Category: Featured Headline

By Holly Cain
NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Carson Hocevar secured his first NASCAR CRATSMAN Truck Series Championship 4 appearance with a victory Saturday in the Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway earning all four of his career series wins this season – the trophy Saturday most impactful among them.

Hocevar put his No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet into the lead with 11 laps remaining and held off the hard-charging Zane Smith by 2.705-seconds to claim the win over the reigning series champion, whose runner-up effort was disqualified by NASCAR after a post-race technical inspection found the defending series champion’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford was illegal – using an unapproved windshield support.

“We are disappointed in the disqualification,’’ Front Row Motorsports said in a statement after the NASCAR inspecition. “We will continue to work and discuss with NASCAR officials back at the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, N.C. before making any further comment.’’

The DQ moved ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes into runner-up on the afternoon helping him to advance to the Playoffs – prevailing in a tiebreaker with rookie Nick Sanchez; the polesitter who finished 17th after making contact with another truck coming to pit road for his final stop.

Regular season champion, TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim, GMS Racing’s Grant Enfinger and Hocevar’s Niece Motorsports teammate Bailey Curry rounded out the top five at Homestead.

Heim, Hocevar, Enfinger and Rhodes will now race for the championship Nov. 3 at Phoenix Raceway.

Hocevar celebrated the clutch win by climbing high atop the flag stand to claim the checkered flag in person. He threw it down to the cheering fans behind the fence then climbed back down on the grandstand side to high-five fans and celebrate the biggest win of his life – to date.

“It kills me I can’t do a burn-out but we have to take this truck to Phoenix,’’ a grinning Hocevar said. “This truck was so good. We just got behind on pit stops and just lost track position which was unfortunate, but man, it’s so good to feel [like this]. I love it.

“I thought we could win today with our truck, even with all the setbacks from the debris and everything, we had a shot to win and we did just that.’’

The battle for that final Playoff position was as dramatic as the fight for the victory.

Rhodes came into this final regular season race only five points behind Sanchez for the fourth championship-eligible transfer position. He finished 24th in the opening stage and 10th in the second stage. It still left him outside looking into the Championship 4, so Rhodes’ ThorSport team opted to pit for fresh tires early and out of pit sequence. The move allowed his No. 99 ThorSport Ford to take the race lead as the other frontrunners pit later.

He held the point with 30 laps remaining only to have Hocevar and Smith chase him back down. Hocevar passed him with 11 laps remaining, Smith a lap later.

“We failed Ben today, we didn’t give him a very good truck and he bailed us out at the end there,’’ Rhodes’ crew chief Rich Lushes said. “It was the only call we had. We had to do something different than everybody else and it all worked out so I guess we’re going to [championship] again.’’

It was a heartbreaking ending for the 22-year old Sanchez, who is from nearby Miami and raced often at Homestead-Miami Speedway as he was coming up the junior ranks. He won the pole and led the opening five laps, only to see his Playoff hopes in jeopardy after a miscue approaching his final pit stop with 34 laps remaining. His No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet hit the back of Tanner Gray’s truck as the two were slowing to enter pit road causing noticeable damage to Sanchez’ Chevrolet.

“Obviously I lost a lot of time there and just lost time in the pits trying to fix it,’’ Sanchez said. “Just my fault, no two ways to it. I really didn’t know the 15 was pitting and didn’t slow down [enough]. So that’s on me. I apologize to my team. They’re going to support me. To miss by one-point is pretty rough, but all you can do it go to Phoenix and try to win.’

Heim led a race best 57 of the 134 laps and swept both Stage victories. His third place finish marked the series best 15th-consecutive top-10 finish of the season.

“I really thought we had them covered today, I mean we were smoking the first two stages and kind of waiting on the third stage and then it went out like a light switch so we’ll look everything over,’’ Heim said, adding, “We’ve got bigger things on the horizon so we’ll focus on that.’’

Stewart Friesen, Matt Crafton, Rajah Caruth, Ty Majeski and Chase Purdy rounded out the top 10 finishing order. Majeski joins Smith, Sanchez and Christian Eckes to be eliminated from Playoff contention.

