Category: Featured Other Series

Featured Other Series

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America NHRA Gainesville Post-Qualifying Report – 03.09.24

Langdon Earns Top Qualifying Position in Strong Toyota Showing at Gainesville
Antron Brown wins Pep Boys Top Fuel Callout

Gainesville, Fla. (March 9, 2024) – Team Toyota had a strong opening qualifying of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Kalitta Motorsports’ Shawn Langdon captured his 20th career No. 1 qualifying position with a 3.682 elapsed time in his Toyota Top Fuel dragster Saturday evening in Gainesville. Steve Torrence missed out on the top qualifying spot by 0.008 seconds, earning the second spot in Top Fuel for Sunday’s elimination rounds.

After a tough Friday session, Antron Brown came back with a vengeance on Saturday, capturing the Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout title and earned the fourth spot for Sunday where he’ll face Tripp Tatum. By winning the All-Star Callout event, Brown earned an additional $80,000.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps led the three Toyota GR Supras with the third fastest time at 3.871. Capps is seeking his fifth career win at the Gatornationals (2006, 2007, 2015, 2020).

Toyota Post-Qualifying Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals
Gainesville Raceway
Race 1 of 21

TOYOTA TOP FUEL QUALIFYING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
Shawn Langdon	Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	1st	Vs. Cody Krohn
Steve Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	2nd	Vs. Shawn Reed
Antron Brown	Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	4th	Vs. Tripp Tatum
Billy Torrence	CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	6th	Vs. Brittany Force
Doug Kalitta	Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	7th	Vs. Clay Millican
Justin Ashley	SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster	8th	Vs. Tony Stewart

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR QUALIFYING POSITIONS

Name	Car	Qualifying Position	First Round Opponent
Austin Prock	Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car	1st*	Vs. John Smith
Ron Capps	NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	3rd	Vs. Jim Campbell
J.R. Todd	DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	6th	Vs. Blake Alexander
Alexis DeJoria	Bandero Tequila Toyota GR Supra Funny Car	7th	Vs. Paul Lee

*= Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

SHAWN LANGDON, Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 1st

Take us through your runs and the momentum this brings you to start the season.

“I haven’t done anything different, right? I mean, I just go out there, hit the gas, keep the thing straight and run it to 1,000 feet. That just shows you the changes we’ve made. We’ve had a good car a few times the past few years and, with Brian (Husen, crew chief) and Justin (Groat, assistant crew chief) coming in, and a couple guys coming in, the changes have worked so far. And yeah, Brian has a really good control of the race car right now. Like on that run, I go ‘what do you think?’ And he said, ‘well if it makes enough power, it should go 3.67.’ So, first race out, we’re within three thousands of a second of his prediction. It’s really cool to see and I’m really proud of Brian and have worked with him for many years. I’m really excited for him to get this opportunity because he’s a really smart guy and he’s a very hard worker. I’m really lucky to be his driver.”

ANTRON BROWN, Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, AB Motorsports

TF Qualifying Result: 4th

How special is it to win the Top Fuel All Star Callout?

“This win is very, very special. We didn’t start out with the best car this weekend, but we never quit. We’ve been working through some things, like a brand-new chassis but our Matco boys never stop. Our guys had a chance to keep picking at it, and keep picking at it, and we knew it was going to be a tough round against Brittany (Force), another world champion. Everyone we raced today was a fellow world champion. We knew we had to step it up against her, but we had the added pressure of qualifying because we went into that round in 15th, so to go out there and do what we did and run that 3.709 and move up to fourth on the ladder and get this Pep Boys All-Star Callout win is pretty special. It’s going to be tough competition tomorrow on race day. The field is tight, but hopefully we can parlay that and get better tomorrow. We’ve been getting better and better with each lap, and that’s when you get dangerous. I’m focused, and my boys are giving me a hot rod that can do the job, and that’s what it takes; it takes every piece of the puzzle to make something like this happen. We have an incredible team and we’re looking forward to this 2024 season. The boys have a lot of work tonight to get ready for tomorrow. The weather is going to be cooler, brisker. Everyone is going to make more power, and I think we’re going to see some monumental runs tomorrow. You’re going to have to run in the 3.60s to get past the first round.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

FC Qualifying Result: 3rd

How was your qualifying and what are you looking forward to tomorrow?

“In preseason testing, you sometimes learn things that will help you. But more often than not, when you learn things, things can be accidental sometimes. And that’s what testing is all about. We came in here and pulled last year’s car out. Guido (Dean Antonelli, crew chief) wasn’t quite confident in our brand-new car only having a few runs on it. And lone behold, we unloaded and this has been one of the most consistent cars going down the track. Obviously, we’re number three and our brand new Supra body is awesome. Ran 330+ mph on all three of our runs. And we’re getting data, which is the most important thing for crew chiefs. Man, it’s hard ball in Funny Car 2024. We say it every year, but we’re going to have our work cut out for us. Sunday is going to be overcast and fast. That’s when we think we have an advantage with this GR Supra. Having something to go through there downforce wise and aerodynamic wise, and we’re pumped about it.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

March 10, 2024

Sandwich Artist to 200 MPH Man: Caleb Costner’s Improbable Journey to the ARCA Menards Series

While Caleb Costner is a race car driver at heart, that’s not his only job. When he sat inside the Team Penske shop for our virtual interview, he wasn’t there to discuss strategy.

