Category: NASCAR Cup PR

Richard Childress Racing at “The Glen” … In 73 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen International, RCR boasts two wins (Robby Gordon 2003 and Kevin Harvick 2006), eight top-five and 21 top-10 finishes. Dale Earnhardt won three poles (1990, ’92, ’96) at the high-speed, seven-turn, upstate New York facility.

RCR in the MENCS … In 2,963 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts dating back to 1969, RCR has amassed 51 pole awards,108 wins, 489 top-five finishes and 1,073 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 17.7 and an average finishing position of 16.2. RCR has earned 15 total championships (six Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with Earnhardt in 1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93 and ’94, six NASCAR Xfinity Series titles, two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series titles and one ARCA Menards Series title) and was the first organization to win titles in NASCAR’s three national series.

Interactive RCR … For up-to-date news and exclusive content, visit RCR’s corporate Twitter page – @RCRracing – along with the RCR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team Twitter page – @RCRCup, and driver Twitter pages @austindillon3, @TylerReddick and @DanielHemric. Information about the 15-time championship winning organization can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RichardChildressRacing and at www.RCRracing.com along with official driver pages –  http://www.facebook.com/austindillon3 and www.facebook.com/DanielHemric.

Catch the Action … The Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International will be televised live Sunday, August 4, beginning at 3 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This Week’s Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Watkins Glen International … In five previous Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen, Dillon’s best finish is 16th in 2014. He has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to his credit at the road course, posting a best finish of 12th in 2013. He also finished 12th in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Division race at Watkins Glen in 2008.

About 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 www.basspro.com/.

Cheering for Dillon … If you’re at Watkins Glen International, come shop Austin Dillon merchandise available track-side by visiting the RCR merchandise trailer in the fan midway.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:
How do you prepare for a racetrack like Watkins Glen International?
“We just try to put in some work beforehand. I’ve had decent runs at Watkins Glen International, but we have never been able to string together a good finish. I’m working hard with my crew chief, Danny Stockman. He really loves road course racing. I’m just trying to get better. It’s one of those tracks that we know going into it that there’s a high likelihood that it won’t be the the best part of our season, but the opportunity is there to stay out of trouble and have a good run. It’s not for lack of effort. We’re working really hard on our road course program.”

Daniel Hemric and the No. 8 Caterpillar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Watkins Glen International … Hemric will be making his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start at Watkins Glen International during this weekend’s 90-lap event. The driver of the No. 8 Caterpillar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 started 25th and raced his way to 15th in his first Cup Series road course start of the season at Sonoma Raceway in June. In seven road course starts over two years in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Hemric recorded three top-five and four top-10 finishes, with 33 laps led.

About Milton Cat … Milton CAT is your complete source for Caterpillar machines, engines, generators, technology, parts and service in the Northeast. You can always count on Milton CAT for the industry knowledge, the products and the support that have made our dealership the choice of leading business owners in this demanding region of our country. Milton CAT has 12 locations strategically placed, from Bangor to Batavia and from Syracuse to Scarborough. At Milton CAT you can also find an outstanding inventory of Metso crushing and screening equipment, Genie aerial lifts and Sullair air compressors, as well as implements, attachments and work tools for all your equipment including shears, hammers, thumbs, forks and landscape rakes and a full range of buckets. To learn more visit www.miltoncat.com.

Meet the Press … The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender will meet with members of the NASCAR media on Saturday, August 3, starting at Noon ET in the Watkins Glen International Media Center.

Review Mirror: Pocono … Hemric and the No. 8 team had a strong weekend at Pocono Raceway, earning their second top-10 finish of the 2019 season. Starting from the 17th position, Hemric ran toward the front of the field all afternoon and was no lower than 21st at any point throughout the race. The seventh-place finish helped extend Hemric’s lead in the 2019 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.

Meet the Driver … Hemric is scheduled to be at the Richard Childress Racing merchandise hauler to sign autographs on Sunday, August 4, starting at 11 a.m. local time. He will also make an appearance for a Q&A session and tour the Caterpillar “In the Trenches” Mobile Road Show in the Watkins Glen Fan Midway, starting at 11:30 a.m. local time on race day.

DANIEL HEMRIC QUOTES:
You made your second Cup Series start in 2018 at the Charlotte Roval and have had strong runs on road courses in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Do you enjoy racing on road courses and how have you worked to get better over the years?
“Everybody always says, ‘Man, you’re quite the road course racer.’ I’ve never understood why or where that comes from, but I have had some decent success on the road courses in the Truck and Xfinity Series, and had a solid top-15 day at Sonoma Raceway earlier this year and everyone on the team was pretty pumped about that. Heading to Watkins Glen this weekend, I look forward to just working with my crew chief, Luke Lambert, on our communication and doing the things we did well at our first road course together back in June. Watkins Glen is the most fun style of race that you will ever run. It is a different animal and a very fast track. I believe that some of the things you fight at the mile-and-a-half tracks, you find show up on the road course of Watkins Glen because it is so fast and aero is so important with the speeds we are making and the grip we need to have. Hopefully, we can key on all of the things we need to have a good run there with the No. 8 Caterpillar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.”

