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(Photo Courtesy Elite Motorsports) Press Release | ELITE MOTORSPORTS INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29, 2024) – Elite Motorsports, NHRA’s largest professional team, certainly has history on their side as they head into this weekend’s Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), NHRA’s most prestigious drag race and the final event of the regular season. Six-time world champions Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. , have plenty of experience heading to the winners circle at the historical event. Enders has three professional wins in 2015, 2020, 2021 and reached the finals in 2019 and in 2012 when she was also No.1 qualifier. Coughlin has three professional event wins at the U.S. Nationals four at Indianapolis Raceway Park but the Coughlin family as a whole has secured eight total victories at IRP. For Enders, her history at IRP goes back to her Jr. Dragster days. She was part of the Jr. Dragster League’s inaugural Jr. Dragster Nationals held at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1994. Enders raced her way to the finals before finishing runner-up. Fast forward to her rookie season of the Lucas Oil Sportsman Series, Enders, driving in Super Comp, got down to the final three cars in a field of 164. Then, in 2015, Enders landed her first professional U.S. Nationals victory. It was her 18th national event win and at the time, tied Shirley Muldowney for most female wins. Enders is now on the hunt for her 50th national event win, 49th in Pro Stock, after picking up the first Gatornationals victory of her career to open the 2024 season. “I have quite a few good memories at Indy, but I have a handful that really stand out. The inaugural Jr. Dragster Nationals in 1994, unfortunately I red-lit in the finals to finish runner-up. But then fast forward to being 16 and racing Super Comp and Super Gas. In Super Comp there were 174 entries and we got down to three cars,” said Enders, driver of the Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage / Melling Performance / SCAG Power Equipment hot rod. “Then to think back to that first professional win in 2015, which doesn’t seem all that long ago, tying Shirley at 18 wins, that one was important. Now we’re trying to break through that 50 barrier. “It’s been frustrating, we can’t seem to get that monkey off our back. But I will say I have a renewed sense of confidence in myself and our equipment. We did some work ahead of the national event in Brainerd, Minnesota and I feel better in the car,” Enders continued. “I feel like we’ve had the car to beat all year, but, unfortunately, I’ve let a handful of races slip through my fingers with driver error. I’m ready to go back to battle and prove myself again. I feel like, what better race to do it than Indy. Win Indy for the fourth time and finally get that 50th. That would be really significant.” For Jeg Coughlin Jr., Indianapolis Raceway Park almost feels like a second home. “Indy has always been a special track for our family,” said Jeg Jr. who handles driving duties for the SCAG / Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer machine. “Growing up there in the 70s watching my dad win events, then later my brothers in the 80s, then myself in the 90s. At one point in time, I knew damn near every inch of IRP on foot, bike, motorcycle, golf cart, you get the idea.” Jeg Jr. earned his first U.S. Nationals victory racing Super Gas in 1992. In Pro Stock, the driver dubbed “The Natural” has three U.S. Nationals wins, 2000, 2002, 2009. In 2020, with a schedule that looked vastly different due to the COVID 19 pandemic, he raced to victory at IRP at was called the Lucas Oil NHRA Summernationals at Indianapolis. “Our first IRP / U.S. Nationals win came in 1991 with my brother Troy Sr. winning in Super Gas, I followed in the same category in 1992. All-in-all, the Coughlin family has visited the U.S. Nationals winners circle a total of eight times,” Jeg Jr. said. “Aside from my first win in 1992, though, my most memorable was the 2000 victory, for sure. We struggled in qualifying and barely held on for the No. 16 spot. Somehow, we clawed our way through the field all the way to victory.” Jeg Jr.’s 2000 U.S. Nationals win was the first time in Pro Stock that a No. 16 qualifier went on to win an event. With that victory, Jeg Jr. is the only professional racer in history to win a national event title from all 16 starting spots. “Adding the 2024 U.S. Nationals championship to our long Indy history would be extremely special and I can assure it could rival any of our previous victories,” Jeg Jr. said. Looking to make his own history at the “Big Go” is Fernando Cuadra Jr. Coming off a No. 4 qualifying position and semifinal finish at the Lucas Oil Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, Fernando Jr. has, perhaps quietly, progressed his way through eliminations over the last two years. “It’s the right time for our car to be on trend of getting better and better,” Fernando Jr. said. “Two years ago, at Indy, I went to the semifinals, last year I made it to the finals. Now, with the fast car that I have, maybe I can seal the deal. To have the U.S. Nationals be my first Pro Stock win, it would be a dream come true.” Representing Corral Boots, Cuadra and Columbia Impex, Fernando Jr. will be joined by his brothers Cristian and David as all three compete to get the first Cuadra Boys Racing Pro Stock victory. Also looking for a first Pro Stock win is Jerry Tucker in the Outlaw Mile Hi Light Beer / SCAG machine. Tucker is coming off the second No. 1 qualifying position of his career in Brainerd, Minnesota. His first came at the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals in April where he also finished runner-up to Jeg. Jr. Already with three Pro Stock victories under his belt in 2024, Aaron Stanfield driving the JHG / Melling / Janac Brothers Racing entry, is looking for his first U.S. Nationals victory and his first double-up weekend. He’ll be competing in the Factory X category over the long holiday weekend as well. Stanfield has been on a hot streak picking up his three wins in the last five events. His wins came at the Virginia Nationals, Summit Nationals in Ohio and the Sonoma Nationals. Another Elite driver looking to add to their 2024-win count is Troy Coughlin Jr. in the JEGS.com / White Castle Camaro. Troy raced to the winners circle at the New England nationals in Epping, N.H. and picked up a Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win at the Sonoma Nationals. Troy Jr. is also like to add his name to the Coughlin family history books at the historic facility. Also, competing or Elite Motorsports for the third time this season is Sienna Wildgust , in the Team Wildgust Real Estate / Applied Racing Technology entry. The 18-year-old third generation racer is hoping to add a U.S. Nationals victory to her rookie resume, a win that could surely earn her NHRA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year Award. The Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park will begin with five rounds of qualifying Friday at 6:45 p.m., Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at noon and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. with Pro Stock first round at 11:00 a.m. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations beginning Monday at noon on FS1 and shifting to FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) at 2:00 p.m. ET.

