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  • Ryan Newman returns for select Cup starts with Rick Ware Racing

    Ryan Newman returns for select Cup starts with Rick Ware Racing

    The “Rocket Man” is back on the grid after it was announced that Ryan Newman will be joining Rick Ware Racing and make select starts throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

    The 45-year-old Newman from South Bend, Indiana, is scheduled to make his first Cup start of the season next weekend at Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400 and as part of NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend. The news comes two weeks after Newman was added to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list.

    “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Rick Ware Racing and Ford,” Newman said. “I think this will be good for all of us with our combined experience and knowledge.”

    The Goodyear 400 at Darlington will mark Newman’s first start in NASCAR’s premier series since the 2021 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, which also marks his final full-time campaign in NASCAR to date. In 26 previous starts at Darlington, Newman has achieved seven top-five results and 14 top-10 results. His best result at the track is second, which occurred in September 2002.

    “Being part of the Throwback Weekend at one of my favorite tracks in Darlington is pretty special,” Newman added. “After recently being named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, it carries even some significance.”

    Making his inaugural presence in the NASCAR Cup Series in November 2000 at Phoenix Raceway, Newman has embarked on an illustrious career in 20 full-time seasons and 725 career starts between Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing, Richard Childress Racing and most recently, Roush Fenway Racing. He won the 2002 All-Star Race as a rookie competitor before claiming his first Cup points-paying victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September 2002. After claiming the 2002 Rookie of the Year title, he notched a career-high eight victories and 11 poles throughout the 2003 season before finishing sixth in the final standings.

    Of his 18 Cup career victories to date, his biggest wins include winning the 50th annual Daytona 500 in 2008 with Team Penske and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July 2013 with Stewart-Haas Racing. His last Cup victory to date occurred at Phoenix in March 2017 with Richard Childress Racing. Dubbed the “Rocket Man” with 51 career poles, he has also recorded 117 top-five results, 268 top-10 results, 4,863 laps led, an average-finishing result of 16.5 and nine career Playoff appearances. His best result in the championship standings is second, which occurred during the 2014 season and during his first season with RCR.

    Since being left without a ride in NASCAR prior to 2022 and after three full-time seasons at Roush Fenway Racing (2019-21), Newman has competed in dirt racing. In addition to his Cup Series return, he is also set to compete in his second full-time season in the SRX Series after finishing second in the 2022 championship standings.

    “I remember watching ‘Thursday Night Thunder’ on ESPN and seeing Ryan compete against some stout competition in those days,” Rick Ware, team owner of Rick Ware Racing, said. “I became a fan then and when he first came to NASCAR, I knew he was going to be a great driver and win a lot of races.

    “He brings great depth and insight to RWR while we continue to grow our team,” Ware added. “Ryan’s been a great ambassador for our sport and Ford. We’re really looking forward to racing with him this season.”

    Newman’s first of select NASCAR Cup Series starts of the 2023 season is set to occur at Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400. The event is scheduled to occur on May 14 at 3 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Toyota Partners with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Beginning with the 2024 Cup Series Season

    Toyota Partners with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Beginning with the 2024 Cup Series Season

    PLANO, Texas (May 2, 2023) – Toyota is pleased to announce a partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB beginning with the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season. With LEGACY M.C. two entries, Toyota will field eight full-time Toyota Camry TRD’s in NCS action starting next season.

    “All of us at Toyota are thrilled to add LEGACY MOTOR CLUB to our NASCAR family,” said Jack Hollis, Executive Vice President of TMNA (Toyota Motor North America) and President of Toyota Motor Sales. “While Toyota’s tenure in NASCAR has yielded on-track success, our proudest accomplishments are those relationships that have been built off the racetrack. Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher along with the great club that LEGACY M.C. is assembling, will be a great addition to our existing Cup Series team partners with Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing who are truly part of our family.”