How do you prepare for the road courses such as Watkins Glen?
“Watkins Glen is a place that over the years – outside of the repave – has been the same. You can really dive into the good notes you took as a driver from previous starts there, to other crew chiefs and other drivers’ notes that they’ve kept to really hone in on those things. Then you jump on the simulator and apply all of those notes and information. GM has an incredible simulator there that we can run a ton of laps on. Honestly, I’m not big on getting in that simulator until the week of a race. I want to be all-in, 100 percent committed and have the freshest mindset going into that racetrack as I can. Starting on Monday, I will be non-stop in the simulator and working on race prep until we get to the racetrack. For the Sonoma race, I spent nearly 24 hours collectively on the simulator making laps. This week’s prep won’t be quite as extensive because I’ve been in a Cup car now road course racing. I had never been to Sonoma, so I spent a lot more time on that track, but knowing what I want to feel at Watkins Glen, it will still be a solid 12 or 14 hours logged driving on the simulator before we get to the track.”

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Watkins Glen International … In 40 Series starts at the 2.45-mile road course, RCR has captured one victory with Kevin Harvick in 2007. The Welcome, North Carolina, organization has completed 3,221 laps of the 3,285 (98.1 percent) that they have competed. RCR has accumulated eight top-five finishes, 21 top-10 finishes, led 155 laps and averages a starting position of 12.2 and finishing position of 11.6.

Iowa Review … Tyler Reddick picked up his 14th top-five finish of the year when he placed fifth in Saturday’s race at Iowa Speedway.

The Points …Tyler Reddick remains the current Xfinity Series points leader.

Social Media … To keep up with the latest updates from RCR’s Xfinity Series teams, follow @RCRracing and @RCRNXS on Twitter. Updates can also be found via RCR’s Facebook Page and Instagram (@RCRracing).

Catch the Action … Coverage of this week’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International will be televised live on Saturday, August 3, beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on NBC. It will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Satellite Radio, channel 90.
Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 Anderson’s Maple Syrup Camaro at Watkins Glen International … Tyler Reddick has one previous NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Watkins Glen International, finishing 11th at the road course last year.

About Anderson’s Maple Syrup … In 1928, Paul Anderson first shared the distinct taste of Wisconsin’s Northwoods by producing sweet pure maple syrup and starting a 90-year pure maple syrup tradition. Three generations later his grandson, Steve Anderson, still carries on this syrup making heritage by bottling pure maple syrup from the same sugar bush his grandfather tapped for so many years. Anderson’s Maple Syrup is pure, all natural and a healthy alternative for families. From its humble roots in Cumberland, Wisconsin; Anderson’s Maple Syrup is still made with the love your family would expect. Try Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup in coffee or tea as a sweetener, and on ice cream as a topping. Today, some of the top barbecue grillers and chefs in the country eye Anderson’s as one of the best ingredients and glazes for most meats, fruits & veggies for summertime use and ham glazes for the special occasions. From our farm to your kitchen Anderson’s can be found in grocery & specialty stores around the country. “Everything tastes better with Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup”. For more information on Anderson’s Maple Syrup, visit andersonsmaplesyrup.com, and follow Anderson’s Maple Syrup Racing on Twitter via @AndersonsMaple and on Facebook via AndersonsMapleSyrup.

Powered by Pure Fuel … The Anderson family eats, breathes, and sleeps Pure Maple Syrup. They have for over 90 years! When Steve Anderson’s sister started talking about the energy gels that she and her friends use during marathon training, he was listening. They’ve heard one common complaint – these gels are thick and even with plenty of water can be difficult to swallow and digest. It got him thinking. What is it that your body needs to keep you fueled when working out? A little research quickly revealed that the family’s passion is good for something other than breakfast. It turns out, Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup has the same nutrients that endurance athletes and mid-endurance athletes need but is easier to swallow and digest when working out. So, they put Anderson’s Organic Pure Maple Syrup in a gel packet and called it Pure Fuel. Pure because it is an All Natural, Organic Pure Maple Syrup with nothing added. It is straight from the tree to you. Fuel because it supports your performance with natural nutrients that your body needs like manganese, zinc and potassium, along with over 60 antioxidants. The most obvious source of Fuel for athletes is carbohydrate intake. Research shows that the most efficient way to replenish carbs while working out is with a combination of fructose and glucose, and guess what? Pure Maple Syrup and Pure Fuel are natural sources for these energy boosters! With Pure Fuel there is no need for chemical manipulation or additives. So, give Pure Fuel a try. The Anderson family think you’ll find that, just like Steve Anderson’s sister and her friends, this stuff works! Visit OrganicPureFuel.com to learn more.

Meet Reddick … Fans can meet Reddick when he visits the RCR merchandise hauler on Saturday, August 3, beginning at 10:30 a.m. local time.

TYLER REDDICK QUOTES:
We kick off the first of three road courses in August at Watkins Glen International this weekend. What makes Watkins Glen different from the other road courses? Does it have to do with the speed we see there?
“The racing at Watkins Glen has been really good since they repaved it a couple years ago. Last year was different since we had a little bit of rain during the race but also a lot of sunshine. It’s so hard to see when it rains cause we’re going so fast, so that it was like an added challenge last year. It’s a fun course to be on, especially with the challenge of Turn 1 and how we as drivers have to manage our braking and wheel hop. We have to manage getting through that corner cleanly but also carry enough momentum to get through the rest of the course quickly as well.”

Drivers seem to have one of two mindsets at road courses, either they are just trying to get through them, or they see them as opportunities to win. Which are you?
“Well, if you asked me at the start of the year, I would have said I normally just try to get through this part of the season as best as I can. If you ask my crew chief Randall Burnett, he’ll say we’re going to go in there and try to win those races. RCR has a lot of faith in their Xfinity road course program and have won a lot of those races in the past couple of seasons. If I can do what I need to do and keep our No. 2 Anderson’s Maple Syrup Chevrolet on the race track and in the top five all day, I know Randall and my team will figure out the strategy to get us into the lead.”

