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Press Release | TRACKHOUSE RACING Concord, N.C. – Trackhouse Racing announced today that driver Daniel Suárez and Freeway Insurance will return to the No. 99 Chevrolet racing team for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, marking their fifth season together. Suárez scored his second career Cup Series win on Feb. 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway while flying the Freeway Insurance colors, earning the 32-year-old Monterrey, Mexico driver a playoff berth and the opportunity to race for a championship this Fall. Freeway will be the primary sponsor of the No. 99 Chevrolet for one-third of the 2025 season, including the Daytona 500 and the NASCAR All-Star race. “Everyone at Trackhouse Racing is pleased to continue the relationship with Daniel and Freeway Insurance,” said Justin Marks whose team is in its fourth year of competition in the Cup Series. “Daniel has been vital to this team and its culture since the first day. Freeway joined that same year and we have all continued to grow together and will continue into 2025.” Suárez, who won the 2016 Xfinity Series title, said he is pleased to continue his association with Trackhouse Racing and Freeway Insurance. “Trackhouse is home to me and I have enjoyed every minute I have been here,” said Suárez who became the first Mexican driver to win a Cup race when he dominated the race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June 2022. “We plan to keep working, growing and winning more races. We can only do that with the support of my Amigos and Amigas at Freeway Insurance. They have backed me for the last several years and we have grown close with their customers and employees.” Freeway Insurance joined Trackhouse and Suárez in 2021 to ensure everyone knows low-cost car insurance is available to people who need it, regardless of their driving record. During its relationship, the combination led to a national television and digital advertising campaign featuring Suárez in English and Spanish and customer outreach across the nation. Freeway Insurance recognition among NASCAR viewers and the public dramatically increased as millions of television viewers and social media fans watched Suárez on the racetrack and in commercials. Building on that success, Freeway Insurance served as the primary sponsor for Suárez in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 in February. “We value our partnership with Trackhouse and Daniel Suárez who has become a powerful ambassador of our Freeway brand and an influential voice in our own diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Daniel’s story inspires us and deeply connects to the daily lives and goals of our Hispanic customers,” said Cesar Soriano, Chief Executive Officer of Freeway Insurance, the largest auto insurance and personal lines distribution company in the United States. “Thousands of race fans have met Daniel at Freeway Insurance stores across the country, and we want him to meet and share his story with even more in 2025. He has been part of our national advertising initiatives and has introduced new customers to Freeway. We want to continue with that effort and scale our presence in NASCAR so when you see the No. 99 racing by you immediately think of Freeway Insurance.” Suárez drove the now familiar blue, green and white Freeway Insurance paint scheme to victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 25 in what is the closest three-wide finish in NASCAR history with Suárez, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch separated by .007 seconds. Suárez has helped build Trackhouse racing that began competing as a single-car team in 2021 with its cars housed at Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, North Carolina. In June of 2021, Trackhouse announced the acquisition of Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR assets, a move that secured two full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries and cleared the path for expansion. Trackhouse moved into its race shop in Concord, North Carolina and fielded the No. 99 for Suárez and the No. 1 Chevrolet with driver Ross Chastain in 2022. The duo, along with Shane van Gisbergen, have combined for seven victories in Cup Series racing. In 2016, he became the first NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate to win a national series title when he won the Xfinity Series championship by claiming victories at Michigan, Dover and Homestead-Miami Speedway. He was the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year – the first Mexican driver to win the award. Suárez came to America 13 years ago to pursue a NASCAR dream despite not speaking English. He is now a dual citizen of Mexico and the United States taking the oath of citizenship in Charlotte on June 18 and serves as a television host and in-race commentator, in English, with Fox Sports. He and longtime girlfriend Julia Piquet married on July 30 in Brazil. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 9, 2024) – The unique RoofTec NHRA Competition Eliminator Cash Clash is back, with competitors in the category getting the chance to compete in a pair of major specialty races with a combined $125,000 in total purses.   The first takes place at the world’s biggest drag race, the prestigious 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals on Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis, continuing at the NHRA Nevada Nationals on Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.   The bonus-earning opportunities for the Competition Eliminator racers are made possible through the efforts of Rodger Brogdon and his RoofTec brand. The specialty races also continue to bring a bigger spotlight for the category, which is Brogdon’s goal for these big-money shootouts.    "We wanted to give the teams participating an extra means of earning more money, which has provided a lot of excitement around what we are doing here," Brogdon said. "We debuted this race-within-a-race, and it created all the excitement we expected and then some. It created a buzz for Competition Eliminator and was a hit for the racers."   At the prestigious Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals, the RoofTec Indianapolis Comp Cash Clash winner will get $30,000, while the Las Vegas RoofTec Comp Cash Clash will feature $50,000 in base earnings.   To compete in the RoofTec Comp Cash Clash events, racers must be in the top 16 in points before the event that hosts the special race-within-a-race.    Through six races in the RoofTec Competition Eliminator bonus, Texas-based Rick Brown leads the standings heading into the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Taylor Chomiski is only one point behind and defending RoofTec Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund champion Chase Williams is third, just 12 points behind Brown.   "It's been a great year," said Brown, 72, who races a B/Pro Stock Truck Automatic Chevrolet S-10. "I'm feeling very fortunate I can still do it. Any way you look at what Rodger Brogdon has done for Competition Eliminator is incredible."   Fifty-time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national event winner Jeff Taylor, who has competed in numerous specialty events, has been thoroughly impressed by the RoofTec Comp Cash Clash events.    "It's huge, the money is crazy and the racing is the toughest that there is because you've got the best, top cars there in the freaking world. They're running for it," said Taylor, who is seeded No. 9 heading into Indianapolis. "You got the best drivers; you got the fastest cars. So, it takes a lot of work to win. I mean, nobody's ever won two in the same year. That should say something right there."    “This bonus program from RoofTec and Rodger Brogdon has brought a tremendous amount of excitement for the Competition Eliminator category, and we’re thrilled to see it continue in 2024,” NHRA Director of Advertising/Sponsorship Sales Jeff Morton said. “It’s a terrific addition to the world’s biggest drag race in Indy and we’re excited to see these standout Comp racers compete for big money at the bonus event in Las Vegas as well.”   The following drivers will compete in the second annual RoofTec Comp Cash Clash on Friday, Aug. 30 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. First-round pairings will be determined using a chip draw.   ROOFTEC COMP CASH CLASH QUALIFIERS FOR TOYOTA NHRA U.S. NATIONALS  1. Rick Brown  2. Taylor Chomiski 3. Chase Williams (defending RoofTec Comp Eliminator Bonus Fund Champion) 4. Don Thomas (defending RoofTec Cash Clash champion) 5. Rodger Brogdon 6. Adam Hickey 7. David Triplett 8. Glen Treadwell 9. Jeff Taylor 10. Jason Grima 11. Kayla Mozeris 12. Clint Neff 13. Scott Linder 14. Greg Kamplain 15. Cali Neff 16. Jarrod Granier   ALTERNATES Kevin Carter Steve Basgall Allen Wilson Brian Wegner Ashton Hudson Brooke Heckel   For more information, visit  www. https://www.compeliminatorbonusfund.com/ . For more information on NHRA, visit www.nhra.com . (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 8, 2024) – For the third consecutive year, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony is headed to the Pechanga Resort Casino in the heart of scenic Southern California Wine Country. The 2024 ceremony will take place on Monday, Nov. 18 following the final race of the season and the Countdown to the Championship, the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, which takes place Nov. 14-17 at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. “We’re so fortunate to have a pillar of the enormous auto racing community right here in Southern California. The Temecula Valley is our ancestral homeland and we at Pechanga look forward to welcoming the National Hot Rod Association back to celebrate the best of the best of their sport this fall. NHRA awards event attendees will enjoy Four Diamond luxury, and we’re adding even more surprises for fans at Pechanga and at local races,” said Ken Perez, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. The invitation-only black-tie affair will celebrate the 2024 world champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, as well as honor the 2024 NHRA Rookie of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award winner and the crew of the year in each professional category. The event starts with a pre-event cocktail reception at 5 p.m. and formal sit-down dinner at 6 p.m., and the awards ceremony begins at 7 p.m. The official after party will conclude the evening’s festivities and all activities will take place in the spacious and exquisite Pechanga Summit Ballroom. Champions in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will be honored from 4-5 p.m. at the Eagle’s Nest at Pechanga Resort Casino before joining the activities at the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony, where they will also be recognized. Pechanga Resort Casino will also have an exclusive resort offer available for fans during the 59th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, as the NHRA closes out the 2024 season with an incredible event and a memorable awards ceremony. Located just 60 miles south of In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Pechanga Resort Casino is the largest resort/casino on the West Coast and is nestled in Temecula Valley’s picturesque Southern California Wine Country. Offering the closest experience to Las Vegas any visitor can get, the top-rated resort, which was named the top casino in California and “Best U.S. Casino” by USA Today, offers AAA Four-Diamond comfort and amenities in its 1,100 spacious guest rooms and suites, a wide variety of fine dining options, an award-winning 18-hole golf course, spa services, wine tasting, and more than 3,500 slot machines, tables games and poker rooms. Pechanga Resort Casino is also nominated for the ninth time in USA Today’s 10Best.com Readers’ Poll for the Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas. Fans and race teams are can visit Pechanga.com/vote everyday through Aug. 26 to cast a vote for Pechanga Resort Casino. “We are extremely excited to return to Pechanga Resort Casino and celebrate our NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series champions and top-10 finishers,” said Evan Jonat, NHRA Vice President of Live Events. “Pechanga Resort Casino has been a wonderful partner the last two years, and our drivers and race teams have enjoyed an awesome experience there. It’s provided a terrific setting to honor our competitors and we look forward to another great awards ceremony in 2024.” Highlights from the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony will be available on the NHRA YouTube page, as well as photos and interviews on the red carpet before the ceremony on NHRA’s social media pages. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | KAULIG RACING Lexington, N.C. (August 7, 2024) — Kaulig Racing and Strive, a financial services firm on a mission to maximize value for its clients through an unapologetic embrace of capitalism, meritocracy, and innovation, are excited to announce a 2024 NASCAR season partnership. Strive, an Ohio-based firm, co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, has accumulated over $1.5 billion in assets under management since launching its first fund in 2022. The company manages a variety of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with an investment philosophy focused on maximizing shareholder value and pushing back against ESG, DEI, and other value destructive initiatives. The company also manages investment options in the Strive Pooled Employer Plan (Strive PEP) and, in response to significant demand for expanded financial services following the early success of Strive’s asset management platform in the United States, plans to launch Strive Wealth Management. “We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Kaulig Racing for the rest of the 2024 NASCAR season,” said Strive CEO Matt Cole. “Strive’s commitment to pro-American principles aligns perfectly with what NASCAR fans believe in – and could be looking for when they need help managing their hard-earned savings. We look forward to seeing the Strive car on the track later this year.” As part of this partnership, Strive will be the primary sponsor of AJ Allmendinger’s No.13 car for the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. NASCAR fans have the chance to help Strive decide which paint scheme will hit the track at Talladega. Fans can check out the eye-catching options and cast their votes by visiting kauligracing.com/strive. “We’re super excited to partner with another Ohio-based company in Strive,’’ said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “Its excellence-focused approach in asset management falls in line with our thought process here at Kaulig Racing and all Kaulig companies.” Allmendinger and the No. 13 Strive Chevrolet will take to Talladega’s high-banks for the Geico 500 on Sunday, October 6 at 2 p.m. ET with coverage on NBC. Strive will also be featured as an associate partner on Daniel Hemric’s No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 car throughout the remainder of the 2024 season. (Photo Courtesy Kaulig Racing)