“At the start of the year, we took over Penske’s cleaning contract,” he explained, giving us a look around the video room, including the vending machine that would become an inside joke later in the interview. “This is the video conference room where they break down footage, it’s a pretty cool spot.”

While his life has taken him to the national spotlight, Costner’s story differs from most drivers coming up through the ranks today.

“I started racing when I was a kid, but not when I was 4,” Costner says. “I started when I was 12 years old. I had been begging my parents to consider racing. We had a neighbor move in named Tyler Lester. A lot of guys my age that are racing are familiar with him. He was a great racer and got me into it. I saw he had a Legends car for sale across the road. That started the questioning to my parents of, ‘I want to get involved, how can we do this?’ We bought my first couple of cars from Tyler and only ran about 3 races before we found out how expensive racing is. My parents are hard-working, blue-collar people. One works at Freightliner and the other at an industrial plant, and we decided that we just couldn’t do it. I was 15 years old at that point, and I got a job permit. My first job was at Subway, of all places. I was a sandwich artist.”

The road from sandwich artist to professional racecar driver was one filled with many twists and turns, but mainly financial issues. The lack of funds didn’t deter Costner’s dream, however. It seemed only to strengthen it.

“From that point forward, I was determined to make money and buy a race car. And sure enough, I did it. I bought a Mustang. I took it up to East Lincoln Speedway, which was my home track at the time. I ran a few seasons up there until I was 18 years old. That was the age when I realized that this was not going to be a career for me.”

With full-time racing dreams suddenly dashed again, Costner became a first responder and put his racing career on the back burner for nearly a decade, until he met up with an old friend.

“I got an opportunity to run a Legend car at Hickory Motor Speedway, in a one-off. It was actually for my buddy Tyler Lester, and from that moment, I was hooked again. I said, ‘Gosh, I miss this. I can’t believe I haven’t done this in years.’ I got back into it and enjoyed it for about a year. Up to that point, I had never had a sponsor. One of my best friends (Craig) who works at a pipe fitting company talked to his boss and asked if he’d be interested in helping me out. He invested in me pretty well. That gave me the confidence to say, okay, let’s go get another sponsor, and another one. And I went from just running dirt cars to getting to know more people in the (NASCAR) industry, and a friend of mine who used to run the Winston West Series gave me some opportunities that led to me eventually running my first ARCA race in 2021.”

While it may seem monotonous in today’s world, the old adage of never giving up rings true for Costner.

“I’ve just worked so hard and never given up. Not giving up is the biggest thing, man. There’s so many times you say that it isn’t worth it. I’m done. I faced that a couple times, but I kept saying ‘I’m so close, I’m so close.’ That ultimately led to the partnership I have with Aaron Weaver and running the full 2024 ARCA season.”

Costner says he and his race team keep their expectations realistic, but optimistic at the same time.

“We try to be as real as we can as a team. We’ve added some sponsors and put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into the team this offseason. We took a lot of necessary steps to improve. Realistically, we’re shooting for top tens every weekend. A great day for us is a top 5 at a Daytona or Talladega, and those are races where we expect to be competing for wins.”

“My goal is to be going for wins.”

Costner likely never imagined saying that while working at Subway as a teen, nor after his driving dreams were crushed multiple times. Despite some hardships, the never-give-up mentality of Costner and his race team has given the #93 team a shot in one of the premier motorsports leagues in America.

It’s up to them to take charge and capitalize on their biggest opportunity yet.

February 3, 2024
Aaron Plessinger Takes Career-First 450SX Class Victory in San Diego

Nate Thrasher Wins Thrilling 250SX Class Race

San Diego, Calif., (January 21, 2024) Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger earned a hard-fought and emotional win at Round 3 the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship inside a muddy Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. With the win, Plessinger took over the lead in the championship points.

Supercross returned to San Diego for the 41st time with Snapdragon Stadium hosting the event for its second year. Daytime rain saturated the track that slowly tacked-up throughout the night’s racing in front of the sold-out crowd. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Two-time champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb battled forward on the deep-rutted track to take second place and his first podium of the year. Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia took the runner-up spot under clear skies on the rain-soaked track at the 50th Anniversary Race which commemorates the sport’s 50th year. In the Western Regional 250SX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher earned the win after a thrilling battle that had the top three close and trading positions for the entire race.

“It feels really, really good. I guess it feels like it should. I got off to a good start and just rode a good race. Kenny [Roczen] was in front and then I just applied a little pressure and he ended up going down. Cooper [Webb] was just right there behind me keeping me on my toes, and so was Eli [Tomac, who was a lap down]. Yeah, it was a really good race, I just got a good lead and rode my own race, and stayed up. It seemed like we were lapping a lot of people, so it feels good and I’m ready to do it again next weekend.” – Aaron Plessinger

“I think I’ve had a great season so far, but on paper it hasn’t [looked that way]. Anaheim 1 was great but last weekend was not, so like we say, we’re hoping that’s the battle and I can charge on from here. And tonight was great to get those points back, get it back in the mix. I felt great on the track. I felt great all day. I was really wanting that win but it was overall a really good bounce back, and for me just to know that I’m in this thing for sure.” – Cooper Webb

