Speedway Digest Staff

Simpson Performance Products Join Worlds of Outlaws, DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modifieds

Thursday, Mar 30

Simpson Performance Products will help elevate the World of Outlaws in 2023, joining as the Preferred Safety Gear and sponsoring the Quick Time Award. They’ll also serve as a Preferred Partner with the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals.

The world-class American safety product supplier will join the contingency program for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and World of Outlaws CASE Construction Equipment Late Model Series, awarding $50 to the driver who sets Quick Time at each race for both series.

“We pride ourselves in providing the best equipment for the best drivers in the world and are excited to partner the Simpson brand with the premier series in dirt racing,” said Graham Fordyce, circle track sales manager at Holley. “This is a great opportunity to showcase to fans and drivers our commitment to dirt racing and our shared values.”

Along with elevating the series support, Simpson will also elevate the series safety by providing safety gear for series officials – putting its more than 30 years of experience in action all season long.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and World of Outlaws Late Models continue their championship season this month. You can find their full schedules, HERE.

The 2023 DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals season kicks off Wednesday, June 14, at Peoria Speedway. For the full schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the tracks, you can watch every World of Outlaws and DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals race live on DIRTVision.

WoO PR

Speedway News

All-New AutoFair a Celebration of All Things Automotive

Thursday, Mar 30

Things to see, things to do – for people who love cars. In just two weeks, Charlotte Motor Speedway will roll out a fan-favorite event with an all-new feel as AutoFair returns to the famed entertainment facility to celebrate all things automotive and the community that drives car culture. The four-day show, April 13-16, will be highlighted by a number of new attractions and events that pay homage to the history, artistry and innovation of the automobile.

“For more than 45 years, AutoFair has brought together some of the best cars and biggest names in the automotive world,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter. “As we look to the future, we want to continue to build on that legacy, to find ways to engage auto enthusiasts around the world and to celebrate the passion that drives the industry forward. From bringing in industry experts for panel discussions and providing interactive, immersive experiences to creating the all-new, world-class Smith Heritage Invitational, there truly is something for everyone at AutoFair.”

Highlights of the all-new AutoFair include:

Showcasing History, Creativity: Located in the heart of the infield, the Showcase Pavilion will pay tribute to NASCAR’s 75^th anniversary season with a collection of two dozen historic vehicles from the 1930s to today, including the famed T-Rex machine that the legendary Jeff Gordon drove to a dominant victory in the 1997 Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The pavilion will also feature a few creative head-turners in a wild-and-wacky display with names like “Trippy Tippy Hippy Van” and “The Fishbowl,” as well as two screen-used creations from the 1960s hit television series “The Munsters” and a collection award winners from some of the top car shows around the country.
Performance on Display: For the first time at AutoFair, professional drivers with Ford Performance Racing Schol will offer guests the chance to ride shotgun in the ultimate thrill ride as part of the weekend celebration of horsepower and finesse. Between ride-alongs, a weekend-long AutoCross competition will see the sport’s best short-course racers compete for bragging rights on a timed, closed course in the infield. Guests can marvel at the cars, meet the drivers and immerse themselves in the thrill of racing.
Cars and Stars: The cars aren’t the only stars at AutoFair. On Friday and Saturday, fans will have the chance to meet monster truck legend Dennis Anderson, the creator of the famed Grave Digger monster truck and his current ride, the 1,500-pound King Sling. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will feature a lineup of NASCAR royalty, including Bobby Allison, Harry Gant and Waddell Wilson, signing autographs in the Showcase Pavilion. On the all-new AutoFair fan stage located on pit road, guests will be treated to Q&As with automotive experts like Wayne Carini, Ray Evernham and Dave Ankin throughout the weekend.
Cars & Coffee at AutoFair (Saturday only) Cars & Coffee at AutoFair is a unique opportunity to blend the traditional Cars & Coffee Concord celebration with the massive AutoFair on Saturday, April 15. Cars & Coffee registrants will have the rare opportunity to showcase their rides on the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway alongside thousands of other classics, customs hot rods and show cars that make up the four-day AutoFair. AutoFair visitors can peruse hundreds of late models, customs, rat rods and more in a special Cars & Coffee area on the apron of Turns 3 and 4 on the track. Everyone is welcome to join the fun. Car owners can find more information or register to be part of Cars & Coffee’s April showcase here.
Inaugural Smith Heritage Invitational (Sunday only) A collection of some of the most rare and sought-after automobiles from the world’s top collectors, the inaugural Smith Heritage Invitational at the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway brings together a once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of exclusive vehicles that pays tribute to the history and artistry of all things automotive. Curated in partnership with automotive icon Ray Evernham, the 20-car collection includes three Le Mans winners, a 1905 Columbia Mark XXXV Eletric, a 2020 McLaren Senna GTR and all things in between. This is truly an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see so many amazing cars in one place, and it’s only taking place on Sunday, April 16 at AutoFair.
Tune-Up the Weekend: New for 2023, visitors looking to tune-up their event experience can take advantage of a high-end hospitality offering in The Paddock Club. For $150, guests will enjoy access to the AutoFair and Smith Heritage Invitational, entry into exclusive Q&A sessions with industry experts, VIP parking, food and beverage service and an indoor, climate-controlled infield hospitality area with a rooftop observation deck.

MORE INFO:

The new-look AutoFair will transform the famed 1.5-mile speedway throughout the weekend. The latest technology, trends, parts and products will fill the Manufacturer’s Midway. Guests can test drive the current line of Chevrolet vehicles and visit all-new themed areas that explore the latest from the worlds of electric and off-road vehicles. Additionally, the reconfigured swap meet, hosted by the Hornet’s Nest Region AACA, will provide a wide array of hard-to-find parts and memorabilia.

TICKETS:

Single-day tickets are $15 for adults. Admission is FREE for children 12 and under with an adult. Guests can upgrade their AutoFair experience to include high-end hospitality in the Paddock Club, featuring private appearances by industry leaders, food, VIP parking and more. Tickets are available online at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or at the gate.

