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  • Newgarden Earns First Indianapolis 500 Victory in Wild Finish

    Newgarden Earns First Indianapolis 500 Victory in Wild Finish

    INDIANAPOLIS (Sunday, May 28, 2023) – The agonizing wait and nagging questions finally are over for Josef Newgarden.

    Two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Newgarden passed reigning Indianapolis 500 by Gainbridge winner Marcus Ericsson on the last lap to snare his first career victory in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday at a packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Newgarden, from Nashville, Tennessee, earned his spot on the Borg-Warner Trophy and in racing immortality in his 12th career “500” start, extending Team Penske’s event record to 19 victories in the race.

    Newgarden, who started 17th, passed Ericsson on the back straightaway with an outside move just before Turn 3 and snaked down the front straightaway to victory in the No. 2 Shell Powering Progress Team Penske Chevrolet. Ericsson, driving the No. 8 Huski Ice Spritz Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing, fell just .0974 of a second short of becoming the first repeat winner since Helio Castroneves in 2002. It was the fourth-closest finish in Indianapolis 500 history.

    “Everyone just kept asking me why I haven’t won this race,” Newgarden said. “They looked at you like you’re a failure if you don’t win it. I wanted to win it so bad. I knew we could. I knew we were capable. It’s a huge team effort, as everybody knows. I’m so glad to be here.”

    After his cooldown lap, Newgarden went into the packed front grandstands to celebrate with fans. He disappeared into a joyous throng of humanity before re-emerging to reap congratulations from his family and Team Penske crew at the Yard of Bricks start-finish line.

    Santino Ferrucci finished third in the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet. It was the best “500” finish for AJ Foyt Racing since Eliseo Salazar also finished third in 2000.

    Pole sitter Alex Palou rallied from being pinned against the pit wall by Rinus VeeKay early in the race and falling deep into the 33-car field to finish fourth in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing. Palou kept the NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship lead, holding a 219-199 lead over Ericsson.

    2016 “500” winner Alexander Rossi rounded out the top five in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. His teammate and 2013 “500” winner Tony Kanaan finished 16th in his 22nd and final Indy 500 start in the No. 66 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, also the final INDYCAR SERIES start for the popular Brazilian.

    Benjamin Pedersen was the best finisher among the four “500” rookies in the field, 21st in the No. 55 AJ Foyt Racing/Sexton Properties Chevrolet after being eliminated from the race in a late, multicar accident. That incident triggered the last of the event-record three competition-related red flags, all in the last 15 laps of the race.

    The scintillating finish came in a one-lap showdown for victory after the third red flag. Pedersen, the No. 33 Bitnile.com Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter and the No. 24 DRR Cusick CareKeepers Chevrolet of Graham Rahal were collected in a chain-reaction collision on a Lap 196 restart after the second red flag.

    After the cleanup for that incident, the remaining running cars returned to the track from pit lane on Lap 199 behind the hardtop convertible Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Pace Car, which peeled off the track at the end of that lap to create the last-lap dash for glory.

    Ericsson got a big jump on the restart with the green and white flags in the air atop the flag stand and led in Turns 1 and 2 on the 2.5-mile oval. But Newgarden gained ground in Turn 2 and darted to the outside on the back straightaway with the crowd of more than 300,000 on its feet in rapture.

    Newgarden powered past Ericsson and was able to clear his rival just before entering Turn 3. It appeared Ericsson looked to return the favor on the front straight, but Newgarden used the same snaking driving maneuver to hold off Ericsson that the Swede used last year to parry Pato O’Ward and earn his first “500” victory. Today was only the third time in Indy 500 history a driver used a last-lap pass to win.

    “I was just trying to stay locked in,” Newgarden said. “I was emotional the last 10 laps because I knew we were in a position to fight for this win at the end. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew it was going to come to some last-lap shootout like it always is these days, which is exciting but stressful for us.”

    Newgarden only led five laps, taking the top spot for the first time for one lap during pit stop cycles on Lap 157. He climbed into the lead for the second time, with all pit stops done, on Lap 193 when a crash between the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of O’Ward, the No. 60 AutoNation/SiriusXM Honda of 2019 “500” winner Simon Pagenaud and the No. 78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet of rookie Augustin Canapino triggered the second red flag.

