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FONTANA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2022) – It’s a surefire bet that NASCAR fans will savor each lap of the final NASCAR Cup Series race on Auto Club Speedway’s 2-mile oval. Pala Casino Spa Resort will make it even more memorable for race fans everywhere. Auto Club Speedway announced today that the final race on its 2-mile track will be named the Pala Casino 400. The event, scheduled for Feb. 26, 2023, is the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season and the highly anticipated follow-up to the DAYTONA 500. Moreover, it is part of a partnership which makes Pala Casino Spa Resort the Official Casino of Auto Club Speedway. It also adds an additional boost of excitement to an already historic weekend in the Inland Empire. In addition, Chris Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Ford will carry Pala Casino colors when the field takes the green flag for the historic event. “Our fans will notice right away the enthusiasm Pala Casino brings to the table,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “They are determined to create an unforgettable experience for our fans, and we look forward to working with them to make this final race on the 2-mile oval an event for the ages.” Pala Casino Spa Resort is certainly synonymous with excitement. It proudly bills itself as SoCal’s Entertainment Capital, which is not a stretch given that its Las Vegas-style casino includes an expansive gaming floor with over 2,000 slot and video machines, 78 table games, 9 restaurants and two lounges. The resort also includes the 2,000-seat Pala Events Center, outdoor Starlight Theater and luxury hotel. Yet it’s Pala Casino’s passion for racing and race fans that make its partnership with Auto Club Speedway an unbeatable pair of aces for 2023 and beyond. “As a casino that greatly appreciated competitive racing, Pala is thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Pala Casino 400 race in Fontana, and this historic final race at the Auto Club Speedway,” said Pala Casino spokesperson Coley McAvoy. “We value our new partnership with Chris Buescher and RFK Racing, as well as our continued partnership with NASCAR as we look forward to a very exciting event in February.” Tickets for the Pala Casino 400 are on sale now at www.autoclubspeedway.com . Fans are encouraged to purchase them now, as demand is high for this historic final race on the 2-mile surface known for its five-wide racing and legendary winners. The NASCAR Xfinity Series will also compete one final time on the 2-mile layout on Saturday, Feb. 25. Planning also continues for a new short track located on the current site, but details will be announced at a later date. About Pala Casino Spa Resort As SoCal’s Entertainment Capital, Pala Casino Spa Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino including an expansive gaming floor with over 2,000 slot and video machines, 78 table games, 9 restaurants, two lounges, 2,000-seat Pala Events Center, outdoor Starlight Theater and luxury hotel; five swimming pools with two hot tubs and 14 luxury cabanas. Pala Casino’s wide variety of HD premium sporting events enhance an exciting collection of live bands daily at both indoor and outdoor venues. Pala Casino Spa & Resort is an AAA Four-Diamond Award winner for 15 consecutive years. Pala Casino is conveniently located off 1-5 and Highway 76 and is easily accessible from all counties in Southern California. For more information, visit www.palacasino.com , www.facebook.com/palacasino , or www.twitter.com/palacasino . About Auto Club Speedway Located 50 miles east of Los Angeles in Fontana, Auto Club Speedway is California’s premier motorsports facility, hosting over 320 days of track activity each year including a NASCAR Cup Series weekend. The two-mile D-shaped oval is one of the fastest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. The Speedway is also home to numerous movie, television and commercial productions, photo shoots, new car testing, club racing and a variety of racing schools. For more information on events at Auto Club Speedway, call 1-800-944-RACE (7223), visit www.AutoClubSpeedway.com or download the new NASCAR Tracks App at www.autoclubspeedway.com/nascar-tracks-app/ About NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com , and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’). About RFK RFK Racing, in its 35th season of competition in 2022, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner himself in the NASCAR Truck Series, joins the ownership fold while piloting the iconic No. 6 Ford, and brings to the team a championship mindset himself having won the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Championship. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com , and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Joey Logano, the 2018 NASCAR Cup Champion and pilot of the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske is the most confident playoff contender in his ninth playoff run. Logano has made the Championship 4 five times (2022, ’20, ’18, ’16, ’14) tying him with Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch for the series-most appearances in the Championship 4. The number one thing driving Logano and his team is the idea that they aren’t simply happy to make it into the Championship 4, it isn’t a big enough prize to bring home. “I feel like we’re in a great spot right now. I feel like our team is in a great spot for a lot of reasons. For one, we’re not happy to be here. We’re not happy to be in the Championship 4. This isn’t enough for us”, said the veteran driver. At Saturday’s qualifying session, Logano had the fastest lap of 26.788 with a speed of 134.389mph earning his 26th career pole in the Shell Pennzoil Ford at Phoenix Raceway. His most important win of the season to date came at the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway which locked him in as the first driver in the Championship 4, giving the No. 22 team the advantage of a good three weeks to prepare for Championship Weekend in Phoenix. With sixteen top-ten’s and ten top-five’s, four poles in thirty-five starts, he may not have the most wins, but he has taken home the checkered flag where it counts most. On-call for the delivery of his third baby, Logano kicked off the 2022 season with an exciting win in Los Angeles at the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum for its inaugural run. While it was not a points race, he was the first to win a race in the Next Gen car on the pop-up short track. He successfully courted a trophy at the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, the track “too tough to tame” in the spring. His second win of the season came at the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Joey Logano has proven himself to be the most seasoned and consistent wheelman out of the remaining playoff drivers. If he is to be the beginning and end of the 2022 season, he must bring the season to a close with a win at Phoenix Raceway and he has all the confidence to lock it in for a second championship . “I’ve never felt more solid in this position than I do right now,” he said.

