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Press Release | AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY FONTANA, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2023) – All puns intended, the final command to start engines at Auto Club Speedway’s historic 2-mile oval will be a “Rowdy” one to remember. That’s because Michael Rooker will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Pala Casino 400 on Sunday. The actor known for his role as Rowdy Burns in “Days of Thunder” will bellow the famous command “drivers start your engines!” “Michael Rooker is an immensely successful actor, but his turn as Rowdy Burns is one of the most memorable on-screen depictions of motorsports on the big screen,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “We are proud to welcome him as our Grand Marshal, and we can’t wait to hear him give the command for the historic last race on the 2-mile oval.” NASCAR and Auto Club Speedway announced earlier that the Pala Casino 400 will be the last race held on the track’s current configuration. Planning continues for a proposed half-mile short track located on a portion of the speedway’s current property, but timing for commencement of that project remains uncertain. That lends extra gravitas to Rooker’s role on Sunday, and he embraces the opportunity. “I am grateful for the chance to give the command for this historic event,” Rooker said. “As someone who was raised in NASCAR country, I’ve always appreciated fans asking about my portrayal of Rowdy Burns in ‘Days of Thunder’. As I return to another NASCAR race, I can unequivocally state that I agree with Robert Duvall’s character Harry Hogge who said, ‘rubbin, son, is racin’.” Rooker is an American actor best known for his turn as the blue-skinned alien Yondu Udonta in the top grossing Marvel films Guardians of the Galaxy , and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 , and also as the character fans loved to hate on AMC’s worldwide hit television show The Walking Dead , Merle Dixon. Rooker has thrilled fans for decades with complex portrayals of characters audiences can’t help but embrace despite their dark personas. He made his film debut in 1986 playing the title role in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer . He has since appeared in numerous films including Mississippi Burning, Sea of Love, Days of Thunder, JFK, Cliffhanger, Tombstone, Mallrats, Rosewood, The 6th Day, and Jumper . Rooker also has a prolific relationship with writer/director James Gunn, appearing in Gunn-helmed productions Slither, Super, The Belko Experiment and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and Warner Bros’ The Suicide Squad . Rooker also voiced Yondu Udonta in the animated series What if….? from Marvel. In 2022, he began filming for the upcoming western series Horizons , reunited with JFK co-star Kevin Costner. He has guest starred on numerous TV shows including Stargate SG-1, CSI: Miami, Las Vegas, JAG, Numb3rs, Law & Order, Chuck, Criminal Minds, Psych, Burn Notice, and Archer . He added his voice talents to Activision’s video game The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct. Rooker’s voice-over work in video games has also included Mike Harper, the lead character in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 , and the villain Vikke in Lollipop Chainsaw . Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen. The Pala Casino 400 weekend at Auto Club Speedway marks the historic continuation of NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season. The action begins on Saturday with the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Production Alliance Group 300, then continues on Sunday with the NASCAR Cup Series’ Pala Casino 400. Tickets are on sale now, and fans are encouraged to visit www.autoclubspeedway.com for the latest ticket information.

Press Release | TRANS AM CHARLOTTE (February 20, 2023) — The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is excited to announce the return of the Young Gun Award in 2023. All drivers under the age of 25 competing in the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series will be eligible to win a $20,000 cash prize, which will be presented to the season’s top points earner at the year-end awards banquet. The award is intended to create competition between the series’ young, up-and-coming drivers and reward their success throughout the season. “We are extremely happy to announce the return of the Young Gun Award this season,” said Trans Am President John Clagett. “The Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series has grown explosively over the last few years, and we’ve had a huge influx of younger drivers furthering their careers in full-bodied cars. The competition we saw between our Young Guns last year was impressive; they’re not only learning and honing their craft, but winning poles and races. We couldn’t be prouder of our young drivers and this program.” In last year’s inaugural season, the Young Gun competition was incredibly tight throughout the year, and the winner was not decided until the final laps of the season finale at Circuit of The Americas. Fourteen-year-old Brent Crews ultimately took the $20,000 prize over Connor Mosack by only a nine-point margin. Mosack had been leading the standings going into COTA and was ahead of Crews for much of the event until a mechanical issue in the final laps took him out of the race. Among the new racers in this year’s Young Gun class are two-time Australian Trans Am champion Nathan Herne, Thad Moffit, the grandson of Richard Petty, Boris Said Jr., son of road course phenom Boris Said, rising star Kaylee Bryson, five-time International Kart Federation Sprint GrandNationals Champion Parker DeLong, and Thomas Annunziata who finished on the podium at COTA in just his second-career Trans Am start. "It's exciting to see the Young Gun drivers using the Trans Am Series as a proving ground for their driving careers,” said Driver Orientation Program Director Ernie Becker. “To see them interact with the series champions and veterans on and off the track demonstrates that the Trans Am legacy is alive and well. It's an exciting time for the drivers, teams and the series. I’m really looking forward to working with our 2023 class of Young Guns." Drivers currently eligible for the 2023 Young Gun Award are: Thomas Annunziata, 17, No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang Dylan Archer, 23, No. 4 FPEC Chevrolet Camaro Caleb Bacon, 18, No. 18 Cortex Racing/Bacon Development Ford Mustang Kaylee Bryson, 21, No. 72 AP Driver Development/LSI Racing Chevrolet Camaro Brent Crews, 14, No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang Parker DeLong, 14, No. 42 BridgeHaul/Mike Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang Taylor Gray, 17, No. 80 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang Austin Green, 21, No. 89 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang Nathan Herne, 20, No. 29 Cube 3/Berryman Ford Mustang Ben Maier, 14, No. 75 Silver Hare Racing/Gel Blaster Chevrolet Camaro Darin Mock, 20, No. 51 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang Thad Moffitt, 22, No. 43 Safety-Kleen Chevrolet Camaro Connor Mosack, 24, No. 28 SLR-M1 Race Cars Ford Mustang Luke Rumburg, 23, No. 95 Rumcastle Racing Ford Mustang Boris Said Jr., 19, No. 86 3-Dimensional Services Group Ford Mustang William Sawalich, 16, No. 60 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang Evan Slater, 17, No. 6 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro Jack Wood, 22, No. 8 SLR-M1 Race Cars Chevrolet Camaro Connor Zilisch, 16, No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro See the Young Guns go head-to-head when the 2023 Trans Am season kicks off at Sebring International Raceway February 23-26.

(Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Press Release | TEAM PENSKE MOORESVILLE, NC (February 19, 2023) – Team Penske and Discount Tire today announced an extension of their winning motorsports partnership as NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) driver Austin Cindric prepares to defend his historic 2022 Daytona 500 victory in the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang. Under the new multi-year partnership agreement, Discount Tire – the world’s largest independent retailer of tires and wheels – will build on its tradition of success with Team Penske across both its NASCAR and INDYCAR programs. Entering its 14th season as a Team Penske partner in 2023, Discount Tire will continue to serve as the primary sponsor for Cindric and the No. 2 Ford Mustang team for multiple NCS races this season – including the Daytona 500. Discount Tire will also sponsor the No. 12 Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Blaney in select NCS races this season and into the future, under the new agreement. The partnership will also continue with Team Penske’s winning NTT INDYCAR SERIES program as Discount Tire and Tire Rack will return as associate sponsors of the No. 2 Chevrolet driven by two-time series champion Josef Newgarden, along with the No. 3 Chevy driven by former series Rookie of the Year Scott McLaughlin and the No. 12 Chevrolet raced by 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner and reigning series champ Will Power. “We are proud of Team Penske’s partnership with Discount Tire and the success we have had together over the years, including multiple championships and a victory in the Daytona 500,” said Roger Penske. “Our companies share many of the same core values and this is a partnership that continues to deliver, both on and off the race track. We are excited to build on our success together in 2023 and into the future.” Team Penske welcomed Discount Tire as team partner prior to the 2010 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season as the No. 22 Discount Tire team won six races, established a new series record with 26 top-five finishes and earned Team Penske’s first-ever NASCAR championship with the NXS title. Following a successful run of four NXS Owner’s Championships from 2013-2015 and again 2017, Discount Tire transitioned to the No. 2 Ford Mustang for the 2018 Cup Series season. Last season, Cindric delivered one of Discount Tire’s biggest victories with a win in the “Great American Race” on his way to claiming NCS Rookie-of-the-Year honors. “Discount Tire is grateful for our partnership with Roger Penske and Team Penske,” said Michael Zuieback, executive chairman of Discount Tire. “For more than a decade, this partnership has allowed our people, our customers and our race team to dream bigger and we look forward to celebrating more championships together with Team Penske in the future.” Discount Tire and Team Penske have teamed up to produce 36 race victories across NCS and NXS competition, with 10 combined championships and the historic 2022 Daytona 500 win. The 36 wins represents the second-highest total among all NASCAR primary sponsors in Team Penske history.

Press Release | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB STATESVILLE, N.C. (February 18, 2023) -- LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owners Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson, along with Team Ambassador Richard Petty, today announced U.S. Air Force will return to the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Chevrolet and driver Erik Jones for the 2023 season. “It’s been an honor to represent the U.S. Air Force the last few years and I’m excited to continue our partnership to have them on our No. 43 Camaro for this season,” said Jones. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet some pretty remarkable Airman the last few seasons and I look forward to meeting many more this year. Our partnership with the Air Force is such a great program to be a part of and I hope we can give them a little excitement this season and a few trips to victory lane.” The U.S. Air Force has a storied history with NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and the famed No. 43. This season will mark the 15th consecutive season of the partnership. The U.S. Air Force will appear on the No. 43 for three primary races: Talladega Superspeedway (April 23), Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend, (May 28) and Bristol Motor Speedway (September 16). “I’m very proud of the program we have built with the U.S. Air Force for the last 15 seasons on the No. 43,” said Petty. “I’ve had the honor to meet many men and women who are serving over the years and it’s great to see their association with our team be successful both on and off the track.” Through their partnership with the team, the U.S. Air Force utilizes their recruiting team and at-track activation to recruit the next generation of Airmen and Guardians. Throughout the season, the U.S. Air Force will host a display at various events for fans to learn about the U.S. Air Force and at select tracks, meet Jones before the race. “I have so much respect for the military as both my grandfathers have served,” said Johnson. “The relationship we have with the U.S. Air Force is something I am very proud of as a new team owner, and Erik and the No. 43 team will be very competitive this season. I’ve had some very close ties with military sponsors and organizations in the past, and we will do everything we can to help the U.S. Air Force meet their goals both on and off the track.” This season the No. 43 will showcase a unique paint scheme featuring U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Known as the “Pride in the Sky,” the Thunderbirds perform around the world to display the pride, precision, and professionalism of the U.S. Air Force. The Thunderbirds showcase the elite skills of its pilots and demonstrate the phenomenal capabilities of the Air Force’s legendary multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, through air shows and flyovers. "The U.S. Air Force is thrilled to announce the renewal of our partnership with Erik Jones and the No. 43 team, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, and the addition of Jimmie Johnson as team owner. A partnership that solidifies our commitment to excellence and success in the 2023 racing season," said Tech. Sgt. Tyson Wagstaff, Program Manager, U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service. "This partnership also supports our recruiters in finding skilled individuals, who share a passion for competition and teamwork and appreciate science, technology, engineering and math, to serve our country. We look forward to cheering on the No. 43 team as they soar to new heights and inspire the next generation of Airmen and Guardians." The next race for the drivers of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. ET live on FOX, the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SIRIUS XM Radio.

(Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Press Release | RFK RACING CONCORD, N.C. & GRAPEVINE, Texas (Feb. 17, 2023) – Solo Stove, a home and outdoor lifestyle brand within the Solo Brands (NYSE: DTC) portfolio, has partnered with RFK Racing for the 2023 season and will have associate marks on Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford Mustang throughout the season. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Solo Stove team to the RFK family,” said Jacob Wyne, Vice President of Partnership Sales. “They’re a proven and innovative brand, and share the same vision and goals as our team. We’re excited to showcase their brand and products throughout this season on our cars and across our social platforms.” Solo Stove’s marks will appear on Keselowski’s No. 6 this week at Daytona International Speedway at the 65th annual Daytona 500. They will continue serving in an associate capacity throughout the season, appearing on the No. 6 at select races. Driven by the mantra ‘creating good’, Solo Stove specializes in smokeless fire pits, camp stoves, brickyard pizza ovens, and grilling accessories designed to help you get in touch with whatever is ‘good’ for you. “We are looking forward to partnering with RFK Racing for the 2023 season,” said Clint Mickle, President of Solo Stove. “We can’t wait to see Solo Stove on the No. 6 Ford Mustang as it circles the track. Solo Stove has an enthusiastic fan base in the NASCAR community, and we’re excited to support RFK Racing with this partnership.” Practice sessions continue Friday (5:35 p.m. ET) and Saturday (10:30 a.m. ET) at Daytona, with the weekend culminating with Sunday’s running of the Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

Press Release | TOYOTA RACING DAYTONA BEACH (February 17, 2023) – Tanner Gray battled through damage from multiple incidents to lead Toyota with a career-best second-place finish in the rain-shortened NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday evening. Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Daytona International Speedway Race 1 of 23 – 100 Laps, 250 Miles TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS 1st, Zane Smith* 2nd, TANNER GRAY 3rd, Christian Eckes* 4th, Colby Howard* 5th, Grant Enfinger* 7th, TYLER ANKRUM 8th, COREY HEIM 14th, SAMMY SMITH 15th, JASON WHITE 16th, TIMMY HILL 25th, CHRIS HACKER 28th, STEWART FRIESEN 34th, CLAY GREENFIELD 36th, DEAN THOMPSON *non-Toyota driver TOYOTA QUOTES TANNER GRAY , No. 15 Dead On Tools Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage Finishing Position : 2nd How do you feel with the second-place finish with the rain-shortened race? “Obviously with the way our night was going, second was a good night for us. Not as smooth of a race as we would like. Got caught up in every wreck there was, but it’s a good finish and that’s all we can ask for. Everyone at TRICON Garage did a great job bringing fast trucks this weekend and happy to have Dead On Tools on board and get them a good finish. We’re going to go back to the shop and regroup to make our speedway stuff a little bit better. I feel like we’re good, but we can be a little bit better. Just have to figure it out and get ready for Las Vegas.” What kind of momentum does it give you to kickoff the season with a second-place finish? “For sure, anytime you can leave Daytona and be good it helps a lot. It gets the ball rolling and gets momentum on our side so that’s good. We were lucky enough to be in the same boat last year and to start the year off again like this is awesome.” TYLER ANKRUM , No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Hattori Racing Enterprises Finishing Position : 7th How do you feel about your performance tonight and winning the first stage? “We had a really fast truck. I was super happy with my LiUNA! Tundra TRD Pro. It was just so awesome. I think I made two passes for the lead with no help and no pushes, just a really, really fast truck. Doug Randolph (crew chief) on the box made some awesome calls to get us up front after starting in the back. You get to that fifth to 12th range so he made some really good calls to get us to the front and lead. We stayed in the top-five for the whole night. I hate to have it finish like this because I really thought if we were going to go back green we could have it won. We could make moves on the top or on the bottom, it was insane. I don’t like that we’re going home seventh, but this is part of it. I would rather be seventh than caught up in a wreck early on or have a blown engine. It’s unfortunate, I hate it. I really wanted to win this race after seeing how fast we were.” COREY HEIM , No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage Finishing Position : 8th How do you feel about the rain-shortened event and your performance through the rest of the race? “It’s super disappointing, I thought we brought a really strong Safelite Toyota TRD Pro with TRICON. Ran such a conservative race and we were conservative on strategy for the very end there. Didn’t worry about stage points and now here we are with 21 laps left and nothing to show for it. Just really proud of my TRICON guys. Just unfortunate.” DEAN THOMPSON , No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage Finishing Position : 36th What happened out there? “I don’t know. They slowed up in front of me. I hit (Matt) DiBenedetto in left rear. It is what it is. I tried to slow up in time and what happened, happened. I don’t know if it was my fault, or Clay Greenfield, or who. I will look back at and see.” Is the amount of frustration due to how early it was? “I get an opportunity at Toyota, coming where I came from, and now I’m here. I have the opportunity to go and win this now and look where I am, so it is frustrating.” How was it working with the TRICON team this weekend? “It was fantastic. They’ve been top tier. Toyota has established itself as a top manufacturer in the Truck Series, frankly all three series, so to work with them has been awesome. TRICON guys have been good. They’ve been on top of it. My truck was perfect. All of our trucks were perfect. I could have gone out there and won the race, but look where we are at.” Does the fact that you felt like you could have won the race give you some peace in this situation? “It hurts even more because now I have an opportunity to go out there and show all of you guys who I actually am. I don’t think I had that opportunity last year, and now this year I do. Now I can go out there and show who I am, and stuff like this happens. It is racing. I will look back at and see what I did wrong and be better next time.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: After months of preparation and a successful preseason test in the books, global television, film star and professional motorsports athlete Frankie Muniz’s highly anticipated ARCA Menards Series debut is finally on deck this weekend in Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA. With support from HairClub and the devoted attention of his Rette Jones Racing team led by championship crew chief Mark Rette, Muniz is hoping for a successful weekend bookended with a strong finish that will propel him forward in his ARCA championship chase. “I am really excited that Daytona is now here,” said Muniz. “There has been a lot of time, effort and focus put into this week’s activities and I’ll be glad to get behind the wheel of my No. 30 HairClub | Rette Jones Racing Ford Mustang on Saturday afternoon and see what we can accomplish.” Daytona is one of 20 events on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule and while every event offers its peaks and valleys, especially for a rookie driver, the former Malcolm in the Middle television actor knows how much Daytona means not only for himself but his all those who continue to support his racing endeavors. “Ever since childhood, it’s been my dream to pursue racing in NASCAR, and it was important for me to partner with a team that aligned with my long-term objectives and vision while providing every opportunity imaginable to grow mentally and physically as a full-time race car driver.  “I look forward to not only demonstrating my ability on the track and just how serious how I am in progressing in my racing career, but also showing my son and family what it is to chase your dreams and re-invent yourself.” For Rette, he is ready to attack the season at full speed beginning at Daytona – especially with the dedication of his rookie driver. “We are ready to get the season underway,” offered Rette. “I believe that Frankie is ready for this challenge. “Over the years, we’ve prided ourselves on working with new drivers who have quickly adapted to the diversity of the ARCA Menards Series and, without a doubt, we believe Frankie can do the same.” “It is not going to be easy, and there will be a learning curve – but with his passion, focus and commitment along with the capabilities of our team, we believe we are going to put him in a position to contend for multiple wins in 2023. He did a great job at the test. He was incredibly attentive, learned a lot and I think has gained some confidence heading into one of the biggest weekend’s of his life. “Furthermore, we’re excited that, because of Frankie’s profile, new audiences and fans will be introduced to the sport and Rette Jones Racing.” Jones, a former competitor in the ARCA Menards Series shares the same enthusiasm as Rette about Muniz’s outlook for 2023. “2023 is set up to be one of the most memorable seasons for Rette Jones Racing since our inception in 2016,” he said. “Without a doubt, we believe in Frankie’s ability and commitment and with Mark’s leadership we believe that he will quickly adapt on track and contend for a championship in his rookie season.” On Thursday afternoon, Muniz whipped his No. 30 HairClub Ford Mustang to the fastest lap during final practice for the ARCA Menards Series setting off a positive tone for the driver’s inaugural ARCA weekend. “I am incredibly blessed,” offered Muniz. “My No. 30 HairClub and Rette Jones Racing team have worked incredibly hard to bring me a fast race car and to set the fastest lap in practice is truly awesome. “Hopefully, our strong practice session will lead to a good qualifying session Friday afternoon and then the race on Saturday.” For the 2023 ARCA season, Rette Jones Racing will continue its longtime partnership with Ford Performance but has upgraded its fleet to include the Ford Mustang beginning this weekend at Daytona. For more information, or to request an interview with Muniz, contact Athelo Group at adelara@athelogroup.com . For more on Frankie Muniz please visit munizracing.com, like him on Facebook (FrankieMuniz4) and follow him on Instagram (@frankiemuniz4) and Twitter (@frankiemuniz). For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com , like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Instagram (@RetteJones30) and Twitter (@RetteJones30). The BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 71st consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 18 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

Press Release | CHRISTIAN ROSE No. 32 AM Racing Team: Driver: Christian Rose Primary Partner(s): West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Manufacturer: Ford Mustang Crew Chief: Ryan “Pickle” London Spotter: Tony Raines Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. A613 Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies Final Practice Result: 13th Notes of Interest: Welcome Aboard: AM Racing will return to the ARCA Menards Series full-time in 2023 with Automobile Racing of America (ARCA) Rookie of the Year candidate Christian Rose behind the wheel of the team’s No. 32 Ford Mustang. The 2023 ARCA Menards Series will mark the first time that AM Racing has competed full-time in the NASCAR-owned development series since Gus Dean drove for the organization during the 2018 season. Meet Christian Rose: Rose, a former Division 1 baseball player for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has traded the glove and bat in for a steering wheel and helmet and has set achievable goals for his first full season of stock car competition aboard the team’s flagship No. 32 Ford Mustang. Rose joins the Statesville, N.C.-based team on the heels of a limited ARCA schedule in 2022 competing in a series of races on ARCA’s platform with Cook Racing Technologies which was highlighted by a career-best seventh-place finish at Kansas Speedway last October. Additionally, Rose earned two additional top-10 finishes at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway and Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway respectively. Glad To Have You: To help steer Christian Rose and the AM Racing team towards a championship in 2023, the organization has recruited Ryan “Pickle” London to serve as crew chief of the No. 32 Ford Mustang this season. London, a long-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series crew chief returns to AM Racing after spending the 2020 season with the team’s Truck Series program as the truck chief. London has plenty of experience as a leader in the ARCA Menards Series, including guiding drivers Tom Hessert and Frank Kimmel to poles and leading Grant Enfinger to victories at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway and DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds in 2014. In addition to the two wins as crew chief, the winning NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series crew chief has numerous ARCA top-fives and top-10 efforts to his credit. Partner Support: The Department of West Virginia Tourism will serve as the primary marketing partner on Rose’s No. 32 Ford Mustang in Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA. The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and top state to live, work and retire. Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests. In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes. Secured Partnership: In addition to the Department of West Virginia Tourism, Secure Testing Services (STS) will serve as a major associate marketing partner for the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series tour. Secure Testing Services LLC. is a nationwide leader in on-site drug testing located in Richmond, Virginia. Quite simply, STS provides customized assistance to your organization’s Human Resources and Safety teams in achieving their compliance goals. Thanks For Your Support: With the start of the 2023 on deck, AM Racing and Christian Rose would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, Big Draft Brewing, Black Draft Farm & Distillery, Disability Opportunity Fund, Extreme Family Fitness, Flying Circle, Lopez Team, Mountaineer Rub, Mobil 1 and Whitetail Smokeless. Testing, Testing 1.2.3.: In January, Rose and AM Racing had the opportunity to work together during the annual ARCA Menards Series preseason test at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The two spent an entire day focusing on comfort and maneuverability along with speed. The team was pleased with the results of their single-day test and opted out of partaking in the second day of ARCA Menards Series testing at the “World Center of Racing.” Christian Rose ARCA Daytona International Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 will mark Rose’s second start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. In his previous effort, the Martinsburg, WV native finished 31st after suffering a late-race mechanical issue. Christian Rose ARCA National Series Stats: In eight career ARCA National Series starts, Rose has earned one top-10 finish (seventh at Kansas Speedway | October 2022), while also showcasing four top-20 finishes overall. Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR. For more on Christian Rose, please like him on Facebook (Christian Rose Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@christianroseracing) and Twitter (@CRoseRacing). Christian Rose Quoteboard: On Daytona International Speedway: “I am looking forward to a strong weekend with my AM Racing team. Our No. 32 West Virginia Tourism | Secure Testing Services Ford Mustang was fast during the test and I expect it to be even faster throughout the weekend. “We have a planned strategy for the weekend and while we hope for it to maintain course, we will adjust accordingly if we need too. We know it’s important to come out of Daytona ahead then behind, so we just want to earn ourselves a strong finish and tackle the rest of the season.” On 2023 Season Outlook: “There’s a lot of hype and the AM Racing team has been extremely focused to make sure we put ourselves in a position to not only be competitive but also challenge for race wins and hopefully the championship too. “I want to win a race this season. That’s a huge goal for me and I know with the great support of our partners, my team and myself – we are going to accomplish that goal.”

