Category: NASCAR Cup PR

Richard Childress Racing at Texas Motor Speedway … Richard Childress Racing has a storied history at Texas Motor Speedway that includes a NASCAR Cup Series win with Jeff Burton (1997), five NASCAR Xfinity Series wins with Kevin Harvick (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012) and two NASCAR Truck Series wins with Jay Sauter (1999) and Ty Dillon (2013).

COVID-19 Relief … Own a piece of history by participating in an auction and sale of Richard Childress’ personal collection of memorabilia. All proceeds will assist COVID-19 relief efforts. Thousands of rare, hard-to-find and exclusive items from Richard Childress’ 50+ years in NASCAR are up for bid or sale. Visit https://www.ebay.com/str/RichardChildresscollection.

Catch the Action … The NASCAR Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live Saturday, July 18, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live Sunday, July 19, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road/E-Z-GO Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Texas Motor Speedway… Dillon is an accomplished driver at Texas Motor Speedway with 30 starts spread out across NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series. He has even competed virtually at the track on iRacing. The Welcome, North Carolina driver has earned pole awards in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series while competing at Texas Motor Speedway and has led laps in three of his 14 Cup races there. In his most recent NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas in November 2019, Dillon finished 13th.

Tracker Off Road … Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER OFF ROAD was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology.

Bass Pro Shops … Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit .

E-Z-GO … E-Z-GO is an iconic, world-renowned brand in golf cars and personal transportation vehicles. Products sold under the E-Z-GO brand include RXV® and TXT® fleet golf cars, Freedom® RXV and Freedom TXT personal golf cars, E-Z-GO Express™ personal utility vehicles, and the 2Five® street-legal low-speed vehicle. Known for innovation in electric-vehicle technology, E-Z-GO’s newest offerings include the ELiTE series of lithium-ion powered golf cars and PTVs, and the company’s exclusive 72-volt AC electric powertrain found in its latest Express series vehicles. Founded in 1954 in Augusta, Ga., E-Z-GO became part of Textron Inc. in 1960, and today operates as part of the company’s Textron Specialized Vehicles division.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
Tell us about racing at Texas Motor Speedway and how it differs from other 1.5-mile tracks, such as Kansas Speedway?
“Texas Motor Speedway is a bit different from Kansas Speedway in that it has two different ends. You have one end that’s very banked and has high speeds, and then you have a hard end where you have to get turned and get back on the gas. Texas Motor Speedway just has so much grip now. It’s quite a bit different, and the banking has changed a lot from the old track to the new track. I really like Texas and am looking forward to getting there. It’s going to be really important to run well and to have a good finish because we are still battling to make it into the Playoffs. Our cars have been strong on 1.5-mile tracks this year, and we will look for some of that speed to try and get the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER/E-Z-GO Chevy into Victory Lane.”

Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 Cat Oil and Gas Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Texas Motor Speedway … Tyler Reddick will be making his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway this Sunday. Reddick has five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, with his best finish of second coming in both October 2018 and March 2019. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender also has six starts, one pole award and four top-five finishes at the track in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Cat Oil and Gas … Caterpillar Oil & Gas, with headquarters in Houston, Texas, consolidates all the sales and service activities for Caterpillar Inc.’s oil and gas power solutions. Since the 1930s, Caterpillar has manufactured engines for the oilfield and today provides premier power solutions with outputs from 31 to 16,000 kW. The sales and service network includes more than 2,100 dealer locations world-wide dedicated to support customers in the drilling, production, well service and gas compression segments. More information is available at cat.com/oilandgas

Watch the Race with Cheddar’s… Don’t miss out! Cheddar’s is offering 15% off all To Go orders with the offer code RACEDAY placed on 7/19 and every Cup Series race day for the remainder of the 2020 season! Whether you’re watching the race on a Sunday afternoon or on a weekday under the lights, watch with all your Cheddar’s favorites for 15% off. Terms & conditions apply, visit cheddars.com/offer/race-day for full offer details.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTE:
How does Texas Motor Speedway compare to other 1.5-mile speedways we visit?
“Texas Motor Speedway is a fun place to race and a track I’ve come close to winning at in the past in the other series, but always seem to come up one or two spots short. So, I’m really looking forward to this weekend and competing in my first NASCAR Cup Series race there this Sunday with our No. 8 Cat Oil and Gas Chevrolet. Texas is a little similar to Kansas Speedway, where you can have a lot of balance changes in your car during a run. You have to manage your car and its changes during a run really well in order to be successful there. Moving around throughout a run will also still be important at Texas, and we’ve seen the PJ1 open up a couple lanes in the past, so we should be able to put on a good show this weekend.”

This Week’s No. 21 Death Wish Coffee Chevrolet Camaro at Texas Motor Speedway … Coming off a couple of strong performances at Kentucky Speedway, Anthony Alfredo will make his first appearance at Texas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend. The 21-year-old made two career NASCAR Truck Series starts in 2019 at he track.

Solid on 1.5-Mile Tracks … In five career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts on 1.5-mile racetracks, Alfredo holds an average finish of 7.4. He recorded his best finish of fourth at Homestead-Miami Speedway in June.

About Death Wish Coffee … In 2012, Death Wish Coffee Co. started a small coffee shop in Saratoga Springs, NY. Founder Mike Brown saw a need for coffee that was both strong and delicious to serve his groggy morning customers. After creating the perfect blend of beans and combining it with his unique roasting technique, the ‘World’s Strongest Coffee’ was born. Today, thousands of people trust Death Wish Coffee to wake them up and keep them going every day. For more information visit
deathwishcoffee.com.

Fast Start for Fast Pasta … In his first nine NASCAR Xfinity Series starts in the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing, Alfredo has secured six top-10 finishes and has an average finish of 9.2. He also won an eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Saturday Night Thunder Race at Dover International Speedway during NASCAR’s hiatus from on-track competition.