By Adam Carabine

By Adam Carabine & Crystal Clay While drama and a dirty move may have marred the Martinsville cutoff race, a clean, hard-fought battle resulted in a Ty Gibbs Xfinity Championship at Phoenix Raceway. The Championship Four were all involved from beginning to end. Gibbs, Noah Gragson and Justin Allgaier took the lead a collective 13 times. Josh Berry didn’t lead any laps but spent a majority of the race in the Top 5. The conversation around Ty Gibbs all week surrounded his last-lap move that turned his teammate Brandon Jones at Martinsville last Sunday. Gibbs not only took the win, but also knocked Jones out of the playoffs, resulting in a Championship Four where Gibbs was the only Joe Gibbs Racing driver. During media day, Ty Gibbs was downcast, remorseful, and ready to own his actions. “I have to face the fact that I made a mistake and I have to work as hard as I can to fix these issues. I put myself in this position, and I’m the one that did this to myself. It really hurts me because it’s my family’s team.” Much was made of Gragson’s comments about Gibbs, as clearly a fiery rivalry developed all season. “I’m just voicing my opinion, I don’t like him. I’m excited to race with Justin, excited to race with Josh, excited to race with a lot of the other guys in the field, but I’m just over it. I’m just sick and tired of the ‘I’m sorry, I’m trying to learn’ deal, like, it’s been two years.” What may have been disappointing in unnecessary drama was more than made up for in pure excitement. All of the Championship Four drivers raced each other clean and with respect. So much so, Gragson even went and shook Gibbs’ hand after the race, adding “He raced like a champion tonight, and he deserves it.” In response, Gibbs said, “I really respect him coming up. I feel like I’ve known him for a long time. Definitely some harsh words said, but that’s part of it, that’s part of the path. I definitely respect him, I feel like we had a lot of great racing with Noah and his teammates tonight.

By Crystal Clay and Adam Carabine Zane Smith, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 won the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway, earning him the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship. “I have literally stood in this parking lot 3 years in a row, not knowing what I’m going to do next year" said Smith. This was the third consecutive trip to the Championship 4 for the Huntington Beach native in his third full-time season in the truck series. After his win, Smith said “It’s been so cool to celebrate with family and friends, just, on the West Coast in general”. In his 2020 and 2021 Championship runs, he snagged back-to-back 2nd place finishes. On Thursday's media day Zane told reporters that he had the support of 7x Champion Jimmie Johnson, after last year's finish. “I text back and forth with Jimmie Johnson, and obviously he’s been in that situation a lot of times, but last year after losing it in probably the most brutal way, he texted saying ‘the sun will come up, don’t worry,’ and he was right.” The 23 year old is living proof of the old adage “Third time’s the charm”. Zane Smith swept all three stages of the race and led 77 laps, but the win was far from a cakewalk. Hailie Deegan brought out a caution with 15 laps to go, which led to some late-race pit strategy. As all four Championship contenders came down pit road, Zane Smith was the only one to take four tires. Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski both restarted ahead of him, but were only on two fresh tires. Just a few laps later, Majeski made light contact with Zane Smith’s rear bumper and spun with 2 to go, bringing out another caution - and an overtime finish. While all of the leaders stayed out, Zane Smith’s fresh tires took him all the way to Victory Lane. Crew chief Chris Lawson, on taking four tires said “I felt strongly about it, I didn’t second guess it even after we came out behind Rhodes. It was definitely the right call. Rhodes definitely held on better than I expected.”

by AJ Appeal The world of motorsports was blessed to have a television cable station in the 1990s and 2000s known as Speedvision. That network was revisioned then to Speed Channel, and eventually a simple 'Speed'. Whatever the network's name, fans of the automotive industry and auto racing were able to tune in 24 hours a day and enjoy a variety of content. The network was last owned by Fox Sports, which deactivated the brand on August 17th, 2013 in exchange for their then new FS1. Fans have demanded the return of SPEED branded programming for many years. In a press release last night, it was announced that SPEEDtube will be the next generation for auto themed content. (PRESS RELEASE) "Port Saint Lucie, FL (Nov. 2, 2022) – The talent behind PASSTIME, Drag Race High and Pinks! All Out are thrilled to announce the launch of SPEEDtube ( SpeedtubeTV - YouTube ), a reawakening of classic automotive and motorsports TV shows once followed by millions of enthusiasts on Speed channel, and new content sure to please all speed demons and fanatics alike. " The release did not mention specifics to licensing or ownership of the name, logo, or programming. Racing Refresh contacted the new owner of the brand, 'Boss One Media LLC' regarding details of the sale from Fox Sports. In an exchange of emails, we were provided the following information pertaining to the business part of this new network. The founder of Boss One Media, Brian Bossone provided us with the following information. "Boss One Media has purchased the rights, URL's and trademarks from FOX TV for multiple titles that aired on Speed Channel. We have no affiliation with FOX other than that and our Youtube Channel name is speedtube, one word." Their content can currently be seen only on a YouTube channel, but we expect that to expand over time. An early list of programs on their website was provided to include: PINKS! Lose the Race, Lose your Ride : PINKS pits contestants in a best two-out-of-three format, with the loser handing over the title (pink slip) to his or her vehicle. PASSTIME : Name the Time, Win the Cash, It’s that EASY! Its TV first automotive game show. Contestants guess the times of cars racing down the drag strip. PINKS ALL OUT : Hundreds of the best drag racers in the country bring their “A” game to the track in search of glory and their share or $18,000 in cash and prizes. PINKS ALL OUTTAKES : Coming off the success of “Pinks All Out” this series goes behind the scenes of the tournament race event to explore what a phenomenal success the “Pinks” series has become. Drag Race High : There is pride and glory at stake as two rival high schools battle it out in shop class and on the track. SPEEDtube is open to a variety of new content but has not committed to a permanent lineup of talent or on-air personalities quite yet. Longtime SPEED loyalists may notice that many of the shows mentioned above were formerly hosted