Press Release | TRANS AM CHARLOTTE (February 17, 2023) — The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is pleased to announce a technical partnership with MoTeC USA, naming them the preferred ECU provider of the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series. “We are happy that we have been able to quickly start this long-term partnership with MoTeC USA,” said Trans Am President, John Clagett. “The AEM TA2 ECU was reaching the end of its life cycle, and we needed to come up with a new solution. We were concerned about the impact this could have on our rapidly-growing TA2 class, because the number of new ECUs available was very limited, and we were also concerned about what it could mean in terms of extra expense for the teams. After meeting with MoTeC at the PRI Show, we realized that this process would be much easier than we feared, and we’re thrilled to have them on our side moving forward.” All new TA2 car builds will require the category specified MoTeC M130 TA2 ECUs, while teams using older ECUs may continue to do so until their next replacement, at which time they will be required to utilize the MoTeC ECU. MoTeC’s M130 TA2 ECU will also improve Trans Am’s technical inspection process. Technical support will be available to both engine suppliers and the teams through the MoTeC USA staff and their preferred dealers that are involved with the series. "We’re excited for the future with our partnership with MoTeC and believe this will be the best option available for our competitors,” says TA2 Technical Director, Ricky Brooks. “When a team changes over to the MoTeC ECU, they can still utilize the engine harness, which is a significant cost saving, and makes it simple to plug in the new ECU with an adapter from PRS. We have developed a MoTeC tune to have the identical power and torque of the current AEM ECU, so we are able to allow both ECUs to compete at the same time. Additionally, MoTeC USA will provide the series with their technical scrutineering software so that we can better verify that the ECU has not been tampered with." MoTeC Pty Ltd, based in Australia and now owned by Bosch, is an engineering-driven company where all design work is done in-house for both hardware and software, with an uncompromised approach to quality and product functionality. From humble beginnings thirty-five years ago, MoTeC has evolved into an international force in aftermarket automotive electronics, attracting the support of many top teams in race and rally. Over those years, MoTeC has built a reputation for outstanding reliability, advanced technology and high-performance products that exceed expectations. Such growth has brought with it a diverse range of customers and a wide array of vehicles, encouraging the constant expansion of MoTeC product capabilities and support expertise. “MoTeC USA is pleased to announce our partnership with the Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Series,” says David Gibson, Business Development Manager for MoTeC USA. “As a leader in the aftermarket electronics industry, MoTeC USA will offer competitors a reliable solution for their vehicles through the M1 Series of ECUs. The MoTeC M130 ECU will be used to maintain a level playing field for the TA2 competitors and allow the series to manage their scrutineering directly. The combination of an advanced security strategy and TA2-specific firmware makes the M1 ECU an ideal choice for categories with restrictions in place to achieve both performance parity and cost containment.” The MoTeC USA TA2 system can be purchased by competitors through the Trans Am Dashboard. For cars built with the AEM ECU, converting to the MoTeC ECU will just require the purchase of a partial harness system through current harness supplier, Precision Race Services, Inc., which has a long-standing relationship with both MoTeC USA and Trans Am. The 2023 Trans Am season kicks off at Sebring International Raceway on February 23-26.

