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Featured headlines from SpeedwayMedia.com

  • The Gorsline Company Announces 2025 Scholarship Candidates at Petit Le Mans

    The Gorsline Company Announces 2025 Scholarship Candidates at Petit Le Mans

    Braselton, Ga., October 11, 2024 – The Gorsline Company is proud to announce the three exceptional candidates for this year’s prestigious Gorsline Scholarship in racing, which recognizes and rewards young drivers who display exceptional talent and a professional respect for motorsports. This announcement, which celebrates the future of motorsports and the remarkable talents of young racers, will take place during the IMSA Petit Le Mans race weekend at Road Atlanta, October 9-13.

    Since its inception in 1994, the Gorsline Scholarship has honored outstanding individuals in the racing community, with previous winners including renowned names like Danica Patrick, Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly, Katherine Legge, Patrick Long, Bryan Herta, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., to name a few.

    This year, the spotlight shines on three dynamic women racers, all of whom are poised to become future champions in the sport. The recipient of the scholarship will be revealed at the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2025.

    Kelsey Pinkowski

    Kelsey Pinkowski

    A member of the Kiwi Crosslink Formula 4 team, Kelsey recently showcased her talent by finishing 2nd at the Watkins Glen SVRA after starting from 7th. Coached by Nic Jonsson, she balances her racing career with her studies in Global Business Management at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she also serves as the Business Associate for RIT’s successful Formula SAE team.

    Isabella Robusto

    Isabella Robusto

    A rising star in the ARCA Menards series with an impressive 10 starts and 6 top ten finishes this season, Isabella began her racing journey at just 5 years old. She is a member of the Toyota Racing Development Program and holds the record for being the youngest driver selected for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program (at age 12). Currently, she is an Aeronautical Engineering major at Arizona State University, having graduated high school a year early.

    Lexy Barlow

    Lexy Barlow

    Demonstrating exceptional race craft and determination, Lexy is advancing through the ranks and has competed in various vintage races. Currently working as a project manager in Norwalk, CT, Lexy embodies the spirit of the Gorsline Company’s mission to support emerging talents in motorsports.

    “The Gorsline Company has been committed to the motorsports community for decades, and supporting the next generation of racers is at the heart of our mission,” said John Gorsline, principal of the Gorsline Company. “I am very proud and filled with gratitude about the ability to help these future champions in any way I can. God Bless them. And it’s an honor to spotlight these talented women who exemplify the spirit of competition and dedication to the sport when we present the 25th selection of the award next March at Sebring.”

    About the Gorsline Company

    Headquartered in Rochester, NY, the Gorsline Company has been a pioneer in providing insurance for high-risk professionals in motorsports for nearly 50 years. With a focus on custom-designed insurance solutions and estate planning for drivers and team owners, Gorsline has supported some of the top names in racing. The company also awards the Gorsline Scholarship annually to aspiring drivers who display exceptional talent and professionalism, furthering its commitment to the motorsports community.

    For more information about the Gorsline Scholarship and the candidates, please visit www.gorsline.com.

  • Speedway Motorsports and Rick Hendrick Announce New Ten Tenths Motor Club At Charlotte Motor Speedway

    Speedway Motorsports and Rick Hendrick Announce New Ten Tenths Motor Club At Charlotte Motor Speedway

    • Located adjacent to Charlotte Motor Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports, the Ten Tenths Motor Club is a new joint venture combining the unparalleled motorsports and automotive heritage of Speedway Motorsports and business leader Rick Hendrick.
    • Ten Tenths Motor Club will include the Ten Tenths Circuit, a multi-purpose lighted road course featuring three challenging configurations; the Ten Tenths Clubhouse, a 20,000-square-foot hospitality and special events facility with capacity for 1,500 people; a members’ garage for automotive enthusiasts and collectors featuring climate-controlled storage, lounge and mechanical service support; and expansive off-road trails for driving experiences.
    • With the Ten Tenths Circuit near completion and construction underway for the Ten Tenths Clubhouse and members’ garage and lounge, the complex will host its grand opening with the Smith Heritage Invitational automotive experience on April 4-5, 2025.

    CONCORD, NC (Oct. 10, 2024) – In a first-of-its-kind partnership combining unparalleled motorsports history, automotive heritage and business expertise, officials with Speedway Motorsports and business leader Rick Hendrick today announced the creation of the Ten Tenths Motor Club, a 100-acre complex designed to attract automotive enthusiasts and manufacturers from around the world. Operated by Speedway Motorsports, the Ten Tenths Motor Club will include the Ten Tenths Circuit, a purpose-built, lighted road course with three configurations for high-performance driving; the Ten Tenths Clubhouse, a 20,000-square foot special event facility; a members’ garage featuring secure, climate-controlled storage, cigar lounge, bourbon bar and putting course; and expansive off-road driving trails.

    “Our vision for Ten Tenths is to create an experiential destination that can be enjoyed by everyone from professional race car drivers to high-performance driving enthusiasts and car collectors,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “It’s the most expansive property development at Charlotte Motor Speedway since we built zMAX Dragway in 2008, and further enhances our desire to innovate for the future.

    “As the name Ten Tenths implies, we are going all out to create a place to celebrate the automobile unlike any other place in the world,” Smith added. “Our new project will become a centerpiece of community amongst individual automotive enthusiasts, commercial partners and manufacturers.”

    Located outside Turns 1 and 2 of Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Ten Tenths Motor Club will host its grand opening with the Smith Heritage Invitational automotive experience on April 4-5, 2025. Construction on the Ten Tenths Circuit is nearly complete, while work on the Clubhouse is underway.