    Ericsson grabbed the lead from Newgarden on a breathtaking three-wide restart also involving Ferrucci on Lap 196 that was truncated quickly by the incident involving Carpenter, Pedersen and Rahal, setting up the final showdown.

    Swedish driver Ericsson expressed dismay with the late red flag and one-lap showdown, hoping instead the race would end under caution with him out front.

    “I think we did everything right today,” Ericsson said. “I’m proud of the No. 8 crew and everyone at Chip Ganassi Racing. I think I did everything right behind the wheel. I did an awesome last restart. I think I caught Josef completely off guard and got the gap and kept the lead into Turn 1.

    “I just couldn’t hold it on the back. I was flat. I just couldn’t hold it.”

    O’Ward led a race-high 39 laps, one of 14 different drivers to lead today. There were 52 lead changes, the third-highest total in Indianapolis 500 history.

    Newgarden will split $20,000 with Team Penske and his chosen charities, SeriousFun Children’s Network and Wags and Walks Nashville, for his victory as part of the PeopleReady Force For Good Challenge.

    The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES race is the Chevrolet Grand Prix of Detroit presented by Lear on Sunday, June 4 on a new circuit on the streets of Detroit. Live coverage starts at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

    107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Race Results

    1. (17) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    2. (10) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 200, Running
    3. (4) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    4. (1) Alex Palou, Honda, 200, Running
    5. (7) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    6. (6) Scott Dixon, Honda, 200, Running
    7. (8) Takuma Sato, Honda, 200, Running
    8. (16) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    9. (21) Colton Herta, Honda, 200, Running
    10. (2) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    11. (18) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    12. (27) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    13. (25) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 200, Running
    14. (14) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    15. (20) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 200, Running
    16. (9) Tony Kanaan, Chevrolet, 200, Running
    17. (24) Marco Andretti, Honda, 200, Running
    18. (32) Jack Harvey, Honda, 199, Running
    19. (30) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 198, Running
    20. (13) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 197, Contact
    21. (11) Benjamin Pedersen, Chevrolet, 196, Contact
    22. (33) Graham Rahal, Chevrolet, 195, Running
    23. (12) Will Power, Chevrolet, 195, Running
    24. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 192, Contact
    25. (22) Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 192, Contact
    26. (26) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, 192, Contact
    27. (3) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 183, Contact
    28. (15) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 183, Contact
    29. (23) David Malukas, Honda, 160, Contact
    30. (19) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 149, Contact
    31. (31) Sting Ray Robb, Honda, 90, Contact
    32. (28) RC Enerson, Chevrolet, 75, Mechanical
    33. (29) Katherine Legge, Honda, 41, Contact

    Race Statistics
    Winner’s average speed: 168.193 mph
    Time of Race: 2:58:21.9611
    Margin of victory: 0.0974 of a second
    Cautions: 5 for 27 laps
    Lead changes: 52 among 14 drivers

    Lap Leaders:
    Palou, Alex 1 – 2
    VeeKay, Rinus 3
    Palou, Alex 4 – 9
    VeeKay, Rinus 10 – 14
    Palou, Alex 15 – 22
    VeeKay, Rinus 23 – 27
    Palou, Alex 28 – 29
    VeeKay, Rinus 30 – 31
    Rosenqvist, Felix 32
    Rossi, Alexander 33 – 34
    Palou, Alex 35 – 39
    VeeKay, Rinus 40 – 47
    Palou, Alex 48 – 60
    VeeKay, Rinus 61 – 63
    Rosenqvist, Felix 64 – 65
    O’Ward, Pato 66
    Power, Will 67
    Herta, Colton 68
    Rosenqvist, Felix 69
    O’Ward, Pato 70 – 78
    Rosenqvist, Felix 79 – 81
    O’Ward, Pato 82 – 89
    Rosenqvist, Felix 90 – 94
    Ilott, Callum 95 – 99
    Rosenqvist, Felix 100 – 101
    O’Ward, Pato 102
    Rosenqvist, Felix 103 – 107
    O’Ward, Pato 108 – 109
    Rosenqvist, Felix 110 – 113
    O’Ward, Pato 114 – 115
    Rosenqvist, Felix 116 – 119
    O’Ward, Pato 120 – 122
    Rosenqvist, Felix 123 – 124
    O’Ward, Pato 125 – 128
    Rosenqvist, Felix 129 – 131
    Ferrucci, Santino 132
    Ericsson, Marcus 133 – 134
    Castroneves, Helio 135
    Rosenqvist, Felix 136
    Ericsson, Marcus 137 – 156
    Newgarden, Josef 157
    Ericsson, Marcus 158
    Ferrucci, Santino 159 – 168
    Ericsson, Marcus 169 – 170
    Rossi, Alexander 171 – 172
    Sato, Takuma 173 – 174
    O’Ward, Pato 175 – 179
    Hunter-Reay, Ryan 180 – 187
    O’Ward, Pato 188 – 191
    Ericsson, Marcus 192
    Newgarden, Josef 193 – 195
    Ericsson, Marcus 196 – 199
    Newgarden, Josef 200

