Category: NASCAR Cup PR

JUSTIN HALEY | CODY WARE
Indianapolis Advance
Event Overview

● Event: Brickyard 400 (Round 22 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 21
● Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
● Layout: 2.5-mile rectangular oval
● Laps/Miles: 160 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 50 laps / Stage 2: 50 laps / Final Stage: 60 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / IMS Radio / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 Fraternal Order of Eagles Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Ninety-seven miles north of Indianapolis Motor Speedway sits the town of Winamac, Indiana. The seat of Pulaski County boasts a population of just over 2,300 that lives in a 1.36-square-mile area. It’s where Rick Ware Racing (RWR) driver Justin Haley grew up and started his racing career. At just 9 years old, Haley began racing quarter midgets at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway. By 2011, he was traveling across the Midwest, racing in the CRA Late Model Series at tracks like Toledo (Ohio) Speedway and Winchester (Ind.) Speedway.

● Haley’s first break came in 2014 when he was given the chance to run a six-race stint in the ARCA Menards Series for Venturini Motorsports. He earned his first pole in his second start, at Elko (New Market, Minnesota) Speedway, and picked up his first top-five finish. Overall, he finished with four top-10s in his limited first season. He also made three starts that year in the ARCA Menards Series East (formerly K&N Pro Series East), earning a seventh-place finish at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway. Haley made the move to the East Series fulltime in 2015 and, in 2016, was name the East Series champion with two wins, 13 top-fives and 14 top-10s in 14 races.

● At 18 years old, Haley’s next move was a fulltime ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He had already made six starts in a truck and earned a top-10 finish at Phoenix Raceway. In his first season with GMS Racing, Haley earned three top-fives and 12 top-10 finishes, in addition to his first pole in the Truck Series, earned in October 2017 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Haley returned to the team in 2018, won three races and made it to the Championship Four in the playoffs. He finished his final full Truck Series season third in the championship with 18 top-10 finishes over 23 races.

● Just 10 years into his racing career, Haley had already made it to the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He joined Kaulig Racing fulltime in 2019, and in his five years and 104 starts in its Xfinity Series program, he earned four wins, 24 top-fives and 69 top-10 finishes. Haley also made his Cup Series debut that year and become the second-youngest Cup Series winner in Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway history when he took home the win in the July 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Three years later, Haley helped Kaulig launch its fulltime Cup Series program and earned seven top-fives and 10 top-10s for the team in two seasons.

● Haley announced in June 2023 that he would join RWR fulltime for the 2024 season. In just 21 races with the team this season, he has earned two top-10 finishes – ninth-place results at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois. Prior to Haley joining RWR, the team had earned eight top-10s across 590 starts. Haley has also bettered or equaled the team’s best finish at nine different tracks thus far.

● The Fraternal Order of Eagles driver is set to make his first Cup Series start on the Indianapolis oval this Sunday. Haley has one previous start on the oval, which resulted in a fifth-place finish in the 2019 Xfinity Series race. The following year at the iconic Speedway, NASCAR switched to its infield road-course layout, on which Haley finished second to fellow Indiana native Chase Briscoe to mark the first time Hoosiers finished one-two at Indy. He also owns three Cup Series starts on the Indy road-course layout, earning a best finish of eighth in 2021.

Cody Ware, Driver of the No. 15 AFT Peoria Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Cody Ware will also make his first start on the Indianapolis oval after two starts on the road course layout, on which his best finish was a 24th-place effort earned in 2022.

● The No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will feature the logo for the next round of the American Flat Track (AFT) series, set to take place at Peoria (Ill.) Motorcycle Club on July 28. RWR competes in AFT with Singles riders Kody Kopp and Shayna Texter-Bauman, and Mission SuperTwins rider Briar Bauman. Nineteen-year-old Kopp is the two-time defending series champion who has already claimed five wins and nine podiums through the first 10 events of the season. He currently holds a 32-point advantage in the championship standings. Earlier this season, Kopp surpassed Texter-Bauman’s record as the winningest rider in Singles history. In Mission SuperTwins, Bauman is fourth in the standings with two podiums, including a win at Venture Short Track in Chico, California. The 25-year-old rider is looking to claim his third SuperTwins title.

● The Brickyard 400 marks Ware’s fourth start of the season. The 28-year-old driver was on track for his best finish of the season last weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway when his No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse was struck with debris during a multicar accident on lap 128 while running in the top-25. Ware’s team worked quickly to repair a hole in the radiator, and he returned to the track to finish the race and secure a 26th-place finish.

Rick Ware Racing Notes

● The NHRA Drag Racing Series visits Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington, for this weekend’s Northwest Nationals. RWR’s Clay Millican looks for his first win and fifth semifinal appearance of the season. The schedule kicks off with Friday qualifying under the lights and continues with final eliminations Sunday.

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

Justin Haley, Driver Q&A

You raced on the Indianapolis oval in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but being an Indiana native, have you been hoping for a chance to race on the oval in the NASCAR Cup Series?

“Yeah. I’m excited. It’s definitely going to be different than what we experience at some other places. It’s a fast track and obviously different than anything else we run. I spent a lot of time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a lot of time racing late models and street stocks and stuff at Lucas Oil (Raceway) just down the road. I’ve always appreciated the Brickyard layout, this really big, flat track with long straightaways. It’s something that means a lot to any driver but especially those of us from Indiana. It’s a big deal to make it to the Cup Series. It’s not easy to do. But then to get to come back to Indiana and run the Brickyard is pretty cool. The track is historic and the race itself is so iconic. I mean, we have the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400. You know it’s big when there’s no other name needed.”

Do you have a favorite childhood memory of Indianapolis?

“My grandpa was involved in motorsports, and he sponsored a car owned by Sam Schmidt in the Indy 500. Obviously, it’s not NASCAR, but that is one of the experiences when I think of Indianapolis that always stands out. Going there with my family and seeing my grandpa’s company on one of the cars.”

Cody Ware, Driver Q&A

NASCAR returns to the Indianapolis oval for the first time since 2020. Are you excited to be on the original layout?

“I’m super excited to be racing on the oval this weekend at Indy. I remember my first time with my dad there was back when we were in the Xfinity Series in 2012 with Jeffrey Earnhardt driving. I’ve always wanted to race the Brickyard and be there in a stock car. I’m just super stoked to get away from the road course this year, back on the Brickyard for the 400 and really excited to see how these Next Gen cars adapt to this race.”

What does it mean for a driver to be able to compete in the Brickyard 400?

“Being able to race at a place like Indianapolis is just a really awesome experience as a driver. There’s so much history there, over 100-plus years of racing between IndyCar, NASCAR, and Formula One, with the Brickyard 400 being one of the crown jewels in NASCAR for a long time, and now it’s coming back this year. So, to be able to go to one of the meccas of racing and be there in a Cup car is definitely an honor. Anytime you have a chance to race at Indy, it is definitely a really cool experience.”

NOAH GRAGSON
Indianapolis Advance
No. 10 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Brickyard 400 (Round 22 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 21
● Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
● Layout: 2.5-mile rectangular oval
● Laps/Miles: 160 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 50 laps / Stage 2: 50 laps / Final Stage: 60 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / IMS / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The seeds of the Brickyard 400 were planted on Monday, June 22, 1992. It was the first of a two-day tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the viability of racing NASCAR Cup Series stock cars on Indy’s 2.5-mile rectangular oval was explored. Just a day removed from his victory in the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Davey Allison joined eight of his Cup Series counterparts – Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Ernie Irvan, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty – to run full-bodied stock cars on a track that was specific to low-slung, open-wheel Indy cars and the iconic Indianapolis 500. On the second day of the test, the nine drivers raced in a pack to simulate drafting, all while an estimated 40,000 fans looked on. Elliott in his Ford Thunderbird was fastest on both days, yet his best lap was still 63 mph slower than Roberto Guerrero’s pole-winning speed of 232.482 mph for that year’s Indianapolis 500. The speed discrepancy didn’t matter. Big American iron thundering around the famed Brickyard whetted appetites, and on April 14, 1993, NASCAR president Bill France Jr. and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George announced that the inaugural Brickyard 400 would be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, 1994. It would be the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Speedway since 1916. Rising star and Indiana icon Jeff Gordon won the race to score the second of his 93 career victories, beating Brett Bodine by .53 of a second. For the next 26 years, the Cup Series raced on the oval before a three-year sojourn on Indianapolis’ 2.439-mile, 14-turn infield road course. It was not the same, and with the current-generation car putting on great shows at intermediate-style tracks across the nation, the decision to return to Indy’s 2.5-mile oval was made. The 2024 Brickyard 400 will mark the 28th Cup Series race on the big track, but the first since 2020.