“The rebound this weekend was absolutely awesome. I felt really good, just staying in my lane. I didn’t feel the greatest but I ride well in those conditions… I was just sitting back thinking about this table [with the three of us sitting here at the post race conference]. This is a really cool table. We all kind of grew up riding together, [in our] professional career we’ve all trained [together], we’ve all been teammates together on different teams, so this is a really cool podium and I’m super proud to be on this podium tonight. And yeah, I’ll just keep plugging along, getting stronger and hopefully [there will be] a lot more podiums with these boys.” – Justin Barcia

In the Western Regional 250SX Class Nate Thrasher took his fifth career win and his first podium of the year in a Yamaha podium sweep. After fighting into the lead, Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Garrett Marchbanks settled for second but kept Thrasher close right to the checkered flag. Rounding out the podium was Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Jordon Smith, who stretched out his championship points lead on his nearest competitor.

First place 250SX Class – Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

“[The track] was kinda coming around throughout the night; the dirt was starting to grip back up… I was just trying to do everything, like, ride it like it was dry. That was kinda of my goal going into the main event. It was tougher to ride cautious than it was to go out there and ride all-out. So that was my goal for the night: in the main, just go out there and ride all-out and whatever happens, happens, and it was good.” – Nate Thrasher

“Once I passed RJ [Hampshire] for the lead, I’d say for the first lap I was kinda like, ‘Holy crap, I’m actually leading.’ It’s been a really long time since Daytona that I’ve led some laps. I’d say after that it was more putting my head down, just acting like I was at the practice track, just doing some normal laps at ClubMX. Yeah, it is what it is, I got caught up with some lappers, I tried to change some lines up and it wasn’t the best I could do, and [Thrasher] got around me. Nate was riding good and yeah, it is what it is.” – Garrett Marchbanks

“I got off to a pretty good start, I think I was in third in the first couple laps with RJ [Hampshire] and Levi [Kitchen] right in front of me. We were still taking it pretty easy on the track, I would say. The lines weren’t cut in and I was just trying to be smart where I was. [It was a] long race, a lot could happen, and then I made a few mistakes and Nate [Thrasher] and Garrett [Marchbanks] both got around me and I just really – not that I tightened up but I was just making a lot of mistakes. I was not putting the track together… I kinda re-focused and then Jo [Shimoda] and Levi were right behind me and we actually were pushing really hard at the end. I think the last five laps were probably the best of the race for me. It was not really any kind of holding back at the end of the race there, it was trying to keep those guys behind me and push forward.” – Jordon Smith

The series now takes a short trip north for the second 2024 race inside Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday, January 27th. The Anaheim 2 Supercross continues the season’s earlier start times with opening ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. local time). The race represents both Round 4 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross series and also the fourth round of the 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. The SuperMotocross League is in its second year and draws points from the complete Supercross season and the 11-round AMA Pro Motocross season. In September, points are reset and the top racers are seeded into two Playoff rounds and one Final to crown the SMX champions.

All Supercross, Pro Motocross, and SuperMotocross rounds are available live on PeacockTV. Select rounds are also broadcast or streamed on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sport app domestically. Audio coverage is broadcast live on Sirius XM – CH 85. International coverage is available live with the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv), where commentary is available in both English and Spanish.

Tickets are available now to catch a Supercross when it comes to a city near you. You can also catch up on the racing, see the track maps, get info on FanFest, and more. For all this, and for ticket purchases, please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/supercrosslive
X: twitter.com/supercrosslive
Instagram: instagram.com/supercrosslive
YouTube: youtube.com/supercrosslive
TikTok: tiktok.com/supercrossliveofficial
Official Merch: SupercrossSuperstore.com

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About the SuperMotocross World Championship:

The SuperMotocross World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SuperMotocross World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-event series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SuperMotocross World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association:

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

January 21, 2024

NHRA AND FOX SPORTS RELEASE TV SCHEDULE FOR 2024 NHRA MISSION FOODS DRAG RACING SERIES SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 28, 2023) – The NHRA and FOX Sports today announced the television schedule for the upcoming 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, which includes eight broadcasts on the FOX broadcast network.

All 21 races, plus the Pep Boys NHRA All-Star Callout events in Top Fuel and Funny Car, and the GETTRX NHRA All-Star Callout events in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, will be broadcast on either FOX or FS1. The 2024 season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series opens on March 7-10 with the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, with the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout being showcased at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 9 on FS1 and eliminations following the next day.

For the fourth consecutive season, a race in September in the Countdown to the Championship will also air on FOX adjacent to a FOX NFL broadcast, allowing NHRA to enjoy a huge platform during its playoffs. That opportunity has continually led to huge audiences, including an average of more than 1.5 million viewers on FOX last year during the broadcast from Maple Grove Raceway.

That marks the final race of the season appearing on the FOX broadcast network, following a summer filled with incredible racing action on the broadcast network. Along with a race to-be-determined on FOX, that includes the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals from Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk (June 30), the Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals from Pacific Raceways (July 21), the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals from Sonoma Raceway (July 28), the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals from Brainerd International Raceway (Aug. 18) and the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout in Indy (Sept. 1).

The prestigious 70th annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest drag race, will also air from Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on both FOX and FS1, including five hours of eliminations on FOX on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2 to give fans extensive coverage from the Big Go. A year ago, nearly 2.1 million viewers tuned into original airings of the event, the most for original broadcasts of The Big Go since 2017.