NASCAR NASCAR announced Thursday that it has adjusted the wet-weather tire procedure on ovals where applicable. Ovals where the wet-weather tire is used are Phoenix Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway and Richmond Raceway, where the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will compete this weekend. This also includes the Milwaukee Mile and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in the Truck Series. If natural cautions fall while the track is still deemed in wet-weather conditions, tire changes will be permitted from wets only to wets. Teams will manage how to use their wet-weather tire allotment of four sets, meaning that teams will have the option to stay out on the track and gain positions in relation to drivers who elect to pit. Previously, NASCAR dictated when teams were allowed to change wets for wets on ovals. The updated procedure will be used if needed for both the Truck race Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1) and the Cup race on Sunday (6 p.m. ET, USA). (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Buckle up. Major League Baseball is coming to “Thunder Valley.” MLB announced Friday morning that the Braves and Reds will play a regular-season game in 2025 at the historic Bristol Motor Speedway in northeastern Tennessee on Saturday, Aug. 2, in the MLB Speedway Classic. “Major League Baseball is excited to deliver a special game at Bristol Motor Speedway, a unique setting that sports fans will remember forever," said Commissioner Rob Manfred in a statement. "The Reds and the Braves form an ideal matchup because of their dynamic talent and the proximity of their markets. We look forward to celebrating our game with a wide array of fans, both on and off the field throughout the weekend, and highlighting the rich traditions of sports, music and community in Tennessee and across the region." The event featured legends from both baseball and NASCAR, plenty of local dignitaries, an asphalt diamond marking where the field will be located, mascots, hot dog vendors, and plenty more bridging the two sports. Oh, and also a few hot laps, as stock cars decked out in team logos sped around the track during and after the announcement. It will be the first regular-season game in National League/American League history played in Tennessee, and continues a recent push by MLB to play games in unconventional, memorable settings. Other examples in recent years include MLB at Fort Bragg in 2016, MLB in Omaha in 2019, MLB at Field of Dreams in 2021, MLB at Rickwood Field earlier this year, and the annual Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa. Those games were, respectively, the first regular-season AL/NL games in North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa and Alabama. “On behalf of the team at Bristol Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports, we are thrilled to partner with Major League Baseball to bring the Speedway Classic to the ‘Home of Big Events’ on Aug. 2, 2025," said Jerry Caldwell, track president of Bristol Motor Speedway. "There is deep baseball history in Bristol and around this area, long acknowledged as the heart of the Appalachian League. In addition, Bristol’s location makes it the perfect ‘meet in the middle’ destination for a showdown between these two beloved clubs." A baseball diamond will be built across the track and infield of the legendary speedway, putting baseball inside one of the largest standalone sports venues in the country. It will be primarily situated between Turns 3 and 4 of the track. The dimensions will be 330 feet down the lines, 400 to center field, 375 to the right-field alley and 384 feet to the left-field alley. In racing configuration, the high-banked concrete track has a capacity of approximately 146,000. BMS has also hosted events including concerts and a college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech in 2016. And in fact, that game, the “Battle at Bristol,” was part of the inspiration for the Speedway Classic. Discussions about a possible game at the track date back to 2017, according to several key figures, though they only ramped up in the past few years. “This has been years in the making,” said Caldwell. “This has been a long conversation with our friends at Major League Baseball. It’s been a wonderful collaboration to get to this undertaking. Bristol is the home of big events.” The game will count as a Reds home game, and it will follow games in Cincinnati on Thursday, July 31, and Friday, Aug. 1. Sunday will be held as an off-day for both teams, as a buffer in case of inclement weather. FOX Sports will provide national coverage of the Speedway Classic, and ticket pre-sales will begin in September with public on-sale expected in December. (Photo Courtesy MLB)

Press Release | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB STATESVILLE, N.C. (August 9, 2024) — LEGACY MOTOR CLUBTM announced today that Jacob Canter will serve as Director of Competition. Canter joins the CLUB with more than two decades of engineering experience with a focus in the motorsports industry. It was also announced in July that long-time motorsports executive, Bobby Kennedy has joined LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in the newly created General Manager role. Both Canter and Kennedy have officially started with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and will report directly to Chief Executive Officer, Cal Wells III. Auto racing runs deep in the Canter family as Jacob is a third generation racer from Yakima, Wash. While continuing the family legacy of short track racing in the Pacific Northwest, Canter completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. Canter started his professional career as a Technical Engineer with MoTeC USA before moving to Rusty Wallace Racing to create an engineering department for the team. In 2007, Canter began a nearly 16 year tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing where he served as a Race Engineer before becoming the Research and Development Team Manager. Canter’s most recent role was with General Motors where he was the Engineering Manager of Vehicle Performance at GM Motorsports. “I am incredibly excited to join LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and embark on this new journey,” said Jacob Canter, Director of Competition for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “I am thankful to Maury, Jimmie, Richard and Cal for this opportunity. It is a competitive advantage to be a part of a team with amazing vision and leadership. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB to drive our success on and off the track with a championship mindset.” Canter will oversee the competition department including all crew chiefs and pit crew, while Kennedy will oversee the day-to-day operations of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “Both Jacob and Bobby represent some of the best the world of motorsports has to offer,” said Cal Wells III, CEO of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “I’m personally honored they’ve chosen to join LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Having previous long-term relationships with Toyota Racing Development will prove invaluable as LEGACY M. C. strives towards joining the elite within the NASCAR Cup Series.” “Bringing in people like Jacob and Bobby is what we need at this stage in the game,” said co-owner Jimmie Johnson. “This has been a difficult season and performance hasn’t been where we want it to be, so moves like this are necessary. We want to show up, be competitive, and win races. That’s the main goal.” The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway this weekend for the Cook Out 400. The race kicks off on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET live on USA or you can listen on SiriusXM – NASCAR Radio (channel 90) and MRN Radio. (Photo Credit: x.com/LEGACYMotorClub )

Press Release | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA PLANO, Texas (August 7, 2024) – Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) today announced executive leadership changes as David Wilson, group vice president and president of TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development), will retire on December 16 after 35 years with the organization. General Manager Tyler Gibbs will succeed Wilson as president of TRD, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). During his long-standing career at TRD, Wilson has held many roles, including design engineer; track support engineer; vice president, operations and engineering; vice president, production and strategic planning; vice president, sales, operations and planning; and vice president, finance, operations and planning. Wilson was appointed to the position of TRD president in January 2014, where he has led Toyota’s U.S. motorsports arm for the past 11 years. “It’s been such an honor to be a member of this Team and work alongside so many dedicated, talented and passionate men and women,” said Wilson. “I’m humbled and grateful for the trust, support and friendship afforded me throughout my career by my colleagues at TMNA, the Toyota Motor Corporation, our industry and team partners and our athletes. But now, I’ve completed my lap and I’m proud to hand the keys over to my friend and ‘brother in arms’, Tyler Gibbs. I have every confidence that Tyler and his team will continue to grow and strengthen TRD’s world-class legacy on and off the track.” Wilson played a significant role in many championships and race wins with Toyota, Lexus and Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) teams and drivers during his 35-year tenure, including championships in CART, CORR, Grand-Am, IMSA, Indy Racing League, MTEG, NASCAR, NHRA, SCORE and USAC. He has also been a part of many noteworthy victories in iconic races across motorsports, including wins in the 12 Hours of Sebring, Baja 500 and 1000, Rolex 24 at Daytona, Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, Petit Le Mans, Chili Bowl, and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Additionally, Wilson played an integral role with the Toyota and TRD leadership team that planned, supported and executed the company’s momentous entries into both CART/INDYCAR and NASCAR. Prior to joining TRD, Wilson was employed by Johnson & Johnson and was an officer in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist’s Badge and the Air Assault Badge. Wilson earned a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. In his new role, Gibbs will be responsible for all TRD operations and activities in North America. These include engine engineering, chassis engineering, manufacturing, administration and operations. He will oversee all TRD facilities, including the organization’s headquarters and engine operations in Costa Mesa, California, the chassis and team support operation in Salisbury, North Carolina, and the GR Garage and Toyota Performance Center (TPC) in Mooresville, North Carolina. “I have big shoes to fill,” said Gibbs. “Dave has been the cornerstone of TRD’s growth and culture over the last 35 years. During my 28 years working for Dave, he has given me countless opportunities to learn and grow, and this is another one of those opportunities. I’m excited and grateful for the privilege to work with so many incredible people at TRD and TMNA, along with our many partners, and together we’ll seek to continue TRD’s history of success.” Gibbs joined TRD in 1996 and has held various roles during his nearly 30-year tenure with the organization. He currently oversees competition, engineering, commercial and administration activities at TRD. In addition, he works closely with TMNA and Toyota Racing as well as with race team relationships and key motorsports partners. A Westmont College graduate, Gibbs began his career with Cosworth Engineering in 1992. He later earned his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Gibbs will assume his new role as TRD President in late December. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | JR MOTORSPORTS MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 7, 2024) – JR Motorsports today announced that Trackhouse Racing developmental driver and defending Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner Connor Zilisch will drive full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025 behind the wheel of the famed No. 88 Chevrolet, beginning with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway “Connor is such an impressive driver at this young age,” said Earnhardt Jr. “We’re excited for him to get behind the wheel full time next season. He is on a path to sure success with support from Chevrolet, Silver Hare Racing, Trackhouse, and now JR Motorsports.” A native of Mooresville, N.C., Zilisch began racing at the age of five and has since accumulated an impressive resume. The 18-year-old standout has won multiple U.S. national karting championships and set track records at six different venues in his first year in the Sports Car Club of America in 2021. Zilisch also made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2023, where he started and finished in the runner-up position. In January of this year, he signed a multi-year agreement with Trackhouse Racing as a developmental driver. “With so much support from Chevrolet and chances to race in Trucks, ARCA and Trans Am with the support of Silver Hare Racing, I was able to sign with Trackhouse and they went to work to secure an incredible opportunity for me,” said Zilisch. “I am so grateful and can’t wait to show them that their trust in me is warranted. It is mind-blowing to think that I will be driving for JR Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is one of my heroes. I’m ready to put in the work.” In March, it was announced that Zilisch would make his NXS debut with JRM on Sept. 14 at Watkins Glen International. Additionally, he will compete at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 28), Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 26), and Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 9). Details regarding partners for Zilisch and the No. 88 team will be forthcoming. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