Press Release | TOYOTA RACING DAYTONA BEACH (February 17, 2023) – David Wilson, president, TRD was made available to media prior to the Daytona 500 on Friday: DAVID WILSON, president, TRD (Toyota Racing Development) What’s new for you heading into 2023 and what are you most excited about? “2023, there’s a lot of excitement, anticipation that we all share at this time of the year – being back at the beach. For Toyota, 2023 represents our 20th anniversary of coming into the sport and into the Truck Series. We’re going to spend some time celebrating that and recognizing that as it’s been an incredible journey and continues to be. Of course, we’ve got a couple of new faces. Looking forward to our year with Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs of course and we’re going to have some fun this weekend with Travis (Pastrana) racing in the Daytona 500. Might have to help with his enthusiasm level (laughter), but we’re looking forward to a great season and here we go again.” Where do the OEMs stand on electrification within your NASCAR program? “Obviously social and market forces are driving all of us as car manufacturers to be respectful and to be sensitive to put carbon reduction at the front of our business. When you take it to the race track, I think every motorsport globally is faced with the same pressures, including NASCAR. The question is how and when and what. What I’ll say is all of us sitting up here have been working very closely with NASCAR on new technologies, on a focus towards reduction of carbon, but it continues to be a work in progress.” Do you feel you’ve been kept in the loop on information around the Garage 56 program? “I have to start by saying that I have to kind of be nice to both of these guys as I might be leaning on them for Formula 1 tickets later (laughter). All kidding aside, yes, we were outspoken about it. Here’s the good news is that NASCAR has been amazingly transparent with all of us on what’s been happening on the testing. We’ve attended testing, the data has been shared with us and the silver lining is that NASCAR is learning some things from that testing and will learn some things when they take that car to Le Mans that will benefit all of us. Will it benefit some just a little bit more? Of course, yeah.” Would the OEMs be open to a team salary cap and how would you expect to be impacted? “The issue of budget cap falls under the larger umbrella of cost containment of putting some business sustainability across this sport that our teams have struggled with. This isn’t something new, it’s something that other sports have engaged, stick and ball obviously, but also Formula 1 on the motorsports side. Generally speaking, we’re supportive of it in the interest that it could again put some measures of reasonableness on what’s spent. That’s not a bad thing. The challenge, like every other application of budget cap is going to be on how and how it’s implemented and measured and controlled. As we all sit up here today, we have direct engagements with our team partners and more of those are not check writing engagements, they are technology based. Technology is a form of currency so how you value those and measure them will be a challenge, but principally right now, this is a conversation between our racing teams and NASCAR.” Did you figure out why Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick suffered from carbon monoxide exposure at the Clash? “Yes, they both did suffer from some carbon monoxide exposure. The subsidization is it was a multi-faceted issue. One probably being the mufflers that we ran, and the other racing in a bowl and a lot of time at low speed contributing to that. I’m not aware if other drivers suffered to the same extent, but we don’t have any cause to believe that it is a Toyota-specific issue.” Do you have enough data to feel comfortable about what happened to rear of the car? “I would start by saying that the simulation that NASCAR has done, the crash testing that NASCAR has done, the engineering that NASCAR has done is all positive and sound. Like anything else, the real experience is going to be in what happens on the race track. We are going to see that – good, bad or otherwise – it is going to happen, and we are going to continue to collect data. We are satisfied that NASCAR continues with a mentality that there is no such thing as a perfectly safe race car, and it is something that all of us as an industry have to remain focused on and committed on continual improvement.” If you had to go and find the next Christopher Bell, what would it take in today’s dollars to develop them? “A gazillion. Is that fair? All kidding aside, Christopher (Bell) certainly, arguably, is the poster child. I’ve said before – everything that we’ve invested, our partners like JBL, ExxonMobil and Safelite, all that they have invested. All it takes is one Christopher Bell to make it all worthwhile. We’ve checked that box. The motivation was certainly to grow our own, but that was just a motivation. More broadly, as a stakeholder, as a company that gets so much value from competing, it has become more of a social responsibility and culture. It mirrors part of our culture – in having respect for people and giving these young athletes opportunities that they may not otherwise have had. There is nothing more that I enjoy more than walking down the grid any given Sunday afternoon and giving out hugs and high-fiving a third of the grid, a half of the grid – it seems like, because we have helped them in some matter – I don’t care who they drive for. Their success is our success to some extent. We will continue to be committed to that, and we are good. We will be okay.” Are we going to continue to see more development in World of Outlaws? “That has been a passion project for TRD. We have had that 410 engine on our to do list for a better part of a decade, ever since we turned a wheel in USAC, in the midgets, it became apparent that we needed to develop a Sprint Car engine. The World of Outlaws season started just the other day. We are getting closer to a broader coverage of our TRD 410 but want to make sure it is right and ready for a broader market as well. Stay tuned.” What will the Toyota Racing program and TRD look like without Kyle Busch? “We were so close to getting out of here. (laughter) I was the one touting everything that Kyle Busch and Toyota have done together in the past decade and a half. I guess I said last year that we will forever celebrate that record of success, because of the Kyle Busch rule being implemented, there will probably not be another driver ever that matches his level of success with one manufacturer. He is going to be missed. Life goes on. I sleep well at night because I know how that went down and how everybody acquitted themselves, so we are focusing forward. We have a terrific young man in Tyler Reddick. We are convinced that he is going to be great for our brand. He is a good person. We are going to – and are – having fun with him. On the Truck side, you mentioned TRICON and our friends along those lines. That is a very capable outfit – one of only three vertically integrated teams in the Truck garage that can not only go race, but can built their trucks. We were very intentional in bringing them in the fold. They have become an extension of our driver development program. It is a process. One of the things we are intentional about is being strategic and focusing forward and anticipating changes. It is not going to happen overnight, and certainly there are days that we will miss Kyle and there are days that we won’t.”