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: WATKINS GLEN/ELDORA ADVANCE

This week’s NASCAR schedule kicks off Thursday night with the Eldora Dirt Derby, an event that Chase Briscoe won last year in a thrilling final lap duel with fellow ThorSport driver Grant Enfinger. That race will be followed by a weekend doubleheader at Watkins Glen International, featuring the NASCAR XFINITY Series on Saturday and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday. Here’s a look at how Ford has done at both tracks through the years.

FORD IN THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES AT WATKINS GLEN
· Ford has 8 all-time series wins at Watkins Glen.
· Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick have series victories at Watkins Glen.
· Mark Martin and Marcos Ambrose are the only Ford drivers to win this race more than once.

FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT WATKINS GLEN
· Ford has 8 series victories at Watkins Glen.
· Ford has won 6 of the last 7 series races held at Watkins Glen.
· Joey Logano has won this event three of the last four years.

FORD IN THE GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES AT ELDORA
· Ford has 1 series victory at Eldora.
· Chase Briscoe provided that win in last year’s race.
· ThorSport’s Matt Crafton also has one win in this event (2017).

FIVE TO GO

There are five races remaining in the MENCS regular season and seven Ford drivers remain in Playoff position. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick are assured of making the 16-driver field after winning at least once this year while four others are currently in based on the point standings. Aric Almirola (9th) and Ryan Blaney (10th) are more than 70 points ahead of the cutoff while Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman have the same point total in 15th and 16th place, respectively. They are 12 points ahead of 17th-place Jimmie Johnson.

66-FOR-66

The first time Ford won in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International was when Marvin Panch drove the Wood Brothers to victory on July 18, 1965. There were only 19 cars in the field that day and it proved to be a Ford show as all 66 laps were led by three drivers sporting the Blue Oval. Ned Jarrett, who finished second, led the first lap before Junior Johnson passed him on lap 2. Johnson led the pack for 12 circuits until his engine blew, which enabled Panch to inherit a lead he never gave up, going the final 53 laps and making it first to the checkered flag. The win was Panch’s fourth of the season and next-to-last in his career, which ended with 17 victories.

THREE STRAIGHT

Mark Martin became the first driver to win three straight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International, and he capped that streak on Aug. 13, 1995 after passing Wally Dallenbach, Jr. on lap 84 of the 90-lap event. Martin, who led a race-high 61 circuits overall, held off the road racing specialist to win by one second. That victory completed a three-year run that saw him not only sit on the pole every time, but lead 183-of-270 laps (68%).

FINAL VICTORY

When Chemung, NY, native Geoffrey Bodine took the checkered flag in the No. 7 QVC Ford Thunderbird on Aug. 11, 1996 he established a strategy that hadn’t been used to that point. He, along with crew chief Paul Andrews, employed an “only stop when you have to” strategy and that resulted in making only two stops in the 90-lap event, compared to three for everyone else. Bodine passed Ken Schrader with eight laps to go and then held off Terry Labonte over the final laps to win. That marked the 18th and final victory of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, and it came in front of his hometown fans.

CLASSIC FINISH

One of the all-time classic finishes at Watkins Glen International came when Marcos Ambrose went slip sliding away on the final lap, but still resulted in him winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race for the second straight time on August 12, 2012. In a race that had more twists and turns over the final three laps than many can remember in recent years, Ambrose was the one who survived a massive streak of oil that had been laid down on the track, allowing him to pass Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski for Ford’s third win of the season. Busch appeared to be headed toward victory, but as he came into turn one on the final lap, he slipped in some oil and got loose. Keselowski came up from behind and hit Busch, sending him spinning off the track. A battle between Ambrose and Keselowski ensued from that point with both drivers trying to avoid the slickness that had covered the course. Ambrose followed Keselowski through the grass at one point, but was able to get by in the treacherous carousel when Keselowski slid one final time.

HISTORIC SWEEP

Joey Logano became the first driver to sweep a NASCAR XFINITY/Monster Energy Cup weekend at Watkins Glen International when he did it in 2015. Fuel mileage ended up deciding the race as leader Kevin Harvick ran out on the last turn, which allowed Logano to pass him and make it to the finish line first. The win was Logano’s first on a road course and also marked the first series triumph for car owner Roger Penske at the historic track.

FORD MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT WATKINS GLEN
1965 – Marvin Panch
1993 – Mark Martin
1994 – Mark Martin
1995 – Mark Martin
1996 – Geoffrey Bodine
2011 – Marcos Ambrose
2012 – Marcos Ambrose
2015 – Joey Logano

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT WATKINS GLEN
1993 – Bill Elliott
2008 – Marcos Ambrose
2012 – Carl Edwards
2013 – Brad Keselowski
2014 – Marcos Ambrose
2015 – Joey Logano
2016 – Joey Logano
2018 – Joey Logano

FORD GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT ELDORA
2018 – Chase Briscoe

Sponsoring #9 NASCAR CHASE ELLIOTT Hooters Spirits Car at Bristol Speedway August 17th

AMITYVILLE, NY, July 30, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via NEWMEDIAWIRE — Iconic Brands, Inc. (OTCQB: ICNB) is pleased to announce the launch of Hooters Spirits, a line of high quality spirits. The Hooters Spirits portfolio, which includes a premium array of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, American Whiskey as well as Hooters Heat Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey, will be available at Hooters restaurants and select retailers around the country, starting in the Fall. This line of premium spirits was developed in partnership with United Spirits, Inc., a leading private label beverage company and affiliate of publicly traded Iconic Brands Inc., ticker symbol ICNB.