    NTT INDYCAR SERIES Point Standings: Palou 219, Ericsson 199, O’Ward 185, Newgarden 182, Dixon 162, McLaughlin 149, Rossi 145, Grosjean 139, Power 131, Herta 130, Lundgaard 122, Kirkwood 113, Rosenqvist 113, Ilott 111, Ferrucci 96, VeeKay 96, Rahal 94, Malukas 84, Armstrong 77, Daly 73, Castroneves 69, Harvey 65, DeFrancesco 63, Canapino 61, Pagenaud 55, Pedersen 51, Robb 47, Sato 37, Carpenter 27, Hunter-Reay 20, Kanaan 18, Andretti 13, Enerson 5, Legge 5

  • RFK Racing and BlueForge Alliance Join Forces to Help Rebuild American Manufacturing, While Promoting Careers in the Submarine Industrial Base

    RFK Racing and BlueForge Alliance Join Forces to Help Rebuild American Manufacturing, While Promoting Careers in the Submarine Industrial Base

    Multi-Year Partnership to Target Major Untapped Target Audience, Uniquely Tailored to Individuals Interested in Careers in Skilled Trades, Manufacturing and Engineering

    BlueForge Alliance Commercial

    CONCORD, N.C. (May 28, 2023) – RFK Racing has announced a partnership with BlueForge Alliance (BFA), the non-profit integrator for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) Program, aimed at promoting SIB careers and reinvigorating America’s manufacturing workforce through its BuildSubmarines.com initiative. This new partnership will showcase the wide array of desirable careers across the nation to NASCAR’s large, passionate fan base.

    Through the multi-year agreement, BuildSubmarines.com will be featured as a primary partner for 10 races across RFK’s two NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) teams in 2023 and in 18 races per season beginning in 2024. This includes activations at multiple NASCAR events as well as hosting various engagements focused on promoting careers in skilled trades and advanced manufacturing.

    “I’m proud to support a cause of such vital significance to our country with this new partnership,” said Brad Keselowski, Co-Owner and Driver, RFK Racing. “The synergies between a NASCAR team and our military’s needs to stay on track fast are countless. We hope to inspire the workforce of the next generation across the country when they see RFK race and hear our message.”

    BFA and RFK Racing efforts will support the mission to recruit, hire, train, develop, and retain the vital SIB workforce that will build the Navy’s next generation of submarines.

    This requires the hiring of tens of thousands of individuals who want to serve their country in a different capacity over the next decade, offering stable careers in the evolving manufacturing industry. BuildSubmarines.com is the hub for people interested in joining this generational effort which will sustain individuals and families, improve communities, and better equip those who serve in America’s Navy.

    “We are excited and grateful to be teaming with RFK Racing to drive awareness of the thousands of steady, well-paying manufacturing jobs available across the nation. Innovation, working with purpose, and service to others are hallmarks of both of our organizations. Together, we aim to inspire NASCAR fans and all Americans to pursue career opportunities that will support our national defense,” said Kiley Wren, chief executive and co-founder, BlueForge Alliance.

    BuildSubmarines.com will make its debut on Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford at the NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16. It will debut on Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford on Labor Day Weekend at Darlington, where the program will highlight the manufacturing workforce. Additional races include Richmond Raceway with Keselowski and the Bristol Night Race, where Buescher will look to defend his dramatic 2022 victory. BuildSubmarines.com will also be featured on RFK Racing Fords at Watkins Glen, Kansas, Texas, Talladega, Las Vegas and Homestead.

