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NASCAR, North Wilkesboro Speedway Announce NASCAR All-Star Race Format

Heat races, All-Star Open and Pit Crew Challenge used to set field/starting lineup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 6, 2023) – NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports today announced details for the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race to be held at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, May 21. The simplified format – featuring two heat races to set the starting lineup, a 100-lap All-Star Open and a 200-lap main event – puts the spotlight of the weekend on the historic .625-mile track, which will host its first NASCAR competition since 1996.

The NASCAR All-Star Race will be 200 laps with a competition break at or around Lap 100. All laps (caution and green flag) will count, and NASCAR Overtime rules are in effect. Each team will start on sticker tires for the All-Star Race, and have three additional sets to use. After the competition break, only one additional set of stickers can be used.

The All-Star Open, featuring drivers not previously eligible for the All-Star Race, will be 100 laps with a competition break at or around Lap 40. Three Open drivers will advance to the All-Star Race – the top two race finishers and the Fan Vote Winner.

“As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, it’s important for NASCAR to honor our history while moving towards the future,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR chief operating officer. “The combination of the Next Gen cars on one of NASCAR’s first – and most exciting – tracks will deliver a full weekend of racing that fans will not forget. While the All-Star Race has previously been used to test new formats and technologies, we wanted this year’s format to showcase the historic return of NASCAR to North Wilkesboro Speedway.”

All-Star festivities begin Friday evening with a Pit Crew Challenge to determine the starting lineups for the heat races and Open. Each car’s qualifying time will be based solely on their pit stop time. Teams must complete a four-tire stop; timing lines will be established one box behind and one box ahead of the designated pit box.

The 22 drivers already locked into the field will be split into two 60-lap heat races on Saturday night which will determine the starting lineup for the All-Star Race. Results of Heat 1 will establish the inside row, results of Heat 2 will establish the outside row. The action-packed weekend will conclude Sunday night with the All-Star Open and All-Star Race.

“This format has an old-school, short-track feel to it—just like it should be for a return to North Wilkesboro,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “Dale Jr. had some fantastic ideas and it was fun to work with him alongside NASCAR to pull this all together. I’m thankful for Dale’s passion for this entire project and I think we’ve landed on something that both the fans in the stands and those watching on television will absolutely love. We want everyone after the race to smile and say ‘Wow, that was fun!’”

“The star of this year’s All-Star Race is the track,” said NASCAR Hall of Famer and NBC Sports Analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. “The history, the nostalgia, the surface – just being back at North Wilkesboro. People have wanted traditional racing back at North Wilkesboro for decades, and that’s what’s most important – that’s what this format delivers. The Pit Crew Challenge puts a lot of pressure on the teams, and with a 100-lap Open and a 200-lap All-Star Race, I’m excited to sit back alongside the fans and watch the racing we’ve all wanted for a long time.”

Technical rules for the cars will remain the same as other NASCAR Cup Series short track races.

Those eligible for the NASCAR All-Star Race include drivers who won a points event in either 2022 or 2023, drivers who won a NASCAR All-Star Race and compete fulltime and drivers who won a NASCAR Cup Series championship and compete fulltime.

Drivers who have already clinched an All-Star Race spot: Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace.

The NASCAR All-Star Race will air live on FS1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio at 8 p.m. ET on May 21.

NASCAR All-Star Race weekend ticket packages for all Friday/Saturday/Sunday activities including NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series practice and qualifying sessions; Midland, Chase Rice and Dierks Bentley concerts; NASCAR All-Star Open; NASCAR All-Star Race and Tyson 250 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race are on sale. Single-day tickets for All-Star Friday presented by Raymer Oil and Saturday’s Tyson 250 are also on sale, as well as late model tickets to the May 16 ASA Stars National Tour ECMD 150 and the May 17 Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour’s Window World 125 and Crossroads Harley-Davidson 75. Tickets can be purchased online at www.NorthWilkesboroSpeedway.com.

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.

About NASCAR

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association 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 Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA 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 Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, 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’).

April 6, 2023
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sun Drop Team Up in Multi-Year Partnership

Iconic No. 3 Will Return to North Wilkesboro for CARS Tour Event

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 6, 2023) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sun Drop announced a multi-year extension to their partnership that will see the Keurig Dr Pepper-owned company serve as the primary sponsor for the NASCAR Hall of Famer in one late model race in both 2023 and 2024. This year’s race will be the CARS Tour event at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 17.

The pairing returns to the site of last year’s Racetrack Revival at North Wilkesboro Speedway. This time around, the partnership will see the relaunch of Sun Drop’s Instagram and Facebook social channels, and another major surprise for fans to be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re excited to team back up with Sun Drop,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Sun Drop has been a part of my life since I was a kid. It’s special to be able to work with a company that is authentic to who I am. I appreciate all Sun Drop has done for me over the years and for them hearing me out last year when I wanted to bring that car back to North Wilkesboro.”

