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  • Patient Foster Earns First Victory of Season at IMS

    Patient Foster Earns First Victory of Season at IMS

    INDIANAPOLIS (Saturday, May 11, 2024) – Patience paid off with a victory for Louis Foster on Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    Foster sat behind leader Caio Collet for numerous laps in the second race of the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader before passing him with 11 laps to go and earning his first INDY NXT by Firestone victory of the season in the No. 26 Copart/Novara Technologies car fielded by Andretti Global.

    English driver Foster, who started fourth, powered to a 2.3688-second victory over series leader Jacob Abel in the No. 51 Abel Construction entry fielded by Abel Motorsports. Rookie Collet hung on to finish third in the No. 18 HMD Motorsports car.

    “Managed our tires, managed our Push to Pass,” Foster said. “It was quite tricky for me because I had to burn a lot (of Push to Pass) to get past Abel, and then I had to pressure Caio enough to burn off his. But I think we managed it well. All around, a really good job by the Andretti crew. Super happy.”

    Abel, who won the first race of this doubleheader from the pole Friday, has finished first or second in all four races this season and leads the standings in the INDYCAR development series by 25 points over Nolan Siegel.

    James Roe finished fourth in the No. 29 Topcon car fielded by Andretti Global, with Siegel rounding out the top five in the No. 39 HMD Motorsports entry.

    Collet powered from his second starting position past pole sitter Abel in Turn 1 of the opening lap to take the lead, building a gap of around one second for the next 10 laps of the 35-lap race. Meanwhile, Foster passed Abel for second on Lap 11 and set his sights on Brazilian rookie Collet.

    By Lap 14, Foster pulled to within one-half of a second of Collet and then pulled side by side with him on the front straightaway two laps later. But Collet parried the move in Turn 1, and Foster decided to stay close to Collet’s gearbox but conserve his Firestone Firehawk tires and Push to Pass over the next eight laps.

    Foster made another attempt to pass Collet with an over-under move in Turn 1 on Lap 24, but Collet also repulsed that. Meanwhile, Abel – who also conserved his tires and Push to Pass after falling to third – stood on the gas and pulled to within seven-tenths of a second of the dueling Collet and Foster on Lap 25.

    On that same lap, Foster made the decisive pass with a bold move under Collet in Turn 11.

    “I put my nose there, and he got a penalty for blocking me yesterday,” Foster said. “So, I knew that if I put my nose there, he wasn’t going risk it, and he didn’t.”

    Abel had more Push to Pass for the remaining nine laps and passed Collet for second on Lap 26, and it appeared a showdown with Foster for the win might loom over the closing laps.

    But Foster’s pace was too quick, and he eased away for his third career INDY NXT by Firestone victory.

    “I was expecting them to fall off a lot,” Abel said of Foster and Collet. “They were battling really hard. I was just sitting back, saving my Push to Pass and letting them do what they were doing. Collet fell off a ton. I was expecting Louis to kind of do the same. Louis was just super on it today. Congrats to them.”

    The next race is the INDY NXT by Firestone Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, June 2 on the streets of downtown Detroit.

    INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 2 Results

    INDIANAPOLIS – Results Saturday of the INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix INDY NXT by Firestone event on the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, laps completed and reason out (if any):

    1. (4) Louis Foster, 35, Running
    2. (1) Jacob Abel, 35, Running
    3. (2) Caio Collet, 35, Running
    4. (3) James Roe, 35, Running
    5. (5) Nolan Siegel, 35, Running
    6. (9) Michael d’Orlando, 35, Running
    7. (10) Myles Rowe, 35, Running
    8. (7) Jonathan Browne, 35, Running
    9. (13) Salvador de Alba Jr, 35, Running
    10. (8) Callum Hedge, 35, Running
    11. (12) Reece Gold, 35, Running
    12. (14) Josh Pierson, 35, Running
    13. (16) Jordan Missig, 35, Running
    14. (19) Niels Koolen, 35, Running
    15. (15) Christian Bogle, 35, Running
    16. (6) Jamie Chadwick, 35, Running
    17. (18) Nolan Allaer, 35, Running
    18. (20) Jack William Miller, 35, Running
    19. (11) Bryce Aron, 35, Running
    20. (21) Lindsay Brewer, 35, Running
    21. (17) Yuven Sundaramoorthy, 35, Running

    Race Statistics
    Winner’s average speed: 113.464mph
    Time of Race: 45:08.4692
    Margin of victory: 2.3688 seconds
    Cautions: 0
    Lead changes: 1 among 2 drivers

    Lap Leaders:
    Collet, Caio 1 – 24
    Foster, Louis 25 – 35

  • Opportunistic Ross Chastain claims emotional NASCAR Truck Series win at Darlington

    Opportunistic Ross Chastain claims emotional NASCAR Truck Series win at Darlington

    May 10, 2024
    By Reid Spencer
    NASCAR Wire Service

    DARLINGTON, S.C.— Taking advantage of a late caution, Ross Chastain surged ahead during an overtime restart and held off charging Nick Sanchez to win Friday night’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway.

    Moonlighting from the NASCAR Cup Series in a race delayed more than two hours by rain, Chastain, driving for Niece Motorsports, led only the last three laps after seizing the top spot from Ty Majeski on the overtime restart on Lap 149.

    Sanchez finished second, 0.315 seconds behind Chastain. Defending series champion Ben Rhodes was third, followed by Christian Eckes. Majeski, who chose the top lane for the final restart, faded to fifth.

    “We have been trying to win at Darlington,” said Chastain, who picked up his fifth Truck Series victory and his first of the year in his second start. “This is where my career changed, my life changed forever.

    “It’s so cool—we won Darlington.”

    It was at the Lady in Black in 2018 that Chastain first turned heads in the NASCAR world. Driving a handful of NASCAR Xfinity Series races for owner Chip Ganassi, he won the pole at Darlington and swept the first two stages before an accident relegated him to a 25th-place finish.

    But at that point, he had made his mark, and on Friday night, Chastain completed the circle.

