(Houston, Texas, September 19, 2024) … Round four of the 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) Championship brings the Houston, Texas-based Risi Competizione team back to IMSA competition. The No. 62 Ferrari 296 GT3 GTD Pro team includes Ferrari factory drivers Italian Davide Rigon and Brazilian Daniel Serra.
The Tire Rack.com Battle On The Bricks for the IMSA WeatherTech Championship 6-hour race will be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.439 mile, 14-turn road course on Sunday, September 22.
Since their last race with Risi Competizione at Watkins Glen in June, Rigon won the 6 Hours of Fuji in LMGT3 class, finished second in last month’s 24 Hours of Spa race in the AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, as well as second at the 4 Hours of Spa European Le Mans Series (ELMS) race as he competes in the 6-race ELMS schedule.
Serra won the LMGT3 class at the 4 Hours of Spa ELMS race and was also called in to co-drive in the Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 at the IMSA sprint race at Road America in early June, where he won in the GTD Pro class. Serra is now in his 18th season in the Complete Stock Car Pro Series in his native Brazil, as well as also competing in the ELMS schedule with Kessell in the Ferrari.
The Indianapolis round of the IMSA WeatherTech series has 56 entries, including 12 in the GTD Pro class with Risi as the only class Ferrari. There are six additional Ferrari 296 GT3’s in the GTD class.
As in the previous three IMEC races, all four IMSA classes will compete at the Indianapolis road course together – Grand Touring Prototype (GTP), Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO), and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD).
The Risi Competizione team currently stands in second place in the IMEC points championship with 28 points, just 2 points behind the leading Paul Miller Racing, as they come to Indianapolis striving to get back in the lead.
Both Ferrari drivers have previously competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway one time each, but this will be their first time with Risi Competizione and in an IMSA race.
Risi Competizione drivers for Indy IMEC IMSA race are
L to R: Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra, posing with fans at the autograph session
Quotes:
Davide Rigon, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:
“I’m super happy to be back with Risi at Indy. I did a race there three years ago with a different team, different guys and car, the (Ferrari) 488. I remember a little bit about the track but not exactly. I know it will come back to me when I get back on it. Let’s see because it’s not the typical American track, it’s a bit different and more European style track with more space, a long straight. Let’s see how our balance will be there once we get an idea.
“Honestly, I can’t wait to be back with Daniel and back in the car. We will try to do our best and see what result we can get but we are really focused for Indy.”
Daniel Serra, driver, No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3:
“I’m excited to be back with Risi. It’s been a while. It’s nice to be back at Indianapolis, a place with so much history behind it. I’ve been there just once and I think it was two years ago. It’s a nice track. I think the race will be good with a lot of overtaking. I’m looking forward to the race weekend. We have not been together with Risi for a while, so I’m happy to be back with the team and with Davide.”
Qualifying for the GTD Pro class will be on Saturday, September 21 at 3:40 p.m. ET for 15 minutes.
The race start is at 11:40 a.m. (Eastern) on Sunday, September 22, and the race will be televised live on NBC at 3:00 p.m. Peacock will carry live flag-to-flag streaming coverage starting at 11:30 a.m. for the full six hours. IMSA’s YouTube channel will be live for the international feed (outside U.S.). IMSA Radio will cover select sessions live on IMSA.com/RadioLeMans.com. Qualifying will be carried on Peacock and IMSA.com on Saturday, September 21 at 3:35 p.m.
Sponsors for the 2024 season for Risi Competizione include Pennzoil, Ferrari of Houston, OMP Racing and DEA.
Pataskala, Ohio (19 September 2024) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) will add a new face to its 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES stable with the addition of Marcus Armstrong who will run the No. 66 MSR entry alongside current MSR driver Felix Rosenqvist.
Coming from a strong open wheel background that includes F4, Formula 3 and Formula 2, Armstrong is now looking to build on his first two seasons of INDYCAR competition as he joins MSR in 2025.
Armstrong was quick to adapt to the INDYCAR series, earning Rookie of the Year in 2023 despite only contesting the road course rounds, taking five top tens in his 12 starts.
The New Zealander added ovals to his INDYCAR calendar in 2024, running the full 17-points paying races this past season, taking three top five finishes including his first INDYCAR podium in Detroit.
“I’m very proud to be joining Meyer Shank Racing in 2025,” said Armstrong. “I had a great feeling when I met both Mike Shank and Jim Meyer, their passion for performance and meticulous work ethic was obvious from our first conversation and I want to thank them both for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone at MSR over the off-season with the goal of hitting the ground running at the first race of the season in St Pete.
“This year I got closer to where I want to be performance wise, including oval racing for the first time and I’m looking forward to continuing to push up the order with MSR. We want to be at the front, fighting for wins and I believe we have the recipe to do it.”
MSR, which will be entering its ninth season running in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, is eager to build on its momentum from the 2024 season which saw the team qualify in the top six, 15 times and finish in the top ten, 10 times. MSR team co-owner, Mike Shank is confident that with the addition of Armstrong for 2025, the team is in a position to produce consistent results next year.
