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By Adam Carabine The StatChat Power Rankings are focusing in on the 16 Cup Series Playoff Drivers.  Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races   Chase Briscoe – This week: 16th – Last week: 14th It wasn’t an abysmal day at Vegas for Chase Briscoe, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from dropping to the bottom of the Power Rankings.  P26, no stage points, etc.  Now that he’s out of the playoffs, is Stewart-Haas on cruise control until the end?   Harrison Burton – This week: 15th – Last week: 16th A pretty solid run at Vegas for Burton this past weekend, he moves up from the last place in our Power Rankings after weeks stuck at the bottom.  Can he finish the year strong?   Ty Gibbs – This week: 14th – Last week: 12th To be fair to Ty Gibbs, there’s been a nasty string of bad luck with the 54 team over the past few weeks.  He qualified 8th, but was unable to overcome adversity on the day and finished 30th at Vegas, 3 laps down.   Brad Keselowski – This week: 13th – Last week: 11th Unfortunately for Brad, he only made it 89 laps before parking it with a DNF at Vegas.  Aside from a runner-up finish at Talladega, Keselowski’s finished 19th or worse in every race of the playoffs.  He’ll need to tidy that up to stop this freefall.   Tyler Reddick – This week: 12th – Last week: 13th While he managed to start on the front row at Vegas, and earned a stage victory, it was not meant to be his day, as he crashed out (and barrel rolled) with Brad Keselowski, finishing 35th.  His underlying numbers were good up until that point, so he moves up a spot, but he’ll need more if he wants to make it to the Championship Four.   Daniel Suarez  – This week: 11th – Last week: 15th  A big jump in the Power Rankings after a gutsy strategy call earned Suarez a P3 at Vegas.  Yes, Suarez was out on older tires with quickly diminishing fuel, but he managed to cut out an extra pit stop on the final run, and it earned him a Top 5.   Austin Cindric – This week: 10th – Last week: 9th Maybe surprisingly, it’s been a decent playoff stretch for Austin Cindric.  Yes, he’s out of the championship hunt, but he’s had a solid showing through most of the playoffs.  Vegas was unfortunately an exception, as he was involved in an incident and finished 34th.   Ryan Blaney – This week: 9th  – Last week: 8th While Blaney managed to finish the race at Vegas, it was a tough day for the defending champ.  P32 is not the way to get yourself back into the Championship Four, though most of that was not his fault – just a wrong-place-wrong-time situation.   Alex Bowman – This week: 8th – Last week: 6th Poor Alex, eliminated last week from the playoffs after a disqualification, it sounds like he had the week from hell.  You wouldn’t have been able to tell just by looking on Sunday at Vegas, though, as he finished in the Top 5.    Denny Hamlin – This week: 7th – Last week: 4th It was a quiet Top 10 for Hamlin at Vegas, but his underlying numbers showed he was on track for a worse finish than he got.  He’ll need some more solid finishes to move up our Power Rankings again, and more importantly, to punch his ticket to the Championship Four at Phoenix.   Joey Logano – This week: 6th – Last week: 10th From out of the playoffs one week, to locked into the Championship race the next, it’s been a whirlwind for Logano. He snuck into this Round of 8 after Alex Bowman’s DQ at the Charlotte Roval.  Lucky for him, Vegas is one of his best tracks, and he proved that he’s the master of fuel savings.   Chase Elliott – This week: 5th – Last week: 3rd Vegas turned out to be a rough day for many of the playoff hopefuls, and Elliott was no different.  He now sits in the 8th spot of the standings, and will likely need a win to get his way into the Championship Four, as he’s -53 pts to the cutline.    Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 4th – Last week: 7th Vegas is Martin Truex Jr.’s best track on the schedule by average finish, and it showed again last Sunday.  While his playoff run (and let’s be honest, entire season) has been marred by costly mistakes, this was a great run for him.  It’s too late for him to fight for the championship this year, but he’s searching for a final win to cap off a hall-of-fame career.   William Byron – This week: 3rd – Last week: 5th Byron has had a slow second half of the season, with all three of his wins coming in the first ten races.  But he’s starting to rev up again, and his P4 at Vegas came at just the right time.  He’s above the playoff cutline, and he’s also moved up two spots in the Power Rankings.   Kyle Larson – This week: 2nd – Last week: 1st Larson’s fall out of the top spot in the Power Rankings doesn’t have much to do with his own failings at Vegas, and rather the fact that the new leader had a dominant performance.  Larson is still comfortably above the cutline after a P11 at Vegas, and certainly can never be counted out.   Christopher Bell – This week: 1st – Last week: 2nd Bell has had a playoff run that dreams are made of.  His worst finish came at Watkins Glen – P14, and he has been in the conversation for the win in each of the other races.  While he was certainly upset to not be able to pass Logano’s old tires at the end of the Vegas race, he’ll have to be happy with another P2, and the fact that he’s moved up to our top spot in the Power Rankings!