Eckes finished 20th after what looked like a sure-bet top-10 finish was hampered by penalties and miscues on the afternoon. He was called for moving lanes on a restart and another time for speeding on his pit road exit late in the race.

“We had a truck able to advance and just kept making mistakes,’’ Eckes said. “Just wasn’t good enough today.’’

IndyCar star Marco Andretti finished 18h in his second series start in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. He’s scheduled to race at Phoenix in two weeks.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series concludes the season with the Craftsman 150 at the one-mile Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 3 (10:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – Baptist Health Cancer Care 200
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead, Florida
Saturday, October 21, 2023
(2) Carson Hocevar (P), Chevrolet, 134.
(21) Ben Rhodes (P), Ford, 134.
(8) Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 134.
(3) Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 134.
(17) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 134.
(9) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 134.
(22) Matt Crafton, Ford, 134.
(13) Rajah Caruth #, Chevrolet, 134.
(4) Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 134.
(14) Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 134.
(6) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 134.
(11) Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 134.
(12) Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 134.
(32) Trevor Bayne(i), Chevrolet, 134.
(15) Jake Garcia #, Chevrolet, 133.
(5) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 133.
(1) Nick Sanchez # (P), Chevrolet, 133.
(27) Marco Andretti, Chevrolet, 133.
(23) Lawless Alan, Chevrolet, 133.
(10) Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 133.
(19) Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 133.
(26) Tyler Hill, Toyota, 133.
(25) Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 133.
(18) Brad Perez(i), Chevrolet, 133.
(16) Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, 133.
(33) Jonathan Shafer, Toyota, 132.
(29) Mason Maggio, Ford, 131.
(20) Hailie Deegan, Ford, 131.
(31) Memphis Villarreal, Ford, 131.
(24) Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 129.
(34) Armani Williams, Toyota, 121.
(28) Spencer Davis, Ford, Electrical, 65.
(30) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, Electrical, 50.
(7) Zane Smith (P), Ford, 134.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 110.965 mph.

Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 48 Mins, 41 Secs. Margin of Victory: 2.705 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 5 for 29 laps.

Lead Changes: 8 among 7 drivers.

Lap Leaders: N. Sanchez # (P) 1-5;C. Heim (P) 6-33;T. Majeski (P) 34;C. Heim (P) 35-54;T. Gray 55-58;C. Heim (P) 59-67;Z. Smith (P) 68-101;B. Rhodes (P) 102-123;C. Hocevar (P) 124-134.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Corey Heim (P) 3 times for 57 laps; Zane Smith (P) 1 time for 34 laps; Ben Rhodes (P) 1 time for 22 laps; Carson Hocevar (P) 1 time for 11 laps; Nick Sanchez # (P) 1 time for 5 laps; Tanner Gray 1 time for 4 laps; Ty Majeski (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 11,98,42,23,52,19,2,88,4,16

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,41,2,52,98,88,4,42,99,24

11th Title for Silverado

 DETROIT (October 21, 2023) – Chevrolet has clinched the first championship title of the season in the NASCAR national ranks by earning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) Manufacturer Championship. This marks the 11th time in NCTS history that Chevrolet has captured the title.

Chevrolet has been racing the Silverado model exclusively in the NCTS since the series’ inception in 1995, producing 275 all-time victories and 14 driver championships – both of which are series-leading feats.

“Winning the Manufacturer Championship title is a tremendous accomplishment for everyone involved in Chevrolet’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program,” said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing Program Manager for the NASCAR Truck Series. “The dedicated and focused effort among Chevrolet’s teams, engineers and technical partners throughout the season have resulted in this prestigious title. Congratulations to all on winning the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Manufacturer Championship, and we are looking forward to a strong finish to the season.”

Five drivers from five different Chevrolet teams have driven to victory lane in the NCTS this season, earning a combined 13 wins with 22 races complete. Team Chevy drivers contributing to those wins include NCTS full-time competitors Carson Hocevar (four wins) and Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger (three wins each), as well as Team Chevy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch (two wins) and Kyle Larson (one win). William Byron and Chandler Smith also collected finishes that contributed to this season’s manufacturer championship title.