(Photo Courtesy Elite Motorsports) Press Release | ELITE MOTORSPORTS INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Aug 30, 2024) – Joining the Elite Motorsports team at this weekend’s Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals will be two lucky sweepstake winners. Thanks to Melling Performance, Mike Wendt and his guest Ken Stenger will be honorary crew members for the day on Saturday, August 31. Wendt, from Midland, Michigan, is a former racer himself who hasn’t been to an event in 25 years. He entered Melling’s contest for the crew member experience from an ad on enginelabs.com . Melling’s contest was in conjunction with their efforts to spread the word of the CARS ACT H.R. 4468, the bill limits the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with regard to regulating emissions standards for new motor vehicles. “Melling is proud to have two crew members for a day that showed they care about car culture and keeping an option for driving a hot rod with horsepower,” said Mark Melling, President and CEO of Melling. “In spreading the word about the CARS ACT, we wanted to find a way to provide our customers with the pertinent information while giving them an experience they won’t forget. What better way than the experience of a lifetime at the NHRA U.S. Nationals? Thank you to Elite Motorsports and Mike and Ken for making the Melling Supports CARS ACT promotion a success.” Wendt and Stenger will get an up close and personal experience at the U.S. Nationals, NHRA’s biggest drag race. They’ll get a behind the scenes look from inside the Elite Motorsports pit and their names will be featured on six-time world champion Erica Ender’s and three-time 2024 event winner Aaron Stanfield’s JHG / Melling Performance hot rods. The Crew Member of the Day promotion is yet another example of Elite Motorsports and Melling’s growing partnership. Members of Elite Motorsports, including Enders and Stanfield as well as team owner Richard Freeman, also took part in the Melling Supports CARS Show event on July 1st. The successful partnership continues to expand, earlier this year Melling committed to an extension of their support of Elite Motorsports on and off the racetrack.

(Photo Courtesy Scrappers Racing) Press Release | SCRAPPERS RACING INDIANAPOLIS (August 29, 2024) - Jasmine Salinas (Top Fuel) and Jianna Evaristo (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are ready to face some of the toughest competition in all of drag racing at this week’s Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Known as “The Big Go,” this is the final event of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series regular season. Series competitors will earn points and a half for their performances at the U.S. Nationals making the stakes incredibly high as they pull out all of the stops to make it into the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s version of the playoffs.  After making some positive changes in testing, Top Fuel newcomer Jasmine Salinas is eager to take to the track in her 11,000-horsepower Valley Services Scrappers Racing machine. The talented 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year candidate is learning to embrace the pressure that comes with piloting one of the fastest-accelerating cars on the planet. Her talented crew led by Rob Flynn and Arron Cave have been hard at work and everyone in the Scrappers Racing camp feels good about their progress.  “This is one I’ve been excited about all year,” said Jasmine. “Racing in pro competition at the U.S. Nationals is something I’ve dreamed about for a long time. Since I live in the Indianapolis area, I’ve had the opportunity to represent our series sponsor, Mission Foods, this week at a local autograph session. I love getting to work with sponsors in our sport so it was a fun way to kick things off!” Jianna Evaristo became the fastest woman in Pro Stock Motorcycle when she achieved a new personal best speed last month in Sonoma, where she also set a new personal best elapsed time. She’s feeling more confident than ever aboard her Valley Services Scrappers Racing Buell and is determined to go rounds in Indy. Thanks to her standout performance in Sonoma, the talented racer will have the opportunity to compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty challenge, a specialty race-within-a-race that features the semi-finalists from the previous event. “I’m excited to get back on my bike for the BIG GO! Indy is always interesting and intense,” said Jianna. “We are competing in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty challenge so there are multiple wins on the line this weekend. Coming off of such a great performance in Sonoma has definitely boosted our confidence.” Professional competition in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will begin with one qualifying round on Friday, August 30 at 6:45 p.m., followed by two qualifying sessions on Saturday, August 31 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Two additional qualifying opportunities will take place on Sunday, September 1 at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 2.