In advance of the official launch, Chase Elliott will drive a special No. 9 Hooters Spirits Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 17. Hooters has expanded its sponsorship with Elliott and 12-time NASCAR Cup Series Champions, Hendrick Motorsports, to include the Bristol night race.

Hooters Spirits will deliver on the same high-quality experience that Hooters guests have enjoyed for decades at our iconic restaurants. Whether celebrating a big event or just kicking back and watching the game with friends, Hooters new premium line of spirits is perfect for every celebratory moment. 

About the Hooters Spirits:

•  Hooters Vodka is a flavorful and smooth six times distilled, gluten free, corn-based organic vodka, perfect for any cocktail
•  Delivering a memorable gin experience, Hooters Ginuses only select natural botanicals and Juniper berries
•  Hooters Dark Rumis aged in barrels and made with choice Caribbean blackstrap sugar cane molasses
•  Slightly sweet and smooth, Hooters Light Rummixes beautifully in your favorite tropical cocktails or soft drinks
•  Hooters Tequila Silveris a unique blend sure to satisfy fans looking for an adventurous drinking experience, while Hooters Tequila Goldis a beautiful amber-hued tequila, perfectly suited for cocktails or neat
•  Hooters American Whiskeyis a two year aged true American Whiskey that is perfect for any occasion, mixed or as a shot
•  Finally, Hooters Heat Cinnamon Whiskey is a compilation of premium American Whiskey with natural cinnamon and a touch of heat.

Come this Fall, guests will be able to enjoy the new spirits at their favorite Hooters location. Hooters will also incorporate the new line into a selection of signature drinks. If you want to take the Hooters party with you, consumers will be able to purchase Hooters Spirits at leading retailers for all your in-home and party needs.

Mr. Richard DeCicco commented, “I’m pleased to bring Hooters Spirits to the consumer both on and off premise; as well we’re excited to join the NASCAR world for one of the year’s most exciting races , Bristol under the the lights, nationally televised Saturday August 17th.  Chase Elliott will be behind the wheel of the Hendricks #9 Hooters Spirits Car. We hope to see everyone in the winners circle.”

 About Iconic Brands, Inc.

Iconic Brands Inc. (“Iconic”) is a lifestyle branding company with the highest expertise of developing, from inception to completion, alcoholic beverages for itself and third parties. Iconic Brands markets and places products into national distribution through long standing industry relationships. Iconic is a leader in “Celebrity Branding” of beverages, procuring superior and unique products from around the world and branding its products with internationally recognized celebrities. Currently offering Bivi Vodka, www.BiviVodka.com and Bellissima Prosecco, www.BellissimaProsecco.com. Iconic Brands is a developer of private label spirits for established chains and brands both domestically and Internationally. Under its subsidiary, Hempology Inc., Iconic Brands is, to the extent the law allows, developing liquor based products infused with Hemp and CBD. Iconic Brands through its subsidiary, Green Grow Farms, has a license to grow Hemp for CBD in the State of New York, and is entering partnerships in additional states to grow and cultivate Hemp for the purpose of creating CBD Isolate.

Please visit our website www.iconicbrandsusa.com.

Twitter- @IconicBrandsUS, @HootersSpirits

Instagram- @IconicBrnadsUSA, @HootersSpirits

You can also check an interesting article on Blackstrap Molasses.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “could”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential” and the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements so as to conform these statements to actual results. Investors should refer to the risks disclosed in the Company’s reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.

Iconic Brands, Inc. Info@IconicBrandsUSA.com

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
Pocono Raceway
Race 21 of 36 – 400 miles, 160 laps
July 28, 2019

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, DENNY HAMLIN
2nd, ERIK JONES
3rd, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
4th, William Bryon*
5th, Kyle Larson*
9th, KYLE BUSCH
17th, MATT DiBENEDETTO
*non-Toyota driver

· Denny Hamlin scored his third win of the 2019 season at the Gander RV 400 at Pocono Raceway today.

· It was Hamlin’s 34th career win and fifth at Pocono Raceway.

· Joe Gibbs Racing has won 11 of the 21 races this season (Kyle Busch – 4, Martin Truex Jr. – 4, Hamlin – 3)

· Toyota earned its fifth straight win at Pocono Raceway.

· For the seventh time in Toyota Racing history, Toyota drivers swept the top-three positions with Hamlin (first), Erik Jones (second) and Truex Jr (third). It was the second time Toyota has swept the top-three positions this season (Daytona 500).

· Jones finished a season-best second. It was Jones’ third straight top-three finish.

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

Finishing Position: 1st

Tell us about the conversation in the final laps with you and your crew chief, Chris Gabehart.

“He said we were good to the checkered (flag), but not the green-white checkered, so he said we were going to have to have a different conversation if it went into overtime, but I knew with all those caution laps with about six or seven to go, it helped us out. I knew that – honestly, I knew that I did everything I could to save fuel there once I got out front. If it was going to be not enough, it was going to be not enough, so proud of the whole team for putting me on a great strategy there, pit stops, everything. This was a perfect team effort this weekend. We really identified our weaknesses from the first race, and we went to work as a driver and a team and I think we’re better for it.”

