Category: NASCAR Cup PR

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star Media Advance | Friday, May 17, 2024

Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher came to the infield media center prior to today’s All-Star Race practice and qualifying sessions to answer questions about last week’s race at Darlington and expectations for Sunday night.

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW HAS QUALIFYING EVOLVED? “At least now we get laps on racetracks. It’s certainly quick. Twenty minutes. Fortunately, we have a lot of SMT data to go through. It turns into a lot of your practice time that used to be on track is now spent studying, trying to prep and be ready for those handful of laps. I think the next part of it is our adjustments are just extremely limited. The same can really be said for our teams, where our setup development is not done at a racetrack near as much now as it is back at the shop and back on simulation and trying to be prepped to where we can get to where we need to be within the tight parameters that we have on practice day now.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 2 Nexlizet Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW IMPORTANT IS SPEED IN QUALIFYING IN TERMS OF PIT ROAD SELECTION? “Week to week it varies. Last week, I thought it was critically important. The way that Darlington played out with the first pit stall and the proximity that it had to the timing lines and the pit out line is just such a significant advantage, and then I think we see other tracks where it’s not a big deal. It seems like Daytona and Talladega and those places the way it plays out there it’s not a factor in the race. So, week to week I think it varies significantly. Obviously, you always want to qualify well. There’s nothing bad about qualifying well usually, although we had that race at Atlanta this year where the 22 car started a lap down and it was the best thing that happened to him. Usually, qualifying well is a good thing and pit stalls are one of the reasons why.”

AS INTERMEDIATES BECOME THE BETTER RACING WE HAVE ARE SHORT TRACKS BECOMING A MORE ENDANGERED SPECIES? “It’s always interesting to see, at least from my perspective, how the racing evolves and there’s all these kind of lagging indicators. When you think about the schedule and the races, it’s like it takes the schedule three to five years to catch up with the racing, maybe even longer sometimes, where you’re like, ‘Oh, this type of racing is excellent. We should have more of these types of races.’ And inherently our racing seems to evolve, for whatever reason, in those time spans and what might be a good racetrack for us competitively changes. I think I would go back to the start of the Next Gen era when we were coming off the Gen 6 erar and the mile-and-a-half races were probably less compelling than short track races, and I feel like when we went to the Next Gen race car that completely flipped to where the mile-and-a-halves are more compelling than the short tracks. So it’s funny how that dynamic works. I’m almost positive with my experience in the sport that that will evolve again and it will evolve to where eventually short track racing seems to be really, really good and the mile-and-a-half racing not as good and by then we’ll have evolved to having more mile-and-a-half races. It always seems to be a struggle to get the schedule in step with the racing and how it works as far as the most compelling events for whatever reason. I think that puts more emphasis on the moves that NASCAR has made and even SMI to some extent of going private with the tracks, so that time cycle can be more in tune with the racing that you see and what’s more prevalent. I think you’re gonna see that in the years to come get utilized perhaps in a more equitable way, but it is interesting right now to see our circuit and schedule and the mile-and-a-halves being so great. I don’t know how you can argue that the mile-and-a-half racing isn’t the best racing in NASCAR right now and three years ago if I would have told you that, you would have probably laughed. It’s just funny how that shifts so quickly and it’s so important for our sport to be nimble to be able to adapt and really capture that.”

CHRIS BUESCHER CONTINUED – IS THE MILLION DOLLARS ENOUGH INCENTIVE FOR THE IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT OR SHOULD THERE BE A PLAYOFF POINTS INCENTIVE AS WELL TO MAKE THAT MORE IMPORTANT? “I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that I don’t think it’s gonna change what we do week in and week out. It is gonna be another storyline and something we can talk about and lean into at times, but I don’t think it’s gonna change how we show up at the racetrack at any point during that timeline. I think we’re gonna show up to figure out how to win races. A million dollars is significant.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CONTINUED – “It goes to the team? I thought it went to a gambler. This might change my answer. OK. That’s good. You (looking at Chris) get like 100-grand and I get the rest (laughter). That’s gonna get negotiated in some driver contracts. I thought it went to a fan. I have no idea how this works.”

CHRIS BUESCHER CONTINUED – “We actually had this conversation this week, neither of us gamble so this is kind of uncharted territory for me and Brad both.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CONTINUED – “We can only race one year at a time and that’s next year, so I have no idea.”

CHRIS BUESCHER CONTINUED – “We’re going to the racetrack to win races every week, so from where I’m at I don’t know how it changes your initial look on the weekend or how you approach it. I guess it may change if you end up in a strange situation with damage and laps down you may work a little harder knowing the situation. You could certainly see Daytona, Atlanta, something like that if there’s some of that in the bracket. I have no clue.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CONTINUED – “So it’s kind of like a Winston Million for the whole field? Yes? OK. Clearly, we have a lot more studying to do. I don’t know if that answered your question, but I thought it was all like a gambling thing. We don’t gamble, so that shows us what we know. I still want to win it now that I know I can win it, but being that it’s a year from now it’s kind of like, ‘OK, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.’ A lot can happen in a year.”

CHRIS BUESCHER CONTINUED – WHERE IS THE LINE IN THAT SPORTS CROSSES A LITTLE TOO FAR AND BECOMES MORE ENTERTAINMENT? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? “I ran heat races while racing locally growing up, so that was actually a throwback to more of your grassroots type of racing for me. We’ve gone a little bit beyond that in some ways and I know we’re staring at (a set of Goodyear tires). They’re all black from this side, but I know one of those is red and yellow and we have different options to give it a go here. I guess with that it’s opening up opportunities for this race as a perfect example. It gives us an opportunity to go try something. I think we actually tried heat races on the Xfinity side close to 10 years ago, didn’t we? I actually enjoyed that, but I also remember Bristol there is a fear of getting something wadded up and not being able to continue on in your primary. It can really mess up your year long outlook on it just by doing that, so it’s a little tricky in that sense. Heat races growing up a lot were to make sure that we established a field and sent home 40 percent of the cars that were at a racetrack. For us, we’re all on track and most always we’re all making the race, so it has a little different purpose here, I guess, and it becomes a little bit more of an entertainment value, but I don’t see anything wrong with a lot of it to keep the entertainment up and keep us searching for different strategies and different ways to go about our weekends.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CONTINUED – DO YOU THINK DRIVER SALARIES AND CONTRACT DETAILS SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC? “Generally, I’m a fan of transparency in all aspects of my life. Generally, I think I’m a fan of that stuff being more public. It’s not and the way this sport is structured the drivers work for teams as independent contractors in most cases and that creates contracts that for a number of reasons tend to be more private in nature. I wouldn’t have an issue at all with that stuff being more public personally as long as it was public for everyone. It doesn’t make sense to be public for one person and not for everyone, so I don’t know that I would say that’s the number one thing in our sport to be working on. I probably wouldn’t prioritize that, but transparency is generally a good thing in my eyes.”