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsport Correspondent LAS VEGAS– This weekend kicked off the round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs and if there’s any way to add to the thrill of watching the South Point 400, this is arguably the most parity in the round of 8 we’ve seen in the NASCAR Playoff format. A win in the Vegas playoff race automatically grants a team a spot in the Championship 4 in Phoenix and when it comes to this stable of drivers, there really are no dark horses. Or are there?... Playoff regular Joey Logano of the No. 22 Dark Horse Mustang for Team Penske was not a contender in the Round of 8 as the checkered flag waved in last week’s Charlotte Roval cutoff race. He was below the cutline and eliminated from the playoffs until Alex Bowman's No.48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy Camaro failed the Roval post race inspection, granting Logano the last spot in the Round of 8. Fast forward a week later, Logano is the first of the Cup Series playoff drivers to earn a spot in the Championship 4 after a late race caution strategy gave him an advantage in Stage 3. “We had a good start to the race I thought. Looked like we were pretty good, getting in the top 5 and in the third stage we just kinda lost speed. You know, it's like a replay of Kansas to me.” said Paul Wolfe, Crew Chief of the No. 22 Penske Ford. “It's something that we needed to figure out; why that happened, because it wasn’t where we wanted to be in the final stage but as a team we continue to do the things we know and continue to fight. The opportunity came there, in the middle of that caution in the end. That exact scenario was discussed in our pre-race meeting this morning and now, it made the call pretty easy for us to know that we were going to stay out.” This is Logano's third victory and 11th top-10 finish in 2024 and his fourth victory and 14th top-10 finish in 23 races at LVMS. “So proud of our race team all the way through. This group of guys, they're truly incredible. They’re good people, one of the things I’m most proud of. But they’re really smart and in the playoffs are really able to keep a level head and maximize the races no matter what’s dealt them.” he said. “Today we had a solid car. Not as good as the 20.” All eyes were on the No. 20 Toyota of Christopher Bell for Joe Gibbs Racing who won the pole on Saturday for the South Point 400. The “under-the-radar” playoff contender led 155 laps, won stage two and everything appeared to be perfect until the 5th and final caution of the day came out for his JGR Toyota teammate in the No. 54 of Ty Gibbs, who spun out on the backstretch. “Just a bummer, I think everyone on this team did everything perfect today. This thing was obviously on rails. Pit crew did an amazing job, Adam called a great race. Did everything we needed to to put this dream Camry in victory lane and unfortunately it wasn't meant to be today.” said Bell. Daniel Suarez, who came very close to a South Point 400 victory placed third in the No.99 Chevy for Trackhouse Racing and Bowman rounded out the top 5, behind Hendrick teammate and playoff driver of the No. 24 Chevy Camaro William Byron. A non-playoff driver has never won the South Point 400 in the NASCAR Playoff format. The remaining 5 playoff drivers were involved in most of the chaos of the Las Vegas race weekend. Current NASCAR Champion Ryan Blaney crashed into the wall of Turn 1 with a flat at Saturday’s practice session. He started at the rear of the field on Sunday in a backup car, finishing 32nd. “I felt great. I think I got halfway there. I think I got to 15th and I was ready to re-stack and like, alright, we’re gonna start stage 2, halfway there. I’m 15th and feel pretty good about it. At least contend” said Blaney. He leaves Vegas 7th in points. Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team fought all day, going down two laps early in the race after an object got stuck on the front of his car, followed by a messy pit stop. However, Larson stuck it out, finishing 11th after coming back through the field from the lucky dog after the caution from Gibbs. “A bit of a fight all day.The first race of each round has not been easy. Proud to get what we could out of the day.” said Larson. Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 for JGR left Vegas earning a top-10 but fought a tough battle much like Blaney and Larson. Hamlin finished 8th by losing track position early due to a slow pit stop that lasted over 13 seconds in comparison to Christopher Bell’s 8.8 second stop. Later in the race, talk of a wheel vibration could be heard on Hamlin’s radio. The worst caution of the day and weekend involved Chase Elliott who finished 35th and Tyler Reddick who barreled down the frontstretch after winning Stage 1, earning a DNF.