ANTHONY ALFREDO QUOTE:
You’re coming off two very solid performances at Kentucky Speedway. How excited are you to carry that momentum into Texas this weekend?
“I am pumped to head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend with our No. 21 Death Wish Coffee team. I learned a lot at Kentucky that I believe will translate well to Texas. The solid runs we had will definitely allow us to carry some confidence and momentum into the weekend.”

It seems like you’re getting closer and closer every week to contending for wins. What slight adjustments do you and the team need to make in order to secure your first career win this weekend?
“I honestly don’t think we need to make any adjustments to be competing for wins. I simply believe if we continue our consistency, keep learning every race, and improving together, we will find ourselves in contention very soon, maybe even this weekend.”

Toyota Racing – Denny Hamlin
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

Fort Worth, Texas (July 17, 2020) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to media via videoconference in advance of the race at Texas Motor Speedway:

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

In such a unique season, what will it mean for a team to win the championship?

“I think that any time you can show versatility in adverse conditions, you’re kind of showing your strength. That’s kind of what we’ve done this year. With everything that’s changed, our team has just done a phenomenal job of keeping it all together and if anything, kind of exceeding in these extreme situations. I think it shows strength, certainly your preparation before you even get to the race track with the limited amount to no amount of practice. I think for me personally, I take a lot of pride in it.”

When do you need to know if there is a course change to the Daytona road course event?

“Probably before you go into your simulator. Especially if there’s no practice. I find it really, really interesting that they’re not going to have any practice at a track that 95 percent of us have not run a lap. When you talk about, someone said, ‘Why not just have a competition caution on lap five?’ I said, it’s not going to be competition, it’s just going to be a caution. We’re more likely going to be running pace laps for a while anyway. I really, personally would have liked to see even 30 minutes to get us acclimated to some braking points and what not. I definitely understand the owner’s side of it and NASCAR’s side of it where you don’t want to have to prepare backup cars just in case. Heck, maybe even – I’m just politicking through you guys – why not have the implication of knowing that this 30-minute practice session, if you wreck, you finish last. Just like you would in the race. If someone is going to wreck in that 30-minute practice session, they were more than likely going to wreck in the race anyway. I think that we can take it easy, we can go slow and make sure we just get acclimated before we go green. You don’t want to put on a bad race that’s just filled with cautions. I worry that could be the case. As a driver, if the chicane part, you probably need to know a month in advance. That’s probably the right number.”

How does the race change at Texas with it being in the heat of the day?

“Maybe a little bit. The conditions are definitely going to be hotter than what we’ve had there before. We’re all assuming the PJ1 will be sprayed the same. That’s a 50-50 crap shoot at this point. Whether that’s going to be the same and in the same line. I think we’re going to probably use some notes from the previous races there last year. This is one of few race tracks, not few, but one of the race tracks where you don’t have a rules change with the aerodynamic or engine package from last year. We will take into account weather and all that stuff to figure out what kind of car we need to take to that race track to be successful. Hopefully, we guess right.”

How long did it take you to get past the heartbreak at Indianapolis and where is your momentum?

“Indy certainly derailed some. We were going to win a couple races in a row and four out of the last whatever. It was out of my control and the reason I was so gutted and there was no question in my mind that I took Indy harder than I took the championship last year as far as how my emotions felt afterwards. When you think about the three main accomplishments that I would really like to check off – a championship, the Coke 600 and the Brickyard 400. I think about how the last three of those went. The championship, the tape. The Coke 600, the lead fell out leaving pit road. And the Brickyard 400, we’re leading and we blow a tire. I can’t do anything else. I’m trying to do everything I can to get those done, but I can take enough solace in knowing I’m doing all I can to accomplish the goals that I want to accomplish. It just didn’t’ work out and the three of them didn’t work out right in a row, which really stings a little bit more. Okay, the championship, we’ll get another run at it. The 600, man we were really fast and didn’t even get a chance to show it. Then the Brickyard, it’s like, okay, at least we’re going to get one of these three done in the last 12 months. And I’m counting down the laps and I just can’t believe it. It’s heartbreaking, but we just ran like crap at Kentucky. All of our cars ran terrible except for (Martin) Truex. We go to Bristol, and I think me and Kyle (Busch) were probably one of the two best cars. I just started so far deep in the field, just not enough laps to show that. I feel confident that we still have our momentum and I’m going to drive into turn one at Texas as if I have the fastest car again.”

What is the difference at Kansas under the lights for your success at that track?

“One thing that was different last year was that our car was rocket fast. I did not go into that race thinking we were going to dominate and we got to the front and we flat dominated. There was something about that setup that made me drive that track well. I don’t know if that was much driver on that one, but it was out of the blue. I forget where we started in the fall, but certainly it was just a fast and dominating car and we were able to hold off a few guys in those final few restarts to win it. Chris (Gabehart, crew chief) just nailed it on that one and any time you have a car that handles as good as that one, it makes things a lot easier. The good news is, I talked about this with Texas, there’s not much change from the previous race to this one coming up. I’m pretty optimistic about that one for sure.”

Where is Kyle Busch’s argument that the JGR Camrys have a lack of speed when you’ve won four races and Truex has won one?

“I think it’s because one of us are hitting the setup perfectly during a given week. That’s how you can kind of tell an organization that has got fast cars. Let’s bring California up for instance. All of our cars, we had one car maybe run towards the front, but all of us were not that good. But Hendrick had the race winner and they had a bunch of guys in the top-five and top-10. That tells you right there that the organization was just fast. Their cars were really fast. The cars, when you have an organization that has cars that fast and the cars have speed, you don’t have to hit the setup exactly perfect to be fast and be competitive and run for race wins. I think what he’s (Kyle Busch) saying right now is there’s one of us that seems to be hitting it week in and week out and getting the setup closer to where it needs to be and the cars don’t have the all-out speed for us to make that box bigger. That’s probably what he’s talking about and I don’t necessarily disagree that we do need more speed at this time.”