● Noah Gragson doesn’t have a NASCAR Cup Series start on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval, but he does have one NASCAR Xfinity Series start on the big track. The driver of the No. 10 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Stewart-Haas Racing made his Indy debut in 2019 and finished third after starting 13th.

● Gragson raced at Indy three other times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but they were all on the road course. From 2020 through 2022, Gragson never finished outside of the top-10. His best finish came in his first road-course start at Indy – third in 2020. He finished fifth in 2021 and 10th in 2022.

● Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, site of last weekend’s NASCAR event, shares some similarities to Indianapolis. Its 2.5-mile layout boasts just three corners, with its turn two, best known as the Tunnel Turn, modeled after the corners at Indianapolis, with just eight degrees of banking. Gragson has made four Xfinity Series starts at Pocono, with three finishes of sixth or better. In fact, his last Xfinity Series start at Pocono was his best. On July 23, 2022, the Las Vegas native started ninth but worked his way to the lead after 25 laps. He wound up pacing the field three times for a race-high 43 laps, including the final 22, to take the win by .281 of a second over runner-up Ty Gibbs.

● DYK?: The last NASCAR Cup Series team to win on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval was Stewart-Haas Racing. In fact, the team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas won the last two Brickyard 400s, each courtesy of Kevin Harvick. And not since 2017 has a manufacturer other than Ford won the Brickyard 400, as Brad Keselowski drove a Ford to victory lane in the 2018 Brickyard 400 before Harvick’s back-to-back Brickyard wins in 2019 and 2020.

● The “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas owns two Brickyard 400 victories. The Hoosier hotshoe grabbed a coveted Indy win in 2005 before securing a second triumph in 2007. Both victories came with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Noah Gragson, Driver of the No. 10 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Ford Mustang Dark Horse

This year marks a return to the oval at Indy. While you don’t have any NASCAR Cup Series starts on the 2.5-mile oval, you do have one NASCAR Xfinity Series start on the oval (2019, when you finished third). So, what’s it like to race on the most renown oval in all of motorsports?

“It’s tough. It’s like the Tunnel Turn at Pocono, you’ve just got to be good with your timing. It’ll be different with all the horsepower and everything in the Cup cars. We ran the high-downforce, drag package where you drafted the whole time and pretty much ran close to, if not wide open, all the way around there. Our speeds probably weren’t as high at the end of the straightaways, but definitely drafting and getting pretty tight behind guys, so some of that stuff might be applicable for this weekend. But it’s all about timing and getting around that racetrack and maximizing your corner speed.”

Indy is big, flat and fast. How do you make a fast lap around that place, and then duplicate that fast lap 159 more times?

“You’ve just got to try and maximize your exit speed and get the car to turn and pointed correctly, and get on the gas early to make straightaway speed.”

You get a 50-minute open practice on Friday of the Indy race weekend. What are you able to do in that session that you aren’t able to do in your typical 20-minute practice session prior to Cup qualifying?

“Just get way more laps on the track to get comfortable with it. You get to make some changes, more adjustments, than you normally would.”

Indiana in July is hot and humid. How do you deal with the heat, and how far out before a race weekend begins do you start preparing yourself for the heat?

“You start hydrating Wednesday, Thursday if your race is on Sunday, drink Pedialyte and just sit outside a little bit more than you would during the week. I’ve felt good during the hot races. Obviously, they’ve been hot and it takes a long time to cool off after them, but inside the car I’ve felt good, and that’s what matters.”

What’s the hottest race you’ve ever competed in? What were some of the things you were dealing with in that race?

“Probably the worst shape I’ve ever been in in a racecar, as far as, ‘Man, I don’t know if I can keep doing this,’ it’d probably be Gateway or Iowa back in 2018. It was really hot, but I think I’ve just gotten more used to it now. With my experience, I feel like I’d be able to get back in that same race and it’d probably be no big deal. I’ve definitely fine-tuned my hydration plan, and I have more reps at longer races. I don’t know if I just wasn’t acclimated back in the Xfinity Series, but it was pretty tough. With my experience and reps behind the wheel now, it wouldn’t be a piece of cake, it still would be hot, but I would be able to bear it a lot better.”

No. 10 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Jerry Cook

Hometown: Toledo, Ohio

Engineer: James Kimbrough

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

Spotter: Andy Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Mulder

Hometown: Sioux Center, Iowa

Rear Tire Changer: Trevor White

Hometown: Arlington, Texas

Tire Carrier: Tyler Bullard

Hometown: King, North Carolina

Jack Man: Sean Cotten

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Fuel Man: James “Ace” Keener

Hometown: Fortuna, California

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Beau Whitley

Hometown: Carmel, Indiana

Tire Specialist: Jacob Cooksey

Hometown: Westbrookville, New York

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Steve Casper

Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Indianapolis Motor Speedway / Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
July 19-21, 2024

 The final push towards the series-wide two-week break will see all three NASCAR national series head to the “Racing Capital of the World” of Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 11th tripleheader of the 2024 season. The weekend will feature the highly anticipated return of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) oval for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) – highlighted by the 30th anniversary of the Brickyard 400. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) will kick-off the premier weekend of racing at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), with Friday’s event marking the penultimate race of the series’ regular season.

 CHEVROLET’S WINNING WAYS AT IMS

Chevrolet’s deep-rooted history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway dates back to the track’s early races, where Chevrolet’s co-founder, Louis Chevrolet, and his brothers competed. This weekend will not only mark NASCAR’s return to the oval configuration at IMS, but the revival of one of the sport’s crown jewel events – the Brickyard 400. This weekend, IMS will celebrate the 30th anniversary since the inaugural Brickyard 400 – a race that saw career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, pilot his Hendrick Motorsports-prepared No. 24 Chevrolet Lumina to the victory.

That victory was just the start of Chevrolet’s success at IMS, with the Bowtie brand heading into the weekend with wins in 17 of the 27 NASCAR Cup Series races at the famed 2.5-mile oval – a record more than double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with six wins. Chevrolet reeled off an impressive 12 consecutive victories in NASCAR’s top division at the track – recorded from Aug. 2003 to July 2014. The Bowtie brand last paid a visit to victory lane on the IMS oval in July 2017 with Kasey Kahne – ultimately marking his final NCS victory before retiring from full-time competition the following season.

GORDON BOOSTS

BRICKYARD RECORDS

NASCAR Hall of Famer and career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, has a storied history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Vallejo, California, native became the NASCAR Cup Series’ first winner on the IMS oval by picking up the victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400 (1994). The triumph came when Gordon was at the age of just 23 years, two days – a record that still stands as the series’ youngest winner at the track.

The records don’t stop there. In his 17 career NCS starts at IMS, Gordon tallied five wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10s – all of which are series-leading feats.

To help celebrate NASCAR’s 30th anniversary at IMS, the Chevrolet Racing Display in the fan midway will feature the actual No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy Lumina that Jeff Gordon drove to the victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400. In addition, Gordon is scheduled to appear at the Chevrolet Racing Display on Sunday, July 21, at 12:30 p.m. ET for a fan Q&A.

RICK HENDRICK NAMED HONORARY PACE CAR DRIVER FOR BRICKYARD RETURN

With NASCAR’s return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Rick Hendrick – owner of Hendrick Motorsports and Chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group – will serve as the honorary pace car driver to lead the NASCAR Cup Series to the green flag for Sunday’s Brickyard 400.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary season, Hendrick Motorsports has become the sport’s most successful organization, with every win and championship recorded in partnership with Chevrolet. Geoffrey Bodine put Hendrick Motorsports on the map in its founding season – giving the organization its first NCS win at Martinsville Speedway in April 1984. Fast forward to the 2024 season, the Chevrolet organization leads NASCAR’s top division with 14 championships and 309 points-paying wins.

“For all of us at GM and Chevrolet, as well as for our partners at IMS, it’s an honor to have Rick Hendrick lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag at this year’s Brickyard 400,” said Mark Reuss, President of General Motors. “Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports have had a storied history together over the past 40 years. Having Rick pace the 30th anniversary of this prestigious race is a special way to celebrate our partnership and the legacy he has built in NASCAR.”

Hendrick Motorsports is no stranger to success on the famed 2.5-mile oval, with the Chevrolet organization heading into the weekend with a series-leading 10 victories in the Brickyard 400, including the inaugural event in Aug. 1994 with Jeff Gordon. The organization’s anniversary season also saw Rick Hendrick make his debut as a team owner in the NTT INDYCAR Series, who partnered with Arrow McLaren to field the No. 17 Chevrolet INDYCAR entry for Kyle Larson in the Indianapolis 500.

