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  • CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD WORLD CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED IN LAS VEGAS AT RACE POWERED BY JBS EQUIPMENT

    CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MOD WORLD CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED IN LAS VEGAS AT RACE POWERED BY JBS EQUIPMENT

    LAS VEGAS (Oct. 31, 2024) – With a host of standout contenders, the championship in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will be on the line this weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as part of the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.

    It is the final race in the Road to the Championship and the 10-event season in the category, and this weekend’s must-see race is powered by JBS Equipment.

    An epic title chase will come down to the wire, with 16 drivers still in contention heading into the weekend. With the points-and-half scenario in play in Vegas, it should make for a wild finish and one of those contenders is JBS Equipment President and Owner Justin Bond.

    Looking for his first NHRA Pro Mod world championship, Bond trails points leader Khalid Al Balooshi by just 12 points, meaning the title could come down to the final run of the year in Vegas.

    “The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is recognized as one of the largest sanctioning bodies globally, offering a prestigious platform for companies to promote their brands and support diverse racing classes,” Bond said. “In this spirit, my company, JBS Equipment, has made a deliberate decision to partner with the NHRA, focusing specifically on the Pro Modified class.

    “For JBS Equipment, this collaboration represents a strategic opportunity with numerous advantages. By aligning our brand with such a prominent racing organization, we enhance our visibility and connect with a wide, relevant audience. This increased exposure not only boosts brand recognition but also positions JBS Equipment as a trusted and reputable company in the industry.”

    Bond and Al Balooshi are hardly the only championship contenders in the loaded class, which will again have another huge 20-plus car field to close out a thrilling year in Las Vegas. Jordan Lazic is only 24 points out of first, while Ken Quartuccio and Mason Wright just 26 and 35 points behind the leader, respectively. Quartuccio won in Indy at the U.S. Nationals, while Wright picked up a victory in Epping.

    The list of contenders doesn’t stop there, either. Former world champion Kris Thorne (-38) and Kevin Rivenbark (-50) are both within two rounds of Al-Balooshi, with the likes of Billy Banaka, Dmitry Samorukov, and former champions Mike Castellana and Jose Gonzalez close behind. Castellana is the defending event winner in Las Vegas, clinching both the championship and the race victory in the process.

    Thorne has advanced to three final rounds, winning in Bristol, while Gonzalez won the season-opener in Gainesville and Rivenbark took the victory in the category’s first-ever appearance in Phoenix. It’s undoubtedly a loaded field this weekend in Las Vegas, promising intensity and excitement at a fever pitch to close out a stellar 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+.

    The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ will kick off with two qualifying rounds on Friday, Nov. 1 at 11 AM and 5:10 PM PT, with the final two qualifying rounds set for 10:45 AM and 5:10 PM on Saturday, Nov. 2. The first round of eliminations is slated for 8:40 AM PT on Sunday, Nov. 3.

    To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

    About JBS Equipment

    JBS Equipment design and manufacture the most technologically innovative spreaders, baggers, trailers, boxes, wagons and flingers in the business. Built at our state-of-the-art fabrication and assembly plant in Mission, British Columbia, our technology delivers the highest performance and the highest quality. JBS equipment is versatile, powerful, and efficient, engineered to save you valuable time and effort in the field. Constantly innovating, we create reliable, durable, and innovative solutions for your unique challenges, helping make your work life easier and your agricultural operation more efficient and successful. The JBS Equipment dealer program gives farmers access to over 100 dealer locations in the Unites States and Canada. Making your purchase of JBS Equipment a local purchase to you. Find your local JBS Equipment dealer at www.jbsequipment.com. When you’re a part of the JBS Dealer family, your potential for success is unlimited. JBS is committed to providing personalized support, rewards and recognition to all JBS Authorized Dealers. Visit www.jbsequipment.com and join our dealer network.

    About Ford Performance

    Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

    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 NHRA

    NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. 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 110 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.

  • NHRA AT VEGAS 2: Team Chevy Race Advance | Notes & Quotes

    NHRA AT VEGAS 2: Team Chevy Race Advance | Notes & Quotes

    CHEVROLET IN NHRA
    2024 FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS
    THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

    TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & STATS

    NOVEMBER 1-3, 2024

    TEAM CHEVY HEADS TO THE STRIP AT LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY FIRST AND SECOND IN FUNNY CAR POINTS WITH JOHN FORCE RACING

    Notes:

    • The penultimate event of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season sees Team Chevy taking on The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals Nov. 1-3.
    • Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car drivers Austin Prock and Jack Beckman of John Force Racing currently sit first and second, respectively, in the Countdown to the Championship. Prock leads Beckman, who is racing on behalf of team owner and 16-time champion John Force, by 147 points.
    • Force, who has been sidelined and recovering from a traumatic brain injury stemming from his on-track incident in Richmond, returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend in support of his team.
    • Heading into the second of two events at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this year, Prock raced to runner-up in the spring Four-Wide event.
    • Together, the trio of Funny Car pilots (Prock, Force, and Beckman) at John Force Racing this season have combined for a staggering 10 wins and 14 No. 1 qualifiers, with Prock himself racing to seven wins and 13 No. 1 qualifiers in his first full year behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car. Force holds two wins and one No. 1 qualifier, and Beckman has raced to one win so far racing on behalf of Force.
    • Brittany Force, driver of the Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, heads to Las Vegas looking for a return to the Winner’s Circle, and currently sits eighth in the Countdown to the Championship, just 190 separating the top eight.
    • Eyeing The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Team Chevy looks to capture the 400th Pro Stock victory since 1970. Dallas Glenn, racing to his fifth victory in 2024 at the Texas Motorplex, captured Chevrolet’s 399th in the category.
    • Racing for the inaugural Holley EFI Factory X title, Chevrolet COPO Camaro competitor Aaron Stanfield, a three-time FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown champion, leads over his father Greg Stanfield by 57 points. Lenny Lottig is in third, trailing A. Stanfield by 63 points.

    Quotes:

    AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

    “I’m ready to get back after it in the Cornwell Tools Camaro. It’s been a long few off weekends (since the Dallas loss) and I’m ready to stand on the gas again. Conditions look great for some great racing (and) we’re looking for another solid weekend.

    “We’re not treating this race any different than any other one. We want to go out there and run low E.T. every round and we want to win every race. If you’re competitive, and a racer, that’s what you expect, and I believe you can do that. We want to do good for JFR, we want to do good for Robert, and we want to do good for Cornwell and all our other great partners.”

    JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:

    “After not being able to race at our last event in Dallas, I am looking forward to climbing back in the PEAK Chevy this week at Las Vegas. We’ll have our boss there to cheer us on, and posting another win for him is our ultimate goal.”

    BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:

    “I’m excited to get back to Las Vegas with my Chevrolet Accessories dragster. The Strip has always been a strong track for us and it’s easily one of my favorite places to race. We’ve had great moments there, including winning (the Nevada Nationals) in 2019 and winning both races in 2022, and to have my dad back at this year’s race would make a win even more special. With only two races left, we’re focused on finishing strong and moving up in the points for a finish we can be proud of.”

    How to Watch:

    The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals from The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway airs first with Friday qualifying on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 (FS1). Sunday’s finals air following, also on FS1, at 5 p.m. ET. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.

    TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:

    1,460: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time). Jack Beckman, who is currently racing on behalf of John Force in 2024’s Countdown to the Championship and second in points, has a Round W-L record of 12-5 in six events.

    626: Round wins for Robert Hight; 13th all-time. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), sits 12th, with 633.

    167: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for John Force (1st all-time).

    169: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins since 1967.

    84: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Robert Hight (6th all-time). Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel) is fifth with 88.

    89: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.

    50: Number of career No. 1 qualifiers for Brittany Force.

    28: Number of NHRA championships Chevrolet holds as a manufacturer since entering the first in 1966. This is the seventh consecutive award and ninth in 11 seasons. No other manufacturer has won it more than Chevrolet.

    26: Wins by John Force in a Chevrolet-bodied Funny Car.

    20: Chevrolet career Top Fuel wins in NHRA.

    16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.

    7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.

    2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.

    About General Motors

    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

  • 10th Running of Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods This Weekend at Daytona International Speedway

    10th Running of Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods This Weekend at Daytona International Speedway

    • North America’s Premier Vintage and Historic 24-Hour Race Returns to the “World Center of Racing” for the 10th Time
    • Packed Event Schedule Includes the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods and the HSR Daytona Historics Full-Season Championship Races

    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (October 30, 2024) – A quality and sure-to-be competitive field of more than 140 vintage and historic sports cars from the last 60-plus years has converged on Daytona International Speedway (DIS) for the 10th Running of the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods this weekend at DIS, October 30 – November 3. A stout entry of defending and former race winners and debuting contenders is set for the Classic 24 Saturday and Sunday in addition to a strong lineup for the HSR Daytona Historics, which is a points-paying event for HSR’s season-long racing series and championships.

    First held in 2014, the immediate success of the inaugural HSR Daytona Classic 24 called for a second running in 2015. After a year off, the 24-Hour classic race on the 3.56-mile DIS road course returned in 2017 and is now an annual and premier fixture on the HSR calendar.

    The HSR Classic Daytona 24 features six different Run Groups competing in succession for a full 24 hours on the DIS road course. The various period-correct classes within each Run Group combine to make almost all closed-wheel competition sports cars from the last six decades eligible for Classic 24 competition.

    Among the long list of intriguing in-race stories to follow is the “double-double” bid by Iconic Racing to score twin repeats of its 2023 Group A and Group F triumphs. Iconic team drivers Gérard Lopez and former professional sports car racing World Endurance Champion Marcel Fassler combined to secure overall victories in both Run Group A and Run Group F last year.

    Lopez and Fassler, who was making his HSR debut, put in a pair of competitive and controlled runs in 2023, leading all four race segments in both Run Groups to give Lopez his first HSR Classic Daytona Group A triumph since 2017 in the Iconic Racing 1969 No. 60 Lola T70 Mk III.