In all, six of the early-season broadcasts on FS1 will enjoy NASCAR lead-ins, putting in NHRA in a prime viewership window. Each of the NHRA All-Star Callout events will receive their own show on Saturday as well, with the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout airing at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18 on FS1 from Chicago, and the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout airing at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 27 from Sonoma.

The NHRA and FOX relationship began in 2016, and NHRA and FOX Sports announced a multiyear extension of their agreement in 2021, including expanded coverage, the NFL adjacent event during the Countdown to the Championship, and five hours of finals coverage at the NHRA U.S. Nationals over Labor Day Weekend each year. The partnership has also led to numerous innovations on the broadcast in recent years, with the NHRA on FOX team collecting numerous Telly awards in 2023.

FOX Sports and NHRA are also scheduling NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series broadcasts, as well as shows featuring the NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series across the FOX Sports networks.

NHRA races will also appear in Canada and the Caribbean through FOX Sports Racing as well, as well as through the FOX Sports app.

For more information on NHRA, including the full 2024 schedule, please visit www.nhra.com.

2024 NHRA on FOX Sports Television Schedule (all times Eastern)

March 9	Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout	Gainesville	7:00 PM	FS1
March 10	NHRA Gatornationals	Gainesville	9:00 PM	FS1
March 24	Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals	Pomona	7:00 PM	FS1
April 7	NHRA Arizona Nationals	Phoenix	6:30 PM	FS1
April 14	NHRA Four-Wide Nationals	Las Vegas	7:00 PM	FS1
April 28	Circle K NHRA 4-Wide Nationals	Charlotte	6:00 PM	FS1
May 18	GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock All-Star Callout	Chicago	7:00 PM	FS1
May 19	Gerber Collison & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals	Chicago	4:00 PM	FS1
June 2	NHRA New England Nationals	Epping	1:00 PM	FS1
June 9	NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals	Bristol	7:00 PM	FS1
June 23	Virginia NHRA Nationals	Richmond	3:00 PM	TBD
June 30	Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals	Norwalk	2:00 PM	FOX
July 14	TBD	TBD	3:00 PM	FS1
July 21	Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals	Seattle	4:00 PM	FOX
July 27	GETTRX NHRA PSM All-Star Callout	Sonoma	6:00 PM	TBD
July 28	Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals	Sonoma	4:00 PM	FOX
Aug. 18	Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals	Brainerd	3:00 PM	FOX
Sept. 1	Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout	Indianapolis	5:00 PM	FOX
Sept. 2	Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals	Indianapolis	12:00 PM	FS1
Sept. 2	Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals	Indianapolis	2:00 PM	FS1

Countdown to the Championship Television Schedule

Sept. 15	Pep Boys NHRA Nationals	Reading	2:00 PM	TBD
Sept. 22	Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals	Charlotte	3:00 PM	TBD
Sept. 29	NHRA Midwest Nationals	St. Louis	3:00 PM	FS1
Oct. 13	Texas NHRA FallNationals	Dallas	4:00 PM	FS1
Nov. 3	NHRA Nevada Nationals	Las Vegas	5:00 PM	FS1
Nov. 17	In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals	Pomona	4:00 PM	FS1

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, (together with its subsidiaries) is the World’s largest retailer of RVs and related products and services. Our vision is to build a long-term legacy business that makes RVing fun and easy. Our Camping World and Good Sam brands have been serving RV consumers since 1966. We strive to build long-term value for our customers, employees, and shareholders by combining a unique and comprehensive assortment of RV products and services with a national network of RV dealerships, service centers and customer support centers along with the industry’s most extensive online presence and a highly trained and knowledgeable team of employees serving our customers, the RV lifestyle, and the communities in which we operate. We also believe that our Good Sam organization and family of programs and services uniquely enable us to connect with our customers as stewards of the RV enthusiast community and the RV lifestyle. With RV sales and service locations in 43 states, Camping World has grown to become the prime destination for everything RV. For more information, visit www.campingworld.com.

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown™ and Top Fuel Harley Series. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 120 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

November 28, 2023

SVRA Announces 2024 Schedule

New Events at Eagles Canyon and Pitt Race, Second Dates Added at Popular Mid-Ohio and Lime Rock

CHARLOTTE (September 28, 2023) – Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) has announced its 2024 schedule, which features new venues and additional race dates, while continuing its nationwide footprint with one of its most comprehensive schedules yet. Visiting some of the most iconic racetracks in America, SVRA will hold 22 events in 2024, spanning coast to coast and covering all four corners of the United States.

“I am excited about how our schedule has come together for 2024,” said Michael Printup, President of SVRA. “We have every corner of the country covered with opportunities for racers to compete, as well as multiple schools to give aspiring drivers a chance to get licensed. Having a schedule this robust would not be possible without our entire community of competitors, track partners, fans and corporate sponsors, and our entire team is thankful to each and every one of them.”

The 2024 season will kick off with one of SVRA’s biggest events of the season—the Sebring SpeedTour. Scheduled for February 22-25, racers can take a break from the winter blues to head to sunny Florida for a weekend filled with racing, camaraderie and fun. The paddock community will gather for SVRA’s annual awards banquet to celebrate the prior season’s champions, while SVRA’s business partners from around the country will also gather for a day of learning, networking and brainstorming during the annual Partners Forum.