(Photo Courtesy NHRA) Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS ( Aug. 30, 2024) – When six-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith returns this weekend’s 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, he brings with him not only his success from last season, but also his last race.   Smith, rider of the DENSO Auto Parts Buell, made a statement in Sonoma when he swept the weekend by winning the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle NHRA All-Star Callout specialty event and earning the No. 1 qualifier position before going on to win the event on Sunday.    “We finally broke through for the win in Sonoma and that was the first time since Reading of last year,” said Smith. “Our DENSO Auto Parts Buell team has been working hard over the last year and I want to think we’re peaking at the right time and Indy is the perfect place to keep the momentum going.”   Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals victories in 2023 and this year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1, including a special Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout broadcast on FOX at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday and eliminations coverage on FOX beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday.   It is the 14th of 20 races during the 2024 campaign and the final race in the regular season, and plenty is on the line at the prestigious race.   Last year in Indy, Smith advanced to the final round where he faced Hector Arana Jr. Arana went red, giving Smith his two consecutive Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals title.   In 2024, the class has seen the same dominance from reigning class champion Gaige Herrera, with only Smith and Chase Van Sant as other winners in the field. With sights set on the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, Smith is second in points and knows a seventh championship is still within reach.   “I’m getting older and there’s a lot of young guns shooting for us, but I can still do this. I can still win a championship, and I would love to get seven and that’s my goal right now,” Smith said.   In the Top Fuel ranks, Brown is aiming for his third straight Indianapolis win. With three wins so far this season, he is aiming for his fourth NHRA world title. Leading the points is reigning champion Doug Kalitta following by his Kalitta Motorsports teammate Shawn Langdon. Also in the hunt is Brainerd winner Justin Ashley and four-time champ Steve Torrence.   The stars of the Funny Car class will have an added layer of competition in Indy with the addition of the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout on Sunday. Bob Tasca III will have his pick of the star-studded field of Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Chad Green, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria and Paul Lee.   Hartford earned his 2023 Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals win when he defeated Fernando Cuadra Jr. in the final round. After a tough season in 2024, Hartford will be looking for a strong finish in Indy to make up for his early season struggles. Dallas Glenn leads the points and is the most recent winner on the circuit. Multi-time champs Greg Anderson and Erica Enders are in second and third with Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr. round out the top five. The 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals promises to be one of the biggest in the illustrious history of The Big Go. It features the final Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the year and the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout, as well as the special Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection and the Rooftec Comp Cash Clash, along with racing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, plus:   A special 70th anniversary NHRA U.S. Nationals pennant for the first 8,000 fans in attendance for eliminations on Monday, Sept. 2. Free parking for all fans and children 12-under admitted free. An unforgettable Top Eliminator Club experience, including NHRA driver appearances, food and drink, TEC gift bag, starting line seats and much more. The biggest field in drag racing featuring more than 900 cars.   Fans will be invited all weekend long to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Indy can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Monday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Monday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.   As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet in Indy. Fans get a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s popular Nitro Alley and Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.   NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 30, two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 31 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 12 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 2.   The first round of the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 1, with the semifinals at 2:40 p.m. and the final round at 4:30 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FOX at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 1 p.m. ET on Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, and eliminations beginning at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets to the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, 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. For more information about NHRA, visit  www.NHRA.com .

(Photo Courtesy NHRA) Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29, 2024) – For eight Funny Car drivers competing at the prestigious 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest drag race provides a chance to do something incredibly special.   Eight standouts – Bob Tasca III, Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Chad Green, J.R. Todd, Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria and Paul Lee – are all part of the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout specialty race, which takes place on Sunday and offers a big purse and major bragging rights as part of the world’s biggest drag race.   It’s also a chance for drivers to double-up on drag racing’s biggest stage, something Ron Capps did two years ago when he won the Callout and then The Big Go for the first time. Capps has a chance to replicate that this weekend, while a trio of drivers – Hagan, Green and Todd – have the unique opportunity to win a remarkable three times in a single weekend.   All three are part of the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, with the bonus race serving as another opportunity for Indy glory at the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals.   The first round of the Pep Boys Funny Car All-Star Callout takes place at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 1, with the semifinals at 2:40 p.m. and the final round at 4:30 p.m. A special broadcast of the Callout takes place on FOX at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.   The winning driver who makes the quickest run in the opening round will select their semifinal opponent, with a big purse and major bragging rights on the line in the finals.   Tasca, driver of the 11,000-horsepower Ford Performance Mustang Dark Horse, will get the first chance to select his opponent, with the first-round picks taking place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Top Eliminator club.   “If I was trying to win one round, winner-take-all, I would put an awful lot of thought into it. But the whole spirit of the Callout, you want to win the Callout, not just one round,” Tasca said. “To win it, you’ve got to win three rounds and you’ve got to win against the best of the best.   “We’ll have some fun with it, but the whole point is to win the entire Callout, not just that first round. Indy is one of the most epic races of your whole career and I get chills just thinking about it. I’ve been coming here since I was 12 years old and I have so many memories there. I haven’t gotten that Indy trophy yet, but we’ll be laser-focused. But it’s going to be tough going against a field this close.”   Here’s what the other seven drivers competing in the Pep Boys All-Star Funny Car Callout had to say approaching the specialty race and the huge weekend in Indy:   Ron Capps, driver of the NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra: "It’s going to come down to having your act together, but it’s going to be fun. You’ve got to wait and see what happens – the last two years proved that. Right now, there’s so many cars running well, so if you call someone out, it could come back to haunt you. You’ve got to approach it like a race, but the Callout has brought in a whole new aspect. We (make the selection) as a team and I guess we’ll wait and see what Tasca does."   