By Adam Carabine We’re finally back after the Olympic break.  Let’s take a look at where the drivers stand currently in the Power Rankings after the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis.   We've ranked all 34 full-time drivers in the Cup Series (there are 36 charters, but the Rick Ware 15 and Kaulig 16 have rotating drivers, so they're excluded).   Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races   Harrison Burton – This week: 34th – Last week: 31st Burton has had a slow season, and a P36 at Indianapolis sends him to the very back of the pack.   Austin Dillon – This week: 33rd – Last week: 33rd Dillon’s 2024 season has been rough too, and while a P13 at Indy helps, it’s too little, too late.  RCR seems on the brink of an implosion.   Zane Smith – This week: 32nd – Last week: 34th Zane Smith has been on the upswing lately, with an average finish of 19th over the last 5 races.  (His average finish in the previous 17 races was a measly 28th).  At this point it’s about building some positive momentum for next season.   John Hunter Nemechek – This week: 31st – Last week: 30th  Things at Legacy Motor Club have been a little lacking all season, but particularly for Nemechek in the last five races.  His average finish has gone down 3 spots, and is fresh off of a P29 at Indy.   Josh Berry – This week: 30th – Last week: 20th   Berry was off to a decent start at the beginning of the year, but things have slid in the last little while.  Whether you chalk that up to the news of SHR shutting down, or a lack of experience with the grind of the Cup Series schedule, Berry’s lost his lead in the Rookie of the Year battle – he’s only 5 points up on Hocevar at the moment.   Michael McDowell – This week: 29th – Last week: 28th It wasn’t a terrible race for McDowell at Indianapolis, he scored some stage points, and finished 16th.  However, his underlying numbers showed he had a car that could have contended for a Top 10.    Noah Gragson – This week: 28th – Last week: 27th It seems strange that Gragson would lose a spot after a P9 at Indianapolis, but the competition is tough throughout the Cup Series field.  He’s putting together a solid season in the 10 car, but he’s been hurt by some inconsistency.   Ryan Preece – This week: 27th – Last week: 25th Preece has been up and down all year – a few weeks ago he followed up a P4 at Nashville with a P34 at the Chicago Street Course.  He’s trending in the wrong direction at the moment, but he’s the last SHR driver looking for a job, so he’ll have some pressure.   Kyle Busch – This week: 26th – Last week: 32nd It’s been a really rough season at RCR for Kyle Busch, but there are some signs of it turning around.  While his finishing position at Indianapolis doesn’t show it (P25), his underlying numbers are indicative of a motivated man.   Corey LaJoie – This week: 25th – Last week: 26th Since Indianapolis a few weeks ago, news has come out that Lajoie has lost his ride at Spire next year.  He’s up one spot in the Power Rankings after a P14 at Indy, but it’s been a disappointing year for Lajoie.   Ross Chastain – This week: 24th – Last week: 22nd It’s been a quiet year for Chastain.  He’s still looking for his first win of the season, and he’s losing his gap to the playoff line.  He’s only +7 to the good at the moment, and if there’s an outside winner he’ll be in even more trouble.    Daniel Hemric – This week: 23rd – Last week: 23rd   Speaking of quiet seasons, Hemric might be having the quietest of them all. His highest finish on the year is P9 three times.  He’s 223 points out of the playoffs right now, and his first Cup win does not look like it’s coming anytime soon.   Erik Jones – This week: 22nd – Last week: 24th Jones has shown that he’s got talent, but it’s not been an easy year at LMC.  It’s been 67 races since his last win, and while there have been some good moments, a win doesn’t look likely this year.   Austin Cindric – This week: 21st – Last week: 29th With Cindric’s spot in the playoffs officially secured, he’s been ramping up his results over the last five races.  A P7 finish at Indy tops off a run of five races where his average finish is 6 positions better than he’s had all season.  I’m not hopeful for him to make it out of the first round, but he has been doing better lately.   Joey Logano – This week: 20th – Last week: 12th It’s a weird year for Logano.  He’s now got a win and has secured his spot in the playoffs, but he seems to follow up every good performance with a real stinker.  After his P5 at Pocono showed some promise, he had a DNF and P34 at Indianapolis.    Daniel Suarez – This week: 19th – Last week: 17th News just broke of Suarez resigning for next year with Trackhouse, and it’s likely his P8 at Indianapolis helped with that decision.  While his win at Atlanta earned him a playoff spot early on, he’s had an inconsistent season.  It’s time to build momentum to head to the playoffs.   Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – This week: 18th – Last week: 16th  Stenhouse is coming off of a P11 at Indianapolis, which gives him four Top 15s within his last six races.  It’s a solid run for a smaller team with less funding.  But he’s not making the playoffs unless there’s a miracle at Daytona in a few weeks.   Justin Haley – This week: 17th – Last week: 14th How about that Justin Haley, right? The 51 car hasn’t looked like a playoff car for years, but Haley has brought a new level of respect to the ride.  He’s not making the playoffs this year, but it’s the most optimism that a Rick Ware Racing driver has had in a long time.   Carson Hocevar – This week: 16th – Last week: 21st As mentioned above, he’s only 5 points behind Josh Berry in the Rookie of the Year race, which is impressive.  He’s got the most points of any of his Spire teammates, and has put together a respectable few races.  P12 at Indy.   William Byron – This week: 15th – Last week: 8th It seems weird that a three-time winner this season can fall out of the Top 10, but it hasn’t been very smooth lately for Byron and the 24 team.  He finished dead last at Indianapolis, completing only 73 of the eventual 167 laps.   Alex Bowman – This week: 14th – Last week: 13th Bowman’s resurgence here has been buoyed by his win at the Chicago Street Course.  He followed that up with a P3, but unfortunately had a DNF at Indianapolis and finished 31st.  He’s finding some momentum at the right time, but is it enough for a deep run into the playoffs?   Todd Gilliland – This week: 13th – Last week: 15th Is Todd Gilliland the unsung hero of this year’s Cup Series season so far?  Poised to be the leader of Front Row Motorsports next year, he’s had an impressive run lately.  P6 at Indy was his best finish of the year so far, and he continues to rise in the power rankings.   