From there, SVRA will hold back-to-back driver schools and race weekends. After a successful debut school at Thunderhill Raceway Park in 2023, SVRA will return to gather aspiring racers for a three-day comprehensive driver school focused on driver development, car handling and safe racing. With classroom instruction and multiple on-track sessions, the school will culminate with a full feature race, followed by the presentation of SVRA racing licenses to successful graduates. The event will also feature a full weekend of vintage sprint and endurance races for licensed racers.

Then, it’s off to Eagles Canyon Raceway in Decatur, Texas, for another driver school and vintage race combination weekend. A new venue on SVRA’s calendar, the 2.7-mile circuit offers fast turns and exciting elevation changes that make it both a fun and challenging place for drivers of any skill level to compete.

SVRA returns to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on its traditional date for the Road Atlanta SpeedTour. Then, it’s off to NOLA Motorsports Park for the third year in a row. Sonoma Raceway once again returns to the schedule in April, followed by the addition of a spring race date at the ever-popular Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

SVRA will travel coast to coast in May, kicking off the month back on the West Coast at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, before back-to-back Midwest stops at St. Louis’ World Wide Technology Raceway and Wisconsin’s famed Road America. The series returns to the East Coast to wrap up the month at Lime Rock Park over Memorial Day Weekend.

A busy summer will kick off with a new event at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, before a visit to the famed yard of bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in what has become a Father’s Day tradition. Then, the action heads back to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the 43rd annual Vintage Grand Prix. A return trip to Lime Rock Park will lead into SVRA covering both sides of the country, simultaneously hosting events at New Jersey Motorsports Park and Portland International Raceway the following weekend. Then, the series returns to the D.C. region in August for the Summit Point SpeedTour at Summit Point Motorsports Park.

As the temperatures cool down, the action heats up with some of SVRA’s most anticipated and popular events of the year. Racers from across the country will descend on the famed Watkins Glen International for all the pomp and circumstance that is the traditional U.S. Vintage Grand Prix weekend. Then, it’s off to VIRginia International Raceway for its traditional fall race weekend, before heading to Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch to give West Coast competitors one last “near-home” race of the season.

Finally, the 2024 season will close at Circuit of The Americas with the U.S. Vintage Racing National Championship weekend – a tradition held since 2013. In addition to crowning our champions, drivers will once again compete for the coveted Bell Racing Championship gold helmets.

2024 SVRA Provisional Schedule:

Feb. 22-25: Sebring International Raceway
Mar. 1-3: Thunderhill Raceway Park
Mar. 7-10: Eagles Canyon Raceway
Mar. 21-24: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Apr. 11-14: NOLA Motorsports Park
Apr. 18-21: Sonoma Raceway
Apr. 26-28: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
May 2-5: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
May 10-11: World Wide Technology Raceway
May 16-19: Road America Raceway
May 24-27: Lime Rock Park
June 7-9: Pittsburgh International Race Complex
June 13-16: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
June 20-23: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
July 19-20: Lime Rock Park
July 25-28: New Jersey Motorsports Park
July 26-28: Portland International Raceway
Aug. 16-18: Summit Point Motorsports Park
Sept. 4-8: Watkins Glen International
Oct. 3-6: VIRginia International Raceway
Oct. 18-20: Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch
Oct. 31-Nov. 3: Circuit of The Americas

SVRA’s 2023 schedule resumes next week with the VIR SpeedTour at VIRginia International Raceway, October 5-8. Racers are invited to register for the event at SVRA.com, while spectator tickets are on sale now at VIRnow.com.

About Sportscar Vintage Racing Association: SVRA is the largest vintage racing organization in the world. A typical event has several hundred vintage race cars representing over 100 years of automotive history on the track. The drivers of these race cars are high net-worth, prominent professionals. In 2024, SVRA will host 22 events at some of the most iconic race tracks in North America, including Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sonoma Raceway and Circuit of The Americas, among others. This nationwide footprint has over 312,000,000 Americans living within 200 miles of our events.

September 28, 2023
Champions Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing Take Spotlight at Victory Lap Celebration

Rasmussen Saluted for INDY NXT by Firestone Title

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023) – Alex Palou was honored for his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship during the Victory Lap Celebration on Sept. 21, the headline of an incomparable 2023 season for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Palou dominated this season to earn another title to join his 2021 championship for Chip Ganassi Racing. He won a series-high five races in the No. 10 The American Legion Honda, with a total of 10 podium finishes in 17 races. Palou finished eighth or better in all 17 races this season and became the first INDYCAR SERIES driver to clinch the championship at least one race early since Sebastien Bourdais in 2007.

Spanish driver Palou won the Astor Challenge Cup for the title by 78 points over teammate and six-time series champion Scott Dixon, earning the 15th INDYCAR SERIES championship for Chip Ganassi Racing and the organization’s third in the last four seasons.

Palou was one of six members of Chip Ganassi Racing to receive special honors at the ceremony, which took place at the Gallagher Pavilion at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Marcus Armstrong of New Zealand received the Rookie of the Year Award as the top-finishing first-year driver in the standings. Armstrong scored five top-10 finishes in just 12 starts in the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda to surpass full-time rookie Agustin Canapino of Juncos Hollinger Racing by 34 points in the standings.