In pursuit of the 2023 NCTS Driver Championship, Chevrolet maintained 50 percent of the series’ playoff field through both rounds of its postseason competition, with Carson Hocevar and Grant Enfinger advancing to the Championship Four to compete for the championship title at Phoenix Raceway.

 

About Chevrolet

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

SALISBURY, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2023) – Matt Mills will join Niece Motorsports full time in 2024, piloting the No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado for the full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule. Mills and the No. 42 will race with support from J.F. Electric and Utilitra.

“I’m really excited to join the Niece Motorsports team for the full Truck Series season next year,” said Mills. “This is a great opportunity for me to get into top-tier equipment. It felt good to get on track this year and show speed, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue that. I’m so thankful to everyone at J.F. Electric and Utilitra for believing in me and their continued support.”

Mills impressed this season in the No. 51 Chevrolet, showing speed in both of his starts at Richmond Raceway and the Milwaukee Mile. The 26-year-old driver earned a career-best fifth-place finish at Richmond Raceway.

With current driver Carson Hocevar transitioning to a full time NASCAR Cup Series ride next season, Mills steps into a ride that has earned three wins in 2023, along with 10 top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

“I think a lot of people took notice of Matt this year at Richmond and Milwaukee,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “He’ll be a great addition to our organization as we look to continue the success the 42 team had this season. Matt has a lot of laps under his belt in both the Truck and Xfinity Series. It’s tough to get in these trucks just a few times a year and show speed like Matt did, so I think there will be a lot of growth next season as he’s able to race week after week.”

The full-season effort will race with support from Mills’ longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.

J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.

“J.F. Electric and Utilitra are thrilled to continue our sponsorship of Matt Mills as he signs on for a full-time racing commitment in the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with Niece Motorsports,” said J.F. Electric CEO Greg Fowler. “Our support stems from a strong belief in Matt’s hard work and driving capabilities, and with the solid backing of the Niece Motorsports team, we are optimistic about the prospects of the upcoming season. The combination of Matt’s driving skills and Niece Motorsports experienced racing team lays the foundation for a season filled with excitement and potential.”

Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.

The 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will air live on FS1, The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as X @NieceMotorsport.

Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com | www.niecemotorsports.com

About J.F. Electric:
J.F. Electric, an established electrical contractor in the Midwest, has been creating connections and delivering value since 1969. Our expertise in design and construction spans across the entire electrical industry including utility substations, transmission lines, overhead & underground electrical distribution, renewable energy, commercial buildings, industrial plants, instrumentation and telecommunications. J.F. Electric brings value to every project, through our expertise, innovation, leadership, and dedication to delivering true quality. We work with each client as a partner, with a shared mission of completing every project as promised, on time and on budget. Our smart solutions deliver value from pre-planning to long after the project is complete.

Visit on the web: https://www.jfelectric.com/

About Utilitra:
Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions. Our seasoned team provides a spectrum of services including design, construction, and technology tailored for utilities, and extends robust technology systems to businesses and municipalities through skilled IT professionals, establishing them as a trusted partner in diverse industries. Utilitra is “Your Formula for Better Business,” providing a synergistic approach, ensuring clients have the right mix of expertise and solutions to excel in their businesses.

Visit on the web: https://www.utilitra.com/

Kin Insurance, Parity Week by Gainbridge® to Round out 2023 Campaign

CONCORD, N.C. (October 12, 2023) – Marco Andretti will return to the seat of Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for the final two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) races of the 2023 season.

Group 1001 is an investor in Kin Insurance, which will be featured as the team’s primary sponsor for next weekend’s Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Meanwhile, Parity Week by Gainbridge® will then assume the primary position aboard Andretti’s Chevy Silverado for the November 3 NCTS season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

Andretti made his first career NCTS start for Spire Motorsports earlier this season at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course where he started seventh and came home with a respectable 19th-place finish. The Nazareth, Penn., native is the 2022 Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) Series Champion.

“I had a lot of fun driving for Spire Motorsports at Mid-Ohio,” said Andretti. “The end result wasn’t reflective of the pace we had out of the gate, but I learned a lot about how these trucks handle and what to expect. I want to expand my limited stock car experience and get some laps in on the bigger ovals. Homestead and Phoenix are going to be very different from the ovals I raced with the SRX Series and, obviously, much different from Mid-Ohio, which is what I want.