by Crystal Clay, Chief Motorsports Correspondent LAS VEGAS–What better birthday gift to Matt Kaulig, owner of Kaulig Racing to stamp the first ticket into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 in at Phoenix Raceway with a trophy? “First of all, Happy Birthday Matt Kaulig! The boss's birthday! I told you I was getting a trophy, baby! Let’s go Matt, I love you” was sealed with a kiss to the camera in Allmendinger’s frontstretch interview. “What an up and down year. What a crazy year. This is a racetrack that we felt like, if we could get into the round of 8, that we’ve been historically pretty good at.” This is his first victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2024 and his second victory and top-20 finish in six races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. “What a race to get our first win of the season.” That’s the best gift AJ Allmendinger could afford Saturday night for the Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but it was a coordinated team effort including both the spotter and No.16 pit crew that brought Kaulig their first race win of the 2024 season. “My spotter really impressed me, dude is phenomenal. By far the best spotter that’s out there and just the info that he gives me, every lap, every corner, what’s happening behind me, where we’re strong, where we’re weak, it just makes my job a lot easier.” said Allmendinger.  “Pit crew did phenomenal. To get the lead on those last couple of pit stops really made the difference so we could kinda set the pace there and that late race restart I just knew I had to hit the bottom the best I could, and I knew Ryan (Seig) was strong.” In the era of “win and you’re in” Allmendinger who has 18 victories in 128 Xfinity Series races and has earned his way into the Playoff Round of 8 on points making this the most important win of the season if not, potentially the second most important win of the season come November in Phoenix. Although, another race win isn’t going to be necessary for him to win the 2024 Xfinity Series Championship. “I’ve had a rough, I’d say, 6 months thinkin’ about getting AJ a win. Been so close, yet been so far away. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for me probably because AJ’s probably one of my best friends I ever had as a driver, so winning here was something pretty special.” said President of Kaulig Racing, Kris Rice. The No.16 Chevrolet wrapped in blue and white, crossed the finish line first in the final lap after a clean, late race battle with the No. 28 Sci Aps Ford of Ryan Sieg who started from the 5th row alongside Allmendinger and had been strong all day.  Sieg was door to door and passed Almendinger nearing the closing laps of the evening and both drivers were getting free but Sieg got loose and ended up losing about 5 car lengths behind the race leader after passing the race leader. “I’m not gonna make it” could be heard on the radio during lap 196 when the 7th caution of the day came out for the slowed on track vehicle of playoff driver Sammy Smith in the No.8 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet. Smith, who had an earlier incident on the frontstretch with the No.19 Operation 300 Toyota of Taylor Gray on lap 98.  “He wasn’t getting to my bumper but he was getting free. I think when I saw him get under me and I knew that I was free, I didn’t even try to get on his door that tight. But I saw how loose he got as soon as he got under me, kinda opened my eyes up.” Allmendinger said, while commending Sieg for racing fair and clean, acknowledging how great an effort it was of the No. 28  despite them ultimately finishing 2nd after the restart. Sieg posted his fifth top-10 finish in 19 races at LVMS.  Playoff driver Justin Allgaier placed third, posting his 18th top-10 finish in 21 races at LVMS.  Rounding out the top 5 finishes for the Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway are Playoff driver Chandler Smith in 4th and Parker Kligerman in 5th.

