The No. 41 Truck Last Week at Atlanta: In Bayley Currey’s first start of the season in the Craftsman Truck Series, he captured his first career top-five and moved the No. 41 Silverado into 14th-place in the Owner Standings.

Chastain at Circuit of the Americas: Though Chastain doesn’t have a Craftsman Truck Series start at COTA, he secured his first career Cup Series win at the track last year. Chastain has an average finish of 2.5 at the 3.4-mile track in the Cup Series, tied for best in the series.

Chastain on Returning to Site of First Cup Series Win: “It’s awesome to get to do this with Worldwide Express and everyone at Niece Motorsports. I’ve never been able to race for Al in Austin in his hometown before, so it’s really special. Last year’s Cup Series win was a lifelong dream and I’m pumped to try to do it again in the Truck Series.”

On the Truck: Chastain’s No. 41 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz.

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Atlanta Recap: After running solidly inside the top-15 most of the day, Lawless Alan was involved in an incident with less than 15 laps remaining in the Fr8 208. Unfortunately, Alan was forced to retire from the race in 32nd-place.

Alan on Atlanta: “We had a lot of speed and were competitive all day which is what our goals for the race were. It’s a superspeedway, so things like that happen. But, I think we can take what we had speed-wise and use that to learn at the upcoming races.”

Alan at Circuit of the Americas: In two starts at Circuit of the Americas, Alan has an average finish of 17th, including his best finish to-date in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, an 11th-place finish in this event last season.

Alan on Saturday’s Race at COTA: “My road racing experience, combined with our speed at Atlanta gives us a lot of confidence going into COTA. I know what I’m capable of on road courses and I know what our trucks are capable of, so I’m looking forward to improving upon my career-best finish.”

On the Truck: The No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry an assortment of sponsors including PlainsCapital Bank, MG Machinery LLC, and TXAPA. 

PlainsCapital was founded in 1988 by former Hilltop Holdings Vice Chairman and Co-CEO Alan White and a group of investors who raised the capital to acquire Plains National Bank, a Lubbock financial institution with one branch and $198.8 million in assets.  

Thirty years later, PlainsCapital Bank is the fourth-largest bank in Texas based on deposit market share.  PlainsCapital has a statewide presence with more than 60 locations in markets such as Austin, the Coastal Bend, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley. 

PlainsCapital has a diverse range of services, including commercial banking, treasury management, private banking, and wealth management, as well as consumer banking.

MG Machinery offers construction, heavy equipment, and mining equipment.  With a wealth of knowledge and experience, MG Machinery is more than a heavy equipment dealer. We go beyond the sale to make sure all clients are 100% satisfied with the service.

Texas Asphalt Pavement Association is a full-service Association for the asphalt industry. It serves the needs of asphalt producers, contractors, liquid asphalt suppliers, and interested firms dedicated to improving and growing the asphalt industry. The Association is committed and dedicated to providing the services and information that keeps its member firms and the industry on the competitive edge.

Niece Motorsports PR

Atlanta Recap: From his fifth-place starting position, Carson Hocevar would run inside the top-ten for a majority of Saturday’s 135-lap race. But, an accident on lap 123 involving himself as well as a few others would ultimately end his day in 31st.

Hocevar on Atlanta: “We were able to show lots of speed on Saturday, just weren’t able to get the finish this Worldwide Express team deserves. So far this season, we’ve shown our pace and I’m excited to show how good our Niece Motorsports team can be in COTA.”

Hocevar at COTA: Hocevar is just one of five active Truck Series competitors to finish inside the top-ten at COTA in both trips to the road course. His average starting position at the track is 11.5 with an average finish of 7.5.

Hocevar on Saturday’s Race at COTA: “Both times we’ve ran at COTA, we’ve been able to finish inside the top-ten which is great for my confidence going into the race. The field is going to have some Cup Series drivers and I’m looking forward to learning from them and hopefully driving past them when it counts.”

On the Truck: Hocevar’s No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from the WWEX group of brands, which comprises Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz.