    BFA is excited to engage with NASCAR fans across the U.S. According to data compiled from YouGov and MRI-Simmons, compared to the average American adult, NASCAR fans are 71 percent more likely to have an engineering degree; 40 percent more likely to have interest in skilled trades; and 30 percent more likely to work in the fields of engineering, computer-related design and architecture. NASCAR fans are also in search of greater job opportunities, as they are 52 percent more likely to join a career field to learn a new skill compared to the average American adult, and 36 percent more likely to join a career field to create something.

    2023 BuildSubmarines.com Race Schedule
    July 16: Loudon (6)
    July 30: Richmond II (6)
    Aug. 20: Watkins Glen (6)
    Sept. 3: Darlington II (17)
    Sept. 10: Kansas II (6)
    Sept. 16: Bristol II (17)
    Sept. 24: Texas II (6)
    Oct. 1: Talladega II (17)
    Oct. 15: Las Vegas II (6)
    Oct. 22: Homestead (6)

    About RFK Racing
    RFK Racing, in its 36th season in 2023, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, brings to the team a championship mindset himself having won the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

    About BlueForge Alliance

    BlueForge Alliance (BFA) is the nonprofit, neutral integrator that supports the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) initiatives and efforts to strengthen and sustain the maritime manufacturing sector. BFA is a critical partner in the SIB’s mission to ensure industry has the capability, capacity, and resilience to build and maintain America’s next generation of undersea platforms. The organization’s team of experts in a variety of disciplines focus on addressing critical workforce, technology and supplier development needs. BFA is headquartered in Bryan/College Station, Texas. For more information, visit www.blueforgealliance.us.

  • Rhodes Cashes In At North Carolina Education Lottery 200

    Rhodes Cashes In At North Carolina Education Lottery 200

    CONCORD, N.C. (May 26, 2023) – A long wait was well worth it for Ben Rhodes on many levels Friday night, as he powered to the checkered flag in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    Rhodes, the 2021 Truck Series champion, snapped a 27-race winless streak and earned his seventh career Truck Series victory.

    The race was also the opener of the Triple Truck Challenge, which awarded a $50,000 bonus to Rhodes. The series concludes next month with races at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and Nashville Superspeedway.

    “We had really good long-run speed in the truck,” Rhodes said. “Anytime you get a win you enjoy it as much as possible because you don’t know when you’ll be back. It’s harder than ever to win in the Truck Series.”

    The 26-year-old from Louisville, Ky., steadily pulled away from Stage One winner Corey Heim on the race’s final restart and emerged with the win after starting the race mid-pack in 19th.

    “We had to take it slow and methodical from 19th,” said Rhodes, who led 37 laps driving the No. 99 Ford for ThorSport Racing. “It’s not easy to pass in the Truck Series, especially here at Charlotte, but I’m so happy to get a win here. This is the North Carolina guys’ backyard. We’re a Sandusky, Ohio-based team, so it means a lot to myself and the team owners.”

    Heim finished second, 2.398 seconds behind, followed by Dean Thompson in third, Stage Two winner Carson Hocevar (43 laps led) in fourth and Grant Enfinger in fifth.

    “We were a short-run truck tonight,” said Heim, who led a race-high 49 laps. “It’s kind of been the story of the year. Maybe it’s something on my end that we’re doing wrong. It feels like we can power off better than everyone in the field but then 20 laps later we just fall.

    “Charlotte had been one of my worst race tracks. I’ve been hard on myself to finish better here. We finished second here in ARCA twice and second tonight. Maybe one day I’ll get it done.”

    Thompson and Enfinger also registered top-five finishes earlier in the day in the General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race.

    “I was pretty upset about the ARCA race but I’m pretty over the moon about this,” said Thompson of his first career top-five finish in the Truck Series. “Ben had it locked down there. Our guys put together an absolute rocket ship today. I can’t thank them enough.”

    Rhodes averaged 116.80 mph in completing the 134 laps in 1 hour, 43 minutes and 10 seconds. Five caution flags consumed 32 laps, with five leaders exchanging the lead 13 times.

    Racing continues this weekend with the Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at noon (FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at 6 p.m. (Fox, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

    TICKETS:
    Tickets for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 are sold out. Fans can purchase tickets for other Charlotte Motor Speedway events at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Admission to the Circle K Speed Street concert by Jake Owen (Saturday) is free with any race ticket. Sunday’s pre-race concert by The Doobie Brothers is free with a Coca-Cola 600 race ticket.