“We’re very excited to welcome Marcus onboard,” said Shank. “He’s really shown a lot of growth and consistency in his first two years in INDYCAR, which is really difficult to do. This series is probably one of the most competitive series out there and he has proven himself to be a real contender. We are going to do everything we can to give him the car and the tools to produce results next year.”
With the 2024 season closing out this past weekend, MSR will begin preparations right away to be ready for the 2025 season opener in St. Petersburg in March.
CHEVROLET IN NHRA 2024 NHRA CAROLINA NATIONALS zMAX DRAGWAY CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE | NOTES & STATS SEPT. 20-22, 2024
CHEVROLET CONTINUES THE NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN CHARLOTTE AT zMAX DRAGWAY
Notes:
Team Chevy heads next in the Countdown to zMAX Dragway near Charlotte for the NHRA Carolina Nationals Sept. 20-22.
Austin Prock, driver of the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, strongly leads the Countdown to the Championship point standings after racing to his sixth win at Indianapolis. He currently sits in the top spot 86 points over Bob Tasca, III in second.
Jack Beckman, driver of the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car and racing on behalf of sidelined team owner and driver John Force, joins Prock in fighting for a Funny Car World Championship, sitting third with 99 points separating he and Prock.
Securing her spot in the Countdown to the Championship while competing at Indianapolis, Brittany Force, driver of the Monster Energy Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster, looks to Charlotte to rebound after a Round 1 defeat in Reading last weekend.
After capturing his fifth win of 2024, Aaron Stanfield enters Charlotte this weekend leading the championship points standings in a tight battle with Dallas Glenn in second, separated by only nine points. Erica Enders, the six-time NHRA champion, currently sits third, 35 points behind first.
The FlexJet Factory Stock Showdown Chevrolet COPO Camaro competitors sit idle for Charlotte, returning to action for their season finale event at World Wide Technology Raceway Sept. 27-29.
Quotes:
AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:
“Excited to roll into Charlotte. It is one of our nicest venues and always a pleasure to race at. Coming off a win, we have some good energy and momentum coming into the second race of the playoffs. I’m looking for another strong performance from my Cornwell Tools Chevy team.”
JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANT CHEVROLET CAMARO SS FUNNY CAR:
“After race one-of-six in the Countdown, our Peak Camaro already has moved from sixth to third in the points, with every expectation of continuing our climb towards the Championship. With two more races in this three-in-a-row beginning to the playoffs, it means that we need to be flawless in our approach. John’s team is up for the challenge, and I am excited for the opportunity.”
BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF THE HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET TOP FUEL DRAGSTER:
“Our HendrickCars.com team is heading straight to Charlotte, North Carolina to race at zMAX Dragway this weekend! This is a track we’ve had success in the past. We have a win in 2016 and a runner-up in 2021, and we hold both ends of the track record. Currently, we’re ninth in points. Putting aside a challenging season we’re pushing through and are determined to bring home that first win of the season.”
How to Watch:
The NHRA Carolina Nationals from zMAX Dragway air first with Friday qualifying on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) at 7 p.m. ET. Sunday sees Saturday’s qualifying airing at 1:30 p.m. ET, followed by Finals at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. Coverage streams live throughout the weekend on NHRA.tv, and is available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.
TEAM CHEVY BY THE NUMBERS:
1,466: Round wins for John Force (1st all-time). (Six round wins and one runner-up have been captured by Jack Beckman in Brainerd, Indianapolis, and Reading while racing on behalf of Force who is currently recovering from an on-track incident).
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).
167: 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.
87: Number of Chevrolet Racing Funny Car wins with the Camaro SS body.
48: 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.
16: Number of Chevrolet career wins by Brittany Force.
7: Number of Funny Car driver championships.
2: Number of Top Fuel driver championships.
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
Duo of Dan Knox and Scott Andrews Make Lone Star Racing’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Return Saturday in the No.79 Lone Star Racing/ACS Manufacturing Mercedes-AMG GT4
Andrews, Salih Yoluç and Rui Andrade Resume 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Campaign in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing/ACS Manufacturing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Sunday in the Inaugural Battle on The Bricks Six-Hour IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Race
INDIANAPOLIS (September 19, 2024) – Lone Star Racing and team drivers Dan Knox, Salih Yoluç, Rui Andrade and Scott Andrews combine to double up on the team’s IMSA Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing programs for the second-consecutive year this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) with dual GT Daytona (GTD) and Grand Sport (GS) campaigns at the Battle on The Bricks Weekend at the Racing Capital of the World.
Looking to build on the team’s race-winning and podium success at IMS in recent years, Lone Star Racing team owner and driver Knox makes his IMSA Pilot Challenge debut co-driving the No. 79 Lone Star Racing/ACS Manufacturing Mercedes-AMG GT4 with Andrews. Knox made history with Lone Star at Indy last October when they scored the first major North American victory for a Mercedes-AMG GT2 in a GT America sprint race. Andrews in turn nearly won the IMSA Pilot Challenge race last September in Lone Star’s Mercedes-AMG GT4, closing on the leader but settling for a second-place finish when the clock ran out in the timed race.