Is there another organization that’s currently hitting all eight cylinders and can beat you every week?

“Not week in and week out, no. I like our chances. I would say that I don’t think there’s anyone. Maybe Stewart Haas, it’s so week to week. Stewart Haas had cars that were up front at Kentucky. All their cars were kind of up front. Who knows, this week at Texas, JGR might look great and all of our cars could be up front. I think that you make a valid point, no one has sustained the strength as an organization through the whole year. Everyone thought it was Chevy and Hendrick early on and then that kind of faded. Chase (Elliott) has been the standout from that organization. There’s always been one standout from each organization. Maybe Penske the only consistent ones that have their two or three cars in the top-10 on a more consistent basis right now.”

Do you think the unpredictability is coming from a lack of practice?

“Yeah. It very well could be because no two – it doesn’t matter what organization it is, no two cars are running the same setup. Everyone is on a different setup in every organization. I think that by not having practice, it’s all on the crew chiefs, the engineers and the drivers to think of the setup that they need and someone is going to hit it better than the other. You can’t change the major parts and pieces under a pit stop so you’ve kind of got what you’ve got when you decide to unload.”

Do you have concerns with track preparation and are you concerned with how the traction compound will be applied for this weekend after many drivers weren’t happy with the application in Kentucky?

“I would say it’s a sensitive subject for me personally because I work directly with NASCAR on track prep. What’s disappointing from my perspective and on the record, I love the Smith family, but they go rogue sometimes when it comes to thinking that they’re in the competition business. It’s disappointing because the information that NASCAR gets from us on track prep and how to prepare the race track to put on the best possible racing comes from the drivers who do it themselves and they know better than anyone. Better than anyone. The decision, the track was prepped in a certain way. We weren’t over-joyed with it to start the weekend and we saw the start of the Xfinity race and the first couple races, we had an issue and we really need to work on it. The issue is to let that main line run off. The only way to stop that one lane race track is to let that wear out. With them just going in overnight and re-spraying that middle lane again before the race was just not ideal. There was a lot of people that weren’t happy with it. Luckily, we had a four-wide to the finish. That saved the day as far as, did we have a great race or not. Man, I really wish SMI in particular would just listen to the guidance in which the drivers and NASCAR give them when it comes to spraying these race tracks.”

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About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks in North America, where we have 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama (10 in the U.S.), and directly employ more than 47,000 people (over 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold nearly 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2019.

Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

After a mid-week trip to Bristol Motor Speedway where Matt DiBenedetto won the NASCAR All-Star Open, earning his first appearance in the NASCAR All-Star Race, it’s back to work in the points-paying races on the Cup Series schedule.

DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are headed to Texas Motor Speedway this Sunday, hoping for more of the same from the past few weeks.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun lately as far as our car speed and stuff, so that’s been great,” DiBenedetto said. “I’m excited to get to Texas and hopefully continue on this roll that we’re on where we’ve gotten stage points in the last eight stages in a row.

“That just shows we’re running in that front group consistently from start to finish of these races, so that’s awesome. I’m excited.”

DiBenedetto finished 13th in the All-Star main event after sustaining damage to the No. 21 Mustang in an early incident, but the car was competitive before then, continuing a string of recent strong runs, including a third-place finish this past Sunday at Kentucky Speedway.

“We’ve really been building and getting better and better, running up there in that front group consistently from start to finish in a lot of these races lately,” he said. “We’re continuing to get more and more points, climbing up there, catching guys in front of us.

“If we keep running up there consistently, that puts us in a position to have a shot at winning one of these things.”

He and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team also have a shot at being one of the 16 teams that will start the Playoffs, which begin after nine more regular season races. He’s now 12th in points and 13th in the playoff standings, 44 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson, who holds the 16th spot heading into Texas.

“Going in, Goal Number One was making sure to make the playoffs, which is never easy,” DiBenedetto said of the 10-race, season-ending race for the Cup Series championship. “Knowing the strength of the team, I know we can work at it and do it, especially now that we’ve been on this good streak lately of having a lot of speed and racking up stage points.”

He said he not only wants to make the playoffs, he wants to prove that he and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team belong among the elites in the sport.

“If we keep improving like we have been, I think we can turn a lot of heads,” he said.

Due to the coronavirus, there will be no practice or qualifying before Sunday’s 500-miler at Texas, which is scheduled to start just after 3 p.m. Eastern Time, with TV coverage on NBCSN.

About Motorcraft:

Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Omnicraft:

Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visitwww.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center

Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen 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. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (1.5-MILE OVAL)
LOCATION: FORT WORTH, TEXAS
EVENT: NASCAR CUP SERIES (RACE 18 OF 36)
TUNE IN: 3 P.M. ET, SUNDAY, JULY 19 (NBCSN/PRN/SIRIUSXM)

Chase Elliott
No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Chase Elliott Hometown Dawsonville, Georgia
Age 24 Resides Dawsonville, Georgia

2020 Season
4th in standings
17 starts
1 win
1 pole position
7 top-five finishes
9 top-10 finishes
451 laps led

Career
166 starts
7 wins
9 pole positions
51 top-five finishes
83 top-10 finishes
2,295 laps led

Track Career
8 starts
0 win
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
44 laps led

MILLION DOLLAR THRILL: On Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott drove his No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to take the checkered flag after dominating the field during the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race. Elliott won Stages 2 and 3 before crossing the finish line first in the final stage and earning the $1 million prize.

FIRST TIMER: Elliott wasn’t the only one to secure his first career all-star win on Wednesday night. Alan Gustafson also collected his first victory in the event. Now in his 16th season as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief, the 44-year-old has accumulated 153 top-five finishes, 268 top-10s and 31 pole awards.

FATHER-SON DUO: With Elliott’s victory on Wednesday night, he and his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, joined Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the second father-son combination to win the NASCAR All-Star Race. The Elliotts have won the only two all-star events not held at Charlotte Motor Speedway – Bill Elliott won it at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1986.

