No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra News and Notes
- ALREADY PLAYOFF BOUND: By winning the Las Vegas, Atlanta and Richmond NASCAR Xfinity Series races, Ty Gibbs has qualified for the Xfinity playoffs which will begin at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 24.
- ROAD AMERICA: In 2021, Gibbs won the pole at Road America and led two laps, but a problem with the transmission caused him to finish 33rd.
- NEW RECORD: Gibbs is the youngest driver ever to reach seven victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at age 19 years 5 months and 29 days. The previous record was held by Joey Logano.
- 2021: Gibbs completed in only 18 Xfinity races in 2021, but won four races and finished 13th in the Xfinity Series final driver point standings. That earned him the Xfinity Rookie of the Year award.
- WHAT A DEBUT: In Gibbs’ Xfinity Series debut in February 2021 at the Daytona Road Course, he led 14 of the 56 laps en route to his first career Xfinity Series win. Gibbs became the youngest driver to win a Xfinity road course race at 18 years, 4 months, 16 days. The Charlotte, N.C., native also became the second-youngest winner in Xfinity Series history after Joey Logano who won in June 2008 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta when he was 18 years and 21 days old.
- IN GOOD COMPANY: Gibbs is the sixth driver to win in his Xfinity Series debut, joining Dale Earnhardt, Joe Ruttman, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and Kurt Busch. Those five drivers had already driven in the NASCAR Cup Series before racing in the Xfinity Series.
- ARCA CHAMPIONS: Gibbs became the 2021 ARCA Menard Series Champions on the strength of 10 wins, plus one win each in ARCA West and ARCA East.
- ATOP THE PIT BOX: Veteran crew chief Gayle will oversee the No. 54 team’s efforts in the 2022 season. Gale, who is from Little Rock, Arkansas, has led his drivers to two NASCAR Cup Series victories and 33 Xfinity Series wins. The list of drivers Gayle has visited victory lane with includes Gibbs, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Sam Hornish Jr., Erik Jones, Elliott Sadler, Christopher Bell and John Hunter Nemechek.
- JGR AT ROAD AMERICA: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has competed in 36 races at Road America with two victories, eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. The team has two poles and has led 149 laps.
- RACE INFO: The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Saturday, July 2 and will be broadcast on USA, SiriusXM Channel 90 and MRN.
Ty Gibbs, Driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra
“It was good to get a top-five at Nashville, but now were ready for Road America. We had a good run there last year, but had a part failure late in the race. I enjoy road course racing and like Road America. I know Chris Gayle and the Monster Energy guys will bring me a good Toyota Supra.”
Chris Gayle, Crew Chief of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra
“Ty is a great road course racer and we’ll bring him a good Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra. Road America is tough because you have to have extra spotters and if you have any sort of issue, it’s a long way to pit road. But it’s a great course and we’re looking forward to getting up there and hopefully having success.”
JGR PR
Track Enterprises To Acquire Another Super Late Model Series
Officials from Track Enterprises and the ARCA Midwest Tour announced today that they have reached an agreement allowing Track Enterprises to acquire the regional ARCA Midwest Tour Super Late Model series at the end of the 2022 season.
Bob Sargent, President of Track Enterprises, and Gregg McKarns of the AMTW released a joint statement regarding the transaction. The acquisition will see AMWT Series owners Gregg and Angie McKarns and officials continue to work with the series for the foreseeable future.
“As the asphalt Super Late Model landscape continues to change, we look forward to where the Track Enterprises team can take the Tour. This will allow Angie and I to still promote numerous Super Late Model events throughout the region, while streamlining other operational aspects involved in Super Late Model racing across the nation,” indicated McKarns.
In addition to the ARCA Midwest Tour, Gregg and Angie McKarns promote and operate Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI, Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI, and the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.
Established in 1985, Track Enterprises is a highly respected and successful motorsports marketing and event promotions company, hosting local, regional, and national events for parts of five decades. Headquartered in Macon, IL, Track Enterprises is involved in over 100 events annually. Sargent recently announced the acquisition of the Champion Racing Association, inclusive of the ARCA/CRA Super Series, JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour, and two additional regional grassroots racing series.
The CRA purchase announcement brought about speculation of a potential national tour for Super Late Models. Sargent once again alluded to that speculation.
“Gregg, Angie, and their staff have done a great job with the tour over the years. We are working for a consolidated future to better assist all the local and regional teams and look forward to exploring a national tour as well,” stated Sargent.
Track Enterprises promotes races featuring some of the nation’s most popular touring series, including the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, USAC, SRX, DIRTcar, UMP, World of Outlaws, POWRi Racing, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Additionally, Track Enterprises manages racing promotions at Macon (IL) Speedway, Lincoln (IL) Speedway, and the Nashville (TN) Fairgrounds Speedway.