    Sanchez won the pole for Friday’s race but had to start from the rear after his team replaced a right rear hub on his No. 2 Chevrolet. On the final restart, he surged from the inside of the third row into second place but couldn’t catch Chastain before the finish.

    Majeski lamented his lane choice after the fact.

    “I should have taken the inside,” said Majeski, who held a lead of more than five seconds before Jack Wood hit the outside wall with five laps left to cause the seventh caution and force overtime.

    “It sucks when you’re in position to win with a truck like that. We were so good on the long run and not so good on the short run. It would take 10-15 laps for this thing to get going, and then the thing was just lights-out.

    “But it came down to a short run, and I didn’t execute like we needed to.”

    Corey Heim, the series leader entering the race, swept the first two stages with 77 laps led, but after a Lap 98 restart, the No. 5 Toyota of Dean Thompson broke loose beneath Heim’s No. 11 Tundra at the exit from Turn 2 and ignited a wreck that severely damaged the trucks of Heim, Rajah Caruth, Layne Riggs and Matt Crafton.

    Caruth, who was eliminated along with Heim, Thompson and Crafton, had started from the rear after scraping the wall during qualifying earlier in the day but had worked his way up to second by pitting for fresh tires midway through Stage 2.

    “It’s real tight there off of (Turn) 2, and the 5 just kind of lost it there,” Caruth said after exiting the infield care center. “We had a really fast truck. We’ll get ‘em next time.”

    Heim surrendered the series lead to Eckes and trails by 14 points.

    Racing for the first time in a truck at Darlington, Kyle Busch was challenging Heim for the lead on Lap 2 when his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet snapped loose on the backstretch and nosed into the inside wall.

    Busch lost seven laps on pit road as his crew tried to make repairs. After he returned to the action, Busch pounded the Turn 1 wall and exited the race in 32nd place.

    That result marked a dubious distinction for the all-time Truck Series winner with 66 victories to his credit. Before Friday night, Busch had never finished last in a Truck Series race.

    “The truck was wrecked—there’s no reason it should have been back on the race track,” Busch told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass after the second accident.

    NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – Buckle Up South Carolina 200
    Darlington Raceway
    Darlington, South Carolina
    Friday, May 10, 2024

    (6) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 150.
    (1) Nick Sanchez, Chevrolet, 150.
    (12) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 150.
    (7) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 150.
    (16) Ty Majeski, Ford, 150.
    (19) Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 150.
    (18) Colby Howard, Toyota, 150.
    (3) Taylor Gray, Toyota, 150.
    (15) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 150.
    (5) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 150.
    (25) Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 150.
    (22) Lawless Alan, Ford, 150.
    (27) Timmy Hill, Toyota, 150.
    (11) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 150.
    (29) Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 150.
    (9) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 150.
    (28) Bret Holmes, Chevrolet, 150.
    (32) Thad Moffitt #, Chevrolet, 150.
    (30) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 150.
    (14) Jake Garcia, Ford, 150.
    (8) Layne Riggs #, Ford, 148.
    (17) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 148.
    (10) Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, 148.
    (21) Conner Jones #, Ford, 145.
    (23) Jack Wood, Chevrolet, Accident, 139.
    (24) Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 136.
    (31) Mason Maggio, Ford, Brakes, 121.
    (2) Corey Heim, Toyota, Accident, 105.
    (13) Dean Thompson, Toyota, Accident, 97.
    (26) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, Accident, 97.
    (20) Matt Crafton, Ford, Accident, 97.
    (4) Kyle Busch(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 6.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 101.983 mph.

    Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 0 Mins, 33 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.315 Seconds.

    Caution Flags: 7 for 37 laps.

    Lead Changes: 12 among 6 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: N. Sanchez 0;C. Heim 1-49;T. Gray 50-52;C. Heim 53;T. Gray 54-57;C. Heim 58;T. Gray 59-67;C. Heim 68-93;G. Enfinger 94-96;T. Majeski 97-105;C. Eckes 106-120;T. Majeski 121-147;R. Chastain(i) 148-150.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Corey Heim 4 times for 77 laps; Ty Majeski 2 times for 36 laps; Taylor Gray 3 times for 16 laps; Christian Eckes 1 time for 15 laps; Ross Chastain(i) 1 time for 3 laps; Grant Enfinger 1 time for 3 laps.

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,19,98,17,38,45,5,99,52,9

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,71,19,98,9,88,38,45,17,13

  • ABEL Motorsports captures race win and championship lead at Indy

    ABEL Motorsports captures race win and championship lead at Indy

    Jacob Abel paces wire to wire to take the race one victory on a difficult day for teammates Sundaramoorthy and Missig

    SPEEDWAY, Ind. (10 May 2024) – Jacob Abel and ABEL Motorsports scored the race one victory from pole, taking the championship lead on a crucial INDY NXT by Firestone doubleheader at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday.

    The race did not fare as well for teammates Yuven Sundaramoorthy and Jordan Missig, who both saw solid runs go for naught with late race incidents.

    Sharing the weekend with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ Sonsio Grand Prix, the INDY NXT series began the two-day event with a full slate of action – practice, qualifying and race one on Friday. Abel (Louisville, Ky.), Sundaramoorthy (Oconomowoc, Wis.) and Missig (Joliet, Ill.) had just the lone practice session to come up to speed before qualifying. All three drivers focused on finding balance and grip, and at the end of practice, Abel held the fifth quickest time, with Missig 16th and Sundaramoorthy 17th – and the top 15 separated by a mere second.

    When qualifying was done early in the afternoon, Sundaramoorthy was set to start P15 and Missig P16 in race one – and on the heels of two flyers to start the session, Abel earned pole positions in both Friday’s race one and Saturday’s race two.

    “I didn’t feel as though I was driving my best this morning and the car needed a bit of work as well, so I just focused on how to make the car better through that session,” said Abel in the race winning press conference. “The team worked hard between sessions to put me into a position to feel good going into qualifying, and obviously they did a great job of that. The car was so strong, but we know that it’s a lot harder to win from pole here than it is at Barber.”