Chase Briscoe – This week: 12th – Last week: 19th Briscoe looked to be finding an extra gear when he finished P2 at New Hampshire five races ago, but that’s proven to be the outlier ever since.  Some solid underlying numbers send him up the Power Rankings this week, but he’ll need to be more consistent to stay here.   Bubba Wallace – This week: 11th – Last week: 18th Wallace has three Top 10s in the last four races, and has been looking pretty solid lately.  He’s the one pressuring Chastain from outside the playoff line – he’s only 7 points out, and that gap has been quickly decreasing.  I think he has the equipment to do it, but does he have the mental fortitude?   Ty Gibbs – This week: 10th – Last week: 11th Gibbs breaks into the Top 10 this week despite a P23 finish at Indianapolis.  His finishing position was worse than his day, though.  He earned some stage points and ran in the Top 15 for most of the day.   Chris Buescher – This week: 9th  – Last week: 9th   Buescher’s also in a bit of danger around the playoff bubble at the moment, as currently he’s +17 points to the good.  His results haven’t been amazing the last few weeks, but he’s been fairly consistently around the Top 15 most weeks.     Brad Keselowski – This week: 8th – Last week: 10th Keselowski leapfrogs his teammate this week and moves further closer to the top of the Power Rankings.  While his results have also been lacking over the last little while, he’s putting up consistently decent underlying stats, and is prepping for what he hopes is a deep playoff run.   Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 7th – Last week: 7th We talked in the last Power Rankings article about how Truex looks safe in his playoff position despite being winless this season.  However, in the course of one race at Indianapolis, he lost 29 points to the playoff line.  There’s probably not enough races left for him to fully fall out of a playoff spot, but the momentum isn’t great at the moment.   Chase Elliott – This week: 6th – Last week: 5th With his playoff spot also safe due to his win at Texas, Elliott is working on getting ready for the post-season.  He just lost the regular season points lead to Indy winner Kyle Larson, but he’s still in the midst of his best career year, and just had two Top 10s in a row.   Kyle Larson – This week: 5th – Last week: 6th Larson now has 4 wins on the season after his Indianapolis win – the most of anyone in the field.  If it weren’t for the P39 at the Chicago Street Course, he’d probably be the Power Rankings leader, on top of already having earned the regular season points lead.   Ryan Blaney – This week: 4th – Last week: 1st Blaney falls out of the top Power Rankings spot despite a P3 finish at Indianapolis.  It was another solid outing for the 12 team, putting his Top 10 streak at four races.  If he can do it again in Richmond, he’ll likely retake the lead.   Denny Hamlin – This week: 3rd – Last week: 4th Hamlin had a bad finish at Indianapolis, but he may have had one of the best cars there.  He won the most stage points of anyone, he was running in the Top 10 all day, but unfortunately had a DNF and finished 32nd after getting taken out in the first overtime attempt.   Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 2nd A win in his last five races continues to keep him near the top of the Power Rankings.  Again, he’s had two DNFs in the same span, but his underlying numbers show that he’s a contender every week.  He finished P4 at Indianapolis.   Tyler Reddick – This week: 1st – Last week: 3rd Reddick has the second-best average finish of any Cup driver on the season, and he hasn’t finished outside of the Top 6 in the last five races.  At this point, he’s peaking at the right time, and he looks like a lock for the Championship Four in Phoenix.

Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 5, 2024) – NHRA and Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) officials announced today that Toyota has been named the title sponsor of the world’s biggest drag race, the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The 70th anniversary of The Big Go takes place on Aug. 28-Sept. 2 in Indianapolis, with the Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals marking the final race of the regular season during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series campaign. The 14th of 20 races this year is on drag racing’s grandest stage, as the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals represents the pinnacle in the sport. For seven decades, winning in Indy has been the ultimate in drag racing and this year’s 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals promises to be one of the biggest in the illustrious history of The Big Go. Toyota has been a longtime partner with NHRA, becoming the “Official Car of NHRA” in 2014 and Toyota also has a strong partnership with several standout nitro teams, including reigning and back-to-back U.S. Nationals champions Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Ron Capps (Funny Car), as well as reigning Top Fuel world champ and current points leader Doug Kalitta, Shawn Langdon, J.R. Todd, Billy and Steve Torrence, Justin Ashley and Alexis DeJoria. “Toyota has been a proud partner of the NHRA for over a decade, and we are thrilled to grow that partnership with the naming rights to the 70th annual running of the U.S. Nationals,” said Paul Doleshal, group manager, motorsports, TMNA. “This is an iconic race weekend, full of incredible tradition, and everyone at Toyota looks forward to amplifying that with our activation plans. We have been fortunate to win the U.S. Nationals in both Top Fuel and Funny Car the last two seasons, and we hope to be celebrating with one of our talented drivers in the winner’s circle with the Toyota U.S. Nationals Wally in a few short weeks.” Toyota-supported teams have more than 200 victories in NHRA competition, including 12 in 2024. Last year, Brown (Top Fuel), Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock), and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won at The Big Go, 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 live eliminations at 2 p.m. ET on FOX on Monday, Sept. 2. “Toyota has been a wonderful partner with the NHRA and we’re thrilled to now have them as the title sponsor for the biggest race in our sport, the 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “Their commitment to NHRA drag racing and the race teams has been incredible and we’re proud to celebrate 70 years of The Big Go this year with Toyota, our racers, partners and all of our amazing fans.” The 70th annual Toyota NHRA U.S. Nationals will also feature 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 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. Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher has an amazing 10 victories at The Big Go, the most of any driver in NHRA history, while John Force’s five Funny Car wins are tied for the most in class history. Greg Anderson’s 100th career win in 2022 gave the five-time champ seven overall wins in Pro Stock at the world’s biggest drag race, while Brown has five career wins across two classes at the U.S. Nationals. 