Official press release is linked here: Rick Hendrick to Drive Pace Car at Brickyard 400

ALLGAIER CARRIES MOMENTUM TO THE HOOSIER STATE

At Pocono Raceway, JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier netted yet another strong points day – driving his No. 7 Camaro SS to the Stage One win and a runner-up finish to maintain the second position in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings. The 38-year-old Illinois native has progressively moved his way up the points standings through the summer swing. Since his victory at Darlington Raceway in May, Allgaier has had top–10 results in seven of the past nine races – including a pair of runner-up finishes.

Looking to continue to build on that momentum, the Team Chevy driver will head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway with an extra boost of confidence as the only active full-time driver in the series with a win at the 2.5-mile oval. That victory came in Sept. 2018, which also marks Chevrolet’s third and most recent NXS victory on the track’s oval configuration.

 
With the Superspeedway Package:

The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval will see teams compete with the superspeedway package, which was previously utilized this season at Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. The package has fared well for Chevrolet this season, with the manufacturer earning the victory in each of those events – courtesy of Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill (Daytona, Atlanta) and Jesse Love (Talladega). In addition, each of those events saw the Camaro SS take six of the top-10 finishing positions – further solidifying the manufacturer’s superspeedway strength.

ENFINGER CAPITALIZING ON FINAL REGULAR SEASON PUSH

While CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger is still looking for his first trip to victory lane in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season, the Team Chevy driver is continually proving to be a top contender. The 39-year-old Alabama native came just shy of notching the win at Pocono Raceway last weekend, but a runner-up finish in his No. 9 Silverado RST adds yet another stout result through the series’ summer stretch. Enfinger earned his first runner-up finish of the season at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May, with the Team Chevy driver going on to tally top-six finishes in five of the past six NCTS races. Within that time span, he netted three podium results, including two runner-up finishes (North Wilkesboro, Pocono) and a third-place finish (Charlotte). With a 48-point day at Pocono Raceway, Enfinger was able to build a bigger cushion on the playoff cutline – now holding a 33-point advantage.

Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at IRP:

Friday’s TSport 200 will mark the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ 20th appearance at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Chevrolet earned the victory in the series’ first appearance at IRP in Aug. 1995 – a win recorded with Mike Skinner behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 Silverado. Grant Enfinger took Chevrolet to its series-leading 10th NCTS victory at IRP in July 2022, giving the Bowtie brand a win record that is double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with five victories.

 
Season’s Short-Track Success:

Just two opportunities lie ahead for drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to win and secure a berth into the series’ 10-driver playoff field – both coming at a pair of challenging short-tracks (IRP and Richmond Raceway). NCTS’ points leader Christian Eckes has been an automatic favorite going into short-track events this season, with the Team Chevy driver earning victories in two of the series’ three events on short-tracks measuring .75-mile or less (Bristol, Martinsville). In three short-track races this season, Team Chevy drivers have taken the Silverado RST to at least six top-10 finishes in each event – highlighted by a podium sweep at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Chevrolet will pace the field during the tripleheader race weekend in Indianapolis. The Silverado RST will lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Friday’s TSport 200 at the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Camaro SS will lead the NASCAR Xfinity Series in Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 Presented by Advance Auto Parts; and the Camaro ZL1 will lead the NASCAR Cup Series in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 Presented by PPG.

· With 55 races complete across NASCAR’s three national series this season, Chevrolet has a winning percentage of 52.7% with 29 victories (NASCAR Cup Series – nine wins; NASCAR Xfinity Series – 11 wins; NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – nine wins).

· In 27 NASCAR Cup Series races on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, Chevrolet has earned 17 victories – a record more than double the next leading manufacturer, Ford, with six victories. Of those victories includes a streak of 12-straight, recorded between Aug. 2003 to July 2014.

· Career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, leads the series with five Brickyard 400 victories, including the inaugural event in Aug. 1994.

· In 10 tripleheader weekends this season, Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to earn a weekend sweep – accomplishing the feat three times (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway).

· In 93 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 46 victories – a winning percentage of 49.5%.

· With his victory at Sonoma Raceway, Kyle Larson is the second driver to hit a double-digit win record in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen era with 10 triumphs. Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, leads the series’ all-time win record in the Next Gen era with 11 victories.

· With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 860 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 
FOR THE FANS:

· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

· Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Equinox Activ, Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Trailblazer RS, Silverado 2500 HD, Tahoe Z71, Colorado Trail Boss, Silverado 1500 ZR2, Traverse Z71, Corvette Z06.

· Fans can also view William Byron’s No. 24 Camaro ZL1 show car.

· Fans will also have a special viewing of the actual No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Lumina that Jeff Gordon drove to the victory in the inaugural Brickyard 400.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Saturday, July 20

· Austin Hill & Jesse Love: 10:15 a.m.

· Sam Mayer & Sammy Smith: 10:30 a.m.

· Brandon Jones: 10:45 a.m.

· Justin Allgaier & Carson Kvapil: 11 a.m.

Sunday, July 21

· Austin Dillon: 10:30 a.m.

· Daniel Suarez: 10:45 a.m.

· Kyle Busch: 11 a.m.

· Ross Chastain: 11:15 a.m.

· Chase Elliott: 11:30 a.m.

· Kyle Larson: 11:45 a.m.

· Ty Dillon: 12 p.m.

· Jeff Gordon: 12:30 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

· Friday, July 19: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Saturday, July 20: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

· Sunday, July 21: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Manufacturer Points Standings

Chevrolet: 759
Toyota: 751 (-8)
Ford: 736 (-23)

Manufacturer Points Standings

Chevrolet: 712
Toyota: 674 (-38)
Ford: 604 (-108)

Manufacturer Points Standings

Chevrolet: 533
Toyota: 499 (-34)
Ford: 443 (-90)
 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Brickyard 400

Sunday, July 21, at 2:30 p.m. ET

(NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Pennzoil 250

Saturday, July 20, at 3:30 p.m. ET

(USA Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

TSport 200

Friday, July 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET

(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Moose Fraternity Camaro ZL1

First time back on the Indy oval in several years, how do you think it will be?

“It’s good to be back on the oval. It’s a good change of pace. It’s the first time we’ll be on the oval with this version of the car. A couple of guys did the test there so they’ll probably have a little bit of an upper hand. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the oval but I know how challenging it can be. If we’re good at Pocono, we’ll probably be good at Indy.”

Do you feel racing at IMS should always be on the oval whether the racing is good or bad?

“It could be on the oval. It could be across town at IRP. As long as we are racing in Indianapolis, that’s all I care about.”

What do you expect racing at IRP in the truck?

“I don’t know. I haven’t been there since I made my first race in NASCAR. That was my first truck start. I’ve had desire to get back there and I’m finally getting there.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 SENIX Camaro ZL1

What are your expectations going back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“I’ve always enjoyed the oval at Indianapolis. The prestige behind it, the history. To me when you win the oval, that’s one of the crown jewels. It’s a giant racetrack that you know has so much history and you get to cross the bricks. The celebration that comes along with it. It’s a long race, it’s a lot of fun. My fondest memory of The Brickyard is probably when I was in Victory Lane with Kevin Harvick when he won the Brickyard 400 in 2003 and with Paul Menard in 2011. My brother won his Xfinity race there in 2014. I love those moments.”

Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Gainbridge Camaro ZL1

What are your thoughts on heading to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend?

“Indy is a special place, and it’s a big weekend for our Spire Motorsports team. Everybody brings their absolute best to ‘The Brickyard,’ and our No. 7 team is no different. With Indianapolis being the home of Gainbridge, it’s even more of an incentive to have a great run.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Cheddar’s Patriotic Camaro ZL1

What are your thoughts about returning to the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“I would like to think that we’ll be good out of the gate going back to Indy but who knows. It’s definitely a tough racetrack. It is so challenging to get right. I’ve had some really good runs there and some that were not so good, but the latest stretch, at the end of the oval time frame that we had in NASCAR, I was right there. I had a shot to win all of them, so I feel really good about going back there. I just want to make sure that our Cheddar’s Patriotic Camaro is as fast as it can be when we get there.”

In 2016, you won poles and races for both NXS and Cup races at Indy, the first time in NASCAR history a driver has accomplished the feat. You also dominated the weekend, leading 211 of a possible 233 laps. How much pride do you take in that accomplishment?

“The 2016 weekend was huge there at the Brickyard for me. Being able to win the pole and the race for both the Xfinity and Cup Series races just showed our strength as a team, but also my strength as a driver in figuring out what it takes to be good at Indy. That was certainly a highlight for me on the track during that period of time.”

Could you tell a big difference in the way the Next Gen car handled at Indy?

“There was a difference in the way the NextGen car handled at Indy. The NextGen car likes to be driven off the right-front tire and you can’t slip the right-rear. But at Indy, as you go through a tire run, you typically continue to get tighter so you need to be on the free side at the start of a run. When you do that with the NextGen car, it can make it very easy to crash.”