Talk about getting around your teammates in the final laps.

“The lapped traffic was really a benefit for me. It kind of slowed up the 20 (Erik Jones) there. I saw he was letting off early on entries and that allowed me to kind of dive bomb into the outside into the PJ1 in Turn 1. With the 19 (Martin Truex Jr.), he had to go low to pass a lapped car. I decided to just take the middle lane there in (Turns) 3 and 4. Once again, I had an extra lane that wasn’t there in the past and was able to get around him. Once you get behind, it’s so hard to pass and get around guys, but we were able to get it done.”

Take us through last restart.

“It was nerve wracking. I had Kyle (Larson) pushing me. Kyle is great friend, so I put a lot of faith in him that he was going to push me there into Turn 1, but I knew he was in a backup car there wanting to win really, really bad. Luckily, I was just able to clear those guys and coming off of Turn 1, they were side by side and I was able to stretch it out.”

Denny, you have the headphones on. Congratulations once again. That’s win number five here. Is this momentum that you were looking for as we’re getting closer to the Playoffs?

“You just want to know that you’re a race winner. You want to know that you can contend for wins. Yeah, you’re looking for momentum, but you’re just looking for wins week in, week out. So proud of this FedEx Ground team for giving us yet another winner two weeks in a row. I tell you, we really fought for it last week and came up short. Feel goods to redeem ourselves this week and have such a strong car. Everyone behind there, we were able to make up positions on the 19 and 20. Thank all the partners, FedEx, Toyota, Coke, Jordan, Little Big Burger. Have to say hi to Jordan and the kids back home, Taylor, Molly. Miss everyone. Wish everyone was here to celebrate.”

ERIK JONES, No. 20 Reser’s Main St. Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

That looked like a lot of fun out there.

“It was. It was hard racing there in the end. The right restarts make for exciting finishes. Today was no exception. Wish we could have gotten up there and challenged Denny (Hamlin). Martin (Truex Jr.) gave us a great push on the final restart. The bottom just doesn’t have what the top does here on restarts, so we did all we could. The Reser’s Camry overcame a lot. We were pretty far off at the start of the race. We got it way better and had a chance to win had things worked out a little differently. We are close every week. So, it’s going to turn our way one of these times.

Erik, you led some laps, finished in the runner‑up spot today. How tough was that challenge of leading and fighting for the lead while conserving fuel?

“It’s always a challenge. Probably my least part of racing at times is just having to save fuel. Our opportunity to win when we were going green was to make it to the end. It would have been really tight. Those guys kind of gave up saving there. We were hoping it was going to stay green. Had a couple good opportunities on the restarts. The Reser’s Camry was there all day, second half of the day, we had problems at the start. Man, it’s a bummer. We’re close every week. Third, third, second. We’re right there. We’re doing great building points, but it would be great to knock a win out. We’re just so close, it stings a little bit more when you get close to it.

What is clicking for this team so well right now?

“It’s a little bit of everything. Honestly, we started the race so far off today, I wasn’t sure how we were going to run. We were able to turn it around halfway, get back in contention. There at the end I wasn’t sure how it was all going to play out. It was nice to get some good restarts. Martin (Truex Jr.) gave me a great push at the end. We were there for second, then the top got rolling. I couldn’t really do anything. Good to get another top-three run. We just got to break through. Once we get that first one, I think we can click a few off here.”

MARTIN TRUEX JR, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

Martin, third-place run for you today. What more did you need there in the end?

“It was a good day overall for our Bass Pro Shops/Tracker ATVs Boats Camry. I was trying to save fuel there in that long run. We were running second to the 20 (Erik Jones), and we thought we were in better shape than him on fuel. He started saving more, and I started saving more. I thought, ‘Man, I probably ought to try to pass him here. Then we got in lap traffic and the 11 (Denny Hamlin) got around me. Then I got by the 20, and then the 11 had the control of the race after that. When the caution came out, he got to lead the restart. I was on the bottom. You can’t do anything from the front row on the bottom. We were kind of in a sucker hole there, and a little bit lucky to come back to third.”

Between the restarts and the strategy, not knowing how much fuel you had to save, how tough was the game today behind the wheel?

“It’s probably easier dealing with that kind of stuff when your crew chief is calling race strategy, has you on the right side of everything, than it is just to have to try to pass guys, maybe your car not be as good as you want. It wasn’t a tough day. Our car was pretty good. Thanks to Bass Pro, Tracker, everybody back at TRD. Thanks, guys. We’ll get after them in Michigan.”

LONG POND, Pa. (July 28, 2019) – With fuel strategy becoming a factor in the final stage, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was one of four cars that topped off on lap 117 having two additional laps of fuel than the leaders. After a late-race caution set up a four- lap shootout, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was battling for position when he was forced into the outside wall causing significant damage forcing him to settle for a 21st-place finish in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Pocono Raceway.

“I think if it would have stayed green there, we would have gotten lucky and probably got a top-10 finish due to having more fuel than the leaders,” Stenhouse said. “It was disappointing to get caught up in an accident with less than five laps but everyone is racing really hard trying to get all they can get.”