The Earnhardt-Sun Drop relationship dates back to the late 1980s and quickly became a fan-favorite combination that coupled the Earnhardts with Sun Drop’s regional popularity in the Southeast. That initial partnership also included a sponsorship on Earnhardt Jr.’s late model stock car in 1994.

At North Wilkesboro, Earnhardt Jr. will join JR Motorsports late model standout Carson Kvapil to round out the team’s two-car lineup. In addition to primary sponsorship on Earnhardt’s No. 3 Chevrolet, Sun Drop will also be featured as an associate partner on Kvapil’s No. 8 entry as the 19-year-old driver seeks his second-consecutive CARS Tour championship. The CARS Tour race kicks off the weeklong festivities at the historic venue which will culminate with the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 21.

Fans can add to their Sun Drop x Earnhardt Jr. collections with new throwback merchandise available now.

Stay up to date with the North Wilkesboro event by following along on the CARS Tour Twitter account and watching on FloRacing.com.

ABOUT SUNDROP:
There’s a reason they say that Sun Drop citrus soda is like a giant pipeline of refreshment channeled directly to you. Once you get a taste of that unique lemon, lime and orange citrus combo, your taste buds won’t know what hit them! Sun Drop was first invented in 1928 but was reformulated in 1949 by Charles Lazier with the addition of caffeine. That was a game-changer that transformed the delicious drink into a citrus force of nature that people can’t get enough of. You get the thirst-quenching flavor with the tanginess of lemon and lime, the sweetness of orange plus that extra kick of caffeine to keep you going all day long.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the racing operation co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame member and 15-time Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelley Earnhardt Miller and NASCAR Hall of Famer Rick Hendrick. Now in its 22nd year of overall competition, JR Motorsports competes in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it currently fields four full-time teams and earned championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018. The company also races in Late Model competition and owns five championships in regional Late Model divisions and added a prized national title in 2020. To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

April 6, 2023
Petty’s Garage and Best Working Wipe Expand Partnership

PettysGarage.com Becomes Latest Home to Purchase Wipes

LEVEL CROSS, N.C. (April 6, 2023) — The newest place to find and purchase Orbizorb, LLC products is www.pettysgarage.com. Petty’s Garage is now your online home to buy Best Working Wipe, the best working wipes for any project, job, or task. Best Working Wipe products work on a variety of applications including the automotive and garage industry.

Petty’s Garage has been using Best Working Wipe for restorations, custom projects, and providing the perfect clean and shine for customer upgrades. The relationship began on the track in a partnership with Thad Moffitt in the ARCA Series and now has become the trusted wipe for the Petty family.

“It’s great for Best Working Wipe to partner with Petty’s Garage,” said Roy Scharrer, Director, Best Working Wipe. “The Petty name is one of the most trusted in the automotive industry and is a perfect application for our wipes. We continue to grow, and this partnership is the next step in our growth. We want to thank Richard Petty and the entire Petty family for expanding our partnership.”

Best Working Wipe offers a range of products including dual-sided wipes, multi-purpose wipes, and plant-based wipes. These wipes are your solution for any project and can all be found online now at www.pettysgarage.com. The Petty’s welcome Best Working Wipe to its family of products.

“There is no better wipe than Best Working Wipe for Petty’s Garage,” said “The King” Richard Petty. “We are growing online, and they are growing, too. It’s a perfect time to come together to let our customers know more about Best Working Wipe and everything they do to help keep our cars and shops clean. We trust them and you should, too.”

Customers can go to www.workingwipes.com and www.pettysgarage.com to learn more and purchase products.

April 6, 2023
Mack Trucks is the Official Truck Partner for 23XI Racing

GREENSBORO, NC (April 6, 2023) – Mack Trucks announced today that it has signed a multi-year partnership with 23XI (twenty-three eleven) Racing to be its official truck partner. The team is co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin.

As part of the agreement, Mack will provide three Mack Anthem® models and one Mack® MD Class 6 model to 23XI Racing to support the team throughout the NASCAR Cup Series season. The Mack Anthem models will haul Bubba Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD and Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD between races, in addition to hauling important team equipment. The Mack MD model will be equipped with a flatbed to transport the teams’ vehicles as they are being prepared for competition.

“We make trucks that move racecars, but the partnership between Mack Trucks and 23XI racing is based on more than just capabilities,” said David Galbraith, vice president of global brand and marketing for Mack Trucks. “We have a similar focus on high performance, excellence in engineering and winning in everything we do. We are intentional when it comes to our partners, and 23XI’s ethos is something we recognize in ourselves.”