By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday. This weekend NASCAR travels to Las Vegas, NV for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.   Vegas is a 1.5-mile tri-oval, with 20 degrees of banking in the corners.  While the track facility opened in 1971, NASCAR didn’t make their way there until 1998, where Mark Martin won the first race.   Tomorrow’s race will be 267 laps long (for a total of 400.5 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 80 – 165 – 267.  Pit road speed is 45 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 55 mph.    This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 8,398 laps, for 11,355.36 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed 100% of them, but Daniel Hemric is the closest, having driven 99.37% of them.    Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Las Vegas: Kyle Larson 9.31 over 16 races (3 wins) Martin Truex Jr. 9.84 over 25 races (2 wins) Joey Logano 9.91 over 22 races (3 wins) Kyle Busch 11.23 over 26 races (1 win) Ryan Blaney 11.44 over 16 races   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Las Vegas: Zane Smith 36.00 over 1 race Michael McDowell 29.14 over 21 races Todd Gilliland 26.00 over 5 races Carson Hocevar 25.50 over 2 races Corey LaJoie 25.38 over 13 races   Las Vegas is an Intermediate Track.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediates: Denny Hamlin 12.05 over 332 races (27 wins) Kyle Larson 12.28 over 170 races (26 wins) Kyle Busch 12.33 over 348 races (29 wins) Chase Elliott 12.44 over 151 races (6 wins) Joey Logano 12.47 over 278 races (17 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers Intermediates: Ryan Preece 22.93 over 84 races Josh Berry 22.83 over 19 races Harrison Burton 22.52 over 43 races Zane Smith 21.50 over 12 races Todd Gilliland 20.85 over 43 races   Jimmie Johnson is the winningest driver at Las Vegas, having scored 4 victories there.  Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kyle Larson are all tied for 2nd with 3 victories each.   Notable drivers who have not won at Las Vegas: Chase Elliott (has won at 15 other tracks) Ryan Blaney (has won at 9 other tracks) Christopher Bell (has won at 8 other tracks) Tyler Reddick (has won at 7 other tracks) Chris Buescher (has won at 6 other tracks)   No driver has scored their first Cup Series win at Las Vegas.   Based on average finish, Martin Truex Jr. lists Las Vegas as his BEST track, meanwhile Zane Smith lists it as his WORST.   Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers:   Drivers Faring Better than in 2023 Noah Gragson +419 pts (incomplete 2023 season) Chase Elliott +328 pts (incomplete 2023 season) Alex Bowman +204 pts Ty Gibbs +180 pts Austin Cindric +132 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2023 William Byron -172 pts Martin Truex Jr. -171 pts Kyle Busch -141 pts Erik Jones -128 pts Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -121 pts   While some drivers may be doing better this year than they did in 2023, how does this year stack up against their entire career?  This statistic does not include rookies, as this is their first full year in the Cup Series.   Drivers Having their BEST Career Year Tyler Reddick 12.47 Ty Gibbs 15.28 Bubba Wallace 15.47 Todd Gilliland 20.44   Drivers Having their WORST Career Year Harrison Burton 26.09 Erik Jones 23.03 Justin Haley 22.97 Austin Dillon 22.34   Here is the current battle for Rookie of the Year: Carson Hocevar 604 Josh Berry 506 Zane Smith 460 Kaz Grala 185   The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1st, 35 for 2nd, 34 for 3rd, etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count.   Manufacturer Standings         Chevrolet 1174 Ford 1120 Toyota 1119   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Hendrick 1087 Joe Gibbs 1061 23XI 949 RFK 919 Penske 900 Trackhouse 862 Stewart-Haas 844 RCR 755 Spire 739 Front Row 659 Kaulig 601 Rick Ware 552 Legacy Motor Club 530 JTG-Daugherty 491 Wood Bros 360   At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year:   Stage Point Leaders Kyle Larson 292 Denny Hamlin 254 Ryan Blaney 246 Christopher Bell 213 William Byron 212 Martin Truex Jr. 209 Chase Elliott 199 Tyler Reddick 196 Joey Logano 163 Alex Bowman 159   Milestone Watch Chase Elliott Looking for his 20th Career Win Kyle Larson Looking for his 30th Career Win Christopher Bell Looking for his 10th Career Win Austin Cindric Looking for his 10th Career Top 5 Alex Bowman Looking for his 40th Career Top 5 Austin Dillon Looking for his 80th Career Top 10   Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 137 races Erik Jones 77 races Bubba Wallace 75 races Kyle Busch 53 races Martin Truex Jr. 48 races Michael McDowell 44 races Daniel Suarez 30 races William Byron 24 races Chase Elliott 23 races Denny Hamlin 21 races   The race begins Sunday, October 20th at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST) – Enjoy the race everyone!   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter  @RacingRefresh   Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