CHRIS BUESCHER CONTINUED – “To add a little bit to that, I feel like when I was a kid watching on the couch, and I may be way off base on this, but it used to be advertised a little bit more of what the purse was for a weekend and where everything paid out. I know we really don’t know that. This is the one weekend where we actually talk about it. I think we talked about it at the 500 this year because it has exponentially grown as an event, but you really don’t talk about it on the race side of things either. Like Brad said, it’s not at the top of our minds I guess most times until you put it on the billboard that it’s a million to win this weekend.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CONTINUED – “Most of us are, we’re incentivized to win by money don’t get me wrong. I don’t ever want to leave the impression that we’re not, but for the most part, I think most of the drivers are incentivized by pride and probably a little ego, maybe a lot of ego in some cases, and the money is a complement to that, but I don’t think, I can’t speak for everyone, but I don’t think it’s a primary factor in what race car drivers at this level compete for.”

CHRIS BUESCHER CONTINUED – WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE BACK AT THIS TRACK KNOWING IT HAS GONE FROM A LOST SPEEDWAY TO A PLACE WE GO TO REGULARLY AGAIN? “It’s kind of neat sitting here right now, actually me and Bayley Currey, who is out there in a truck right now, came up here and volunteered when Dale Jr. was asking for volunteers to come clean up this place when it was at its absolute worst. I remember that pretty clearly, walking into this room and it looking like a post apocalyptic war zone. Gurneys were flipped over across the floor. Medical equipment just thrown out and trashed. It was rough, so to see where it came from for last year, understanding and seeing what the surface did and how it changed into a repave for this season and getting the news we’re gonna be here beyond is really exciting from way back when I used to be watching on TV. I don’t know growing up if I ever got to watch a race live or on TV that was current year at North Wilkesboro. We haven’t been here in a really long time, so it’s been special to be a part of coming back and a miniscule part of helping that clean up to and just see it have the potential to come back online and be a part of our schedule. It is really neat to see where it’s come from and see it stick to its roots and Marcus and their group working so hard to make sure that it has a lot of that nostalgic feel to it so that we can keep true to what it was, too.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI CONTINUED – YOU ARE WATCHING BRENDEN QUEEN INTENTLY. ANY THOUGHTS ON HIM? “Yeah, he ran the late model race here last year and kicked our butts. I’m just glad he’s getting the opportunity. I haven’t seen cars on the track here since they repaved it, so we’re all eager to get back to the hauler and watch some truck practice.”

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway… In 44 NASCAR Cup Series starts at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has five wins, all by Dale Earnhardt: 1986 (spring), 1987 (spring), 1989 (spring), 1991 (fall) and 1995 (spring). Earnhardt was running at the finish in all 27 races at North Wilkesboro that he ran with RCR. Team Owner Richard Childress made 19 starts at North Wilkesboro as a driver, racking up eight top-10 finishes.

RCR in the All-Star Race…RCR has four wins in the NASCAR All-Star Race, three with Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993) and one with Kevin Harvick (2007). Earnhardt is also tied with Jimmie Johnson for most top-five finishes in the All-Star race (9).

Pacing the Field … Childress, a legendary NASCAR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer, has been named as the Honorary Pace Car Driver to help get the NASCAR All-Star race underway on Sunday evening on the historic 0.625-mile short track where one driver will earn a lucrative $1 million pay day. Childress will lead the field to green in a Chevrolet Camaro.

All-Star Race Format… The All-Star race will consist of 200 laps (all laps count) with NASCAR Overtime rules in effect. There will be two All-Star cautions at lap 100 and lap 150. At the 100-lap break, teams must perform a four-tire stop using any tire of their choosing. Starting positions are set via two 60-lap All-Star heat races on Saturday, with the lineup for the heat races determined by a Pit Crew Challenge event on Friday evening in which teams will make a four-tire pit stop without fuel. The signature new element in this season’s format centers around tire type and allotment. Potentially, three different tires will be utilized throughout the event weekend— a “prime tire” (the baseline tire assessed in last month’s Goodyear Tire Test at North Wilkesboro Speedway), an “option tire” (slick tires, but made with the same rubber as the wet weather tire, making it a softer tire with more grip and faster wear) and “wet weather” (the wet weather tire only used if the track is wet).

Wide-Open Opportunity…The All-Star Open will give drivers who are not guaranteed a spot in the main event a chance to race their way into the All-Star Race. The 100-lap Open will have an All-Star caution at Lap 50, at which time teams must perform a four-tire pit stop. Three Open drivers will advance to the main event: the top two race finishers plus the Fan Vote Winner. NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Voting is now open on www.NASCAR.com/fanvote.

New Surface at North Wilkesboro…North Wilkesboro Speedway has been repaved just in time for the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race. Prior to the fresh pavement, the last time the track was repaved was in 1981.

Saturday Night Heat Races…Saturday night will feature two 60-lap heat races that will determine the starting lineup for the All-Star Race among drivers already locked into the field. There will be an All-Star caution at lap 30 of each heat race; teams must perform a four-tire pit stop. The results of Heat 1 will establish the inside row, and the results of Heat 2 will establish the outside row.

Happy Anniversary to the All-Star Race…The 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race will be the 40th running of the special event, which debuted in May 1985 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Perhaps the most popular finish in All-Star Race history came in 1987, when Dale Earnhardt won the race in a fender-banging classic battle with Bill Elliott, highlighted by Earnhardt’s thrilling save on the frontstretch in the closing laps.