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Cirkul Camaro ZL1

“We’ve got another super iconic racetrack that we get to return to: the Brickyard. This will be my second brickyard 400. There are certain racetracks we go to that feel extra special knowing that we’re fortunate to be a part of history, and this is one of those places. It’s a big weekend for us and Cirkul, our partner, and everyone involved. We know we’ve got quite a bit of work to do with the flatter race tracks, but everyone is working hard to keep moving this program forward. Hopefully we can do just that.”

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

Bowman on racing the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

“It’s going to be cool to be back at Indy (Indianapolis Motor Speedway). That’s going to be a really difficult race passing wise, so track position is going to be super key. Race strategy can play a huge role in any of that, so I’m excited for the challenge and to get back there (the oval).”

Blake Harris, Crew Chief, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

Harris on calling the shots for the No. 48 team at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with five races to go until the playoffs:

“I think this weekend at Indy (Indianapolis Motor Speedway), will be like how Pocono (Raceway) was for us last weekend. Now that we have the win, we can take some more chances on strategy to put us in position to win (again). We’re also going to continue to focus on picking-up stage points and continue to creep up in the regular season standings and carry a few more bonus points with us (to the playoffs).”

Zane Smith, No. 71 Focused Health Camaro ZL1

What are you looking forward to at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this coming weekend?

“I’m excited to get to Indy this weekend. It will be my first time racing there and it is a super iconic track, so I’m looking forward to getting on the oval on Friday and seeing how it feels. My No. 71 Spire Motorsports team has been working hard day in and day out to bring fast race cars to the track and it has shown the last couple of weekends. Hoping for a solid race on Sunday.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Camaro ZL1

What does it mean to you to race at a historic track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“It means a lot and I’m pumped. I raced quarter-midgets there for years, and even drove one around the oval once. I remember thinking that it would be a dream come true to race a full-sized car competitively at “The Brickyard.” Indy has always been a dream, especially the (Indianapolis) 500, but with no Brickyard races for the last few years, this is an incredible opportunity. We’ve got a strong team and this track suits our racing style, so I’m very optimistic. Everyone’s excited – Luke (Lambert), Jeff (Dickerson), the whole team – and we’re ready for a good run.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Camaro ZL1

Do you think about last year when an air hose caught under a fender and cost you a chance at winning the race?

“Last year was heartbreaking, but that’s part of the sport. All we can do is continue to push, continue to build race cars like we had at Indianapolis last year and keep on trying hard to win races. I mean, we win and we lose as a team, and that’s all I can say. The guys brought a very fast race car. I felt that maybe we were one adjustment behind in the first run with the back of the car, but then we made it a little bit better. But I felt like I was always one step behind Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell.”

Are you glad NASCAR is back on the oval at Indy?

“Well I liked the road course here. I thought we had an advantage, but it’s hard to argue against racing on the oval here. There is so much history. Winning here would be so exciting and something you would talk about the rest of your life.”

What are the keys to victory this weekend?

“We are going to have to learn about the track and our car during that Friday practice. That will be key. Obviously on Saturday, getting a good starting spot, and a good pit stall will help and on Sunday it will be about executing with no mistakes on the track and in the pits. I think we are going to put on a great show Sunday and I plan to be at the front.”

Sammy Smith, No. 7 Golden Harvest Silverado RST

You’ve made a pair of starts at IRP. The track is a different animal compared to anyone else. How do you attack getting around the track?

“I had the opportunity to run an ARCA car and a Late Model at IRP in 24 hours. It’s very low grip and restarts quickly go three and four-wide. You can run up near the wall, and you can run all the way on the apron. It provides really good racing. The trucks definitely drive differently than either of the other disciplines I’ve been in there. It will be fun to get rolling and should be a fun race. I’m excited to get back there on Friday night.”

You will be hopping out of the Xfinity car after practice at IMS and jumping right into the truck at IRP to practice and qualify just over an hour afterwards. How different will those experiences be?

“It will be different for sure. They are obviously two different vehicles at two completely different race tracks. The Xfinity cars will be going a lot faster at the big track, and the trucks will be going slower and sliding around a bit more with the low-grip surface. It will be an exciting day.”

Bayley Currey, No. 41 Niece Motorsports Silverado RST

You’ve said that IRP is one of your most-anticipated tracks this year. Why is that?

“I think it’s one of the best racetracks in the world. I’d put it up there with Iowa and Homestead. I got to test a little bit in the simulator last year before SVG hopped in the truck for the race, and I loved it. I’m really excited to race here; some of the best racing is at IRP. I think Cup should go there, Xfinity, IndyCar, everything should be racing here with the trucks. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Matt Mills, No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Silverado RST

What makes IRP such a fun track amongst all the drivers?

“IRP is great. Last year in my first time running at that track, I wasn’t really sure on what to expect, but it was a lot of fun learning how the track changed throughout the course of the race. We’re able to run on the bottom groove, in the middle, and all the way up to the fence. It was cool figuring out how to pass other guys and put them in uncomfortable positions. It just races like how a short track should feel like. Multiple lanes, having the option to change your line based off how the truck is handling, so I’m really looking forward to going back.”

Conor Daly, No. 44 Power Plus Silverado RST

This will be your first truck start on a short track, so what will be the biggest hurdle for you to get used to before Friday night?

“Thankfully, it’s a track that I have driven on before and won on. It’s been a while, but this experience in a heavy stock car on a short track will certainly be something that I’ll be learning every lap, every stint, and every stage. I’m going to learn as much as I can to be able to use it towards the end of the race. I’ve also tried to talk to Ross Chastain. He’s very experienced, so I have a really good teammate to learn from. I just have to take advantage of that and be as quick as I can be at the end of the race.”

Ross Chastain, No. 45 Alliance Highway Safety Silverado RST

How challenging is it to jump from the big track in Indy over to the short track at IRP?

“It’ll be a challenge for sure, but that’s part of the reason why I’m so excited to run at both tracks. I have fond memories of IRP; it’s where my career began, and I think the racing here is great. The two tracks are so different, so nothing will carry over, and I’ll have to use a different mindset as soon as I hop out of the Cup car in Friday’s practice. I’ve had a fun year racing for Al (Niece) and everyone at Niece Motorsports. Any time I get the chance to drive one of their trucks, I know we’ll have the pace to contend. I’m hoping to make this last start of the year a good one for all my guys on the No. 45 team.”

Rajah Caruth, No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Silverado RST

IRP was one of your best “all-around” performances last season. How are you looking to build on your solid day at the track last year?

“I think overall we have just gotten better, both myself and Chad (Walter). We have made some improvements. I have also gotten better at short tracks, which is something I have really been focusing on. That’s a spot I know I’ve needed to improve. IRP is a track I have a little experience at between ARCA and trucks, so hopefully that correlates to a good run this weekend.”

The progressive banking at IRP opens a variety of lines drivers can utilize and make time. Does this add to your excitement as a driver and which line do you prefer to run?

“IRP is interesting because the seams determine the banking of the racetrack. Meaning, the higher you go, the more banking the racetrack has. It’s really a testament to how well your truck works. If your truck is turning well, you can take the inner line with the least amount of banking that is the shortest way around. If your truck isn’t turning, you can use the banking on the higher side of the track to help make the corner. It’s a racetrack that’s a different animal with good tools to use no matter how the truck handles.”

Chase Purdy, No. 77 Bama Buggies Silverado RST

The playoffs are closing in and you find yourself battling at the cutline. What is your mindset heading into the weekend?

“We have one goal heading into this weekend. Win.”

The progressive banking at IRP opens a variety of lines drivers can utilize and make time. How does affect the way you can move through the field?

“The progressive banking makes it a multi-groove track. You can run as high or as low as you want, and still make speed. It makes it exciting as a driver and for the fans. The ability to move around and change lanes gives the driver a lot of options. It creates more opportunities to make passes.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2023): 42

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2021): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most Recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2024 STATISTICS:

Wins: 9

Poles: 7

Laps Led: 1,627

Top-five finishes: 38

Top-10 finishes: 79

Stage wins: 12

· Chase Elliott: 1

· Kyle Larson: 8

· Ross Chastain: 1

· William Byron: 1

· Shane van Gisbergen: 1

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 860 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 750

Laps led to date: 250,802

Top-five finishes to date: 4,336

Top-10 finishes to date: 8,939

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,194

       Chevrolet: 860

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 833                                                           

       Ford: 733

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 187

 

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.