Matt Hagan, driver of the Dodge Direct Connection//SRT Hellcat: "You’ve got to put yourself up against the wall and press. We seem to do well with that and it’s just one of those things where we’re supposed to do well here and we need to do well. Sometimes, you’ve just got to let it come to you. We’ve got the car and you’ve just got to try and make it happen. To think about trying to win all of it is overwhelming. You would be blessed to just win one time, so I think you just have to be realistic and let it happen."   Chad Green, driver of the Bond-Coat Ford Mustang: "We feel a little behind the eight-ball, but hopefully we’ll come out at Indy and the car will be back where it’s been and we’ll make a good run at this. I think it just adds a lot of excitement to the weekend and what is already the biggest weekend of the year even more exciting. It’s awesome and I’m just so honored to be involved. It’s going to make the weekend that much more fun."   J.R. Todd, driver of the DHL Toyota GR Supra: "The guys have been working hard the past week and it’s nice to have the group of guys I do. Hopefully, we can come out swinging and do well in qualifying so we can really be focused on racing in the Callout on Sunday. I’m just glad to be in it. You’ve just got to go out there and do your job, and I hope I’m the one racing for big money on Sunday and Monday."   Cruz Pedregon, driver of the Snap-On Tools Dodge SRT Hellcat: "I feel like we’re ready, but we’re going to have to be. The car is starting to come around. I feel like we need to qualify in the top half and our car will be one to watch. I’m a competitor and also a fan, and I think the Callout is really cool when someone picks an opponent that’s right up there. I hope it continues this year and all the cars are really good."   Alexis DeJoria, driver of the Bandero Cafe Toyota GR Supra: "We definitely need to make up some ground. It’s not for a lack of effort, but we’ve just been having some struggles. I hope now is the time we’re going to shine. I know I’m ready to go and my team is as well. The team that makes the less mistakes is going to come out on top."   Paul Lee, driver of the McLeod Racing/FTI Performance Dodge Charger: "Since last year, we’ve been qualifying really well, so it’s well-deserved by the team. We wanted to be in this and being in this gave us a little more incentive to try and do well. It is exciting because we’ve never been involved in one. I remember watching those specialty races in Indy growing up, so it’s going to be cool to be a part of it this weekend."   The specialty event promises to be a huge attraction at the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, which will be one of the biggest in the illustrious history of The Big Go. It features the final Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the year, as well as the special Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection and the Rooftec Comp Cash Clash, along with racing in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, plus: A special 70th anniversary NHRA U.S. Nationals pennant for the first 8,000 fans in attendance for eliminations on Monday, Sept. 2. Free parking for all fans and children 12-under admitted free. An unforgettable Top Eliminator Club experience, including NHRA driver appearances, food and drink, TEC gift bag, starting line seats and much more. The biggest field in drag racing, with more than 900 cars competing at the event. Last year, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won, with Brown, Capps and Smith winning at Indy for the second straight year. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1, including eliminations on FOX at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 2.   Kalitta currently leads the Top Fuel ranks, while Austin Prock’s debut season in Funny Car has been a huge success as he leads the way. Dallas Glenn is the Pro Stock points leader, while Gaige Herrera has six wins to his credit in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Other stars to watch include Top Fuel’s Ashley, Brittany Force, Shawn Langdon and racing legend Tony Stewart, who will make his Indy Top Fuel debut, Funny Car’s Jack Beckman, Pro Stock’s Erica Enders, Greg Anderson and Aaron Stanfield, and Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Chase Van Sant and Jianna Evaristo.   NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature one round at 6:45 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 30, two rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 31 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 12 and 3:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, Sept 2.   Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, and eliminations at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Monday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m.   To purchase tickets to the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, 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. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com . 2024 Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout Final Standings 1.   Bob Tasca III 2.   Ron Capps 3.   Matt Hagan 4.   Chad Green 5.   J.R. Todd 6.   Cruz Pedregon 7.   Alexis DeJoria 8.   Paul Lee (Note: Tasca will get the first selection for the opening round, followed by the next-highest seeded driver until matchups are set.) PEP BOYS NHRA FUNNY CAR ALL-STAR CALLOUT SCHEDULE (ET):   Saturday, Aug. 31: 11:30 AM  – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout first-round selections in Top Eliminator Club (Get your TEC Tickets Today !) Sunday, Sept. 1 10:00 AM  – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout autograph session at Pep Boys display 1:00 PM  – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout opening ceremonies 1:05 PM  – First round for Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout 2:40   PM  – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout for round two. This will be conducted at the top end. The winning driver who makes the quickest run in the first round earns the right to select their semifinal opponent. 4:30 PM  – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout final round 5:00 PM – Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout show airs on FOX

(Photo Courtesy Scag Wilkerson Racing) Press Release | SCAG WILKERSON RACING INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 29, 2024) – Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang Funny Car team look at this weekend’s Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as an opportunity to throw their hats in the running for the Funny Car title. With The Big Go, drag racing’s most prestigious event, being points-and-a-half and with it being the end of the regular season, Wilkerson, sitting eighth by only 13 points, could make a significant move before the points reset for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship, NHRA’s six-race playoffs. “We did a little testing since Brainerd and we are super stoked going into Indy. We have had a B+ car and I have had C+ reactions times and I think we improved both over these few weeks,” said Wilkerson, who is being crew chiefed by his dad Tim, a U.S. Nationals winner in 2021 and 2003. “This is a huge race for a host of reasons. When you drive in this place every morning you can almost feel the weight of the history. The coolest part is that Tim has won this race twice so our team is embedded in that history. Having my first win at Indy would definitely add something to the history books and I see no reason why we can’t make that a reality this weekend.” The SCAG Mustang team are not out of the conversation for a late season upset. The father-son crew chief and driver combo have held their own in qualifying while picking up round wins on race day. The Wilkersons have only had six first round losses in the first 13 events on tour with Daniel racing to a career best weekend at the Charlotte Four-Wide event where he runnered-up to defending world champion Matt Hagan. Most recently, Wilkerson qualified 12th and beat Alexis DeJoria before exiting in the quarterfinals. The Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park will begin with five rounds of qualifying Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:20 and 4:00 p.m. Eliminations are scheduled to begin Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday and 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday with eliminations beginning Monday at noon on FS1 and shifting to FOX Broadcasting Network (FOX) at 2:00 p.m. ET.