FOLLOW US:

Keep track of AutoFair attractions and events by following on Twitter and Instagram or become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

CMS PR

Speedway News

Talladega Superspeedway Hosts Track Laps for Charity and Talladega Garage Experience Presented by Coolray Open House

Thursday, Mar 30

With just a few weeks left before NASCAR heads to Talladega Superspeedway, fans will have the opportunity to drive around the same track as their favorite drivers with the return of Track Laps for Charity on Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pre-registration can be found at https://www.nascarfoundation.org/talladegagives and is highly recommended to secure a spot.

Track Laps for Charity offers fans the opportunity to drive two laps around the 2.66-mile superspeedway for a donation of $50 per vehicle. All proceeds will go towards the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central and East Central Alabama through DEGA Gives, a donor-advised fund of The NASCAR Foundation.

Fans will also have the chance to enjoy a Talladega Garage Experience Presented by Coolray Open House. Families can explore the 35,000 square foot BIG BILL’S Open Air Social Club, the Game Zone, Kids Zone, and sample our value-priced concessions. Additionally, the famed Vulcan Trophy will be on display in Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane for photo opportunities.

“This is an amazing opportunity for fans to visit the track, give to a great cause and be able to have a lot fun while they are here,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton. “We see families from across the region travel here to experience the 33-degrees of banking on the biggest track in NASCAR. All proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central and East Alabama, and we’re thankful we can give back to the local community with this special event.”

Talladega Superspeedway Track Laps participation guidelines include:

Pre-registration highly recommended & payment required.
All vehicles must have a valid license plate and all drivers must have a valid drivers license. Minors (Under 19 years of age) with valid driver's license must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
Vehicles deemed unsafe by TALLADEGA Staff will not be allowed onto the track.
Participants will enter the infield through the North Tunnel (Turn 4), and proceed to the staging area. The road will be marked with signage and traffic cones.
All participants are required to remain in their personal vehicle on pit road.
After taking your track laps, you may park your vehicle in the designated space and enter the Talladega Garage Experience.
Track rides will be paced at highway speed by TALLADEGA Staff. No vehicles allowed in the top lane, and no passing allowed.
No motorcycles, tractor-trailers, recreational vehicles, etc. may be used for track rides.
All participants must sign a track wavier.

The spring action at Talladega kicks off Saturday, April 22, with a doubleheader featuring the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 200 followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 later that same day. Then the sun sets and the party starts with Cole Swindell’s performance in the Saturday Night Infield Concert Presented by Cabo Wabo Tequila.

Saturday’s excitement continues into Sunday with the return of the NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, as drivers prepare to tackle the iconic 33-degree banking. Admission to Swindell’s concert is free with purchase of a ticket to Sunday’s race.

For ticketing information and more details about upcoming events, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com. Fans are also encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at Talladega Superspeedway by following along on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as in the NASCAR Tracks App for the latest speedway news.

TSS PR

NASCAR Cup Series News

JTG Daugherty Racing Team Showcases New KRAFT® Mac & Cheese-Inspired Design in NASCAR Cup Series Race at Richmond Raceway

Thursday, Mar 30

For this weekend at Richmond Raceway, JTG Daugherty Racing is excited to unveil a new, unmissable No. 47 Kroger Racing Camaro design, inspired by KRAFT® Mac & Cheese, and piloted by 2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The new No. 47 Camaro design features a body hue matching the iconic blue of the KRAFT Mac & Cheese box, and the brand’s new logo – which was unveiled in 2022 and officially dropped “-aroni” from Mac & Cheese – is featured prominently along the side and bumper. Perhaps the most iconic of all, the noodle smile will grace the hood of the car for the entire 400-Lap race at the 3/4-mile D-shaped oval.

“The car looks good,” said Stenhouse Jr. “We’ve all grown up eating KRAFT Mac & Cheese and still do. We are excited to have them on the car with us at Richmond.”

“KRAFT Mac & Cheese is a favorite comfort food that we as a team enjoy,” added JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter. “The brand is iconic to millions, and we are honored to have the company return to our Kroger Racing program this year.”

“Kroger has been a great partner to us over the years, so we’re thrilled to be able to continue our support for the Kroger Racing Program,” says Victoria Lee, Brand Manager, KRAFT Mac & Cheese at the Kraft Heinz Company. “We can’t wait to officially unveil how the team at JTG Daugherty Racing brought the KRAFT Mac & Cheese noodle smile and branding to life in a new and unexpected way on the No. 47 Camaro. We hope fans are as excited to see us at the track as we are to be there, and for those at home, we hope they enjoy a bowl of KRAFT Mac & Cheese while they watch the race.”

In the most recent race, Stenhouse Jr. scored a top-10 (7-place) finish at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), which is his best road course finish to date in the NASCAR Cup Series. Entering the seventh race of the season, he has one win, one top-five and two top-10 finishes and is focused on adding to his stats at Richmond.

“It’s going to be fun to drive the No. 47 Kroger / KRAFT Mac & Cheese Camaro because Richmond is a fun track where you can run the bottom, middle, top and you’ve got downshifting,” said Stenhouse Jr. “With the asphalt being worn, the tires wear out.

“Short tracks are short tracks, but they are also unique,” continued Stenhouse Jr. “You need the same thing at about every short track. You need the car to rotate the center and the front tires to work well. We improved the second Richmond race last season. Now, I feel like I have more confidence going into this weekend at Richmond for sure, and it is great to have KRAFT Mac & Cheese on board our Kroger Camaro.”

Live coverage of the 400-Lap event at Richmond Raceway on Sunday April 2 at 3:30 PM ET airs live on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SIRIUSXM NASCAR Radio.