All three Mack Anthem models are black, 70-inch stand-up sleepers with full aerodynamic fairings packages, including side, roof and chassis coverage for improved aerodynamics. The trucks are powered by the efficient Mack MP®8-505C+ engine with 505 horsepower and 1,900 lb.-ft. of torque. Transferring that power to the wheels is a Mack mDRIVE™ 12-speed automated manual transmission. The Anthems are also equipped with an electric Auxiliary Power Unit (eAPU). The Idle Free eAPU keeps the cab cool without having to run the engine, and as a result, reduces emissions.

The 23XI Mack MD is outfitted with a custom rollback body that is designed for low-clearance racecars to be loaded without damage to the bodywork. The MD’s powertrain includes a 300 horsepower, 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engine and a six-speed Allison automatic transmission.

“We look forward to seeing the Mack Anthems and Mack MD with 23XI livery on the road and at NASCAR Cup Series events,” said Galbraith. “We are confident the trucks’ comfort and durability will give 23XI one less thing to worry about on race day.”

The first Mack Anthem has been delivered to the team and can be seen at NASCAR events around the country. The remaining two Mack Anthems and Mack MD are planned to be delivered to 23XI in the second quarter of 2023.

“Innovation, efficiency and performance are all vital aspects of 23XI Racing and Mack Trucks provides our team with an excellent product that will get us to the track efficiently and in style,” said Steve Lauletta, president of 23XI Racing. “In addition to sharing performance values with Mack, we also share important social values that include being actively engaged in helping to grow and diversify our industries.”

23XI Racing launched in the fall of 2020 with rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace as the single car team’s driver. 23XI Racing made its NASCAR Cup Series official debut at the Daytona 500 on Feb.14, 2021 and won its first race on Oct. 4, 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway. For 2022, the team expanded to two cars, adding the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD to the stable. The 2023 lineup includes Wallace and Tyler Reddick, who officially joined 23XI Racing at the start of the 2023 NASCAR season. Reddick earned the team their first win of the 2023 season on Mar. 26 at Circuit of the Americas.

Dedicated to durability, reliability and meeting the needs of customers, Mack Trucks has provided purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America’s largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and Mack® trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack trucks, diesel engines and transmissions sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems and OHSAS 18001 standard for health and safety management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation’s roadways.

Mack Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, which is driving prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase customer uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs around 100,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2022, net sales amounted to about $47 billion. For more information, please visit www.volvogroup.com.

For more information about Mack, visit our website at www.macktrucks.com

April 6, 2023
NASCAR HALL OF FAME AND TEAM PENSKE UNVEIL 19TH CAR IN ‘GLORY ROAD: 75 YEARS’ EXHIBIT

Daytona 500-Winning Discount Tire Ford Mustang Becomes First Next Gen Car in NASCAR Hall of Fame Display

CHARLOTTE, NC (April 4, 2023) — The NASCAR Hall of Fame and Team Penske today announced that the 2022 DAYTONA 500-winning No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang is joining the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s ‘Glory Road: 75 Years’ exhibit. Proudly positioned at the front of the popular Glory Road display inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Discount Tire Ford Mustang becomes the 19th and final car to join the fifth generation of the must-see exhibit. With 33 degrees of banking and featuring some of the most significant vehicles in NASCAR history displayed on the Glory Road “track,” the exhibit expands to 19 cars in 2023 for the first time in its history.

On Tuesday, Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang, joined Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Michael Nelson, President of NASCAR Operations for Team Penske, and Tom Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer for Discount Tire, to reveal the newest addition to ‘Glory Road: 75 Years.’

“It’s surreal to see a car with my name on it in the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Cindric, the 2022 DAYTONA 500 Champion and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year. “Winning the DAYTONA 500 is an amazing achievement for me, our team and our partners. So, to say this car is important to us, is an understatement. I know it will be in great hands. There’s a lot of history in that place. I’m proud to have it on display as part of the experience.”

‘Glory Road: 75 Years’ features a diverse display of historical machines that pays tribute to the people, cars and moments that have helped shaped NASCAR racing from its formative years to the current era, spanning the sport’s first 75 years. The addition of the Ford Mustang that Cindric drove to victory in last year’s DAYTONA 500 marks the first car from the Next Gen era to be featured in the display at the Hall of Fame.

“As the league celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, our team is proud to play a part in that history,” said Michael Nelson, President of NASCAR Operations for Team Penske. “When I look at all the cars on ‘Glory Road’ and I see the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, it’s a reminder of our team’s hard work and the success that comes from their effort and dedication.”

Cindric’s historic victory – the first-ever by a rookie racer in the DAYTONA 500 – came in just his eighth start in NASCAR’s premier series. The win also serves as a key highlight of the partnership between Team Penske and Discount Tire, as the two organizations celebrate their 14th year together in 2023.

“It’s exciting to be here with Austin (Cindric) and the No. 2 Team Penske crew as we’re reunited with the DAYTONA 500-winning Discount Tire Ford Mustang to see it become a true part of NASCAR history,” said Tom Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Discount Tire. “We’ve enjoyed 36 wins and five Championships with Team Penske, and we look forward to achieving more milestones together in the seasons to come.”