LONE STAR STATS: This weekend, Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, is set to make his ninth NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway. In his previous eight races, Elliott has garnered two top-five finishes, five top-10s and an average finishing position of 11.0, currently the fifth-best average finish of all time at the track. He will roll off the grid eighth for Sunday’s 334-lap event.

NO STRANGER TO TEXAS: Elliott collected his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Texas in April 2014, becoming the second-youngest driver to win an Xfinity race. In his five starts in the Xfinity Series, Elliott accumulated three top-five finishes, five top-10s and averaged a finishing position of 5.0.

GIVING BACK: For the ninth year, NAPA will partner with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) to drive awareness and support for our nation’s service members who suffer from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. NAPA will also recognize heroes on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. To show appreciation for doctors, nurses and all other essential personnel working to keep our country moving forward, NAPA is helping the American Red Cross deliver its lifesaving mission due to the coronavirus outbreak. Donations will be made to the American Red Cross and Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund with each purchase at a NAPA AUTO PARTS location in July.

NAPA SALUTES: Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet will showcase IFHF on the television panel this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The No. 9 car will also feature the name of U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jasper F. Heilig, who enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 21, 1998. Heilig served 15 years in the Marines with three combat deployments. He retired in September 2013 as a master sergeant and currently works for the Semper Fi Fund as a Veteran to Veteran lead. Heilig mentors other veterans as they return to civilian life and to their communities.

TRENDING UPWARD: Through 17 races in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, Elliott is already having a career-best season. He has seven top-five finishes, the most he has collected through 17 races in a season, and his 451 laps led are also a career high at this point in the year.

SHOWING THE WAY: Elliott continues to lead all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average running position (7.78) and stage wins (five). He has the second-most stage points (175) in the series, has led the fourth-most laps (451) and his 12 points-paying races led are tied for the second-most behind only Joey Logano (13).

1.5-MILE TRACKS IN 2020: In six 1.5-mile races in the 2020 season, Elliott won at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, and his two runner-up finishes lead all drivers. On 1.5-milers, he has led the fourth-most laps (189) in the Cup Series, and his three top-five finishes and two stage wins are the second-most in the series this season.

POWER PERFORMANCE: Among the teams competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, the No. 9 pit crew ranks second in fastest average time for four-tire stops at 13.95 seconds through 17 races in 2020.

BEHIND THE 9: Crew chief Alan Gustafson is trying his hand as a host in a new Hendrick Motorsports video series called “Behind the 9” in which he interviews each member of the No. 9 crew. Fans are able to learn about where they came from and the role they serve on the team, with each bringing a unique personality and skillset. Episodes are released every Tuesday on the Hendrick Motorsports Facebook page and YouTube channel. The most recent episode features front-end mechanic Chris Haymaker.

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William Byron
No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver William Byron Hometown Charlotte, North Carolina
Age 22 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
14th in standings
17 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
45 laps led

Career
89 starts
0 wins
5 pole positions
5 top-five finishes
22 top-10 finishes
339 laps led

Track Career
4 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
0 top-five finishes
2 top-10 finishes
24 laps led

TRUCKIN’ IT IN TEXAS: William Byron’s success at Texas Motor Speedway started over four years ago in his first start at the 1.5-mile oval in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Beginning the race from the sixth position, the rookie led six laps before capturing the checkered flag, becoming the youngest driver to win a Truck Series race at Texas.

TEXAS TOUGH: Texas Motor Speedway has been one of Byron’s best tracks throughout his NASCAR career. In fact, his average finish of 12.25 in his four Cup Series starts in the Lone Star State has him ranked seventh all-time for best average finish at Texas. Byron has four other starts at the 1.5-mile oval, with an average finish of 3.5 in two NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series starts and 8.0 in two Xfinity Series races. The third-year Hendrick Motorsports driver looks to continue that success when he rolls off from the 18th position for Sunday’s race.

NINE TO GO: Looking to lock himself into the playoffs for the second time in his three-year NASCAR Cup Series career, Byron is 14th in the standings with two playoff points to his name and nine races left in the regular season. While a win in one of the upcoming points-paying races would automatically secure his position in the fight for the championship, Byron is currently 30 points above the playoff cutline heading into the Texas weekend.

CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY: In the last seven races dating back to Martinsville Speedway in June, Byron has six top-15 finishes, tying him with four other Cup Series drivers for the most in that same timespan. In that stretch, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native has three top-10 finishes and paced the field for 30 laps, including a stage win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

KNAUS HAS ‘NO LIMITS’: This weekend, crew chief Chad Knaus will call his 35th Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. In his 34 previous events, Knaus has won seven times at the “No Limits” track, with the most recent victory coming in April 2017. In his career as a Cup crew chief, Knaus’ seven wins at Texas Motor Speedway ranks fourth among the tracks where he has the most victories behind only Dover International Speedway (11), Martinsville Speedway (9) and Charlotte Motor Speedway (8).

AXALTA ON BOARD: After sporting Sea Glass 2.0, Axalta’s 2020 Color of the Year, in Wednesday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Byron will head to Texas with the familiar iconic flames back on board his No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. In 2020, Axalta is the 22-race majority partner of the No. 24 team. The company’s relationship with Hendrick Motorsports was recently extended, taking one of the most enduring partnerships in sports through 2027.

HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: Needing to secure a position in the NASCAR All-Star Race on Wednesday night, Byron started seventh in the Open qualifier. After finishing second in Stage 1, he lined up first for Stage 2 and never looked back, leading every circuit of the 35-lap stint. His stage win locked him into the All-Star Race in the No. 24 Axalta Sea Glass 2.0 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE with an 18th-place starting position. Fighting a tight handling Axalta Chevy throughout the event, Byron raced his way to 12th by the time the checkered flag flew.