JTG Racing PR

Racing News

Reif Returns to Site of First Win at Irwindale

Thursday, Mar 30

Back to a Special Place … Tanner Reif returns to Irwindale Speedway this weekend one year after scoring his first career ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW) victory at the half-mile bull ring. The driver of the No. 16 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet SS hopes the southern California short track can jump start his sophomore season. The Las Vegas teenager started the season off with a 12th-place finish in the AMSW opener at Phoenix Raceway on March 10th. In 2022, Reif’s landmark victory at Irwindale propelled him to a runner-up finish in the season-long standings after an adverse opening race. He took full advantage of the short tracks last season and hopes to duplicate those efforts in 2023 beginning on Saturday night.

Irwindale Rewind … Reif absolutely dominated last year’s spring race at Irwindale and withstood an overtime restart to lead all 153 laps. He started from the pole after posting a quick time of 18.43 seconds and never relinquished the top spot for the remainder of the evening. When the tour returned to Irwindale in July, Reif posted a seventh-place finish, and now looks to pad Bill McAnally Racing’s (BMR) stat line in his third start at Irwindale.

BMR at Irwindale … Since 2001, BMR has put up staggering statistics at Irwindale Speedway. Former two-time AMSW champion Brendan Gaughan picked up a “hat trick” of sorts by winning three times at Irwindale with the NAPA brand and BMR in ’01 en route to the championship. In the past 22 seasons, BMR has claimed 17 total wins at Irwindale, including sweeps in 2004 with Austin Cameron, 2017 with Todd Gilliland, and 2021 with Jesse Love.

Chassis Selection … Crew chief John Camilleri and the NAPA Auto Care team have prepared chassis No. 91 from BMR's fleet for Reif to race at Irwindale. This Chevrolet SS most recently finished third at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last October with Landen Lewis at the controls.

Tune In … The second event on the AMSW schedule goes green at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) and can be streamed live on FloRacing (www.floracing.com). Stay connected with the NAPA Auto Care team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmrnascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.

Tanner Rief Quote:

On the first short track of the season at Irwindale:

“I’ve had a lot of success at Irwindale, and won last year’s spring race, so I’m excited to get back there. I’m confident in our NAPA Auto Care team and looking forward to seeing how our Chevrolet drives in practice to get it dialed in for the race. The team has been putting in a lot of effort to gain speed for this weekend and to apply to the rest of the short tracks this year. Irwindale is a fun place to race. You can move around and use several different lanes, so hopefully we’ll be able to make all the right moves and put our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet up front on Saturday.”

BMR PR

Speedway News

West Coast Customs Experience to Customize On-Site at Richmond Raceway

Thursday, Mar 30

A company that creates impeccably customized cars will create an impeccably customized Toyota Camry TRD at Richmond Raceway. Even better, fans can watch it being built before their very eyes July 29-30.

Today, NASCAR announced it is partnering with West Coast Customs to bring its West Coast Customs Experience to Richmond Raceway for its summer weekend of racing. The Experience, located in the Richmond Raceway midway, will provide fans with an opportunity to see world-renowned customizer Ryan Friedlinghaus and his team create a street-legal version of a NASCAR Next Gen car.

Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD for 23XI Racing will also be assisting the West Coast Customs team on the project. Reddick, a four-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, is an active car enthusiast off the track and will provide his unique perspective during the project to ensure the custom Toyota Camry TRD is as close to the NASCAR Next Gen car as possible.

Upon completion, this hot rod will go on display at other NASCAR events before ultimately being auctioned to raise funds for The NASCAR Foundation.

“This amazing concept brings the NASCAR Next Gen car to life in a way that resonates with our fans and community,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran. “West Coast Customs has built its global brand by reimagining what is possible, and I can’t wait to watch their creativity unfold at Richmond Raceway.”

“This is such a cool opportunity to be a part of and I’m looking forward to working with Ryan and the West Coast Customs team on this project,” Reddick said. “I’ve always loved working on cars and have been a fan of their customizations, so working with Ryan and his team to create a one-of-a-kind Toyota is going to be fun.”

Friedlinghaus transformed a $5000 loan from his grandfather in 1993 into a global multimedia juggernaut known as West Coast Customs. He opened a modest shop in Orange County, California, working on mini-trucks and soon outgrew the space moving to a larger facility in Inglewood.

In March of 2004, Friedlinghaus’ clientele and notoriety skyrocketed when “Pimp My Ride” became a smash hit on MTV. Over the decades he has continued growing his brand across various media platforms, while delivering eye-catching custom vehicles for pro athletes, celebrities, Fortune 100 companies and International Royalty.

Although West Coast Customs currently resides in a 60,000 square foot state-of-the-art headquarters in Burbank, California, its focus will be on Richmond Raceway beginning July 29.

“Our work transcends communities and cultures,” Friedlinghaus said. “That’s why our brand is so successful, and we’re incredibly excited to partner with NASCAR to bring the custom car communities and racing communities together in a new and creative way.”

More details on the West Coast Customs Experience at Richmond Raceway will be released in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to visit www.richmondraceway.com for the latest information and secure their tickets for the 2023 season, which begins tomorrow!

Richmond Raceway PR

Speedway News

Mahoning Valley Speedway 2023 season gets underway April 8.RoC Modifieds headline Opening Night action

Thursday, Mar 30

Mahoning Valley Speedway, the paved ¼-mile oval in Lehighton, will kick-off their 2023 Opening Night on Saturday, April 8 starting at 3:00 pm.

This will mark the 37th consecutive year since the track re-opened in 1987 and the 44th dating back to 1970 when asphalt was first laid down on what was originally a dirt surface. For the real record keepers it’s the 52nd time the gates will swing open for the presentation of professional stock car racing.

And it promises to be a dandy too as not only will it be the lid-lifter for Mahoning but likewise for the Race of Champions Modified Series which will be contesting in a 75-lap main event.