    “In addition to a premier track design and driving experience, Ten Tenths will have unparalleled resources and infrastructure to support every customer and organization we touch,” said Rick Hendrick, chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports. “Just 20 minutes from Charlotte’s center city, it’s accessible by major thoroughfares and two nearby airports while being situated amongst a variety of lodging, shopping and entertainment options. Through our local network of service and collision centers, the facility will offer concierge vehicle maintenance and repair for nearly every exotic or high-performance car on the market. It’s a combination of amenities that cannot be matched in North America.

    “The opportunity to partner with Marcus and his brothers on a passion project like this is incredibly rewarding,” added Hendrick, who is an avid car collector and preservationist. “I’ve had a special relationship with the Smith family for more than four decades. Not only do we share a love for automobiles and racing, we are aligned in our core values, our commitment to the local community and our overall vision for Ten Tenths. The collaboration thus far has been tremendous, and I can’t wait to see what our teams accomplish together as this exciting idea becomes reality.”

    “For decades, my brothers and I have been blessed to build not only a business relationship with Rick Hendrick, but also a true friendship,” said Smith. “It’s an honor for Speedway Motorsports to partner with him on this joint venture and to create something worthy of the high standards exhibited by our organizations.”

    Ten Tenths Circuit

    Designed by F1 veteran and two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Alexander Wurz, Ten Tenths Circuit includes three configurations: a seven-turn 0.567-mile inner loop; a 13-turn 1.1-mile short course; and a 19-turn, 1.7-mile full circuit, featuring 112 feet of elevation change between Turns 6 and 14. At an average of 42 feet wide and with generous runoff areas, the course promises to challenge drivers of all skill levels. The 1.7-mile circuit can be driven in both directions and split into two courses: the 0.567-mile inner loop and the 1.1-mile short course. The inner loop will be water-irrigated for optimized testing, drifting and driver training. The circuit will also feature lighting to maximize driving opportunities with three potential sessions a day: morning, afternoon and night.

    “The track itself in its beautiful landscape has a lot of ups and downs and enjoys a natural flow,” said former F1 driver and track designer Alex Wurz. “Every corner of the circuit has a different character. Altogether, it plays a symphony of drivers’ music. It wants to be driven very fast. You can rotate the car into the corners.

    “All of our expertise and passion has gone into this project,” added Wurz. “I’m terribly proud to be the designer along with Charlotte Motor Speedway of the new Ten Tenths Circuit.”

    Ten Tenths Clubhouse

    Modeled after the exquisite Turn 11 at Sonoma Raceway, Ten Tenths Clubhouse will be a 20,000-square-foot destination for corporate retreats, business summits, special events and entertainment. The building will feature the flexibility of three large individual hospitality rooms, which can be combined into one expansive hospitality space for showcase events. Hospitality rooms will also open to outdoor patios to expand capacity for up to 1,500 people. Ten Tenths Clubhouse will include conference rooms with video presentation capabilities and a catering kitchen.

    Ten Tenths Members’ Garage

    In addition to the circuit and clubhouse, Ten Tenths Motor Club will include a members’ garage designed to build camaraderie and community amongst the most passionate automotive aficionados. With an atmosphere created to celebrate a high-performance automotive lifestyle, the members’ garage will include secure gated access, climate-controlled storage, luxury lounge areas for meetings or relaxation, a cigar lounge, bourbon bar, and a putting course. Members will have convenient access from garage to circuit, as well as designated event days throughout the calendar year to drive the courses.

    Concierge Vehicle Service

    With a dedicated concierge located on site, Ten Tenths Motor Club will offer an unparalleled maintenance and reconditioning experience provided by Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group, the largest privately held operator of car dealerships in the United States.

    Premium vehicle support, including white-glove pickup and delivery, will be available locally from 21 dealerships and five collision centers. Hendrick Collision Centers have the expertise to repair 30 different nameplates, including enthusiast brands such as Acura, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Porsche and Toyota.

    For information or business inquiries about the Ten Tenths Motor Club, visit www.TenTenthsMotorClub.com.

    About Speedway Motorsports:

    Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. For more than 60 years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has been the flagship speedway for the company, setting the standard in motorsports entertainment for fans of all ages. Known as America’s Home for Racing, the 1,000-acre complex includes legendary Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway, The Dirt Track at Charlotte and the Ten Tenths Circuit (opening 2025). For more information, visit www.speedwaymotorsports.com or www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

    About Hendrick Automotive Group:

    Representing 131 franchises and 25 manufacturer nameplates from the Carolinas to California, Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately held automotive retail organization in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company employs more than 10,000 people in its 93 dealership locations, 21 collision centers and four accessories distributor installers in 13 states. For more information, please visit www.HendrickCars.com.

  • Richard Childress Racing, NABC®, Allstate and Maaco Donate a Refurbished Vehicle to Veteran in Need Through the NABC Recycled Rides® Program

    Richard Childress Racing, NABC®, Allstate and Maaco Donate a Refurbished Vehicle to Veteran in Need Through the NABC Recycled Rides® Program

    Sponsored by Sherwin Williams, Presentation Took Place October 9 at Richard Childress Racing “Veterans Coffee” Monthly Event

    PORT CHARLOTTE, FL – (October 9, 2024) – On Wednesday, October 9, a veteran in need from High Point NC, experienced a life-changing event – the presentation of a vehicle to provide him independence and the ability to take care of his family – thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides® program , Allstate, Sherwin Williams, and Maaco. The presentation is part of a monthly event where Richard Childress Racing, in partnership with the charity Veterans Bridge Home, provides breakfast for more than 250 North Carolina veterans through their program “Veterans Coffee”.

    Veterans Coffee has been a core component to Richard Childress Racing for nearly a decade. Veterans Bridge Home has trusted RCR in partnering and hosting this once-a-month event to help connect veterans to resources imperative to their livelihood and well-being. What started off with around 75 veterans has expanded into approximately 800 veterans being hosted in a banquet hall. Through coffee and social connections, veterans are connected with resources that are otherwise unavailable or hard to come by.