Press Release | NHRA GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2023) – In less than a month, the hallowed grounds of Gainesville Raceway will come to life with the incredible sights and sounds of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph racing action when the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series opens its 2023 season on March 9-12 at the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Along with that comes a full slate of special events and celebration as the 72nd NHRA season kicks off in style at the legendary facility. Fans will see thrilling racing from all four professional classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle) as the NHRA stars look to open the season with a victory, and there’s plenty of additional entertainment to keep fans excited all weekend long. Leading into the race, a special Gatornationals Fan Fest will take place on Wednesday, March 8 from 6-9 p.m. at Josh Hart’s Burnyzz Speed Shop in nearby Ocala. The Top Fuel standout will host an event featuring a car show, live music and a driver autograph session from 7-8 p.m. A special championship press conference and season kick-off event follows the next day at the Hilton University of Florida in Gainesville, honoring 2022 NHRA world champs Brittany Force, Ron Capps, Erica Enders and Matt Smith, and also featuring Hart, John Force and legendary driver “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. Garlits will be featured guest throughout weekend and six of his historic dragsters will be included in a special “Swamp Rat Alley” section inside the Hot Rod Junction, giving fans the unique chance to check out the cars that made history. Garlits will also be on hand for autographs with fans and he will be making an exhibition pass during the race. More NHRA legends will be part of a special autograph and Q&A session in the Top Eliminator Club on Saturday, while all fans are invited to the first-ever Nitro Alley Stage, which will help create a festive atmosphere leading into the nitro pits. The Nitro Alley Stage will be the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Camping World Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. In addition, the Gatornationals will set the field for the first #2Fast2Tasty Mission NHRA Challenge. The semifinalists from Gainesville will rematch during qualifying on Saturday at the next event in Phoenix, with bonus money and points on the line as part of the special new program for 2023. The Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout returns in 2023, pitting eight standouts against each other in a unique, big-money specialty race that takes place on Saturday, March 11. It’s a marquee, can’t-miss attraction to help kick off the new season, and a definite highlight of famed Gatornationals. Reigning world champion Brittany Force, defending Callout winner Steve Torrence, Justin Ashley, Mike Salinas, Doug Kalitta, Josh Hart, Austin Prock and Clay Millican make up the eight-car field for the one-day shootout, with selections being made on Friday at 12 p.m. in the Top Eliminator Club. In 2022, Tripp Tatum (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock), and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up victories during a record-breaking weekend in Gainesville. Hagan earned the first-ever victory for Tony Stewart Racing, and Stoffer made the quickest pass in Pro Stock Motorcycle history at 6.665 seconds en route to the win. Tatum earned his first career victory, as a first-time winner picked up the victory for a second straight year in Top Fuel. Brittany Force is after her first Top Fuel win at Gainesville, going against a loaded field that also includes Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Leah Pruett, while Hagan is after back-to-back victories in Funny Car. He’ll contend with the likes of Capps, Robert Hight, J. Force, Bob Tasca III, J.R. Todd, Tim Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Alexis DeJoria. Enders will also try to win in Gainesville for the first time, facing off against Pro Stock stars Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, Troy Coughlin Jr. and Glenn. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith has his sights on a third Gatornationals victory, but he’ll have to get past Eddie Krawiec, Angie Smith, Jerry Savoie, Steve Johnson and Joey Gladstone. The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, along with the season debuts for the NHRA Pro Mod Series and Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown. Total Seal Tech Talk will take place on Friday and Saturday in Matt Hartford’s pits, while an autograph session will take place on Friday at the Dodge Display with Dodge-sponsored drivers. Fans can also look forward to the exciting cacklefests taking place at the Hot Rod Junction on both Friday and Saturday. Race fans at Gainesville Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, which benefits the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the season-opener. As always, fans also get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Gainesville. This opportunity gives fans a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. Fans can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, simulated competitions, merchandise, food, and fun for the entire family. NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, March 10, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, March 11 at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 12. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10:00 a.m. ET. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday, leading into live eliminations on FOX at 12 p.m. ET. The opening round of the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 1:20 p.m. ET, with the semifinals to follow at 2:45 p.m. The finals are slated for 4:25 p.m., and the callout will be given a featured broadcast on FS1 at 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. To purchase tickets to the 2023 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

(Cover Photo Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images) By Adam Carabine In case you missed it, StatChat is counting down the days ‘til the 2023 Daytona 500. Every two days, we will have a new article featuring one of the 36 charters of 2022. 1st Place – Joey Logano – 5,040 pts TEAM PENSKE – FORD 2 Cup Series Championships – Winning one championship is hard enough, especially since the advent of the current playoff system. There are only seven other drivers who scored two championships over the course of their Cup Series career. The only other active one is Kyle Busch. While it definitely requires skill to win even a single championship, a second one shows a considerable amount of ability to maintain a high standard of performance. 32 Years Old – People forget just how young Joey Logano still is, because he’s already been around for a long time. His first full-time Cup Series season, he was just a bright-eyed 18-year old. Despite winning a race and scoring seven Top 10s that year, it still remains his worst season statistically. The point is this – Joey Logano is not slowing down anytime soon. Kevin Harvick is retiring this year at 47, and even he still can compete for wins at that age. Joey could have 15 more years of Cup Series contending to work with – it’s safe to guess that we’ll see another championship or two out of him in that time. 13.50 Average Finish in 2022 – It certainly helps, but it doesn’t always take the best average finish to win a Championship. His 13.50 in 2022 was 3rd best of the Cup Series, but surprisingly was actually the 8th best of his career. Even in 2018 when Logano won his first Cup Series Championship, his average finish was the 3rd best of his career. 784 Laps Led in 2022 – Joey Logano’s 784 laps led in 2022 may not have been enough to beat Chase Elliott’s 857, but it’s likely that Elliott would trade the championship for the extra laps. What Logano managed in his season was not necessarily to be the best in every category, but he was the best when it counted. 187 of those laps led were at the Championship Race in Phoenix. There’s no more important time to be leading the field. 327 of his laps led were in the playoffs, as he worked to get his way to the Final Four. It was a clutch performance throughout the season. 4 Wins in 2022 – Make it 5 if you count the inaugural Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. Joey Logano had four wins in 2022, each with their own significance. His first (points) win on the season was at Darlington – often referred to as a driver’s track. The asymmetrical layout makes it one of the most challenging ovals on the NASCAR circuit. His next win came at WWT-Gateway. This was the first time that Cup Series cars were on that track – and it was Logano’s first time at the track in any racing series. He found a way to win, and also cemented his place in the playoffs, as it was looking like a single win might not be enough to guarantee your spot. He pointed his way into the Round of 8, where he won the first race (Las Vegas), which ensured him a spot in the Final 4, as well as a few extra weeks of preparation over his competitors. All of this led to him winning the final race of the year at Phoenix, and simultaneously earning himself a spot in the record books for winning his second career Cup Series Championship. Joey Logano returns to the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske in 2023 and beyond. He signed a long-term extension with the team back in August of 2022. Team Penske is probably happy they did, as he went on to win a championship later in the year. This concludes the Countdown to Daytona series for this year. Thanks for following along through this ride, now let’s all go and enjoy some NASCAR racing! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @RacingRefresh Or you can email directly: acarabine@racingrefresh.com Follow us on Facebook: Racing Refresh Facebook Page Get all of your Racing Refresh Merch from our online store! Is there an error? Something missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