With this being the first point race of the season for the RoC as well as the stars of Mahoning Valley, indications point to a great field of Modifieds coming in from around the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Plus it also serves as a tune-up to the granddaddy of all Modified stock car races with the 72nd Annual Lucas Oil Race of Champions 250 taking place on Saturday, April 22, at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania. That event is a holdover from last year after weather postponed it until the new April 22 date.

Joining the night’s card will be the Street Stocks, Dirt Mods, Pro 4s, Harry’s U-Pull-It Hobby Stocks, Futures and the JuiceBox Division. The JuiceBox Division will be held during intermission.

Racing is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm with heats. Prior to that will be a session of warm-ups that will start at 1:00 pm. Pit gates will open at 8:30 am in order for those drivers who have yet to have their cars inspected do so. No cars will be allowed on track until they have passed the required safety inspection.

Driver sign-ins will be held from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm. Pit admission is $50. Grandstand gates will open at 1:00 pm. Admission is $25, kids 10 and under are free.

The following Saturday, April 15 at 5:00 pm, the 602 Crate Modifieds and Late Models make their initial starts of the season along with the Street Stocks, Harry’s U-Pull-It Hobby Stocks and Futures plus the Slingshots and East Coast TQ Midgets are on the slate.

For up-to-date info log onto the official Mahoning Valley Speedway website at www.mahoningvalley-speedway.com or on Facebook at Mahoning Valley Speedway for updated info and news. Mahoning Valley Speedway is located on PA route 443 just a few miles west of Lehighton.

MVS PR

Speedway News

Track Recordholder Dixon Leads ‘Fast Five’ Storylines for Sunday’s Ppg 375 Ntt Indycar Series Race

Thursday, Mar 30

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to Texas Motor Speedway for the second race of the season and the first of five ovals on the 17-race schedule with Sunday’s PPG 375.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns from nearly a month break since Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson won the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 5. Texas Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile layout will be the only oval event prior to the 107^th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 28. The other oval races are a doubleheader at Iowa Speedway on July 22-23 and at World Wide Technology Raceway on Aug. 27.

The two-day show opens Saturday with NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole qualifying and four practice sessions. Practice sessions will be held at 8 a.m. CT, 12:45 p.m. (split field), 1 p.m. (split field) and 1:30 p.m. CT with the action being highlighted by qualifying at 11:15 a.m. The day’s activities also include the SPEEDYCASH.COM 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The race weekend culminates with Sunday’s running of the PPG 375 (11:15 a.m., TV: NBC & Peacock. Radio: SiriusXM, INDYCAR Radio Network, 95.9 The Ranch-local).

Here’s a look at the “Fast Five” storylines for the PPG 375 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race:

1. Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon, who passed Mario Andretti for second on the all-time victory list (53) last season, is looking to gain sole possession of another of the legend’s long-standing career records.

Dixon’s third-place finish in the season opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., moved him into a tie with Andretti for the most career top-five finishes (193) in INDYCAR history.

Given Dixon’s history of success at Texas Motor Speedway, that record could become just his by the checkered flag of Sunday’s PPG 375. He owns the track records for most INDYCAR wins (5), top-five finishes (14), top-10 finishes (17) and laps led (1,043).

He also has won three of the last six races at TMS, the last coming in 2021, and has finished fifth or better in his last four starts, including fifth last season.

Dixon also is looking to make his 307^th consecutive start in the PPG 375 as he pursues Tony Kanaan’s “Ironman” INDYCAR record of 318 starts in a row.

2. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato will be making his season debut with his new organization – Chip Ganassi Racing – in the PPG 375.

Sato, who competed for Dale Coyne Racing with RWR last season, moves over to the No. 11 Honda entry that he shares with rookie Marcus Armstrong. Sato is scheduled to handle the oval events while Armstrong will compete in the road and street course events, which included an 11^th-place finish in the season opener at St. Petersburg.

Sato owns a pole position (2019) and a best finish of fifth (2011) at Texas Motor Speedway.

3. Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin arrived at the NTT INDYCAR SERIES with no oval racing experience, but the former three-time Australian Supercars champion sure has taken a liking to Texas Motor Speedway since he first set eyes on the challenging high-banked, 1.5-mile oval.

McLaughlin’s first-ever oval start came at TMS in his 2021 rookie campaign, and he quickly impressed with a runner-up finish. He followed that performance with an eighth-place finish in the second race of that doubleheader weekend.

Last season, McLaughlin dominated – leading 186 of the 248 laps – but finished runner-up to teammate Josef Newgarden, who made a dramatic pass in the final turn of the final lap to win by .0669 of a second. The race was the closest of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. He has an average starting position of 8.0, including a best of second last season, and finishing position of 4.0, with podiums in two of the three starts.

4. Texas Motor Speedway was a two-horse race last season as Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing combined to secure the top seven finishing positions in the PPG 375.

Newgarden led Team Penske to three of the top four positions, with McLaughlin finishing second and Will Power fourth. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Marcus Ericsson grabbed the other podium spot while Dixon, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Palou finished fifth through seventh, respectively.

The race also was an early indicator of Newgarden’s oval success on the season as he won three of the five races. His other wins came at Iowa and WWT Raceway. The other oval winners were Ericsson in the prized Indy 500 and Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward in the second race of the Iowa doubleheader.

Keep an eye on O’Ward, who also finished fourth or better in three of the other four oval races. The highlights were the win at Iowa and runner-up finish in the Indy 500. He also has enjoyed success at TMS, which was the site of his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory in 2021 doubleheader and a pair of podiums in four starts.

5. Andretti Autosport didn’t place any of its four drivers better than 15^th in the season opener, but there is plenty of cause for optimism moving forward.

The Honda-powered organization swept the front row with polesitter Romain Grosjean and Colton Herta, and added a third driver in the top five with Kyle Kirkwood qualifying fifth. Herta and Kirkwood were strong in every practice session, finishing among the top four in each and Herta was the fastest in the second practice and warmup. Then chaos arrived on race day.