Track Enterprises PR
Nebraska And Kansas Line Independence Day Weekend Triple With The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series
Kyle, Brexton Busch Confirmed For C. Bell’s Micro Mania During Nascar Playoffs Week
Brad Keselowski | Road America Advance
ADVANCE NOTES
Weekend Format
- The weekend schedule in Wisconsin features practice returning to its normal slot mid-morning on Saturday, immediately followed by qualifying.
Keselowski at Road America
- Keselowski finished 13th last season at Road America in the Cup Series’ debut.
- Overall, he has 11 top-10 finishes on road courses in Cup with a 15.2 average finish.
- In road course action this season, Keselowski has finishes of 14th (COTA) and 10th (Sonoma).
Matt McCall at Road America
- McCall led Kurt Busch and the No. 1 team to a fourth-place run last season at Road America.
- Overall on road courses, McCall has a 13.7 average finish with 11 results inside the top-10.
QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Road America:
“Road America is definitely one of our more unique tracks and one that’s challenging in so many ways. It can be fast, but it can also be slow, so finding the right balance in rhythm is key for our longest course on the circuit. Sonoma turned out to be pretty good for us, so our hope is that some of that momentum carries over to the weekend in our Kohler Generators Ford.”
Last Time Out
Keselowski was inside the top-10 late in the long race Sunday at Nashville before getting sent into the wall to finish 29th in the King’s Hawaiian Ford.
On the Car
Kohler returns for its seventh primary race this season. Kohler is the anchor partner for the No. 6 team throughout the 2022 campaign, and will be the primary in 14 races after initially joining the RFK partner family in 2021 with eight events on the No. 6 team.
Keselowski’s No. 6 this weekend will feature names of military heroes that include veterans, active military and military family members, as part of the Checkered Flag Foundation’s Tribute to Veterans Program. More than 135 names are displayed on the No. 6 for Road America, as the program has honored nearly 1,000 heroes since its inception four years ago. For more information on the Foundation and Tribute to Veterans, visit CheckeredFlagFoundation.org and visit them on social (@BCKFF on Twitter and Checkered Flag Foundation on Facebook and Instagram).
RFK PR
Chris Buescher | Road America Advance
ADVANCE NOTES
Weekend Format
- The weekend schedule in Wisconsin features practice returning to its normal slot mid-morning on Saturday, immediately followed by qualifying.
Buescher at Road America
- Buescher finished 18th a year ago at Road America after starting 12th.
- Overall on road courses, Buescher has a 16.4 finish in Cup with three top-10s, all of which came in the last three seasons, and all of which were inside the top five.
- This season in road racing, Buescher finished 21st at COTA, but rebounded in Sonoma with a P2 finish after leading four laps and running inside the top five most all day.
- Buescher also made two Xfinity starts at Road America with a P9 finish in 2015.
Scott Graves at Road America
- Graves finished 32nd a year ago with Ryan Newman at Road America.
- His road course record to date in Cup features six top-10 finishes, including most recently the runner-up result with Buescher in Sonoma.
- Graves also called three Xfinity events at Road America in recent years, leading Daniel Suarez to a P4 finish in 2016, with two additional starts with Buescher in 2014-15.
QUOTE WORTHY
Buescher on racing at Road America:
“I like road racing in general, it breaks up our schedule nicely. I got an ARCA win at Road America several years back and it’s been a really neat race track. It has good rhythm and is somewhat of a cross of Sonoma and some of these others that have higher-speed areas, but slower tempo areas, as well. It’s a really fun track and I can’t wait to get there and see if we can replicate some of our recent road racing experience in the Fastenal Ford.”
Last Time Out
Buescher lost a wheel late in Sunday’s race from Nashville, ultimately finishing 30th in a race that featured three-plus hours in weather delays.
On the Car
Fastenal, in its 12th season with RFK in 2022, makes its 11th appearance with the No. 17 this weekend. In its early days with RFK, Fastenal originally was a partner with the No. 99 team before moving over to the No. 17 team since. They were also the primary partner on the No. 60 Xfinity Series entry that captured the owner’s championship in 2011.
Fastenal will feature top suppliers Brady Worldwide, Streamlight, Louisville Ladder, Ergodyne and Walter USA on Buescher’s Mustang as he competes this weekend. For more information on these suppliers, visit Fastenal.com, and stay up-do-date on social @FastenalCompany.
RFK PR
Goodyear Fast Facts -- Road America
NASCAR Cup Series – Race No. 18 – 62 laps / 250.98 miles
Road America (4.048-mile road course) – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Fast Facts for July 2-3, 2022
Tire: Goodyear Eagle 18-inch Road Course Radials
Set limits: Cup: 1 set for practice, 1 set for qualifying and 6 sets for the race
(5 race sets plus 1 set transferred from qualifying)
Tire Codes: Left-Front/Right-Rear: D5112; Right-Front/Left-Rear: D-5113
Tire Circumference: 2,276 mm (89.61 in.)
Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 22 psi; Right Front -- 20 psi;
Left Rear -- 17 psi; Right Rear -- 17 psi
Storyline – Cup teams to run COTA/ATOC tire set-up at Road America: For the race at Road America this weekend, NASCAR Cup teams will run the same tire they ran at Circuit of the Americas in March . . . with a twist. The tire code run at COTA was D-5112, and that same code will be run on the left-front and right-rear tires at Road America. The wrinkle comes in on the right-front and left-rear corners of the car where teams will run the same tire, just with a different code (D-5113). This will allow Goodyear to build each distinct code and decorate the outboard sidewall while having the tread run directionally to handle the different stresses asked of it, whether it is a front, rear, left-side or right-side. Since it is the same tire all the way around, the two different codes will help teams know on which corner to mount a tire – left-front/right-rear or left-front/right-rear.
“The reason why we have the two codes for the same tire on these road courses is that the directional mounting helps protect the beveled splice of the tread component,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “This insures that the tread splice is closed under the force of braking on both front tires and closed under the force of acceleration on both rear tires. Since all the tires are the same size, the two codes make sure teams know which corner of the car the tire is designed for as they make up their race sets.”
Notes – One tire with two tire codes for Cup teams at Road America: Unlike last year, when NASCAR Cup teams ran the same tire code on all four corners of the car at Road America, they will run two different codes – one for the left-front/right-rear and one for the right-front/left-rear . . . the two tire codes have identical constructions and compounds, but they carry different codes because of the way they are mounted . . . Cup teams ran the D-5112 tire code on all four corners of the car at COTA in March . . . with this 18-inch tire, and its lower profile sidewall, NASCAR Cup cars will not run inner liners in any of their tires in 2022.
Wet Weather Tires – New size and new tread pattern for Cup in ‘22: Goodyear will bring its completely redesigned wet weather radial tire to Road America for the NASCAR Cup cars . . . Cup teams will be allowed 1 set of wets for practice, 1 set for qualifying and up to 6 sets for the race (5 race sets plus 1 set transferred from qualifying) . . . in addition to moving from a 15-inch to an 18-inch bead diameter tire, this wet weather tire has a new tread pattern, based on Goodyear’s Eagle Supercar 3 consumer tire . . . this tire was tested at Goodyear’s facility in San Angelo, Texas in 2021 . . . NASCAR Cup teams last ran a wet weather tire in competition at COTA in May 2021 (15-inch version) . . . in addition to the obvious difference of a tread pattern versus Goodyear’s dry weather “slick” tires, the “Goodyear” and “Eagle” lettering on the sidewalls of the wet weather tires is white, not the standard yellow.
Follow us on Twitter: @GoodyearRacing.
GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES
NASCAR Xfinity Series – Race No. 16 – 45 laps / 182.16 miles
Road America (4.048-mile road course) – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Fast Facts for July 1-2, 2022
Tire: Goodyear Eagle 15-inch Road Course Radials
Set limits: Xfinity: 5 sets for the event
Tire Code: D-6122 (same on all four tire positions)
Tire Circumference: 2,240 mm (88.19 in.)
Minimum Recommended Inflation: Left Front -- 22 psi; Right Front -- 20 psi;
Left Rear -- 17 psi; Right Rear -- 17 psi
Notes – Xfinity teams on COTA/Portland tire at Road America: Being on 15-inch bead diameter tires, NASCAR Xfinity Series teams will run a different tire set-up than those in the Cup Series at Road America this week . . . Xfinity will run the same tire on all four positions at Road America . . . this tire debuted at COTA earlier in March and was run again at Portland in June. . . Xfinity teams will also run this tire at the Indianapolis road course in July . . . as on all NASCAR road courses, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at Road America.
Wet Weather Tires – White-lettered tires on hand: Goodyear will bring its 15-inch wet weather radials to Road America for use by Xfinity Series teams, should NASCAR decide that conditions warrant . . . teams will have 5 sets of wets available for the event, with a maximum of 4 sets for the race . . . this wet weather tire is the same one these teams had at all road courses last season . . . Xfinity teams last ran in wet conditions at Portland in June . . . in addition to the obvious difference of a tread pattern versus Goodyear’s dry weather “slick” tires, the “Goodyear” and “Eagle” lettering on the sidewalls of the wet weather tires is white, not the standard yellow.
Follow us on Twitter: @GoodyearRacing.