The renewed GT4 program runs alongside the team’s primary IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) GTD campaign in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing/ACS Manufacturing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The fourth round of this year’s five race IMEC series within overall IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, team drivers Salih Yoluç, Rui Andrade and Andrews come to Indy looking for a race result that reflects the team’s pace and performance in what has been a competitive but challenging opening three rounds. The Lone Star Mercedes-AMG GT3 program returns to Indy one year after Andrews and his co-driver made their IMSA GTD Indy debut in last year’s Battle on The Bricks weekend.
Knox has excelled on some of the biggest stages in North American motorsports in the last year’s time. In addition to the milestone Indy win last year, Knox swept the GT2 victories in this past April’s GT America doubleheader at the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been a great track for Lone Star Racing the last few years,” Knox said. “I was fortunate to win a GT2 race there last year and our GT4 team almost won the Michelin Pilot Challenge GS race. That’s one of the reasons I want to come back and give the Pilot Challenge race another shot. Scott was flying at the end of last year’s race but we had to settle for second when the time ran out. It will be great to run not one but two Mercedes-AMG entries this weekend, and we are really working hard and looking forward to a pair of great results.”
Andrews is the only one of Lone Star’s four drivers competing in both of the weekend’s featured races. He runs in both the WeatherTech Championship and Pilot Challenge races again this year, and looks for a more competitive run than last year’s GTD debut at Indy in Sunday’s six-hour WeatherTech Championship race.
“It is two years in a row at Indy that we have done the double at Indy, and it is great to do both of them with Lone Star Racing,” Andrews said. “I am excited to run GS with Dan, and with our lineup in GTD, I think we can hopefully be fighting for a podium. Dan won on this track just last year and I know he will come out and do the job that I know that he can do. It’s always good to come back to the track with Lone Star Racing as this is my main program this year. It feels like coming home in a way, and I am excited to get the best results possible.”
Yoluç and Andrade make their Indianapolis debuts but join Knox in being at their best in big events on the greatest tracks. Yoluç made history in 2017 as the first Turkish driver to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and later the first driver from his country to win the prestigious French endurance race with a GTE Am class victory in 2020.
A native of Angola, Andrade first raced in the Rolex 24 in 2022 as part of a season-long IMEC LMP2 campaign with Tower Motorsports. A third-place finish in the Daytona opener set the tone for a competitive run for Andrade in the four endurance races that culminated with a victory in the season-ending Petit Le Mans and runner-up finish in the final IMEC P2 standings.
This weekend’s highlight Battle on The Bricks six-hour endurance race on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn IMS road course begins at 11:40 a.m. EDT this Sunday, September 22. Live coverage on the flagship NBC Network picks up at 3 p.m. EDT and extends straight through the finish at 5:40 p.m. EDT. Viewers can also watch the race in its entirety with live flag-to-flag coverage on NBC’s Peacock streaming network. International viewers outside the U.S. can view the action on IMSA.tv and YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial.
The IMSA Pilot Challenge race is scheduled to go green this Saturday, September 21, at 1:05 p.m. EDT. Live streaming of the two-hour race starts five minutes earlier on Peacock with international coverage available outside the U.S. at IMSA.TV and YouTube.com/IMSAOfficial.
About Lone Star Racing: Based at Motorsport Ranch within the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in Cresson, Texas, Lone Star Racing is competing in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing/ACS Manufacturing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 2024 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in the GTD class. Lone Star Racing and its team members have won races across North America spanning sprint and endurance racing formats. The crew has worked together on many different teams and various types of cars, developing a strong bond and proven capability that gives them a competitive and winning advantage. Lone Star Racing competes with the support of primary partner ACS Manufacturing, Inc. (www.ACSManufacturing.com). Look for Lone Star Racing and team owner/driver Dan Knox on Facebook and follow the team on YouTube at Lone Star Racing, on Twitter and Instagram at @LSRTeam and on the official team web site at www.LoneStarRacingTeam.com.
CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 18, 2024) – Reigning Funny Car world champion Matt Hagan enjoyed a memorable weekend at zMAX Dragway earlier this year, picking up his 50th career Funny Car victory during the 4-Wide race in April.
Heading back to Charlotte for this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at the Bellagio of Dragstrips, Hagan could use another big weekend at the state-of-the-art facility.
Currently fifth in points in the NHRA Mission Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship playoffs, Hagan suffered an early first-round exit to kick off the postseason. While it doesn’t necessarily make this weekend a must-win race for Hagan and his Tony Stewart Racing team, a victory at a track that has served the four-time world champ well over the years would go a long way in trying to pick up back-to-back world titles.