By Adam Carabine With the playoffs in full swing now, the StatChat Power Rankings are focusing in on the 16 Cup Series Playoff Drivers.  Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races   Harrison Burton – This week: 16th – Last week: 16th Considering the difficulty of the Charlotte Roval, Harrison Burton didn’t fare too poorly with a P20.  However, he’s been bringing up the rear of these power rankings for a few weeks now, and 20th isn’t going to change that.   Daniel Suarez – This week: 15th – Last week: 14th Suarez’s second round of the Playoffs left a lot to be desired.  He dug himself a hole early and unfortunately it just got worse.  With finishes of 13, 26, and 30, he killed his chances at the next round.   Chase Briscoe – This week: 14th – Last week: 13th   The excitement of Chase Briscoe’s walk-off win in Darlington to seal his playoff fate has finally worn off.  Cut the guy some slack though, it’s been a wild week in his personal life as well.  A DNF at the Charlotte Roval sunk his chances at the next round, and the chances for an SHR championship in their final year.   Tyler Reddick – This week: 13th – Last week: 15th It was a gutsy performance in the final 30 or so laps of the Charlotte Roval for Tyler Reddick.  Incidents and damage put him below the cutline, despite having won the regular season championship.  With some great adjustments by his team, he managed to pilot the 45 up to a P11 finish, locking himself in and (at the time) knocking out Joey Logano.   Ty Gibbs – This week: 12th – Last week: 11th It didn’t really get talked about much on the broadcast, but Ty Gibbs quietly went to the garage at some point during this weekend’s race, and never returned.  The sophomore Cup Series driver has four more races to try and get his first win, but it wasn’t to be at the Charlotte Roval.   Brad Keselowski  – This week: 11th – Last week: 9th  Keselowski has never been a road course guy, and it showed again this past weekend.  He tied Chase Briscoe for the worst pass differential (-36) of anyone in the race, while still finishing on the lead lap.  P23 isn’t terrible, but it hurts your Power Rankings standings.   Joey Logano – This week: 10th – Last week: 10th If this were tennis, Logano would be called a “Lucky Loser,” sneaking his way into the next round by virtue of an Alex Bowman post-race DQ.  Logano actually had a solid run at the Roval, but it was overshadowed by the fact that Reddick outdrove him in the final laps, essentially eliminating him at the time.  Watch out for him, though, he won’t let it happen again.   Austin Cindric – This week: 9th  – Last week: 8th In a way it seems wrong to downgrade Cindric a spot in the Power Rankings after a stellar day at the Charlotte Roval.  He ran up front most of the day, finished P4, but unfortunately it just still wasn’t enough to move him on to the next round.  He needed a win, and was unable to get past the dominant Kyle Larson.   Ryan Blaney – This week: 8th – Last week: 12th This week’s biggest mover was Ryan Blaney, earning a Top 10 at the Charlotte Roval.  His spot in the next round wasn’t really ever in jeopardy during the race, but you’re never quite comfortable until it’s official.  39 points on the day is a success, and the reigning champ lives to fight another day.   Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 7th – Last week: 7th It was a quiet day for Truex at the Charlotte Roval.  While he traditionally does well at road courses, the Roval has never been his best.  Something hasn’t seemed right with the 19 team all year, and his chances of getting one final win, riding off into the sunset are evaporating quickly.  But don’t look now, next week’s track, Vegas, is Truex’s best on the schedule.   Alex Bowman – This week: 6th – Last week: 4th What had been such an impressive playoffs for Bowman and the 48 team comes to an unceremonious ending, after a post-race DQ.  Most didn’t have Bowman winning the championship this year, but he was driving like a man possessed.  Hopefully he can carry over some of that momentum into next season.   William Byron – This week: 5th – Last week: 6th While most eyes were either on the Larson domination or the playoff cutline action, Byron quietly put together a solid P3 at the Charlotte Roval.  Considering he was already locked into the next round of the playoffs, that’s impressive.  It would have been easy to sit back and let things play out, but they pushed hard and got a well-deserved win (and bump in the Power Rankings!).   Denny Hamlin – This week: 4th – Last week: 5th It was probably closer than Denny Hamlin would have liked it to be, but he managed to move on to the next round after a solid P14 at the Charlotte Roval.  Is it Hamlin’s year? Are we sick of asking this question? Time will tell, but the competition gets tougher and tougher as the rounds continue on.   Chase Elliott – This week: 3rd – Last week: 3rd Holding serve, and holding onto a Power Rankings podium position, the King of the Charlotte Roval finished 5th.  Elliott didn’t need to be too concerned about the playoff cut line during the race, but he put any doubts to rest with another great run.    Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 2nd Probably the most consistent of all the playoff drivers at the moment, Bell earned another P2 at the Charlotte Roval.  He didn’t have anything for eventual winner Kyle Larson, but he’s already looking like a lock for the Final Four.  We always ask if it’s Denny’s year, but based on performance so far, it might be Bell’s.   Kyle Larson – This week: 1st – Last week: 1st Another playoff round down, another dominant performance.  After the first stage, Larson was already locked into the next round, but that wasn’t enough for this guy.  He led 62 laps en route to another win at the Roval – now tying him with Chase Elliott for winningest Roval driver.  He enters the next round already with a 33 point cushion to the cutline.