RACE ADVANCE: John Hunter Nemechek at Road America
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| “Last year was my first trip ever to Road America. It’s a beautiful, scenic venue that promotes great road racing. The fans are incredible out there. Anytime John Hunter gets in the car, its exciting for the entire building. I think he’s able to really enjoy racing (in our car), because we don’t put any pressure on him. We just ask him to do his thing and enjoy it. He knows the capabilities of the program and we know the caliber of driver he is. Having the Stillhouse family back this weekend is exciting too. They have been a part of some incredible outings for us since we started and to still be growing the relationship each race is really special. Grateful for Ludlow and the entire Stillhouse team for continuing to have our back as we grow.” -- Sam Hunt, Owner of Sam Hunt Racing SHR PR |
Ruedebusch Development and Construction Debuts with Gilliland
It is another new weekend and another new track for rising star Todd Gilliland. The NASCAR Cup Series rookie driver will compete this weekend at Road America- the beautiful road course located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Although another new experience for Gilliland behind the wheel, he comes into the weekend with a partner based in Wisconsin.
Ruedebusch Development and Construction has been a familiar supporter of the sport. The Wisconsin-based company is a full-service commercial construction and real estate land development business. They specialize in commercial real estate development, design, real estate brokerage, consulting and more.
They have supported several teams and drivers and Gilliland is proud to carry their colors this weekend.
“It has been awesome to have the support from Ruedebusch Development and Construction this year,” said Gilliland. “They love the sport, and they are great people. I will have to ask them for advice this weekend because they have been to Road America more than I have. But seriously, it has been fun to see all the partners give me support this season. It has been up and down, but we are grinding away and love all the partners backing us.”
Ruedebusch Development and Construction will be the primary partner of Gilliland and the No. 38 team two more times in the 2022 season with races on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
First, Gilliland is ready to concentrate on the task at hand.
“I look forward to racing road course races,” said Gilliland. “Which is good, because in the NASCAR Cup Series there are a lot on the schedule. Road America is a new track for me, but I am confident that we can take some notes from the previous road races at Circuit of the Americas and Sonoma and get up to speed quickly.”
Gilliland and the Ruedebusch Development and Construction Ford Mustang will race Road America on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network.
FRM PR
Ford Performance NASCAR: Road America Advance
FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: ROAD AMERICA ADVANCE
This marks the second straight year Road America will host a Fourth of July weekend doubleheader featuring the NASCAR XFINITY and NASCAR Cup Series. Last year marked the first Cup race at the road course since 1956. Here’s a look at Ford’s road course history, which includes three NXS victories.
This Week’s Schedule:
Saturday, July 2 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 2:30 p.m. ET (USA)
Sunday, July 3 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)
FLOCK WINS ROAD AMERICA CUP DEBUT
The first time the NASCAR Cup Series raced at Road America was on Aug. 12, 1956 when NASCAR Hall of Famer Tim Flock, driving a ’56 Mercury, won the inaugural event. Flock, who led the final 10 laps, beat Billy Myers (2nd in a Mercury) and Fireball Roberts (3rd in a Ford) as Ford Motor Company swept the top three positions and had five of the top seven finishers.
FORD’S ALL-TIME ROAD COURSE WINNER IS…
NASCAR has competed on 16 different road courses during its history and Ford has had 21 drivers win 33 times overall. Dan Gurney leads the way with five, which included four straight wins at Riverside International Raceway from 1963-66 while driving for the Wood Brothers. Mark Martin, on the strength of three straight triumphs at Watkins Glen International from 1993-95, is second.
FORD’S ALL-TIME ROAD COURSE WINNERS
5 – Dan Gurney
4 – Mark Martin
2 – Fireball Roberts, Marvin Panch, Parnelli Jones, Ricky Rudd, Marcos Ambrose
1 – Chuck Stevenson, Eddie Gray, Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney.
FORD’S ACTIVE WINNERS
There are three current drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series race on a road course with Ford. The most recent winner was Ryan Blaney, who captured the inaugural event at the Charlotte Roval in 2018. Kevin Harvick, who goes into this weekend with 23 career Ford victories in just over five years, got his first with the Blue Oval in 2017 when he won at Sonoma. Joey Logano scored his Cup victory at Watkins Glen International in 2015, which completed a weekend sweep after he won the NASCAR XFINITY Series race one day earlier.
OTHER FORD WINNERS
Besides the drivers mentioned above, Ford has five other competitors who have won on a road course in either the NASCAR Cup or NASCAR XFINITY Series. Brad Keselowski (Watkins Glen NXS with Ford, 2013); Chris Buescher (Mid-Ohio NXS with Ford, 2014); Michael McDowell (Road America NXS, 2016); Chase Briscoe (Charlotte Roval, 2018 and Indianapolis, 2020); and Austin Cindric (Road America NXS, 2020).
Ford Performance PR