Austin Prock has taken a commanding lead in the Funny Car class, with his six victories pacing the class, but Hagan, who is 137 points out of first, knows he has a seasoned group that can win in crunch time in their 11,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat.
“We won at Charlotte earlier this year and have some good juju walking into that race,” Hagan said. “Hopefully, it’ll be one of those tracks that keeps treating us well. I always like getting back there with family and friends. There are a lot of people that come out and show us love. We’ll put Reading behind us and look ahead to the next.
“You have to win races in the Countdown to win a championship. This TSR team is experienced, and they know how to win titles too. We just have to keep our heads down and the wins will come to us. We know we can do that.”
Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up wins at the fall race in Charlotte and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
It is the 16th of 20 races during the 2024 season and the second of six playoff races puts a spotlight on those looking to make a move in the championship standings. That includes Hagan, but he also has to deal with a loaded class that features Bob Tasca III in second, Jack Beckman, who is racing for John Force, in third, J.R. Todd, who is fourth and the likes of Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria behind him.
Hagan, though, wasn’t thrilled with his performance in the playoff opener. Normally one of the best on the starting line, Hagan, who has 51 career wins, lost on a rare holeshot to Todd, leaving him determined to turn things around in Charlotte.
“It was a pretty tough weekend starting the Countdown,” Hagan said. “We obviously lost in the first round on a holeshot. The driver didn’t get the job done, so I have to get home and get back on the practice tree. We’re working on running a little harder and being more aggressive, so hopefully in the next five races, especially the two coming up, we can have some more luck.
“We will work hard and dig deep and put all we’ve got into these next (five) races. We need to have a lot of focus and drive to do the best we can. I want to get there and stay focused and do my job. I know my guys will go do their job, so we’ll see what we can get done.”
In Top Fuel, Kalitta will look to turn things around after a first-round upset in Reading. It helped send Justin Ashley into the points lead, while Antron Brown is just a point back and Shawn Langdon is only six points out of first.
Pro Stock’s Anderson would love to repeat last year’s fall race victory as he sits fourth in points behind defending world champion Erica Enders, Dallas Glenn and points leader Aaron Stanfield, who won the playoff opener and has five victories in 2024.
Gaige Herrera has won three straight races at zMAX Dragway, sweeping both events last year. He’ll look to do the same in 2024, too, as the points leader won in the spring and aims to hold off the likes of Matt Smith, Reading winner Hector Arana Jr. and Richard Gadson.
Top Fuel1. Justin Ashley, 2,1812. Antron Brown, 2,1803. Shawn Langdon, 2,1754. Doug Kalitta, 2,1485. Steve Torrence, 2,1236. Clay Millican, 2,1027. Tony Stewart, 2,0878. Tony Schumacher, 2,0859. Brittany Force, 2,04810. Billy Torrence, 2,031
Funny Car1. Austin Prock, 2,2502. Bob Tasca III, 2,1643. John Force / Jack Beckman, 2,1514. J.R. Todd, 2,1235. Matt Hagan, 2,1136. Ron Capps, 2,1087. Alexis DeJoria, 2,0828. Blake Alexander, 2,0689.Chad Green, 2,06710. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,056
Pro Stock Motorcycle1. Gaige Herrera, 2,1982. Matt Smith, 2,1813. Richard Gadson, 2,1794. Hector Arana Jr, 2,1385. Chase Van Sant, 2,1026. John Hall, 2,0997. Angie Smith, 2,0968. (tie) Jianna Evaristo, 2,0638. (tie) Steve Johnson, 2,06310. Chris Bostick, 2,033
The 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 fan-favorite Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series, which wraps up its four-race 2024 schedule in Charlotte.
Fans won’t want to miss the thrilling and highly-entertaining KSFMX freestyle motocross show in the midway as well, which takes place before each round of pro qualifying on Friday and Saturday in the midway.
They are also invited the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music 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 includes 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 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 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 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 20, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 22. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the 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.
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.
This weekend NASCAR travels to Bristol Motor Speedway for some short track racing.
Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race is the final event in the Round of 16 Cup Series Playoffs. At the conclusion of the race, four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention.
The following drivers are currently below the cutline:
Denny Hamlin – 6 points
Brad Keselowski -12 points
Martin Truex Jr. – 14 points
Harrison Burton – 20 points
This will be the final race of the regular season for the Xfinity Series and will determine which 12 drivers will advance to the series Playoffs.
The Craftsman Truck Series Round of 10 in the Playoffs continues this weekend at Bristol. Layne Riggs won the first event at The Milwaukee Mile.
NASCAR Press Pass will be available after Cup Series qualifying, post-Cup Series race and post-Xfinity Series race.