    Allstate donated the vehicle, which was refurbished at Maaco South Boulevard in Charlotte, with the help of Solutions Works and Auto Glass Now. Sherwin Williams, NABC member and sponsor of Richard Childress Racing, sponsored the event.

    During the eventa 2020 Chevy Equinox was presented to Keith Bracken, Marine Corps veteran who was nominated by Veterans Bridge Homes. Bracken, a High Point resident, served in the United States Marine Corps from August 2006 to October 2015. During that time, he was a 2841, Ground Electronics Transmission Systems Maintainer and a 0916, Martial Arts Instructor. Bracken deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, serving his nation during a time of war. Due to his commendable service, Bracken received multiple military awards including the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Afghanistan and Iraqi Campaign Medals, and many others. Upon exiting the Marine Corps, he moved to North Carolina with his wife and three children. Unfortunately, his wife was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes shortly after their son was born and has recently passed away. Throughout he struggles, Bracken has displayed the true integrity of being a veteran, by putting others before himself and sacrificing for those he loves. He currently walks four miles a day to work to provide for his family, and relies on neighbors/friends to get his kids to school due to lack of transportation. The gift of this vehicle will allow Bracken to drive to work, and take his kids to school, as there is no bus transportation where he lives.

    NABC Recycled Rides® is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council® have donated more than 3,300 vehicles valued at some $47 million.

    Additional partners in the NABC Recycled Rides® presentation include Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services, Copart, Solution Works, which provided paintless dent repair, and Auto Glass Now which provided windshield replacement.

    ABOUT THE NATIONAL AUTO BODY COUNCIL®

    The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,300 vehicles and provided extrication opportunities for some 5,500 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides®, NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) and the NABC® Community Impact program. That effort equates to a 4:1 ROI in dollar value delivered from NABC® membership dollars. The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.NationalautoBodyCouncil.org.

  • HISTORY IS MADE AT TOLEDO SPEEDWAY; PEREZ BECOMES FIRST FOREIGN-BORN ARCA CHAMPION, SCOTT BECOMES FIRST BLACK ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

    HISTORY IS MADE AT TOLEDO SPEEDWAY; PEREZ BECOMES FIRST FOREIGN-BORN ARCA CHAMPION, SCOTT BECOMES FIRST BLACK ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

    TOLEDO, Oh. (Oct. 5, 2024) – History was made on Saturday as Andres Perez (No. 2 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet) became the first foreign-born champion in the 72-season history of the ARCA Menards Series. Perez, from Mexico City, won the title with an incredibly consistent season, scoring ten top-five finishes, including a trio of runner-up finishes, and 17 top-ten finishes in 20 starts.

    He officially locked up the title when he took the green flag in the Owens Corning 200 Presented by CGS Imaging; he finished the final race of the season in sixth.

    Additionally, his Rev Racing teammate Lavar Scott (No. 6 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet) finished second in the final standings, earning the series’ Bounty Rookie of the Year award. It marks the first time a Black driver earned the top rookie award and the first time two members of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program swept the top two positions in the final ARCA Menards Series standings.

    Perez is a second-generation champion, following in the footsteps of his father Ricardo, who earned a multitude of championships in the Super Copa Seat Leon (2011-2013), Ferrari Challenge North America (2014), and Tractocaminoes Freightliner (2015) series.

    His championship is the second ARCA Menards Series drivers title for Rev Racing in the last three years. He also joins former NASCAR Cup Series champion and current playoff contender Kyle Larson and current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship contender Nick Sanchez as drivers to earn a title while driving for Rev Racing; Larson earned the championship in what is now the ARCA Menards Series East in 2012 and Sanchez was the ARCA Menards Series champ in 2022.

    “We are thrilled to see Rev Racing and Andres win the 2024 Drivers Championship,” said Max Siegel, Rev Racing owner. “As an organization that continues to focus on development and results, it is clear that what we are striving for is working. Two drivers championships in three years is both something we are proud of and will continue to work toward each season. We are thankful to our partners, staff and drivers who stay committed to excellence.”

    Perez kicked his championship run into overdrive with a hot mid-summer stretch that saw him rack up five consecutive top-five finishes, including three runner-up finishes at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Salem Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway in addition to a pair of fifth-place finishes at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway.

    “I have grown and learned so much from competing in the ARCA Menards Series these past two years. The racing in Mexico is different than the racing in the US and being able to hone my skills and grow with Rev Racing has been extremely impactful to my development. Being the first AMS Champion from Mexico is an honor and I take pride in representing my country on the track. I’m extremely thankful to Rev Racing, NASCAR Drive for Diversity, Max Siegel, and the entire No. 2 Chevrolet team for this opportunity and for their support.”

    Scott had an equally strong season as his teammate, but a slow start hampered his championship hopes. Scott’s season also heated up with the summer temperatures as he scored a pair of runner-up finishes at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway.

    The Elko race was bittersweet, however, as he led 99 of the final 102 laps; he was passed by eventual race winner William Sawalich with three to go but ran side-by-side not wanting to give up a shot at his first career series win. He nosed ahead down the backstretch and into turn three, but Sawalich got back around off the final turn to win by just 0.011 seconds, the second-closest finish in the ARCA Menards Series since the advent of electronic timing.

    Scott completed his first full season in the ARCA Menards Series with a fifth-place run at Toledo Speedway.

    “My debut season in the ARCA Menards Series has been full of lessons on and off the track. Rev Racing’s success this season is a testament to the program and its mission of bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and contending for wins and championships. Being the first Black driver to earn the Bounty Rookie of The Year Award is an honor and while I am the first I know that with programs like Rev Racing, I won’t be the last. A huge thank you to the entire No. 6 team for their hard work this season and for pushing me to always try my hardest and finish the best we can.”

    “We are very proud of the accomplishments both Andres and Lavar achieved on the racetrack in 2024,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “They both competed at an extremely high level throughout the course of the season and have proven themselves to be worthy of being the ARCA Menards Series champion and rookie of the year.