    The Iconic duo then backed up the Group A win with an equally stellar performance in the team’s debut in Run Group F, which is home to modern Prototype machines retired from active competition. Iconic ran a former JDC Motorsports 2019 No. 5 Cadillac DPi that Lopez and Fassler wheeled to another victory to complete last year’s practically perfect Classic 24 weekend.

    Lopez, Fassler and Iconic, who were the first team and drivers to score a Classic 24 Run Group overall double victory since Paul Reisman and his son John Reisman accomplished the feat with Hudson Historics in the inaugural race in 2014, now look to be the first team in HSR Classic race history to pull off back-to-back double Run Group race wins in successive years. The team has returned to Daytona with the same winning 1969 Lola and 2019 Cadillac DPi.

    The non-stop, five-day schedule of historic and vintage competition at DIS began Wednesday with a test session for all Run Groups and classes in both the Classic 24 and Daytona Historics.

    A highlight was 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of The Year and longtime women in motorsports advocate Lyn St. James – the first woman to break the 200-mph barrier on a closed circuit race course – who drove her final and farewell laps in a race car Wednesday afternoon in the 2008 No. 2 Doran Racing Ford GT Mk 7. St. James co-drove the same car to a Group E victory in the E4 class with Brad Jaeger and Memo Gidley in the 2017 HSR Classic Daytona 24.

    Wednesday night, St. James will be the guest of honor in a special VIP reception recognizing her 50 years in motorsports. The event is being made possible by DIS, NASCAR, IMSA and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA), where the reception will be held in the MSHFA Museum outside of NASCAR Turn 4 at DIS just off of International Speedway Blvd.

    More information on both the HSR Classic 24 and HSR Daytona Historics events, including entry lists, ticket purchases and the event schedule, can be found on the official event page by clicking here.

    For a direct link to HSR Classic 24 race tickets, please click here.

    About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter X at @HSR_race and Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

  • JEG COUGHLIN JR. LOOKS TO DOUBLE DOWN IN VEGAS; JIANNA EVARISTO HOPES TO CONTINUE FAMILY SUCCESS AT THE STRIP AT LVMS

    JEG COUGHLIN JR. LOOKS TO DOUBLE DOWN IN VEGAS; JIANNA EVARISTO HOPES TO CONTINUE FAMILY SUCCESS AT THE STRIP AT LVMS

    LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2024) – Following his recent win in Dallas and his victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the spring, five-time Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. hopes to carry his momentum into this weekend’s 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals.

    Coughlin, driver of the SCAG Power Equipment / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer Pro Stock car, has collected four wins this season, including most recently in Dallas, putting him fifth in points.

    A championship is likely out of reach with four standouts ahead of him, but Coughlin is hopeful the success will continue into Las Vegas, as he looks to sweep the season at the facility and pick up his 70th career Pro Stock win in the process.

    “I feel great coming into our second Vegas event of the year,” said Coughlin. “We won here in the spring and we’re coming off a win at Dallas. So we’ve got some confidence and momentum for the weekend.”

    Last season, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock) all won the late-season race in Las Vegas. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3. It is the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 19th of 20 races in the 2024 season. Following his win at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals in the spring, Coughlin hopes Vegas will continue to be a lucky track for him and his Elite Motorsports teammates.

    “The weather looks to be on the (cooler) side and the Pro Stock cars will thrive in those cooler temps,” Coughlin said. “I can’t wait to drop the hammer on Friday.”

    Coughlin currently sits in the top five in the loaded Pro Stock championship hunt. Leading the pack is KB Titan Racing standout Dallas Glenn. He currently leads Aaron Stanfield of Elite Motorsports by 53 points as the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads into the penultimate event of the season. Glenn and Stanfield have battled for the Pro Stock points lead all season and will both be aiming for their first NHRA title.

    Veterans Greg Anderson (-90), Enders (-111) and Coughlin (-196) make up the next three spots.

    In the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks, rider Jianna Evaristo is looking for her first win of the season on her Scrappers Racing/Denso/Matt Smith Racing Buell. She has had a consistent motorcycle throughout the season, earning a runner-up finish in Bristol. Currently seventh in points, Evaristo also has visions of a top-five finish in the talent-filled category.

    The good news is The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has treated the family well in recent years. Her father, Mike Salinas, claimed the Top Fuel win last season and Evaristo hopes her family’s success in Vegas will transfer to the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks this weekend.

    To get a win, Evaristo will need to get past the powerhouse rider and reigning champion Herrera. Herrera currently leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle points thanks to his nine event wins this season. He leads Matt Smith by 62 points, while others to watch include rookie Richard Gadson, 2023 NHRA Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith and Hector Arana Jr.

    In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley will look to hold off an array of championship drivers. He jumped into the points lead with his Dallas win and currently has a 44-point advantage over Antron Brown. Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican are also in the championship mix.

    Funny Car’s Austin Prock continues to lead the field and has the chance to clinch his first NHRA title. Prock leads teammate Jack Beckman, who is racing for John Force, by 147 points, with defending world champion Matt Hagan 168 points back. Force will also be in attendance this weekend, making his first appearance at the track since his crash in late June in Richmond.