Herta went out after 49 laps due to a single-car accident. Kirkwood was keeping pace but sustained damage during a multi-car incident on Lap 41 that caused him to go three laps down and finish 15^th.

Grosjean was in prime position for his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory before McLaughlin initiated contact with him after coming out of the pits and fighting for the lead. Grosjean’s day ended due to the incident after 71 of the 100 laps and resulted in a disappointing 18^th-place finish. He led 31 laps, which was second only to McLaughlin’s 38.

Devlin DeFrancesco, the team’s fourth driver, never had a chance to show what he could do as he was collected in a multi-car incident on the opening lap and forced to retire in 25^th.

Texas Motor Speedway’s 2023 events schedule consists of everything from the April 1-2 NTT INDYCAR SERIES/NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series doubleheader and the Sept. 23-24 NASCAR Playoffs weekend, car shows and competitions and the Ducks Unlimited Expo, the four-day Hwy 30 Music Fest and Bandas y Trocas Hispanic concert and truck show, and then wrapping up the year with the family-favorite and speedway tradition Gift of Lights holiday light show.

Season tickets and camping for Texas Motor Speedway’s 2023 major event season are on sale now. Save up to 33 percent versus buying individual tickets, take advantage of interest-free monthly payments, get the best seat selection and more. All-new reduced rates are available for the GEICO Infield, GEICO VIP and WinStar World Casino & Resort Lone Star Circle camping areas. Click HERE for more information and to purchase season tickets.

TMS PR

Xfinity Series News

Donate Life Virginia and NASCAR driver Joey Gase host ‘Handprints of Hope’

Thursday, Mar 30

Donate Life Virginia and NASCAR driver Joey Gase will host Handprints of Hope event. Symbolizing all the hands involved in this life-saving mission, DMV employees and Donate Life Virginia members will add their painted handprints to Gase’s Donate Life Virginia #35 car. At the age of 18, Joey tragically lost his mother to a sudden brain aneurysm. Faced with a difficult decision, he and his family decided to donate his mother's organs. Gase developed a passion for educating others on the need of organ, eye and tissue donation and honoring all of those affected by it. His car regularly features the face of his mother and other donors, making his one of the most unique cars in NASCAR.

Donate Life Virginia will feature Viola Barnes, a Virginia DMV employee and patient waiting for a kidney transplant, on the bumper of the Donate Life Virginia #35 for the ToyotaCare 250 race at Richmond Raceway on April 1.

Media are invited to attend. This event is not open to the public.

WHAT: Handprints of Hope with NASCAR driver Joey Gase and the #35 Donate Life Virginia car

WHEN: Thursday, March 30 11:30 a.m.
Arrive on time to get video of people adding handprints to car

WHERE: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
2300 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23269
Event will be in parking lot C located near DMV Drive and W. Leigh St

WHO: Interviews with NASCAR driver Joey Gase, Donate Life Virginia’s Lara Malbon,
Virginia DMV employee Viola Barnes and people who added handprints to the
#35 Donate Life Virginia car

Donate Life Virginia manages the state’s registry for organ, eye and tissue donation. One person can save eight lives and heal 75 others by registering to become a donor. Right now, 2,400 Virginians are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. More than 90% of donor designations come through the DMV. Register your decision the next time you are at the Virginia DMV or online at DonateLifeVirginia.org.

Joey Gase Racing PR

NASCAR Cup Series News

NCS AT RICHMOND: Team Chevy Advance

Thursday, Mar 30

RICHMOND STARTS SHORT-TRACK RUN

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) is gearing up for three consecutive weekends of short-track competition, kicking-off with the .75-mile D-shaped oval of Richmond Raceway. Commonly known as “America’s Premiere Short Track”, the Virginia venue has been a staple stop on the series’ schedule with this weekend’s Toyota Owners 400 marking the 133rd appearance by NASCAR’s premier series at the track.

Through NASCAR’s history at Richmond, 17 different drivers have powered Chevrolet to a series-leading 39 NCS victories. The Bowtie brand’s most recent trip to victory lane at the track came from Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman in April 2021 – the first of a career-high four wins for the Chevrolet driver that season. Chevrolet also holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive NCS wins at Richmond by a single manufacturer with six in a row, dating from May 2006 to September 2008. Four different drivers contributed to that run: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (May 2006), Kevin Harvick (Sept. 2006), Clint Bowyer (May 2008) and Jimmie Johnson (May 2007, Sept. 2007 and Sept. 2008).

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1

Richmond Raceway - April 18, 2021

ROWDY REIGNS AT RICHMOND

Kyle Busch is no stranger to success at Richmond Raceway, giving the Team Chevy lineup yet another powerhouse driver at the Virginia venue. The 37-year-old Nevada native is the series’ winningest active driver at the track with six trips to victory lane in 34 career starts. The two-time series’ champion also will return to Richmond with top-10 finishes in his past 10 starts at the track – a stretch that also includes a sweep of the wins in the 2018 events. Busch also leads the series’ active drivers in runner-up (seven) and top-five finishes (18), and has the best average finish at the track with 6.875.

BOWMAN, BUSCH LEAD IN SEASON FINISHES

With six points-paying NASCAR Cup Series complete, only two drivers have maintained a single-digit average finish – both coming from the Chevrolet camp.

Chevrolet’s most recent NCS Richmond Raceway winner – Alex Bowman – leads the series with an average finish of 7.0. Bowman has only finished outside of the top-10 on one occasion this season, while also leading the series with three top-five finishes. The driver of the No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 is coming off a third-place finish at Circuit of The Americas to tie his season-best result. Joining Bowman on that list is fellow Chevrolet driver Kyle Busch. The winningest active NCS driver at Richmond will head into the weekend with an average finish of 9.0. Busch has notched four top-10 finishes thus far, including a win and a playoff berth that came just two races into the season.