Follow Sunday’s Action at North Wilkesboro… The NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, May 19 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The All-Star Open will be televised live beginning at 5 p.m. ET on the same broadcast channels.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 SENIX Tools Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at North Wilkesboro Speedway… Austin Dillon, who has made four previous All-Star race starts, will have to race his way into Sunday’s main event this year. A top-two finish in Sunday afternoon’s All-Star Open will transfer him to the main event. Dillon finished 17th in last year’s All-Star race.

A Family Tradition … Dillon’s father, Mike Dillon, earned two trophies at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the Late Model division and had a second-place finish there in the early 90’s.

At SENIX, we break barriers and shatter expectations by redefining and manufacturing outdoor power equipment and power tools with edgy innovation and relentless passion … Whether you’re an arborist, a landscaper, or a fearless DIY enthusiast, SENIX tools have been crafted with you in mind. SENIX understands the grit, determination, and artistry that go into your craft, and that’s why they’ve designed products that seamlessly extend your skills. With cutting-edge technology, performance, and eco-friendly design options, SENIX empowers you to conquer any task at hand.

SENIX, The Official Power Tools of RCR continues to grow and bring new products to market at a rapid pace. Based in Huntersville, North Carolina the SENIX team has increased its staff by more than 20% since the start of 2024 and launched 20+ new products to their line of battery-operated tools!

The standout of their latest products lies in the X6 60Volt Max Outdoor Power Tools, with particular emphasis on their award-winning 810CFM handheld leaf blower, recognized for its best-in-class performance and honored with the Retailer’s Choice Award! Notably, this is the same blower trusted in all four of the RCR pit stalls! Every item in the SENIX X6 60Volt Max Outdoor Power Tools has best in class features! Be on the watch for more exciting innovations coming from SENIX Tools in the back half of 2024!

Meet Dillon… Dillon is scheduled to appear at the SENIX Tools display in the Fan Midway at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. ET. He’s also scheduled to stop by the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the North Wilkesboro Speedway Fan Midway on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. ET. Stop by to meet the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet and get new merchandise to wear on race day.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway?

“I look forward to going back to North Wilkesboro Speedway and welcoming everyone from SENIX Tools to the track this weekend. I love the format NASCAR came up with getting the pit crews involved again this year and the new tire compounds teams can choose from. People are excited about it. We will have to race our way into the All-Star race from the Open race on Sunday, but I think everyone on the No. 3 team is excited and up for the challenge. I am looking forward to seeing how the different compound tires will affect the strategy for 100 laps.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lenovo Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at North Wilkesboro Speedway…Kyle Busch will make his second start at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the NASCAR All-Star Race. In 18 previous All-Star starts, Busch has collected six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, including winning the non-points racing in 2017. In the 2017 race, Busch started second and led the race just once, covering the final 10 laps. His average running position in the event was 3.27. The driver of the Lenovo Chevrolet is tied with Bill Elliott for most poles (four) all-time at the All-Star race.

Welcome, Lenovo… Lenovo’s story has always been about shaping computing intelligence to create a better world. With the world’s widest portfolio of technology products, Lenovo delivers their vision of Smarter Technology for All through products, solutions, software, and services that individuals, communities, businesses, and entire populations need to fulfill their potential. Lenovo serves more than 180 markets, and owns the majority of their facilities, giving them unrivaled scale, efficiency, and control of their supply chain. Lenovo’s global manufacturing allows tailored offerings to regional markets and includes more than 30 manufacturing facilities, including in-house, joint venture, original design manufacturer, and contract manufacturer sites in Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, and the USA

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What did you learn last year at North Wilkesboro Speedway that you can apply for this race?

“I think the only things we learned at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year were where the outside wall is and I think the apron in Turns 3 and 4 is the same. That’s about it. I think everything else has changed. The asphalt has changed and they moved the inside wall some. It’s going to be a completely different race.”

North Wilkesboro has been repaved. How do you prepare to race on the new surface when you haven’t been able to test there?

“I think the preparation for how to get ready for the race is now going to be based on the notes and the test that happened there. Our Chevy key partner teammate William Byron did the test there so we’re relying on him and his notes and the video capture that they got and being able to just watch and listen to the throttle on time and the things they did when they were there.”

This year’s All-Star race will have several new features including a tire strategy element. What effect do you think that will have in the race? Do you think it has the potential to make the racing better?

“I don’t know if the tire strategy will really factor in as much as people think because we all know when the strategy will be and when you want to put those tires on. We all have to start the race on the option tires. We all know we’re probably going to want to finish on those tires, so the two other sets that you’re going to have you’re probably going to run one of those sets in the middle of the race. I don’t know that it’s really going to create much pit strategy separation. The race isn’t long enough for that.”

Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imaging team are headed to North Wilkesboro Speedway for this weekend’s All-Star races.

It’s a familiar venue for the No. 21 team as the Wood Brothers ran 46 races there from 1957 until the track lost its Cup date in 1996. They had two poles there, both by the late team founder Glenn Wood (in 1958 and 1959) and two wins, both by the late Marvin Panch (in 1963 and 1964).

All told the team had 14 top-five finishes and 23 top-10s.

The 5/8-mile track lay dormant after the 1996 races and the prospects of racing there again seemed unlikely, but has experienced a revival in recent years, and this weekend’s event is the second straight All-Star race to be held there.

“Obviously it’s really cool to be racing again at such a historic venue as North Wilkesboro,” said Jeremy Bullins, crew chief of the Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse, which is entered in the Open race as drivers in that preliminary event seek to earn a starting berth in the All-Star race.

Bullins said this year’s All-Star weekend events will be unique due to the different tires available to teams this year and because of the new pavement that has been added since last year.

Goodyear will offer a convention tire known as the “Prime” tire, and fans can identify them by the yellow lettering on the tires.

An “Option” tire will be offered as well. The Option tires are essentially a wet weather tire but with slick tread.

These tires, which will carry red lettering, are expected to offer more grip initially but wear quicker, leading to more fall off of lap times.

Then, if rain wets the track, there’s the regular wet weather tire, which will have visible treads and carry white lettering.

“This year, with the repave, is likely to look like a much different race,” Bullins predicted. “And everyone has a lot of questions about how the Option tire is going to drive and how long will it last.