or produced by Rich Christensen. "As for Rich Christensen, he was not involved in the purchase from FOX but we work with him on other projects he produces. We've been in talks with Motor Trend over the last year to bring back shows but these negotiations stalled due to the Warner merger. Hence, we felt it was time for the public to get the chance to view these awesome shows again and YouTube is the perfect platform to do it on. As for syndication, we are exploring all routes of distribution. Our goal simply is to share these shows with the fans and regain exposure for each one of them and take this momentum to produce new versions in the near future. " When SPEED channel closed in 2013, it was given a goodbye monologue by famed broadcaster Mike Joy. When his speech ended, the network transitioned to FS1 and never looked back. I'm optimistic to see how the new version is both presented and received. SPEEDtube intents dropping new content every Tuesday and Thursday both free of charge and commercial free for now. Details regarding future apps or subscriptions are not yet available. Stay tuned to Racing Refresh for more information as this story develops. MEDIA

PRESS RELEASE / INDYCAR 2023 14-Race Schedule Unveiled, Streaming to Fans on Peacock INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022) – The pathway to North America’s premier open-wheel racing series has a fresh, more youthful and energetic final level: INDY NXT by Firestone. INDY NXT will feature a new generation of global racing talent, competing vigorously for podiums and the opportunity to join the elite ranks of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The presenting sponsor and Official Tire of INDY NXT will be Firestone, also the Official Tire Supplier and longtime partner of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. INDY NXT by Firestone will emphasize talent development, while extending racing’s reach and impact to a younger and emerging consumer audience. The rebranded racing series, formerly known as Indy Lights, will stage 14 races in 2023, starting March 5 on the Streets of St. Petersburg and competing on a diverse set of ovals, road courses and street circuits. “We look forward to being part of the journey as INDY NXT enters a new era and expands our partnership with INDYCAR,” said Lisa Boggs, director of motorsports, Bridgestone Americas. “Having been in the series previously, we know how important it is for the development of the next generation of drivers, and we are proud to support them again. INDY NXT provides opportunities for Firestone to engage with new audiences and develop and showcase our technology.” Said INDYCAR President Jay Frye: “INDY NXT by Firestone will continue to develop and graduate new generations of racers ready to engage in breathtaking, high-stakes competition. Firestone is the perfect partner in this endeavor, with its innovative technology and authentic appreciation for INDY NXT and its vast potential.” Starting with the 2022 season, INDYCAR took over the management and operations of the developmental series. The launch of the new era included a vastly enhanced collaborative partnership with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, featuring integration in paddock spaces, marketing, digital assets and race officiating. The 2023 season will provide an additional opportunity for a reset and a new mission to emerge, guided by an ethos that aims to inspire and relate to Generation Z and the young talent piloting race cars. After an expansion of teams and car count in 2022, the 2023 season is expected to build on that momentum, with the highest entry list for the developmental series since 2009. The 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone championship still will compete on the same tracks and on the same weekends as the NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, providing further exposure to the series. As in 2022, the schedule consists of three doubleheader weekends: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Streets of Detroit and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where the 2023 INDY NXT champion will be crowned. Additionally, coverage of all 14 races once again will be available in the United States via Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Start times for the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone season will be announced at a later date. For more information about INDY NXT by Firestone, visit www.indynxt.com . 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone Schedule (Click HERE for printable schedule)

NHRA / Press Release POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2022) – Officials at NHRA and the Fairplex today announced an exciting long-term extension between the two longtime partners, ensuring NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series action will take place at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip through at least the 2033 season. The historic track has been the home of NHRA drag racing since 1953 and has hosted the NHRA Winternationals since 1961 and the NHRA Finals since 1984. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will also close out a thrilling, record-breaking 2022 year with the upcoming 57th annual Auto Club NHRA Finals at the legendary track in Pomona on Nov. 10-13. The partnership between NHRA and the Fairplex had originally run through the 2028 season, with the multi-year extension continuing to affirm the long-term commitment for NHRA championship drag racing twice a year at the facility for at least the next decade. “Fairplex is pleased to continue our relationship with the National Hot Rod Association. The City of Pomona and Fairplex are synonymous with drag racing and NHRA. There is so much history here, and now, we have a lot to look forward to in the future,” said Walter Marquez, President and CEO of Fairplex. For nearly seven decades, the historic facility has been a meaningful location for drag racing, with NHRA and Fairplex forging a lasting relationship. The track has played host to some of the biggest and most memorable moments in drag racing history, with drivers looking to leave their mark and craft their legacies with victories at the NHRA Winternationals and Finals. For the upcoming 2023 season at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, the 63rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals is set to take place in Pomona on March 30-April 2, with the 58th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals set for Nov. 9-12 next year. “Pomona is the birthplace of NHRA drag racing and it’s vitally important for us to continue that long tradition of racing at this premier Southern California location,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “We’re excited to extend this great partnership with the Fairplex and continue to work closely with Walter and his terrific team. The Winternationals and Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip are filled with such incredible history, and we’re thrilled to see that continue for years to come.” The Auto Club NHRA Finals serves as the final event of the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs in 2022, as world champions will be crowned in Pomona. To purchase tickets to the event or for more information about NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2022) – Erica Enders clinched her fifth Pro Stock world championship on Sunday, racing to her 10th victory of the season at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals to cap off a dream weekend at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the 21st event in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. In the final round, Enders knocked off teammate Troy Coughlin Jr. with a run of 6.640-seconds at 206.86 mph in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to collect her ninth Las Vegas win, which is the most for any professional driver in NHRA history. She clinched her fifth world title a round earlier with a pass of 6.639 at 206.67 against Kyle Koretsky, celebrating a massive moment in the career of one of the top drivers in Pro Stock history. In the finals, she clinched her 10th victory, which sets a single-season career-best for the 43-time event winner. “What an incredible day,” Enders said. “My crew chief said we were going to go for it, and I just had to drive. To qualify No. 1, win the race and win the championship, it’s been a badass day. As a personal goal, we wanted to get that 10th win and I have the best guys that stand beside me. They all make it possible for me and I’m living my dream. "This whole season has been a dream come true for our whole team. This season, like every season, we set out to win races and win a championship and we did just that. We spent the whole season with a No. 2 on the car and that didn't sit well with any of us. It lit a fire under our team to become champs again." Coughlin reached the final round for the fifth time in his breakout season, driving to wins against Camrie Caruso, Deric Kramer, and Cristian Cuadra. In Top Fuel, Brittany Force jumped back in the points lead with a dominant weekend, going 3.705 at 332.34 in her 11,000-horsepower Flav-R-Pac dragster to defeat Mike Salinas on a holeshot in the final round. After struggling at the first four races of the Countdown to the Championship and not advancing past the second round at any of them, Force regained her momentum in Las Vegas, sweeping both races at The Strip in the process this year. She also erased an 82-point deficit to Justin Ashley heading into the weekend – and then some. Ashley lost in the opening round, while Force picked up huge victories against Antron Brown – her first against him in eliminations this weekend – and Tony Schumacher to reach the finals. She posted a stellar .034 reaction time against Salinas to pick up her fifth win this season – and first since July – and 16th in her career. It also gave her a seven-point lead over Ashley heading toward what will be a must-see showdown in Pomona. “It’s huge to win on a holeshot,” Force. “It's a giveback to my guys for all the times they've carried me, so it's a thank you to them. They're incredible. We feel good really to be in this position. We've struggled in the entire Countdown, and we started to make ground last weekend and I screwed up, so coming in this weekend we really turned it around. It gives us a lot of confidence. This is our career-best season with five wins, and it's been a little while since we've been in that winner's circle, so today was a big turnaround for our team. We want (the championship) so bad and we're going to chase this thing until the end.” Salinas picked up wins against Leah Pruett, Clay Millican, who upset Ashley in the opening round, and Austin Prock to reach the finals. He also moved into third and trails Force by 66 points with one race remaining." Hagan stayed alive in the Funny Car championship hunt, going 3.896 at 330.23 in his 11,000-horsepower Dodge Power Brokers Charger SRT Hellcat to defeat points leader Robert Hight in the championship round and collect his fourth win this season. Knowing it was a must-win situation, Hagan picked up his first victory since June, closing to within 63 points of Hight heading to the Auto Club NHRA Finals. He needed two holeshots to do it, including an opening-round win against Steven Densham and in the semifinals against Bob Tasca III, setting up the marquee matchup with Hight. It gives Hagan four wins in Las Vegas and 43 wins in his career – as well as a shot at a fourth championship in two weeks. “My guys are making some real power it's running strong, man," Hagan said. "They put a great hot rod underneath me, and to come out here on Sunday, and win on two holeshots and get my team that little extra bump of what we needed to keep going, it’s great. "I don't know what it is about these later races, we just always do well here and in Pomona as well. I feel the momentum building back. I feel like these are our type of races, our type of conditions, and Pomona, I have done really, really well. It's such a historical place to be, they crowned champions there, and when you roll into Pomona, you know, history is going to be made." Hight advanced to his 12th final round in his standout season and the 96th in his career thanks to victories against Jeff Arend, Alexis DeJoria, and J.R. Todd. He’ll take a 61-point lead into Pomona, where he will also seek a fourth championship. Hector Arana Jr. has now won eight straight rounds and picked up his second straight Pro Stock Motorcycle victory, knocking off points leader Matt Smith on a holeshot in the final round on his GETTRX Buell. Arana went 6.866 at 196.42 in the final round, using a .009 reaction time to hold off Smith and his run of 6.862 at 198.47. It hands Arana his 17th career win and his third in Las Vegas, and the standout did it after qualifying No. 15. He knocked off Angelle Sampey, Eddie Krawiec and Angie Smith to reach the final round, ending his day with three holeshot victories and plenty of momentum to take into the off-season. “It was a fight just to get here,” Arana Jr. said. “Dallas was supposed to be our last race. Honestly, we weren’t prepared. We had to go home and rebuild engines after Dallas. I struggled a little in qualifying, but we had a back-up plan for race day. I did win a couple of races on holeshots, but you’ve got to have the pace to get there, and we had that. I have a lot of confidence right now. I can’t wait to go to Pomona and keep going. We found our groove pretty quickly. Now, our mission is to get the funding we need to come back next year.” Smith reached the final round for the 71st time in his career and the sixth time in 2022 thanks to round wins against Katie Justice, Chip Ellis, and Jerry Savoie. Smith also built his points lead and now has a 104-point advantage over Joey Gladstone heading to the finale. In the Legends Nitro Funny Cars presented by Red Line Oil category, Bobby Cottrell defeated Billy Morris in the final round with his run of 4.742 at 238.55. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series closes its 2022 season with the 57th Auto Club NHRA Finals in Pomona on Nov. 10-13. *** LAS VEGAS -- Final finish order (1-16) at the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race is the 21st of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. TOP FUEL: 1. Brittany Force; 2. Mike Salinas; 3. Austin Prock; 4. Tony Schumacher; 5. Steve Torrence; 6. Shawn Langdon; 7. Antron Brown; 8. Clay Millican; 9. Josh Hart; 10. Doug Kalitta; 11. Justin Ashley; 12. Krista Baldwin; 13. Cameron Ferre; 14. Rob Passey; 15. Leah Pruett. FUNNY CAR: 1. Matt Hagan; 2. Robert Hight; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Bob Tasca III; 5. Alexis DeJoria; 6. Ron Capps; 7. Chad Green; 8. John Force; 9. Tim Wilkerson; 10. Cruz Pedregon; 11. Jim Campbell; 12. Steven Densham; 13. Bobby Bode; 14. Jeff Arend; 15. Blake Alexander; 16. Paul Lee. PRO STOCK: 1. Erica Enders; 2. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 3. Kyle Koretsky; 4. Cristian Cuadra; 5. Aaron Stanfield; 6. Dallas Glenn; 7. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 8. Deric Kramer; 9. Bo Butner; 10. Matt Hartford; 11. Mason McGaha; 12. Camrie Caruso; 13. Greg Anderson; 14. Fernando Cuadra; 15. Chris McGaha; 16. Kenny Delco. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Hector Arana Jr; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Angie Smith; 4. Jerry Savoie; 5. Eddie Krawiec; 6. Joey Gladstone; 7. Chip Ellis; 8. Ryan Oehler; 9. Angelle Sampey; 10. Steve Johnson; 11. Gaige Herrera; 12. Karen Stoffer; 13. Jianna Evaristo; 14. Katie Justice; 15. Chris Bostick; 16. Marc Ingwersen. LAS VEGAS -- Sunday's final results from the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The race is the 21st of 22 in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel -- Brittany Force, 3.705 seconds, 332.34 mph def. Mike Salinas, 3.702 seconds, 324.90 mph. Funny Car -- Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.896, 330.23 def. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 6.157, 111.12. Pro Stock -- Erica Enders, Chevy Camaro, 6.640, 206.86 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.668, 206.48. Pro Stock Motorcycle -- Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.866, 196.42 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.862, 198.47. Top Alcohol Dragster -- Madison Payne, 5.262, 275.90 def. Tony Stewart, 5.258, 271.57. Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Doug Gordon, Chevy Camaro, 5.479, 265.38 def. Annie Whiteley, Camaro, 5.518, 265.27. Super Stock -- Tyler Wudarczyk, Chevy Camaro, 10.688, 113.48 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 10.053, 127.67. Stock Eliminator -- Leo Glasbrenner, Chevy Camaro, 9.543, 136.62 def. Steve Wann, Plymouth Savoy, 10.130, 127.82. Super Comp -- Ken Mostowich, Chevy Camaro, 9.079, 169.87 def. Gabriel Torres, Dragster, 9.048, 167.97. Super Gas -- Chris Lewis, Chevy Camaro, 10.054, 159.57 def. Dave Holmes, Plymouth Savoy, 10.070, 142.55. Top Dragster presented by Vortech Superchargers -- Aaron Steinkey, Dragster, 6.850, 194.60 def. Jeff Korn, Dragster, 6.254, 225.63. Nostalgia Funny Car -- Bobby Cottrell, Chevy Camaro, 4.742, 238.55 def. Billy Morris, Camaro, Foul - Red Light. Summit Super Pro -- Carl Keil II, Dragster, 7.678, 172.30 def. Brendan George, Dragster, 7.776, 157.03. Summit Pro ET -- Andy Anderson, Chevy S-10, 9.176, 146.18 def. Steve Lambert, Chevy El Camino, Foul - Red Light. Summit Sportsman -- Jason Hildebrandt, Plymouth Valiant, 11.869, 110.01 def. Paul Northrop, Chevy Camaro, 11.875, 107.63. Summit ET Motorcycle -- Garreth Sheppeard, Hayabusa, 8.120, 166.23 def. Dalton Markham, Hayabusa, 9.147, 135.54. Summit Street Legal EV -- Craig Merrilees, Tesla, 11.548, 115.09 def. Alex Fangmann, Tesla, 12.427, 114.15. LAS VEGAS -- Final round-by-round results from the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 21st of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series: TOP FUEL: ROUND ONE -- Antron Brown, 3.709, 330.23 def. Doug Kalitta, 3.751, 328.38; Tony Schumacher, 3.707, 327.66 def. Rob Passey, 4.215, 289.51; Brittany Force, 3.671, 336.91 was unopposed; Austin Prock, 3.744, 324.28 def. Cameron Ferre, 4.040, 261.72; Clay Millican, 3.695, 330.72 def. Justin Ashley, 3.754, 332.67; Shawn Langdon, 3.770, 324.98 def. Krista Baldwin, 3.879, 293.03; Mike Salinas, 3.723, 329.58 def. Leah Pruett, 4.375, 173.18; Steve Torrence, 3.690, 331.85 def. Josh Hart, 3.719, 331.77; QUARTERFINALS -- Schumacher, 3.764, 327.27 def. Langdon, 3.762, 324.44; Force, 3.732, 327.98 def. Brown, 4.156, 211.06; Salinas, 3.700, 326.16 def. Millican, 4.292, 199.94; Prock, 3.732, 327.19 def. Torrence, 3.733, 321.81; SEMIFINALS -- Force, 3.712, 331.85 def. Schumacher, 4.075, 216.55; Salinas, 3.726, 328.62 def. Prock, 3.806, 313.88; FINAL -- Force, 3.705, 332.34 def. Salinas, 3.702, 324.90. FUNNY CAR: ROUND ONE -- J.R. Todd, Toyota Supra, 3.944, 328.54 def. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.992, 281.54; Bob Tasca III, Ford Mustang, 3.884, 325.30 def. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.152, 243.11; Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.881, 331.04 def. Jeff Arend, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.161, 285.35; Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.123, 254.62 def. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.121, 275.00; John Force, Camaro, 3.915, 326.56 def. Blake Alexander, Mustang, 5.715, 123.79; Ron Capps, Supra, 3.891, 330.07 def. Jim Campbell, Charger, 4.008, 315.78; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.944, 321.88 def. Tim Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.932, 328.54; Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.906, 328.86 def. Paul Lee, Charger, 9.415, 76.88; QUARTERFINALS -- Hagan, 3.909, 331.77 def. Green, 3.940, 320.20; Hight, 3.894, 327.03 def. DeJoria, 3.907, 326.24; Tasca III, 3.914, 329.75 def. Capps, 3.938, 329.42; Todd, 3.889, 329.83 def. Force, 3.957, 328.06; SEMIFINALS -- Hagan, 3.924, 330.07 def. Tasca III, 3.904, 328.86; Hight, 3.878, 330.15 def. Todd, 3.898, 324.05; FINAL -- Hagan, 3.896, 330.23 def. Hight, 6.157, 111.12. PRO STOCK: ROUND ONE -- Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.635, 205.41 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.667, 205.91; Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.654, 205.88 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.644, 206.10; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.627, 206.89 def. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.665, 205.54; Fernando Cuadra Jr., Mustang, 6.655, 205.76 def. Bo Butner, Camaro, 6.627, 206.61; Kyle Koretsky, Camaro, 6.639, 205.16 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.652, 207.18; Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.636, 206.35 def. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.680, 204.35; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.629, 206.48 def. Fernando Cuadra, Mustang, Foul - Red Light; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.604, 207.21 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.687, 206.54; QUARTERFINALS -- Koretsky, 6.664, 204.91 def. Cuadra Jr., 6.680, 204.17; C. Cuadra, 6.669, 205.88 def. Stanfield, 6.647, 206.10; Coughlin Jr., 6.668, 206.07 def. Kramer, 6.689, 204.70; Enders, 6.645, 206.57 def. Glenn, 6.663, 205.32; SEMIFINALS -- Coughlin Jr., 6.657, 206.29 def. C. Cuadra, 6.691, 205.07; Enders, 6.639, 206.67 def. Koretsky, 6.663, 205.91; FINAL -- Enders, 6.640, 206.86 def. Coughlin Jr., 6.668, 206.48. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: ROUND ONE -- Chip Ellis, 6.915, 195.28 def. Marc Ingwersen, 7.793, 124.11; Eddie Krawiec, Suzuki, 6.892, 195.03 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.250, 158.82; Angie Smith, 6.907, 195.82 def. Jianna Evaristo, Suzuki, 6.990, 191.21; Joey Gladstone, Suzuki, 6.918, 194.52 def. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 6.987, 192.91; Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.881, 195.59 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.974, 189.87; Ryan Oehler, 6.971, 192.74 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.928, 192.88; Hector Arana Jr, Buell, 6.905, 195.85 def. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, Foul - Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.872, 197.77 def. Katie Justice, Suzuki, 7.032, 190.92; QUARTERFINALS -- A. Smith, 6.910, 195.19 def. Gladstone, 6.928, 194.02; Arana Jr, 6.884, 195.99 def. Krawiec, 6.904, 194.77; Savoie, 6.908, 194.69 def. Oehler, 7.060, 190.43; M. Smith, 6.870, 198.73 def. Ellis, 6.931, 194.69; SEMIFINALS -- Arana Jr, 6.908, 196.22 def. A. Smith, 6.900, 195.17; M. Smith, 6.867, 198.15 def. Savoie, 6.912, 194.44; FINAL -- Arana Jr, 6.866, 196.42 def. M. Smith, 6.862, 198.47. LAS VEGAS -- Point standings (top 10) following the 22nd annual NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 21st of 22 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series - Top Fuel 1. Brittany Force, 2,468; 2. Justin Ashley, 2,461; 3. Mike Salinas, 2,402; 4. Antron Brown, 2,390; 5. Steve Torrence, 2,381; 6. Austin Prock, 2,342; 7. Josh Hart, 2,307; 8. Shawn Langdon, 2,290; 9. Doug Kalitta, 2,284; 10. Clay Millican, 2,269. Funny Car 1. Robert Hight, 2,592; 2. Ron Capps, 2,531; 3. Matt Hagan, 2,529; 4. John Force, 2,406; 5. Bob Tasca III, 2,391; 6. J.R. Todd, 2,295; 7. Tim Wilkerson, 2,261; 8. Alexis DeJoria, 2,259; 9. Cruz Pedregon, 2,222; 10. Blake Alexander, 2,150. Pro Stock 1. Erica Enders, 2,684; 2. Aaron Stanfield, 2,460; 3. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,440; 4. Kyle Koretsky, 2,406; 5. Greg Anderson, 2,396; 6. Dallas Glenn, 2,319; 7. Matt Hartford, 2,318; 8. Cristian Cuadra, 2,216; 9. Deric Kramer, 2,205; 10. Mason McGaha, 2,188. Pro Stock Motorcycle 1. Matt Smith, 2,484; 2. Joey Gladstone, 2,380; 3. Jerry Savoie, 2,348; 4. Angie Smith, 2,336; 5. Steve Johnson, 2,297; 6. Eddie Krawiec, 2,291; 7. Angelle Sampey, 2,259; 8. Marc Ingwersen, 2,204; 9. Ryan Oehler, 2,180; 10. Karen Stoffer, 2,172. -NHRA-

By Adam Carabine

Race Appeal Radio RETURNS, this time on RacingRefresh.com Episode B-01 for new format. Show topics: Tony Stewart to make his NHRA Alcohol Debut. NASCAR driver Howie DiSavino III visits to discuss his upcoming Martinsville run. And a look back at Ricky Hendrick’s legacy along with the memories of flight N501RH Plus! A new closing style titled, 'People Who Helped' recognizes individuals that we believe deserve recognition for our continued success. Runtime: 26 minutes LINKS MENTIONED IN SHOW Travis Mills Foundation: https://www.travismills.org/ Southwest Airlines: http://Southwest.com/RRTerms Hendrick Marrow: Ricky.RacingRefresh.com Advance Auto Parts: http://AdvancedAuto.com Follow DiSavino III on all social media apps, username @HowieDiSavino. Album Art, 2022/23 Season 2022 - Appeal 5 LLC *The information provided in this episode of Race Appeal Radio, and the views expressed by our creative team, writers, and guests do not directly reflect those of the various forms of motorsports that Racing Refresh covers, nor our sponsors and partners.

The South Point 400 could have been a bonanza for Bubba Wallace in Vegas, but in the eyes of many he bet all his chips on seeing red. The NASCAR Twitter community let it ride with tweets expressing disappointment in Wallace, not only for storming out of his vehicle and charging towards Larson, but vilifying him for what they too, accepted as intentional weaponization of his vehicle and complete loss of control over his emotions. There is an over-abundance of social media outcry for NASCAR to issue punishments as severe as a suspension with fines and being dropped by some of the sport’s biggest sponsors. Wallace had a rocket. He won Stage 1, his second stage win in 2022, under a caution triggered by the No. 18 of Kyle Bush and led 29 laps, the most he’s led at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to date. In Stage 2, Kyle Larson in the No. 5 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports sent the 23XI Racing Toyota of Bubba Wallace into the wall, collecting the sole playoff contender in the crackup, the No. 20 JGR Toyota of Christopher Bell. All three drivers, as a result, received DNF’s for the day. When going into turn 3, Larson endeavored a three-wide pass. Wallace refused to lift and stated that he wasn’t in any position to lift. Larson confirmed, “I made an aggressive move into 3. Got in low, got loose and chased it up a bit. I mean, he got to my right front, and it got him tight into the wall.” Wallace called it “a piss poor move on his [Larson’s] execution.” Naturally, many were quick to point the finger at Wallace with quick observation, making claims that hooking Larson was retaliatory. Daniels, on the No. 5 team’s radio, expressed the sentiment, “If that wasn’t retaliation, I don’t know what is.” “His race wasn’t over until he retaliated,” said Larson after he was released from the infield care center. Throttle and steering data can be used to support the notion that Wallace’s slide down the track was intentional; however, nothing is certain until NASCAR completes a thorough investigation. When Wallace made the claim that “the steering was gone,” pitchforks were already out. People stood by the conviction that he retaliated while ignoring the fragility of the NextGen car’s steering. As for Wallace’s behavior after the accident and compromising Christopher Bell’s championship contention, he has publicly apologized. When it comes to Vegas, the best lessons learned are understanding how crucial it is to know your limits and to make sure you are playing a fair game at an honest table.