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Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Driver Jimmie Johnson Hometown El Cajon, California
Age 44 Resides Charlotte, North Carolina

2020 Season
15th in standings
16 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
6 top-10 finishes
99 laps led

Career
667 starts
83 wins
36 pole positions
229 top-five finishes
370 top-10 finishes
18,933 laps led

Track Career
33 starts
7 wins
2 pole positions
16 top-five finishes
22 top-10 finishes
1,152 laps led

‘SEVEN-TIME’ AT TEXAS: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has had his fair share of success in the Lone Star State. The seven-time Texas Motor Speedway winner has won six of the last 15 races at the track and has won four of the last 10 races there, which is twice any other driver during that span. Johnson has an average finish of 10.39 in 33 starts, which is fifth-best of all-time.

NOT HIS FIRST RODEO: In addition to the most wins in history at Texas, Johnson has the most top-five finishes (16) and is now tied with Kevin Harvick for most top-10s (22) of all current drivers. Johnson also has led the most laps there with 1,152 and has the fifth-best average finish of 9.66.

TEXAS TRIPLE: Johnson won three straight races at Texas between November 2014 and November 2015 – the longest streak ever by a driver at the track. He also has posted three-race win streaks at Phoenix Raceway, Las Vegas and Martinsville. Johnson won four-in-a-row at Charlotte Motor Speedway from May 2004 to October 2005.

GUNS A’BLAZIN’: Texas is one of four tracks on the circuit where Johnson has led more than 1,000 laps, joining Dover (3,110), Martinsville (2,932) and Charlotte (1,936). Johnson has led 1,152 at Texas. He also has more wins than anyone else at the following track venues: Dover (11), Martinsville (9), Charlotte (8) and Texas (7).

STEPPING UP THE PIT GAME: The No. 48 crew ranks seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series with an average four-tire stop time of 14.17 seconds. The team is coached by Jon Carvin and consists of veteran gasman Brandon Harder, tire carrier Allan Stallings, jackman Kyle Tudor and tire changers Calvin Teague and Donnie Tasser.

MOST ALL-TIME WINS ON 1.5-MILERS: Johnson is the NASCAR Cup Series’ all-time wins leader on 1.5-mile tracks with 28. Second on that list is Johnson’s former teammate Jeff Gordon with 17 victories.

HELMET OF HOPE WINNERS ANNOUNCED: The Jimmie Johnson Foundation recently announced the five recipients of this year’s $25,000 Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope grants. The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program invites fans and consumers across the country to nominate not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that support K-12 public education for the opportunity to receive one of five available grant packages. This year, the nomination process was expanded to include non-profits that have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis. The final five were selected via a week-long public vote. More than 223,000 votes were cast for the 10 semi-finalists during the voting period. The five grant recipients are: DMF Youth Inc. (New York, New York); Foodbank of Siouxland (Sioux City, Iowa); National Mental Health Association of Georgia (Atlanta); TABLE Inc. (Carrboro, North Carolina) and Working in the Schools (Chicago). For more information visit www.JimmieJohnsonFoundation.org.

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Alex Bowman
No. 88 ChevyGoods.com/Adam’s Polishes Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE ​
Driver Alex Bowman Hometown Tucson, Arizona
Age 27 Resides Concord, North Carolina

2020 Season
9th in standings
17 starts
1 win
0 pole positions
2 top-five finishes
5 top-10 finishes
381 laps led

Career
170 starts
2 wins
2 pole positions
12 top-five finishes
31 top-10 finishes
855 laps led

Track Career
9 starts
0 wins
0 pole positions
1 top-five finish
1 top-10 finish
14 laps led

BOWMAN IN TEXAS: Alex Bowman will make his 10th NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. The Tucson, Arizona, native’s best qualifying and finishing position of fifth came in the fall event last season after he led for 11 laps. Bowman also has two starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 2013. He qualified on the pole for both events and led a combined seven laps. The 27-year-old driver captured 14th- and 18th-place finishes in those races. He will start from the 12th position on Sunday for the 501-mile event.

1.5-MILE STATS: Bowman has led 215 laps on tracks measuring 1.5 miles in length and has led the second-most laps at 1.5-mile facilities this season. Although he has led over 200 laps, his best finish in 2020 on a track this length was 12th at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 88 team has won three stages on intermediate tracks this season. .

2020 AVERAGE: So far this season, the No. 88 pit crew has an average four-tire pit stop of 14.18 seconds, which is eighth-best among teams in 2020. The driver of the No. 88 machine ranks sixth on the list of drivers with the best average running position in 2020 with an average position of 11.65. Bowman has led 381 laps in 17 events this season, which is seventh on the list of drivers with the most laps led. He has won four stages in 2020 and has collected 151 stage points.

IVES’ LONE STAR STATS: Crew chief Greg Ives has called the shots for the No. 88 Chevrolet 10 times at Texas Motor Speedway. The Bark River, Michigan, native’s resumé includes four top-five finishes and five top-10s. Ives’ best finish at the track came back in 2016 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second after 334 laps. The crew chief also has four starts in the Xfinity Series at Texas, which include one win when Chase Elliott led 38 laps to bring home the victory in 2014. As a race engineer for the No. 48 team at Hendrick Motorsports from 2006-2012, Ives was part of two wins, nine top-10 finishes and one pole award with driver Jimmie Johnson.

100 TOGETHER: Ives and Bowman have been teamed up for 99 races in four years and have captured two wins, 12 top-five results, 31 top-10s and two pole awards. The No. 88 duo ranks sixth on the list of longest active driver and crew chief pairings.

WELCOME BACK, CHEVYGOODS.COM: The black and yellow ChevyGoods.com paint scheme featuring Adam’s Polishes will be on board Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Texas Motor Speedway. Adam’s Polishes produces high quality products for auto detailing enthusiasts. In January, Hendrick Motorsports announced its partnership with ChevyGoods.com, which includes primary sponsorship of Bowman for 26 events. Associate brands that will be featured throughout 2020 are Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero.