    KEEP TRACK:
    Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

  • Love Finds A Way In General Tire 150

    Love Finds A Way In General Tire 150

    CONCORD, N.C. (May 26, 2023) – Jesse Love’s top performances continued as Charlotte Motor Speedway’s massive Coca-Cola 600 weekend began with a thrilling ending.

    Love, driving the No. 20 Toyota for Venturini Motorsports, survived a green-white-checkered finish, won his third consecutive ARCA Menards Series race, and gave his team its first Charlotte victory in the General Tire 150 on Friday.

    “It’s really cool to get [the team’s] first win here,” Love said. “We did a lot of simulator work and we unloaded ok earlier.

    “I lost for about two years. No matter how good you are you start to question yourself at that point. I’m on a hot streak now.”

    Love, the 18-year-old ARCA points leader from Menlo Park, Calif., started from the pole position but was second for the race’s final restart which was triggered when Stephanie Moyer spun.

    Leader Christian Rose was on the inside, but hadn’t pitted in more than 50 laps, allowing Love to power past on the outside and hold off Dean Thompson at the checkered flag.

    “Luckily for us one car stayed out, which gave us the front row on our own [among teams that pitted],” said Love, who has also won at Talladega and Kansas this season. “I wasn’t too worried about the caution. I’m strapped to a bottle rocket right now.”

    Thompson finished second for the second consecutive race, followed by Taylor Gray in third, Grant Enfinger in fourth and Andy Jankowiak in fifth.

    “One lap short part two right,” said Thompson. “I’m lucky to be able to do this. I’ve worked my whole life to be here. To finish second, I have to be gracious.”

    Among other notable finishers, Frankie Muniz placed sixth, Rose ended up eighth, Connor Mosack was ninth and Tony Cosentino drove the final car on the lead lap home in 11th.

    Racing continues this weekend with the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race tonight at 8:30 (FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the Alsco Uniforms 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at noon (FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at 6 p.m. (Fox, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

    TICKETS:
    Tickets for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 are sold out. Fans can purchase tickets for other Charlotte Motor Speedway events at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Admission to the Circle K Speed Street concert by Jake Owen (Saturday) is free with any race ticket. Sunday’s pre-race concert by The Doobie Brothers is free with a Coca-Cola 600 race ticket.

    KEEP TRACK:
    Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway by following on Twitter and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

  • Alex Bowman to return at Charlotte

    Alex Bowman to return at Charlotte

    CONCORD, N.C. (May 24, 2023) – Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, will return to NASCAR Cup Series competition this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway after recovering from a fractured vertebra.

    Bowman, 30, suffered the compression fracture April 25 while competing in a sprint car at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. On Tuesday, he drove a Cup Series car 170 laps during a NASCAR-approved medical evaluation test at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

    Prior to the injury, Bowman led the Cup Series in average finish through the first 10 races of 2023. After missing three points-paying events, the Tucson, Arizona, native ranks 17th in the playoff standings, just five points behind the transfer spot with 13 races remaining in the regular season.

    “It’s a boost for all of us to have Alex return to the No. 48 car this weekend at our home track,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He’s still 17th in points, which says a lot about how well the team performed at the start of the year. Alex has worked hard to rehab the injury and come back strong, and I look for him to continue having a championship-caliber season.”

    Josh Berry subbed for Bowman in all three points events with a best result of 10th at Dover Motor Speedway on April 30. He also competed in Sunday’s non-points NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, finishing 15th after winning the All-Star Open. Berry, 32, drives full-time for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

    “Josh is an absolute pro,” said Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “His talent and hard work allowed the team to continue operating at a high level while Alex recovered. We can’t say enough about the great job he did under some challenging circumstances. We’re grateful to Josh and our partners at JRM for their support.”

    Bowman remains eligible for the 2023 playoffs after NASCAR granted a medical waiver.

  • Kyle Larson Cashes In At The NASCAR All-Star Race

    Kyle Larson Cashes In At The NASCAR All-Star Race

    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 21, 2023) – Kyle Larson left no doubt as to who shined brightest in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The iconic track’s 27-year wait for NASCAR’s return led to Larson pulling a remarkable weekend sweep – winning the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Tyson 250 on Saturday – and following it with a convincing All-Star Race win a day later.

    Larson started 15th in Sunday’s 200-lap showcase event, but he struggled with an ill-handling car in the early stages. One pit stop after a Lap 15 caution – for tires and chassis adjustments – transformed Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet into a rocket, but he had to go through the entire field after being penalized for speeding on pit road. Larson went from the tail end to second in 36 laps, and passed pole winner Daniel Suarez for the lead on Lap 55.