    Abel led the field to the race one green, getting a good jump and avoiding the slingshot draft from behind. While Missig was forced to check up through Turn 2 as cars slowed dramatically ahead, Sundaramoorthy saw an advantage, punching the pedal and taking 10th position. A quick spin in turn 7 put Missig back into 20th, as the field settled in behind Abel.

    Sundaramoorthy continued to advance, making solid passes and claiming P6 by lap 10 while Missig rebounded as well, into P15. At the front of the field, Abel had broken out to a five-second lead over co-championship leader Nolan Siegel, just focusing forward and managing tires.

    Out of push-to-pass mid-race, Sundaramoorthy fell back to 7th, then was freight trained into turn 1. Adding to his misery was a clip by another car that sent him onto the Turn 8 grass and into pit lane with a punctured front left. He went back out on track in 25th, just behind Missig, but spun and landed in the gravel, bringing out a caution flag.

    Abel took the restart with nine laps remaining, powering onto the front stretch and again breaking the draft to Siegel and holding his advantage. But two laps later, Missig made contact with the turn 7 wall, bringing out another yellow.

    Abel managed the restart perfectly with just three laps remaining and while Siegel briefly pulled alongside in turn 1, Abel held his ground, taking the race win and the championship lead. Missig came home 18th and Sundaramoorthy 20th.

    “This was awesome,” said Abel. “We’ve always just kind of struggled at this track, which is unfortunate because we race here a lot, but in the past, it wasn’t really a good track for us so to get this win today is really special. That it felt like a long race, just managing tires the whole time so I could be ready if there was a restart. Unfortunately, the first yellow took away the four-second lead that I had – and was just taking a nice sunset cruise on! But it was still good at the end, though Nolan made me work for it there a little bit. Props to him for driving me clean and we will see how tomorrow goes.”

    “There was some calamity in the first corner on the start and that set me back,” said Missig. “Once I got into a good rhythm and my pace was good, I just focused on saving push-to-pass and worked on getting closer and closer. But once we all started kind of getting into traffic and everyone started fighting with us, drivers were kind of just parking at the apex and that caught me out a bit. That’s when the incident happened. But the ABEL Motorsports group put a great car together. We had such great pace, especially on the long runs. I gained a lot of experience today and now we are looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully being able to make some more passes and get towards the front.”

    “It was a good start – I got lucky and was really moving forward,” said Sundaramoorthy. “I was hoping I could stay at their pace but just didn’t quite have it. I burned up my push-to-pass and was a sitting duck after that. I’m just really glad that the caution I brought out didn’t hurt Jacob’s race, that would have sucked. Hopefully better tomorrow.”

    Veteran team manager John Brunner has won numerous races at the Speedway but knows that the Victory Lane experience never gets old.

    “It is the coolest thing – you come here so many times and you think you’d get used to it, but you never get used to winning here,” said Brunner. “We really didn’t need those yellows, and unfortunately, we caused them ourselves as a team. But Jacob had control from the beginning so we thought we would be fine on restarts, since we were saving tires and push-to-pass. We were pretty confident.”

    ABEL Motorsports thanks partners ABEL Construction Company, Advance Ready Mix, Boyd Cat®, S Team Motorsports and OMP for their continued support.

    The second race in the INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix takes the green flag Saturday at 1:00 p.m. ET. The race will be streamed live in the U.S. on Peacock, while international viewers can watch via INDYCARLIVE, with INDYCAR Radio available at indycar.com and on Sirius XM.

    About ABEL Motorsports: Team principal Bill Abel began racing motocross in 1972, earning numerous championship titles as he continued the family racing tradition. In 2015, ABEL Motorsports was launched, starting in the USF2000 series and building up the junior open wheel ladder. The team captured the inaugural Formula Regional Americas Championship with driver Kyle Kirkwood in 2018.

    ABEL Motorsports currently competes in the INDY NXT by Firestone series, the official development series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, led by third-generation driver Jacob Abel. The team made its INDYCAR debut in 2023 with driver RC Enerson in the Indianapolis 500. For more information visit the official team website at abelmotorsports.com.

    About Abel Construction Company: ABEL Construction is one of the largest general contractors in Kentucky, holding licenses in thirteen states. The company has offices in Lexington, Kentucky and Indianapolis, Indiana, with the corporate office in Louisville. Their expertise spans many areas, including general contracting, construction management, design-build, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and facilities maintenance.

    Abel Construction has helped build some of the region’s most recognizable landmarks. Their projects cover diverse sectors, including automotive, healthcare, post-secondary education, commercial, food/beverage, tech, and industrial/manufacturing. They prioritize client satisfaction, focusing on efficient project delivery regardless of size or cost. The company’s skilled professionals utilize cutting-edge technology and software to ensure successful outcomes. abelconstruct.com/.

    ABEL Motorsports social media

    Facebook: ABEL Motorsports
    Twitter/X: ABEL Motorsports
    Instagram: ABEL Motorsports

  • Abel Keeps Rolling with Wire-to-Wire Win at IMS; Chadwick Third

    Abel Keeps Rolling with Wire-to-Wire Win at IMS; Chadwick Third

    INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 10, 2024) – All it takes is one.

    Jacob Abel spoke to how much confidence his maiden INDY NXT by Firestone victory April 28 at Barber Motorsports Park did for his psyche. Friday, Abel scored win No. 2.

    Abel held off second-place finisher Nolan Siegel in a three-lap shootout on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course to score his second consecutive victory in the No. 51 Abel Construction entry.

    “This is awesome,” Abel said after leading all 35 laps in this race. “Unfortunately, we don’t get to celebrate for too long here. We’re getting another chance tomorrow. That was a really great race, though.”

    Siegel came in tied with Abel for the points lead and charged from a fifth-place starting position to bring his No. 39 HMD Motorsports entry home second, .5470 of a second in arrears. He trails Abel by 14 points entering Saturday’s second race of the Indianapolis Grand Prix doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET, with live coverage on Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

    Friday’s result was the third time in as many races this season the duo finished 1-2, as Siegel won the season opener in March in St. Petersburg, Florida.