“I’ve driven both of these race tracks in IndyCar, but with much higher g-forces and a lot more throttle. We’ll only have 20 minutes of practice and then we go right into qualifying. I’ll be thrown back into the deep end again, but that’s the best way to learn. I spent some time on the race simulator and that was promising, so we’ll see how that translates to the track. I love working with Bono (Manion) and everyone at Spire. I also really appreciate Group 1001 and Kin Insurance for their support. If I have it my way, we’ll just be getting started.”

Andretti, 36, has made 251 career IndyCar starts, having earned six pole positions, a pair of wins and 20 podium finishes. He’s made five IndyCar starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway and calls a runner-up effort in 2008 his venue best. His best finish in three races at Phoenix Raceway came in April 2018 when he finished 12th.

Kin Insurance is reimagining a 100-plus-year-old industry and modernizing it with technology and an aptitude to serve markets where insurance is harder to get due to extreme weather. Kin Insurance is growing rapidly in Florida and other coastal states, where it insures $45 billion in assets, attracting homeowners who aren’t being well served by other carriers.

“Group 1001 is proud to share the spotlight with Kin Insurance on Marco Andretti’s truck at Homestead,” said Micky Hervitz, head of G1001 Innovations, a Group 1001 company. “We are excited to work with an innovator like Kin Insurance that is growing exceptionally fast in Florida. They have doubled down in their commitment to insuring homeowners in Florida and that makes them a perfect fit for Homestead.”

Parity Week by Gainbridge® is a celebration of three pioneers in women’s sports centered around three flagship events the week of November 6-12, hosted by Billie Jean King, Annika Sorenstam and Lyn. St. James, respectively.

The namesake for “Parity Week” is Gainbridge’s sister company Parity, a brand sponsorship platform committed to closing the gender income and opportunity gap in professional sports.

The Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals, known as the “World Cup of Women’s Tennis,” will take place in Seville, Spain, November 7-12. The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican will feature the best of the LPGA Tour at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., November 9-12. The Women in Motorsports North America “Women with Drive III – Driven by Mobil 1” summit will be co-chaired by St. James at Phoenix Raceway November 7-8.

“Spire Motorsports is thrilled to have Marco Andretti back in our No. 7 Chevy Silverado for the final two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races of 2023,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “He qualified and ran really well at Mid-Ohio and if a couple things fall our way, he has a much better finish. Marco has plenty of experience at both tracks in an Indy car and there’s going to be a learning curve for him in the truck, but we expect him to do well and have some fun. We all know what’s at stake when the name Andretti is above the door. At the same time, we’re proud to welcome Kin Insurance for Homestead and to highlight an initiative as important as Parity Week by Gainbridge® at the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.”

The Baptist Health Cancer Care 200 from Homestead-Miami Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, October 21 beginning at noon Eastern Daylight Time. The 22nd of 23 races on the 2023 NCTS schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Kin Insurance …
Kin is the only pure-play, direct-to-consumer digital insurer focused on the growing homeowners insurance market. Kin makes homeowners insurance more convenient and affordable by eliminating the need for external agents. Kin’s technology platform delivers a seamless user experience, customized options for coverage, and fast, high-quality claims service. Behind the scenes, Kin utilizes thousands of data points about each property to provide accurate pricing and produce better underwriting results. Kin is a fully licensed carrier that offers coverage through reciprocal exchanges which are owned by its customers. To learn more, visit www.kin.com.

About Gainbridge®…
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Indian. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Group 1001 …
Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001”) is a technology-driven financial services company with a mission to empower customers, employees, and communities by making innovative products accessible to everyone. Group 1001 strives to demystify how insurance and annuity products are purchased today by leveraging technology to provide intuitive financial solutions for all Americans. As part of its mission, Group 1001 invests in strategic partnerships to connect with and transform communities through education and sports. As of June 30, 2023, Group 1001 had combined assets under management of approximately $60.9 billion and comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, and Clear Spring Life.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a full-time, two-car NASCAR Cup Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2023, Spire Motorsports will field the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for driver Corey LaJoie and No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Ty Dillon. The team also fields NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series teams in select events.

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 May 20, 2023 when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.