ALLMENDINGER CONTINUES AS ROAD COURSE KING

A notable favorite heading into the Circuit of The Americas race weekend, AJ Allmendinger made his return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) to defend his race winning title at the circuit and the Chevrolet driver accomplished just that. Taking the green from the pole position, Allmendinger led the race’s first 14 laps in en route to the Stage One win. Losing track position during a round of mid-race green flag pit stops, Allmendinger was able to power the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS from 25th to lead the final 14 laps to the victory. The win marked Allmendinger’s 11th NXS road course victory, extending his record as the only driver in series’ history to have double-digit road course wins on his résumé.

Despite suffering mechanical failures that resulted in a DNF, Austin Hill was able to maintain the series’ points lead with a 15-point advantage over second. Justin Allgaier – who collected his series-leading fourth top-five finish of the season – is fourth in the standings, with series’ rookie Chandler Smith holding onto fifth to give Team Chevy three of the top-five in the series’ standings. Following the Camaro SS’s fourth win of the season, Chevrolet also continues to hold strong to the top spot of the NXS manufacturer points standing.

NXS JOINS NCS FOR RICHMOND DOUBLEHEADER

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will make its 77th appearance at Richmond Raceway with Saturday’s ToyotaCare 250. Chevrolet has collected 28 NXS victories at the .75-mile Virginia venue with JR Motorsports delivering the manufacturer wins in three of the series’ past four races at the track (Justin Allgaier – 2020 sweep; Noah Gragson – Sept. 2021). Chevrolet had a streak of strong showings in the early 2000s with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s victory in September 2002 marking the start of 10 trips to victory lane in an 11-race stretch.

NCTS HEADS BACK TO THE LONE STAR STATE

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ (NCTS) winningest driver Kyle Busch led the Bowtie brand to the finish at Circuit of The Americas, picking up a runner-up finish in his second NCTS start of the season. While the manufacturer was one spot shy of the triumph, the Silverado RST showed its speed throughout the series’ first road course event. Christian Eckes and Busch each drove the Bowtie brand to a stage win with Chevrolet drivers going on to record a combined 25 laps led in the 42-lap race. Chevrolet closed out the weekend maintaining the lead in the series’ manufacturer points standings for the second consecutive week.

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 GMS Racing Silverado

Texas Motor Speedway - October 25, 2020

The NCTS will make the trek back to the “Lone Star State” to join the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for a unique doubleheader race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. The Bowtie brand heads to the 1.5-mile Texas oval with 18 NCTS wins at the track. The manufacturer’s most recent Texas triumph came from Sheldon Creed in October 2020 – a victory that took Creed to the Championship Four race that ultimately crowned the Chevrolet driver as the series’ champion.

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet Drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Richmond Raceway:

Kyle Busch – 6 (2018 sweep, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)

Alex Bowman – 1 (2021)

Kyle Larson – 1 (2017)

· In 132 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway, Chevrolet has amassed a series-leading 39 victories and 47 pole wins.

· Chevrolet recorded six consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victories at Richmond Raceway from 2006 to 2008 – a record for the longest streak of consecutive wins by a single manufacturer at the .75-mile Virginia oval.

· Hendrick Motorsports leads all active NASCAR Cup Series teams with 55 short-track wins, recorded by 14 different drivers. Eleven of those victories came at Richmond Raceway.

· Chevrolet’s series-leading four NASCAR Cup Series wins this season have been recorded by drivers from three different Chevrolet teams: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (JTG Daugherty Racing), Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing) and William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports).

· Chevrolet drivers have recorded eight of the 12 NASCAR Cup Series stage wins this season: William Byron (four; series-leading), Ross Chastain (three) and Kyle Larson (one).

· Only two drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have a single-digit average finish this season – both coming from the Chevrolet lineup: Alex Bowman (7.0) and Kyle Busch (9.0).

· With six points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races in the books, Chevrolet continues to lead the series in wins (four), top-fives (16), top-10s (29), stage wins (eight) and laps led (753).

· Chevrolet sits atop the manufacturer points standings in all three NASCAR national series, leading by 22 points in the NASCAR Cup Series, 15 points in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and two points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

· With its 41 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer’s Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver’s Championships, and 837 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title of winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Tune In:

· NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway

Toyota Owners 400; 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 2

(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

· NASCAR Xfinity Series at Richmond Raceway

ToyotaCare 250; 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 1

(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

· NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway

SpeedyCash.com 250; 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 1

(FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 JOCKEY CAMARO ZL1

What do you expect this weekend at Richmond?

“We are running a little bit different package this weekend compared to Richmond last year. It'll be our second short track this season so I'll be curious to see how everything shakes out. I've been working in the simulator and my guys have been working hard on the set up. We'll have a short time for practice and hopefully we qualify well which is huge. I qualified second there last fall which is big because it doesn't take cars long to go a lap down there under green flag.”

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE CAMARO ZL1

What are your thoughts on Richmond Raceway?

“Richmond Raceway is a challenge. I loved the track for about half of my life NASCAR life, and for the other half it was such a brutal place to come race for us. My Richard Childress Racing team really flipped the script the last couple of years, and we’ve been consistent in the top 10 and running well. I’m looking forward to getting back to Richmond with the new lower downforce package. Tire wear is very fast so managing tires for 400 laps is key and I’ve always enjoyed the long runs. Richmond is a rhythm track, and after our Top-5 run at the L.A. Coliseum, I’m excited to see what the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE™ (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet will do.”

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM CAMARO ZL1

Larson on what he learned from running the Gen-6 car and the Next Gen car at Richmond Raceway:

"They both drove similarly at Richmond (Raceway). The entry to (turn) three was a little bit looser in the Next Gen car as the run progressed. Richmond was already a hard track to pass on and is probably (now) one of the most difficult tracks to pass on in the Next Gen car. The spring race at Richmond Raceway is really slick and slow. Richmond in general is very finesse."