Fans can view the Discount Tire Ford Mustang on display in ‘Glory Road: 75 Years’ during regular business hours at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

About Team Penske
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 600 major race wins, over 670 pole positions and 43 championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 57-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, three Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2023, Team Penske competes in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the NASCAR Cup Series under the “Team Penske” banner. With a new global partnership, Porsche Penske Motorsport will also compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship this season. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

About NASCAR Hall of Fame
Located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop. Opened on May 11, 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. For more information, visit nascarhall.com.

April 4, 2023
Kyle Larson and Team Grab First Win of 2023 at Richmond Raceway

April 2, 2023
By Holly Cain
NASCAR Wire Service

With the benefit of a fast final pit stop, Kyle Larson was able to put his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet out front at Richmond (Va.) Raceway and then hold off the field in the last 25 laps of Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 to earn his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2023 season.

The 30-year old Californian had to out-duel his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Josh Berry on a pair of re-starts in the closing laps to secure the win at the first short track event of the season at the .75-mile Richmond oval. Berry, driving the No. 9 Hendrick Chevy for injured Chase Elliott, finished runner-up capturing his best ever NASCAR Cup Series finish – 1.535-seconds behind Larson to the checkered flag.

Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five.

It was the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson’s 20th career win and the first ever NASCAR Cup Series victory for his interim crew chief Kevin Meendering, who has led the No. 5 team at-track while fulltime crew chief Cliff Daniels – along with the Hendrick team’s other three crew chiefs – finish out a suspension penalty from NASCAR.

“It’s really cool, we’ve been close to winning a couple,’’ Larson said, adding, “Things just worked out and my pit crew had a great stop.’’

It was certainly a Hendrick Motorsports day with Larson and Berry besting the field. And their teammate William Byron leading the most laps (117) and winning his series-best fifth stage. The season’s only two-time winner Byron looked poised to have a say in the trophy hoist too, only to be knocked out of contention when he was hit from behind by Christopher Bell on a restart with 20 laps remaining.

“I was just re-starting fourth there, just trying to stay tight to the 9 [Berry] and get a good restart and got tagged in the left rear,’’ said a frustrated Byron, who finished 24th. “Just a dive-bomb move on his [Bell] part. It is what it is. I had a great race car.

“The Raptor Chevrolet was awesome all day. We’ll just keep bringing fast race cars like that. It was looking like another win before that caution there, but that’s the way it goes.’’

Larson led four different times, totaling 93 laps on the afternoon and survived contact on pit road with Daniel Suárez’s Chevrolet early in the race. It was Larson’s second Richmond win (also in 2017) and the fifth for Chevy through the season’s opening seven races.

The Toyota contingent looked to give the Chevys a real run, looking especially strong mid-race. Four Toyota drivers combined to lead 154 laps – more than the manufacterer had been out front in the previous six races. Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota paced the Toyotas leading 71 laps and claiming the Stage 2 win, but a pair of pit road penalties – including a costly one on his final stop, took him out of contention. He finished 20th.

“What an awesome HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy,’’ Larson said. “Can’t say enough about it. I got into the 99 [Suarez] on pit road there sometime in the second stage, and we were awful after that. I was hoping the damage was the reason why, but they had to calm me down a little bit and get refocused and was able to get it done.

“Thanks to everyone on this team, Cliff Daniels, for everything he does to prepare the team to be as strong as we are without him on the box. So good to get a win, and hopefully many more.”

Michael McDowell finished sixth – his first top-10 finish of the year. Reigning series champion Joey Logano was seventh, followed by polesitter Alex Bowman, rookie Ty Gibbs and owner-driver Brad Keselowski. Gibbs ninth place effort marked his third consecutive top-10 finish.

The series returns to action next Sunday with the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (7 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Kyle Busch is the defending race winner.

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Toyota Owners 400
Richmond Raceway
Richmond, Virginia
Sunday, April 2, 2023
(9) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 400.
(30) Josh Berry(i), Chevrolet, 400.
(4) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 400.
(21) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 400.
(10) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 400.
(15) Michael McDowell, Ford, 400.
(18) Joey Logano, Ford, 400.
(1) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 400.
(14) Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 400.
(24) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 400.
(12) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 400.
(19) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 400.
(32) Aric Almirola, Ford, 400.
(2) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 400.
(13) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 400.
(5) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 400.
(37) Chandler Smith(i), Chevrolet, 400.
(33) Ryan Preece, Ford, 400.
(26) Harrison Burton, Ford, 400.
(11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 400.
(16) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 400.
(28) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 400.
(20) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 400.
(3) William Byron, Chevrolet, 400.
(27) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 399.
(17) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 399.
(25) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 399.
(6) Austin Cindric, Ford, 399.
(29) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 399.
(7) Chris Buescher, Ford, 398.
(22) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 398.
(36) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 398.
(35) Anthony Alfredo(i), Chevrolet, 396.
(31) Cody Ware, Ford, 395.
(8) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 384.
(34) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 383.
(23) Noah Gragson #, Chevrolet, Accident, 303.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 91.085 mph.

Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 17 Mins, 37 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.535 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 8 for 54 laps.

Lead Changes: 22 among 11 drivers.

Lap Leaders: A. Bowman 0;K. Busch 1;A. Bowman 2-9;W. Byron 10-33;R. Chastain 34-49;W. Byron 50-123;K. Larson 124-160;D. Hamlin 161-166;K. Larson 167-196;W. Byron 197-206;C. Bell 207-227;D. Hamlin 228-234;C. Bell 235;D. Hamlin 236-293;B. Wallace 294;M. Truex Jr. 295-307;K. Larson 308;M. Truex Jr. 309-351;C. Bell 352-355;B. Keselowski 356;J. Berry(i) 357-366;W. Byron 367-375;K. Larson 376-400.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): William Byron 4 times for 117 laps; Kyle Larson 4 times for 93 laps; Denny Hamlin 3 times for 71 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 2 times for 56 laps; Christopher Bell 3 times for 26 laps; Ross Chastain 1 time for 16 laps; Josh Berry(i) 1 time for 10 laps; Alex Bowman 1 time for 8 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 1 lap; Kyle Busch 1 time for 1 lap; Bubba Wallace 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 24,5,1,4,22,45,48,20,6,14

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,20,24,19,1,6,48,5,4,54

April 2, 2023
Newgarden Takes Texas Thriller for Second Straight Year
FORT WORTH, Texas (Sunday, April 2, 2023) – Josef Newgarden timed it just right once again to earn his second consecutive victory at Texas Motor Speedway Sunday in the PPG 375 after a scintillating NTT INDYCAR SERIES race perfectly described as “beautiful chaos.”

Newgarden drove his No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet past the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of Pato O’Ward for the lead on Lap 249 of the 250-lap speed carnival just moments before Romain Grosjean crashed in Turn 2 in the No. 28 DHL Honda, triggering the last of five caution periods and ending the race under yellow.

It was the second straight year of perfect timing on the 1.5-mile oval for two-time series champion Newgarden, who passed Team Penske teammate Scott McLaughlin exiting Turn 4 on the last lap for victory last year.

“Pato gave me all the respect in the world when he was racing next to me,” Newgarden said. “It was really hard to fight those guys. I think (Alex) Palou was super strong, too. There are just no gimmes. It was packed up today, very difficult to get away.

“There were parts when we were good, parts when we were weaker. But when we needed to be good, the car was there at the end.”

Newgarden, who led a race-high 123 laps, averaged 169.917 mph for his 26th career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory. Newgarden, from Nashville, Tennessee, also extended his streak to nine consecutive seasons with at least one victory.

2021 season champion Palou finished third in the No. 10 The American Legion Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, followed by David Malukas in the No. 18 HMD Trucking Honda in an impressive performance for the series sophomore driving for one of the smallest teams in the series.

“My new word for this week is going to be ‘beautiful chaos,’” Malukas said. “I loved it. I was having a blast.”

Six-time series champion Scott Dixon rounded out the top five in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, as CGR placed two cars in the top five. O’Ward took the championship lead by seven points over St. Petersburg winner Marcus Ericsson with his second consecutive runner-up finish of the season.

“I was timing the tow, but it’s been a hell of a start to the year,” O’Ward said. “The guys gave me an absolute rocket ship. Everybody that was watching the race midway through pretty sure saw that.”

Indeed. The dramatic, two-wide, three-deep pack racing that unfolded on the high-banked Texas asphalt over the closing 20 laps was a dramatic contrast to O’Ward’s breathtaking speed and dominance halfway through the race.

O’Ward took the lead for the first time on Lap 109. By Lap 160, he had lapped the entire 28-car field except for Newgarden, who was nearly six seconds behind in second.

But O’Ward’s imperious march was halted when teammate and NTT P1 Award winner Felix Rosenqvist crashed his No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet in Turn 4 on Lap 179.

That incident unleashed a high-speed game of tactical chess on track and on pit stands up and down the field for the remaining laps, as drivers and strategists devised the optimal time to pit for fuel and tires. It was half-smarts, half-dice roll.

Six cars that were one lap down got the wave-around to the lead lap when O’Ward and Newgarden pitted alone as the sole cars on the lead lap with 68 laps remaining.

That regroup spawned the wild, thrilling side-by-side racing that filled every inch of the racing groove over the last 57 laps. After the restart on Lap 193 following Rosenqvist’s crash, there were 14 lead changes among five different drivers.