    The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals. The weekend will also include action in Legends Nitro Funny Car class and a spectacular jet dragster exhibition after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

    It’s also the final race of the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Johnson’s Horsepowered Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the new Holley EFI Factory X category.

    Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage in the pits, where they can take part in Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews and much more. Vegas race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday, where fans are invited to congratulate the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals event winners.

    As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

    NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 1, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Nov. 3. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations at 5:00 p.m. ET.

    To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

    About Ford Performance

    Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

    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 NHRA

    NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. 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 110 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.

  • FUNNY CAR’S BOB TASCA III AFTER LAS VEGAS SWEEP AT FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS

    FUNNY CAR’S BOB TASCA III AFTER LAS VEGAS SWEEP AT FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS

    Funny Car rookie Daniel Wilkerson also looks to put on a show for Ford at thrilling late-season race at The Strip at LVMS

    LAS VEGAS (Oct. 29, 2024) – The NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs haven’t gone the way Funny Car’s Bob Tasca III had hoped, but the veteran standout can still end the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season with a big finish starting at this weekend’s 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    Tasca has been a longtime Ford driver, which makes this weekend even more important as he campaigns his 11,000-horsepower Ford Performance Mustang Dark Horse this weekend in Las Vegas. A win at his sponsor’s race would certainly add a major high note to close out the season and Tasca also has a chance to sweep both races at Las Vegas this year.

    He won the 4-Wide race in the spring in thrilling fashion and he hopes to replicate that this weekend, while also moving back up the points standings. Tasca is in fifth, 211 points behind leader Austin Prock, who has the opportunity to clinch the Funny Car world championship this weekend.

    Tasca, though, is focused on putting a show in front of his sponsors and fans, with cool temperatures setting the stage for monster runs this weekend.

    “The energy in Las Vegas is always electric and racing in front of fans who love this sport as much as we do is a privilege,” said Tasca, who has three wins and four final-round appearances this year. “This weekend is all about execution and making sure every move gets us closer to another Vegas Wally this season for Ford Performance and our entire team.”

    Last season, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock) all won the late-season race in Las Vegas. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3. It is the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 19th of 20 races in the 2024 season, and Tasca isn’t the only Ford driver looking for a big weekend in Las Vegas.

    Funny Car rookie Daniel Wilkerson has enjoyed a strong year, but nothing would make his season sweeter than a victory in Las Vegas in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment Mustang. He’s come close, advancing to the final round at the spring race in Charlotte.

    He’s also been competitive throughout the year and is currently sixth in points with a goal of moving into the top five in his first full season in the Funny Car ranks. There’s a host of challengers, including reigning world champ Matt Hagan, J.R. Todd and Ron Capps, but Wilkerson is thrilled for the weekend, as well as the chance to introduce new people to the sport in Vegas.

    “I can’t wait to represent Ford Performance at their own race this weekend,” Wilkerson said. “We will be doing one of my favorite things on Wednesday with Ford which is sending folks down the dragstrip in street cars that have never been in competition before. It is so fun to see people’s reactions to drag racing for the first time, and usually one or two of them vow to get into the sport in one way or another after this experience. Tim (Wilkerson, crew chief and Daniel’s father) has a pretty good combination to run up in Las Vegas too, so I can’t wait to see what he and the guys put together for this weekend.”

    Prock leads teammate Jack Beckman, who is racing for John Force, by 147 points, with Hagan 168 points back. Force will also be in attendance this weekend, making his first appearance at the track since his crash in late June in Richmond.

    In Top Fuel, Justin Ashley will look to hold off an array of championship drivers. He jumped into the points lead with his Dallas win and currently has a 44-point advantage over Antron Brown. Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican are also in the championship mix.

    Dallas Glenn currently leads the way in Pro Stock, as the 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year holds a 53-point advantage over another young standout, Aaron Stanfield. Greg Anderson is 90 points back, while reigning Pro Stock champion Enders, whose 10 wins are the most in NHRA history at The Strip, is 111 points out of first.

    Gaige Herrera is after a second straight title in Pro Stock Motorcycle, with the defending event winner ahead of six-time champ Matt Smith by 62 points. Other standouts include Hector Arana Jr., Jianna Evaristo, Chase Van Sant and Richard Gadson.

    The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals. The weekend will also include action in Legends Nitro Funny Car class and a spectacular jet dragster exhibition after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

    It’s also the final race of the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Johnson’s Horsepowered Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the new Holley EFI Factory X category.

    Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage in the pits, where they can take part in Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews and much more. Vegas race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday, where fans are invited to congratulate the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals event winners.

    As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

    NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 1, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Nov. 3. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations at 5:00 p.m. ET.

    To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

    About Ford Performance

    Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

    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 NHRA

    NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. 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 110 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.

  • Mission Foods and Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Finalize Long-Term Partnership

    Mission Foods and Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Finalize Long-Term Partnership

    No. 1 Tortilla Company in the United States Named Presenting Partner of the New HSR Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods

    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (October 29, 2024) – Just over a month after Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) announced its new HSR Classic Endurance Championship, a North American food industry giant and motorsports sponsorship leader has been named the presenting partner.