    “On top of their accomplishments on the track, they have conducted themselves like champions off the track. They are exactly the type of young driver we like to see in the ARCA Menards Series platform, and we look forward to seeing what they do on the track in 2025 and beyond.”

    Perez and Scott will be honored as ARCA Menards Series Champion and Bounty Rookie Challenge Rookie of the Year at the NASCAR Regional Awards Ceremony at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown Charlotte on Thursday, November 21.

    The 2025 ARCA Menards Series season kicks off with the 62nd annual Daytona ARCA 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 15. The race will be broadcast live on FOX at 1 pm ET and will be carried on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network. For up-to-the-minute news and updates, follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter).

    About ARCA
    The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).

    About Menards
    A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!

    Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.

    Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

  • LEGACY MOTOR CLUB NOMINATES ENGINEER SYDNEY PRINCE FOR 2024 WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS NORTH AMERICA SHEro AWARD

    LEGACY MOTOR CLUB NOMINATES ENGINEER SYDNEY PRINCE FOR 2024 WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS NORTH AMERICA SHEro AWARD

    STATESVILLE, N.C. (October 3, 2024) – As the traditional landscape of motorsports evolve, women are stepping into roles that challenge the status quo in traditionally male-dominated areas of work. LEGACY MOTOR CLUBTM (LEGACY M.C.) and AdventHealth have teamed together to participate in an opportunity with the Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) to nominate an outstanding female in consideration for a 2024 SHEro award.

    The WIMNA SHEro Award highlights outstanding women who have demonstrated effort and results contributing to advancing motorsports. The award also provides a means to inspire the next generation of females entering motorsports careers. LEGACY M.C. elected race engineer Sydney Prince as a SHEro.

    Prince, 24, is the newly promoted lead engineer on the NASCAR Cup Series No. 84 LEGACY M.C. Toyota Camry XSE entry, driven by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and co-owner of LEGACY M.C., Jimmie Johnson. A racer growing up, Prince knew early on she wanted a career in the sport. Throughout high school, she raced sprint cars and chose the No. 14 due to her love for NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart, even earning the nickname “Smoke Jr.”. After taking an engineering class in high school, Prince realized that she could work in motorsports by combining her newfound love of mechanical work with her passion for racing.

    “No one is more deserving of this award than Sydney,” said Johnson. “I’m proud we could honor her in this fashion and to join with AdventHealth and WIMNA to make it a reality for Sydney. She is hard-working, and we look forward to watching Sydney grow even more in her role within the CLUB. She is an extremely valuable member of the CLUB both at the track and in the shop as her contribution is integral to our performance.”

    “Sydney is very organized and detail oriented,” remarked Gene Wachtel, Crew Chief on the No. 84 for Kansas Speedway. “She ensures that our race engineering group has all the details for simulation each weekend. She is a self-starter and high achiever. She takes on new tasks and learns new skills quickly. Sydney is a great teammate and is always willing to help anyone at any time”.

    Prince searched for schools with exceptional mechanical engineering programs and ultimately chose the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC), noting its close location to most NASCAR teams in the greater Charlotte area. She graduated in 2022 and interned with Spire Motorsports before graduating.

    After graduation, she started working as a quality control engineer for NASCAR Truck Series team, GMS Racing, and was quickly promoted to an engineer for the No. 24 NASCAR Truck Series team in 2023 with driver Rajah Caruth. At the start of 2024, Prince joined LEGACY M.C. as an engineer on the No. 84, making her Cup Series debut in the DAYTONA 500 with Johnson. When the No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota Camry XSE isn’t on the track, Prince is constantly at work, feeding information to benefit the No. 42 and 43 entries, as well as driving the simulator to provide feedback on the set up of the cars.

    “Sydney is a tremendous asset to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB”, said Jacob Canter, SVP of Competition at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “She grew up racing on dirt, which instilled her drive and passion for motorsports. She is a talented engineer helping the team develop and exploit our simulation tools, recently being promoted to the primary race engineer role for the No. 84. Sydney is also a secret weapon within our simulator program. She helps develop the model, while driving the simulator at the same time. She has extraordinary talent behind the steering wheel and behind the keyboard.”

    LEGACY M.C. and AdventHealth took time Sunday morning at Kansas Speedway to dedicate the SHEro award to Prince. The award was a surprise to Prince and many members of LEGACY M.C. joined to commemorate the dedication, work ethic, and trailblazing efforts Prince has made in the world of motorsports.

    “Although I am not one for attention, I am appreciative of the recognition,” said Prince after learning she was nominated. “I am super thankful to have the opportunity to be an engineer in racing and to have people around me who believe in me and push me to my fullest potential. I hope that this spotlight is a sign to the current and future generation of women in motorsports that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.”

    The SHEro initiative serves as a visual for promoting, enhancing, and encouraging women in the motorsports industry. Prince is now eligible to be nominated for a national SHEro award, which will be presented in Indianapolis later this year at the WOMEN WITH DRIVE SUMMIT IV.

    “We are thrilled that LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has nominated Sydney Prince as a SHEro Award honoree,” said Cindy Sisson, Executive Director of WIMNA. “Sydney’s unwavering dedication and significant contributions have elevated her as a race engineer and a role model for others, as she has paved the way for future generations of women engineers in motorsports. The SHEro Award is about celebrating trailblazers who inspire and lead by example, and these recipients truly embody the essence of what this recognition represents.”