    LEGACY M.C. is co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and businessman Maury Gallagher. Johnson’s NASCAR legacy ranks him amongst the series’ best drivers, as the California-native ranks sixth all-time in NASCAR Cup Series victories with 83, along with his seven championships, five of which happened in consecutive years (2006-2010). Johnson owns two Daytona 500 victories (2006, 2013) and four All-Star Race wins (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013). Gallagher has achieved his own success on the track with his GMS Racing team. GMS Racing owns two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championships (2016 and 2020) along with 65 race wins across six national racing circuits. Johnson partnered with Gallagher’s Petty GMS team at the end of the 2022 season and guided the rebrand to LEGACY M.C. beginning with the 2023 racing year. Adding to the legacy of the organization is team ambassador, Richard Petty, ‘The King.’ Petty etched his name into NASCAR’s history with his seven championships and an incredible 200 wins.

    “Maury Gallagher and I are very excited about the partnership with Toyota and TRD beginning in 2024,” said LEGACY M.C. co-owner Jimmie Johnson. “We admire and respect the level at which Toyota conducts their business in this sport and look forward to forging a new legacy for the future. I will always be appreciative to Chevrolet and everything we have accomplished together. I’m so thankful they took a chance on a kid from California so long ago and proud that the history books will forever memorialize our record-breaking success we shared.”

    Toyota has achieved its own legacy in NASCAR as it celebrates its 20th season in national NASCAR competition this year. With nearly 600 victories across NASCAR’s top three divisions, Toyota has truly made a mark in its short tenure in the sport. Toyota’s Christopher Bell leads the Cup Series in top-five and top-10 finishes, while four Camry drivers currently hold top-10 positions in the point standings, which is tied for the most with any manufacturer. Its winning legacy includes such drivers as Kyle & Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., all of whom rank amongst NASCAR’s most legendary drivers. Toyota’s legacy in the sport is not only at NASCAR’s top level as the manufacturer continues to give young drivers opportunities to exceed with its extensive driver development program.

    “We are humbled and delighted to welcome LEGACY MOTOR CLUB into the Toyota and TRD NASCAR family,” said David Wilson, President of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development). “Jimmie Johnson and Maury Gallagher have impressed us with their long-term vision and commitment to building a championship caliber organization. More importantly, their character and values are aligned with ours and our current Cup Series partners, Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing. Of course, we also look forward to being reunited with our old friends, Erik Jones and Noah Gragson.”

    Part of Toyota’s legacy includes both of LEGACY M.C.’s current drivers. Gragson made both his NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) debuts with Toyota. Gragson ran 47 races across three seasons with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NCTS, earning two victories – Martinsville (2017) and Kansas (2018). The Las Vegas-native finished second in the NCTS standings in 2018 – the same season he made his NXS debut, where he finished an impressive second at Richmond Raceway in April of that year driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

    Jones made history while with Team Toyota as he is the first driver in NASCAR history to earn Rookie of the Year in all three national series. He made his Toyota debut in the NCTS in 2013 and won later that year in his fifth career start at Phoenix Raceway. Jones later earned the NCTS championship in 2015, which is the same season he earned his first NXS win at Texas Motor Speedway. He later moved to the NASCAR Cup Series, where he earned two wins while competing for Joe Gibbs Racing – Daytona in July 2018 and Darlington in September 2019.

    The eight full-time Toyota Camry TRD entries are the most Toyota supported entries to compete in the NCS since 2011.

    #

    About LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

    LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for drivers Noah Gragson and Erik Jones, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

    In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

    To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LEGACYMOTORCLUB/), Twitter, (https://twitter.com/LEGACYMOTORCLUB)

    Instagram (http://instagram.com/LEGACY.MOTORCLUB) and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

    About Toyota

    Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

    Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 22 electrified options.

    Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

  • Ryan Truex earns first Xfinity Series victory in A-GAME 200

    Ryan Truex earns first Xfinity Series victory in A-GAME 200

    DOVER, Del. (April 29, 2023) – It was an emotional Saturday for Ryan Truex, who earned his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win in the A-GAME 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race at Dover Motor Speedway.