    The HSR Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods debuts in 2025 in a long-term partnership supporting the first major endurance race championship in the U.S. for vintage and historic sports cars. Competitors and race fans alike, however, will get a preview experience of the new Mission Foods championship this weekend at the 10th Running of the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods, October 30 – November 3.

    The inaugural full season of the HSR Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods in 2025 begins next spring with the HSR Sebring Classic 12 Hour Presented by Mission Foods, March 7 – 9 at Sebring International Raceway.

    The Sebring opener will be followed by the HSR Watkins Glen Classic 6 Hour Presented by Mission Foods, June 12 – 14 at Watkins Glen International before the debuting HSR Road Atlanta Classic 10 Hour Presented by Mission Foods, September 25 – 28, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

    The inaugural Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods concludes back at Daytona a year from now with the 11th edition of the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods, November 5 – 9, 2025.

    The HSR Classic endurance races began with the inaugural HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour in 2014. The immediate success of the early Classic 24 events was followed by the first HSR Sebring Classic 12 Hour in 2016. The HSR Watkins Glen Classic 6 Hour debuted in 2023, and the addition of the fourth event starting next year with the HSR Road Atlanta Classic 10 Hour, made the introduction of the HSR Classic Endurance Championship Presented by Mission Foods the logical next step.

    For more information, please visit www.HSRRace.com. For race schedule, entry lists and ticket information for this weekend’s 10th HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour, please visit the official event page at www.HSRRace.com.

    Juan Gonzalez, Mission Foods Chief Executive Officer: “We are very excited to partner with Historic Sportscar Racing to launch the new HSR Classic Endurance Championship. It’s exciting to be part of the first major endurance championship in the U.S. for vintage and historic race cars, and it’s an honor to support HSR and all its participants and fans.”

    Chris Ward, HSR President: “The passion Juan Gonzalez and his team have as the world’s leading brand of tortillas and wraps is mirrored by Mission Foods’ strong motorsports support that clearly reflects their energy and drive as a leader in both the food industry and at the track. It’s hard to believe Mission Foods has only been a motorsports sponsor for five years as its familiar branding and logo is seemingly everywhere today across a vast array of high-speed four-wheel and two-wheel disciplines. Juan has been a successful driver himself in HSR for years, winning both the Mission Foods presented HSR Sebring Classic 12 and HSR Daytona Classic 24 in the past, and it is an honor to now have the fine corporation he leads with us in the HSR partnership family.”

    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 www.missionfoods.com.

    About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/, on Twitter X @HSR_race and on Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

  • CORVETTE RACING AT BAHRAIN: Let’s Finish with a Flourish!

    CORVETTE RACING AT BAHRAIN: Let’s Finish with a Flourish!

    TF Sport looking for strong close to end of first season with Corvette in Eight Hours

    DETROIT (Oct. 29, 2024) – The first season of the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R comes to a close this weekend with the Eight Hours of Bahrain and the end of this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.

    TF Sport will look to be on the right side of luck in Saturday’s race to wrap up its first campaign with the Corvette brand. The team’s pair of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs – the No. 81 of factory driver Charlie Eastwood, 2023 LMP2 race-winner Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy plus the No. 82 of factory driver Daniel Juncadella, Sebastien Baud and Hiroshi Koizumi – with a well-deserved podium finish… and perhaps more.

    The potential for a strong finish to 2024 is definitely in the cards. The most recent WEC round at Fuji saw both Corvettes run toward the front of the LMGT3 class after putting the two Z06 GT3.Rs in the Hyperpole qualifying round for the first time.

    The No. 81 Corvette finished a season-high fourth in class in Japan after being hit late in the race by a prototype. It was the second straight race that the Eastwood/Andrade/Van Rompuy trio were knocked out of contention by another car having been collected at Circuit of the Americas two weeks earlier while running second.

    On the other side of the garage, the pace and performance of the No. 82 Corvette also has taken big steps forward starting at Le Mans in June. Like the sister car, the Fuji round started strong with Koizumi’s best qualifying effort of the season before a mechanical issue on the first pit stop relegated the No. 82 down the order.

    Corvette engineers will have the benefit of experience at Bahrain thanks to last year’s race with the Corvette C8.R in the GTE Am class.

    The Eight Hours of Bahrain is scheduled for 2 p.m. Arabian Standard Time / 7 a.m. ET on Saturday. MotorTrend TV will air full and live television coverage from 6:30-3:30 p.m. ET. Full live streaming coverage of Free Practice 3, qualifying and the race – including the No. 81 Corvette on-board camera – will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will stream audio coverage of Friday’s final practice and qualifying, plus Saturday’s race.

    TF SPORT PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES

    CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m ready to get going in Bahrain. We were so close to a very, very good result at Fuji. We showed such super strong pace there on the back of what we showed at COTA. I feel that everyone on the team is very motivated to get a good result at Bahrain and end the season on a high. It’s been a challenging year but we’ve gotten stronger every race. Fuji showed that we had fantastic pace and it was a faultless job by the crew and my teammates. Our goal is to repeat that same performance at Bahrain and hopefully not get caught up in any dramas to get a podium at minimum and go for a win.”