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 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, and eliminations beginning at 12 p.m. on FS1 on Sunday, 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 on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | SPIRE MOTORSPORTS MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 6, 2024) – Michael McDowell will have a familiar face atop the pit box in 2025. Travis Peterson has signed a multi-year agreement and will join Spire Motorsports at the conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season. Peterson will call the shots for McDowell and the No. 71 Chevrolet, filling out the team’s NCS crew chief lineup for the 2025 campaign. Peterson, 33, has been paired with the 2021 Daytona 500 winner since 2023 combining for three pole positions, one win, four top-five and 14 top-ten finishes. The potent duo made headlines last July by snaring the checkered flag in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. “It’s exciting to have Travis Peterson join Spire Motorsports,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. “The first time Travis and I worked together was when Greg Ives and Travis came to Hendrick Motorsports to be the crew chief and the engineer for the No. 88 car with Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. I got to spend time with Travis there as a young engineer and it’s exciting to see how he’s grown into a leader and a crew chief. He’s going to add tremendous depth to our crew chief lineup and be a great compliment to Luke (Lambert) and Rodney (Childers). I’m really excited to see what those three can do together.” Born in Wisconsin, Peterson moved with his family to the Charlotte metro at a young age when his father accepted a position at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). The younger Peterson would later work as a race engineer intern at JGR in the K&N Pro Series East ranks while working towards a mechanical engineering degree. Upon graduating from the William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in fall 2012, Peterson immediately went to work at JR Motorsports (JRM), where he was part of Chase Elliott’s three-win 2014 season that ultimately resulted in the NASCAR Xfinity Series title. Following a two-year run of success at JRM, the badger-state native moved to Hendrick Motorsports where he worked with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the famed No. 88 team from 2015-2018. Peterson has proven to be one of the most promising young crew chiefs on pit road and has called 63 races in NASCAR’s premier division, to date. Prior to his time with McDowell and Front Row Motorsports, Peterson spent five seasons as a lead race engineer at Roush Fenway Racing. “It is a very exciting opportunity,” said Peterson. “Michael (McDowell) and I had the opportunity to meet with Doug (Duchardt) and (Jeff) Dickerson and they really sold us on the vision of where Spire is going and how we could be big role players in building the organization. I think having that skin in the game was important to both of us. The opportunity in front of us has all the potential to be very rewarding. That was a huge part of it. I love the energy right now and the overall culture around Spire Motorsports. They’re investing in people and team ownership is highly engaged. The mindset is ‘We’re going to do what it takes to win and this is what we want to build. Here’s the vision, where we’re going, what we’re going to do to get there, and we want you to be part of it.’ That was the biggest selling point.” McDowell is a veteran of 487 NCS starts and a two-time NCS race winner. He made his debut in 2008 and has since recorded three pole positions, 11 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes in NASCAR’s premier division. “There are times when you meet people and you are immediately able to naturally communicate on a real level,” said Peterson of his relationship with McDowell. “I feel like we were that way from the start. We didn’t have to work at it. Our personalities, the way we openly communicate, and our honest nature helped us click from the start. We have no problem talking about hard stuff or easy stuff. We can be happy together when we win and be sad together when we lose. There is no red tape. We just work. It’s hard to recreate that. Staying together is a huge part in coming to Spire Motorsports for both of us. It’s hard to put a value on a driver/crew chief pairing, but there’s an intangible there. We just know it has been working, and if we can keep it going, we’re only going to get better over time. That’s what we’re chasing. We want to continue to grow and get better together.” Spire Motorsports was founded in 2018 and has logged 354 Cup Series starts, posting one win, seven top fives and 14 top 10s. Peterson will work alongside veteran NASCAR top kicks Rodney Childers and Luke Lambert in 2025 as the three-car Mooresville, N.C., team looks to capitalize on experience and depth, and build itself into a consistent challenger for race wins, top 10s and playoff berths. “It’s going to be exciting,” Peterson continued. “Rodney (Childers) is a veteran of the sport. It is exciting for me to learn from a guy with that much success. Luke (Lambert) and I worked together when I was an engineer at Roush so we’re definitely familiar with one another. We have all seen each other around and we’ve all paid attention to each other. Combining all those ideas will be exciting. That is where a lot of strength is right now in the sport. The teamwork side of our group is going to be very valuable.” (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | RICHMOND RACEWAY RICHMOND, Va. (August 5, 2024) – After a two-week break during the Olympics, NASCAR is back as the world’s greatest drivers will compete for supremacy at Richmond Raceway in the Cook Out 400 at 6 p.m. on Sunday. And with just four races to go before the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin, teams will utilize any advantage they can get to leave Richmond with the checkered flag. Most notable to this weekend will be the introduction of the Option tire. For the first time in a points-paying event, the Cook Out 400 will feature two Goodyear tire options available to teams: a baseline “Prime” tire that has a harder rubber compound with potentially less grip but more longevity, and a new “Option” tire that has a softer rubber compound with more short-term grip and speed, but less longevity. The “Prime” tire will be marked with traditional yellow lettering on the sidewalls, while the “Option” tire will be designated with red lettering. Teams will be allotted six sets of Prime tires and two sets of Option tires for the race, including one Prime set carried over from qualifying. Teams will also have an extended practice session, with one set of each tire type available to use during that 45-minute stint. The availability of only two sets of Option tires over the course of 400 laps is expected to place an emphasis on strategy, for when teams might opt to utilize them. “As we continue the cooperative effort of the industry on short track package adjustments, we felt like Richmond was an excellent opportunity to build upon the results of the Option tire used at the All-Star race,” said Goodyear Director of Racing Greg Stucker. “We expect the Option tire to provide a significant lap time gain over the Prime, but fall-off will be greater, and tire management will be important in taking advantage of it at the right time.” Drivers and crew chiefs alike will look to make the most of this new competition element, particularly those still looking to lock themselves into playoffs. One of those drivers is last year’s Cook Out 400 winner Chris Buescher. A three-time winner in 2023, the pilot of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse has yet to secure a victory this year and sits only 17 points above the playoff cutline. However, Richmond was the site of his first victory last season and the beginning of a massive hot streak where he tallied three straight wins on ovals (Richmond, Michigan, and Daytona). He’ll look to do the same on Sunday night and join his teammate, Brad Keselowski, with a 2024 win and playoff berth. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain will also look to clinch his way into the playoffs at Richmond, a track where he only has one top-10 at in the NextGen era. Sitting just seven points above the cutline and currently the last driver in on points, the two-time winner in 2023 will at the very least want to create as much of a point-differential as possible between him and the next driver: Bubba Wallace. The No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE led 80 laps in last year’s Cook Out 400, as Wallace will look to put together another good run to place himself back inside the 16-driver playoff picture. All three will have a tough task ahead of them in trying to hold off two of the most successful drivers at the 0.75-mile short track. The track’s most recent winner in the Toyota Owners 400 and Chesterfield, Va., native Denny Hamlin will look to become the first driver to sweep both races at Richmond since his teammate Martin Truex Jr. did in 2019. And two-time Richmond winner Kyle Larson carries tons of momentum as the current points leader and the most recent race winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway prior to the Olympic break. The Cook Out 400 will take place under the lights at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, as NASCAR’s best will hope to solidify their chances at making the playoffs. The race will be broadcast live on USA Network, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. The NASCAR Weekend at Richmond Raceway presented by Who’s Your Driver will also feature the Clean Harbors 250 at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, serving as the conclusion to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular season. Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now at www.richmondraceway.com. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) By Logan Morris Tony Stewart has been involved in many things during his racing career. He’s both a NASCAR and IndyCar champion. He’s a champion in USAC. But, the career-defining drive is still there even as he approaches a new chapter in his life. When I caught up with the racing icon at the 47th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire just after his P2 qualifying run in his Top Alcohol Dragster for McPhillps Racing, he made it clear that all that experience has done very little to help his transition into Drag Racing over the last few years. “I wish I could say all those 40-plus years of hell really helped at all, honestly, it's just such a totally different discipline. It's more about the procedure of everything than it is the actual time the lights drop and you get to the finish line. It's learning procedures and the cadence of the procedures and making sure you do not do anything wrong; you cannot afford a mistake. You know, sprint cars or everything else we ran if you made a mistake on one corner of a lap, you had a lot of laps to fix it. So, this is a whole different deal - the focus has to be 100% all the time, you can't be 95% focused. You've got to be 100% focused." Some were scratching their heads at why Tony Stewart wouldn’t take advantage of a rare off-week from the NHRA schedule, but he told me in no uncertain terms is he interested in slowing down. ¨It's just who I've been my entire life, everyone is like ´Why are you racing here this weekend?´ I said, 'Because I'm here with a big car and I'm gonna race something somewhere every weekend every chance I get.' That's just what I do, so, I don't sit on my hands too well." When I asked him specifically if he still has the passion he once did, he put any doubt to rest: “Oh yeah. Well, my dad is 86 and he still races a quarter midget, so, I'd say I'm probably gonna race for a long time." Stewart credits McPhillps Racing for helping him during this foray into drag racing. Still, he knows he has a lot of work to do. "I learned a lot last year, I love racing with this family, they're great people, the McPhillips are awesome. The great thing is I learned a lot last year. When we get done, I'm gonna go in and look at the graph and then I'm gonna change but I know what I'm looking at on the graphs now with these guys. Now, when you go into the Top Fuel trailer and get on that computer, there's way more squiggly coloured lines than here so, I know what to focus on here and what I'm looking for. A lot of times it's really just to validate what I felt during the run and then I can say, this is the spot, here to here, and they can see the spot." (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) We also discussed one of the biggest challenges he’s facing during this unfamiliar period as a Top Fuel rookie and how he’s had to manage expectations. “The biggest adjustment I've had to do is just manage expectations differently, as a driver my whole life - everything I've driven, if it wasn't exactly the way we needed it to be I could manipulate it and change what I did with my hands and my feet to manipulate the car, but you can't do that here. It's either gonna be right or it's not gonna be right. I can't make it go faster but I can screw up. That's why it's so important to make sure you're doing exactly the right things at the right times, you know, when it comes to race day when you have to pedal it or something that's when the drivers have to do the work and that's where it comes back into my hands a little bit and you hope you don't get in that situation too often." Stewart still understands that unlike in other racing series, success in drag racing is largely determined by your crew chief and the team working on the car. "Well, it's not my strategy as much as the crew chief's. This is a crew chief sport more than it is a driver's sport, I mean, I put 60, 70% of the success on the tuners because like I said we can't make it go faster so it's gonna run what it's gonna run. It's in their hands, not ours. It's that way with the clutch, with the fuel, timing, all the variables that we have in these cars. It's still in their hands." Though he knows that, it’s a safe bet he’ll continue to do everything he can to maximize his end of the deal. He had a successful Night Under Fire coming up just short against Gary Pritchett in the final round of Top Alcohol Dragster Saturday night with a run of 5.272 at over 269 mph.