    “I belong here and I just proved that,” said Truex, who was greeted by his brother Martin, a three-time Dover champion in the Cup Series, in victory lane.

    “People around me have known that for a while and now everyone in the garage area knows it. My goal is to drive one of these cars full-time next year.”

    It was the first win in 89 Xfinity Series starts for Truex, who is driving a part-time schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing.

    The Truex duo, from Mayetta, N.J., join an exclusive group of brothers to win NASCAR events at the Monster Mile.

    Other famous sibling winners include the Bodine’s (Geoff and Todd), Busch’s (Kyle and Kurt), Wallace’s (Rusty and Mike) and Waltrip’s (Darrell and Michael). Coincidentally, Martin’s first Cup Series win also came at Dover in 2007.

    Truex, driving the No. 19 Toyota, was making his fifth Xfinity Series start of the season. His previous high finishes of the year had been in Phoenix (second) and Atlanta (third).

    “I think I held my breath for the last 30 laps,” Truex said. “I was definitely waiting for something to happen. I’m not an emotional guy but it took me a bit to say anything [after the race].”

    Truex, who led a race-high 124 laps and won both stages, averaged 107.191 mph in completing the 200-lap race in 1 hour, 51 minutes, 57 seconds. Josh Berry, the 2022 Xfinity Series winner at Dover, finished second, followed by Justin Allgaier in third, Austin Hill in fourth and John Hunter Nemechek in fifth.

    “It’s cool to make that kind of statement at a track like this,” Truex said. “It’s named the Monster for a reason. I had this one circled for a while.”

    Cole Custer earned the final Dash 4 Cash bonus prize of the season, collecting $100,000 for the second week in a row.

    “[Ryan] was really fast all day,” said Custer, who finished seventh. “This is his home track. It’s a great day for his family.”

    Dover’s NASCAR tripleheader weekend concludes Sunday with the Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race (1 p.m., FS1, PRN, Sirius NASCAR Radio).

    For tickets, call 800-441-RACE to discuss your options with an account representative or visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com.

    Tickets for kids 12 and under (with a paying adult) start at just $10 on Sunday.

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  • Hendrick Motorsports statement on Alex Bowman

    Hendrick Motorsports statement on Alex Bowman

    CONCORD, N.C. (April 26, 2023) – Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports, will not compete in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Dover Motor Speedway due to a fractured vertebra. He is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.

    Bowman, who leads the Cup Series in average finish through 10 points-paying races in 2023, suffered the compression fracture in an accident Tuesday evening while competing in a sprint car event at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The 30-year-old driver was treated locally last night and evaluated again this morning in Charlotte, North Carolina.

    Josh Berry, 32, will fill in during Bowman’s recovery. Earlier this season, he was the substitute for Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott in five Cup events with a best finish of second on April 2 at Richmond Raceway. The Hendersonville, Tennessee, native competes full-time for Hendrick Motorsports affiliate JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he has five career wins.

    “We’re relieved Alex is home, in good spirits and getting world-class treatment,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Giving him ample time and the foremost resources to heal is our top priority. He’s having a tremendous season, and the No. 48 is at the top of its game. We know what Josh is capable of in the race car and that Blake (Harris, crew chief) and the team will continue operating at a high level until Alex is ready to return. He has our full, unequivocal support.”

    Hendrick Motorsports will request a medical waiver to allow Bowman to remain eligible for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

  • Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 team issued L1-level infraction penalty from Martinsville

    Richard Childress Racing’s No. 3 team issued L1-level infraction penalty from Martinsville

    NASCAR issued its penalty report following the sport’s triple-header weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team piloted by Austin Dillon in the Cup Series headlined the report.