Niece Motorsports PR

When it comes to racing, the attention is directly directed toward the many different drivers and organizations that are contending. Auto transporter businesses are another group of unsung champions that play an essential part in the sport of auto racing. These companies are responsible for delivering high-performance vehicles to the racetracks with their professional fleets. They are the ones who are in charge of transporting the automobiles.

It is the responsibility of these companies to transport the race cars as well as the tools, equipment, and additional components that are necessary to keep the race cars functioning at their greatest potential. In addition, it is the responsibility of these companies to transport the race tracks. In the absence of these organizations, it is impossible to imagine how athletic events could ever be organized.

Auto transporter businesses participate in a number of activities that are both exciting and essential in order to relocate automobiles to racing events. These activities include the following:

Get the cars to the track safely

It is the responsibility of the businesses that transport automobiles to ensure that the racing vehicles will arrive at the track in a prompt fashion and without suffering any damage. This necessitates painstakingly organizing and coordinating the preparations for the journey, from determining the routes that are the most productive to ensuring that the vehicles are loaded appropriately and safeguarded in the correct manner.

Loading and unloading safely

Because competition vehicles are such complex pieces of equipment, the administration of them must be managed with the utmost prudence in order to prevent injuries. Companies that specialize in transporting automobiles require their employees to have a high level of expertise in loading and unloading vehicles so that they can reduce the risk of damage happening while the vehicles are in transit. This is of the utmost importance for the sport of NASCAR, which demands that the vehicles be in immaculate condition in order for competitors to compete at high speeds on the track.

Assisting racing teams

Companies that specialize in transferring automobiles are not only in charge of moving the vehicles from one place to another, but they also provide assistance to the different racing teams. This entails providing any additional organizational assistance that the team may require at any given moment as well as assisting the team in setting up and dismantling down their apparatus at the track. Additionally, this entails assisting the team in any other capacity that may be required.

Assisting during wrecks and other emergencies

Auto transporter businesses are ready to handle any complications that may arise in the event that a collision takes place or there is a problem with the vehicle's mechanical components. In either case, they are prepared to deal with the situation. Only seasoned drivers who are comfortable driving high-performance vehicles and are prepared to respond appropriately to any situation that may arise are hired by these businesses.

To conclude, the significance of the role that auto transporter businesses play in the world of motorsport simply can not be exaggerated due to its magnitude. These boats are the unsung heroes of the sport because they are responsible for everything from ensuring that dispatches are made in a safe and timely fashion to providing the racing teams with crucial assistance. Therefore, the next time you are watching a race, make sure that you pause for a minute to appreciate the enormous amount of effort that goes into delivering those high-performance vehicles to the racecourse. This is something that you should do every time you watch a race.

CONNOR MOSACK Starts: 0 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 0 Top-10's: 0 Best Start: N/A Best Finish: N/A   SAM HUNT RACING Starts: 2 Wins: 0 Top-5's: 0 Top-10's: 0 Best Start: 23rd (Chase - 2022) Best Finish: 19th (Chase - 2022)

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It seems hard to believe it, but 2023 sees the 75^th anniversary of NASCAR. There’s no doubt at all that both it, and the sport in general, have seen some big changes over that quarter of a century.

So today’s manifestation of the sporter is faster, safer and more exciting than ever before. And, while it remains fairly firmly rooted in the US as a sport, there are possible ambitions to create a more international fan base, just as motor racing has achieved.

Given the early state of the latter’s 2023 season in which Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominate the F1 odds virtually to the exclusion of all other drivers and teams, the open nature of NASCAR could well make it a more interesting prospect for fans.

That’s not to say that there aren’t outstanding drivers who make for very good bets in any race that they’re competing in right now. For example, Joey Logano has been taking the checked flag ever since 2009 and Chase Elliot has an equally impressive pedigree.

But both these men, and every other driver too, is having to adapt to the changes that have occurred, or which are surely on their way.

The Gen 7 car

Last year saw the introduction of the sport’s Generation 7 car. Despite slight differences in the models produced by Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet, the aims of the model have been the same.

By making the design truly symmetrical, it’s reduced aerodynamic forces and increased the emphasis on driver skill and the mechanical set-up of the car. This focus on driver ability is certain to increase in the future and it’s also been hinted by the powers behind the sport that they might like to see a fourth manufacturer enter the picture too.