O’Ward and Newgarden swapped the lead five times in the last eight laps before Grosjean’s race-ending incident while he was dicing and slicing with the lead pack, too, in his most impressive oval race performance yet.

Newgarden grabbed the front on Lap 242, with O’Ward reclaiming the top spot one lap later. Then it was Newgarden’s turn to take the point one trip later on Lap 244, with O’Ward nosing ahead on Lap 247.

Then Newgarden finally got in front just in time on Lap 249, just a few exhilarating breaths before the yellow flag flew for the last time. In total, the race featured 26 lead changes among eight drivers.

Newgarden will split $10,000 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 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 16 on the streets of Long Beach, California. Live coverage starts at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

PPG 375 Race Results
1. (4) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 250, Running
2. (5) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 250, Running
3. (7) Alex Palou, Honda, 250, Running
4. (9) David Malukas, Honda, 250, Running
5. (2) Scott Dixon, Honda, 250, Running
6. (15) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 250, Running
7. (10) Colton Herta, Honda, 250, Running
8. (16) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 249, Running
9. (17) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 249, Running
10. (21) Helio Castroneves, Honda, 249, Running
11. (26) Rinus VeeKay, Chevrolet, 249, Running
12. (19) Agustin Canapino, Chevrolet, 249, Running
13. (18) Ed Carpenter, Chevrolet, 249, Running
14. (11) Romain Grosjean, Honda, 248, Contact
15. (13) Benjamin Pedersen, Chevrolet, 248, Running
16. (8) Will Power, Chevrolet, 248, Running
17. (22) Simon Pagenaud, Honda, 247, Running
18. (28) Jack Harvey, Honda, 247, Running
19. (27) Christian Lundgaard, Honda, 247, Running
20. (25) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 246, Running
21. (14) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 246, Running
22. (3) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 243, Running
23. (12) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 221, Contact
24. (24) Graham Rahal, Honda, 219, Contact
25. (23) Sting Ray Robb, Honda, 208, Contact
26. (1) Felix Rosenqvist, Chevrolet, 177, Contact
27. (20) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 97, Contact
28. (6) Takuma Sato, Honda, 46, Contact
Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 169.917 mph
Time of Race: 2:07:07.2653
Margin of victory: Under caution
Cautions: 5 for 52 laps
Lead changes: 26 among 8 drivers

Lap Leaders:
Dixon, Scott 1 – 2
Newgarden, Josef 3
Dixon, Scott 4
Newgarden, Josef 5 – 65
Palou, Alex 66 – 67
Newgarden, Josef 68 – 108
O’Ward, Pato 109 – 114
Rosenqvist, Felix 115
Robb, Sting Ray 116
Newgarden, Josef 117 – 128
O’Ward, Pato 129 – 169
Rosenqvist, Felix 170 – 172
O’Ward, Pato 173 – 194
Palou, Alex 195 – 198
Newgarden, Josef 199 – 200
Palou, Alex 201 – 202
Herta, Colton 203 – 206
O’Ward, Pato 207 – 208
Palou, Alex 209 – 219
Grosjean, Romain 220 – 221
O’Ward, Pato 222 – 238
Palou, Alex 239 – 241
Newgarden, Josef 242
O’Ward, Pato 243
Newgarden, Josef 244 – 246
O’Ward, Pato 247 – 248
Newgarden, Josef 249 – 250

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Point Standings: O’Ward 82, Ericsson 75, Dixon 67, Newgarden 66, Palou 60, Malukas 53, Ilott 52, McLaughlin 48, Power 40, Rossi 40, Herta 37, Canapino 36, Rahal 34, Lundgaard 33, Grosjean 31, VeeKay 28, Castroneves 27, Daly 26, Harvey 20, Kirkwood 20, Robb 20, Pedersen 20, Marcus Armstrong 19, Pagenaud 18, Rosenqvist 18, Carpenter 17, Ferrucci 15, DeFrancesco 12, Sato 5
April 2, 2023
Carson Hocevar Earns his First NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory at Texas Motor Speedway

FORT WORTH, Texas (April 1, 2023) – Carson Hocevar earned his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory Saturday evening at Texas Motor Speedway in a wild overtime finish at the 1.5-mile track.

“I’m so thankful to everyone at Niece Motorsports for all of their hard work on this Worldwide Express Chevrolet,” said Hocevar. “This is such a huge race for our team owner Al [Niece] and our partners at WWEX Racing.

To punch our ticket to the playoffs this early in the season is a huge deal, and it means a lot that so many of our partners were here to see it. I’m so appreciative to everyone that’s supported me along the way. I feel like this win was a long time coming. We’ve lost a lot of races with the fastest truck, and today we were able to hang around and capitalize at the end.”

The win comes in Hocevar’s 59th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start. His previous best finish was second, coming at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway (dirt), Darlington Raceway and Kansas Speedway. It is the fifth win for Niece Motorsports in only its seventh full-time season.