(Photo Courtesy RCR) Press Release | RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING WELCOME, N.C. (August 29, 2024) – Richard Childress Racing (RCR) today announced a partnership with Samsara Inc. ("Samsara") (NYSE: IOT), the pioneer of the Connected Operations™ Cloud. RCR has implemented Samsara Video-Based Safety, Vehicle Telematics, and Equipment Monitoring solutions in its fleet to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of its operations. “RCR is consistently striving to find solutions to improve the safety and efficiency of not only our race cars, but our fleet of trucks that log thousands of miles to and from the track every week,” said Torrey Galida, president of RCR. “This partnership with Samsara allows us to equip our hauler drivers with innovative and sustainable technology that will help our logistic operations. Our use of the Samsara platform is an exciting opportunity, and we look forward to finding much success together both on and off the track.” Samsara helps tens of thousands of organizations in industries like transportation, construction, and field services, solve their most complex and pressing problems. The company brings data from frontline workers, equipment, vehicles, and worksites into the cloud and leverages AI models to provide real-time insights. Whether it’s keeping the workforce out of harm’s way, managing thousands of vehicles and assets, or making operations changes to increase sustainability, Samsara is essential to strengthening operations. “The time and hard work RCR’s hauler drivers and logistics team put in is critical to the team’s performance on track. At Samsara, we’re dedicated to helping make their jobs safer and easier with technology,” said Amy Day-O’Connor, senior director of brand and creative at Samsara. “We’re excited to play a role in improving RCR’s operations and to cheer on Jesse Love as he competes for the championship.” The No. 2 Samsara Chevrolet, driven by Jesse Love, will make its inaugural appearance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 7. Making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at the start of the 2024 season, Love has impressed throughout his rookie campaign. The 19-year-old captured his first series victory in only the ninth race of the season and currently holds a sizeable lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings. Love, a native of Menlo Park, California, is the youngest NASCAR champion in history and the reigning 2023 ARCA Menards Series champion. Watch Love and the No. 2 Samsara Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 7. Live television coverage will air on USA Network at 3 p.m. ET, with the Performance Racing Network carrying the live radio broadcast. For more information on Samsara, please visit www.samsara.com.

By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday!  This weekend NASCAR travels to Darlington, South Carolina for the “Cook Out Southern 500” at Darlington Raceway.   Darlington is a 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval track also known as “The Lady in Black,” and “The Track Too Tough to Tame.”  The track was built in 1950, with Johnny Mantz winning the first race that same year.    Tomorrow’s race will be 367 laps long (for a total of 501.32 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 115 – 230 – 367.  Pit road speed is 45 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 50 mph.    This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 6,969 laps, for 9,285.73 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed 100% of them, but Daniel Hemric is the closest, having driven 94.23% of them.    Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Darlington: Denny Hamlin 8.25 over 24 races (4 wins) Brad Keselowski 10.90 over 21 races (2 wins) Kyle Larson 11.31 over 13 races (1 win) Erik Jones 12.38 over 13 races (2 wins) Tyler Reddick 13.40 over 10 races (0 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Darlington: Zane Smith 35.00 over 1 race Daniel Hemric 31.00 over 4 races JH Nemechek 27.75 over 4 races Corey LaJoie 26.23 over 13 races Michael McDowell 25.83 over 18 races   For the purposes of this article, we’re classifying Darlington as an Intermediate track.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediate Tracks: Denny Hamlin 12.05 over 329 races (27 wins) Kyle Larson 12.18 over 167 races (16 wins) Kyle Busch 12.37 over 345 races (29 wins) Brad Keselowski 12.45 over 266 races (19 wins) Chase Elliott 12.49 over 148 races (6 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediate Tracks: Ryan Preece 23.12 over 81 races Harrison Burton 22.48 over 40 races Josh Berry 21.71 over 16 races Zane Smith 21.50 over 12 races Todd Gilliland 20.74 over 40 races   David Pearson is the winningest driver at Darlington, with 10 career wins.  Dale Earnhardt had 9, and Jeff Gordon has 7.  Denny Hamlin is the winningest current driver with 4.   