“Hopefully we can learn what we need to in practice to race our way through the Open and get in the big show for the All-Star race.”

Practice at North Wilkesboro is set for Friday at 4:35 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by Open qualifying at 5:40 and All-Star qualifying at 6:20.

The 100-lap Open race is scheduled to start just after 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. The top two finishers will advance to the All-Star race along with one driver selected by a fan vote.

The 200-lap main event should get the green flag just after 8 p.m. Sunday.

FOX Sports 1 will carry the TV coverage.

#

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

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

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

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

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

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.

JUSTIN HALEY | KAZ GRALA
North Wilkesboro / All-Star Race Advance

Event Overview

● Event: NASCAR All-Star Open | NASCAR All-Star Race (non-points races)
● Time/Date: 5:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 19
● Location: North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway
● Layout: .625-mile oval
● Laps/Miles: 100 laps/62.5 miles | 200 laps/125 miles
● TV/Radio: FS1 / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 Pinnacle Home Improvements Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● Justin Haley returns to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway for the 2024 non-points All-Star Weekend looking for redemption after his performance in last year’s All-Star Open was cut short. Haley qualified fifth for last years Open – the 100-lap qualifying race that precedes the All-Star Race – and ran inside the top-three until just prior to a lap-40 competition caution. He restarted inside the top-five and remained there until another caution on lap 49 gave him the opportunity to restart on the outside of the front row with 43 laps remaining. Haley was fighting Josh Berry for the lead on lap 58 when contact with the No. 34 of Michael McDowell sent Haley into the outside wall. His race ended on lap 59, along with his chance to compete for the $1 million top prize in the All-Star Race.

● Haley has made four runs in the All-Star Open from 2020 to 2023. His best finish in the non-points race was third, earned in the 2022 event held at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

● Haley is fresh off his best finish in the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing (RWR) Ford Mustang Dark Horse, a ninth-place effort last Sunday at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. He spent 94 laps of the 293 race laps running inside the top-15, just the second time this season he spent more than 90 laps of a race inside the top-15. It also was the first time this season the end result matched the pace exhibited by his RWR machine. Haley’s 123 green-flag passes were the most of any other driver as he tooks advantage of a Ford Mustang Dark Horse that proved capable of slicing through traffic.

● Through the first 13 points-paying races this season, Haley has recorded six lead-lap finishes for the No. 51 team this season, putting him just one away from tying the team’s single-season, single-driver record for lead-lap finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series. Josh Bilicki (2021), Cody Ware (2022), and JJ Yeley (2023) all have recorded seven lead-lap finishes in a single season for RWR.

● Should the momentum of the effort at Darlington not be enough to carry the No. 51 team into the All-Star Race as one of the top-two finishers in the Open, Haley has made his case for the All-Star Fan Vote through a series of campaign videos – and #HaleYES, he’ll continue to do so right up until the green flag waves to start the Open on Sunday.

● Pinnacle Home Improvements makes its debut on the No. 51 RWR machine this weekend. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Pinnacle is a direct-to-homeowner provider of home improvement services, with a focus on roof replacement, window replacement and other exterior services for existing single-family homes. With additional offices in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville, Tennessee, as well as Charlotte, North Carolina, the company’s existing service footprint covers a range of attractive Southeast U.S. markets, with planned expansion into new Southeastern markets.

Kaz Grala, Driver of the No. 15 Remixers.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

● RWR driver Kaz Grala will pilot the No. 15 Remixers.com Ford Dark Horse Mustang in his first career outing at North Wilkesboro. Though Grala has yet to experience an All-Star weekend and the excitement surrounding a race with nothing but a $1 million top prize and bragging rights on the line, he’s a short-track racer who cut his teeth on tracks like North Wilkesboro on his path to the Cup Series.

● Like his teammate Justin Haley, Grala heads into the All-Star weekend with a team full of confidence after his role last weekend in the RWR organization’s best overall race performance. In last weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington, Grala earned his third top-20 finish in 11 starts this year and made 112 green-flag passes, tied for fourth-most of all drivers in the field, en route to his 18th-place result.

● Prior to Sunday at Darlington, RWR had recorded a previous best non-drafting-track finish of 16th in the 2023 Coca-Cola 600 with JJ Yeley. The team’s previous best finish at Darlington was a 19th by Cody Ware in 2022, which both Haley and Grala bested on Sunday.

Rick Ware Racing Notes

● While the RWR Cup Series teams make their respective runs at the All-Star Race, the Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) tour will race on the West Coast as Mission SuperTwins rider Briar Bauman and AFT Singles riders Kody Kopp and Shayne Texter-Bauman take on Silver Dollar Raceway in Chico, California. Bauman earned his first win of the season last weekend at his home track in Ventura, California, and sits fourth in the standings, just 19-points back of first. Kopp looks to get back on the podium after finishing fourth in last weekend’s main event, though he still holds a 14-point lead in the championship.

● NHRA Top Fuel driver Clay Millican returns to the site of his first-ever NHRA Top Fuel event this weekend, which is also an event he won in 2018 and 2023. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series takes on Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, where just last year the RWR driver ended a five-year winless streak. Millican’s appearance in the final round at zMax Dragway in Charlotte put the RWR team back on track after a tough start to the 2024 season. Millican will have a chance to double up on wins this weekend as he’ll also compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Following five events in the 21-race season, Millican sits eighth in the Top Fuel standings.

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

Justin Haley, Driver Q&A

Does last weekend’s performance at Darlington give you any extra confidence that you can race your way into the All-Star Race?

“Of course. At Kansas, we were right on the cusp of a top-10 before the caution came out and we took four tires instead of two. That was a difficult call there, but the past few weeks I feel like we’ve had top-10 speed or at least top-15 compared to the field throughout the race. The No. 15 Ford Mustang Dark Horse has been quick in the race – maybe not in qualifying – but we’ve brought really good racecars and we’re kind of following RFK and what they’re doing. Leaning on them has been beneficial. I’m super proud of everyone at Rick Ware Racing. I feel like we’ve got a good shot this weekend, so we’ll just try to do our best and go from there.”

There are a lot of quality drivers and teams in the Open. What would it mean to get the fan vote if you don’t race your way in?