GUEST ON BOARD: The No. 88 team will have a special name on board this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway with Troy Malesky’s name featured on the passenger-side door of Bowman’s Chevrolet. Malesky is a native of Strafford, Missouri, and played college baseball at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. The 34-year-old enlisted in the United States Navy and became a member of the Navy SEALs after completing BUD’s class 285 in 2011. After serving as a SEAL for almost nine years, Malesky recently left the service to focus on being a father and husband. He is now a member of Commercial Real Estate as a broker for Makers Commercial in the greater Denver area.

GOOD DISCOUNTS: During the month of July, No. 88 team sponsor ChevyGoods.com is providing discounts on all accessories, including Adam’s Polishes, NOCO and Truck Hero. Customers can receive 10% off MSRP with purchases of $100-$249 (offer code “GET10”), 15% off with purchases of $250-$499 (code “GET15”), and 20% off with purchases of more than $500 (code “GET20”).

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Hendrick Motorsports

ALL-STAR RACING: Chase Elliott’s performance in Wednesday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway was the ninth victory for Hendrick Motorsports in the non-points event, extending the team’s all-time record. In addition, William Byron advanced into the All-Star Race after winning the second stage of the Open qualifier, which gave Hendrick Motorsports four cars in the main event for the 17th time in the last 19 seasons.

TMS SUCCESS: In Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports will be seeking a track-record 10th victory. The organization’s nine wins there are tied with Roush Fenway Racing for the most. Six of Hendrick Motorsports’ Texas wins have come in the last 15 races, which is the highest total of any team during that span.

LONE STAR STREAK: Hendrick Motorsports has placed at least one of its four cars inside the top 10 at Texas for 27 consecutive Cup Series races, the longest-ever streak at the track. The team has 71 total top-10 finishes at the Fort Worth venue, including 39 inside the top five. Its drivers have led 2,468 laps there, just 32 shy of 2,500.

CHAMPS WIN AT TEXAS: Three different drivers – all multi-time NASCAR Cup Series champions – have recorded wins for Hendrick Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway. Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson has earned seven victories there, while four-time champ Jeff Gordon and two-time title winner Terry Labonte each have one.

JUST THE STATS: Since its inception in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has 12 championships, 258 race victories, 226 pole positions, 1,082 top-five finishes and 1,864 top-10s in points-paying NASCAR Cup Series competition. Its teams have led 69,865 laps, which is the all-time record. Including 2020, the organization has won at least one race in 35 consecutive seasons, the longest-ever streak. Hendrick Motorsports is 10 wins away from tying Petty Enterprises’ all-time Cup record of 268.

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QUOTABLE /
Driver Chase Elliott on his All-Star Race win:
“Alan (Gustafson) and our entire UniFirst group did a great job. I’m not sure that I’ve had a better car at Bristol. That’s one of those cars that you don’t get very often. We’ve had cars like that before and haven’t won the race so when you have a car that drives that good you just really want to get the job done. It’s one of those things where if you didn’t, you’d be leaving there really kicking yourself.”

Elliott on his last few races:
“These past couple weeks have been a struggle for us. I think we learned some things at Kentucky, Indy and Pocono that we can try to apply this weekend at Texas. They are all places that have straightaways and the outright speed of your car is important nowadays with the downforce and whatnot. I think there are some tools that we learned. We’ve learned some lessons the hard way these past couple weeks and we are going to try and be better and hopefully it will show up at Texas.”

Elliott on the heat at Texas:
“Texas is a hot place. This time of year, I think everywhere is probably going to be hot. It always is. From the hydration standpoint, that’s always important. Preparing to sweat a lot is another big thing. As far as the track goes, I don’t expect the racing to look a whole lot different just because it’s hot. I think it will be really similar to what we’ve seen there in the past. The repave has been a big-time struggle for us. We just need to settle in and try to find some consistency and get going a little better. It’s such a unique place now with the ends being so different and how you want to configure your car.”

Crew chief Alan Gustafson on his Texas outlook:
“We’ve had a stretch of races that haven’t been the greatest for us, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. You just don’t get the finishes that you feel like you deserve. I think we’ve had pretty decent performance in our cars though. We learned some things from Kentucky that we can take to Texas this weekend.”

Driver William Byron on his success at Texas:
“I don’t know why I’ve always been so good at Texas Motor Speedway other than it’s one of the tracks I’ve raced at the most in my career. We always bring fast cars, which definitely helps, especially with the amount of grip the track has. I would say it’s just a bit of luck that Texas suits me. I really like that place and it seems to like me, as well. Hopefully, we will have a good run there this weekend.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson on Texas:
“Since they reconfigured the track, Texas is so weird these days. The line we run in turns one and two is the apron or even below it where we used to race. So the rhythm of the track is really awkward, and in some respects it almost races like Darlington – like an egg-shaped racetrack. You let off really early in (turns) one and two, slow the car down, chase the bottom ,and then the rest of the track with this horsepower package is like a straightway and you don’t lift again until you get into turn one. This new asphalt has really held up and not worn like we thought it might.”

Driver Alex Bowman on what makes Texas’ unique track:
“Texas is different because since they reconfigured it, it’s just really tricky down in turns one and two. In turns three and four, you’re just wide open. Turns one and two are just really flat and different. It’s not the normal 1.5-mile track shape. It started widening out there in the fall and hopefully it continues to move in that direction this year.”

Roush Fenway Weekly Advance | Texas

Roush Fenway and the NASCAR Cup Series takes to Texas this weekend, where teams will battle for 500 miles Sunday afternoon. Jack Roush has 18 wins all-time at the 1.5-mile track, including nine in the Cup Series.