Team owner Chip Ganassi accepted the Championship Owner Award, and Palou’s chief mechanic, Ricky Davis, was presented the Pennzoil Chief Mechanic Award. Additional season honors for the Ganassi team included the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team Manager award to Barry Wanser and Blair Julian.

The awards haul was a reward for a dominant year by Indianapolis-based Chip Ganassi Racing. The team achieved the unprecedented feat of taking the top two spots in the driver standings and winning the Rookie of the Year title in one season.

While Palou’s winning margin in the driver standings was the largest since 2016, the Manufacturers Award race came down to the final laps at the season finale Sept. 10 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Chevrolet edged Honda by just 16 points to win its second consecutive engine manufacturer title and eighth overall since it returned to the series in 2012.

Mark Stielow, General Motors director of motorsport competition engineering, accepted the award on behalf of the Chevrolet team.

A successful first season with a rebrand and Firestone sponsorship for INDYCAR’s development series also was recognized at the Victory Lap Celebration, as Christian Rasmussen of HMD Motorsports was honored as 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone champion.

Rasmussen won a series-high five of the 14 races this season in the No. 6 HMD Motorsports with DCR entry. He beat Andretti Autosport’s Hunter McElrea to the title by 65 points.

Danish driver Rasmussen’s HMD teammate, Nolan Siegel, was named INDY NXT by Firestone Rookie of the Year. Siegel, from Palo Alto, California, finished third in the series standings with two victories.

September 22, 2023
Tony Schumacher and More Stars Making Big Moves at betway NHRA Carolina Nationals

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2023) – A regular season filled with struggles changed almost overnight for Tony Schumacher. The Top Fuel legend and eight-time world champ enjoyed a sizeable turnaround to open the Countdown to the Championship, advancing to the semifinals last weekend to kick off the playoffs.

He moved up to ninth in the points standings heading to this weekend’s betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMax Dragway, determined to make another significant jump at a track that has served him well over the years in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

Schumacher has won the Charlotte fall race at the zMax Dragway twice and is excited for another big weekend at the Bellagio of Dragstrips. Last weekend was Schumacher’s best performance in his 11,000-horsepower SCAG Power Equipment/JCM Racing dragster in three months and it couldn’t have happened at a better time as the 86-time event winner has his sights set on a big playoff push.

“I love Charlotte,” Schumacher said. “We’re getting down to cutthroat time with just five races left in the season. Right now, we’ve got to make moves, but our SCAG dragster performed so great last weekend in Reading. I’ve been saying all year long, that we’re going to get it figured out. It’s not a matter of if but when. We have a lot of confidence going into this weekend and we all feel really good about these last few races of the year.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) claimed victories in 2022 at the fall race at zMax Dragway.

Funny Car’s Robert Hight, who won the spring race in Charlotte at zMax Dragway, moved into the points lead last weekend with a victory, but stands at just three points over back-to-back defending world champ Capps. Others to watch include Bob Tasca III, Matt Hagan, John Force, Chad Green and J.R. Todd.

Matt Hartford moved into the Pro Stock points lead for the first time in his career with his win in the playoff opener. He’ll try to keep it against the likes of reigning world champion Erica Enders, Dallas Glenn, Troy Coughlin Jr., defending event winner Stanfield and Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals winner Deric Kramer.

Also on track will be the Pro Stock Motorcycle division which will include the likes of points leader Matt Smith, who jumped Gaige Herrera with his win to start the Countdown. Hot on their heels are Hector Arana Jr., Eddie Krawiec and Angie Smith.

The betway NHRA Carolina Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which includes some of the sport’s top drivers, as well as the new NHRA Factory X presented by Holley class, the ever-exciting Mountain Motor Pro Stock category and a Top Fuel Motorcycle exhibition. Fans can also look forward to special freestyle motocross exhibitions all weekend. The star riders will perform three times a day in the midway, adding another entertaining aspect to the weekend.

On Saturday, fans can brush up on their NHRA knowledge and attend Nitro School to learn more about how the cars operate and reach their thrilling speeds. That takes place at the Nitro Alley Stage all weekend, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets and much more.

Race fans at zMAX Dragway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and include the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the betway NHRA Carolina Nationals event winners.

As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet at zMax Dragway in Charlotte. This unique opportunity gives fans a chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 22, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 24. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 9:30 a.m. ET on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations on FS1 at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to betway NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, please visit www.zmaxdragway.com or call 800-455-FANS (3267). For more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

September 20, 2023
Toyota driver William Sawalich earns first ARCA championship

BRISTOL, Tenn. (September 14, 2023) – Camry driver William Sawalich won his first ARCA Menards Series East title after earning the victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday evening. Sawalich’s championship marks the third consecutive ARCA Menards Series East title for a Toyota driver.

The 16-year-old has delivered consistent race results across all ARCA Menards Series racing action this season. In ARCA East competition, Sawalich won four of the eight events, with top-five finishes in the balance. The Toyota development driver has also had an impressive start on the national ARCA tour with three wins, 10 top-fives and six poles in 11 starts.

“We are very excited for William and his family on achieving this title at such an early stage in his NASCAR career,” said Paul Doleshal, Group Manager, Motorsports, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “William’s poise and race craft has been impressive at just 16-years-old. We look forward to celebrating many more titles with William in years to come as he continues to grow as part of the Toyota driver development program.”