8:00 p.m.: Truck Series UNOH 200 Stages 55/110/200 Laps = 106.6 miles FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
Friday, Sept. 20 2:00 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice Timed, 2 Groups, 15 Minutes Each – USA 2:40 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – Impound All Entries, Single Vehicle, 2 Laps – USA
4:00 p.m.: Cup Series Practice, Timed, 45 Minutes USA/PRN/SiriusXM 5:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – Impound Groups A & B: Single Vehicle, 2 Laps, 2 Rounds USA/PRN/SiriusXM
7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Food City 300 Stages 85/170/300 Laps = 159.9 Miles CW/PRN/SiriusXM $1,680,574
Saturday, Sept. 21 7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race Stages 125/250/500 Laps = 266.5 Miles USA/PRN/SiriusXM Purse: $9,222,417
POMONA, Calif. (Sept. 18, 2024) – With one race complete in the 2024 NHRA Countdown to the Champions playoffs, drivers are one step closer to the incredible championship setting at the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at famed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Nov. 14-17.
The In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals marks the final event of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and will see champions crowned on drag racing’s biggest stage.
Will a new driver claim the title for the first time, or will a seasoned veteran take home another NHRA championship? One thing is for certain: It all comes down to Pomona.
Intensity will be at a fever pitch with a can’t-miss atmosphere leading up to the joys of championship glory at one of the most historic venues on the NHRA tour. Action at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip will include a pair of qualifying runs on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations, where history will be made and champions will be crowned. Fans will get unparalleled access to the action as it all goes down to close out an incredible 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won last year’s event, while Kalitta (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all clinched world titles in Pomona. The race will again be broadcast on FS1 to close the season in style, including eliminations at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 17.
The Top Fuel ranks is the tightest category amongst the professional divisions with only six points separating the top three. Justin Ashley leads the way, after collecting wins at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals as well as Charlotte and Brainerd. But just a point behind is three-time champion and Reading winner Antron Brown, who also earned wins in Chicago, Norwalk and Sonoma. Shawn Langdon, who is a mere six points back, earned early wins this year at the season opener in Gainesville and Phoenix and will be looking for his second Top Fuel world championship. Last year’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals saw a spectacular, winner-take-all final round between Kalitta and Leah Pruett, with Kalitta earning the win and his first world championship. The veteran is currently fourth in the standings after collecting wins in Las Vegas, Epping and Richmond.
Funny Car has seen six different winners this season but has been dominated by class newcomer Austin Prock. He has earned six wins this season, including the prestigious Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals and the first race of the playoffs in Reading. Bob Tasca III sits second and has three wins to his credit this year from Las Vegas, Norwalk and Sonoma. Third place is held by Jack Beckman, who has stepped in for sixteen-time champion John Force, while other championship hopefuls in the loaded category include former champion J.R. Todd, who won the season opener in Gainesville, defending world champ Hagan and three-time world champ Ron Capps.
Competition in Pro Stock continues to be a battle of the powerhouse teams of Elite Motorsports and KB Titan Racing. Leading the points is standout Stanfield, who is on the hunt for his first professional championship for Elite Motorsports. He has five wins this season, including Reading to kick off the playoffs. Just nine points back is Dallas Glenn from the KB Titan camp. Glenn has three wins this year and has been in the top three all season. Reigning and six-time champion Enders is third, while five-time champion and the flagship driver for KB Titan, Greg Anderson, is fourth thanks to his wins at Phoenix and Charlotte.
The Pro Stock Motorcycle field has continued to be dominated by reigning champion Herrera. Herrera has seven wins on the season, including most recently in Indy. Only three other drivers have claimed wins this season: 2023 Rookie of the Year Chase Van Sant, who won in Seattle, six-time champion Matt Smith, who picked up a win in Sonoma, and Hector Arana Jr., who has the most recent winner on tour in Reading. Herrera current leads Smith by 17 points, with Gadson and Arana Jr. close behind.
This year’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals also features a can’t-miss experience for racing and car enthusiasts alike. The Top Eliminator Club offers the best seats in the house, a premium experience and a number of exclusive benefits at one of the biggest races of the season.
In Pomona, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 15, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 17. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations on FS1 at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. Included in the premium experience by purchasing Top Eliminator Club tickets is a members-only hospitality center, complimentary food and beverages, members-only souvenir store, exclusive drivers appearances, a gift bag, a premium view of the staging lanes and much more.
For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
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, Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle 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.
First of back-to-back endurance rounds to close Corvette Z06 GT3.R’s first IMSA season
DETROIT (September 18, 2024) – Of all the things that the Corvette Racing program has accomplished in more than a quarter-century of IMSA competition, one significant achievement is missing: a kiss on the bricks.
Three of the first-year Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs are set to contest Sunday’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks from historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After returning last year to the Brickyard road course in a sprint race the first time since 2014, both Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and AWA are part of a huge 56-car grid in what is now a fifth race for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup – this one six hours – on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar.
In GTD PRO, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports will seek its second victory of the season with a pair of Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs – the No. 3 for Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims (class winners at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) and the No. 4 for Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg.
The Pratt Miller Corvettes showed strong performance at each of the three previous endurance rounds this season – Daytona, Sebring and Watkins Glen. Chevrolet leads the Endurance Cup Manufacturers Championship with just Indianapolis and the 10-hour Petit Le Mans left in the season. Points at Indianapolis will be awarded at the three- and six-hour marks.