RYAN PREECE
Indianapolis Advance
No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Brickyard 400 (Round 22 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 21
● Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
● Layout: 2.5-mile rectangular oval
● Laps/Miles: 160 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 50 laps / Stage 2: 50 laps / Final Stage: 60 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / IMS / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Ryan Preece and the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse are ready for a highly anticipated return to the iconic 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval for the first time since 2020, when now-retired Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick scored his second of back-to-back dominating Brickyard 400 victories. Preece and his teammates would like nothing better than to keep the company’s Brickyard 400 win streak alive this weekend. The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the historic, rectangular oval after competing instead on the speedway’s 2.439-mile, 14-turn grand prix road circuit from 2021 through 2023.

● Preece has a pair of Brickyard 400s under his belt, driving for JTG Daugherty Racing in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the racing tradition that began in 1994. Preece finished 16th in the 2018 event before seeing his bid the following year ended by an accident just 14 laps into the race. The 33-year-old Berlin, Connecticut, native competed in two of the four races held on the Indy grand prix circuit, recording a 35th-place result for JTG Daugherty Racing after an accident 18 laps from the finish ended his day in 2021, and a 31st-place result last year in his No. 41 Stewart-Haas Ford.

● The No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas had back-to-back-to-back solid finishes in the last three Brickyard 400s from 2018 to 2020. Kurt Busch drove it to a sixth-place finish in 2018, Daniel Suarez drove it to an 11th-place finish in 2019, and Cole Custer drove it to a fifth-place finish in 2020. Before Harvick’s consecutive victories in 2019 and 2020 in the No. 4 Ford, Ryan Newman scored the company’s first Brickyard 400 win from the pole in 2013, driving the No. 39 Stewart-Haas entry.

● In addition to his Cup Series outings, Preece has a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on the Indianapolis oval. He made his series debut at the track for owner Johnny Davis in 2016, when he started 27th and finished 25th. Preece returned for the 2018 Xfinity Series race in a Joe Gibbs Racing entry, which he qualified third before an accident cut his race short 22 laps shy of the finish.

● Preece arrives at Indianapolis after a 30th-place result last Sunday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. An accident ended his day on the 2.5-mile triangle 121 laps into the 160-lap race. He sits 27th in the Cup Series driver standings after best finishes this season of fourth at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway on June 30, and ninth at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on April 7.

● Joining Preece and the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Indianapolis is HaasTooling.com, the cutting tool division of Haas Automation. HaasTooling.com allows CNC machinists to purchase high-quality cutting tools at great prices. Haas cutting tools are sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com and shipped directly to end users. Haas Automation, founded in 1983, is America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools. The company manufactures a complete line of vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning centers, rotaries and indexers, and automation solutions.

Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

The NASCAR Cup Series raced on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at Indianapolis since from 2021 through 2023, but this weekend the series makes a highly anticipated return to its 2.5-mile oval. What are your thoughts heading into the weekend?

“I think racing there on the oval is what every racecar driver dreams of doing at some point in their career. It deserves a spot on our schedule. I enjoy road courses, and I think those racetracks suit my style of racing, but the oval, at Indianapolis, is just a special place. I’m excited for the opportunity to race there again, and hopefully we can grab a solid finish in our No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse.”

Sunday’s Brickyard 400 will mark the first time the NextGen car has raced on the oval at Indianapolis. What do you anticipate needing from your racecar to be quick this weekend?

“We’re still working really hard to roll off the truck better, and I feel like we did that last weekend. I think we can look at Pocono, take a lot of what was found there, and apply it at the Brickyard this weekend. Pocono and Indianapolis are as similar as two tracks could possibly be on our schedule. Indy is certainly a lot smoother than Pocono, but as far as the setup, there won’t be a lot of variation between the two racetracks. The racing product should be similar.”

Talk about your first race weekend at Indianapolis.

“It was certainly special. I ran my first race there in 2016, when I drove for JD Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. I remember riding into the speedway for the first time, knowing the history of the Brickyard and the legendary drivers that have raced there, it was a little intimidating. The racetrack has an aura about it, and I’m just thankful for the opportunities that have given me a shot to race at Indy.”

No. 41 HaasTooling.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Sherman Timbs

Hometown: Indianola, Mississippi

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Front End Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

CLUB ENTRY LIST

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
POINT STANDINGS: 31st

ERIK JONES
POINT STANDINGS: 26th

JIMMIE JOHNSON

CLUB NOTES

After three years of racing on the road course at Indianapolis, the NASCAR Cup Series makes its way back to the 2.5-mile rectangular oval on Sunday, July 21st, to compete in the Brickyard 400.

Renaming the Streets: Each year Indianapolis Motor Speedway keeps tradition by renaming the streets of the capitol city for the drivers who compete in the event. This year, Jimmie Johnson is featured just off of Columbus Circle and Meridian as one of the six drivers who have won the event. Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek are on the corners of Washington and Meridian Streets. Click here for the map.

JHN at Indianapolis: John Hunter Nemechek has a small history at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s oval circuit. The 27-year-old driver has three starts on the 2.5-mile oval in his career. Two of his three starts came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019; Nemechek’s third start came in 2020 during his NASCAR Cup Series rookie season. In that Cup Series start, he would go on to score a 15th-place finish.

Beshore at Indianapolis: The No. 42 Pye-Barker Crew Chief Ben Beshore is looking to kiss the yard of bricks once again. Beshore was atop of the pit box in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Driver Kyle Busch started from the pole position and went on to lead 46-laps en route the victory. That race marked the only start on the 2.5-mile oval for Beshore.

84 Returns to Indy: Jimmie Johnson returns to the seat of the No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE this weekend; this will mark his sixth start of the season. Johnson has a decorated history at the fame yard of bricks having won on four occasions (2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012); he looks to tie former teammate, Jeff Gordon at the top as the winningest drivers in the Brickyard 400, who has five victories. In addition to his success in the NASCAR ranks, Johnson competed in the Indianapolis 500 and was named the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.

Where it all started: Johnson’s first start in the now NASCAR Xfinity Series came at the nearby Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) in 1998. He would race part time in that Series until 2000 when he went full time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2002.

Carvana Paint Scheme: For the Brickyard 400 this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Johnson will pilot a one-of-a-kind Carvana paint scheme that was designed by his daughters, Genevieve (14) and Lydia (11) in celebration of Father’s Day. The No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE features an imaginative blend of colors and patterns that represent Johnson’s personal life and dynamic racing career, brought to life through the artistic vision of his daughters. The car is covered in pink, turquoise, yellow, and purple doodles along with images of the family’s spirited Jack Russell Terrier, “Charlie Meatball” (who Genevieve spent the most time drawing).

Dad Spotting: A familiar voice will be back on the radio for Johnson this weekend at the Brickyard as his dad Gary will be the Turn 3 spotter for the event assisting longtime spotter Earl Barban with guiding Johnson around the track for 400 miles. Barban and the elder Johnson teamed up at the Indianapolis 500 in 2022 to do the same when Johnson competed in INDYCAR.

“Fast” or famine: Johnson has led 306 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his career. His last outing in a NASCAR Cup Series car was in 2019, where he led four laps but crashed. He had to sit out of the 2020 event, which was the first race on the GP road course, due to a positive COVID-19 test. Johnson has six top-five and seven top-10 finishes at the historic track. He has five DNF’s across 18 starts.

Top 100: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner was recently named to ESPN’s Top-100 professional athletes of the 21st century list. Johnson joins Michael Schumacher from the race car driver category and names such Tom Brady, Serena Williams and Dwayne Wade. Click here for the 26-50 list. https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/40446224/top-100-athletes-21st-century

Burdett at Indianapolis: No. 84 crew chief Jason Burdett has wins with Johnson at the Brickyard when he was at Hendrick Motorsports, but he also has a stellar record at the historic track as a crew chief. Burdett has one win, three top-five and four top-10 finishes at Indianapolis with driver Justin Allgaier. The win came in 2018 where Allgaier started second and led 41 laps en route to victory.

Erik Jones at Indianapolis: The last three years in Indianapolis, the NASCAR circuit ran the road course at the track. This year, the sport is bringing back the Indy oval. On the road course over the past three years, Jones earned two top-15s. Before the road course, he has four starts at the oval, his best finish was second in 2018.

Elenz at Indianapolis: Dave Elenz, Crew Chief of the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE, has only called the shots for the Indianapolis oval for the NASCAR Xfinity series. Elenz has a reputable stat sheet, with a top-6 finish for all five race starts. Elenz visited victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2017 with the now NASCAR Cup Series driver, William Byron.