    Larson led 145 of the remaining 146 laps and beat Bubba Wallace to the finish line by 4.124 seconds. Tyler Reddick finished third with Chase Briscoe fourth and Chase Elliott fifth. Ryan Blaney was sixth with Suarez seventh. Erik Jones – in a throwback STP No. 43 Chevrolet, painted like NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty’s iconic car – finished eighth.

    Ty Gibbs and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10.

    The victory was Larson’s third in a NASCAR All-Star Race, and his third at a different facility. He won the 2019 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the 2021 running at Texas Motor Speedway.

    Josh Berry, subbing for the injured Alex Bowman, won Sunday’s All-Star Open and finished 15th in the All-Star Race.

    KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (RACE WINNER): “It was a great night. Great job to Marcus (Smith, Speedway Motorsports’ president and CEO) and his whole team on reviving this place. I don’t think any of us thought that when Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) was here cleaning up weeds and cleaning it up for iRacing (in December of 2019), that we’d ever be here racing. The vibe was great tonight, with all the fans, and it helped that my car was quick. I didn’t expect to be fast at all. … Friday (in practice) we were really bad. We had a good one-lap run but if you looked at my 30-lap average, it was like second to last. I thought we’d run around 15th tonight.

    “We pitted for tires, I sped on pit road and we restarted last, but I started picking off some cars and I could get my line working and manage my tires. Once I was picking people off, I was wondering, ‘Is my car this good, or is the tire fall-off this bad?’ We got the lead, and I was like, ‘I want to lap as many cars as I can.’ I think they said I had a 12-second lead at one point. It’s just so cool to dominate like that, like you used to see people dominate races here in the 1980s. I’m very proud of winning this race at three different venues. I am extremely proud to have won the All-Star Race, but to win it at three different tracks is really neat. … This track is so cool. It has a grassroots feel to it, and to me, I think that’s what makes it so special.”

    CLIFF DANIELS, NO. 5 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (WINNING CREW CHIEF): “I wasn’t sure how the flow of the race would go. I was watching old North Wilkesboro races earlier this week on YouTube, and there were a lot of green flag runs. I knew that drivers were going to be driving the track, so there was a chance that there would be fewer caution flags. When we pitted (after the Lap 15 caution), we were in 18th, so I thought we needed to do something different than the leaders.”

    BUBBA WALLACE, NO. 23 23XI RACING TOYOTA (RUNNER-UP): “We won ‘the best of the rest.’ (Kyle) Larson was lights-out, so congrats to him. Those guys, they’ve been hitting it on the head really all season, so running second to them isn’t so bad. … I’m proud of my team. Our Columbia Toyota Camry was super strong. … To keep our name in the mix is super important for us. The momentum train is still real. It’s still rolling.”

    TYLER REDDICK, NO. 45 23XI RACING TOYOTA (THIRD-PLACE FINISHER): “I feel like I got into a rhythm that I needed to be in, maybe 50 laps into the race.. I knew the speed of the car was there. It was there on Friday afternoon in practice. We were stacked down in the field from the heat races (on Saturday) and we didn’t have the long-run speed we needed to get going in the right direction.”

    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.

  • Suarez, Buescher Prevail In NASCAR All-Star Heat Races

    Suarez, Buescher Prevail In NASCAR All-Star Heat Races

    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 20, 2023) – Daniel Suarez and Chris Buescher will start Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race on the front row, after the pair triumphed in their respective 60-lap heat races on Saturday night at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

    By virtue of his pit crew posting the best pit stop of any All-Star Race team in Friday’s NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear, Suarez started Heat 1 from the pole – but his lead was short-lived.

    Chase Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports-owned Chevrolet quickly passed Suarez’s Trackhouse Racing-owned Chevrolet and paced the field for the first 26 laps – on wet tires in a constantly changing track. Suarez gradually chased down Elliott and passed him before a caution period enabled the 11 teams in Heat 1 to change to a fresh set of wet tires. From there, Suarez pulled away and beat defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano to the line by 1.529 seconds. Chase Briscoe was third with Christopher Bell fourth and Denny Hamlin fifth.

    Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Racing Ford wired the field in Heat 2 – which set the outside rows for Sunday’s race. Buescher started from the pole and led all 60 laps en route to clinching the outside pole.