Notable drivers who have not won at Darlington: Chase Elliott (has won at 15 other tracks) Ryan Blaney (has won at 9 other tracks) Christopher Bell (has won at 8 other tracks) Alex Bowman (has won at 8 other tracks) Tyler Reddick (has won at 7 other tracks)   No current driver has earned their first Cup Series win at Darlington.   Based on average finish, no drivers list Darlington as their BEST or WORST track.     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 +456 pts (incomplete 2023 season) Chase Elliott +334 pts (incomplete 2023 season) Ty Gibbs +198 pts Alex Bowman +161 pts Todd Gilliland +149 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2023 William Byron -189 pts Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -150 pts Kyle Busch -145 pts Martin Truex Jr. -113 pts Joey Logano -110 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 11.20 Ty Gibbs 14.48 Bubba Wallace 15.80 Todd Gilliland 19.76   Drivers Having their WORST Career Year Erik Jones 21.96 Justin Haley 23.16 Austin Dillon 23.20 Harrison Burton 25.88   Here is the current battle for Rookie of the Year: Carson Hocevar 467 Josh Berry 448 Zane Smith 316 Kaz Grala 166   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 909 Toyota 895 Ford 868   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Hendrick 848 Joe Gibbs 838 23XI 761 RFK 726 Penske 702 Stewart-Haas 677 Trackhouse 676 RCR 585 Spire 552 Front Row 522 Kaulig 441 Legacy Motor Club 441 Rick Ware 438 JTG-Daugherty 372 Wood Bros 285   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 233 Denny Hamlin 220 Ryan Blaney 193 Martin Truex Jr. 175 Christopher Bell 174 Tyler Reddick 160 Chase Elliott 158 William Byron 150 Brad Keselowski 138 Joey Logano 122   Milestone Watch Chase Elliott Looking for his 20th Career Win Christopher Bell Looking for his 10th Career Win Christopher Bell Looking for his 40th Career Top 5 William Byron Looking for his 50th Career Top 5 Corey LaJoie Looking for his 10th Career Top 10 Erik Jones Looking for his 90th Career Top 10 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Looking for his 60th Career Top 10   Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 130 races Chase Briscoe 93 races Erik Jones 70 races Bubba Wallace 68 races Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 60 races Kyle Busch 46 races Martin Truex Jr. 41 races Michael McDowell 37 races Chris Buescher 35 races Ross Chastain 26 races   The race begins Sunday, Sept 1st  at 6:00 pm EST (3:00 pm 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!

(Photo Courtesy NHRA) By Logan Morris Day One of the 70th Anniversary of the U.S. Nationals kicked off under the blazing sun in Brownsburg, Indiana on Friday. Blake Alexander will head into Saturday as the provisional number one qualifier with an ET of 3.890 at 327.82 MPH. The run continues a pattern of strong performances for Alexander in recent weeks. As he balances being a new father, he said he is working on compartmentalizing: “I'm getting better at it. I would say that I've struggled this year because I can't ’zone it all out.’ There's personal strife, and other things, and I think a lot of people can see it. Some men out here like myself, when you get out here and you're young, and you've got nothing going on in your head, you're a pretty damn good driver. Some of us are and if you put a lot of stuff in a young man's head and he starts growing into being a grown-up in front of people, they take on grown-up responsibility.” (Photo Courtesy NHRA) In Top Fuel, Brittany Force is currently on top of the board with a much-needed run of 3.740 at 334.32MPH. She sits in a precocious spot in the point standings and I had the chance to ask her how she keeps focused on the task without her family during such a pivotal and historic weekend. “There is a lot going on. There's so much wrapped around this one race and it’s the first U.S Nationals that I haven't had my whole family around me, so that's different in itself. It just feels weird to be out here and not have my dad, not have my mom and my sisters but it's all for a good reason. They're all at home, supporting my dad.” As far as her ability to focus on the task at hand, she added: “It's this long weekend. We have extra qualifying runs - the event is actually on Monday, so it's just all this excitement built around. And for me it's focusing on one day at a time. One run at a time. So today, that's exactly what we did. our focus was there. You can't look ahead. Let's just focus on now. And once we accomplish that we move on to the next one.” Greg Anderson is the number one provisional qualifier in Pro Stock with a run of 6.621 at 206.23 MPH. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Angie Smith sits atop of the board besting her husband with a 6.883 at just over 197MPH. (Photo Courtesy NHRA) Day two of the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S Nationals begins at 12pm ET on Saturday.