    Andretti Global’s Jamie Chadwick scored the best finish for a female driver in INDY NXT by Firestone since Pippa Mann’s 2010 win at Kentucky Speedway on Sept. 4, 2010, when she brought her No. 28 VEXT entry home third. Chadwick’s previous best finish was sixth last September at Portland International Raceway.

    Rookie Callum Hedge finished fourth in the No. 17 HMD Motorsports entry, with fellow rookie Myles Rowe rounding out the top five in the No. 99 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy car.

    Abel initially had the win on cruise control before a pair of late-race cautions caused by both Abel Motorsports teammates erased his advantage. He leaped to nearly a five-season lead over Siegel before the first caution flew for Yuven Sundaramoorthy stopping off course in his No. 22 S Team Motorsports/Abel Motorsports entry in Turn 4 on Lap 21.

    On the Lap 26 restart, Abel led Siegel to the green on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course. Two laps later, his advantage grew to .9704 of a second.

    On Lap 30, Jordan Missig (No. 21 Abel Motorsports) went off course after contact with the wall in Turn 7, sparking the second full-course caution.

    Siegel had a second chance to pass Abel for the win. Even with a great launch on the Lap 32 restart, Abel prevailed.

    “Nolan and I had a great battle,” Abel said. “I had it under control the whole time. I had a big lead there, and unfortunately a lot of yellows really made me work for it at the end. I was just saving tires early on, so I was ready for that.

    “Massive thanks to all the Abel Motorsports crew. They delivered an amazing car. We didn’t roll off 100 percent here, but we everyone figured it out in that one practice session that we had, and that’s almost more gratifying than last weekend, when we just rolled off perfect.”

    The exciting race featured 165 on-track passes and 136 passes for position, both series records for this circuit.

    INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix Race 1 Results

    INDIANAPOLIS – Results Friday of the INDY NXT by Firestone Indianapolis Grand Prix INDY NXT by Firestone event on the 2.439 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway RC, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, laps completed and reason out (if any):

    1. (1) Jacob Abel, 35, Running
    2. (5) Nolan Siegel, 35, Running
    3. (6) Jamie Chadwick, 35, Running
    4. (8) Callum Hedge, 35, Running
    5. (12) Myles Rowe, 35, Running
    6. (10) Reece Gold, 35, Running
    7. (4) Louis Foster, 35, Running
    8. (7) Jonathan Browne, 35, Running
    9. (17) Christian Bogle, 35, Running
    10. (19) Niels Koolen, 35, Running
    11. (13) Salvador de Alba Jr, 35, Running
    12. (9) Michael d’Orlando, 35, Running
    13. (18) Nolan Allaer, 35, Running
    14. (11) Bryce Aron, 34, Running
    15. (3) James Roe, 34, Running
    16. (20) Jack William Miller, 34, Running
    17. (21) Lindsay Brewer, 33, Running
    18. (16) Jordan Missig, 33, Running
    19. (2) Caio Collet, 32, Running
    20. (15) Yuven Sundaramoorthy, 31, Running
    21. (14) Josh Pierson, 6, Off Course

    Race Statistics
    Winner’s average speed: 105.437 mph
    Time of Race: 48:34.6690
    Margin of victory: 0.5470 of a second
    Cautions: 2 for 7 laps
    Lead changes: 0

    Lap Leaders: Abel, Jacob 1 – 35

  • The NASCAR All-Star Race 12-Pack Of Memorable Moments

    The NASCAR All-Star Race 12-Pack Of Memorable Moments

    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 9, 2024) – As NASCAR celebrates the milestone 40th running of its popular All-Star Race, one of the single biggest factors in the 39 previous editions of the prestigious event that showcases the best of the best in the NASCAR Cup Series with more than $1 million up for grabs has been surprises.

    There has been a plethora of surprise winners, surprise finishes, surprising crashes and surprising moves on the track that truly left us all breathless. We were surprised when the favorite didn’t win just as much as we were surprised when a driver came roaring from the pack to take home the money.

    As the 40th NASCAR All-Star Race takes center stage at legendary North Wilkesboro Speedway next weekend, May 17-19 (8 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio), fans can almost certainly expect more of the same. Before we crown the 40th winner of this amazing event that is part drama, part mayhem and part chaos, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable finishes in All-Star Race history.

    Because every one of the 39 previous All-Star Races have had incredible circumstances around their finishes, it’s a herculean task and nearly impossible to rank them in order of most-favorite to least-favorite. So below is a 12-pack of the most memorable All-Star Race finishes in chronological order.

    2019, “Advance and Conquer”
    Kyle Larson earned the first of his three All-Star Race victories while driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. The California native swept both races that night, the All-Star Open and the All-Star Race, becoming only the first Cup Series driver to win the NASCAR All-Star Race after also claiming the All-Star Open. He’s since added two more All-Star Race victories, at Texas Motor Speedway in 2021 and North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023.

    2009, “Smoke Got Him!”
    Tony Stewart scored an emotional first win as a team owner/driver in the NASCAR Cup Series by taking the checkered flag in the thrilling 2009 All-Star Race. In a final 10-lap shootout, Stewart passed rivals Kyle Busch in third and second-place Matt Kenseth in dramatic fashion as TV analyst Larry McReynolds famously shouted “Smoke got him!” and he took the checkered flag and pocketed the $1 million payday. It was the former Cup and IndyCar champion’s first win since leaving Joe Gibbs Racing to become co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing. He joined 1994 winner Geoff Bodine as the All-Star Race’s only driver-owner winners.