    Per the report, NASCAR penalized the No. 3 team for an L1-level infraction after it was discovered that the team violated Sections 14.6.1 A&B from the NASCAR Rule Book pertaining to the underwing assembly mounting and underwing stay assembly hardware. The infraction was discovered after NASCAR took Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet to the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, following the Martinsville event this past Sunday, April 16, where Dillon finished 12th.

    As a result, Dillon and his team have been penalized 60 points and five NASCAR Cup Series Playoff points. In addition, crew chief Keith Rodden has been issued a two-race suspension and a $75,000 fine. The points penalty dropped Dillon from 21st to 29th in the regular-season standings as he went from a 24-point deficit to an 84-point deficit to make the top-16 cutline for the 2023 Cup Playoffs.

    NASCAR also issued two-race suspensions for crew members Chris Jackson and David Smith from Live Fast Team Motorsports Racing Team for the loss of a wheel on the track during the Martinsville event, where the right-rear wheel came off of the team’s No. 78 entry piloted by Anthony Alfredo nearing the final quarter-mark of the event. Alfredo proceeded to finish 35th of the 36-car field.

    In the Xfinity Series, crew chiefs Mike Bumgarner, Jeff Meendering and Mike Scearce were fined $5,000 apiece for lug-nut violations for their respective entries and teams following the Xfinity event at Martinsville that occurred this past Saturday, April 15.

    There were no penalties issued for any NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers or teams during the series’ event that occurred this past Friday, April 14.

    The next event on the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the series’ first of two-scheduled visits to Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, April 23, at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. It will take place a day after the Xfinity Series hosts its lone annual visit to the superspeedway venue on Saturday, April 22, at 4 p.m. ET on FS1.

  • Leidos, NASCAR Speed Into Lunar Rover Race

    Leidos, NASCAR Speed Into Lunar Rover Race

    Companies Ready to Drive Into Next Phase of Moon-Centric Missions

    Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 18, 2023) – Leidos, a Fortune 500® science and technology leader, and its Dynetics team have announced their intention to compete in another moon race through a promotional partnership with NASCAR. The partnership will be a collaboration between two organizations in the areas of speed, safety and reliability. Details of the collaboration as well as the design and technology of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) were unveiled during a special event at the Space Foundation’s 38th annual Space Symposium, the premier assembly for the global space ecosystem.

    To view the partnership teaser video please click here.

    “We are thrilled to unveil our lunar vehicle design and to announce our exciting new promotional partnership,” said Leidos CEO Roger Krone. “This groundbreaking collaboration between Leidos and NASCAR takes both companies into uncharted territory, just like we believe our rover will do for NASA and its astronauts. We aim to pave the way for human exploration of space and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators to reach for the stars.”

    “NASCAR partnering with Leidos couldn’t make more sense when it comes to this vehicle,” said Pete Jung, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “With both companies being known for exciting innovations in distinctive fields, this collaboration brings together ideas that normally don’t meet in other developments. We are eager to watch this uniquely designed rover traverse different areas of the lunar surface.”

    Leidos is looking ahead to the next phases of NASA’s Artemis program after the successful launch of Artemis I on November 16, 2022. The company has submitted a bid for the Human Landing System Sustaining Lunar Development contract, a critical component of NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable presence on the moon. In addition, Leidos is currently working on the Universal Stage Adapter (USA) for NASA, a crucial piece of equipment that will enable the transport of large payloads, including the Lunar Terrain Vehicle recently unveiled by the company. Leidos is demonstrating its commitment to advancing the frontiers of space exploration and helping to shape the future of human spaceflight with these projects.

    “We are fully committed to supporting NASA’s ambitious plans for lunar exploration,” said Steve Cook, President of the Leidos Dynetics Group. “As an industry leader in space technology, we are uniquely positioned to help NASA achieve its objectives, providing everything from necessary crew mobility to workhorse flexibility for building a lunar base. We believe that our innovative solutions and unmatched expertise make us the ideal partner for NASA as it works to establish a sustainable presence on the moon and beyond. At Leidos, we are proud to be at the forefront of this historic mission. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NASA to push the boundaries of human exploration and discovery.”