After qualifying in the 18th position on Saturday, the Olive Branch, Miss. native lined up in the 14th position as four cars that qualified ahead of him failed pre-race inspection. With stage one going caution free, Stenhouse worked his way inside the top five before hitting pit-road for a scheduled pit-stop. After the pit cycle, Stenhouse took the first green-checkered flag in the 13th position.

Stenhouse was scored in the sixth position when the caution flag was waved just nine laps shy of the end of stage two. With track position being essential, crew chief Brian Pattie chose to stay out lining Stenhouse up in the sixth position for the final five lap shootout but fell to 11th after newer tires prevailed.

Early in the final stage, Stenhouse brought his Ford to pit-road for a loose wheel. Right before the field came to green, Brian Pattie called him down pit-road to top off the fuel in case the race went green to the end. When the caution was displayed on lap 153, Stenhouse was scored in the 19th position.

As most of the leaders stayed out, Stenhouse hit pit-road for two tires and a splash of fuel. On the restart with four laps remaining, the two-time Xfinity champion was battling for position and during the four-wide battle contact was made forcing Stenhouse into the outside wall. After the crew worked feverishly to repair the damage, Stenhouse lined up in the 24th position for the final green white checkered and quickly bullied his way forward picking up three positions in the final laps.

Next up for Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 17 team is the GoBowling at Watkins Glen International on August 4. Race coverage begins at 3:00 p.m. on NBCSN. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and SIRIUS radio channel 90.

LONG POND, Pa. (July 28, 2019) — Ryan Newman drove his Performance Plus Oil Ford to a 14th-place finish Sunday afternoon at Pocono Raceway.

Newman qualified 24th in Saturday’s single-car session, but rolled off the grid 19th after a host of cars failed pre-race tech inspection Sunday morning. The opening 50-lap stage ran caution free and Newman advanced up to the fifth position before pitting crossing the line 16th for the segment.

After staying out under the break to gain track position, the South Bend, Indiana, native rolled off fourth for the second stage. Five laps later Newman rode second reporting he was tight off. Seventeen laps into the stage Newman pitted for two tires – the first of three-straight stops with only two tires – with more adjustments trying to fine tune the No. 6 machine.

The first yellow was displayed at lap 82 when Newman ran 25th. After another stop and adjustments, Newman lined back up 17th at lap 87. Just a few laps later a brief rain shower passed by the track, but the rain was light allowing the race to go back green. Newman went on to end the second stage 15th.

He lined back up 17th for the final stage and ran 25th at the time of the next yellow at lap 115. He would pit one final time under the caution for four fresh tires and adjustments before going on to restart 20th. Two more yellows came out over the final eight laps as Newman finished 14th.

Newman and the No. 6 team return to the track next weekend Watkins Glen for the Go Bowling at The Glen. Race coverage on Sunday begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.

Monster Energy Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway more often than not boil down to fuel-mileage gambles and pit strategy plays. Sunday’s Gander RV 400 was no different.

Paul Menard and the No. 21 Menards/Duracell Batteries team, like other contenders, played the fuel/pit strategy game throughout Sunday’s race, only to be outdone by untimely caution flags and ending up 18th at the finish.

Menard qualified 21st on Saturday afternoon, but moved up five spots in the starting order when five drivers ahead of him dropped to the rear after their cars failed a pre-race inspection.

He moved up into the top 10 in the first 50-lap Stage through a combination of him passing cars and others ahead of him making mid-Stage stops for fuel.

After making his own stop later in the Stage, Menard wound up 19th at the end of Stage One.

He stayed on the track during the caution following the stage and restarted the second segment in sixth place. He moved up to fourth place before making his stop for fuel and tires.

The Menards/Duracell team saw their Stage Two strategy, which should have resulted in stage points, foiled by a caution for a crash by Chase Elliott.

Menard lined up 13th for the start of the final segment and tried another strategy play when the caution flag flew on Lap 114 for a crash by Ryan Preece.

Crew chief Greg Erwin had Menard pit for fuel and tires, then top off the tank just before the restart, tactics which would put him in position to capitalize should the race run green to the finish, as many teams ahead of them were close to running out of fuel.

Once again, the gamble didn’t pay off as a caution for a stalled car on the backstretch with eight laps remaining allowed the teams short on fuel to make it to the finish without running dry.

Menard gained nine spots on the first restart, to 16th place, then lost two on the overtime restart to end up 18th.

Eddie Wood said that sometimes even the best thought-out strategies don’t work out.

“The cautions fell at exactly the wrong times for us today,” he said. “We weren’t going to win the race, but we could have had decent finish if the cautions had fallen in our favor.

“We’ll take what we got and move on to Watkins Glen.”

Menards

A family owned company started in 1958, Menards is headquartered in Eau Claire, WI. Menards has more than 300 retail stores located throughout the Midwest in the states of IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI and WY. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader. It’s famous slogan “Save Big Money at Menards” is widely known and easy to remember. For more information, visit Menards.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

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 Paul Menard in the famous No. 21 racer.