    2008, “Crashing the Party”
    Kasey Kahne thought his night was over after finishing a disappointing 15th at the controls of his Ray Evernham No. 9 Dodge in the All-Star Open in 2008 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, his legion of fans came to the rescue and awarded him a starting spot in the prestigious All-Star Race as the Fan Vote Winner. He started last in the All-Star Race, but after making adjustments to the car and coming up aces on a pit road gamble, sent him straight to Victory Lane as the surprise winner. In the strategic pit stop move, Kahne’s team elected to not change tires and it paid off. Runner-up Greg Biffle, who led the most laps and took two tires in the same stop, wasn’t able to get by the big red machine as the checkered flag waved.

    2005, “Throwback Victory”
    Mark Martin became the oldest All-Star winner in history at age 46 when he turned back the clock a bit to win a fan-favorite 2005 All-Star Race at Charlotte. Driving a throwback color scheme that honored the early 1990s on his No. 6 Ford gave Martin the mojo he needed to run up front and ultimately take the victory. Martin won the first segment, and then worked his way back to the front in the second segment after an inverted start. In the final segment he took advantage of a nine-car melee to move into contention. In the final 19 laps, Martin was able to bump past Elliott Sadler to take the lead. Martin pulled away once he got out front and Sadler finished second.

    2002, “Another Rookie Winner”
    Ryan Newman managed to have one of the best All-Star nights in history in 2002 as he won the All-Star Open and then started last in the 27-car All-Star field, but managed to hang on and win the $1 million first place prize. Ironically, to take the win he had to hold off the defending winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr. With the win Newman joined Earnhardt Jr. as the only rookies to have ever won the All-Star Race.

    2000, “We came here to take all the money”
    Dale Earnhardt Inc. teammate Steve Park had just won the All-Star Open and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was determined to do his part to make the evening a race-team affair to remember at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2000. The third-generation star kept the momentum going when he raced to the win in the All-Star Race to capture the $1 million payday. A late pit stop gave the driver of the red No. 8 Chevy all the momentum he needed to make a late-race pass on Dale Jarrett and capture the prestigious victory. He became the first rookie to win the All-Star Race and famously said in Victory Lane as he celebrated with his team owner and father, “We didn’t come here to run third, we came here to take all the money.”

    1997, “T-Rex Roars”
    Jeff Gordon drove his famed Jurassic Park movie-themed “T-Rex” No. 24 Chevy to a dominating victory in the 1997 NASCAR All-Star Race, winning all three stages. This victory was also controversial, as the “experimental” car was rumored to be illegal due to a questionable suspension setup that basically optimized the car for short-run speed. The car was reportedly signed off on by NASCAR officials prior to the All-Star Race and strutted its stuff throughout the night, putting on quite a show for the fans. Gordon took the lead with nine laps to go and cruised on to the victory. Later the next week NASCAR officials modified its rulebook and made sure that T-Rex was all but extinct.

    1996, “Last to First”
    Michael Waltrip hadn’t exactly followed in his big brother Darrell’s tire tracks in the NASCAR Cup Series. Through 11 seasons of racing, which was more than 300 starts, he had yet to win a major event or any points-paying race, much less cash a big payday. That all changed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1996. Waltrip found a way to finish fifth, the last transfer spot, in the All-Star Open qualifying race and advanced into the big-money All-Star Race. Driving the famed No. 21 for the Wood Brothers out of Virginia, Waltrip found his stride under the bright lights of the All-Star Race. The tall, lanky driver found his way into contention and took advantage of contact late in the race between rivals Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Terry Labonte. Waltrip sped through the open gap to claim the lead with nine laps to go. From there he mashed the gas and left the pack behind and made history as the first driver to win the All-Star Race after transferring from the Open. He famously said to his critics who called it an exhibition win after the race, “I smell like champagne. I’ve got confetti on me and I just won one of the biggest races of the year with the Wood Brothers. I swear it feels a whole lot like a win to me.”

    1992, “One Hot Night”
    For the first time in All-Star Race history the race was held under bright stadium lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Davey Allison and Kyle Petty dueled for most of the night, proving they both had the top-contending cars, but the always present “Intimidator” Dale Earnhardt was lurking, and had worked his way into the lead with six laps to go. Petty reeled in Earnhardt and eventually Petty and Earnhardt tangled in turn three while battling for the lead on the final lap, and while the 3-car slid away from the action, Petty and Allison powered side-by-side toward the checkered flag. Sparks were flying as the two made contact at the finish and the crashing race cars sent Allison in one direction and Petty in another. Allison was declared the winner, but he didn’t make it to Victory Lane, unfortunately, as he was rushed to a local hospital where he was treated for a separated collarbone and other minor injuries. That race alone set the tone for the All-Star Race becoming must-watch NASCAR and the hottest ticket in town.

    1989, “The Tide Slide”
    Then young-gun Rusty Wallace stalked the decorated NASCAR champ Darrell Waltrip for nearly nine laps in the 1989 All-Star Race at Charlotte before making his winning move. The two drivers had the best cars of the night, as each had claimed an earlier segment win. In the final segment, Waltrip appeared to be on his way to victory in the late stages. With 10 laps to go, however, Wallace’s No. 27 Pontiac continued to creep closer to Waltrip’s bumper. With two laps remaining, Wallace got to Waltrip’s rear bumper in turns 3-4 as the white flag waved in the distance. The two cars eventually touched and Waltrip’s famed No. 17 orange Tide Chevy took a slide up the track. While Wallace drove to Victory Lane, the two race teams erupted in a huge fight on pit road. A dejected Waltrip famously said, “I hope he chokes on that $200,000.”

    1987, “The Pass in the Grass”
    One of the most-discussed All-Star Races in history, the 1987 victory by Dale Earnhardt Sr., still to this day receives more than its share of water-cooler chatter among race fans. At the time the race was famously tagged “The Pass in the Grass”, but as we all know there was no pass. It was a “Save in the Grass”. And a magic one at that. Earnhardt somehow managed to recover after Bill Elliott tagged his rear bumper and sent his blue and yellow No. 3 Chevy off the track onto the grass patch in the trioval of Charlotte Motor Speedway. A determined Earnhardt never lost stride or power and just manhandled the machine back on the track and never lost his position. It was a breath-taking moment and a spectacular save all in one. Earnhardt had been battling with his rival Elliott for most of the race and neither driver was giving an inch. Both were animated in post-race interviews. Said an angry Elliott: “Dale cut down on me and spun himself. Clearly, I was under him. If I’d meant to spin him, I would have spun him. I had the quickest car… he meant to take me out.” Earnhardt had a different view of the event. “(Elliott) came up there and tried to spin me out twice,” Earnhardt said. “I didn’t take it.”