Along with his ARCA success this season, Sawalich has also ran several races in the NASCAR Truck Series for TRICON Garage, including competing later this evening, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD PRO. Sawalich has earned three top-10 finishes in five starts, including a career-best sixth-place run at Indianapolis Raceway Park last month.

Sawalich drives a Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in ARCA competition. This is the second ARCA Menards Series East title for the team after current Xfinity Series driver Sammy Smith’s 2021 championship. Sawalich is the seventh Toyota driver to win the ARCA East title. He joins a list that includes Ryan Truex (2009 and 2010), Max Gresham (2011), Kyle Larson (2012), Harrison Burton (2017), Tyler Ankrum (2018) and Smith (2021 and 2022).

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified options.

September 15, 2023
Connor Mosack Dominates ARCA Race at Kansas

Driver of Mobil 1 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing Scores Career-First Stock-Car Win
Date: Friday, Sept. 8
Event: Sioux Chief Fast Track 150
Series: ARCA Menards Series
Location: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (1.5-mile oval)
Length: 100 laps (150 miles)
Start/Finish: 4th / 1st (Running, completed 100 of 100 laps)
Race Winner: Connor Mosack of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

Overview:

Prior to the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 ARCA Menards Series race Friday afternoon at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Connor Mosack had been knocking on the door of his first career victory. In his sixth and final start of 2023, Mosack kicked that door down. The 24-year-old racer from Charlotte, North Carolina, thoroughly dominated the 100-lap race around the 1.5-mile oval by leading twice for a race-high 64 laps and lapping all but one driver – second-place Carson Kvapil – before crossing the stripe in first place with a stout, 3.202-second margin of victory.

It was Mosack’s first stock-car win of any kind and it came in his 19th career ARCA start. Mosack’s previous victories had come in sports cars, specifically the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series. In two seasons of TA2 (2021-2022), Mosack won twice, earned five poles and never finished outside of the top-four in the championship standings.

Scoring a victory in stock cars – the discipline where Mosack has put all of his focus – was gratifying, especially after seeing a win in his prior ARCA start get upended by a late-race caution. On Aug. 4 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mosack was leading and well in command before the race went into overtime. A frantic, green-white-checkered finish ultimately left him third.

With that heartbreak in his rearview mirror, Mosack entered Kansas looking to punctuate his six-race ARCA campaign with a victory for JGR.

That drive was evident from the start. Mosack wheeled his No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry on the high side of the track’s high banks to go from his fourth-place starting spot to the lead on just the third lap. Mosack held the top spot for five laps before Dean Thompson grabbed the lead. And while Thompson held the point for 34 laps, Mosack bided his time, ultimately retaking the lead on lap 42 and never looking back, pacing the final 59 laps to take the coveted victory.

Connor Mosack driver of the No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing:

“It means a lot to see all the hard work pay off. All the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing did a great job. We brought a really fast car today and I’m just proud to be driving this No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry.

“We were just trying to keep the right rear (tire) on it those last 20 laps. We kind of burned it off a little bit in the first half, so just trying to manage that gap (to second place). I felt like we could push a little harder if we needed to, but it’s pretty easy to get up in the fence here if you push too hard. So, we just started managing that gap, and I think he (Carson Kvapil) started falling off there and we could kind of ride to the finish in case we had a restart.

“This just feels really good. I kind of feel I have a weight lifted off my shoulders. It’s been a long time coming. Definitely made plenty of mistakes this year and learned a lot, and had some bad luck as well, but it feels good to finally get it done, for sure. Today we had a great car and didn’t have any mistakes and we made it happen.”

Notes:

● Since making his first ARCA Menards Series start at Kansas with an 11th-place drive on Oct. 23, 2021, Mosack has improved his finishing position each time he has returned to 1.5-mile oval. He finished fifth in May 2022, improved it with a fourth-place result this past May, and then bettered that run with his victory in the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150.

● Mosack led twice for a race-high for 64 laps – his first laps led at Kansas.

● This was Mosack’s first career victory in 19 ARCA starts. It was his 15th career top-10.

● This was Mosack’s ninth career top-five in ARCA and his third straight top-three. He finished second July 21 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and third in his prior start Aug. 4 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

● This was Mosack’s seventh straight top-10 in ARCA, a streak that dates back to last September at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

● Mosack qualified fourth for the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 with a lap of 31.031 seconds at 174.02 mph. He has qualified fifth or better in his last eight ARCA starts, a streak that began more than a year ago at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International when he qualified third.

● Mosack set fast time in the lone practice session for the Sioux Chief Fast Track 150. His lap of 31.176 seconds at 173.21 mph was .004 of a second better than the next quickest driver, Jesse Love.

Next Up:

Mosack is back in a racecar Saturday at Kansas. He will drive the No. 24 MKS Pipe and Valve Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing in the Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, which goes live at 2 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. EDT on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

September 9, 2023
In a Season Full of Firsts, Connor Mosack’s ARCA Schedule Culminates at Familiar Venue

24-Year-Old Racer Eyes Victory at Kansas After Near Win at Michigan

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 5, 2023) – When the 2023 season began, Connor Mosack’s racing schedule was his most aggressive since he began driving Legends Cars in 2017. Twenty-three NASCAR Xfinity Series races augmented by a six-race slate of ARCA Menards Series races with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) were on tap for the 24-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina.