    To nominate a woman for a SHEro award, visit: https://womeninmotorsportsna.com/shero/

    ABOUT

    ABOUT WOMEN IN MOTORSPORTS NORTH AMERICA (WIMNA): Women in Motorsports North America is a community of professional women and men devoted to enabling opportunities for women across all motorsport disciplines. Founded as a 501c3 in April 2022, WIMNA is quickly establishing its positive impact on motorsports, supporting, and creating resources that enable women drivers, technicians, engineers, operations staff, business-related, media, and more to thrive in the industry. Best known for its Women with Drive – driven by Mobil 1 Summit held each year, WIMNA also provides resources, mentorship, coaching, career connections, and more. Learn more at womeninmotorsportsna.com

    ABOUT ADVENTHEALTH: With a sacred mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health. More than 95,000 team members across hundreds of care sites including physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies and hospice centers provide individualized, wholistic care. A shared vision, common values, focus on whole-person health and commitment to making communities healthier unify the system’s more than 50 hospital campuses in diverse markets throughout nine states. For the latest information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com/news.

    ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Jimmie Johnson. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as CLUB Ambassador. 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, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

  • Ty Dillon Returns to Full-Time NASCAR Cup Series Competition with Kaulig Racing in 2025

    Ty Dillon Returns to Full-Time NASCAR Cup Series Competition with Kaulig Racing in 2025

    Kaulig Racing to Acquire No. 10 Entry Starting in 2025

     LEXINGTON, N.C. (September 28, 2024) – Kaulig Racing announced today that Ty Dillon will drive the team’s No.10 Camaro ZL1 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season. The team will release the rights to the No. 31 at the conclusion of the 2024 season and acquire the No. 10 for the 2025 season.

    “We’re excited to be able to acquire the rights of the No. 10 for the 2025 Cup Series season,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “When we decided to move to the Cup series, the number was not available, so we are looking forward to having familiarity and synergy across both series with the Nos. 10 and 16.”

    Dillon, who has made 244-total NCS starts, competed full-time for six seasons in the series between 2017 and 2023. Most notably, Dillon competed at Germain Racing for four seasons, before the team ceased operations following the 2020 season. Kaulig Racing went on to purchase the building, renovate it, and currently operates out of the building.

    “I am incredibly grateful for another opportunity to run full-time in the Cup Series, and to be able to do it with the men and women at Kaulig Racing means a lot to me personally,” said Dillon. “They gave me a chance this year to go out and prove myself in a handful of starts. The team and I were able to connect early on and we put together a few strong runs in the No. 16. I’m really looking forward to what 2025 brings with this team. We have a bright future ahead of us and we’re going to give it our all each and every race next season.”

    Dillon is currently competing in a part-time schedule for Kaulig Racing in the team’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1, finishing in the top 20 in two of his four starts for the team.

    “Ty has done a really great job for us this year in our No. 16 car, competing in a limited schedule,” said team owner, Matt Kaulig. “He has been consistent each time he gets in the car and has really helped our program grow this season. We think he will be instrumental in continuing our Cup program in alliance with Richard Childress Racing.”

    Dillon will compete in his final NCS race of the season with Kaulig Racing this weekend at Kansas Speedway, before taking over the No. 10 Camaro ZL1 in 2025. Information regarding partnerships for 2025 will be announced at a later date.
     
    About Kaulig Racing

    Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

  • ARCA Menards Series Extends Relationship with FS1 and FS2;To Compete in 20 Races at 19 Tracks in 2025

    ARCA Menards Series Extends Relationship with FS1 and FS2;To Compete in 20 Races at 19 Tracks in 2025

    Daytona Season Opener Live on FOX for First Time Ever

    KANSAS CITY, Kan. – (Sept. 27, 2024) – The ARCA Menards Series has announced a television broadcast agreement extension with FS1 and FS2 that features a full season of live television coverage in 2025. Additionally, as part of the new agreement, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway will air live on FOX, marking the first time in series history that a race has aired on broadcast television.

    The relationship, which began with Speedvision in 1999, is now extended through at least 2028.

    “We’re proud of the long-standing partnership between ARCA and FOX Sports in what will span across three decades during the course of this most recent extension” said Ben Baker, NASCAR’s VP of Broadcasting & Production Operations.  “FOX’s coverage of the ARCA Menards Series continues to expand to a larger audience and we’re looking forward to their coverage of great racing in the years to come.”

    ARCA also has released the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule, comprised of 20 races at 19 different tracks, with the season opener slated at Daytona International Speedway and, for the fourth consecutive year, it will close at its home track, Toledo Speedway.

    The highlights:

    • The series will race at Daytona for the 62nd consecutive year dating to 1964; as it has for the last six years, the race will be the opener of a same-day doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series the day before the DAYTONA 500. FOX will broadcast the Daytona ARCA 200, the first time an ARCA Menards Series race will be broadcast live on an over-the-air network.
    • Kansas Speedway continues to be the only track on the schedule twice, with races scheduled in conjunction with the NASCAR national series in May and September.
    • Tandem races with the NASCAR Cup Series will also take place at Phoenix Raceway in March, Talladega Superspeedway in April, Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Michigan International Speedway in June, Dover Motor Speedway in July, Iowa Speedway and Watkins Glen International in August, and Bristol Motor Speedway in September.
    • Stand-alone short track races will be held at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway in June, Madison International Speedway in August, the traditional fall classic date at Salem Speedway in September, and the championship finale at Toledo Speedway in October.
    • The two dirt miles at the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair both return on their traditional weekends.
    • Lime Rock Park will join the schedule for the first time and the half-mile Madison International Speedway rejoins the schedule for the first time since 2019.

    The race at Phoenix Raceway in March will be a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series West, while races at Dover Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Iowa Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway will be combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East.