    RUI ANDRADE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m hopeful heading into Bahrain. The team and the performance of the car is stronger than it has been at any point this year. All three of us – myself, Tom and Charlie – have driven well really the last four events going back to Le Mans. The team is executing at a high level on the pit stops and strategy. I really feel like we should have won the last two races were it not for other people hitting us. That’s tough to take when we did absolutely nothing wrong in both those cases. Hopefully things swing back our way and we close things strong at Bahrain. A podium would be nice but we want and deserve a win.”

    DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s pretty exciting to come to Bahrain because I’ve never been there. That goes together with Qatar and Le Mans being highlights for me because they are new tracks. So I’m excited to see how the Corvette feels at Bahrain. The last few rounds have been a massive step forward in terms of pace, and my teammates have been doing very, very well. I think we have a good chance to score a top result to finish off the season. That would be a fantastic way to finish things off in style, and I fancy our chances for that. This is a longer event, too, finishing at night. With testing of the Cadillac Hypercar the next day, it’s a pretty exciting weekend coming up.”

    2024 FIA World Endurance Championship Points

    LMGT3 Drivers Standings

    1. Aliaksandr Malykhin/Joel Sturm/Klaus Bachler – 136
    2. Morris Schuring/Richard Lietz/Yasser Shahin – 90
    3. Augusto Farfus/Darren Leung/Sean Gelael – 85
    4. Alex Riberas/Daniel Mancinelli/Ian James – 83
    5. Ahmad Al Harthy/Maxime Martin/Valentino Rossi – 61
    6. Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 23
    7. Daniel Juncadella/Hiroshi Koizumi/Sebastien Baud – 14

    LMGT3 Teams Standings

    1. No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing – 136
    2. No. 91 Manthey EMA – 90
    3. No. 31 Team WRT – 85
    4. No. 27 Heart of Racing Team – 83
    5. No. 46 Team WRT – 61
    6. No. 81 TF Sport – 23
    7. No. 82 TF Sport – 14

    CORVETTE RACING AT BAHRAIN: By the Numbers

    • 1: As in one program, one manufacturer and one model of car for 26 years of racing: Corvette Racing, Chevrolet and the Chevrolet Corvette
    • 3: Positions gained in GTE Pro by Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy from start to finish in the 2022 Bahrain race in the No. 64 Corvette
    • 7: Hours difference between Manama, Bahrain and Detroit in the Eastern Time Zone
    • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
    • 28: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Barber Motorsports Park, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Daytona, Detroit, Houston, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
    • 53: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. DXDT Racing’s Patrick Liddy and Blake McDonald joined the list at Indianapolis in GT World Challenge America
    • 71: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
    • 138: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 116 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, three in the FIA WEC and 10 in GT World Challenge America
    • 308: Event starts by Corvette Racing entries since 1999, starting with that year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona. No. 300 came in early August at Road America in IMSA
    • 6,883: Approximate mileage from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Bahrain International Airport, one way. That’s a greater distance than the No. 33 Corvette C8.R has raced this year in WEC competition
    • 397,343.78: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. At present level, the program will surpass the 400,000-mile mark at the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

    Corvette Racing at Bahrain (wins in bold)

    2022

    No. 64 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 2nd in GTE Pro

    2023

    No. 33 Corvette C8.R: Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nico Varrone – 7th in GTE Am

    Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

    About General Motors
    General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

  • Tickets For 2025 Formula E Miami E-Prix on Sale Now

    Tickets For 2025 Formula E Miami E-Prix on Sale Now

    • The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will return to Miami for the first time since Season 1, debuting a brand-new location – Homestead-Miami Speedway.
    • Round 6 of the all-electric world championship will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Andretti, DS PENSKE, and Kiro Race Co—among other teams—will be looking to put on a show for their home fans.
    • Spectators can enjoy a full day of family entertainment at the race, including live music performances, race simulators in the gaming arena, and much more.
    • Fans now have the chance to secure their spot for the Miami E-Prix, with tickets on sale starting Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
    • More information at www.fiaformulae.com. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com.

    MIAMI, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Formula E today announced that tickets for the Miami E-Prix on Saturday, April 12, 2025, will go on sale on Tuesday, October 29. They are available from Ticketmaster, with early bird pricing starting at $10 for children, $25 for young adults 16-25, and $35 for adults.

    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Miami after the iconic location held the first Formula E race on US soil in the inaugural season. Formula E’s last visit to Miami saw Andretti score a podium with Scott Speed, who remains the only American driver to stand on a Formula E podium.

    The GEN3 Evo is set to stun the fans with wheel-to-wheel racing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, a regular fixture on the NASCAR calendar. The venue has a rich racing heritage, making it the perfect destination for Formula E to introduce a new form of racing to Miami’s sports-mad fans.

    Developed by specialists from Formula E and the FIA, the latest GEN3 Evo edition marks a significant leap in electric racing technology. Its acceleration from 0-60mph is 30% faster than that of a current F1 car and 36% faster than that of the GEN3 car.