RACER "NASCAR has asked for the expedited discovery motion filed by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports to be denied. The 22-page response to the motion was filed by NASCAR on Wednesday. In asking for the motion to be denied, NASCAR claims it is a one-sided, non-reciprocal request for relief more akin to a motion to compel. NASCAR, in its response to the plaintiffs’ motion, opens by saying, “Plaintiffs have filed a meritless suit against NASCAR alleging baseless antitrust claims in order to obtain commercial agreements they previously rejected, and to attempt to extort more favorable contract terms.” The commercial agreements would be the 2025 Charter Agreement the two organizations did not sign, which NASCAR goes on to say is no longer available. It also says, “The deadline for Plaintiffs to sign 2025 Charter Agreements expired weeks ago, and NASCAR has taken steps, consistent with its contractual obligations to other Charter Teams, to plan for a season with only 32 Charters. Plaintiffs do not need these Charter Agreements to race, and indeed have stated publicly that they will be racing in NASCAR regardless.” 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports have plans to field three full-time chartered entries next season. It would be an expansion for both organizations, which are fielding two cars. The additional charter for each would come from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is shutting down. The two organizations filed a motion for expedited discovery with its preliminary injunction request on Oct. 9. As the antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR proceeds, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports want to race as charter teams in 2025. In the motion for expedited discovery, the organizations asked to receive immediate access to documents and files discussing the mandatory release provision in the 2025 Charter Agreement; documents discussing NASCAR’s decision to end negotiating with the Team Negotiating Committee and only negotiate with individual racing teams for the 2025 Charter Agreement; and documents discussing NASCAR’s decision to present to the teams a take-it-or-leave-it final proposal for the 2025 Charter Agreement. “Plaintiffs’ overreaching requests belie their true aim: to use the antitrust discovery process as a weapon,” NASCAR’s filing claims. In turn, NASCAR laid out four arguments: the plaintiffs fail to demonstrate a likelihood of irreparable harm; plaintiffs’ expansive requests are not narrowly tailored to the preliminary injunction; the plaintiffs do not identify any information that is at risk of destruction; the procedural posture and timing of plaintiffs’ motion do not support expedited discovery. However, if the court rules in favor of the expedited discovery motion, NASCAR has asked that the discovery be reciprocal and limited to non-privileged documents that are directly related to the issue raised in the preliminary injunction request." (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | NHRA POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2024) – The stage is set to crown champions in the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and all the excitement takes place at the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at legendary In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Nov. 14-17. It is the final event of the 2024 season and the Countdown to the Champions playoffs, and the hallowed grounds of Pomona is where championships will be decided. The In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals has delivered intense racing action for nearly six decades and after the thrilling 2024 season, this year’s Finals will be no different. Will a new driver claim the title for the first time, or will a seasoned veteran take home another NHRA championship? One thing is for certain: It all comes down to Pomona. It starts with two qualifying sessions on both Friday and Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday, providing an incredible atmosphere to close out the season. The 2023 In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals saw Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Chad Green (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) take home event wins, while Kalitta (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) clinching world titles. The year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1 to close the season in style, including eliminations at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 17. Last year’s Top Fuel championship battle came down to the final run of the season between veteran Kalitta and standout Leah Pruett. Kalitta edged out Pruett, claiming his first Top Fuel championship after six runner-up finishes in his 26-year career. Kalitta has earned three wins in 2024 and sits seventh in points. Leading the way is Justin Ashley, after his four wins this season, including his recent Countdown win in Dallas. Former three-time champ Antron Brown is second thanks to his pair of Countdown wins in Reading and Charlotte. Former champion Shawn Langdon sits third after his early wins this season and a consistent showing in the playoffs, while four-time champ Steve Torrence is fourth. The 2024 season has been dominated by Funny Car newcomer Austin Prock. After stepping in for his John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight at the beginning of the season, Prock has racked up seven wins and a record-tying 13 No. 1 qualifiers. He leads Jack Beckman, who has stepped in for