“Obviously, it would be cool. I looked at the Open yesterday and didn’t realize there are more cars in the Open this year than there are in the All-Star Race. It’s definitely a competitive field and a lot of big names. We just have to go out and bring our best performance. It’s definitely gonna be a little tricky this year with the repave and things like that, and tire selection, but we’re just going to have to keep working forward. I’m not trying to rely on the fan vote, I don’t think anyone is, but it would definitely be cool to win that.”

Kaz Grala, Driver Q&A

This will be your first chance getting to race at North Wilkesboro. Are you excited to get laps on a track that holds so much history for the sport?

“I can’t wait to go check out North Wilkesboro for the first time. I wish I could have raced on the old surface there last year, but even with the repave the track has so much history and significance within NASCAR. It has a unique shape with asymmetrical corners and looks like it will be a blast to race at. It reminds me a little bit of South Boston Speedway, where I raced Late Models for years. RWR’s been very strong lately and we’re coming off a great weekend at Darlington, so while we are still major underdogs for All-Star weekend, I wouldn’t count us out. We’re going to give it all we’ve got.”

There are no points on the line this weekend, you’re just racing for a spot in the All-Star Race to be able to claim $1 million. How aggressive do you think drivers will be while fighting for those two spots?

“I think the aggression will be a balance this weekend. We should be able to push each other a bit harder than usual just because the pressure of transferring into the All-Star Race is high, but as a rookie I’m still in the process of earning the respect of the Cup Series competitors, as well. I’ll definitely be willing to move cars out of the way when the time is right, but there will have to be an art to it.”

North Wilkesboro Speedway
Sunday, May 19, 2024
0.625-Mile Oval
8:00 PM ET
Location: North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race
Radio: SiriusXM, PRN

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 1st

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

SEASON SUMMARY: Through the first half of the regular season, Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series points standings by 30 markers. He is one of three drivers with multiple wins on the season – earning victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and Kansas Speedway in May. The 31-year-old driver has series-best marks this year in top-five finishes (six), laps led (649) and stage wins (seven).

MONTH OF MAY: Larson began his attempt to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in earnest this week with multiple practice sessions at the 2.5-mile track. Arrow McLaren is fielding the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports and team owner Rick Hendrick is the car owner. Larson is looking to become the fifth driver to run “The Double” of the Indy 500 and the Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600.

DEFENDING THE WIN: In last year’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Larson dominated the 200-lap event to win for the third time in his last four all-star starts. The Elk Grove, California, native led 145 of the final 146 laps and stomped the field by 4.54 seconds. In the past 11 All-Star Races, he is the only repeat winner. Should Larson win on Sunday, he will become the third driver to win consecutive All-Star Races, joining Davey Allison (1991 and 1992) and Jimmie Johnson (2012 and 2013) in that club.

RECORD SETTER: Larson’s three wins in the All-Star Race have come on three different tracks, making him the only driver to accomplish this in NASCAR history. His 2019 victory came at Charlotte Motor Speedway (after transferring from winning the All-Star Open), his 2021 win was at Texas Motor Speedway and his 2023 win was at North Wilkesboro. The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s wins at Texas and North Wilkesboro came in the first all-star events held by those tracks. The 2021 Cup Series champion’s all-star win at Texas was part of his title season and it was one of seven times that a Hendrick Motorsports driver won the All-Star Race and championship in the same season. The others are team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001), Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013) and Chase Elliott (2020).

BY THE NUMBERS: In seven All-Star Race starts, Larson’s average finish of 7.43 is the third-best among active drivers and sixth-best all-time (among drivers with a minimum of four starts). His 239 laps led are the third-most in the event’s history. With three wins, he is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famers Gordon and Dale Earnhardt for second on the all-star victory list, trailing only Johnson (four wins).

STANDBY UPDATE: Kevin Harvick will practice and qualify (via the Pit Crew Challenge) the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM entry on Friday, May 17, at North Wilkesboro. Due to commitments with the Indianapolis 500, Larson is scheduled to miss Friday and Saturday’s on-track activity at the 0.625-mile track.

PUTTING IN WORK IN THE PITS: The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM pit crew has this season’s fifth-best average four-tire pit stop time (10.966 seconds). The five-person crew is comprised of Blaine Anderson (front-tire changer), R.J. Barnette (tire carrier), Brandon Harder (fueler), Brandon Johnson (jackman) and Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer). The team will showcase its skills during Friday’s Pit Crew Challenge.

HENDRICKCARS.COM IS HOME: This Sunday is a home race for the HENDRICKCARS.COM team. The state of North Carolina is home to numerous Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships. Respectively, the No. 5 driver and crew can be found in their white firesuits this weekend. For every HENDRICKCARS.COM home race this season, there is a unique hat released the week of the race and only available for sale on the trackside merchandise haulers or available to win on HENDRICKCARS.COM. Less than 100 of each limited-edition hat will be available to the public. This week’s North Wilkesboro-themed hat will be revealed Thursday and can be seen here.

WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 4th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media in the North Wilkesboro Speedway media center on Friday, May 17, at 3:30 p.m. local time.

THE STARS ALIGNED: In 2020, Chase Elliott earned his first career NASCAR All-Star Race victory, claiming the checkered flag after dominating at Bristol Motor Speedway. Elliott won stages two and three before crossing the finish line first in the final stage to earn the $1 million prize. It marked the first time the All-Star Race was held on a short track and a Wednesday. The driver of the No. 9 is the third-youngest all-star winner at 24 years, seven months, 17 days. Elliott is also one of four Hendrick Motorsports drivers to win the exhibition race and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same year. The others are team vice chairman Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001), Jimmie Johnson (2006 and 2013) and Kyle Larson (2021).

WINNING AT (NORTH) WILKESBORO: This weekend, the All-Star Race returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the second consecutive season. Outside of last year’s All-Star event – where he drove to a fifth-place finish – Elliott does have some additional experience at the track, racing in PASS late model races. When the driver was just 14 years old, he visited victory lane at the short track on September 4, 2010, in the first race the track had hosted since the mid-1990s.