    1985, “Explosive Victory”
    Darrell Waltrip won the inaugural NASCAR All-Star Race in thrilling fashion at Charlotte Motor Speedway and as soon as the checkered flag waved, controversy ensued. In fact, that one All-Star Race may be the most controversial of them all. Harry Gant led the most laps in the star-studded field of 12 drivers that featured the best of the best from the time period. Gant looked like he was on his way to an easy win but Waltrip had other plans. With two laps to go, Waltrip caught and passed Gant and took the victory. A few moments after the checkered flag waved, Waltrip’s No. 11 Junior-Johnson tuned Chevy erupted in white smoke. The win stood, and the controversy still lingers. Even today there are those who feel like that engine was illegal, but because it exploded just after the race was over there was nothing for NASCAR’s officials to inspect.

    Below are the winners of each NASCAR All-Star Race in history:

    Year Driver Team Owner Manufacturer Location

    1985 Darrell Waltrip Junior Johnson Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1986 Bill Elliott Melling Racing Ford Atlanta, Ga.

    1987 Dale Earnhardt Sr. Richard Childress Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1988 Terry Labonte Junior Johnson Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1989 Rusty Wallace Blue Max Racing Pontiac Charlotte, N.C.

    1990 Dale Earnhardt Sr. Richard Childress Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1991 Davey Allison Robert Yates Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    1992 Davey Allison Robert Yates Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    1993 Dale Earnhardt Sr. Richard Childress Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1994 Geoff Bodine Geoff Bodine Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    1995 Jeff Gordon Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1996 Michael Waltrip Wood Brothers Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    1997 Jeff Gordon Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    1998 Mark Martin Jack Roush Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    1999 Terry Labonte Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Sr. Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2001 Jeff Gordon Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2002 Ryan Newman Penske Racing Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2003 Jimmie Johnson Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2004 Matt Kenseth Jack Roush Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2005 Mark Martin Jack Roush Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2006 Jimmie Johnson Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2007 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2008 Kasey Kahne Ray Evernham Dodge Charlotte, N.C.

    2009 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2010 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2011 Carl Edwards Roush-Fenway Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2012 Jimmie Johnson Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2013 Jimmie Johnson Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2014 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2015 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Toyota Charlotte, N.C.

    2016 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2017 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Toyota Charlotte, N.C.

    2018 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Ford Charlotte, N.C.

    2019 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Chevrolet Charlotte, N.C.

    2020 Chase Elliott Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Bristol, Tenn.

    2021 Kyle Larson Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Ft. Worth, Texas

    2022 Ryan Blaney Penske Racing Ford Ft. Worth, Texas

    2023 Kyle Larson Rick Hendrick Chevrolet North Wilkesboro, N.C.

    TICKETS:

    Single-day tickets, camping and parking for all NASCAR All-Star Race week events can be purchased online by visiting www.NorthWilkesboroSpeedway.com. Fans shopping for the best value can purchase a five-day, NASCAR All-Star Race week ticket package starting at just $259. The package includes all NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and zMAX CARS Tour races, qualifying and practice sessions, plus Neal McCoy, Tim Dugger and Warren Zeiders concerts and the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear. There is also a three-day NASCAR All-Star weekend ticket package available for $229.

    MORE INFO:
    Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding NASCAR All-Star week and North Wilkesboro Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

  • Maeta To Perform National Anthem at Sonsio Grand Prix

    Maeta To Perform National Anthem at Sonsio Grand Prix

    Chart-Topping Roc Nation Artist, Indianapolis Native Comes Home for Emotional Performance

    INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, May 9, 2024) – Maeta, a Roc Nation artist who recently peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and an Indianapolis native, will perform the national anthem before the start of the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    “The singing of the national anthem before the start of a race is always an emotional and moving moment,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Having an Indianapolis native, whose career is just taking off, ensures this performance will be memorable for all involved. Maeta’s rendition is sure to set the stage for an epic race on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course.”

    Maeta has been described as a tour de force, and her EP “When I Hear Your Name” showcases collaborations with some of the greatest artists in the industry and illustrates her appeal as your favorite artist’s favorite artist. KAYTRANADA, Kehlani, Demi Lovato, Ty Dolla $ign and Lucky Daye are just a few of the artists featured on the EP.

    Represented by powerhouse management agencies MBK Entertainment, Inc and JDH & Company, led by industry icons Jeff Robinson, Jeanine McLean and Jason Hobdy, Maeta has had an exciting year. She closed out 2023 touring across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe and released “When I Hear Your Name (Live).” She also stunned audiences with a captivating performance of “Through The Night” at the Soul Train Awards.

    Most recently, Chris Brown announced that Maeta will join him on all tour dates of his 11:11 Tour, kicking off June 5 in Detroit. The tour also features special guests Arya Starr and Muni Long.

    NBC’s live coverage of the Sonsio Grand Prix starts at 3 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 11.

    Visit IMS.com to purchase tickets for the Sonsio Grand Prix on Saturday, May 11 and for more information on the complete Month of May schedule at IMS.

  • Spire Motorsports, Michael McDowell Agree to Multi-Year Contract

    Spire Motorsports, Michael McDowell Agree to Multi-Year Contract

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 8, 2024) – Spire Motorsports has agreed to a multi-year contract with 2021 DAYTONA 500 winner Michael McDowell to drive the team’s No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) beginning with the 2025 season.

    McDowell, a native of Glendale, Ariz., is a veteran of 477 NCS starts and a two-time race winner. He made his NCS debut in 2008 and has since recorded two pole positions, nine top-five and 40 top-10 finishes in NASCAR’s premier division.