sixteen-time champion John Force, by 147 points. Reigning champion Hagan is third following his second consecutive win in Dallas. Former champion Ron Capps is fourth, while Bob Tasca III is fifth. The Pro Stock category is once again hyper competitive with powerhouse teams Elite Motorsports and KB Titan Racing battling it out. Of the 18 events so far in 2024, Elite Motorsports has won 12 races with KB Titan Racing collecting the other six. But it’s KB Titan’s Dallas Glenn who leads the way after his five wins on the season, including a pair of Countdown wins. Elite’s Aaron Stanfield is second – and 53 points back – after this season-long battle with Glenn. Stanfield also has five wins this season, including Reading. In third is five-time champion Greg Anderson with his pair of wins this season, while reigning champ Enders is fourth. The Pro Stock Motorcycle division has once again dominated by Herrera, the defending world champion, in 2024. Only four riders have claimed victories this season: 2023 Rookie of the Year winner Chase Van Sant, Reading winner Hector Arana Jr., six-time champion Matt Smith and Herrera. With two straight Countdown wins to his credit, Herrera leads Smith by 62 points heading down the stretch. Herrera has his sights set on a historic back-to-back title run, Smith hopes a late-season surge can dethrone him. This year’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals also features a can’t-miss experience for racing and car enthusiasts alike. The Top Eliminator Club offers the best seats in the house, a premium experience and a number of exclusive benefits at one of the biggest races of the season. In Pomona, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 1 and 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 15, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 17. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday and then live eliminations on FS1 at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. To purchase tickets to the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. Included in the premium experience by purchasing Top Eliminator Club tickets is a members-only hospitality center, complimentary food and beverages, members-only souvenir store, exclusive drivers appearances, a gift bag, a premium view of the staging lanes and much more. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 15, 2024) – The NHRA Breakfast, which is always one of the most popular events of the annual SEMA Show, is slated to take place Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Westgate Las Vegas Casino Paradise Event Center, hosting four NHRA stars – plus a legendary surprise guest – as part of a can’t-miss event and unique topic. The NHRA Breakfast, a staple of the SEMA Show for more than two decades, takes place from 7:30-9 a.m. with a special topic: “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” NHRA stars Ron Capps, Tony Schumacher and Austin Prock, along with crew chief Jim Oberhofer will appear – as well as a celebrated surprise guest – to discuss the “giant” that helped start their drag racing career. Capps will speak about his start with Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and later racing for Don Schumacher, while T. Schumacher will share about his time racing for his father. Oberhofer will discuss his extensive time working with legendary Connie Kalitta, and Prock will talk about his time racing for the legendary John Force and now being tuned by his father, Jimmy Prock, who is widely considered one of the greatest nitro crew chiefs of all-time. For the sixth time, NHRA on FOX announcer Brian Lohnes will be the panel moderator for the thrilling show, asking each member of the legendary panel detailed questions about racing for some of the biggest names in NHRA history. Everyone in attendance will get the chance to listen to incredible stories from the four panel members – as well as the special guest – in a fun and festive setting at the NHRA Breakfast. “This year’s SEMA NHRA Breakfast is going to be fantastic,” Lohnes said. “It is one thing to hear the stories of heroes, but what about the people those heroes inspired to become pro drivers and crew chiefs? Whether they are family members, legendary racers, hall of fame drivers, or the sport’s biggest personalities, this is going to be a unique experience to hear what it’s like to stand on the shoulders of giants in NHRA drag racing. “The stories will be unfiltered, unedited and only heard live in ONE place! “What was Prudhomme like as a new team owner? Learning to tune a Top Fuel dragster with Connie Kalitta? Having your dad be Don Schumacher!? Oh, and maybe being in the middle of one of the best Funny Car seasons in history with your pop and brother as a crew chief. You’ll never get this anywhere else!” Schumacher is the most successful driver in Top Fuel history, picking up 88 career victories and eight world championships, while Capps has been a star driver for three decades, picking up 76 wins and three Funny Car world championships. Oberhofer has been a top-notch crew chief for years for a multitude of teams, while Prock, the 2019 NHRA Rookie of the Year, is the current points leader in Funny Car, racking up seven wins during his memorable 2024 campaign. In addition to the must-see topic, the popular trivia questions at the end of the show will continue with NHRA prize packs, which will include tickets to the upcoming In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, which takes place Nov. 14-17 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip to close out the 2024 NHRA season. The NHRA stars will also appear at the NHRA Booth (#22619) at the SEMA Show for an autograph signing at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The NHRA Breakfast at the SEMA Show will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 7:30–9 a.m. at the Westgate Las Vegas Casino Paradise Event Center. The annual NHRA Breakfast is part of the 2024 SEMA Show, the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world which draws the industry’s brightest minds and products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 5-8, 2024. The NHRA Breakfast is open to all registered SEMA Show attendees at no cost — however tickets are required. A continental breakfast will be served. To order your event ticket or register for the show, click here: Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week - 2024 SEMA Show - Special Events (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA SEATTLE (Oct. 17, 2024) – NHRA officials announced today that Muckleshoot Casino Resort has been named the title sponsor of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ annual race at Pacific Raceways in Seattle as part of an exciting new multi-year agreement. The 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals will take place on July 18-20, added another thrilling element to the longtime race at the fan-favorite facility. Tickets for the race go on sale on Nov. 11. A longtime sponsor of major Seattle professional teams, this marks Muckleshoot Casino Resort’s first official partnership with the NHRA and Pacific Raceways, bringing added visibility to the only major motorsports series event in the Pacific Northwest. “As the title sponsor of the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals, we are incredibly proud to partner with one of the most exhilarating and widely celebrated motorsports organizations in the world,” Muckleshoot Casino Resort CEO Tim Perkins said. “This strategic partnership not only elevates our presence within the racing community but also highlights our commitment to offering world-class entertainment. By aligning with the NHRA, we can reach new audiences, strengthen our ties within the community, and highlight our commitment to delivering top-tier experiences!” At this season’s event, Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Chase Van Sant (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all picked up event wins as Pacific Raceways also held night qualifying for the first time ever. Fans were treated to all the incredible sights and sounds of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars at night and under the lights, drawing rave reviews from the huge crowd in attendance. The scenic facility has played host to NHRA national events for nearly four decades and next year’s race will be loaded with action, including another Friday night session, four overall qualifying rounds (two each on Friday and Saturday), the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge bonus race on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. "We’re excited to be part of the Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals, where we can connect with our players, community, and race fans in a dynamic way,” Muckleshoot Casino Resort Executive Director of Marketing Robert Dearstine said. “This partnership lets us bring the race-day energy to life with exclusive on-property activations. From interactive fan experiences at the resort to special promotions and events, we’re offering unique ways for guests to engage with the NHRA spirit. In 2024, for example, we showcased Ron Capps' Funny Car, giving fans a close-up look at an NHRA icon. We’re blending the thrill of racing with the luxury and entertainment of Muckleshoot Casino Resort.” Washington’s premier gaming destination, Muckleshoot Casio Resort was recently named “Best in the Pacific Northwest” in 2024 by the Seattle Times. With 401 luxurious rooms and suites, a variety of restaurants, amenities, entertainment and premier gaming, including more than 3,500 gaming machines and 50 tables games, Muckleshoot Casino Resort continues to be a top-rated resort in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Torrence won in Seattle for the second time in his career this year, while Top Fuel star Tony Schumacher’s five wins at the facility leads all active drivers, with Antron Brown right behind with four. John Force has nine victories at Pacific Raceways, the most of any driver in NHRA history, with John Force Racing’s Prock one of just a handful of drivers to have wins in both nitro categories. Greg Anderson leads all active Pro Stock drivers with three wins at Pacific Raceways, while Chase Van Sant scored his first career win in Pro Stock Motorcycle last year in Seattle. It was the second race for PSM at the facility. “We’re so excited to partner with Muckleshoot Casino Resort for the NHRA Northwest Nationals at one of NHRA drag racing’s most historic venues, Pacific Raceways,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “It’s an incredible resort that many fans and race teams were able to experience this year, and we’re thrilled to see this partnership, which offers tremendous visibility to our race weekend in Seattle, continue to grow.” Tickets for the 36th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways will go on sale on Nov. 11 at www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com. For more information on Muckleshoot Casino Resort, visit https://muckleshootcasino.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)