HE’S AN ALL STAR: Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will make his ninth consecutive appearance in the All-Star Race this weekend. Elliott’s 2020 Cup Series championship and All-Star Race win locked him into the event for the remainder of his full-time Cup Series career under current rules. The 28-year-old driver finished in the top 10 in six of his eight All-Star Race appearances and led in three of the last five races for 74 laps. He has an average finish of 8.00 across his eight All-Star Race starts, fourth-best among active drivers with at least four starts.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: With Elliott’s 2020 victory, he and his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, joined NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the only father-son combinations to win the All-Star Race. Bill won it driving the No. 9 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1986 when he led all but one of 83 laps. Only one other driver has won the All-Star Race in the No. 9 – which is in a five-way tie for second (along with the Nos. 24 and 5) on the list of most wins by car number in the exhibition race. Kasey Kahne also won the event in the No. 9 in 2008.

SEASON UPDATE: Through 13 points-paying Cup Series races in 2024, Elliott has one win (Texas Motor Speedway), five top-five results and six top-10s. He is the only driver to finish inside the top 20 in all 13 events and has the best average finish among full-time premier series drivers (9.85). The Hendrick Motorsports driver sits fourth in the Cup Series points standings, just 49 points behind the leader, teammate Larson.

FAST FIVE: The pit crews will take center stage for the Pit Crew Challenge during All-Star Race qualifying on Friday evening. Last month at Texas, the No. 9 pit crew laid down the fastest four-tire pit stop (9.076 seconds) of the 2024 season, according to data from Racing Insights. The over-the-wall squad has remained the same since 2018 and currently holds the fastest average four-tire pit stop time (10.643 seconds) this season. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group (and winners of the 2021 Pit Crew Challenge) is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).

HONORING THOSE WHO SACRIFICED: On Tuesday, NAPA Auto Parts unveiled a special scheme for next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will don a grayscale digital camouflage livery for the Memorial Day weekend race. Get a look at all the angles of the patriotic scheme here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 5th

No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

WHAT’S IN A NUMBER: With his three wins in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season, William Byron continues to extend the history and legacy of the No. 24. The iconic car number is third on the all-time list with 106 Cup Series wins, trailing only the No. 43 (200 wins) and the No. 11 (234 wins). Byron’s 13 premier series wins have come in the No. 24, while Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon accounts for 93 wins. Heading into this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race, the No. 24 has won this race three times – tied for the second-most wins by a car number in the exhibition event, all coming with Gordon. If Byron were to end up in victory lane on Sunday, the No. 24 would be tied for the most wins in all-star history with the No. 48 (four).

NEXT GEN DUO: Since the Next Gen Cup Series car was introduced in 2022, Byron and crew chief Rudy Fugle have a series-leading 11 wins. The duo is ahead of teammates Kyle Larson (nine wins) and crew chief Cliff Daniels (eight wins). Fugle and Byron rank fourth for the most wins by an active driver and crew chief pairing with 12 victories.

LOCKED IT IN: Sunday will mark Byron’s sixth start in the All-Star Race, but for the fourth time in his Cup Series career, Byron heads into the event already locked in thanks to his three wins this season. In the past, when he had to race his way into the main event, Byron has gotten the job done in the Open qualifier races in 2019 and 2020. Across his five All-Star Race starts, Byron has two top-10 finishes. His best showing came in 2021 at Texas Motor Speedway when he led the most laps (30), had the lowest cumulative finishing position across the first four rounds and scored his best finish of seventh after being shuffled from the front row for the final 10-lap dash.

PIT ROAD PROWESS: After 13 races in the 2024 season, the No. 24 pit crew continues their success from last year. The five-person crew ranks third for the fastest average four-tire pit stop (10.849 seconds). The No. 24 pit crew consists of Spencer Bishop (jackman), Jeff Cordero (front-tire changer), Orane Ossowski (rear-tire changer), Ryan Patton (tire carrier) and Landon Walker (fueler). The team will be in the spotlight in Friday’s Pit Crew Challenge during qualifying.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: While this may be the second time for many racing at North Wilkesboro Speedway, a member of the No. 24 team calls it home – Walker. The fueler of the No. 24 hails from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and grew up there before playing football at Clemson University. The former college offensive tackle earned a scholarship to Clemson in 2007 after being named an All-American offensive lineman in his hometown at East Wilkes High School. While playing at Clemson, Walker recorded 3,131 snaps with 49 starts at tackle through four seasons at the University. In 2011, Walker was named team captain, the same season Clemson won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. The college football standout was recruited by Hendrick Motorsports in 2012 and earned a position as the starting fueler for the former No. 5 (now No. 24) team in 2015.

RAPTOR® TOUGH: In this weekend’s event at North Wilkesboro, Byron will sport his RAPTOR paint scheme that will run the majority of the season on the No. 24 Chevy. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating designed to tolerate the weekend’s climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of items, including truck beds, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and more. With 16 pre-mixed colors available, it’s easy to personalize anything you want to protect. RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores and online retailers. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 9th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

TOP-10 STREAK EXTENDED: Alex Bowman’s eighth-place finish in the No. 48 Ally Throwback Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Darlington Raceway marked his fourth consecutive top-10 finish of the season. Bowman has had six streaks of four top-10s in a row in his NASCAR Cup Series career but has yet to extend the mark to five. At the midpoint of the regular season, Bowman is tied for the Cup Series lead in top-10 finishes (eight) with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron. That matches his high mark for the most top-10s through 13 races, set in 2022.

SEASON SUMMARY: After 13 points-paying races this season, Bowman and the No. 48 team are ninth in the Cup Series points standings, 121 points behind the leader, teammate Kyle Larson. The 31-year-old driver ranks sixth in average finish among series regulars at 12.69 and is part of a six-way tie for fifth in top-five finishes (four). Those top-five results occurred in the DAYTONA 500 (second), at Bristol Motor Speedway (fourth), at Circuit of The Americas (fourth) and Talladega Superspeedway (fifth).

APPROACHING THE ALL STAR: Bowman will look to race his way into the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 19, at North Wilkesboro Speedway. He can do this by finishing in the top-two positions of the All-Star Open on Sunday or by winning the All-Star Fan Vote. Due to an injury last season, Bowman did not run at North Wilkesboro last year, but his No. 48 Ally Racing team won the Open with Josh Berry behind the wheel. This advanced the Ally Racing team into the main event, where they finished 15th.