    The rover design is a masterclass in simplicity, harkening back to the engineering that made the Apollo missions successful, while incorporating modern innovations that prioritize sustainability. The rover’s components have been meticulously designed to support the safety and well-being of astronauts as they drive across the lunar landscape. One innovation stands out: it supports male and female crew members across varying height and weight scales, promoting inclusivity in space exploration. By combining cutting-edge technology with a sustainable design philosophy, Leidos is leading the charge in creating a brighter future for humanity both on and off Earth.

    Leidos and its Dynetics team bring a wealth of experience to the table, with a long-standing reputation as trusted providers of advanced space systems and services to NASA. NASCAR, on the other hand, boasts a powerful marketing engine and a passionate fan base, as well as a proven track record of developing high-performance race cars that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Combining their strengths and expertise, this collaboration marks a new chapter in NASA’s quest to explore the universe and push the boundaries of human achievement.

    Roush Industries of Livonia, MI, provides automotive design and manufacturing experience for the project. Other project partners include Collins Aerospace, Motiv Space Systems, Moog, A-P-T Research, Sophic Synergistics and the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mississippi State University.

    “NASCAR is excited about our promotional partnership with Leidos,” Jung said. “Our partnership can take us to the moon – and potentially beyond.”

    The NASCAR Cup Series season continues this Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. ET when the sport’s biggest stars hit the track for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. All the action will air live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    About NASCAR

    Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Associate for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup SeriesTM, NASCAR Xfinity SeriesTM and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck SeriesTM), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Spring Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), for regional series (ARCS Menards Series, ARCE Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports AssociationTM (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar ChampionshipTM, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information, visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

    About Leidos

    Leidos is a Fortune 500® technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company’s 45,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

    About Space Symposium

    Space Symposium, hosted by Space Foundation since 1984, is the premier assembly for the global space ecosystem. The live event, held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is widely attended by commercial and government leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and teachers around the globe. To learn more about Space Symposium, visit www.space symposium.org.

  • Chase Elliott to return at Martinsville

    Chase Elliott to return at Martinsville

    CONCORD, N.C. (April 12, 2023) – Chase Elliott will return to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the April 16 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway after recovering from a leg injury.

    Elliott, 27, suffered a fractured tibia while snowboarding on March 3 and underwent successful surgery at The Steadman Clinic, a U.S. Olympic National Medical Center in Vail, Colorado. The 2020 Cup Series champion rehabilitated in Colorado before returning to his home in Dawsonville, Georgia, in late March to continue physical therapy.

    After being medically cleared Tuesday, Elliott tested Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning in the Chevrolet Driver-in-the-Loop simulator in Concord, North Carolina, before making the final decision to return at Martinsville.

    “We’re looking forward to having Chase back in his race car to pick up where he left off,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “Since the injury, he’s worked extremely hard and focused all his time and energy on returning to the No. 9 team. Throughout the last six weeks, he’s stayed fully engaged with everything we’re doing, and we know he’s chomping at the bit to get on the racetrack and compete for wins.”

    Josh Berry has filled in for Elliott in five of the last six Cup Series events with a best finish of second, which came at Richmond Raceway. Jordan Taylor drove the No. 9 Chevrolet at Circuit of The Americas, starting fourth and finishing 24th in his Cup debut.

    “Having such high-caliber drivers available was a huge benefit, especially under difficult circumstances,” said Jeff Andrews, president and general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “Josh and Jordan each brought a tremendous amount of professionalism to our team, and we’re truly grateful for their contributions. Their preparation and talent made a big difference. We can’t overstate it.”

    Hendrick Motorsports has received a waiver from NASCAR to allow Elliott to be eligible for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

  • NASCAR suspends Cody Ware, indefinitely, after arrest

    NASCAR suspends Cody Ware, indefinitely, after arrest

    NASCAR suspended Cody Ware, indefinitely, Monday, following his arrest on felony assault charges.