Partner Spotlight: This week the No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entry will have Pye-Barker Fire & Safety dawning his Toyota Camry XSE for this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Going for G.O.L.D.: Partners Dollar Tree and Family Dollar will honor store #7640 this weekend as a part of the company’s “Go for G.O.L.D.” (Grand Opening Look Daily) program. The Dollar Tree and Family Dollar primaries will highlight these stores on the deck lid of all three LEGACY M.C. entries throughout the race season. Store #7640 is in Indianapolis, IN.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Pye-Barker Toyota Camry XSE:

“Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has been a long-term partner of mine so I’m excited to give them their first NASCAR Cup Series race as a primary sponsor this weekend and for it to come at a place like Indianapolis is really neat. Indy has a lot of history in motorsports and I’m happy that the Cup Series will be back on the oval this weekend. The entire LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team has been putting in a lot of work, week-in and week-out to get better and we’re hopeful that we can have a strong showing as we head into the couple off-weeks.”

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 42 Pye-Barker Toyota Camry XSE:

“Indy [oval] is one of the most historic tracks, it has a lot more history to it and the Brickyard was one of the crown jewel events for the NASCAR Cup Series; I am really looking forward to it, I think it’s a cool event and hopefully it puts on a good show.”

“I was fortunate to [kiss the bricks] in 2019, I also got to do it as an engineer in 2015 and 2016 — that was so cool, being in victory lane there and all the tradition and history for how old that place is.”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

“I think everybody is excited about getting the NextGen on the Indy oval. As soon as we started running this car, we realized it was pretty good on the bigger tracks and the short tracks and road courses weren’t always good of a show. The push was there to go back to the oval, for that reason, and just for the prestige of what the oval means to not just NASCAR, but the sport of racing in general. Indy’s not far from home for me, 4 hours away, so that race has a significant meaning to me and being able to compete in it but also have a shot to hopefully win it, so excited about that. At Indy, there are a lot of different challenges, really, but I think the biggest thing is track position – its always really challenging, pit road is really challenging, it’s really small, really narrow for our race cars, there’s always chaos and so many cars stay on the lead lap at Indy, as well. It’s fun, it’s a fast track. It will be a totally different experience than the last time I’ve been there, which was four years ago on the oval in the old car, so it will be a learning process getting out there and making some practice laps on Friday and hopefully get it dialed in for qualifying and the race on Saturday and Sunday”.

Dave Elenz, Crew chief of the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE:

“It should be exciting to go to Indy with the NextGen car. It’s a new track that everybody knows. You have an idea of what it is but you don’t necessarily know how this car is going to behave there. It should be similar to what we had at Pocono – we had a good run there so hopefully we can carry a lot of that information over. Erik’s been very successful there, I’ve been fortunate in the Xfinity series there, so hopefully we can put all three of those things together and have a good day.”

Jimmie Johnson, Driver of the No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE:

“Indianapolis is a special place both for my time in the NASCAR Cup Series and for my time in INDYCAR. The place is sacred, and I can’t help but smile when I look back on all the experiences I have had over my entire career at this track. With no one racing this car on this configuration, it’s going to level up the playing field slightly. I’m excited to get back behind the wheel and see what we can do this weekend. I’m also thankful to Carvana for allowing my girls to design this very special paint scheme, it’s going to be awesome to see it in real life and on the track.”

Jason Burdett, Crew chief of the No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE:

“I was never a real big fan of the road course so it’s fun to go back to the oval and run. No one has run this car there before but we are three years into this car, so the field has a better handle on what they need to get the speed out of it. It’s going to be a completely different scenario than anywhere we go, as you can no longer compare Pocono to Indy because Indy is so much smoother and you can do so much more with the car. It will be fun to see how it all goes. The 50-minute practice will be great for Jimmie to get back into the groove.”

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

ABOUT PETTY 75th: The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office, and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians, and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at race tracks across the country.

This Week in Petty History: On July 18, 1958, The King, Richard Petty began his NASCAR career, coming just 16 days following his 21st birthday in Toronto. On July 21, 1963, Petty earned his 23rd career victory with it coming at Bridgehampton Raceway in New York. This was Petty’s first road-course win.

The King’s Hat: This weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be in the fan midway area. Be sure to check out IMS social media channels for motor information and details.

BROADCAST INFO

INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SUNDAY, JULY 21st @ 2:30 PM ET

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT CARVANA: Carvana’s mission is to change the way people buy and sell cars. Over the past decade, Carvana has revolutionized automotive retail and delighted millions of customers with an offering that is fun, fast, and fair. With Carvana, customers can choose from tens of thousands of vehicles, get financing, trade-in, and complete a purchase entirely online with the convenience of home delivery or local pick up in over 300 U.S. markets. Carvana’s vertically integrated platform is powered by its passionate team, unique national infrastructure, and purpose-built technology. Carvana is a Fortune 500 company and is proud to be recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers. For more information, please visit www.carvana.com.

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.

CHASE BRISCOE
Indianapolis Advance
No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Event Overview

● Event: Brickyard 400 (Round 22 of 36)
● Time/Date: 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 21
● Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
● Layout: 2.5-mile rectangular oval
● Laps/Miles: 160 laps/400 miles
● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 50 laps / Stage 2: 50 laps / Final Stage: 60 laps
● TV/Radio: NBC / IMS / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● The seeds of the Brickyard 400 were planted on Monday, June 22, 1992. It was the first of a two-day tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the viability of racing NASCAR Cup Series stock cars on Indy’s 2.5-mile rectangular oval was explored. Just a day removed from his victory in the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Davey Allison joined eight of his Cup Series counterparts – Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd, Ernie Irvan, Mark Martin and Kyle Petty – to run full-bodied stock cars on a track that was specific to low-slung, open-wheel Indy cars and the iconic Indianapolis 500. On the second day of the test, the nine drivers raced in a pack to simulate drafting, all while an estimated 40,000 fans looked on. Elliott in his Ford Thunderbird was fastest on both days, yet his best lap was still 63 mph slower than Roberto Guerrero’s pole-winning speed of 232.482 mph for that year’s Indianapolis 500. The speed discrepancy didn’t matter. Big American iron thundering around the famed Brickyard whetted appetites, and on April 14, 1993, NASCAR president Bill France Jr. and Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George announced that the inaugural Brickyard 400 would be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, 1994. It would be the first race other than the Indianapolis 500 to be held at the Speedway since 1916. Rising star and Indiana icon Jeff Gordon won the race to score the second of his 93 career victories, beating Brett Bodine by .53 of a second. For the next 26 years, the Cup Series raced on the oval before a three-year sojourn on Indianapolis’ 2.439-mile, 14-turn infield road course. It was not the same, and with the current-generation car putting on great shows at intermediate-style tracks across the nation, the decision to return to Indy’s 2.5-mile oval was made. The 2024 Brickyard 400 will mark the 28th Cup Series race on the big track, but the first since 2020.

● DYK?: The last NASCAR Cup Series team to win on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval was Stewart-Haas Racing. In fact, the team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas won the last two Brickyard 400s, each courtesy of Kevin Harvick. And not since 2017 has a manufacturer other than Ford won the Brickyard 400, as Brad Keselowski drove a Ford to victory lane in the 2018 Brickyard 400 before Harvick’s back-to-back Brickyard wins in 2019 and 2020.

● The “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas owns two Brickyard 400 victories. The Hoosier hotshoe grabbed a coveted Indy win in 2005 before securing a second triumph in 2007. Both victories came with Joe Gibbs Racing.

● Chase Briscoe doesn’t have a NASCAR Cup Series start on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval, but he does have two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on the big track. The Mitchell, Indiana native made his Indy debut in 2018 and finished ninth. He then one-upped that result in 2019 by finishing eighth.

● Briscoe is a winner at Indianapolis. When NASCAR transitioned to the road course in 2020, Briscoe proved the quickest to adapt, winning the 62-lap NASCAR Xfinity Series race by 1.717 seconds over runner-up and fellow Indiana native Justin Haley. It was the seventh of Briscoe’s 11 career Xfinity Series wins and he did it with the same primary partner who will adorn his No. 14 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 – HighPoint.com.

● HighPoint.com is a leading provider of technology infrastructure solutions that is headquartered in Sparta, New Jersey. HighPoint has been a partner of Briscoe and Stewart-Haas since 2020 when the company supported Briscoe’s NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign, a collaboration that netted a season-best nine victories and earned Briscoe a promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series. HighPoint has climbed the NASCAR ladder with Briscoe and has helped Stewart-Haas maximize its IT investments. Said Briscoe about the partnership: “Even though we race stock cars, there’s nothing stock about what we do. The science of our cars is impressive, but the technology that goes into building our Ford Mustangs and then making them perform is even more advanced. Our IT needs are pretty complex, and we demand a lot from our technology every day, whether it’s at the shop or at the track. HighPoint provides efficiency and security. They’re more than just a sponsor – HighPoint is a partner that helps us perform.” As an IT Solutions Integrator focused on all things that connect, HighPoint helps its customers with the selection and supply of network infrastructure, mobility, collaboration, data center, security solutions and the risk-mitigated implementation and management of their technology. The company, founded in 1996, is a minority-owned business that serves markets in its nearby Tri-State Region (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware) and the southeastern United States via its presence in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as globally with offices in Amsterdam and London. To learn more about HighPoint’s solutions, please visit HighPoint.com.