In GTD, AWA will compete in a 23-car class – the largest entry in any of the race’s four categories – with its No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R and the trio of Orey Fidani, Matt Bell and Lars Kern. The team has positive momentum on its side with back-to-back, top-six finishes in class… one of only four entrants in GTD to accomplish that feat in the last two races. A year ago, AWA won at Indianapolis in the LMP3 class.
Fidani and Bell also scored maximum points for the Bob Akin Award in the last round at VIR to grow Fidani’s lead in that championship. If he can hold that position for the next two races, Fidani and AWA will earn an automatic invitation to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGT3 class.
CORVETTE Z06 GT3.Rs IN 2025 WEATHERTECH CHAMPIONSHIP
Although there still are two races remaining in the 2024 season, fans of the Corvette Z06 GT3.R program can expect to see familiar names and faces in the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Both Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports and AWA have confirmed their full-season entries into next year’s series with identical efforts to what will be on-hand at Indianapolis this weekend.
The two-car, Pratt Miller-run Corvette team will return with the same core lineup of Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims, Tommy Milner and Nicky Catsburg in the No. 3 and No. 4 Z06 GT3.Rs in GTD PRO.
For GTD, AWA’s duo of Matt Bell and Orey Fidani will return in the No. 13 Corvette with Lars Kern joining for the 2025 long-distance races as part of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.
The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is scheduled for 11:40 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 22. The final three hours will air live on NBC starting at 3 p.m. ET with live streaming at 11:30 a.m. on Peacock inside the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. IMSA Radio will air all on-track sessions beginning with Friday afternoon’s opening practice at IMSA.com with the race call also on XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.
CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Indianapolis being more of an endurance round is a nice change from the last couple of times I was there. I think that plays into the strength of our team with race strategy and execution being a big part of it. So I hope we are up there fighting at the front. The Corvette has been really strong throughout the summer. Even at VIR when we had our issue, the car was fast and we could be near the front. It’s been awhile since we had a long-distance race win. This would be a great time to fix that, so let’s see.”
ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “You tend to get on top of things at Indianapolis quite quickly. It should be pretty straight-forward for us. But any six-hour race always throws up surprises. So the length of the race will add a decent amount of strategy into the mix, which should make things interesting from that point of view. I would hope that it’s a track where we’re fairly strong. Our Corvette is pretty decent in low speeds – to be honest it’s good in all corners! – but in low speed we generally seem strong as well, which is nice.”
TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It will be three endurance races in a row for me with six hours at Indy this week, eight more in SRO and then ramping up for Petit Le Mans. It’s certainly helpful, as I’ve already seen this year, to use lessons learned from the SRO event to the IMSA event. We will be able to do the same between the Six Hours and the Eight Hours. Endurance racing is what this car has been designed for. It will be a good test of all of the work that these guys have done over the year to get the car as reliable as it can be and prove the reliability of the car of a nice, long stretch of endurance races.”
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The last time I was at Indianapolis, we won it. So I have some very good memories of the circuit. I do like the track. Drivers are like that! When they do well they like the track, and when they don’t do well they hate the track. We aren’t really objective! So I really enjoy Indy and I’m looking forward to this event. It’s a bit longer than our normal sprint races. I’m looking forward to going there. It’s a fantastic place and hopefully we can kiss the bricks at the end.”
AWA PRE-EVENT DRIVER QUOTES
MATT BELL, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m really looking forward to this race. We are arriving off the back of a strong result in VIR, and a productive test at Indianapolis recently, so we are feeling confident. There are a few unknowns with this race being the first IMSA endurance event at Indy. Last year’s sprint race was already pretty chaotic and that was less than half the length! We feel confident that we have a good car, and now we just need to focus on adapting to whatever the race throws at us.”
OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I’m excited to see what Indianapolis Motor Speedway has in store for us. We’re heading into the final stages of the season and it would be amazing for us to get another strong result. I think we’re all curious to see how an endurance event will shake out at this track, but we’re feeling good and we know we have the ability to be successful here. It will be great to have Lars returning with us as well.”