ADVANCING IN: On two previous occasions, Bowman has made his way into the All-Star Race via a stage win in the Open (2018) or through the Fan Vote (2019). In five All-Star Race starts, he has four top-10 finishes, with a pair of sixth-place runs at Texas Motor Speedway (in 2021 and 2022) serving as his best results.

DON’T WAIT, VOTE FOR 48: Want to see Bowman in the All-Star Race this Sunday? #Rally48 by casting your vote for the driver of the No. 48 in NASCAR’s Fan Vote. In the latest voting update released by NASCAR, he was among the drivers in the top five. Individuals can vote up to five times a day. Voting concludes at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. The official rules can be found here.

PIT CREW POWER: The No. 48 Ally Racing pit crew has the fourth-fastest average four-tire stop on the season (10.958 seconds). The No. 48 five-person crew is composed of Andrew Bridgeforth (rear-tire changer), Jacob Conley (fueler), Brandon Grier (tire carrier), Allen Holman (jackman) and Donnie Tasser (front-tire changer).

ADOPT FROM WATAUGA: Bowman and Ally are in their fourth consecutive year supporting Best Friends Animal Society and its vast network of partners. This weekend’s beneficiary of the pair’s $4,800 donation is Watauga Humane Society, located about 35 miles west of North Wilkesboro Speedway. So far, in 2024, the shelter has facilitated 370 pet adoptions and returned 40 fluffy friends to their homes. Visit the shelter this race weekend or view their dogs and cats available for adoption.

HENDRICK
MOTORSPORTS /

2024	All-Time	All-Star Stats
Races	13	1,358	39
Wins	6*	307*	11*
Poles	4*	250*	4
Top 5	19*	1,251*	43*
Top 10	28*	2,140*	71*
Laps Led	973	80,730*	990*
Stage Wins	8	106	N/A

*Most **Most (tie)

FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Among the categories that the organization holds the NASCAR Cup Series record for are all-time wins (307), poles (250), laps led (80,730) and championships (14).

HENDRICK HOMECOMING: On May 24 and 25, Hendrick Motorsports will hold “Hendrick Homecoming.” The free fan event, taking place over the same weekend as the Coca-Cola 600 and Indianapolis 500, will celebrate the organization’s 40th anniversary and feature autograph sessions with past and present drivers, games, displays, giveaways and more. For more information on the schedule of appearances, click here.

WINNING TRIO: William Byron (three wins), Kyle Larson (two wins) and Chase Elliott (one win) have tallied six wins through the first 13 races of the 2024 season for Hendrick Motorsports. The Concord, North Carolina, based squad has won at least six races in a year in 19 of the last 24 seasons. The six-victory start to this year matches the team’s second-best mark (along with 1996 and 1997) at this point in a season, with 2007’s nine wins through 13 races as the best start to a campaign in organizational history.

PIT CREWS TAKE CENTER STAGE: This weekend will highlight the pit road athletes of Hendrick Motorsports. During Friday’s All-Star Race qualifying (6:20 p.m. ET on FS1) at North Wilkesboro Speedway, the Pit Crew Challenge will take place. During the second lap of qualifying, teams will proceed to one of the two NASCAR designated pit stalls for a four-tire stop and mock fuel input (the fueler must engage the fuel can, but the car won’t be fueled). The fastest stop during qualifying (without penalties) will be the winner of the Pit Crew Challenge.

FORMAT FOCUS: Friday’s qualifying will set which heats the NASCAR All-Star Race drivers will be assigned. The heats will occur on Saturday night (starting at 5:20 p.m. ET on FS2) with two races of 60 laps each and a caution scheduled for lap 30. The results of Heat 1 will set the inside row for the All-Star Race and the results of Heat 2 will set the outside row for the All-Star Race. Alex Bowman will race in Sunday’s All-Star Open (5:30 p.m. ET on FS1), which is a 100-lap race with a caution at lap 50 and will look to be one of the top-two finishers to transfer into the main event (or win the Fan Vote to advance). The All-Star Race on Sunday night (8 p.m. ET on FS1) will be 200 laps with cautions at laps 100 and 150. This will be the first race with multiple sets of tire options available. The winner of the event will take home $1 million prize. For more information about the format, the tire options, tire rules and more, click here.

CHAD TO GIVE THE COMMAND: NASCAR Hall of Famer and Hendrick Motorsports vice president of competition Chad Knaus was named the grand marshal for Sunday’s All-Star Race. Knaus, who won seven Cup Series championships and a series-best four All-Star Races as the crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in January. His seven championships rank second among crew chiefs and his 82 wins are the third-most among those who spent time atop the box.

WILKESBORO REWIND: Last year’s return to North Wilkesboro saw Larson dominate the race. The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 led 145 laps, including all but one of the last 146 circuits. Elliott came in fifth in the 200-lap event. The race was the first Cup Series event at the 0.625-mile track in 27 years. In points-paying events, Hendrick Motorsports recorded four wins at the facility. Team vice chairman Jeff Gordon won the last Cup Series points race there on Sept. 29, 1996. Terry Labonte won the spring races in 1994 and 1996 and Geoff Bodine won the fall race in 1989.

HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR WINNER: Hendrick Motorsports has won the All-Star Race 11 times, which leads all organizations and is more than double all the teams tied for second (at four wins). Five drivers have accounted for Hendrick Motorsports’ all-star victories, which is also the most among all teams. Johnson leads the way with four wins (2003, 2006, 2012 and 2013), the most among all drivers in all-star history. Gordon is next with three wins (1995, 1997 and 2001) and is the event’s youngest winner at 23 years, nine months and 16 days. Larson has two All-Star wins for the squad (2021 and 2023). Labonte (1999) and Elliott (2020) have won the event once with the organization. The Johnson, Gordon and Labonte victories all came at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Elliott won at Bristol Motor Speedway and Larson won at Texas Motor Speedway in ’21 and North Wilkesboro in ’23.

STAR-FILLED STREAK: Counting this year’s event, the Rick Hendrick-owned organization has now had at least three cars in the All-Star Race field for 25 consecutive years. That streak is more than double that of the next closest team, which sits at 12 straight years. The team has had four entries in the All-Star Race on 21 occasions.