TSR NITRO / True Speed Communications / Press Release COLUMBUS, Ind. (Oct. 24, 2022) – After two multi-day sessions at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and a handful of tests over the last two years in both a Top Alcohol dragster and a Top Fuel dragster, Tony Stewart is ready for the real thing. The versatile racer who owns driving championships across NASCAR, INDYCAR and USAC, along with hundreds of victories on oval tracks, dirt tracks and road courses, will throttle up behind the wheel of a Top Alcohol dragster during the NHRA Nevada Nationals Oct. 28-30 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” Stewart said. “It’s definitely going to be a big learning curve, and to do it at a national event right out of the gate adds to the challenge. But it’s something I’ve really been wanting to do and I’ve been working toward this moment. I’m not taking it lightly. It’s a serious business and I’m going to be as prepared as possible when I get to Las Vegas.” Stewart will make his debut driving for McPhillips Racing in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. “The team I’m driving for, McPhillips Racing, has been awesome to work with,” Stewart said. “They felt like I was ready to compete. With their confidence, that’s given me the confidence and courage to try something new and take the leap.” Even with all the newness that will surround Stewart, he will have support from longtime partner Mobil 1, the world’s leading brand of synthetic motor oil. “Throughout his storied career, Tony has been known for his commitment and dedication to his craft, which is why he’s long been a perfect fit as a Mobil 1 partner,” said Rob Shearer, ExxonMobil Director Global Lubricants Marketing Services and Sponsorships. “His desire to be exceptional has always aligned with our goal to do the same. His laser focus and intense competitive spirit that we all know so well will be on display once again, but this time on a quarter-mile dragstrip. We’re looking forward to cheering him on in his NHRA debut.” Stewart won his third and final NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2011 with Mobil 1 as both a sponsor and technical partner. It’s a 12-year-and-counting partnership that encompasses Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR and Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) in the NHRA and World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. “Mobil 1 is more than just a sponsor – they’re a partner that provides us with a competitive advantage to get the most out of our cars,” Stewart said. “I love driving and it’s the most fun when our cars are running at their best – and Mobil 1 makes that possible. Their technology gives me a strong sense of security when I’m behind the wheel and a tremendous amount of pride whenever we put a racecar on the track.” While Stewart is best known for his NASCAR exploits, most notably three NASCAR Cup Series championships and induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Columbus, Indiana-native has become a mainstay in the NHRA paddock. Stewart is married to Top Fuel driver Leah Pruett, a 10-time winner in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, and his eponymous race team made its NHRA debut earlier this year in the season opener in Pomona, California, and has since placed both Pruett and her Funny Car teammate, Matt Hagan, in the Countdown to the Championship. “I’ve been a rookie in a lot of different cars over the course of my career. That part won’t be new, but the drag racing side is so different from anything I’ve driven in the past. It’s all about procedures and knowing the routine and doing it the same every time,” Stewart said. “In all the other forms of racing, you blow a corner and you fix it and do better the next lap. There is no next lap if you screw up in these cars. You have to do it the same every time for the team to be able to tune the car the right way, and you have to do your job. You have to cut good lights and stay in the groove. “There are a lot of things people don’t think about just by watching on television. I’ve learned a lot from our teams this year. I’m sure it will be sensory overload, but you have to start somewhere. “The McPhillips family is awesome and they’re great teachers, and when your wife is a professional driver and you have a teammate like Matt Hagan, they’re teaching me everything I need to know. I’m excited about finally getting the opportunity to do what they do.” When Stewart makes his first pass as part of the NHRA Nevada Nationals, it will add to an already impressive racing resume. The 51-year-old has competed in NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA, USAC and an array of sprint car series, including the World of Outlaws and All Star Circuit of Champions. Stewart has also driven a Formula 1 car, having sampled Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 championship-winning machine on June 14, 2011 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International during a promotional event for Mobil 1. “Tony Stewart is one of the most talented and versatile drivers in motorsports history, winning in every discipline in which he’s competed,” said Jei Gort, ExxonMobil Global Motorsports and Sponsorships Manager. “His love of racing is unwavering, and we’re proud to have him represent the Mobil 1 brand as he takes on this new challenge in the NHRA. “Both driver and machine face extreme conditions on the dragstrip, and demanding environments are where Tony and Mobil 1 technology thrive. This should be an outstanding combination – just as it has been so many times before.” Even with 13 driving championships to his resume, Stewart is taking a methodical approach to his NHRA debut. “My expectations are just to gain experience and knowledge throughout the weekend,” Stewart said. “It will be nice to go from getting to drive the car to actually competing. Hopefully, we’ll have a good weekend and I’ll get to make a lot of passes.” The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series is the premier Sportsman racing program in motorsports. The series features eight categories, highlighted by the 270+ mph Top Alcohol dragsters, the stepping-stone division into the nitro categories of Top Fuel and Funny Car in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. Stewart and his Top Alcohol counterparts begin their NHRA Nevada Nationals weekend on Friday, Oct. 28 with Q1 at 11:15 a.m. PDT/2:15 p.m. EDT and Q2 at 5:45 p.m. PDT/8:45 p.m. EDT. Saturday, Oct. 29 begins with Q3 at 10:30 a.m. PDT/1:30 p.m. EDT with Round 1 of eliminations at 2:30 p.m. PDT/5:30 p.m. EDT and Round 2 at 5:45 p.m. PDT/8:45 p.m. EDT. The weekend culminates on Sunday, Oct. 30 with Semifinals at 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT and Finals at 3:50 p.m. PDT/6:50 p.m. EDT. All the action will be streamed live on NHRA.TV.

NASCAR Wire Release HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Kyle Larson has led a lot of laps and come awfully close to hoisting a trophy at Homestead-Miami Speedway. On Sunday he finally did both, winning the Dixie Vodka 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race in dominant form. Larson swept both Stage wins and led 199 of the race’s 267 laps in the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet to pull away to a 1.261-second victory over Florida native Ross Chastain in the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevy. Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger was third with Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon and Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing’s Brad Keselowski rounding out the top five. It is the 2012 series champion Keselowski’s first Top-five finish since becoming co-owner of the organization this season. The win was 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Larson’s third of the year and 19th of his career – but the first at the 1.5-mile Homestead oval after a pair of previous near-misses. He led a race best 132 laps in 2016, but finished runner-up. He led 145 laps in 2017 and finished third. “No matter what team I’ve been with, things haven’t worked out on my end to get a win, so glad to get one today,’’ Larson said. “Definitely the best run we’ve had all year long,’’ he added. “We’ve been capable of it I feel like many weekends, we just hadn’t quite put it all together. [Crew chief] Cliff [Daniels] gave a great speech this morning and got us all ready to go and focused. “Amazing race car,’’ he noted with a smile. The 30-year-old Californian was eliminated from the Playoffs in the last round, so Chastain was the top-finishing championship contender with only one race – next week at Martinsville, Va. – to set the four driver Championship field for the Nov. 6 season finale at Phoenix. Only two Playoff drivers finished in the Top-10 Sunday at Homestead: Chastain and Denny Hamlin, who was seventh in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Playoff drivers Christopher Bell (finished 11th), Sunday’s polesitter