Austin Dillon and RCR’s No. 3 Freightliner Chevrolet Team Show Resiliency at Pocono Raceway

Finish: 19th
Start: 34th
Points: 22nd

“I’m so proud of this team. We had a major setback today after having to start at the rear of the field. However, these guys didn’t let that dampen our spirits or prevent us from working on a plan to get the No. 3 Freightliner Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 up front. For a little while, it looked like fuel mileage was going to work in our favor, until the caution came out and leveled the playing field. There were a couple of restarts at the end of the race that simply shuffled us out of the top 10. The outside line was definitely preferred, but we just couldn’t catch a break to be positioned up there for those last restarts. This is still a huge improvement over some of the misfortune we’ve had the last several weeks. We have a few opportunities to earn a win and punch our ticket to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and we’re going to do all we can to get us to that point.” -Austin Dillon

Teamwork and Strategy Pay Off With Top-10 Finish For Daniel Hemric and the Caterpillar Chevrolet Team at Pocono Raceway

Finish: 7th
Start: 17th
Points: 25th

“Hard work pays off, and the 7th-place finish we had today at Pocono Raceway is proof of that. The No. 8 Caterpillar Chevy started off with great balance in the beginning of Stage 1, but as the laps went by, it started to tighten up a lot. Even though I had a tight Chevy, it was fast enough to gain valuable track position. The scheduled pit stop on lap 36 gave me fresh right-side tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment to free me up a bit. This proved to be helpful and we finished the stage 11th. During the stage break, we took left-side tires and took a round out of the left rear. Unfortunately, this freed me up way too much and I had to battle a loose Caterpillar Chevy for a majority of Stage 2. The pit stop before the stage break solved some of those issues, and we finished the second stage 13th. In the final stage, we started 20th but quickly made up ground. Crew chief Luke Lambert dialed in our Caterpillar Chevy for the latter part of the stage and we ran a good chunk of that time in the top 10. With about 40 laps remaining, it became clear that we needed to save fuel; so that’s what we did for the remainder of the race. A caution with eight laps to go allowed us to go full-tilt until the end. I’m extremely proud of the grit and fight this No. 8 team showed today to power us to a top-10 finish. I can’t wait to take this momentum into Watkins Glen next week.” -Daniel Hemric

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
POCONO RACEWAY
GANDER RV 400
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES & QUOTES
JULY 28, 2019

TOP TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
4th William Byron, No. 24 Liberty University Camaro ZL1
5th Kyle Larson, No. 42 Credit One Bank Camaro ZL1
7th Daniel Hemric, No. 8 Caterpillar Camaro ZL1
15th Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1

TOP FIVE UNOFFICIAL RACE RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
1st Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
2nd Eric Jones (Toyota)
3rd Martin Truex, Jr. (Toyota)
4th William Byron (Chevrolet)
5th Kyle Larson (Chevrolet)

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season continues next weekend at Watkins Glen International with the GoBowling at the Glen on Sunday, August 4th at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on NBCSN, the NBCSports Gold App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE NOTES AND QUOTES:

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 LIBERTY UNIVERSITY CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 4th
“It was a struggle. I felt like the guys did a good job with strategy, and being able to maximize on restarts. We got fortunate on a couple of things. We go on from it and move onto Watkins Glen.”
“It was a tough day. We didn’t really have a lot going our way. In the first stage and even the second stage, we were just kind of hanging on. We just found a way to kind of make it work. We had good strategy and just found a way to kind of settle in there in a decent spot, and save the right amount of fuel. We ran out of fuel coming across the line, so that was great. We saved the right amount of fuel and that was about it.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 5th
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HIT THE WALL THERE AT THE END, BUT YOU WENT FOR IT.
“I didn’t hit the wall, but I got close. I knew I was going to be close to the wall, so I bailed out of the throttle to keep myself from hitting the wall and lost momentum. I felt bad, but it was better than ending up torn up like the last time I was aggressive on a restart. It was a good day. It was a lot better car than I thought I was going to have, so it just goes to show how good our team is right now and how good our cars are. Last week, I felt like we had one of the fastest cars and we didn’t get to show it. Today, I felt like we were one of the fastest cars. If I could just race a primary car, who knows what we could do. I just have to clean up a little bit of what I’m doing in practice and the races, and hopefully we can get a win.”

“This just goes to show how good our cars are right now. Any time you have a good run in a backup car, it’s satisfying. The past two weeks in a row I feel like we’ve had good speed in our backup cars, so I’ve been really happy with that. I don’t want to race backup cars, so I just have to stop crashing.”

DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 8 CATERPILLAR CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 7th
“From the time we unloaded here at Pocono, I felt we were able to use our notebook that we’ve been able to build on from the race here in the spring. We just had a way better balance in our Camaro ZL1. It was just fun to be out there and be able to maneuver. I’ve been on both sides of it now. I’ve been one of the guys that said it was so frustrating and so hard to pass, and you get a good racecar like these Caterpillar guys gave me today, it’s not quite as hard as it has been other weeks. I’m proud of the effort, proud of what we’ve done and how far we’ve come as a group. We’ve had opportunities to run like this numerous times this year.”

“I was fairly skeptical about the PJ-1 going into the race. Since it hadn’t come in all weekend, I didn’t see it coming in for the race. I told everyone that by lap 30 if it didn’t come in, then we would be in trouble. But I made a liar out of it because it came in and you had options to run up there and move around. You just had to trust that it was there, and it definitely gave you options.”

WAS THIS A MOMENTUM BUILDING WEEKEND FOR YOUR TEAM.
“Absolutely. You have to have weekends like this. These are the kind of weekends that we are expected to have as a group. We were hoping to have a couple of these weekends by this point of the year, but beggars can’t be choosers. We are going to take what we have, be thankful for it and try to continue to get better.”

TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO MILITARY CAMARO ZL1 – Finished 29th
“Today was not the day that we had hoped for in Pocono. We were excited to get here and put all of our notes from June to good use, but I just couldn’t get comfortable with the handling of our GEICO Military Camaro ZL1. We took some big swings at it on pit road with adding bar load on a couple of stops, and that made it a little better. But, sometimes weekends just don’t go your way in racing, and this was one of those times.”