    The complete 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule (all times are Eastern):

    DateTrack, LocationTime (ET)TV
    Feb. 15Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.12:00 PMFOX
    March 7Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.8:00 PMFS1
    April 26Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.12:30 PMFS1
    May 9Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.8:00 PMFS1
    May 23Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.6:00 PMFS1
    June 6Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich.5:00 PMFS2
    June 14Berlin Raceway, Marne, Mich.7:00 PMFS1
    June 21Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn.9:00 PMFS2
    June 28Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, Conn.4:00 PMFS2
    July 18Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Del.5:00 PMFS1
    July 25Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg, Ind.5:30 PMFS1
    Aug. 1Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa7:00 PMFS1
    Aug. 8Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.2:00 PMFS2
    Aug. 17Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.2:00 PMFS1
    Aug. 22Madison International Speedway, Madison, Wis.9:00 PMFS1
    Aug. 31Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.8:30 PMFS1
    Sept. 11Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.5:30 PMFS1
    Sept. 20Salem Speedway, Salem, Ind.8:00 PMFS2
    Sept. 26Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.8:00 PMFS1
    Oct. 4Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Oh.4:00 PMFS2

    All dates are tentative and subject to change.

    Schedules for the ARCA Menards Series East and West will be released at a later date.

    For further information please visit ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.

    About ARCA

    The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

    About Menards

    A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!

    Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 

    Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

  • New Era: Charter System Established for NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Owners

    New Era: Charter System Established for NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Owners

    INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, Sept. 23, 2024) – INDYCAR confirmed today the establishment of a charter system across the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In total, owners of 10 teams have accepted charters for 25 entries competing in North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, beginning immediately.

    “This is an important development that demonstrates an aligned and optimistic vision for the future of our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our team owners for their collaboration and ideation throughout this process. Ultimately, we’re pleased to have a system in place that provides greater value for our ownership and the entries they field.”

    This is the first charter system to be introduced in the history of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. A chartered entry is guaranteed a starting position on the grid at all NTT INDYCAR SERIES races, excluding the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. An entry also must be chartered to qualify for the annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES Leaders Circle program – an annual award program that compensates the 22 top finishers in the prior year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship. The terms of the initial, long-term charter agreements are committed through the end of 2031.

    Chartered 2025 INDYCAR Teams

    NTT INDYCAR SERIES TeamEntries
    A.J. Foyt Enterprises2
    Andretti Global3
    Arrow McLaren3
    Chip Ganassi Racing3
    Dale Coyne Racing2
    Ed Carpenter Racing2
    Juncos Hollinger Racing2
    Meyer Shank Racing2
    Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing3
    Team Penske3

    Charters were extended to team owners based on full-time entries over the previous two seasons, with a maximum of three awarded per team.

    WHAT INDYCAR’S TEAM OWNERS ARE SAYING

    “I appreciate the efforts made by the INDYCAR and Penske leadership groups, as well as all the owners, to get this charter system started. It is incredibly challenging to get a large group of owners to agree on something, and certainly there was some give and take, but, in the end, I believe this is a path that is beneficial for all of the owners and for INDYCAR, while also maintaining the availability for open competition.” – Larry Foyt, A.J. Foyt Enterprises

    “When you look back in the modern era of INDYCAR racing, you will look at a few important moments, the first being the unification of the sport, the next being Roger Penske buying the INDYCAR SERIES and IMS, and I truly believe the third will be the charter system.” – Chip Ganassi, Chip Ganassi Racing

    “We are very pleased to begin this new era. The process has been thorough but, in the end, very exciting. This charter system will clearly strengthen our teams as we continue to grow the sport. I would like to thank Roger (Penske) and his entire team at INDYCAR.

    “ECR will have announcements soon, and I don’t know that they would be possible without the help of a program like this. With this groundbreaking development, the new TV deal with FOX and the momentum that had been building, INDYCAR’s future is very bright.” – Ed Carpenter, Ed Carpenter Racing

    “The charter agreement, to me, is the single-most important piece for the future of the series. I’m grateful that we all came together on this and thank the Roger Penske group for working with the team owners for getting it done.” – Michael Shank, Meyer Shank Racing

    The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 2 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding on the streets of St. Petersburg. The entire 17-race schedule will be available live on FOX and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

  • Larson dominates Bass Pro Shops Night Race at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway to advance in Playoffs

    Larson dominates Bass Pro Shops Night Race at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway to advance in Playoffs

    BRISTOL, Tenn.— It was a story of absolute domination on the part of Kyle Larson, who led 462 of 500 laps at Bristol Motor Speedway and won Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race by 7.088 seconds over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott.

    Larson’s advance to the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs was hardly in doubt, but the vicissitudes of the elimination race were unkind to Ty Gibbs, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski and Harrison Burton, who are no longer eligible to compete for the series championship.

    Sweeping both stages in front of a massive crowd on a near-perfect night, Larson set a record for laps led in a single race by a Hendrick Motorsports driver. He has now led 1,351 laps at Bristol, his most at a single track.

    No driver has led as many laps in a victory at Bristol since Cale Yarborough led 495 in 1977.

    The victory was Larson’s second at the 0.533-mile track, his series-best fifth of the season and the 28th of the career. He enters the Round of 12 as the top seed, as the series moves to Kansas Speedway for the Sept. 29 Hollywood Casino 400.

    “Man, that was just great execution all weekend by the team,” Larson said. “Practiced good. You’ve got to qualify good; we did that. Yeah, just had a great car. Thanks to the whole 5 team. They’re the best in the business.

    “We dominate a lot of races, but we might not close them all out, so it feels really good to close one out here in this HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy. We’ve got (team owner) Rick Hendrick here today, too. He hasn’t been to many races this year…

    “Just a phenomenal car, could kind of manage my stuff and then really pass some cars there at the end.”

    Unfortunately for Gibbs and Truex, Saturday night’s race also was the story of crippling penalties. Gibbs was flagged for speeding on pit road during the first stage break and spent the rest of the race fighting his way toward the front.

    By Lap 500, however, Gibbs had worn out his right rear tire, finished 15th and lost the final Round of 12 position to Daniel Suarez and Chase Briscoe by 11 points.

    “Speeding penalty is on me,” Gibbs said. “You run the lights so close … it’s my fault. Unfortunate.”