    Ware was arrested, Monday, in Iredell County, North Carolina, on charges of “assault by strangulation — inflict serious injury” and “assault on female.” Furthermore, he’s being held on a $3000 bond. At press time, no details were released on the incident(s) that led to his arrest, or if he posted bond.

    Ware sat out Sunday’s Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Rick Ware Racing said, Saturday, he would miss the race, because he was “focusing on a personal matter.”

  • Martin Truex Jr. to launch Piper’s Wings

    Martin Truex Jr. to launch Piper’s Wings

    NASCAR Cup Series Driver Kicks Off New Charitable Initiative During National Donate Life Month

    MOORESVILLE, North Carolina (April 10, 2023) – It was Sept. 29, 2020, when Tyler and Kaitlyn Berryhill made one of the most difficult decisions a parent would have to make.

    Following a stay at Arkansas Children’s hospital in Little Rock, their 1-year old daughter Piper passed away after battling a condition called Congenital Myasthenia Type 6 (CMS6) – a rare, genetic disease that afflicts fewer than 5,000 people in the United States. CM56 is an inherited disorder that develops around birth that causes muscle weakness and fatigue. A hospital employee approached the couple in a very professional manner and asked if they would be interested in organ donation. And during their darkest hour, the Berryhills made the decision to donate Piper’s organs and let her legacy live on through others. The organ donation gave the gift of life to three other children, and today the couple is grateful to have Piper’s legacy live on through those three individuals who were the recipients of such an incredible gift.

    Since 2020, NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr’s MTJ Aviation has flown more than 365 life-saving organ donation flights. While that’s an impressive number in its own right, a new charitable initiative named after Piper Berryhill, called “Piper’s Wings,” is set to take flight in accelerating the opportunities for organ donation. Funding developed through Piper’s Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, will be used for mercy flights to help families that need transportation for their loved ones, along with special missions. As part of the organization’s effort to educate and build awareness of the importance of organ donation, the Piper’s Wings logo appeared on the C-post of Truex’s No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry TRD during last Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

    “On behalf of everyone at MTJ Aviation, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the formation of a new charity, Piper’s Wings,” said Truex, who won his Cup Series championship in 2017. “In less than three years, we’ve already been able to make a big impact by flying much-needed organs urgently to those who need them. Our entire team at MTJ Aviation are especially grateful to honor Piper Berryhill. Through Piper’s Wings, we not only will have a great opportunity to help those who can’t afford to otherwise benefit from services like we offer, we’re also spreading the message of how important organ donation is. And we can’t think of a better way to kick off April, which is National Donate Life Month.”

    Piper’s story was featured Sunday evening on NASCAR on FOX Pre-Race show prior to the Bristol Dirt Race and can be seen here FOX Feature. To learn more about Piper’s Wings and also donate at the following link Piper’s Wings site.

    “We are honored to have Piper’s name live on through Piper’s Wings and continue to spread the great work of organ donation and the impact that it has on others,” said Tyler Berryhill, Piper’s father. “It is a logistical wonder how they are able to get this all to work and be able to transport organs to those who desperately need them. Every single hospital staff member lined the hallway to honor Piper as we walked her to her organ surgery – it’s what hospital call an ‘honor walk.’ It was a very powerful moment for our family to see these nurses and doctors who had invested so much time with us during our stay at the hospital, who were there with us. As we were walking, I was thanking them, and a lot of them were crying. We had some of the best nurses and doctors anyone could ask for. Little did we know, but this was in September of 2020 during COVID, and Piper was the first organ donor at the hospital since COVID began, and the staff was grateful when we made the decision to donate.”