William Byron (12th), Chase Elliott (14th), Ryan Blaney (17th) and Joey Logano (18th) were still running on the lead lap at the checkered flag. The eighth Playoff-eligible driver, Chase Briscoe, finished last (36th) after making contact with the wall on lap 160. Hamlin (four laps), Bell (four laps) and Byron (33 laps) all spent time leading the field before various setbacks. Team Penske’s Logano is the only Playoff driver who has already earned his position in the Championship race thanks to a victory at Las Vegas a week ago. Chastain, Elliott and Byron now complete the Top-four driver ranking. Hamlin sits in fifth place, five points below Byron. Blaney is 18 points below the cutline, Bell, 33 back and Briscoe now essentially in a must-win situation, trailing by 44 points. With his victory, Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet is eligible for the owner’s title. While Larson dominated the laps-led category and even paced the field by more than 9-seconds at one point late in the race, he had to earn this trophy after a late-race caution flag. Martin Truex Jr. had taken the lead after a caution period with 46 laps remaining and pulled away to a nearly 2-second lead when the final yellow flag flew again with 23 laps remaining. As the field pitted, Larson’s Chevy was right behind Truex’s Toyota and it appeared Truex was going to miss his pit box when Larson’s car bumped Truex’s car from behind. The contact spun Truex, whose team was still able to service the car, but he fell outside the Top-10 initially before racing back up to a sixth-place finish. “I was just going behind him and he had a hard left and was hard on the brakes at the same time and I got into the back of him, ‘’ Larson explained of the incident. “My team said he was late getting into his stall. I don’t know. If it was my fault I’m sorry, but I don’t think it was. It’s hard to see on this pit road. .. hate that happened. He was definitely the one I was going to have to beat.” Truex, who is still racing for his first victory of 2022, was obviously disappointed in the outcome, but could only shake his head at the circumstances. “It’s really hard to see through these windshields with the sun like that and all the stuff covering it,’’ Truex said. “I did see my box late for sure, so I slowed down before I turned out of the way of the 5 (Larson) there. “Partly on me, I didn’t expect to get turned around and glad nobody got hurt there. Overall, just tough, just disappointing to have a good day going like that and have a shot at winning and couldn’t close the deal. I hate it for my team. “It’s been one of those years.” The final race to set the Championship 4 is next Sunday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the Xfinity 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman is the defending race winner, but won’t be competing while recovering from concussion-like symptoms. His teammate Byron won at Martinsville earlier this season. NASCAR Cup Series Race – 24th Annual Dixie Vodka 400 Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida Sunday, October 23, 2022 (5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 267. (20) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 267. (10) AJ Allmendinger(i), Chevrolet, 267. (32) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267. (9) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267. (12) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267. (14) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 267. (16) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 267. (11) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267. (23) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 267. (2) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 267. (1) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 267. (8) Chris Buescher, Ford, 267. (3) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 267. (27) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 267. (18) Michael McDowell, Ford, 267. (13) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 267. (17) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 267. (26) Austin Cindric #, Ford, 267. (21) Harrison Burton #, Ford, 267. (28) Aric Almirola, Ford, 267. (6) Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, 267. (31) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 267. (25) Cole Custer, Ford, 266. (24) Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, 266. (30) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 266. (4) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, 266. (15) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 266. (33) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 266. (22) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 264. (29) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 264. (34) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 263. (35) BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 262. (36) Cody Ware, Ford, 262. (7) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, Accident, 242. (19) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, Accident, 160. Average Speed of Race Winner: 129.612 mph. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 5 Mins, 24 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.261 Seconds. Caution Flags: 5 for 30 laps. Lead Changes: 11 among 5 drivers. Lap Leaders: W. Byron (P) 1-26;K. Larson (P) 27-32;W. Byron (P) 33-37;K. Larson (P) 38-87;W. Byron (P) 88;K. Larson (P) 89-122;C. Bell (P) 123-126;K. Larson (P) 127-213;M. Truex Jr. 214-216;D. Hamlin (P) 217-220;M. Truex Jr. 221-245;K. Larson (P) 246-267. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Larson (P) 5 times for 199 laps; William Byron (P) 3 times for 32 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 2 times for 28 laps; Christopher Bell (P) 1 time for 4 laps; Denny Hamlin (P) 1 time for 4 laps. Stage #1 Top Ten: 5,24,19,8,3,16,6,9,12,22 Stage #2 Top Ten: 5,19,24,12,6,9,99,1,22,11

Photo Credit: Crystal Clay By Adam Carabine Even before winning Sunday’s Cup Series Round of 8 Playoff race in Las Vegas, Joey Logano was a big favourite. The 32-year old Connecticut-born driver has always excelled at the track in the desert, and this weekend was no exception. Coming into this weekend’s playoff race, Logano’s average finish at Las Vegas was 8.89 – best of all current full-time Cup drivers. It’s also the only track where his average finish is below 10 (minimum 5 starts). “It’s just one of those tracks that, I don’t know why, it just suits my style a little bit,” said Logano before practice and qualifying. And suit his style, it did. The #22 Shell Pennzoil Mustang ran near the front all day long, but a late race strategy call to give up a little track position for slightly fresher tires sent him to the lead when it counted. Crew Chief Paul Wolfe, on the decision to take 4 fresh tires with 26 laps to go: “I felt like tires meant something today, and everyone had 8 or 9 laps on our tires. Honestly, I was just surprised that more guys in front of us didn’t peel off to come down for tires as well. That was a better scenario for us when everyone in front of us stayed out, and I think there were only three cars that were running behind us that stayed out. So really, we gave up three spots for four new tires, I thought that was a pretty good trade-off.” Then leader Ross Chastain tried his best to hold Logano off, but it was not to be. After the race, he told media, “Losing today hurts really really good. Competing for wins, in the Cup Series, in the playoffs, relevant, leading laps, both [teammate Daniel Suarez] and I, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I don’t want the trophy, I just want a chance for it. But now that we’re here, of course, we’re human, and it hurts to lose. But we’re going to go to Homestead and have some fun.” With both Logano and Chastain having reputations for a “win-at-all-costs” mentality, the late-race pass for the win was respectful and clean. Logano said, “[Chastain] and I, we have a great relationship. I’ve talked to him a lot, and we have a mutual understanding of how each other races, and honestly we work together pretty well on the race track.” “I thought, boy, he’s going to be willing to do a lot to get in [to the Championship Four], and my thoughts were, I need to make sure I am 100% positive that when I break the plane of his bumper, I am going to pass him. And don’t give him a chance to door-bang me down the straightaways or do anything. People are willing to do a lot of things when they’re desperate.” With this win (his 3rd at Las Vegas), Joey Logano can now look forward a few weeks to Phoenix, rather than worrying about whether he’ll be in contention when they get there. Logano may not know exactly why he performs so well at Las Vegas, but he recognizes his strength at the track, and is happy it sits where it does on the schedule, with maybe one little suggestion… “It’s a very important race in the Round of 8, heck yeah! It’s great! We should bring the Championship here! [laughs]”