“Our whole organization has been working so hard to elevate our program across the board,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager Cody Efaw. “We have a lot of great people in place this season. We feel like as an organization we are the strongest we’ve ever been. Our expectation was to go out and compete for wins this year. I’m so happy to win in Texas for Al [Niece] and Worldwide Express.”

Hocevar qualified the No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet in fifth for the Speedycash.com 250. Hocevar was shuffled back on an early restart, and with track position at a premium he struggled to make his way through the pack for much of the race.

A strong restart late in the race propelled Hocevar and the No. 42 Chevrolet into the top-10. For the remainder of the caution-plagued race, Hocevar hung strong in the top-five.

A wild battle at the finish saw Hocevar take the lead as the caution-flag flew and ended the race. Hocevar led just one lap on the day.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will return to action on Saturday at the dirt track at Bristol Motor Speedway. Hocevar led 55 laps last season in that event, before finishing second.

The Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt will air live on FS1, The Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on April 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

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 Twitter @NieceMotorsport.

www.niecemotorsports.com

About Worldwide Express:
The WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz, offers full-service logistics expertise to more than 115,000 customers across the country. With access to industry-leading small package, truckload, less-than-truckload and managed transportation solutions, its customers benefit from enhanced visibility and value for their supply chains. The company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS Authorized Reseller® in the U.S., with an annual systemwide revenue nearing $5 billion through a network of company-owned, franchise and agent locations. A highly selective carrier portfolio, proprietary technology, unique data assets and business intelligence capabilities provide clients with unmatched options and flexibility to meet their shipping needs. The WWEX Racing initiative was borne of a desire to address the complex but underserved logistic needs of the performance motorsports industry, using the unique combination of capabilities offered by the three brands’ combined 80+ years of insight. To learn more about the WWEX Racing program, visit www.wwexracing.com. For media inquiries, contact racing@wwex.com.

April 2, 2023
Carson Hocevar Grabs First-Career Win in Double Overtime at Texas Motor Speedway

April 1, 2023
By Holly Cain
NASCAR Wire Service

Nick Sanchez led an absolutely dominant 168 of 172 laps in Saturday’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway, but the 21-year old rookie and reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Zane Smith collided at the front of the field after taking the white flag and Carson Hocevar instead drove through to take his first career victory in double overtime.

The 20-year old Hocevar led only that last overtime lap in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet to claim his first win by 1.628-seconds over Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Chase Purdy – career best finishes for both drivers.

After slight contact with Smith racing door-to-door for the win, Sanchez got loose and had to regain control of the truck heading to the white flag. Video replays show that as he steadied his truck, he was hit from behind by Hocevar, whose truck was carrying the momentum as Sanchez was recovering from his slight miscue. The contact from behind was just enough to spin Sanchez back across the track and collect Smith’s truck, while Hocevar drove forward to the finish line and waited for official word of the win.

“I didn’t mean to get into him, I just meant to give him a push and he got sideways the second I hit him, I apologize to them, I’ll take the fall for it, I wrecked a Chevy and I’ll go talk to him about it – he deserved to win for sure,’’ Hocevar said of the contact with Sanchez.

“But all the times we were the fastest car and I don’t win, and this team deserves to win more than anything, I can stop getting the same question asked all the time now,’’ said Hocevar, who has four career runner-up finishes.

“We didn’t deserve to win today but we were in the right spot at the right time.”

Certainly, Sanchez got plenty of practice in mastering re-starts with six of the 12 cautions coming in the final 40 laps of the race. He drove his No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet to the front each time, having to duel side-by-side with Smith late in the race.

“Obviously coming to the last lap, me and the 38 [Zane Smith] were playing an aggressive side-drafting game and I got a little too aggressive on him, got loose, went through the grass and saved it,’’ Sanchez said. “Just got hit by the 42 [Hocevar]. I don’t know what else to say about that.

“It is what it is, that’s racing.

“This is what we’ve been working hard to do,’’ continued Sanchez, who swept both Stage wins. “We don’t want to just win, we want to dominate. Today we dominated, but we didn’t win so just got to go back and see what I can do better. Try to build on strengths. I guess, the positive is we got stage points, that’s something to fall back on. But I want to win, that’s my goal.’’

Veteran Stewart Friesen finished third with Ty Majeski and Jake Garcia rounding out the top-five; Garcia the highest finishing rookie. Hailie Deegan equaled her career best finish with a sixth-place run. Corey Heim, Ryan Vargas, Jack Wood and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top-10.