Speaking of pictures, the new generation of cars also include an on-board camera and increased connectivity to deliver even more performance data to be transmitted to fans in real time. Again, in an age when more and more access to behind-the-scenes insights and information is demanded by fans, they are surely soon to be demanding even more concessions like this.

Safety first

Naturally, all motorsport has to be acutely aware of safety for drivers and spectators alike.

So, following a few incidents in the 2022 season, a number of new features have been incorporated in this year’s cars. Going forward we are also likely to see many other changes on the way.

This year the main ones have been in increasing the crumple zones front and rear so they can absorb more of the impact in the event of a collision. There have also been a number of pivot points, known as triggers, introduced in the chassis to protect both the fuel and oil tanks.

And it’s not just fans who are set to receive more data from the cars in future. A greatly enhanced “black box” system is being introduced too, providing ever richer levels of safety and performance data that can be used for the benefit of everyone involved in the sport on and off the track.

New rules on the way

While its’s always going to be impossible to predict which new rules will be introduced for seasons to come, the latest inclusions do offer some clues.

Safety really is paramount so there are regulations being introduced concerning loose tires. So, if one comes free on the way into or out of the pit lane the offending driver will need to suffer a pass-through penalty under green flag conditions or go to the back of the longest line if a caution flag is in use.

If the more dangerous loss of a tire occurs on the track it will bring about a two-lap penalty and have two crew members put on a two-race suspension.

Fans of short track races will also have more chance of seeing the action in wet conditions as the permitted use of rain tires is now being extended to cover events at these venues.

What has surprised some people that no new rule has been introduced following Ross Chastain’s dramatic fifth gear charge into the last lap of the Martinsville playoff. However, the ruling body has emphasized that they will come down hard on any similarly dangerous moves in the future.

NASCAR goes electric

Also in the future, we have the prospect of NASCAR going the way of the whole automotive industry by racing in all-electric cars. Talks are believed to be under way with the existing motor manufacturers and there’s even a rumour that Dodge could be ready to adapt their own muscle car for the purpose of racing.

It’s likely to be an exhibition series initially but it does seem fairly inevitable that one day in the not too distant future all races will be electric powered.

But just how soon that is, we’ll have to wait and see.

Today, NASCAR introduced McDonald’s as the first founding partner of the first-ever Chicago Street Race Weekend. McDonald’s will have official presenting, marketing and promotional rights for the Chicago Street Race Weekend including the NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 220 and NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 121 races in downtown Chicago over Fourth of July Weekend, July 1-2. 

“NASCAR plays such an important role in sports culture, so we’re thrilled to be the first founding partner of this race in our hometown of Chicago,” said Elizabeth Campbell, Senior Director of Cultural Engagement, McDonald's USA. “We look forward to showing up for our racing fans and putting on a successful event in a city rich with sports history.” 

McDonald’s will have a visible presence throughout the Chicago Street Race Weekend including on-course branding in a dedicated founding partner section as well as the historic start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain. The McDonald’s brand will also be featured at fan entrances, concert stages, wayfinding, and additional locations throughout the event’s footprint. 

“McDonald’s is an iconic global brand with roots in Chicago, so it is the perfect founding partner for one of the most anticipated sporting events in NASCAR’s 75-year history, the Chicago Street Race,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “We are grateful to our partners at McDonald’s for embracing this historic event as we reimagine a two-day sports and entertainment weekend experience in the heart of downtown Chicago.” . 

As a partner with 23XI Racing, McDonald’s is the primary sponsor for multiple races for Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camrys in the 2023 Cup Series season. 23XI Racing, now in its third season, is co-owned by NBA Legend Michael Jordan and Cup Series star Denny Hamlin. 

“The Chicago Street Race is going to be such a great weekend for our sport. As we continue to look for ways to showcase NASCAR to new and more diverse audiences, the backdrop of downtown Chicago and the lake are sure to provide a really unique setting for a race,” said NASCAR Driver Bubba Wallace. “McDonald’s has been a great supporter of me and my team at 23XI Racing, so there will be a little added incentive for us as we race with the Golden Arches on our car in the city the brand has called home for more than a half-century." 