KYLE BUSCH, NO. 8 3CHI CAMARO ZL1

You have had a lot of success at Richmond. What is it about that track that fits so well with your driving style?

“I have had a lot of success at Richmond and I enjoy going there. It’s a fun place. I struggled and was terrible there when I started in the Truck Series back in 2001 but then the track got repaved. I was able to go back there in the Xfinity Series and sat on the pole and got my first Busch Series win at Richmond, Now that the track has really aged and the surface is getting older, it has really turned that track into a tough short track, really much harder than it once used to be. Used to be able to get down to the bottom and kind of rip the center of the corner and drive off the corner really hard. Now it’s all about managing your tires and taking care of your car.

Long runs always happen there. The second and third stages go 100 laps plus and that’s about how far you can go on fuel so to try and stretch your tires 100 laps definitely makes it tough on the driver and the car.”

The Richmond race will be held in the afternoon and the track surface is older. Do you think that will make for better racing?

“I don’t know if it will make any difference for better racing. I just think that it makes for different racing. Being there in the nighttime, I think it ventures more to the bottom, around the bottom. The shortest way around is the fastest way around. When you’re able to have it a little bit slicker with a little bit more track temp during the day, a little bit more rubber that goes down, it allows guys to kind of move around somewhat but when your car’s good and you’re good around the bottom the shortest way around is the fastest way around, so I don’t see there being much difference.”

JOSH BERRY, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1

Berry on racing at Richmond:

"Richmond Raceway has always been one of my favorites to race at. I feel like its nature fits my style, and I was able to get my first top-10 finish in the (NASCAR) Xfinity Series there. Since then, I've continued to perform well at Richmond and I'm hoping that will cross over into Sunday."

AJ ALLMENDINGER, NO. 16 ACTION INDUSTRIES CAMARO ZL1

"Richmond is a challenging short track. It's very slick and hard on tires. We are working hard to make our short track program better and this will be a good test to see what we have."

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 RAPTORTOUGH.COM CAMARO ZL1

Byron on his fast start in 2023 lending itself to the upcoming short-track races:

“With the variety of tracks we’ve raced at so far this year, it really shows the strength of this team overall. Our short-track program was strong last year. Those tracks are a real strength of mine in general, which makes me really excited for this weekend. We should have a really good shot at being one of the cars to beat again this weekend and that’s how we want it to be. We want to keep that momentum up and keeping playing offense."

JUSTIN HALEY, NO. 31 LEAFFILTER GUTTER PROTECTION CAMARO ZL1

"Richmond is a challenging racetrack. There’s a lot of racing grooves on the track, which makes it fun. It was one of my best tracks in the Xfinity Series, but we have struggled a bit in the Cup Series with our short track program. Hopefully we can take some of the stuff we learned at Phoenix and apply it here."

NOAH GRAGSON, NO. 42 SUNSEEKER RESORT CAMARO ZL1

"I'm looking forward to Richmond this weekend. The No. 42 team has been rallying back the last two weeks with strategy and speed. The pit crew has been awesome. My first race win at Richmond in Xfinity was really special and I was able to drive the NextGen car last fall in a Cup car. We are making some progress as a team and each week things are coming together more and more."

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 U.S. AIR FORCE CAMARO ZL1

This weekend, you will have the added support from the U.S. Air Force on your No. 43 Chevrolet. What does it mean to you to drive this special Thunderbirds paint scheme?

“It's pretty cool to have the U.S. Air Force on the No. 43 - its year three for me as a driver to represent them. Having the Air Force Thunderbirds paint scheme this weekend - it’s just a really good looking car - it’s probably my favorite Air Force paint scheme over the last few years. I'm happy to have them onboard and I hope to have a good run for them. We've come close a few times to getting them a win in some speedway races, so hopefully we can get it done this at Richmond this weekend."

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER / KRAFT MAC & CHEESE CAMARO ZL1

“We have received a lot more information this off season from Chevrolet and with our alliance with Hendrick. We have learned about more tools to work with on our race cars that we didn’t know we had. Last year, the first Richmond race we struggled. The second race we had some good speed. We found some things that made our car better for that second race. After the work we did in the off season, we feel like we are going to be better than what they were last year.”

Richmond is a fun track because you can run the bottom, middle, top and you’ve got downshifting. With the asphalt being worn, the tires wear out. Short tracks are short tracks, but they are also unique. You need the same thing at about every short track. You need the car to rotate the center and the front tires to work well. We improved the second Richmond race last season. Now, I feel like I have more confidence going into this weekend at Richmond for sure.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1

Bowman on his consistency to start 2023:

"Being able to start the year so strong is a testament to the hard work by everyone on the No. 48 team. Becoming more consistent is something I have wanted to get to for a while now. To have this season start this way has given me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. The team at the shop are building really fast No. 48 Ally Chevrolets and Blake (Harris, crew chief) has put a lot of energy back into this group. It’s a really exciting time for us. I am just trying to take it one race at a time and do everything I can to continue our string of good races."

DANIEL SUAREZ, NO. 99 QUAKER STATE CAMARO ZL1

How do you stay positive in times of frustration?

"I try to remind myself why I’m here. I’m here because I love racing. I’m here because I love to compete and I like to win. Everything else comes as a consequence. I feel grateful to be here. When you’re in a rhythm, like I was talking about not long ago, it’s easy to take it for granted what we do every single weekend. We are very lucky individuals that we get to do every single weekend what we love to do – drive racecars and compete. Every single driver here is very, very competitive. It’s something we just love. Just because of that we are very fortunate to be in this position. I try to remind myself all these things – to know that I’m in a very good position and go out there and have fun… prepare myself as good as possible mentally and physically and go out there and compete at the highest level that I could possibly do.”

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CHASE PURDY, NO. 4 BAMA BUGGIES SILVERADO RST

With the speed you’ve shown at the mile-and-a-half tracks are you looking forward to Texas this weekend?