● The story of how HighPoint.com came together with Briscoe and Stewart-Haas is one that could’ve been scripted in Hollywood. In November 2019, while walking to dinner after attending the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Kevin Briscoe was stopped by a stranger who noticed his No. 98 Stewart-Haas hat. The man was Mike Mendiburu, founder and CEO of HighPoint.com, and he said he was a big fan of Chase Briscoe, then a young NASCAR Xfinity Series driver from Mitchell, Indiana, who was driving the No. 98 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas. Kevin informed Mendiburu that Chase was his son and the two carried on a conversation like they were old friends. The two walked away with Kevin accepting Mendiburu’s business card, just in case the Briscoes ever needed anything. Months passed and Chase Briscoe was told that he may not have a ride in the No. 98 for the 2020 season if funding couldn’t be found. So, Stewart-Haas was given Mendiburu’s information and an agreement was reached for HighPoint.com to sponsor Briscoe. That chance encounter in Las Vegas led to a nine-win season in 2020. In October of that year, midway through the playoffs, Briscoe arrived at Tony Stewart’s house in Indiana for what he thought was a discussion with his team owner about whether HighPoint.com would be returning as his sponsor for the next season. The group sat down for dinner and Briscoe, joined by his parents, was informed a decision had already been made – he would be leaving the No. 98 Xfinity Series program to become the next driver of the team’s No. 14 Cup Series entry, the car Stewart himself wheeled during his driving tenure at Stewart-Haas. “I wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for Mike and everyone at HighPoint.com,” Briscoe said. “Going into 2020, I was going to be done. They literally came in the fourth quarter with 30 seconds left on the clock and kept things going. Without them, I think my career would’ve been over.”

● Briscoe will return to his dirt-track roots on Friday night by competing in the Maverick Winged Sprint Car Series race at Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway. He will drive his own 410 winged sprint car in the feature event at the quarter-mile dirt oval located approximately 60 miles south of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hot laps begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT with the race program starting at 7:30 p.m.

● DYK?: ​Briscoe’s first time behind the wheel of a racecar came in 2001. Driving a quarter midget, he won his first heat race and then won the feature event that evening. Briscoe moved on to mini sprints and, when he was 13, stepped into a 410 sprint car. In his first race, he finished 10th in a 40-car field. And in a rookie season that saw 37 starts, Briscoe racked up eight top-five and 17 top-10 finishes, including a win in the last race of the season where he broke NASCAR Hall of Famer and four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon’s record as being the youngest person to win a 410 sprint car race.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang

This year marks a return to the oval at Indy. While you don’t have any NASCAR Cup Series starts on the 2.5-mile oval, you do have two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on the oval (2018 and 2019). So, what’s it like for an Indiana guy to race on the most renown track in Indiana, and on the most renown oval in all of motorsports?

“It’s super cool. Every racecar driver, or anybody in motorsports, wants to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and run laps at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but when you grow up in Indiana, it just means that much more to you. I’m just super excited to get back. I always say I don’t really care what we’re racing at Indy, whether it’s the road course, oval, dirt track, parking lot, whatever, I just want to race at Indy. It’s definitely more significant going to the oval, so it’ll be really special for me, personally, just to get to run a Brickyard 400. That was something I didn’t know that I was ever going to get the opportunity to do. With how it all kind of played out with this being the last year of Stewart-Haas, it’s really cool just to say I’ll get to run the Brickyard 400 in the 14.”

This year’s Brickyard 400 involves some interesting storylines for you – it’s your first Cup start on the oval, but you’re doing it in your last Indy start in the No. 14 while driving for your childhood hero, Tony Stewart. Is it a bittersweet moment – excitement mixed with a little sorrow?

“A little bit of both. I’m glad that I’ll at least get to say I got to drive one Brickyard 400 in the 14 for Tony. But it is bittersweet knowing that this’ll be the only time I’ll get to do it, and it’ll be the last time that Tony’s an owner at IMS. Yeah, there are mixed emotions. I’m excited and glad that I’m getting to do it with how everything played out, the fact that we’re going back to the oval this year and everything, it means a lot personally to get to do it in the 14. I’m glad that I’ll have that opportunity and at least get the chance to do it, but it is bittersweet. I was talking to Tony a couple of weeks ago and even brought up to him how a reporter had mentioned it to me and it didn’t even really hit me until I heard it. I think for Tony it was the same way. So it’s going to be bittersweet for both of us, but just glad we’ll have the opportunity.”

Explain what it’s like for an Indiana native to race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Why is it such a big deal?

“Just when you look at the people who have won there, it’s all icons in motorsports and just people you kind of look up to, the A.J. Foyts, the Parnellis, the Unsers and Andrettis, it’s just the names of the people who have gotten to run at that racetrack, let alone win at that racetrack, it’s kind of a who’s who. Just to get to run on a racetrack that’s been around for more than 100 years and has the history and significance that it has in the motorsports community is always special. Then, when you grow up in Indiana, it’s just normal. I think you take for granted that you have IMS there in your backyard. It’s something you don’t realize how big of a thing it is until you finally go there and see it in person and realize what it means to motorsports. It’s certainly special to have probably the most iconic racetrack in the world as my home track.”

Racing at your home track is cool, but it also comes with a good bit of work outside of the racecar as family and friends want to see you before, during and after the race weekend. How do you juggle that aspect with what you need to do with your No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford Mustang?

“I enjoy it. It’s nice for me to go up to Indiana and get away from everything and see my friends and family that I don’t get to see a whole lot, and even a ton of race fans that I normally don’t get to see. So I try to go up a couple of days early and hang out and kind of get away from the craziness that is everyday life in Charlotte. I enjoy it. I try to always hang out with my grandparents, I try to go fishing with some of my best friends who I grew up with, and try to enjoy being home, something I don’t really get to do anymore. Definitely enjoy and look forward to it every single year. It’s a lot of work going up there just because I’m always busy, but it’s definitely a good busy.”

Indiana in July is hot and humid. How do you deal with the heat, and how far out before a race weekend begins do you start preparing yourself for the heat?

“For me, it’s normally Wednesday and Thursday that I try to get prepared for the weekend, and definitely it’s Saturday when you’re getting ready for Sunday. Growing up there, I’m kind of used to it. Indiana in July is definitely a different type of heat than you’re typically used to. Every time I think about Indiana in July, I think of Indiana Sprint Week and racing eight races in 10 days. I think you kind of get used to the heat when you’re from there, but it’s definitely a shock to a lot of people when they go there, especially in the middle of July and August. For me, it’s kind of normal.”

What’s your earliest childhood memory of Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“The earliest childhood memory I have of IMS is, when I was 7 years old, literally right outside the tunnel between turns one and two, there’s a brick building that I think just got sold last year, but there was a guy who did embroidery on uniforms there. His name was Jim Bob and I remember going there and getting my first-ever uniform embroidered with my name on it. That was the first time I’d ever seen IMS. I watched it on TV, but I never put two and two together, and I just remember going there and seeing the grandstands and just driving around the racetrack and being in awe of how big of a racetrack it was. I’d always seen quarter-miles and three-eighth-mile dirt tracks growing up, but had never seen anything that was two-and-a-half miles. That’s my first memory of IMS. Literally, when you drive out of that tunnel, you’re looking at the building. So it’s kind of crazy that my first-ever race suit came from across the street at IMS.”

What’s your favorite Tony Stewart memory from Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“For me, obviously the Brickyard wins stand out. Truthfully, I don’t remember the Indy 500, the double runs, I was a little bit younger. But I definitely remember Tony’s first Brickyard win, and then the one where he gave the interview on the front straightaway about the fans sticking with him. And I remember him doing the burnout over in turn two in front of his dad, Nelson, and all of his family and friends, so those are the ones that sort of stand out more than the rest.”