2024 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points
GTD PRO Drivers Standings
Laurin Heinrich – 2519
Ross Gunn – 2502
Bryan Sellers/Madison Snow – 2408
Ben Barnicoat/Jack Hawksworth – 2358
Alexander Sims/Antonio Garcia – 2318
Nicky Catsburg/Tommy Milner – 2217
GTD PRO Teams Standings
No. 77 AO Racing – 2519
No. 23 Heart of Racing Team – 2502
No. 1 Paul Miller Racing – 2408
No. 14 Vasser Sullivan – 2358
No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 2318
No. 4 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports – 2217
GTD PRO Manufacturers Standings
Porsche – 2579
Aston Martin – 2540
Lexus – 2427
Chevrolet – 2426
Ford – 2329
GTD Drivers Standings
Philip Ellis/Russell Ward – 2718
Patrick Gallagher/Robby Foley – 2434
Mikael Grenier – 2178
Parker Thompson – 2114
Albert Costa Balboa/Manny Franco – 2060
Matthew Bell/Orey Fidani – 1826
GTD Teams Standings
No. 57 Windward Racing – 2718
No. 96 Turner Motorsport – 2434
No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Motorsport – 2178
No. 34 Conquest Racing – 2060
No. 12 Vasser Sullivan – 1921
No. 13 AWA – 1826
GTD Manufacturers Standings
Mercedes-AMG – 2882
Lamborghini – 2300
BMW – 2296
Lexus – 2276
Aston Martin – 2255
Chevrolet – 2078
CORVETTE RACING AT INDIANAPOLIS: By the Numbers
2: Previous starts at Indianapolis in IMSA competition for the Corvette Racing program – 2014 and 2023
2: Races at the Indianapolis Road Course in the next three weeks for Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs – this weekend’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Indianapolis Eight Hours in GT World Challenge America.
14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
27: Manufacturer victories for Chevrolet in 47 races at Indianapolis races at IMS across its stock car, open-wheel and sports car programs. It includes wins this year in the Indianapolis 500 (Josef Newgarden) and Kyle Larson (Brickyard 400). In IMSA competition, Action Express Racing won the last time the series raced at Indy in a Corvette Daytona Prototype. A Chevrolet Camaro also won at IMS in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in 2012 and 2014.
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
51: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. DXDT Racing’s Bryson Morris joined the list at Road America 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
305: 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
391,312.14: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!
Corvette Racing at Indianapolis
2014
No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 4th in GTLM
No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 5th in GTLM
2023
No. 3 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Jordan Taylor – 5th in GTD PRO
About Chevrolet Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 17, 2024) – This season marks the fourth year in the Countdown to the Championship for 2020 NHRA Rookie of the Year Justin Ashley and the third time he’s led at some point during the playoffs in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
He’s the points leader heading into this weekend’s 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals at state-of-the-art zMAX Dragway, the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship. But it’s hardly a huge advantage, as Ashley leads by just a single point over Reading winner Antron Brown and only six points over Reading runner-up Shawn Langdon.
Ashley, though, continues to be in the championship conversation in his 11,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment/Toyota dragster, a sign of the progress Ashley and his team continue to make. He qualified No. 1 and advanced to the semifinals in Reading and the lessons learned in previous years may mean Ashley is as ready as ever to find success this weekend in Charlotte for the first time and perhaps, ultimately, win his first NHRA Top Fuel world championship.
“If you’re not on your ‘A,’ you’re going to be sent home early. That’s just the way it is now,” Ashley said. “When the competition is as good as it is, anything can happen. It is just legitimately that good right now and that helps you stay focused because if you’re not, see you later, we’ll see you the next race. So, that focus is always there.
“We’ve been knocking on that door (to win a championship), but it’s time to try and break that door down. It’s not going to be easy because the competition is legitimately that good. We feel like this is a great opportunity. We’ve got a championship team and this is a great opportunity to try and finish the deal. But we’ve got a healthy understanding of how difficult it is and how difficult that’s going to be.”
Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up wins at the fall race in Charlotte and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
It is the 16th of 20 races during the 2024 season and things are as tight as ever following the first of six playoff races. That means the intensity will be high in Charlotte, as a flurry of championship contenders look to get back in the mix, while the likes of Ashley, Brown and Langdon will try to build a healthy lead.
Reigning world champion Kalitta, who lost in the opening round in Reading, is 33 points out of first, while the likes of four-time world champ Steve Torrence, Indy winner Clay Millican, racing legend Tony Stewart and eight-time Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher are still very much in the hunt.
Ashley remains a major threat and appears to be peaking at the perfect time, winning in Brainerd and performing well in Reading. He’s racing against the guys he grew up watching, but the young standout is as dangerous as anyone, especially with an experienced team guiding the way. A first career victory at zMAX Dragway would also go a long way in strengthening Ashley’s title chances.
“I’m lining up against the guys I tried to model my driving career after and that’s pretty neat, whether it’s Tony Schumacher, Doug Kalitta, of course Antron Brown,” Ashley said. “It’s pretty cool just to have the opportunity to line up against the best in the world at what they do. It’s amazing and to be here right now is pretty phenomenal.
“There’s going to be ups and downs, but we have a very experienced team. No matter what happens – win or lose – we’re going to stay steady and focus on the objective and the job at hand.”
In Funny Car, Tasca will try to win his second straight fall race at zMAX Dragway following last year’s success. Currently second in points, Tasca is trying to chase down leader Austin Prock, who has six wins in 2024. Others to watch include defending world champ and 4-Wide winner Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, J.R. Todd and Alexis DeJoria.
Pro Stock’s Anderson would love to repeat last year’s fall race victory as he sits fourth in points behind defending world champion Erica Enders, Dallas Glenn and points leader Aaron Stanfield, who won the playoff opener and has five victories in 2024.