“We’ve had really good speed at the first two races this year on mile-and-a-half tracks. KBM has done a really good job of bringing really dominant trucks to those places, not just this year, but years prior. I think this will be an opportunity for me to correct the mistakes I’ve made in the first two mile-and-a-half races and really put it all together and show that our Bama Buggies team can go out and starting contending for wins.”

How does racing at Texas compare to the other mile-and-a-half tracks on the Truck Series schedule?

“It’s less wide open. Turns Three and Four if your stuff is good you are going to want to be wide open, but Turns One and Two you are going to have to lift and with no substance down in the other lanes I feel like it is going to be one-lane dominant. Traditionally at mile-and-a-half tracks you can move around, but this one not so much. I think that is something to be aware of. With no live pit stops, track position is going to be more important so that will make qualifying even more important than it usually is.”

Will the earlier start time affect the handling of the trucks?

“It’s not going to be as hot as it would be if we were racing there in June, so I’m not sure that starting earlier will affect it that much. Normally when it is hot it makes it slicker. I think it will still be slick because nobody has been racing on it and we are going to be the first ones on track. I think that causes people to wreck when they try to get off the bottom and run up a little bit into the old substance that is there from before, but we won’t know until we get there.”

JACK WOOD, NO. 51 SEVWINS SILVERADO RST

You’ve been traveling with the team to the races where you aren’t behind the wheel. What have you been able to learn by doing that?

“It’s been really good for me to go to the track and watch these races from a different angle that I normally don’t get to see. Being able to sit on the pit box with Brian (Pattie, crew chief) and understanding the communication that goes on between him and the engineer, as well as with him and the spotter and what the pit crew does during the race and all the kind of stuff you might not even think about. It’s been a good perspective for me to see. Starting to understand more of the behind the scenes of what happens on a race weekend. When you go as a driver, you are really just focused on driving the truck, but these couple races I’ve been able to learn quite a bit as far as team communication goes.”

Does the strong run you had at Atlanta give you confidence heading into this week’s race at Texas?

“Coming off a strong run at Atlanta, I’m definitely looking forward to Texas. I’ve just been really pleased with the speed that the KBM trucks have had this year, so as a driver that gives you a lot of confidence and makes you really excited for each race. I know that we are going to show up with a fast Sevwins Silverado. Texas is going to be a good one for me, it’s going to be different than anything I’ve raced on so far this year in the KBM equipment, but KBM has been really strong at Texas in past years. It’ll be interesting with us being there without Xfinity and Cup -- the track preparation that SMI will be doing I feel like will be a little bit different than what we are used to. I think it’ll be a good day for us, we just need to keep the nose clean and maintain track position. The way that the pit stops are set up, you’re not going to be able to gain spots on pit road like we have been able to at the last couple of races, so that is going to throw a little curveball in there. It’s also going to be a lit bit longer of a race than what we are used to in the Truck Series as well, so I think you just need to keep your head in the game, maintain your track position and try to give the best feedback that you possibly can to your crew chief throughout the race so that you have what you need when it gets down to the end of the race.”

GRANT ENFINGER, NO. 23 CHAMPION POWER EQUIPMENT SILVERADO RST

Texas Motor Speedway has been a good track for you in the past, what are some of the key factors to take into consideration to stay up front this weekend?

“I am ready to get back to Texas Motor Speedway. Last year at Texas we did not have enough to contend with, but I feel like our trucks are better this year. Texas is pretty unique, with it being so flat into turn one and two, but has so much banking in turns three and four. We need to stay ahead of the track and unload close, because it’s pretty difficult to pass there. I think our No. 23 Champion Power Equipment team has a lot of things going our way, and I feel if we do our job as a team we can contend for a win on Saturday."

RAJAH CARUTH, NO. 24 WENDELL SCOTT FOUNDATION SILVERADO RST

Caruth’s thoughts on competing at Texas Motor Speedway for the first time:

"I’m excited to hit up another new venue this weekend in Texas Motor Speedway. I enjoy the high-speed facilities, and know our No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevy Silverado will have the speed to contend all race long! We are hoping to continue the start of the momentum that we've gained from last race in Austin. I think we can have ourselves a fun weekend with GMS Racing."

DANIEL DYE, NO. 43 KIX COUNTRY / RACE TO STOP SUICIDE SILVERADO RST

Daniel's thoughts on competing at Texas Motor Speedway:

“I'm looking forward to going to Texas with our No. 43 team this weekend. It's another intermediate track on our schedule but quite a bit different than what we had in Las Vegas and Atlanta. It will be a new challenge for us, but I'm going to learn all day throughout practice, qualifying, and through the first stage of the race. I haven't been to that track since I raced quarter midgets out in the parking lot a few years ago, so I think it will be a fun experience to come full-circle by racing at the big track.”

CHRISTIAN ECKES, NO. 19 NAPA AUTO CARE SILVERADO RST

Eckes on his impressive history at Texas:

“Texas is easily one of my favorite racetracks for sure, especially after second-place finishes in the last two spring races. There’s some unfinished business there that I’d like to take care of this weekend with our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet. This is a great opportunity for our team to bounce back after COTA and respond the right way. Everybody at MHR has put together fast trucks each week and we’ve been in contention to win all four races this year, so I’m looking forward to this weekend and put ourselves in position for another one.”

JAKE GARCIA, NO. 35 ADAPTIVE ONE CALIPERS SILVERADO RST

Garcia on returning to a 1.5-mile track:

“I’m looking forward to getting back to an intermediate this week at Texas. Even though I’ve never raced there before and haven’t done much intermediate racing, I’m getting more comfortable after Las Vegas and Atlanta. We had a great result at Vegas and I felt like we had a really strong truck at Atlanta, so hopefully we can continue that with our Adaptive One Chevrolet on Saturday. Last week was definitely a learning experience road course racing, so it’ll be good to get back at a mile-and-a-half and get more experience.”

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