Press Release | INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023) – The countdown to the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge shifts into high gear Friday, Feb. 17 with a full day of celebration leading up to the 100 Days Out Fan Party at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To start the day, Penske Entertainment and Cummins employees are partnering for a Morning of Service with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana in Indianapolis. Volunteers will pack meals for the community from 10-11:30 a.m. ET. Before the 100 Days Out Fan Party, Roger Penske will unveil a commemorative four-time winner brick on the Yard of Bricks with four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, with IMS President J. Douglas Boles serving as emcee of the ceremony. Fans will celebrate the milestone of 100 days until “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” during an evening event, scheduled for 7-9:30 p.m., exactly 100 days from the Sunday, May 28, Race Day for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. This free fan celebration, which has reached full capacity with no admission available at the door, will feature NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver appearances and autograph sessions, Yard of Bricks photo opportunities and more. The 2023 Indy 500 marketing campaign video also will be premiered live for fans. SEE: “This is May” Teaser Video Created by Penske Entertainment Content, the 90-second extended spot, voiced by a legendary Hoosier hero, promotes the “This is May” campaign for this year’s race as fans celebrate the always epic and unique experiences that make May a tradition for many. The video is underscored by licensed track, “Pep Talk,” by American alternative rock and folk band, Judah & the Lion of Nashville, Tennessee. The extended ad spot, which captures the spirit and essence of May at the Racing Capital of the World, will not only be showcased at the 100 Days Out Fan Party but also posted on IMS social channels, the IMS YouTube channel , and IMS.com shortly after it airs Friday evening, so fans can watch and share. Meanwhile, a 30-second version can be seen on local broadcast affiliates and cable television throughout Central Indiana. Tickets are on sale now at IMS.com for the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, GMR Grand Prix and all Month of May activities.

Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 16, 2023) – NHRA officials are pleased to announce today the United States Air Force has been added to the team of partners for the NHRA Youth and Education Services (YES) Program for the upcoming 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. The NHRA YES Program is the only full-time education program in motorsports providing quality educational content and activities for schools and youth organizations nationwide. The YES Program invites students to NHRA national events to see first-hand the career opportunities within the motorsports field, bringing thousands of students to the track each year. In 2023, the YES Program will take place at 15 races during the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. "The Air Force is excited to partner with NHRA," said Barry Dickey, Air Force Recruiting Service Strategic Marketing Division chief. "Motorsports partnerships align well with our target audience's interests and the Air Force's commitment to teamwork, technology, and winning. "Partnership opportunities like this have a positive impact on generating public awareness about the opportunities available in the U.S. Air Force. They also allow us to showcase our people and our mission to fans who may not otherwise have exposure to it," Dickey added. "Like NHRA, much of our work is based on science, technology, engineering and math principles and this sponsorship is a great way to highlight that connection and meet the fans who have similar interests." The United States Air Force, which was founded more than 75 years ago, challenges its Airmen. Offering more than 200 career options, leadership development and scholarship opportunities, the U.S. Air Force’s mission of integrity, service and excellence coincides with the NHRA YES Progam. “We are excited to welcome the Air Force to our family of outstanding partners with the NHRA YES Program,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “The Air Force is a great partner to add to this excellent youth program and we know the YES Program will continue to provide students with exciting STEM-based career opportunities.” The 2023 NHRA season kicks off at the historic AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 9-12 with the first NHRA YES Program of the year. For more information about the YES Program, and to view the entire 2023 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com .

Press Release | ARCA DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Inching his way towards veteran status in the ARCA Menards Series, Jason Kitzmiller and his A.L.L. Construction Racing team launch their fourth season of competition beginning with Saturday afternoon’s BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA. His fourth season of a part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule also yields his fourth trip to the “World Center of Racing” where Kitzmiller has been able to showcase speed but two of his previous three efforts have left pure frustration in the results column. Approaching the 2.5-mile superspeedway with the same mindset he always had since his debut at the iconic track in 2020, Kitzmiller hopes Saturday’s race delivers him the finish he knows his team is capable of. “Honestly, this year is the best I feel about probably going to Daytona in all of my previous starts,” said Kitzmiller who has an ARCA career-best 11th-place finish in Daytona in 2021. “Our No. 97 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet was very quick in pre-season testing and we loaded up feeling confident that we can be a key player in the race and put ourselves in a position to not only surprise a lot of people – but maybe even put ourselves in a spot to challenge for the win. “That’s what you come to Daytona to do. Win. Any racer that tackles the high banks of Daytona – that is all that they ever think about is winning at a place like Daytona. I’m excited to get back in the ARCA groove and hopefully we can have a productive week leading up to the race and hope for the best when the green flag drops on Saturday afternoon.” Kitzmiller, a native of Petersburg, West Virginia is also eyeing his fifth career top-10 finish in the series in 2023. Last season, he competed in four races and delivered his fourth top-10 effort at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in July. With a stack of top-10 finishes to his credit, Kitzmiller says he would like to see his Todd Myers-led team in a spot to earn their first top-five finish during their limited schedule this season. “We have the speed, we just need the luck,” admitted Kitzmiller. “We’ve found ourselves in a position to be better than our best and something develops that takes us out of contention. Hopefully, we have paid our dues over the years and the dots can connect as we aim to have a strong season with our A.L.L. Construction Racing team.” In addition to the ARCA Menards Series, A.L.L. Construction Racing will also participate in select Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour Series events. “I am really looking forward to our 2023 season,” sounded Kitzmiller. “Between the ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Tour, I think we can not only have some fun but find ourselves in a position to win some races.” The BRANDT 200 Supporting Florida FFA (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2023 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Feb. 16 with a fifty-minute session from 4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 71st consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 18 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (XM channel 391 | online channel 981) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.