Gaige Herrera has won three straight races at zMAX Dragway, sweeping both events last year. He’ll look to do the same in 2024, too, as the points leader won in the spring and aims to hold off the likes of Matt Smith, Reading winner Hector Arana Jr. and Richard Gadson.
Top Fuel1. Justin Ashley, 2,1812. Antron Brown, 2,1803. Shawn Langdon, 2,1754. Doug Kalitta, 2,1485. Steve Torrence, 2,1236. Clay Millican, 2,1027. Tony Stewart, 2,0878. Tony Schumacher, 2,0859. Brittany Force, 2,04810. Billy Torrence, 2,031
Funny Car1. Austin Prock, 2,2502. Bob Tasca III, 2,1643. John Force / Jack Beckman, 2,1514. J.R. Todd, 2,1235. Matt Hagan, 2,1136. Ron Capps, 2,1087. Alexis DeJoria, 2,0828. Blake Alexander, 2,0689.Chad Green, 2,06710. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,056
Pro Stock Motorcycle1. Gaige Herrera, 2,1982. Matt Smith, 2,1813. Richard Gadson, 2,1794. Hector Arana Jr, 2,1385. Chase Van Sant, 2,1026. John Hall, 2,0997. Angie Smith, 2,0968. (tie) Jianna Evaristo, 2,0638. (tie) Steve Johnson, 2,06310. Chris Bostick, 2,033
The 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 fan-favorite Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and Pingel NHRA Top Fuel Motorcycle Series, which wraps up its four-race 2024 schedule in Charlotte.
Fans won’t want to miss the thrilling and highly-entertaining KSFMX freestyle motocross show in the midway as well, which takes place before each round of pro qualifying on Friday and Saturday in the midway.
They are also invited the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music 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 includes 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 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 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 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 20, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 22. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations on FS1 at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.
To purchase tickets to the 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.
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.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., (September 17, 2024) – This weekend, the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host its first-ever IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship endurance race at the Brickyard. The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks is set for Sunday, September 22, and Wright Motorsports is ready to rise to the challenge with the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and endurance specialist Jan Heylen.
“We’ve had a solid season so far, and this is a great opportunity for us to have a strong weekend,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Adam and Elliott have been outstanding in their rookie year, and with Jan’s experience, we’re bringing a strong lineup to Indianapolis. This team thrives under pressure, and I’m confident we can deliver another strong result.”
Adelson and Skeer, who have earned two hard-fought podiums in their debut IMSA WeatherTech season thus far, are eager to close out the year on a high note. The duo, supported by their highly skilled pit crew, has shown strength in endurance racing, finishing third at the grueling Twelve Hours of Sebring in March.
Joining them for the endurance event, Heylen returns to race alongside Adelson and Skeer for the final two races of the season. Heylen’s last outing with Wright Motorsports at Indianapolis Motor Speedway resulted in a victory at the 2023 Indianapolis 8 Hour, where he celebrated by kissing the iconic bricks.
A total of 56 entries across four classes will compete in the event, racing on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course, which utilizes roughly one mile of the famed oval surface. In contrast to the Indy 500, the road course runs counterclockwise.
Sunday’s race is the second-to-last IMSA WeatherTech event of the year but also serves as a key warmup for Wright Motorsports’ season finale at the Indianapolis 8 Hour on October 5. The team currently leads the points standings in the SRO GT World Challenge, making this weekend’s track time beneficial to their championship aspirations, as both series utilize the Porsche 911 GT3 R race car.
The TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks takes place on Sunday, September 22, from 11:40 AM to 5:40 PM ET, airing live on Peacock. Fans attending the event will enjoy full access to the paddock with a general admission ticket, as well as a one-hour open-grid fan walk before the race, starting at 10:20 AM. For more information, visit imsa.com.
DRIVER QUOTES
Adam Adelson
I’m really looking forward to continuing the Michelin Endurance Cup championship at Indy! IMS is such a special place. Upon driving into the track, you are immediately reminded of not only the vastness of its size but the vastness of its history. I’ve raced here quite a bit in my career, and now that I’m in the top-level series that I can race here with, I’m really excited to use this as a benchmark to see what I’ve learned since I first raced here in 2021. I’m also ecstatic to be racing with Jan again, as every time we share a car, it comes with amazing opportunities to learn from him. The result in Watkins Glen definitely hurt, so I’m looking forward to putting up a better result this time around.
Elliott Skeer
It’s like we’ve never left! I am super excited for the upcoming rounds of GT World Challenge, we have put in some fantastic prep work as a team and Adam and I sure know our way around there going into first practice. Ultimately we will treat it like every other weekend, to operate our Porsche at it’s maximum and execute the weekend to the best that Wright Motorsport can do.
Jan Heylen
I am excited to be back in the car after a summer break. Adam and Elliott have been doing an amazing job and I look forward to joining them again for the remainder of the season. I hope we can make the team proud and bring home some trophies at this iconic track.
Wright Motorsports Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.