    Alongside all the action on track, spectators will also have the chance to enjoy a full day of off-track entertainment for the whole family. The Fan Village – Formula E’s immersive fan festival at the heart of every E-Prix – will be back in full swing, offering live music, a gaming arena, and autograph opportunities with drivers.

    Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said:
    “It’s incredible to be returning to Miami for the first time since Season 1. The city has evolved so much, and so has Formula E, making this the perfect moment to reintroduce electric racing to a location with such a rich motorsports heritage and passion for entertainment. We’re excited to bring Formula E to the Homestead-Miami Speedway and create a memorable experience for both long-time fans and new ones alike.”

    Antonio Felix Da Costa, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and 2024 Hankook Portland E-Prix winner, said:
    “Miami is a city with incredible energy, and I’m really looking forward to racing here again. After the success in Portland last season, I’m more motivated than ever to push for another big result for the US crowd. I’m excited to race at such an iconic track and give it everything for Porsche and the fans.”

    Spectators can now secure their spot for the 2025 Miami E-Prix. More information and tickets are available from Ticketmaster and www.fiaformulae.com

    Fans in the US will be able to catch live race action exclusively on the Roku Channel on April 12, 2025, with highlights shown on CBS Sports Network.

    Connect and follow the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

    @FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE

    About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
    As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport-certified net zero carbon since inception, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities, providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation.

    The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and the planet. www.FIAFormulaE.com

    For US Formula E media inquiries, contact – FIAFormulaEMedia@theidagency.com

    ABOUT ABB
    ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

  • FORMER TOP FUEL CHAMPS SHAWN LANGDON & STEVE TORRENCE AFTER BIG WEEKENDS AT FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS

    FORMER TOP FUEL CHAMPS SHAWN LANGDON & STEVE TORRENCE AFTER BIG WEEKENDS AT FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS

    Langdon and Torrence both within striking distance of points leader Justin Ashley with two races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship

    LAS VEGAS (Oct. 28, 2024) – In a Top Fuel championship race that could be one for the ages in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, what happens at this weekend’s 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway could loom large in the title chase.

    That’s especially true for those needing a big weekend to draw closer to points leader Justin Ashley, who took over the top spot following his Dallas win. Three-time world champion Antron Brown trails Ashley but just 44 points, but he’s not the only one still looking to make a championship push at the final two races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

    Former champ Shawn Langdon is only 76 points out of first in his 11,000-horsepower Kalitta Air Careers dragster, while four-time champion Steve Torrence sits just 88 points behind in his Capco Contractors dragster. Tony Schumacher is 105 points out of first, as the four drivers directly behind Ashley have a combined 16 championships between them.

    Langdon, though, knows his Kalitta Motorsports team needs to make up ground quickly and he’ll need a big weekend in Vegas to stay in viable contention at the finale in Pomona.

    “In a perfect world, the Kalitta Air Careers team wins the race this weekend and takes the points lead,” Langdon said. “We just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing all season but turn a couple of those runner-up finishes into race wins. Where it ends up, it ends up. Our goal is to win the last two races – we’re not focused on anything else.”

    Last season, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock) all won the late-season race in Las Vegas. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 3. It is the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship and the 19th of 20 races in the 2024 season, and the action will undoubtedly be intense in Las Vegas.

    Langdon won two of the first three races this year, but hasn’t been back to the winner’s circle, falling in the final round five other times. That includes in Reading to open the postseason, while Torrence is also looking to finish the deal in Las Vegas. He’s had big moments this year and has been consistent, but Torrence, who won in Seattle, knows he’ll need victories to claim a fifth world title.

    He was the runner-up in St. Louis and advanced to the semifinals in Dallas during the playoffs, but will need more than that in Las Vegas. The good news is Torrence has enjoyed plenty of success at The Strip, winning five times, though the challenge is getting past a loaded field that also includes Clay Millican, Brittany Force and Tony Stewart.

    Torrence is plenty battle-tested, which he hopes plays into his favor this weekend, where intensity will be at a fever pitch with the championship still up for grabs.

    “I still feel good about the championship,” Torrence said. “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot a couple times, but I don’t think we’ve shot it smooth off. The thing is, we just can’t make any more mistakes. We’re down 88 points and, going into Pomona, we need to at least be within two rounds (60 points). So, we’ve got some work to do.

    “We have an opportunity. Vegas has been good to us. We’ve won a lot of rounds (46, more than at any other venue) and a lot of races but, to be honest, that’s old news. It’s all about what we can do this weekend and I can’t think of anybody I’d rather go into a battle like this with than these CAPCO boys. They’ve been here. They know the pressure. They know what needs to be done.”

    In Funny Car, Austin Prock has a chance to clinch his first world championship with a big weekend in Las Vegas. He currently leads John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman, who is driving for Force, by 147 points, and could cement his first world title with a memorable Las Vegas event. Others to watch include Bob Tasca III, reigning world champ Matt Hagan and three-time champ Ron Capps.