For a driver who didn’t start racing competitively until he was 18, the 2023 calendar served notice that Mosack was committed to his racing career. More was indeed better, as the packed schedule gave Mosack the seat time needed to better bridge the gap between him and his similarly-aged counterparts, nearly all of whom began racing a decade or more before Mosack turned his first lap.

“It’s definitely been a learning experience,” said Mosack in the lead up to Friday night’s Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 ARCA race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. “I feel like I’ve got a decent feel for everything, but there are still some things in the Xfinity car that are different just because you’ve got way more cars in that series and those guys are so dialed in on where they need to be.

“I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on the ARCA races and where those cars need to be. In those first few races, it took me a little bit to get used to how much you have to lean on the air in those cars. You almost feel like you’re spinning out, but then the air will catch you, so it’s just kind of getting comfortable with how sideways you can get the car.”

The learning curve has been especially steep in the Xfinity Series – the stepping-stone division to the elite NASCAR Cup Series – but Mosack has still found success. After securing his first career top-10 with an eighth-place finish June 3 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, Mosack bettered that result with a fifth-place drive Aug. 19 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

In ARCA, Mosack has been a model of front-running consistency with a run of top-10 qualifying and race results going back to last season. Coming into Kansas, Mosack has qualified fifth or better in his last seven ARCA starts, a streak that began more than year ago at Watkins Glen when he qualified third. When it comes to race finishes, Mosack is on a stretch of six straight top-10s, a run that dates back to last September at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Even more impressive is that in his last two races – July 21 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway and Aug. 4 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn – he has finished second and third, respectively.

That Michigan race was bittersweet. Mosack was leading and well in command before a late caution sent the race into overtime. A frantic, green-white-checkered finish ultimately left him third.

“Michigan was the first race where I felt like we had the car to beat – by quite a bit, actually,” Mosack said. “We got the lead, we were poised to win, just had to turn a couple more laps, but then the caution came out and we had that last restart.

“ARCA has a different restart rule than in the other NASCAR series where you normally have a full restart box and the leader can fire off any time he wants. But after that race, I found out ARCA just has a restart line and there’s no box. That’s something I obviously should’ve known, so when I tried to go later than that line, that’s what got me. If the leader doesn’t fire by then, then anybody can go, and that’s what happened. We got our rear tires picked up. That’s something that won’t happen again.”

With that heartbreak in his rearview mirror, Mosack enters Kansas wiser than he was in May when he last competed at the 1.5-mile oval, finishing fourth in just his second ARCA start of the year.

“Kansas is one of the few places where I’ve run before, and I think every time you go, you get to add to your notebook,” Mosack said. “You have things you can look back on, especially having the race earlier this year with JGR and being able to go back with the same team. I know that sounds simple, but it really is a big deal.

“I don’t feel like Kansas was our strongest race, speed-wise, but I do feel like we’ve made a lot of progress as a team on the car, and just going back to the same track will help a lot.”

Since making his first ARCA start at Kansas with an 11th-place drive on Oct. 23, 2021, Mosack has improved his finishing position each time he has returned. He finished fifth in May 2022 and bettered that effort with a fourth-place result this past May.

“There’s a good amount of tire fall-off at Kansas, so as the run goes on, you definitely have to manage your tires and start moving around,” Mosack said. “It’s a place that’s pretty wide, and with the ARCA car the track really opens up. You kind of start at the bottom of the racetrack and work your way up to the fence.”

The Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 will be Mosack’s 19th career ARCA start and his sixth of the season. It culminates his 2023 campaign with JGR, but Mosack still has plenty of racing left. He is pulling double duty at Kansas, running the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race after driving his No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry for JGR in Friday night’s ARCA race.

“Running both the ARCA race and the Xfinity race on the same weekend gives me a lot of good experience, and I can apply a lot of it to the Xfinity race since it’s always after the ARCA race,” Mosack said. “I’ve run double duty at Charlotte and Pocono, and at both places it really helped me.

“The cars are a little bit different and it sometimes takes a lap to get used to the Xfinity car, but after that you kind of get back into the groove. The cars certainly do drive differently and there are things you can’t apply from the ARCA car, but there are a lot of things you can, from the line and where the grip is. All that stuff is important and it’s why I’m looking forward to Kansas.”

With a runner-up result and a near win in his last two ARCA starts, Mosack is eager to nab that coveted victory.

“We’ve been so close so many times that I think it’ll feel that much more special once we finally get it. We’ll know that we earned it,” Mosack said.

Mosack’s Friday begins at 12:40 p.m. CDT/1:40 p.m. EDT with a 45-minute ARCA practice session followed by ARCA qualifying at 1:40 p.m. CDT/2:40 p.m. EDT. The Sioux Chief Fast Track 150 gets underway at 5 p.m. CDT/6 p.m. EDT with live coverage on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. His Saturday starts with Xfinity Series practice at 9:05 a.m. CDT/10:05 a.m. EDT with qualifying immediately afterward at 9:35 a.m. CDT/10:35 a.m. EDT. The Kansas Lottery 300 goes green at 2 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. EDT with live coverage on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

September 5, 2023