    Austin Dillon finished 1.67 seconds behind Buescher, who pulled away even after the field – which began the race on dry tires – pitted for wet tires after a Lap 25 caution. Tires didn’t faze Buescher, who was the class of the field for the entire heat. William Byron followed Buescher and Dillon across the line. Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top five.

    DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 TRACKHOUSE RACING CHEVROLET (HEAT 1 WINNER): “It was fun to go through those transitions of a wet track and then a halfway dry track. It wasn’t 100-percent dry, it was halfway there. We started the race and nobody knew what to expect. The 9 (Elliott) did a better job than me at the start. The first 10 laps, I didn’t have anything for him, but around Lap 15 I knew it was coming, and by Lap 20 I knew I was better. Unfortunately, tomorrow’s going to be nice and sunny, so everything we learned today isn’t going to matter tomorrow. But I’m really proud of my team.”

    CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 17 RFK RACING FORD (HEAT 2 WINNER): “Our guys did a great job. It’s a heck of a start. I felt good about this thing in practice and I feel even better about it now. I want to race here every weekend. This is awesome. It’s fantastic. … We’re definitely in a good place for tomorrow. I feel like our Fastenal Mustang is really good.”’

    TUNE-IN:
    Fans can catch Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Open at 5:30 p.m. ET on FS1, followed by the All-Star Race at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Fans can also listen live on MRN Radio and SiriusXM.

    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.

  • Kyle Larson Serves Up A Tyson 250 Masterpiece

    Kyle Larson Serves Up A Tyson 250 Masterpiece

    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 20, 2023) – One day before Kyle Larson goes for his third NASCAR All-Star Race victory, Larson hopped in Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet truck, flew to the front and avoided ruffling any feathers on his way to a convincing Tyson 250 win at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

    Larson – subbing for the injured Alex Bowman – qualified eighth and led a race-high 138 laps. He steadily moved up the field and, after winning Stage 2, set his sights on victory in the closing stages.

    Larson pitted for new tires after a late-race caution and wasted little time in catching and passing Bubba Wallace for the lead to score his third career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series triumph. Wallace put up a valiant effort on worn tires, but Larson remained patient and, once his Chevrolet’s nose moved beside Wallace’s Toyota on Lap 238, took the inside line and the lead for good.

    A caution with six laps to go bunched up the field and gave those chasing Larson one last shot, but Larson quickly removed any doubt as to who would win North Wilkesboro’s first NASCAR national-series race in nearly 27 years.

    Ty Majeski finished second with Matt DiBenedetto third, Carson Hocevar fourth and Wallace fifth. Pole winner and Stage 1 winner Corey Heim was sixth, followed by Matt Crafton, Chase Purdy, Ross Chastain and Grant Enfinger.

    KYLE LARSON, NO. 7 SPIRE MOTORSPORTS CHEVROLET (WINNING DRIVER): “It was a lot of fun racing. It was a longer race than normal for the Truck Series, and we got to run a lot of green flag laps. There were some varying strategies there at the end, but we had a really great truck, and I was able to pick my way to the front. … I was just focusing on getting a good launch on that green-white-checkered and we got to the white, and then to the checkered. … It’s extremely special (to win here). I didn’t think I’d ever even set foot in this facility. … That’s probably the coolest victory lane I’ve ever been in. To say where (winning this race) ranks, I don’t know, but it’s definitely up there, for sure.”

    TY MAJESKI, NO. 98 THORSPORT RACING FORD (RUNNER-UP): “I feel like we sort of missed it today as a team with all the ThorSport guys. We didn’t have a great run, but we got a decent finish out of it.”

    MATT DIBENEDETTO, NO. 25 RACKLEY W.A.R. CHEVROLET (THIRD-PLACE FINISHER): “I said we could run top-three today, and we finished top-three. Really proud of this Rackley Roofing team. Our guys busted their butts, and it paid off today.”

    TUNE-IN:
    Fans can catch Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, or listen live on MRN Radio and SiriusXM.

    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.

  • Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Capture NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear

    Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Capture NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear

    NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 19, 2023) – Ty Gibbs still has work to do to qualify for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but Gibbs’ pit crew on Friday put Gibbs in prime position to finish the job. Gibbs’ No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota crew posted a 13.012-second, four-tire pit stop to win the NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge presented by Mechanix Wear, as part of All-Star Friday presented by Raymer Oil Company.