    Dallas Glenn currently leads the way in Pro Stock, as the 2021 NHRA Rookie of the Year holds a 53-point advantage over another young standout, Aaron Stanfield. Greg Anderson is 90 points back, while reigning Pro Stock champion Enders, whose 10 wins are the most in NHRA history at The Strip, is 111 points out of first.

    Gaige Herrera is after a second straight title in Pro Stock Motorcycle, with the defending event winner ahead of six-time champ Matt Smith by 62 points. Other standouts include Hector Arana Jr., Jianna Evaristo, Chase Van Sant and Richard Gadson.

    The Ford Performance NHRA Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the Summit Racing Series E.T. Finals. The weekend will also include action in Legends Nitro Funny Car class and a spectacular jet dragster exhibition after nitro qualifying on Friday and Saturday.

    It’s also the final race of the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, Johnson’s Horsepowered Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the new Holley EFI Factory X category.

    Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage in the pits, where they can take part in Nitro School, meet and greets, influencer interviews and much more. Vegas race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday, where fans are invited to congratulate the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals event winners.

    As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. They can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

    NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 1, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. PT on Nov. 3. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations at 5:00 p.m. ET.

    To purchase tickets to the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, call 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free in general admissions areas with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com.

    About Ford Performance

    Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

    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 NHRA

    NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. 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 110 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.

  • Cadillac aims for strong finishing kick

    Cadillac aims for strong finishing kick

    Coming off pole start, No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R looks to challenge for victory at Bahrain

    DETROIT (Oct. 28, 2024) – Following its best finish and maiden pole in the past two events, Cadillac Racing aims to close out its second season of FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar competition with a statement result in the Bapco Energies Eight Hours of Bahrain.

    Sebastien Bourdais joins full-season drivers Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn for the finale in the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R on the 5.412km, 15-turn Bahrain International Circuit on November 2. The Chip Ganassi Racing-run team has shown solid pace throughout the seven races and flat-out speed in qualifying.

    Lynn garnered Cadillac Racing’s initial WEC pole at Fuji Speedway last month to extend the team’s streak of qualifying in the top four of Hyperpole to five races. The No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R has advanced to Hyperpole in every race but Imola and has a class-leading average qualifying of 4.4.

    Lynn and Bourdais put in stellar performances in Hyperpole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, with Lynn qualifying second. Because of a grid penalty imposed by the ACO that dropped the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R in the starting order, the No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R that Bourdais drove to third in the session moved to the front row.

    Fourth place at Cadillac Racing’s home race at Circuit of The Americas in early September is the team’s best finish of the season. Now the group seeks to claim its first podium of the season.

    “We’ve shown in the last couple races that we’ve made some good strides forward,” said Bamber, who last week was confirmed as a full-season co-driver with Jack Aitken of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “We’re in a place where we can definitely challenge for podiums.”

    Bourdais, who co-drove the No 01 Cadillac V-Series.R to the overall victory in the October 12 IMSA season-closing Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, shared the seat of the No. 2 hybrid Cadillac in the March opener in Qatar in addition to driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He last drove at the Bahrain circuit in 2022 in LMP2 in addition to two outings in Formula One.

    The Bapco Energies Eight Hours of Bahrain is scheduled for 2 p.m. (Arabian Standard Time)/7 a.m. (ET) Saturday. MotorTrend TV will air live from 6:30-8 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. ET in the U.S.. Full live streaming coverage of Free Practice 3, qualifying and the race will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans also will stream audio coverage of Friday’s final practice and qualifying, plus Saturday’s race.

    Driver preview quotes

    Sebastien Bourdais: “It’s good to get back in the car with Alex and Earl. We started off the season really well. Eventually didn’t get the result because of the circumstances, but we certainly deserved a good finish. The car was very competitive in the race and we played the short game really well. Unfortunately, it’s been a bit of a tough season results-wise. There was always something coming in the way of a good result. If we could send it off on a high that would be pretty cool. Performance-wise, it seems like the car is in a really good window. It’s pretty light, good on power and competitive, so there is definitely something to play for. Bahrain is a really big challenge. It’s an extremely abrasive racetrack. Tire deg is very high and using the tire the right way and not hurting it but making it function without making it slide is a critical thing to do. You have to do it with setup, dampers, traction control and you name it. We’ll try to find some recipes that work and hopefully we’ll wind up in a good spot.”

    Earl Bamber: “We’ve shown in the last couple races that we’ve made some good strides forward. We’re in a place where we can definitely challenge for podiums. It’s difficult in those races because you have to sort of have everything go perfectly and the last one was difficult for all manufacturers. I think the potential is there and hopefully we can execute in the last one for Cadillac and Chip Ganassi Racing.”

    Alex Lynn: “I believe in terms of sheer performance this year we have not been disappointed and we’re on course to be the best qualifying car in the whole of the World Endurance Championship, which is a great accolade if we can finish that off in Bahrain. Going into Bahrain off the back of what was a strong showing in Fuji until we weren’t able to finish off with a result bodes well. The track, I believe, is one of our better ones with our car and I personally love it as a track. I think our motivation is to finish this season and the first two years of the Cadillac V-Series.R with a strong result. I’m excited to get there.”

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