    Entering the race 14 points below the cut line, Truex ran fourth in the first stage and second in Stage 2, but the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota sped on pit road during the fifth and final caution and finished 24th, 21 points short of advancing to the Round of 12.

    “We did good in the first two stages—we got a lot of points,” said Truex, who will retire from full-time Cup racing at the end of the season. “I guess we would have had to run second or third to make it through. Who knows if we would have been able to? I wish we could have seen if we could have done that.

    “I’m just gutted for my team. We worked so hard this week. We all put in a lot all season long, and in the last three weeks, just snake-bit. Can’t do anything right … .09 mph (over the pit road speed tolerance) hurts really bad to take the chance away to know if we even could have done it. I don’t know if we could have run second … maybe. We were close to it all day, but in the end, it doesn’t matter. I feel terrible for my guys.”

    Non-Playoff driver Bubba Wallace finished third on Saturday night, followed by Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and defending series champion Ryan Blaney, all of whom secured spots in the Round of 12.

    Hamlin entered the race six points below the cut line but maintained a presence in the top five all race long. The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing machine, who won the last two Bristol races, came up a bit short tonight of adding another Bristol trophy and sword to his collection.

    “My aspirations were to win it, but it looked like the 5 (Larson) there was better than all of us,” Hamlin said. “Solid car. I thought we were really good towards the middle of the stages, and then at the end, got too loose and couldn’t hang onto what we had.

    “Overall, top-five day, good stage points, kind of in the mix, just not really as good as we’ve been here the last few times. But overall, I want to thank this whole FedEx Toyota team for giving me something I can move on with.”

    Ryan Preece ran seventh, trailed by Briscoe and pole winner Alex Bowman, who was locked into the next Playoff round after finishing seventh in Stage 2. Austin Cindric (13th Saturday), William Byron (17th), Tyler Reddick (20th) and Joey Logano (28th) also were among the 12 drivers to advance.

    Logano already had secured his spot with a victory in the Playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

    Larson took charge early, passing Bowman for the lead on Lap 33. Adroitly working traffic as the first 125-lap stage progressed, Larson lapped three Playoff drivers in succession—Suarez on Lap 64, Burton on Lap 86 and Keselowski of Lap 104.

    Bowman led a lap under caution during the first stage break, but Larson had the top spot back out of the pits one circuit later and continued to assert his authority in Stage 2. Suarez lost a second lap to the leader on Lap 194, putting his Playoff future in dire peril—temporarily.

    Burton suffered the same fate on Lap 207, all but assuring his elimination. His fate was sealed when he took his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford to the garage on Lap 235 to repair a power steering issue.

    Gibbs’ penalty was the saving grace for Suarez, who finished 31st, four laps down but was able to move on.

    “It was a struggle,” Suarez acknowledged. “Since yesterday when we unloaded the car for first practice, we just didn’t have the speed. As you know, with a short amount of practice, qualifying, and going to the race, if you don’t have speed out of the trailer, it’s very, very difficult to bring it back to speed.

    “We made it better, but it wasn’t good enough. We were running 30th, 28th, 32nd all night long, and that’s what we had. Luckily, we had a great Atlanta (a runner-up finish), decent Watkins Glen after a broken wheel, and we were able to build a cushion, and we definitely used every single point out of that cushion.”

    Interestingly, the rapid tire fall-off that exerted a profound influence over this year’s spring race at Thunder Valley was a non-factor on Saturday. Before the race, after consultation with the drivers, NASCAR opted to spray PJ1 traction compound on the bottom two feet of the track.

    Story by NASCAR Newswire

    NASCAR Cup Series Race – Bass Pro Shops Night Race
    Bristol Motor Speedway
    Bristol, Tennessee
    Saturday, September 21, 2024

    (2) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 500.
    (10) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 500.
    (11) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 500.
    (8) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 500.
    (6) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 500.
    (22) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 500.
    (14) Ryan Preece, Ford, 500.
    (5) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 500.
    (1) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 500.
    (12) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 500.
    (18) Michael McDowell, Ford, 499.
    (16) Noah Gragson, Ford, 499.
    (27) Austin Cindric (P), Ford, 499.
    (17) Chris Buescher, Ford, 499.
    (13) Ty Gibbs (P), Toyota, 499.
    (33) Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, 499.
    (3) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 499.
    (7) Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 499.
    (21) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 499.
    (15) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota, 499.
    (30) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 499.
    (26) Justin Haley, Ford, 499.
    (19) AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 499.
    (4) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 499.
    (29) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 498.
    (23) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 497.
    (31) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 497.
    (20) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 496.
    (25) Josh Berry #, Ford, 496.
    (32) Erik Jones, Toyota, 496.
    (35) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet, 496.
    (24) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 496.
    (28) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 491.
    (37) Josh Bilicki(i), Ford, 467.
    (34) Harrison Burton (P), Ford, 422.
    (9) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, Accident, 330.
    (36) Kaz Grala #, Ford, Steering, 296.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 101.277 mph.

    Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 37 Mins, 53 Secs. Margin of Victory: 7.088 Seconds.

    Caution Flags: 5 for 36 laps.

    Lead Changes: 8 among 4 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: A. Bowman (P) 1-32;K. Larson (P) 33-129;A. Bowman (P) 130;K. Larson (P) 131-244;A. Bowman (P) 245;T. Reddick (P) 246-248;K. Larson (P) 249-332;B. Wallace 333;K. Larson (P) 334-500.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Larson (P) 4 times for 462 laps; Alex Bowman (P) 3 times for 34 laps; Tyler Reddick (P) 1 time for 3 laps; Bubba Wallace 1 time for 1 lap.