    Winning the revived pit crew showcase – which was a staple of NASCAR in the 1980s and 1990s – gives Gibbs’ pit crew a $100,000 bonus, and it locks Gibbs into pole position for Sunday’s 100-lap All-Star Open. The top two finishers from the 16-car Open field, plus the Fan Vote winner, earn berths into Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race.

    Daniel Suarez’ No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet crew were the best of the All-Stars, finishing second in the challenge with a 13.297-second, four-tire pit stop. Chris Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Racing Ford team were third – giving Suarez and Buescher the pole for Saturday night’s 60-lap All-Star Heat races, which set the starting grid for the All-Star Race.

    The Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet-powered pit crews of Chase Elliott and Josh Berry completed the top five. As the second-fastest team not locked into the All-Star Race, Berry clinched the outside pole for the Open.

    TY GIBBS, NO. 54 JOE GIBBS RACING TOYOTA (WINNING DRIVER): “It’s definitely really cool. It’d be a little bit nicer if it locked us into Sunday. It helps us get a good shot to race our way in and go for a million bucks. I think (Sunday’s Open) just is what it is. I look at it as another race. Just keep your head down and be consistent. It’s definitely really cool (to be back and riding up the elevator as the winner). Seeing this place all fixed up and driving on it – the asphalt’s pretty similar to Hickory (Motor Speedway in Newton, North Carolina). It’s really cool to be racing here. I think the pit crew deserves (the Pit Crew Challenge win). This is their victory lane.”

    CHRIS GABEHART, NO. 54 JOE GIBBS RACING TOYOTA (WINNING CREW CHIEF): “We see the ins and outs of these guys every week. We’ve had some hits and misses this year, but we’ve stuck it out together and we realize that we have their back, and they have ours. … I focus on the pit crew, and this is totally about the pit crew. I’m just happy for these guys.”

    BRIAN HAALAND, JOE GIBBS RACING PIT CREW COACH: “It’s nice that (the crew) were able to perform in a really intense environment against their fastest peers. It was a complete team effort today. We put in an awful lot of work on the choreography and when it hits, there’s an absolutely perfect pit stop. I think we had to take a look in the mirror and say, “Fundamentally, we’re not where we should be,” and so doing these traditional pit stops helps us get back to where we need to be again. … Where we were tonight is where we want to be with every pit stop.”

    TICKETS:
    Tickets to this weekend’s action can be purchased online at www.NorthWilkesboroSpeedway.com.

    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.

  • Chastain and Gragson trade blows on pit road

    Chastain and Gragson trade blows on pit road

    What started as a heated discussion devolved into a punching match.

    As Denny Hamlin celebrated his victory, Sunday, in the Advent Health 400, Noah Gragson approached Ross Chastain to chew him out. He grabbed him and the talk continued, until Chastain connected with his left cheek.

    “There’s no talking to the guy,” Gragson told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, after the scuffle.

    It ceased just as quickly as it started, after multiple officials swarmed them both to break up the fight.

    “Sucks that they all get involved,” he said. “Just let us two work it out and finish it off.”

    This stems from an incident during the race, in which Chastain put Gragson into the wall off Turn 4. Based on Gragson’s comments, post-race, it happened somewhere between Lap 200 and 210.

    “Yeah, definitely crowded him up off of (Turn) 4, and he took a swipe at us in 3, and then he came down and grabbed a hold of me, and a very big man once told me we have a no-push policy here at Trackhouse,” Chastain said.

    Gragson adds his name to the growing list of drivers displeased with Chastain’s aggressive style of racing. Most famous of which is Hamlin, who spent several laps, last season, at Gateway to put on some fun-dumb racing with him. Then again at The Clash and climaxed a few weeks later at Phoenix.

    As for Gragson, it wasn’t the first time, either.

    “He did the same thing after Talladega on the plane and nothing happened,” Chastain told Jeff Gluck of The Athletic.

    Only this time, Gragson was tired of nobody confronting Chastain.

    “The guy just runs into everyone,” he said. “When you’ve got guys like Chase Elliott saying, ‘Go beat his ass,’ everyone is sick and tired of him and nobody has the balls to go up and get him.”

    What repercussions this leads to for Chastain, down the road, only time will tell. For now, however, he leaves Kansas with a 27-point lead over Christopher Bell.