Texas Motor Speedway
O’Reilly Auto Parts 500
Sunday, July 19 | 3 p.m. ET
NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90
· Ryan Newman, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
· Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Performance Ford Mustang

NASCAR Heads West to Lone Star State

· Following a non-points event Wednesday with the annual All-Star Race, NASCAR heads west to Texas Motor Speedway for a 500-mile event Sunday afternoon.
· Texas is typically run in the spring with a March-April event, but implications from COVID-19 pushed it to later in the schedule. The return trip to TMS is set for late October during the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs.
· The lineup for Sunday’s race will again be determined by a random draw based on teams’ order in owners’ points. Newman and Buescher will both draw for a starting spot in the 13-24 group, based off owners’ points.
· Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

All-Star Recap, Texas Preview

· Buescher came up just short of advancing to the All-Star Race, finishing fourth in the All-Star Open Wednesday night in the Fastenal Ford.
· Newman went for an early spin aboard his Oscar Mayer machine, and was unable to regain track position to finish 19th.
· Wyndham Rewards returns to Newman’s Ford this weekend in Texas, their third race of the 2020 campaign.
· Buescher will carry a new look with Roush Performance on board, highlighting the ROUSH Stage 3 Mustang.

“Dream Season”

Roush Fenway won both the first NCS (Jeff Burton) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (Mark Martin) races at Texas in 1997. Burton began the afternoon from the fifth position and led 60 laps en route to the inaugural victory.

Houston, We Don’t Have a Problem

Roush Fenway has earned nine NCS victories at Texas, dating back to the inaugural event in 1997. Former drivers Burton, Martin, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth have captured the checkered flag in the Lone Star State.

J.R.’s ‘08 Sweep

Edwards swept the 2008 NCS races for Roush Fenway at Texas, leading 335 laps in the two events.

9 A.M. in Dallas

Roush Fenway has started 144 NCS races at Texas, recording a total of nine victories, 38 top-five finishes, 59 top-10 finishes, an average finish of 15.7 and has led 2,524 laps. Biffle earned Roush Fenway’s most recent victory at Texas in the April 2012 event.

North Dallas Forty

Roush Fenway has earned eight victories, 26 top-five finishes, 47 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 13th at Texas in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Roush Fenway won three of the first four races at the 1.5-mile oval.

Jack Roush; Texas Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Member

Based on the strength of Roush Fenway’s numerous accomplishments at Texas, team owner Jack Roush was inducted into the Texas Motor Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

Tale of the Tape

Roush Fenway has started 295 races all-time at Texas Motor Speedway, recording 18 wins, 76 top-fives and 133 top-10s. RFR Fords have captured nine poles at the 1.5-mile track and led 3500+ laps while turning more than 108,000 miles.

Roush Fenway Texas Wins
1997 Burton Cup
1997 Martin NXS
1998 Martin Cup
1999 Martin NXS
2000 Martin NXS
2000 Biffle Truck
2002 Kenseth Cup
2005-1 Biffle Cup
2005-2 Edwards Cup
2007-1 Kenseth NXS
2008-1 Edwards Cup
2008-2 Edwards Cup
2010-2 Edwards NXS
2011-1 Edwards NXS
2011-2 Bayne NXS
2011-1 Kenseth Cup
2012-1 Biffle Cup
2012-1 Stenhouse NXS

Team: No. 17 Roush Performance Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
Twitter: @17RoushTeam, @RoushFenway and @Chris_Buescher
Race Format: 501 miles, 334 laps, Stage Lengths: 85-85-164
O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 – Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

NASCAR Heads West to Lone Star State

· Following a non-points event Wednesday with the annual All-Star Race, NASCAR heads west to Texas Motor Speedway for a 500-mile event Sunday afternoon.

· Texas is typically run in the spring with a March-April event, but implications from COVID-19 pushed it to later in the schedule. The return trip to TMS is set for late October during the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs.

· The lineup for Sunday’s race will again be determined by a random draw based on teams’ order in owners’ points. Buescher and the No. 17 team are 22nd in points and will draw for a starting spot in the 13-24 group.

· Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

Buescher Historically at Texas Motor Speedway

· Buescher makes his 10th Cup start at TMS on Sunday, a track where he has an average finish of 22.1. Dating back to 2015, Buescher’s best finish is 15th, which came in the 2018 spring race.

· Most recently, Buescher crossed the line 20th and 19th in last season’s events.

· Buescher, a native of Prosper, Texas, made five Xfinity Series starts for Jack Roush, finishing ninth in 2015 in the No. 60.

Luke Lambert at Texas Motor Speedway

· Lambert will be atop the box for his 16th Cup event at Texas. In 19 prior starts, he has an average finish of 20.4, 10 of which were with Ryan Newman.

· Lambert has one top-10 at Texas, a 10th-place run with Newman back in 2016. Most recently he finished 16th with Daniel Hemric last fall.

· Lambert also called two Xfinity races at TMS with Elliott Sadler in 2012, recording finishes of 12th and 11th.

QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Texas:
“I’m personally excited to get back home to Texas this weekend. We’ve been trying some new things with our 1.5-mile program the last few weeks, so we’re anxious to see what we’ve got. I’m also excited to be in a Roush Performance Mustang this weekend and debuting their new look.”

Last Time Out
Buescher finished fourth in the NASCAR All-Star Open Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, coming up just short of advancing into the All-Star Race.

Where They Rank
Buescher is 21st in driver points through 17 events, but within striking distance of the two spots ahead.

On the Car
Combining Ford’s 5.0L V8 engine with the ROUSH Phase 2 Supercharger, the ROUSH Stage 3 delivers 750 hp, 670 lb-ft of torque and a blistering 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. Equipped in your choice of 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission, the power is yours to command. Inspired by Jack Roush’s legendary reputation for engineering excellence and top-notch performance, engineers and designers at ROUSH comb over every detail to create the ultimate driving experience. Learn more at ROUSHStage3.com.