Smith was scored 14th and Sanchez was scored 16th. The race leaves Majeski now with a three-point edge over Smith atop the championship standings.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to action next week in Saturday’s Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track (8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – SpeedyCash.com 250
Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas
Saturday, April 1, 2023
(5) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 172.
(14) Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 172.
(7) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 172.
(3) Ty Majeski, Ford, 172.
(9) Jake Garcia #, Chevrolet, 172.
(25) Hailie Deegan, Ford, 172.
(4) Corey Heim, Toyota, 172.
(26) Ryan Vargas, Toyota, 172.
(2) Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 172.
(10) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 172.
(27) Mason Massey, Ford, 172.
(23) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 172.
(21) Matt Crafton, Ford, 172.
(18) Zane Smith, Ford, 172.
(6) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 172.
(1) Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, Accident, 171.
(13) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 171.
(19) Lawless Alan, Chevrolet, 170.
(15) Rajah Caruth #, Chevrolet, 169.
(24) Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 169.
(29) Josh Reaume, Ford, 168.
(34) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 168.
(12) Bret Holmes #, Chevrolet, 167.
(17) Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 166.
(20) Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 165.
(8) Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, 164.
(11) Tanner Gray, Toyota, Accident, 161.
(16) Dean Thompson, Toyota, Accident, 143.
(32) Armani Williams, Toyota, Accident, 140.
(30) Trey Hutchens, Chevrolet, Accident, 137.
(28) Matt Mills, Chevrolet, Accident, 134.
(33) Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, Vibration, 122.
(31) Keith McGee, Ford, Vibration, 39.
(22) Chad Chastain, Chevrolet, Accident, 17.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 99.39 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 35 Mins, 45 Secs. Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds.

Caution Flags: 12 for 36 laps.

Lead Changes: 7 among 4 drivers.

Lap Leaders: N. Sanchez # 1-25;C. Eckes 26;N. Sanchez # 27-35;C. Eckes 36;N. Sanchez # 37-77;B. Rhodes 78;N. Sanchez # 79-171;C. Hocevar 172.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Nick Sanchez # 4 times for 168 laps; Christian Eckes 2 times for 2 laps; Carson Hocevar 1 time for 1 lap; Ben Rhodes 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 2,99,19,98,38,5,11,4,52,23

Stage #2 Top Ten: 2,19,99,5,38,15,11,4,17,88

April 1, 2023
Carson Hocevar Grabs SPEEDYCASH.COM 250 Victory for First NCTS Win at Texas Motor Speedway

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (APRIL 1, 2023) – Nick Sanchez led an absolutely dominant 168 of 172 laps in Saturday’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway, but the 21-year old rookie and reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Zane Smith collided at the front of the field after taking the white flag and Carson Hocevar instead drove through to take his first career victory in double overtime.

The 20-year old Hocevar led only that last overtime lap in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet to claim his first win by 1.628-seconds over Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Chase Purdy – career best finishes for both drivers.

After slight contact with Smith racing door-to-door for the win, Sanchez got loose and had to regain control of the truck heading to the white flag. Video replays show that as he steadied his truck, he was hit from behind by Hocevar, whose truck was carrying the momentum as Sanchez was recovering from his slight miscue. The contact from behind was just enough to spin Sanchez back across the track and collect Smith’s truck, while Hocevar drove forward to the finish line and waited for official word of the win.

“I didn’t mean to get into him, I just meant to give him a push and he got sideways the second I hit him, I apologize to them, I’ll take the fall for it, I wrecked a Chevy and I’ll go talk to him about it – he deserved to win for sure,’’ Hocevar said of the contact with Sanchez.

“But all the times we were the fastest car and I don’t win, and this team deserves to win more than anything, I can stop getting the same question asked all the time now,’’ said Hocevar, who has four career runner-up finishes.

“We didn’t deserve to win today but we were in the right spot at the right time.”

Certainly, Sanchez got plenty of practice in mastering re-starts with six of the 12 cautions coming in the final 40 laps of the race. He drove his No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet to the front each time, having to duel side-by-side with Smith late in the race.

“Obviously coming to the last lap, me and the 38 [Zane Smith] were playing an aggressive side-drafting game and I got a little too aggressive on him, got loose, went through the grass and saved it,’’ Sanchez said. “Just got hit by the 42 [Hocevar]. I don’t know what else to say about that.

“It is what it is, that’s racing.

“This is what we’ve been working hard to do,’’ continued Sanchez, who swept both Stage wins. “We don’t want to just win, we want to dominate. Today we dominated, but we didn’t win so just got to go back and see what I can do better. Try to build on strengths. I guess, the positive is we got stage points, that’s something to fall back on. But I want to win, that’s my goal.’’

Veteran Stewart Friesen finished third with Ty Majeski and Jake Garcia rounding out the top-five; Garcia the highest finishing rookie. Hailie Deegan equaled her career best finish with a sixth-place run. Corey Heim, Ryan Vargas, Jack Wood and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top-10.

Smith was scored 14th and Sanchez was scored 16th.

The green flag flies for the April 2 PPG 375 (250 laps, 375 miles), the second race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, at 11:15 a.m. CT.

MORE INFO:
Keep track of all of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the speedway website and TMS mobile app.

April 1, 2023