McDonald’s will be featured prominently on the NBC broadcasts of the Chicago Street Race Weekend, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM Radio national radio broadcasts, and have an expansive presence on NASCAR’s digital platforms. 

“We are proud to expand the partnership of one of the most recognizable and global brands within NASCAR as part of the Chicago Street Race Weekend,” said Jeff Wohlschlaeger, SVP, Chief Sales Officer, NASCAR. “McDonald’s brand strength is unrivaled, and we are proud they are supporting NASCAR’s first-ever Cup Series street race in their hometown of Chicago.” 

Look for future announcements about the partnership between McDonald’s and the Chicago Street Race that will further support NASCAR’s overarching commitment to the Chicago community and programs that will have a positive and lasting impact on local youth and teens.  

NASCAR PR

NASCAR teams make their first road course stop of the 2023 season at Circuit of the Americas in Texas this weekend, while NHRA drag racing is back on track in Arizona and the ARCA East Series season kicks off in Florida.

NASCAR National Series – NCS | NXS | NCTS

Bell adds another top-five… Christopher Bell scored another top-five finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday – his third top-five and fourth top-10 run in five starts this season. With the strong start to the year, Bell sits second in the point standings – just a single point outside of the top spot. The Oklahoma-native scored a third-place finish at Circuit of the Americas one season ago.  

Reddick rallies with back-to-back top-fives… Tyler Reddick continued his performance turnaround at Atlanta Motor Speedway as he made it two straight top-five finishes to continue his charge up the point standings. He currently sits in a Playoff spot as the series heads to one of his strongest track configurations. Reddick’s first two Cup Series victories occurred on road courses last season, and he also scored a strong fifth-place finish at COTA last year.

Gibbs makes Xfinity season debut… Reigning Xfinity Series champion Ty Gibbs will complete double duty for the first time this season as the Cup Series rookie of the year contender will run the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs is looking for his first win at Circuit of the Americas but has been excellent on road courses in his NASCAR career – picking up Xfinity Series wins at the Daytona Road Course, Watkins Glen International and Road America.

Nemechek continues to run strong… John Hunter Nemechek continues to have a strong start to his first full-time season with Joe Gibbs Racing. Nemechek drove to his fifth top-10 finish in five starts this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway – one of only three NXS drivers to score top-10 finishes in every start this season. Nemechek was strong at Circuit of the Americas last season as well, scoring a runner-up finish in the Truck Series event.

Two for Grala… Kaz Grala has been impressive throughout his NASCAR tenure on road courses and is looking to take advantage of two races at the first road course of the season at Circuit of the Americas. The Massachusetts-native will make his second start for TRICON Garage in the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, before hopping aboard the wheel of his normal ride – the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing in Xfinity Series action. Grala led 11 laps and finished second in the Truck Series event at Circuit of the Americas in 2021.

Ankrum adding to Austin success… Tyler Ankrum has had strong runs in both races in Austin thus far. The Hattori Racing Enterprises driver finished seventh in his No. 16 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro last season and won the pole before finishing third in the debut event at the track in 2021.

NHRA – Top Fuel | Funny Car

Torrence looking for another Phoenix win… Despite a runner-up finish in Gainesville, Steve Torrence heads into Wild Horse Pass with the points lead – a place where he has had a lot of success. The Torrence family has won three of the past four runnings of this race with Steve winning in 2018 and 2020 and Steve’s father, Billy Torrence, scoring the win in 2019.

Toyota leads new challenge… Phoenix is the kick-off to the new NHRA challenge, the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty race, which pits the semi-finalists from the previous race back against each other for Countdown points. Toyota drivers have four of the eight slots in the nitro classes with Steve Torrence taking on Doug Kalitta in one of the Top Fuel pairings, while Alexis DeJoria and J.R. Todd will both be competing on the Funny Car side.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA East

Two for Toyota in ARCA East… Two Toyota development drivers are kicking off the ARCA East season at Five Flags Speedway this Saturday. Both Sean Hingorani and William Sawalich are just 16 years old and competed in their first ARCA race of the season at Phoenix Raceway. Hingorani battled mechanical woes after starting seventh, while Sawalich was spun while leading in the closing laps and finished 13th.

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