    While Truex was wheeling his No. 19 Toyota around the track at Richmond last weekend, he and his team hosted Tyler and Kristin Berryhill at the track, along with Dr. David Bruno M.D., of the VCU Hume-Lee Transplant Center, and several collegues of the hospital team who are key members of the transplant program. Through a relationship with MTJ Aviation, VCU is the first call for organ donation flights. The VCU Hume-Lee Transplant Center is one of the busiest transplant programs in the nation, known for superior patient outcomes that are made possible by top-tier transplant physicians and surgeons, dedicated laboratories, and an award-winning nursing staff.

    “We are beyond grateful for the amazing work being carried out by Martin Truex Jr., and Piper’s Wings,” said Dr. Bruno, Interim Division Chair for the Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery at VCU and VCU Health System. “Both are bridging a monumentally important gap in order to increase accessibility to more organs for more patients, making second chances possible.”

    Last year, more than 21,000 people were organ donors (14,904 deceased, 6,465 living). There’s a major need for organs nationwide, as some 114,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant (heart, liver, lung, kidney, pancreas), and each day 17 people die waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Only three in 1,000 deceased individuals die in a way that allows for organ donation, which makes choosing to be an organ donor so critically important. The current waitlist for those in need of a transplant at VCU Medical Center (VCUMC) alone is at 971. In 2022, VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center was able to transplant over 500 organs.

    About National Donate Life:

    Donate Life America is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization leading its national partners and Donate Life State Teams to increase the number of donated organs, eyes and tissues available to save and heal lives through transplantation while developing a culture where donation is embraced as a fundamental human responsibility. DLA owns, manages and promotes Donate Life℠, the national logo and brand for the cause of donation; motivates the public to register as organ, eye and tissue donors; provides education about living donation; manages the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org; and develops and executes effective multimedia campaigns to promote donation. Founded as the Coalition on Donation in 1992 by the donation and transplantation community, Donate Life America changed its name in 2006 in response to extensive research and the desire to align the organization with the Donate Life brand. Over the past 30 years, Donate Life America and the Donate Life Community have registered 170 million organ, eye and tissue donors in the United States.

  • Christopher Bell Scores One for the ‘Dirt Guys’ at Bristol Motor Speedway in Winning the Food City Dirt Race

    Christopher Bell Scores One for the ‘Dirt Guys’ at Bristol Motor Speedway in Winning the Food City Dirt Race

    BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 9, 2023) – Before Sunday night’s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell lamented that a “dirt guy” hadn’t won the NASCAR Cup Series’ only race on the red clay in Thunder Valley.

    Bell fixed the problem—in a race that also saw hard feelings between pole winner Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece boil over.

    Holding off charging Tyler Reddick in the final stage of the 250-lap race, Bell held a slim lead over Reddick when NASCAR called the 14th caution with 200 yards left in the final circuit.

    A dirt-track aficionado who won three straight Chili Bowl Midget Nationals from 2017-2019, Bell collected his first victory of the season and the fifth of his career.

    “Man, let me tell you, these are some of the longest laps of my entire life,” Bell said of the lates stages of the race. “This place is so much fun, whether it’s dirt or concrete. Whenever the cushion got up there on the top, it was very tough, because you couldn’t drive it super hard. Otherwise, you’d get sucked in.

    “If you got your right front into it, you’d push a little bit. If you got your right rear into it, you’d slide. It was a lot of fun.”

    Bell used his experience on dirt to negotiate the two ends of the half-mile track, which featured markedly different racing characteristics.

    “(Turns) 3 and 4, that was the scary corner for me, because if you got into it too far, you lost all your momentum,” the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota explained. (Turns) 1 and 2, I think I kept hitting the wall a couple times.

    “Seems like there was a little bit more moisture up there—it would hold me better. I’m like, ‘OK, I can really attack 1 and 2.’ But 3 and 4, I had to be careful… Definitely the track tonight favored experience.”

    Staying out on old tires after the end of Stage 2, Bell led the last 100 laps. Reddick, on the other hand, forewent a pit stop after Stage 1 and won Stage 2, but paid the price with a pit stop at the second break and rested 12th on Lap 151.