    He will be teamed with veteran Corey LaJoie and 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Carson Hocevar.

    “This is a new chapter for my family and me, and we’re incredibly thankful for the opportunity that’s in front of us,” said McDowell. “It’s going to take some hard work, but I feel like everything is in place for us to be successful as a race team — to win races and contend for championships. People are the greatest asset to any organization, and with Spire’s vision, ambition, knowledge, and dedication, we will achieve great things. Failure is not an option, and that’s the mindset that it will take to achieve our goals.”

    The father of five comes to Spire Motorsports from Front Row Motorsports where he was the organization’s leader in wins, starts, and top-five finishes. In addition to his victory in the 2021 Great American Race, McDowell proved his versatility with a road-course win in last year’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He earned NASCAR Cup Series Playoff berths in 2021 and 2023.

    In addition to his vast NCS resume, McDowell has made 94 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts where he earned two poles, one win (Road America 2016), six top-five and 20 top-10 finishes. He’s also a four-time ARCA Menards Series race winner.

    “Michael McDowell is a proven winner and brings a NASCAR Playoff pedigree,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. “Michael has always been committed to elevate his teams. His experience and enthusiasm are a perfect fit for Spire Motorsports, and we are sure he will be a great teammate to both Carey LaJoie and Carson Hocevar. We’re thrilled to keep up the positive momentum by adding someone as accomplished as Michael to our driver lineup.

    “Our 2024 plan for the No. 71 team remains unchanged. Spire Motorsports fully supports Zane Smith and Stephan Doran. We remain committed to the success of our collaboration with Trackhouse. That team is just beginning to realize its potential. We’re looking forward to seeing how the Rookie of the Year battle plays out between Zane and Carson.”

    Outside the stock car world, McDowell is an accomplished road racer with wins and championships spanning the karting, Formula Renault, Star Mazda and IMSA landscapes. He is a two-time International Karting Federation Champion who compiled 18 consecutive World Karting Association wins.
    The 39-year-old collected Formula Renault USA Championship honors in 2002 and went on to claim the Star Mazda Series championship two years later. He boasts a 2005 IMSA win in Mexico City and was named the ARCA Menards Series Rookie of the Year in 2007.

    Spire Motorsports was founded in 2018 and has logged 324 Cup Series starts, posting one win, six top fives and 12 top 10s. Since then, its teams and drivers have become Cup Series mainstays.

    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.

  • Corvette E-Ray to Pace 108th Indianapolis 500

    Corvette E-Ray to Pace 108th Indianapolis 500

    Quickest Production and First-Ever Electrified with AWD Corvette To Lead Field

    INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 8, 2024) – The 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 3LZ coupe – the quickest production Corvette in history – will lead the field to the green flag for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    Designed for year-round performance, the Corvette E-Ray and its electrified All-Wheel Drive (eAWD) capability is up for any challenge, and the exterior and interior of the Corvette E-Ray will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off the track.

    “We are proud to announce the E-Ray, which is the first electrified and quickest production Corvette ever, will be pacing the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500,” said Scott Bell, global Chevrolet vice president. “As we often say, Chevrolet and INDYCAR share the same spirit of competition and performance-oriented, cutting-edge technology, making E-Ray the perfect fit to pace this year’s race.”

    The Corvette E-Ray is the only sports car pairing two separate propulsion systems to provide naturally aspirated V-8 power with electrified responsiveness powered by eAWD, making it one like none. A 6.2L V-8 is complemented by the electric motor that channels an additional 160 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels for 655 combined horsepower.

    The addition of the electric drive unit helps the E-Ray achieve incredible acceleration – from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds before breezing through the quarter-mile in 10.5 seconds. Stealth Mode enables the Corvette E-Ray to drive on electric power for up to 4 miles at speeds up to 45 mph.

    The Corvette E-Ray features a host of functional design elements, adding wider fenders, quarter panels and fascias. The result is a sleek, sculpted presence with a number of aerodynamic and performance benefits. Standard ground effects and spoiler contribute further to its aerodynamic prowess, while matching body-color accents provide a refined look.

    Arctic white exterior paint and two-tone jet black and natural interior accents, inspired by fighter jets, pair nicely with the Indianapolis 500 logos on the Pace Car. Carbon fiber wheels, with exclusive standard all-season tires, complete the car’s iconic, race-ready look and provide sure-footed performance in a variety of conditions.

    “As we anticipate another record-breaking Indianapolis 500, it’s only fitting that the quickest production Corvette will pace the field,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “The performance enhancements tested on the track make their way to the street, and the Corvette E-Ray is a prime example of that Chevrolet innovation.”

    Corvette is the longest-running car nameplate in automotive industry history, so it’s no surprise Corvette has paced “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” more times than any car. The 2024 race marks the 35th time for Chevrolet to pace dating back to 1948 and the 21st time overall, since 1978 for America’s favorite sports car.

    Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information on all Month of May events and activities at IMS.

    Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 80 countries. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

  • Front Row Motorsports Statement Regarding Michael McDowell

    Front Row Motorsports Statement Regarding Michael McDowell

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 8, 2024) – After seven seasons with Front Row Motorsports (FRM), Michael McDowell has announced he will leave FRM at the end of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

    The organization’s NASCAR Cup Series leader in wins, starts, and top-5 finishes, McDowell has been an important part in the growth and success of FRM, including winning the 2021 Daytona 500, the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

    A statement from FRM Owner, Bob Jenkins:

    “We thank Michael for all he has done during his time as a driver at Front Row Motorsports. His 2021 Daytona 500 victory, a dominant win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs set a new standard for our organization. He became the leader of his team and the organization. Outside the car, he was the model for a driver we want to represent us and our partners.”

    “We’re sad to see Michael leave, but wish him, Jami and his family nothing but the best as he moves on to another chapter of what is already an incredible racing career.”

    McDowell and the No. 34 team are focused on competing for wins and returning to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs throughout the rest of the season.

    ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

  • Lando Norris scores his landmark first career win at the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

    Lando Norris scores his landmark first career win at the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix

    • McLaren’s Lando Norris scores a brilliant maiden victory at the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX in front of a sell-out crowd; Max Verstappen finishes second with Charles Leclerc in third place
    • A three-day attendance of 275,799 enjoy a spectacular weekend of exciting racing and off-track entertainment with race-day performances from Kaytranada and Kaskade, , while Marc Anthony performs the National Anthem on the grid
    • Stars from the sporting world including Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey and Raheem Mostert join LeBron James and Jimmy Butler along with singer-songwriters Zayn Malik, Shakira, Camila Cabello on the starting grid

    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A sellout crowd witnessed a landmark moment as McLaren’s Lando Norris triumphed at the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX to record his first-ever Formula 1 victory at his 110th attempt. It was a brilliant result for the 24-year-old who took the checkered flag ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. After starting fifth on the grid, Norris benefitted from a mid-race Safety Car to jump into the lead of the race and comfortably pulled away from the field over the last two dozen laps.

    “What a race! It’s been a long time coming but we’ve finally managed to do it and deliver for the McLaren team,” said the race winner. “I knew on Friday we had the pace and today we put together the perfect strategy and it paid off. This is for my team, I’m proud that we’ve put it all together. I’m finally on top and over the moon!”

    In front of a sell-out crowd, the whole McLaren team wildly celebrated with the British driver after the flag and the popular racer was congratulated by a number of his fellow competitors for his maiden victory in F1. At the start, Max Verstappen led away from pole and was hotly pursued by Leclerc, the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The latter pair enjoyed a race-long duel, but Piastri’s race was effectively over when Sainz overtook the McLaren at Turn 17 on lap 39 damaging the front-wing of the McLaren as he did so — and forcing Piastri to pit for repairs.

    It wasn’t entirely trouble free for Verstappen out front and on lap 21 he made a small mistake at the tight Turn 14 chicane and dislodged the bollard onto the race track. A brief Virtual Safety Car was then deployed to allow the marshals to remove the broken cone. While Verstappen and Leclerc pitted during this phase of the race, Norris ran longer and eventually inherited the lead. Then came the turning point in the race. On lap 29 the full Safety Car was deployed as Haas’ Kevin Magnussen had made contact with Logan Sargeant at Turn 3. The Fort Lauderdale man was sent spinning into the barriers and was the race’s only retirement.

    Norris seized the opportunity to pit behind the Safety Car and with the field at a reduced pace he emerged back in the lead ahead of Verstappen and Leclerc. When racing resumed on lap 33, Norris defended from Verstappen at Turn 1 and with tyres that were six laps fresher, was quickly able to build a gap and commandingly went on to pull away over the remaining 24 laps. Sainz finished fourth ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who narrowly fended off a charging Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes.

    “I want to congratulate Lando Norris on his first Formula 1 victory, as well as Zak Brown and the entire McLaren team on an incredible day in Miami,” said Tom Garfinkel, Managing Partner FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, who presented Norris the winners’ trophy on the podium. “We are thrilled that the Miami Grand Prix played host to such an exciting race and delighted that the 275,000 fans in attendance this weekend were able to enjoy three days of exciting on-track action, as well as the lineup of great entertainment throughout the weekend. Thanks to Formula 1 and the FIA, we’re proud to have showcased the city of Miami to the world and there’s no doubt our third race in Miami Gardens has been our best yet.”.

    A sell-out crowd attended the Miami International Autodrome over the three days, up over 5,000 from last year and an increase of 45,000 from the inaugural event in 2022. It was once again a popular destination for famous figures from the sporting world and celebrities from the film and music industry. Miami Dolphins players Jalen Ramsey, Raheem Mostert, Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Teron Armstead and Jevon Holland joined the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, along with fellow NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams rubbed shoulders with singer-songwriters Zayn Malik, Shakira, Camila Cabello and electronic duo The Chainsmokers. Meanwhile the celebrity investors of the Alpine — NFL players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce along with golfer Rory McIlroy — were also at today’s race supporting their team.

    Aside from the main event, there was plenty of entertainment for fans to enjoy across the Campus, from the performances of DJs Cedric Gervais, John Summit and Kaskade at Hard Rock Beach Club to the post-race podium set from renowned DJ and producer Kaytranada. A star-studded weekend of entertainment also featured six-time Grammy Award winner Marc Anthony who delivered a special rendition of the U.S. National Anthem on the starting grid prior to the start of the race.

    On the track there was action from the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, while rising star Abbi Pulling once again dominated the second all-female F1 ACADEMY series race of the weekend. In a repeat of yesterday’s race, she led all 13 laps from pole position in her Alpine-liveried Formula 4 car and was joined on the podium by McLaren’s Bianca Bustamante and Mercedes’ Doriane Pin. Finally, last night a special Bonhams|Car auction featured 23 super cars and the star of the show was the 2011 Ferrari SP30 Berlinetta which fetched over $2 million.

    About the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX

    The FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX, established in 2022 on the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar, is the premier culmination of world-class racing, fan experience, entertainment and hospitality, located in the heart of Miami Gardens, Florida. Recognized as Best New Event of 2022 by Sports Business Journal and now entering its third year, the event is hosted by South Florida Motorsports (SFM) at the Miami International Autodrome, a 19-turn, 3.36-mile track within the complex of Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the legendary Miami Dolphins NFL team.

    In its first two years, the race attracted more than 240,000 attendees across both weekends and provided an additional tourist boost and economic impact to local businesses in the greater Miami region totaling $798 million. SFM and Formula 1 have also worked closely to engage with and support the local Miami Gardens community, providing over 1,500 tickets for residents, creating a STEM education program through F1 in Schools, offering event internships for local students and featuring 14 local community restaurants on Campus during race weekend each year.

    For more information please visit: https://media.f1miamigp.com/

    About Formula 1®

    The history of Formula 1® began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motorsport competition and the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1 and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™.

    Formula 1 is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group shares.

    The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One company. All rights reserved.

    For more information about Formula 1® visit: www.formula1.com