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 5,48,20,19,24,11,14,54,9,23

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 5,19,11,45,20,23,48,14,12,9

  • Cole Custer wins Food City 300 and NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season crown Friday at Bristol

    Cole Custer wins Food City 300 and NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season crown Friday at Bristol

    BRISTOL, Tenn.— Cole Custer recovered from an early brush with the outside wall to win Friday’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the race that set the field for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

    Custer’s second victory of the season, combined with a litany of trouble that befell Justin Allgaier, gave the driver of the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford an unlikely come-from-behind victory in the battle for the regular-season title and accompanying 15 Playoff-point bonus.

    Custer, who led a race-high 104 laps, took the top spot for good with a pass of Sheldon Creed on Lap 209 of 300. In winning for the first time at Bristol and the 15th time in his career, Custer crossed the finish line 0.896 second ahead of Creed, who now has 13 runner-up finishes to his credit without an Xfinity win.

    “This is huge, because our confidence was going down there the last month,” said Custer, the reigning series champion who will begin his title defense Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway. “To get this win really means a lot…

    “It’s unbelievable. These guys never give up. It’s been a tough month, but to be able to lead into the Playoffs like this, we’re going to really bring it to them.”

    The race also secured Playoff spots for the final two drivers on the postseason grid. Sammy Smith and Parker Kligerman finished 15th and 16th, respectively, to earn their Playoff berths.

    Chandler Smith ran third and Jesse Love fourth on Friday, both having already secured Playoff spots. Ryan Truex was fifth, followed by Brandon Jones, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Sieg (who missed the final Playoff spot by 36 points) and Playoff-bound Sam Mayer.

    The battle for the regular-season championship took more twists and turns than a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Custer hit the outside wall on Lap 2 and cut a tire, temporarily jeopardizing his second-place position in the standings.

    But Justin Allgaier, the driver Custer was chasing for the regular-season title, had his own share of ill fortune on Lap 52. Having led every lap to that point, Allgaier was cruising toward what would have been his 15th stage win of the season when the Chevrolet of Austin Green bounced off the outside wall into Allgaier’s path.

    Contact between the Camaros sheared the rear bumper cover off Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevy. After a pit stop to repair the car’s right-rear quarter panel, Allgaier continued. Allgaier pitted on Lap 60 and stayed on the track during the stage break after Lap 85, putting him fifth for a restart on Lap 96.

    He was second for a restart on Lap 127 but his sojourn in the top five didn’t last. On Lap 153, contact between Creed’s Toyota and Allgaier’s Chevy sent the No. 7 down the track nose-first into the inside wall.

    During repairs, Allgaier’s car dragged a saw out of the pits, incurring a penalty. From that point on, the JR Motorsports driver ran roughly three seconds off the pace, rapidly losing laps and positions.

    When Custer took the race lead from Creed on Lap 209, he had the regular-season lead, having erased the 43-point advantage Allgaier carried into the race. With his victory, Custer secured the regular-season crown by three points over Allgaier, who nevertheless will enter the postseason as the top seed with 34 Playoff points to Custer’s 28.

    “I don’t really have any words for tonight,” said Allgaier, who finished 30th, 10 laps down. “It started with getting the damage from the wreck in front of us. There was nothing we could do. And then, just racing, trying to get as many stage points as we could, and I think the 18 (Creed ) came off the wall a little bit.

    “I’m really bummed about tonight. We’ll go back and talk about it … We had the best car tonight. It was very obvious from the beginning of the race that it was the best car, and nothing to show for it.”

    Story by NASCAR Newswire

    NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Food City 300
    Bristol Motor Speedway
    Bristol, Tennessee
    Friday, September 20, 2024

    (2) Cole Custer, Ford, 300.
    (14) Sheldon Creed, Toyota, 300.
    (1) Chandler Smith, Toyota, 300.
    (10) Jesse Love #, Chevrolet, 300.
    (16) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 300.
    (8) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 300.
    (13) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 300.
    (12) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 300.
    (20) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 300.
    (5) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 300.
    (3) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 300.
    (7) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 300.
    (15) Riley Herbst, Ford, 300.
    (17) Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 300.
    (21) Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 300.
    (11) Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 300.
    (29) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 299.
    (34) Shane Van Gisbergen #, Chevrolet, 299.
    (19) Joe Graf Jr., Toyota, 299.
    (22) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 299.
    (32) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 299.
    (33) Blaine Perkins, Ford, 299.
    (36) Kyle Sieg, Ford, 299.
    (26) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 299.
    (25) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 299.
    (9) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 298.
    (35) Logan Bearden, Ford, 298.
    (30) Carson Ware, Chevrolet, 295.
    (38) Greg Van Alst, Chevrolet, 292.
    (4) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 290.
    (31) Leland Honeyman #, Chevrolet, 290.
    (18) Chad Finchum, Ford, 280.
    (23) Stefan Parsons(i), Chevrolet, 276.
    (24) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 275.
    (6) Jeffrey Earnhardt(i), Toyota, Accident, 205.
    (37) Garrett Smithley, Ford, Rear Gear, 113.
    (27) Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, Accident, 51.
    (28) Austin Green, Chevrolet, Accident, 50.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 79.344 mph.

    Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 0 Mins, 55 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.896 Seconds.

    Caution Flags: 7 for 57 laps.

    Lead Changes: 11 among 9 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: C. Smith 0;J. Allgaier 1-60;C. Smith 61-89;J. Love # 90;R. Sieg 91-95;S. Mayer 96-150;C. Custer 151-155;D. Earnhardt Jr. 156;J. Clements 157-173;C. Custer 174-180;S. Creed 181-208;C. Custer 209-300.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Cole Custer 3 times for 104 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 60 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 55 laps; Chandler Smith 1 time for 29 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 28 laps; Jeremy Clements 1 time for 17 laps; Ryan Sieg 1 time for 5 laps; Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1 time for 1 lap; Jesse Love # 1 time for 1 lap.

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 81,2,18,16,5,51,00,26,20,19

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 51,00,20,18,81,2,98,1,88,48