage of 48.4% with 45 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – 15 wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 18 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – 12 wins).
• In 108 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 52 victories – a winning percentage of 48.1%.
• With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 866 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE QUOTES:

William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1

Finished: 3rd

It was a different pit strategy call from crew chief Rudy Fugle. How would you describe that run to the end? Did you feel like you, maybe with a late yellow, you could have had something for Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney?

“I don’t know. I know that our No. 24 Axalta Chevy team worked really hard all day, and I feel like we maximized the most part of what we had. We just didn’t quite have enough. Those guys were just faster than us. We would have a short, little surge there in the middle part of the run, and then they would start to drive away on the short and long runs.

We just didn’t have enough, but I’m really, really proud of our team. We fought hard. It was a great strategy there in the final stage to do something different, but we just didn’t have enough.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Worldwide Express Camaro ZL1

Finished: 10th

“I’m happy with our day. Just like at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, I feel like we maximized the potential of our No. 99 Worldwide Express Chevy, so that’s good. We had a 10th-place car, or so, and that’s exactly where we finished. I’m really proud of this team. We had a good year, and it’s definitely something good to build off of for the future.”

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

Finished: 23rd

“We clawed all day and made the No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet much better there the last few runs. Trent [Owens] made great adjustments as always. I’m proud of the hard work everyone on this team has put in this season. Today was bittersweet, but I can’t thank Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, and everyone at Kaulig Racing for these past few years.”

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

REDDICK SOLID IN FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP 4, FINISHES SIXTH
Christopher Bell leads Toyota with fifth-place finish

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 10, 2024) – Tyler Reddick finished out his career-best season with a sixth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway in the NASCAR Championship race. With the finish, Reddick and 23XI Racing earned a career-best fourth-place finish in the final standings. The California-native also established career-highs in top-five and top-10 finishes this season.

Christopher Bell led Toyota with a fifth-place finish in the season finale. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver finished in the top-five in the final point standings for the third consecutive season and led the series overall with top-fives (15) and top-10’s (23).

Martin Truex Jr. closed out his final full-time NASCAR Cup Series season with back-to-back pole positions and ended Sunday with a 17th-place finish.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Phoenix Raceway
Race 36 of 36 – 312 Laps, 312 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Joey Logano*
2nd, Ryan Blaney*
3rd, William Bryon*
4th, Kyle Larson*
5th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
6th, TYLER REDDICK
7th, BUBBA WALLACE
11th, DENNY HAMLIN
17th, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
22nd, ERIK JONES
26th, JIMMIE JOHNSON
30th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
40th, TY GIBBS
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Interstate Batteries – DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

Did you just not have a long run car?

“I felt like our DEWALT, Interstate Batteries Camry was fine, but we definitely lost the handle of it on that last run. I knew that I was getting a little bit worse compared to the competition as the race went. We needed to take a step and make it a little bit better, and it seemed like I got a little bit slower in the end.”

Can you talk about how on it your pit crew was today?

“They were amazing. This whole team is incredible, so I’m glad to be paired up with them for the years to come, and hopefully we will keep building on what we have.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 The Beast Unleashed Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

What were you struggling with?

“I feel like we kept making our balance on The Beast Camry better and better all day – it was a bit telling in stage two here on that restart when we got to the 24 (William Bryon), 12 (Ryan Blaney) and the 22 (Joey Logano) – I wouldn’t say they were doing anything much different, but they were able to get away from us after a while. It was good year for us. Won in the right moments, just hoping for a little bit more of that magic today and wasn’t meant to be.”

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

Finishing Position: 17th

What are your emotions after your last full-time race?

“Oh man. I wanted it to go better than that. We were pretty good early and then lost track position and then the track just continued to rubber up and get hotter. At least that’s what I felt like it was doing. I kept losing the grip. I kept losing more balance. I just losing track position. It just all magnifies with this thing. We got caught by the caution there and had to stay out on old tires and get the wave around and we couldn’t even race to try to go forward. It was just not a good day. Not a good day to end on. I’m proud of the effort of my team. At least we got to lead a few laps at the beginning.”

What does it mean to be such a respected driver and have people like Michael Jordan and Jeff Gordon come up after the race to congratulate you?

“Yeah, it means a lot to have the respect of guys like that and what they mean to the sport. Absolute legends, right? It makes me feel good that I’ve earned that respect over the years, and it means a lot. From here forward, I’m just going to go have some fun and do a little bit of racing here and there just for fun. Hopefully, it will be less stressful than days like today.”

TY GIBBS, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 40th

What happened to take you out of the race early?