(Photo Courtesy NASCAR) Press Release | NASCAR NASCAR continues to set historic milestones with its national series schedules, as the 2025 slates were announced today for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, which expands its schedule to 25 races for the first time since 2011. New venues will highlight the various series schedules, including Bowman Gray Stadium, Rockingham Speedway and Lime Rock Park. And, as announced earlier this week, NASCAR will etch another first into the record books in 2025 when the Cup Series goes international for a points race in Mexico City, Mexico. The 2.674-mile historic road course in Mexico City was home to the Xfinity Series from 2005-2008, but for the first time ever, the track will host an international points event in the Cup Series airing live on Prime Video on Sunday, June 15. The Xfinity Series will make its return to the course as well when cars hit the track first on Saturday, June 14. NASCAR fans can catch the live Xfinity Series action from Mexico City on The CW. The visit to Mexico will be the second of two new tracks on the Cup Series schedule, as NASCAR’s premier series heads back to Bowman Gray Stadium for the first time in 54 years for The Clash. The traditional season-opening exhibition event which will once again air live on FOX. The racetrack hosted 29 NASCAR Grand National, now NASCAR Cup Series, races from 1958 to 1971. Bowman Gray Stadium has hosted many NASCAR legends including Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Richie Evans, Jerry Cook, and others. Petty won his 100th NASCAR Grand National race in the 1969 Myers Brothers 250 at the racetrack. “It’s no secret we’ve been bullish about growing NASCAR beyond our borders, and the 2025 schedule is an important and thrilling first milestone in that journey,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Venue and Racing Innovation Officer. “In addition to racing in Mexico, we’ve been able to bring back more historic and fan-favorite venues for the first time in decades across our national series. Not only will this combination of venues maintain the high levels of excitement and anticipation for NASCAR racing, but it also delivers one of the most diverse and challenging schedules anywhere in motorsports.” As has been customary, the season will officially commence with the running of the 67th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16 live on FOX. The next 12 Cup Series races will air on FOX Sports platforms, including Homestead-Miami Speedway moving back to the spring (Sunday, March 23) and culminating with the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday, May 18. As previously announced, Prime Video will make its NASCAR debut with the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25. Then, following Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday, June 1, the highly anticipated In-Season Tournament will officially get underway at Michigan International Speedway (Sunday, June 8) with the first of three rounds of seeding events that will set the tournament brackets that includes the race in Mexico City (Sunday, June 15) and concludes at Pocono Raceway (Sunday, June 22). TNT Sports will then make its return to NASCAR for the first time since 2014 when the action gets underway from Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 28. As previously announced, this race will also be the start of the in-season elimination events which will take place throughout the entirety of the five-race TNT Sports portion of the season, culminating with the $1 million tournament winner being crowned on the bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 27. As part of the TNT Sports schedule, the Cup Series will return to the streets of Chicago for the third straight year on Sunday, July 6. On Sunday, Aug. 3 NASCAR returns to Iowa Speedway where Cup Series coverage shifts to NBC Sports platforms for 14 consecutive races, including the entire Cup Series Playoffs and Championship finale at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 2. Elsewhere in the Playoffs, World Wide Technology Raceway located outside St. Louis, Mo. will make its debut in the Cup Series postseason as the second race in the Round of 16 on Sunday, Sept. 7, nestled between the Playoffs opener at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 31 and the final race in the Round of 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 13. New Hampshire Motor Speedway will make its return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2017 when the Cup Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series head to Loudon on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21 for the first race in the Cup Series Round of 12 and last race in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 10 Additional highlights in the 2025 NASCAR national series schedules include: On Saturday, Aug. 23, the second Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway will shift back to its customary spot, playing the ever-important role as the last chance for drivers to secure their spot in the Playoffs. Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, which have hosted Cup Series Playoff races since the inception of the format in 2004, will move to new spots in the Playoffs. Kansas Speedway will move to the second race of the Round 12 on Sunday, Sept. 28 joining New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL (Sunday, Oct. 5). Talladega Superspeedway will move to the second race of the Round of 8 on Sunday, Oct. 19 joining Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Sunday, Oct. 12) and Martinsville Speedway (Sunday, Oct. 26). The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Xfinity Series return to historic Rockingham Speedway on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, respectively. The Xfinity Series last competed at the venue from 1982 to 2004; the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series makes its return after a two-year stint in 2012 and 2013. Bristol Motor Speedway will become the opening race in the Xfinity Series Playoffs on Friday, Sept. 12. The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule will expand from 23 to 25 races, a testament to the demand for its unique style of racing and intense competition. For the first time ever, NASCAR heads to the iconic 1.5-mile road course at Lime Rock Park when the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series travels for a standalone event at the Connecticut venue on Saturday, June 28. For tickets to 2025 NASCAR events, visit www.nascar.com/2025schedule. FOX Sports, Prime Video, TNT Sports and NBC Sports will broadcast the 2025 Cup Series season; The CW will carry the entire Xfinity Series season and FOX Sports will once again be home to the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Networks and start times will be announced at a later date.