    It wasn’t until Lap 223 that Reddick passed eventual fifth-place finisher Chase Briscoe for the second position, as Briscoe scraped the outside wall in Turn 4. Reddick began his pursuit of Bell, but the final caution foiled any opportunity he might have had.

    “Yeah, towards the end there definitely feel like I had a little bit more,” Reddick said. “I thought I had the edge, but I wasn’t quite there in the last couple laps. Definitely found it.

    “Just hate it for everybody on this (No. 45 23XI Racing) Toyota. Just needed to be a little bit closer than I was. I think with two (laps) to go, it would have been really bold to try to make that move work. Obviously, on the white flag coming into (Turns) 3 and 4, I was going to see. We’ll never know if it (would have) worked.”

    Larson won 75-lap Stage 1 wire-to-wire, but he angered Preece with a move that forced the Stewart-Haas Racing driver into the outside wall. On Lap 175, 20 circuits after Larson spun and fell to the rear of the field, Preece returned the favor in Turn 4. Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet then shot to the inside into the door of Preece’s No. 41 Ford before spinning into the outside wall.

    “Yeah, I’m guessing he was paying me back for whatever I did earlier,” said Larson, who exited the race with suspension damage to his car. “He ran me straight into the fence, and my car was broke and we crashed.

    “It sucks, but I should just be mad at myself for spinning out earlier and putting myself back there. Just sucks.”

    Austin Dillon ran third, followed by Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Briscoe and Justin Haley, as drivers with dirt-track backgrounds claimed the top six finishing positions. Martin Truex Jr., Todd Gilliland, Kevin Harvick and Ty Gibbs completed the top 10.

    “I just have to thank (Speedway Motorsports Inc.) for all of the hard work they’ve done with this dirt racing,” Dillon said. “I don’t care what anybody says, that was an amazing show throughout the field. I felt like it was some great racing.”

    Story by NASCAR Newswire

    NASCAR Cup Series Race – Food City Dirt Race
    Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt
    Bristol, Tennessee
    Sunday, April 9, 2023

    (4) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 250.
    (6) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 250.
    (2) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 250.
    (22) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 250.
    (14) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 250.
    (25) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 250.
    (27) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 250.
    (15) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 250.
    (26) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 250.
    (23) Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 250.
    (13) Michael McDowell, Ford, 250.
    (11) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 250.
    (10) William Byron, Chevrolet, 250.
    (18) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 250.
    (20) Harrison Burton, Ford, 250.
    (29) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 250.
    (33) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 250.
    (28) Chris Buescher, Ford, 250.
    (7) Austin Cindric, Ford, 250.
    (3) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 250.
    (32) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 250.
    (30) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 250.
    (9) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 250.
    (8) Ryan Preece, Ford, 250.
    (34) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 250.
    (37) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 250.
    (31) Josh Berry(i), Chevrolet, 250.
    (16) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 249.
    (17) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 248.
    (35) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 247.
    (19) Aric Almirola, Ford, 240.
    (5) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, Suspension, 236.
    (36) Noah Gragson #, Chevrolet, 205.
    (24) Matt Crafton(i), Ford, Engine, 185.
    (1) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, Accident, 177.
    (21) Jonathan Davenport, Chevrolet, Accident, 176.
    (12) Joey Logano, Ford, Accident, 96.
    Average Speed of Race Winner: 46.68 mph.

    Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 40 Mins, 40 Secs. Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds.

    Caution Flags: 14 for 71 laps.

    Lead Changes: 4 among 4 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: K. Larson 1-75;T. Reddick 76-134;K. Busch 135-140;T. Reddick 141-150;C. Bell 151-250.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Christopher Bell 1 time for 100 laps; Kyle Larson 1 time for 75 laps; Tyler Reddick 2 times for 69 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 6 laps.

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 5,3,8,41,12,20,14,45,31,24

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 45,3,5,20,8,14,19,12,31,10