RYAN PREECE, NO. 47 KROGER CAMARO ZL1 –Sidelined due to damages sustained from blown right rear tire; Finished 37th
“I blew a tire going into Turn 1. It was a pretty hard hit, but I’m good.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 – Sidelined due to damages sustained from blown right front tire; Finished 38th
DID YOU RUN OVER ANYTHING?
“I don’t think so. It just popped, so I guess it wasn’t happy with something. It’s just unfortunate. It’s been a rough month, little over a month now. It’s just an unfortunate rough patch. Hopefully we can get past it. The good news is that we are still in the summer months, so the stuff that really matters is still ahead. I just hate to come to these places and not be able to learn something from it. I felt like our day was finally turning around for our NAPA team. We were finally moving forward. I think we were running in the top-10 there when we crashed. I feel like we were finally getting our car going. Obviously, we crashed yesterday so this car was taking some time to get adjusted. I thought we were doing a good job of it. I don’t really know what to do about that, but just move on.”

IT WAS A HARD HIT FOR YOU. DID ALL OF THE SAFTEY EQUIPMENT DO ITS JOB?
“Yeah, as far as I know.”
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 100 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with 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.

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS)
Sunday, July 28, 2019
EVENT: Gander RV 400

Ford Finishing Order:
6th – Kevin Harvick
8th – Brad Keselowski
10th – Ryan Blaney
11th – Clint Bowyer
12th – Aric Almirola
13th – Joey Logano
14th – Ryan Newman
18th – Paul Menard
21st – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
23rd – Matt Tifft
24th – Daniel Suarez
25th – Michael McDowell
26th – Corey LaJoie
33rd – BJ McLeod
34th – Austin Theriault
36th – David Ragan

KEVIN HARVICK, No. 4 Busch Beer Gen X Ford Mustang – “It was a good day. They had the right strategy and I just didn’t time those last two restarts right and our car struggled a little bit on the first lap or two to get the front to turn, but they had everything right where it needed to be. If the caution doesn’t come out, I think we were in good shape, but that’s the way it goes, especially at this place. You have to have the cautions fall your way and you have to have everything go right. We just had a few little things here and there that didn’t go our way and wound up sixth.”

HOW WERE THE RESTARTS? “They weren’t too crazy for me. I was up front most of the day.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR TEAM RIGHT NOW? “We had a good day. Everything is going good, we just have to keep improving and doing the things that we’re doing.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Mustang – “There were some really rough parts. I made a huge mistake the first two or three laps there. I was running hard behind the 41 and I slid up and tagged the wall, but I was able to get it onto pit road and get it fixed and claw our way out and get into a position at the end where I thought we were gonna win the race. Then whoever that car was just stopped on the race track and cost us a shot at the race. We weren’t gonna win it honest, but we put ourselves in position at the end, so I’m really disappointed on that. All in all, we came away with eighth and recovered from our struggles, but gave up a win because of somebody else. That’s just part of the deal.”

A POSITIVE WITH THE WAY YOU CAME BACK? “Yeah, a positive. We had a shot at winning there at the end if one of those cars five laps down didn’t decide to stop on the race track, which is really frustrating but part of it.”

THOUGHTS ON THE PJ1 TODAY? “I thought it came in just right, but there’s only so much you can do with these rules at this track and they tried what they could.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 MoneyLion Ford Mustang – “It was looking real bad for awhile just from not being fast at all. I’m kind of disappointed. I thought in practice we were pretty good. I had to start at the back and we just didn’t go anywhere. We went nowhere and we weren’t really handling good. I thought at first it was dirty air, but a couple cars drove up through there and even when we got a little bit of clean air I still wasn’t very good, so that was frustrating. And then I thought we were gonna get some track position on equal tires on that restart and the 41 ran into us in the tunnel. They did a good job of fixing what they could and just got a good last restart. I think we started eighth and ran 10th, so we salvaged something there. It was kind of a long day, a frustrating day, and we just need to be better.”

WAS THE 41 DEAL JUST RACING? “Yeah, it’s just racing. I was the top of three, he was the bottom of three and the middle guy backed out and he didn’t have any angle into the corner. He drove off in there probably the hardest out of all of us and when you get no angle into the corner your car goes straight, so that’s what he did. He had plenty of room. As soon as he dove off in there you know what’s coming, but at that point there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s just racing.”

DID YOU THINK YOU HAD A 10TH-PLACE CAR BEFORE THE RACE? “Before the race I thought we had maybe a top five car and then when we started the race we were real bad. We worked on it and got it a little bit better here and there all day, but it was hard to find what we needed. At least we salvaged something out of it.”

DAVID RAGAN, No. 38 MDS Transport Ford Mustang – “The 21 just slipped up and spun me out in my left-rear quarter panel. I’m sure Paul just slipped out of the groove and lost control for a second and we happened to be there. That’s very unfortunate. I felt like we had a top 20 car today. We raced around the top 20 most of the day. Mike Kelley and our new group of guys called a good race and we had a pretty good weekend. When you’re racing hard like that sometimes things happen and things have seemed to happen to us a lot lately. We’ve been in a slump and had some bad luck and it takes a couple of races and we’ll get out of it, but it certainly is a tough ending to what could have been a good day.”