“It was definitely a big hit. I made contact with the wall, but I didn’t think it was necessarily too bad, and I went off into the dogleg. We’ve been really hard on the track there all week and I think I just caught it at a bad angle, and it just took off from me. I had no control there. It was a really, really big hit though.”

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 nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s 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 30 electrified options.

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

Toyota Racing – Martin Truex Jr.
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 9, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Martin Truex Jr. was made available to the media on Saturday after winning the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway.

Martin Truex Jr. will close out his full-time Cup Series career on the pole in Sunday’s race. This is his second consecutive pole to close the season. It his third at Phoenix (2009, 2018) and 25th of his career.

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

How meaningful is this for you?

“It’s very cool. Honestly, you always want to be known as the guy that can go fast in any track, in any situation. Pressure is always pretty high for qualifying. You have to go out there and nail that perfect lap. You only get one shot at it these days. It is fun to go out there and beat everyone in anything. It feels good. It’s very cool, but the big prize is tomorrow. Hopefully, we can get that one.”

How have you allowed yourself to have the thoughts about a storybook win to close this out?

“Would you stop? (laughter) Just stop. I’m excited for tomorrow, that’s as far as I will get. I hope we can celebrate tomorrow after the race. That would make it all really, really cool. Not emotional at all. Excited, and looking forward to tomorrow.”

How long after the race in Martinsville did it take you and Joey Logano to mend a friendship?

“That is a tough question. This sport, you have people you have run-ins with. At some point in time, you just have to move on. Life goes on – things happen. It is racing. I’ve always had a ton of respect for Joey (Logano) off of the race track. He is a great guy. Does things the right way. Treats people right. All of the things that a good human being does. It took a little while on the race track obviously to get over that and understand and wrap your head around and forgive someone for running you over, but at the end of the day you have too. Life goes on. Joey has always been a class act off the track, and we’ve always had a decent relationship as far as that goes, just have had a few run-ins on the track, and you keep those in the back of your mind for certain situations, but it doesn’t make you dislike or hate someone. It’s just part of racing.”

Looking back on your early career, could have you ever thought you would end up here running as well as you did to end your 25-year pro career?

“Honestly, when I was doing that, I didn’t know what I was going to do after that. I just knew that I was going to race Saturday night and then I was going to drive an hour to Atlantic City after I parked my trailer and get on a clam boat. I wasn’t thinking about any of this. I’ll be honest, it never crossed my mind that I could race for a living until a few years into my Busch North experience where it started to kind of feel like there might be an opportunity for me to drive for someone someday. It was long, long after racing Wall Stadium.”

With this being your last full-time race, are you going to battle hard for the win?

“I don’t know. I hope I’m in that situation so we can find out. That’s all I’ll say. I hope it comes down to that. I don’t have any plans. I don’t have this thing in mind that if x, y, z happens, I’m going to do x, y, z. I will try to do the best I can tomorrow. Hopefully, we are in a good position to have a shot at winning. That would be great. Hypotheticals – I don’t really do very well with them. We are just going to go race and see what happens tomorrow.”

If you were to win tomorrow, would you call it a career?

“No. No, I still want to race some.”

Two poles in two weeks. Is there anything different about where the speed has come from?

“Not really, no I don’t think so. Just typically good tracks for us qualifying wise, I think last year we won the pole at Martinsville as well. We’ve always qualified well here. We were I think third in the spring and maybe we were really close. (William) Byron just edged us out in round two so I think it’s just a work in progress. We’re always looking at past races and trying to tweak on them and figure out how to get a little bit better. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just preparation based off of past success and continuing to build on that.”

How would you describe your relationship with Phoenix Raceway?

“Yeah, I definitely am comfortable. This is just a really difficult track to get your car doing just exactly what you want because both ends are so different. In ’21 we had a really good season here. We won the first race and obviously we were in the final four that year and came up a little short but had a winning car no question. It’s harder than ever I think to get the car dialed in here just because the ends are different. There’s no PJ1 sprayed anymore so there’s not really a whole lot you can do as far as like moving around the race track to find something that works for your car. Basically, it’s got to work on the bottom or around the apron somehow and it’s just hard to get both ends tied together.”

Where did being a ‘gentlemen driver’ and racing others fair come from?

“I would say it’s somewhat probably my personality to not want to make people upset or angry I guess, but also growing up working on my own cars. No question that I had to fix stuff I bent up, so I was building race cars when I was 18 straight out of school. I was fixing my cars, building body parts, building you name it and when I bent them up, I had to fix them and most of the time I’d pay for it too. I think it’s a little bit different mentality when you grow up racing that way.”

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 nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s 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 30 electrified options.

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