· Power: 750 hp, 670 lb-ft torque

· 0-60 mph: 3.6s

· Lateral-g: 1.07g+

· Quarter-Mile: 11.2s

About ROUSH Performance
ROUSH Performance was founded in 1995 by motorsports legend Jack Roush, the winningest name in racing. Combining performance engineering with entrepreneurship, ROUSH began selling designs he had created for his own team to the wider world of motorsports. Based out of Plymouth Township, Michigan, ROUSH Performance, a division of Roush Enterprises, designs, engineers and manufacturers completely assembled pre-titled vehicles, aftermarket performance parts, and superchargers for the global performance enthusiast market. For more on ROUSH, please visit ROUSHperformance.com or call 800.59.ROUSH.

Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman
Race Format: 501 miles, 334 laps, Stage Lengths: 85-85-164

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 – Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

ADVANCE NOTES

NASCAR Heads West to Lone Star State

· Following a non-points event Wednesday with the annual All-Star Race, NASCAR heads west to Texas Motor Speedway for a 500-mile event Sunday afternoon.

· Texas is typically run in the spring with a March-April event, but implications from COVID-19 pushed it to later in the schedule. The return trip to TMS is set for late October during the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs.

· The lineup for Sunday’s race will again be determined by a random draw based on teams’ order in owners’ points. Newman and the No. 6 team are 23rd in points and will draw for a starting spot in the 13-24 group.

· Four weeks of NASCAR action were completed prior to the COVID-19 hiatus with races at Atlanta, Homestead, Texas, Bristol, Richmond, Talladega, Dover and Martinsville postponed.

Newman Historically at Texas Motor Speedway

· Newman will make his 34th start at Texas on Sunday. In 33 prior events, Newman has one win with three top fives and six top-10s.

· Newman went to victory lane in just his second Cup outing at the 1.5-mile track back in 2003, leading 77 laps after starting third. Most recently, Newman tallied finishes of 11th and 15th in the 2019 events.

· He also crossed the line fifth in the 2007 fall race and fourth in the following event (spring 2008). His most recent top-10 came in the 2016 fall event where he finished 10th.

· Newman has two career Cup poles at Texas, both of which came in 2005 when he swept the pole spot that season. Overall, he has an average starting spot of 16.4 with his most recent top-10 start coming in 2017 (ninth).

· Newman also has three starts in the Xfinity Series at TMS, where he led the field to green in 2005 and recorded a top finish of 14th in 2001.

Scott Graves at Texas Motor Speedway

· Graves will be atop the box for his eighth Cup race Sunday at Texas. In seven prior starts, Graves has an average finish of 20.6 with three different drivers.

· His best result to date is the 11th-place run with Newman last spring, which was followed by the 15th-place run in the fall.

· Graves also has two top-10s and one top-five in the Xfinity Series at Texas, finishing fifth with Suarez in 2016 and ninth with Buescher in 2015.

QUOTE WORTHY
Newman on racing at Texas:
“Texas in the middle of summer is obviously going to be hot and challenging from that perspective. Last year we found something that worked pretty well, after running inside the top-10 for much of the spring race. We’ve been trying some different things with our 1.5-mile program and look forward to seeing what we can do this week in the Wyndham Rewards Ford.”

Last Time Out
Newman was the victim of an early spin in Wednesday night’s All-Star Race, relegating him to 19th overall after track position proved to be key in the short, 140-lap race.

Where They Rank
Newman is 26th in driver points after 14 points races in his 2020 campaign. In owners’ points, the No. 6 is 23rd.

On the Car
Wyndham Rewards returns to the No. 6 this weekend at Texas, the brand’s third event overall of 2020 as the primary, and second with Newman. Wyndham Rewards is in its third season with the team after joining the fold with Matt Kenseth in 2018, and a 10-race program in 2019 with Newman.

About Wyndham Rewards

Recently named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA TODAY, Wyndham Rewards® is the world’s most generous rewards program with more than 30,000 hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals worldwide. Designed for the everyday traveler, members earn a guaranteed 1,000 points with every qualified stay and may redeem points for a wide-range of rewards, including free nights at any of approximately 9,300 hotels or tens of thousands of vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally through partnership with Wyndham Destinations (NYSE: WYND) and others. Wyndham Rewards has approximately 81 million enrolled members around the globe. Join for free today at www.wyndhamrewards.com. You’ve earned this.®

Nemechek on Texas:

“Texas was one of the races I ran last year with Front Row Motorsports, so you always look forward to going back to a place where you had good experiences. Having the same crew when we go back is helpful and I’m confident in where we’re going as a team. We already have a notebook from running at Texas last year, so hopefully we can start off close. As a mile-and-a-half track, Texas is basically Kentucky reversed. The track is going to change a lot with the PJ1, so as a driver, you need to find the best line to run while adapting to various conditions.

“It’s great to have CITGARD back on board with us this weekend, and we want to extend a special welcome to FleetPride Service Centers to the CITGARD family. CITGARD heavy duty engine oils are now available at all 43 FleetPride Service Center locations across the US. I’m looking forward to a great run at Texas this weekend, and a great result for our partners.”

McDowell on Texas:

“Texas is going to be a fun race, it’s been good to us at Front Row Motorsports and some of our strongest performances this season have come on mile-and-a-half tracks. I’m really looking forward to having Love’s Travel Stops back on the car for what is not quite a hometown race, but it’s still pretty close to them in Oklahoma. Unfortunately we can’t have all of our friends and guests from Love’s with us at the track this weekend, which is something that I always really enjoy; getting to interact and meet with so many great customers and employees, but I’m certainly looking forward to representing them on Sunday and having a solid race. We also have Tornado joining our No. 34 this weekend as an associate partner of Front Row Motorsports, so it’s great to have them on board as well.”

About Love’s Travel Stops

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores is the nation’s industry-leading travel stop network with more than 520 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 26,000 people. Love’s provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, fresh coffee, restaurant offerings and more. Love’s has more than 390 truck service centers, which include on-site and stand-alone Speedco and Love’s Truck Care locations. Love’s and Speedco combined is the largest oil change, preventive maintenance and total truck care nationwide network. Love’s is committed to providing customers with “Clean Places, Friendly Faces” at every stop. To learn more, visit loves.com.