TRANSFERRING TO THE BIG SHOW: The organization has had a driver transfer from the All-Star Open into the main event on eight occasions. Gordon (1994), Ricky Craven (1997), Brian Vickers (2005), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2012) and Josh Berry (2023) all won the All-Star Open to advance. Bowman (2018) and Byron (2019 and 2020) won a stage in the Open to transfer into the main event.

EXHIBITION KINGS: Hendrick Motorsports has 39 wins in non-points-paying events. Sixteen victories have come in the Daytona Duels, 11 in the All-Star Race, seven in the Clash and five in the All-Star Open.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his NASCAR All-Star Race win last year in NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro Speedway: “For the (NASCAR) Cup (Series) race last year at North Wilkesboro (Speedway), I think it was extra special just to win there. With how our weekend was before the race made it even more special because we were not competitive, We didn’t practice well. We didn’t do well in the Pit Crew Challenge. In the heat race, we fell back and really were frustrated with how the weekend was going. The team was working hard, recognized that we were really bad and threw a bunch of changes to it for Sunday’s race. I could feel pretty early on that we had a competitive car. And then yeah, cruised up through the field and dominated the race. To win was great; winning a million bucks was awesome. To win at a historic racetrack that I never envisioned myself racing at was pretty neat. To sweep that weekend (by also winning the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race) was cool.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s preparations for this weekend with Kevin Harvick practicing and qualifying the car while Kyle Larson is in Indianapolis: “Our week this week is a bit strung out for Kyle’s (Larson) schedule. We haven’t had our (North) Wilkesboro (Speedway) briefing with Kyle yet. That is not going to happen until late Saturday, or early Sunday. The things that we would prepare for Kyle, we have prepared and have ready for Kevin (Harvick). It is going to be fun to go through all that with him, get his thoughts and share in where we are. Obviously, with it being a repave, it is going to be a bit of an unknown for everyone going into the weekend, but we’ll adjust along the way.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the atmosphere of the All-Star Race: “The All-Star Race is always a cool atmosphere and I think having it a North Wilkesboro (Speedway) only adds to that. Last year, the fans really got really into this event. This year, the racing will be a little different with the repave and the tire option, but hopefully, we can put on a good show for them. That is what is most important.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the intrigue of the option tire: “I think everybody’s super intrigued about the option tire. We did this before at Charlotte (Motor Speedway) and there really wasn’t much difference. I don’t know if the aero impacts of Charlotte kind of outweighed the tire impact, but it’s certainly interesting to try it at North Wilkesboro (Speedway). I think that’s going to be an interesting component of the All-Star Race for sure and the pit crew competition is always fun. They get an opportunity to go and basically earn their own pit stall, which is cool. The format’s fairly straightforward, so I think it’s going be about having a good car, what impact the option tire has and can you hit the strategy right.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the importance of the All-Star Race: “This race is just as competitive. It’s a chance to win a million dollars. It’s a stat that people talk about even after your career is over. It’s ‘how many championships do you have, how many DAYTONA 500 wins and how many All-Star wins?’ It matters. The difference is you know that there’s no points on the line, so it’s a bit more aggressive. We were lucky enough to do the tire test this year but that was before we knew about the option tire. We ran about 600 laps that test, so we feel pretty good about our setup.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what he expects for the All-Star Race: “I’m really not sure what to expect for the All-Star Race. I think there’s an opportunity with the option tires that they’re going to be quite a bit quicker. The question is how much longer are they going to be quicker for and will they be quick enough that you can get underneath somebody and get in a position to make the pass. It’s going to be tough with some trial and error. I think the heat races are going to be the best time to try to answer some of those unknowns. It looks like we’re going to get some rain this weekend, which may eliminate some of that track time and could make for a great race if we’re all going into it guessing like we are now.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on having to race his way into the All-Star Race: “It (North Wilkesboro Speedway) is a cool place for sure. I didn’t get to run there last year due to my injury so I’m excited to go to North Wilkesboro and get to hit the track. We’ve obviously got to race our way into the main event, so hopefully we can do that for Ally and Hendrick Motorsports. Our pit crew has been strong all year so I’ve got faith in them, too. Hopefully, we can put all the pieces together and race for a shot at one million dollars this Sunday.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the team’s approach for this weekend: “This weekend looks a little different for us as we have to put our car in the show. We are not taking this week off by any means. Fortunately for us, though, the No. 24 (William Byron) had a strong tire test there (North Wilkesboro Speedway) and those guys always come back with phenomenal feedback for us. We are really happy with some of the direction that that set us up with on our short-track program in general. We look forward to trying to execute a good weekend and see if we can roll off and get locked into the All-Star Race.”

Fans Can Go Behind-the-Scenes and Meet Their Favorite Drivers at Spire Motorsports Fan Day Presented by Circle B Diecast

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 16, 2024) – Spire Motorsports will open its doors to the team’s new Mooresville, N.C., headquarters for a special Fan Day as part of festivities leading up to the NASCAR’s annual Memorial Day Weekend celebration at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Spire Motorsports relocated from its former home in Concord, N.C., to a 77,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville following the 2023 season.

“We’re thrilled to open the doors to our new facility for Fan Day,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our incredible supporters to get a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Spire Motorsports. This Fan Day will be a truly immersive experience for everyone. We can’t wait to celebrate our new home with the best fans in NASCAR.”

The day’s events will run from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., and feature music from DJ James Stanley, food trucks, show cars, driver and crew chief Q&A, RC racing, and raffles. Spire Motorsports fans can look forward to giveaways including hats and gift cards from Chili’s Grill & Bar, as well as tastings from Celsius and Katz Coffee products.

The newly opened Spire Motorsports team store is offering a limited-time bonus. The first 100 guests to make a purchase will receive a signed throwback-style team hero card. Guests can also take home a piece of the action with body panels available for purchase. Circle B Diecast will also have diecasts available race fans can have autographed on site.

Activities will be highlighted by driver autograph sessions, followed by the Chili’s 150 heat race leading up to the Gainbridge 300 RC car race, where two lucky fans will be chosen, at random, to compete against Spire Motorsports’ drivers. NASCAR Chief Hype Officer Mamba Smith will be on hand to introduce the drivers, lead the national anthem, and host the Q&A.

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

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.