No. 14 HighPoint.com Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Chase Briscoe

Hometown: Mitchell, Indiana

Crew Chief: Richard Boswell

Hometown: Friendship, Maryland

Car Chief: J.D. Frey

Hometown: Ferndale, California

Engineer: Mike Cook

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Spotter: Joey Campbell

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Shayne Pipala

Hometown: Frankfort Square, Illinois

Rear Tire Changer: Dakota Ratcliff

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Tire Carrier: Jon Bernal

Hometown: Holland, Michigan

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Corey Coppola

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Road Crew Members

Underneath Mechanic: Stephen Gonzalez

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Interior Mechanic: Trevor Adams

Hometown: Plymouth, Wisconsin

Tire Specialist: Keith Eads

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Shock Specialist: Brian Holshouser

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jon Phillips

Hometown: Jefferson City, Missouri

Transporter Co-Driver: Todd Cable

Hometown: Shelby, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Dale Lackey

Hometown: Taylorsville, North Carolina

• In two NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts on the oval configuration at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), Spire Motorsports has logged one top-20 and two top-25 finishes. Ross Chastain earned a team-best 17th-place finish in the division’s 2020 visit to “The Brickyard.” Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NCS with Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
• In addition to two NCS starts on the oval configuration, Spire Motorsports has fielded six entries on the road course configuration at IMS, collecting one top-10, three top-20 and four top-25 finishes. Justin Haley owns the team’s best finish at the venue, crossing the line eighth in 2021.
• The Brickyard 400 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be televised live on NBC, Sunday, July 21st, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 22nd of 36 races on the 2024 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Corey LaJoie heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway behind the wheel of the No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
• The Brickyard 400 will mark LaJoie’s fifth Cup Series start in the prestigious event. In his four previous NCS starts on the oval at IMS, he has logged one top-20, a venue best 19th-place finish.
• For the past three seasons, the NCS raced the road course configuration of IMS. In these three races, LaJoie owns two top-20 finishes including a venue-best 16th-place finish in the 2021 event.
• Gainbridge Insurance Agency, LLC (“Gainbridge”), a Group 1001 company, is an insurtech which strives to offer products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Gainbridge’s digital-first distribution model underpins its mission to reach all communities, including those that have been historically underserved by the national financial system.
• LaJoie started 30th and finished 19th in last weekend’s The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway. The 32-year-old has led 38 laps in 2024 and is currently 30th in points.
• Over 257 career NCS starts, the father of three has earned four top-five and nine top-10 finishes and led 161 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.

Corey LaJoie Quotes
What are your thoughts on heading to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend?
“Indy is a special place, and it’s a big weekend for our Spire Motorsports team. Everybody brings their absolute best to ‘The Brickyard,’ and our No. 7 team is no different. With Indianapolis being the home of Gainbridge, its even more of an incentive to have a great run.”

Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Zane Smith will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Brickyard 400 on Sunday, driving the No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
• Last weekend in Pocono, Smith reached the second round of qualifying for the first time in his career, rolling off a career-best ninth for the 400-mile race. The rookie ran in the top-15 for a majority of the race before an incident on Lap 128 ended his day early, finishing 29th.
• Sunday will mark Smith’s 31st Cup Series start and his 22nd aboard the No. 71 Spire Motorsports entry.
• Focused Health will serve as the primary sponsor for Smith’s No. 71. The blue and orange paint scheme represents a health insurance agency that assists consumers and employers in navigating the myriad of health insurance options in the government programs space. The company partners with payors and employers to deliver health insurance solutions for individuals and families. For more information visit AtFocusedHealth.com.
• Crew Chief Stephen Doran is a two-time Brickyard 400 champion, winning the crown jewel in back-to-back seasons as an engineer for Kevin Harvick in 2019 and 2020.

Zane Smith Quotes
What are you looking forward to at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this coming weekend?
“I’m excited to get to Indy this weekend. It will be my first time racing there and it is a super iconic track, so I’m looking forward to getting on the oval on Friday and seeing how it feels. My No. 71 Spire Motorsports team has been working hard day in and day out to bring fast race cars to the track and it has shown the last couple of weekends. Hoping for a solid race on Sunday.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Carson Hocevar will make his first NCS start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 driving the No. 77 Zeigler Automotive Group Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports.
• Hocevar started 15th and finished 17th in The Great American Getaway 400 at Pocono Raceway last Sunday.
• Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers. Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top one percent of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2023. The family-owned and -operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor’s 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor’s top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.
• While he’s never raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the four-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series winner has two truck starts at nearby Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), crossing the line fourth in 2023. He has also made two ARCA Menards Series appearances at the 0.686-mile oval, including a fifth-place finish in the 2018 event.
• In 2022, Hocevar was behind the wheel of a Super Late Model in an ARCA/CRA Super Series event at IRP. He finished fifth behind William Byron, Erik Jones and Sammy Smith.
• The youngest NCS driver in the field is currently 23rd in the division’s championship point standings. Over the course of the season’s first 21 races, Hocevar has notched two top-10 and five top-15 finishes.
• Crew chief Luke Lambert called the shots for Ryan Newman’s third-place effort in the 2017 Brickyard 400 during his stint at Richard Childress Racing.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
What does it mean to you to race at a historic track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway?
“It means a lot and I’m pumped. I raced quarter-midgets there for years, and even drove one around the oval once. I remember thinking that it would be a dream come true to race a full-sized car competitively at “The Brickyard.” Indy has always been a dream, especially the (Indianapolis) 500, but with no Brickyard races for the last few years, this is an incredible opportunity. We’ve got a strong team and this track suits our racing style, so I’m very optimistic. Everyone’s excited – Luke (Lambert), Jeff (Dickerson), the whole team – and we’re ready for a good run.”

From the Top of the Box

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports competition director and crew chief for driver Corey LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro in the NCS.
• Sparks, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, has been paired with LaJoie since 2020.
• Combined, Sparks and LaJoie have earned four top-five and seven top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place finish in the 2024 Daytona 500.

Stephen Doran – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Stephen Doran begins his first full season as a Cup Series crew chief leading Zane Smith and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team during the 2024 season.
• In 2006, Doran got his start in NASCAR at Petty Enterprises.
• Prior to his arrival at Spire Motorsports, Doran worked at Stewart-Haas Racing as an engineer, most recently on the No. 4 car driven by Kevin Harvick.

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Luke Lambert is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 team with 2024 NCS Rookie of the Year candidate Carson Hocevar.
• The 2005 North Carolina State graduate has led the competition efforts for some of the sport’s most notable names including Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler and Chris Buescher.
• In 2014, Lambert led Newman to a berth in the Championship 4, and ultimately a runner-up finish in the NCS championship point standings.

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 April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR’s elite Cup Series returns to the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, with the race being contested on the legendary 2.5-mile oval after running the speedway’s road course the past three years.

Harrison Burton will be making his first start on the famed Brickyard track, but it’s a familiar venue for his Draiver-sponsored, Wood Brothers team.

The Woods have raced Cup cars at the Brickyard 26 times, with four top-10 finishes – in the first two Brickyard 400s and in two of the last three, with Paul Menard driving the Woods’ Ford in the latter.

Crew chief Jeremy Bullins has raced there as a crew chief six times, with four finishes of 12th or better. He said he’s really excited to be back on the 2.5-mile track known around the world for more than a century.

“To me one of the coolest things that we get to do is race at historical venues, and going back to race on the oval in Indianapolis is as awesome as it gets,” he said. “There’s nowhere that compares when it comes to motorsports history on our schedule, and it’s a privilege for us to get to race there.”

Bullins said he and the team have prepared an eye-catching Mustang Dark Horse, and he’s anxious to get it on track and tune it for the 400-mile run.

“We have an awesome paint scheme again with our Draiver Ford, and we look forward to a 50-minute practice to try to get our handling dialed in for Sunday’s race.”

That practice session is set to start at 2:35 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, with qualifying getting underway at 1:05 p.m. Saturday. Live coverage of practice will be available on the NBC Sports App, while USA Network will broadcast qualifying.

Sunday’s 160-lap, 400-mile race is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m., with Stage breaks planned for Laps 50 and 100.

NBC will carry the TV coverage.

ABOUT DRAIVER
Draiver is a market-leading on-demand vehicle delivery company offering elevated delivery solutions and experiences. Through best-in-class AI logistics software and a vetted, insured driver marketplace, the company moves cars faster, and more efficiently, to improve bottom lines for global fleet and rental companies, OEMs, large automotive groups, and single location businesses.

The company’s expertise has enabled rapid expansion to three continents, where the platform moves over 6,000 cars a day through an elite network of 20,000 drivers. The company’s full suite of services is available throughout North and South America, and their software solves logistics needs for large automotive companies in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Peru and the GCC.

Draiver’s mission is to redefine the standard of excellence in vehicle delivery and offer unmatched opportunities for the gig economy in a people-first environment. Follow Draiver on Twitter, LinkedIn and www.draiver.com.

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 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven 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.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Competition Notes

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

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

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

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

No. 38 gener8tor Ford Mustang Dark Horse:

DRIVER TODD GILLILAND:

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

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

CREW CHIEF RYAN BERGENTY:

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

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

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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