Press Release | NASCAR MEXICO CITY (Aug. 27, 2024) – For the first time in its storied history, the NASCAR Cup Series will see cars hit the track for a points race in Mexico. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, the world-class Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in vibrant Mexico City will host the milestone event as part of the 2025 schedule. The monumental weekend will also include the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Mexico Series competing on the road course.   The new international NASCAR event was announced today as part of a press conference at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City with Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President & Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer, Federico Alaman, Head of Commercial Partnerships for OCESA, Jimmy Morales, CEO of NASCAR Mexico Series, and Daniel Suárez, driver of No. 99 for Trackhouse Racing.   “This is a historic moment for our sport, and specifically for the NASCAR Cup Series, in being able to expand our footprint to Mexico,” said Kennedy. “We’ve been bold about our intentions to grow on a global scale, and there isn’t a better place to take the next step in that journey than at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City.”   “At OCESA, we are dedicated to entertaining people, and this has positioned us as the most powerful live events platform in Mexico and Latin America, as well as one of the most important globally,” said Alejandro Soberón, Founder and CEO of OCESA. “The arrival of the NASCAR Cup Series to our country reflects the significant growth that motorsports has experienced in Mexico, an achievement in which Escudería Telmex has played a major role by promoting the NASCAR Mexico Series and supporting drivers like Daniel Suárez.”   The historic road course is 2.674 miles long, boasts 17 turns and sits at an elevation of 7,342 feet. Built in 1959, the track was named in honor of racing brothers Ricardo Rodríguez and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit was remodeled back in 2015 and has hosted eight Formula 1 Grand Prix´s since then, becoming one of the most popular international racing circuits and a spectacular destination for NASCAR fans to experience.   While the race will be a first in the Cup Series, there is a storied relationship between NASCAR and Mexico. In 1950, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and Curtis Turner participated in La Carrera Panamericana road race across Mexico. Between 2005-2008, the Xfinity Series competed at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with current Cup Series stars Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex, Jr. all earning a victory there during the four-year stretch.   Additionally, the NASCAR Mexico Series has been the premier stock-car racing series across Mexico with 17 seasons under the NASCAR name, developing future talent along the way — including Cup Series winning driver Daniel Suárez and current Drive for Diversity rising stars Eloy López, Andres Pérez de Lara and Regina Sirvent. The series competed in the United States earlier this year when it joined the Cup Series for the Busch Light Clash at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum event weekend in February.   The Cup Series first competed internationally on July 1, 1952 at Stamford Park, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in a race won by Buddy Shuman. The last Cup Series international points race was on July 18, 1958 at Canadian Exposition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NASCAR also held three exhibition races at Suzuka Circuitland in Suzuka City, Japan in 1996-1998.   The action at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will begin with the Mexico Series and Xfinity Series as part of the June 14-15 race weekend. The NASCAR Mexico race weekend will culminate with the first international points event in Cup Series modern history on Sunday, June 15. The Cup Series event will air live on Prime Video while Saturday’s Xfinity Series tilt to air live on The CW.   While information on tickets has not been announced, fans can register online to receive event and ticket information at www.nascarmexico.com . (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | TRACKHOUSE RACING CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA. –What began as a one-off PROJECT91 race in 2023 and continued as a successful Xfinity Series campaign in 2024 will turn into a fulltime NASCAR Cup Series season in 2025 for New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen. Trackhouse Racing announced today that it has acquired a third charter for the three-time Supercars champion who will join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez in the team’s 2025 Cup Series lineup. “This is a big day in so many ways for Trackhouse Racing, Shane, Chevrolet and race fans around the world,” said Trackhouse Racing founder and owner Justin Marks. “This is an important step for our organization and it’s a credit to the men and women at Trackhouse Racing whose hard work and success the last few years has led to us expanding to three Cup teams in 2025. “It’s also a big step up for Shane who took a chance on Trackhouse Racing, moved here from New Zealand and now joins the most competitive stock car racing series in the world. Everyone will get to watch one of the world’s racing superstars compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.” Van Gisbergen said his mission since leaving the Supercars Series has been to come to America and earn a place in the Cup Series. He has raced full-time with Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2024, winning at Portland International Raceway, Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and the Chicago Street Race. He’s also raced in four Cup Series races in 2024 with plans to run in seven more races. “This is what I have planned for and I am ready,” said the 35-year-old Auckland, New Zealand native. “I know there is a tough learning curve ahead, but the best way to learn is to go out and do it. I feel I have made progress running the Xfinity Series this year with Kaulig Racing and I can’t thank everyone there enough. I look forward to the Cup Series. Those drivers and teams are the best in the world and it will be an honor to be part of their races.” Van Gisbergen’s Chevrolet will carry the number 88 in 2025. That car number has been driven to victory lane 76 times in NASCAR history by legends including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Donnie Allison, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Buddy Baker and others. Stephen Doran, 38, will serve as the No. 88 crew chief in 2025. Doran is in his first year as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief working with driver Zane Smith on the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. The Butler, Pennsylvania native began his NASCAR career in 2006 at Petty Enterprises and worked as Kevin Harvick’s lead engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing from 2014 to 2023. Trackhouse Racing will announce the No. 88’s sponsors in the upcoming weeks. The story of today’s announcement began in 2023 when Marks convinced Van Gisbergen to climb behind the wheel of Trackhouse’s PROJECT91 Chevrolet at the inaugural Chicago Street Race. Marks created PROJECT91 in 2022 to expand the organization’s global reach by fielding a Cup Series entry for renowned international racing drivers. 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen raced for PROJECT91 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in 2022 and at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2023. Van Gisbergen, though popular around the world, was little known to most of the NASCAR audience despite a resume that includes Supercars Championships for Triple Eight Race Engineering in 2016, 2021 and 2022, plus 78 wins and 47 pole positions making him the fourth most successful driver in series history. He also won the Bathurst 1000 in 2020, 2022 and 2023. The NASCAR world took notice at Chicago in 2023 when he led nine laps and won the race by 1.259 seconds in overtime. Van Gisbergen became one of six foreign-born drivers to win a Cup Series race and the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win his first Cup Series start. He returned later in the season to finish 10th on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Shane is the type of driver we had in mind when we created PROJECT91,” said Marks who expects another PROJECT91 entry in 2025. “He took advantage of his opportunity and that experience in Chicago launched a whole new chapter in an already successful story.” Van Gisbergen signed a driver development agreement with Trackhouse Racing that led to a full-time Xfinity Series seat at Kaulig Racing in 2024 along with competing in a handful of Cup Series races. Trackhouse Racing made its debut in 2021 and with Suárez as a single car team housed at Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, North Carolina. After purchasing the NASCAR assets of Chip Ganassi Racing later that season it expanded to a two-car team in 2022 with Suárez and Chastain. In 232 races, Trackhouse has won seven races, posted 41 top-five and 78 top-10 finishes.  (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)