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Press Release | 23XI RACING Huntersville, N.C. (Aug. 2, 2024) – 23XI Racing, in collaboration with the Mobil 1 brand, announced today that Juan Pablo Montoya, a decorated and championship-winning driver in multiple series, will compete in the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE in the NASCAR Cup Series event at Watkins Glen International on September 15. The race will serve as the third and final event for the No. 50 Camry, which has competed at two previous races this season as part of a larger global celebration for the Mobil 1 brand to commemorate its 50th anniversary and as a third entry for 23XI. The 50th-anniversary commemoration began at Circuit of the Americas in March with Japanese racing star Kamui Kobayashi behind the wheel, followed by rising NASCAR star Corey Heim at Nashville Superspeedway in June. For the final race of the celebration, it’s only fitting to close out with another elite international racing legend. Montoya, a NASCAR regular from 2007 to 2013, will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start since the 2014 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to NASCAR racing, the Colombian-born driver has competed full-time in Formula One, CART, IndyCar, and IMSA. He has won championships in CART (1999) and IMSA (2019) and is a two-time Indy 500 winner and three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Montoya has 12 overall starts at Watkins Glen in four different series. He has one win (2010), a pole award, three top-five, and five top-10 finishes in his seven starts there in the Cup Series. “I’m looking forward to getting back in a Cup car and racing at Watkins Glen – a track I really enjoy and had the chance to experience earlier in my career,” shared Montoya. “It’s an honor to celebrate the Mobil 1 team’s remarkable legacy in racing and be recognized for my contributions to motorsports. The Mobil 1 brand was one of my first sponsors when I started racing, so to represent the brand again as they celebrate this milestone will be so special. I’m also excited to work with 23XI and experience what the team is building.” While Watkins Glen is the final on-track NASCAR Cup Series event to celebrate the 50th anniversary for the Mobil 1 brand, fans can get an inside look into each race through a content series that will be released later this year on Mobil 1 Racing’s social channels. The series will highlight Kobayashi, Heim, and Montoya as they prepare for and take on the NASCAR Cup Series events – while driving the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota. “Being able to have such an iconic driver like Juan Pablo Montoya to race the No. 50 car is the perfect way to complete the run of our gold paint scheme with 23XI Racing,” explained Katy Howell, Director of Global Sponsorships and Marketing Services, on behalf of the Mobil 1 team. “We worked with Juan Pablo at the beginning of his career, so to partner with a legendary driver such as himself as he returns to NASCAR is truly a dream come true. It has been an exciting year for our brand globally as we celebrate a historic milestone, and we are thrilled to have an all-star line-up for the third entry of the No. 50 Camry. Each of the drivers and teams showcase our true passion for racing that we celebrate in everything we do as a brand. It has been a privilege to continue to showcase how our products can help race teams and consumers get the most out of their engines.” “Juan Pablo Montoya is a world-class driver who has won in everything he’s driven, and he will be a great closer to the 50th-anniversary celebration we’ve had in NASCAR with the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota,” said Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing. “The events have highlighted racing legends as well as what’s next in motorsports, and 23XI has been honored to have been a part of adding to the Mobil 1 legacy and celebrating such a momentous occasion.” As the Mobil 1 team continues to elevate the sport of racing and create unique experiences for drivers and fans, the brand has unveiled special paint schemes, liveries, and decals to honor its 50-year legacy in a variety of motorsports series around the world including IMSA, Formula One, INDYCAR, NHRA, Moto GP and many more. With the upcoming Watkins Glen International event concluding the three-race run for the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE and NASCAR Cup Series celebrations for the Mobil 1 brand, fans can tune in to cheer on Montoya as he makes his incredible return to the sport and as races towards another win. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 1, 2024) – For the past 70 years, the NHRA U.S. Nationals has stood as the biggest and most prestigious drag race in the world, and the 2024 NHRA U.S. Nationals, at historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, promises to be an event for the record books. This year’s 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals takes place during its traditional Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 28-Sept. 2, and is the 14th of 20 races during the 2024 season. Drivers in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will be on track competing to lock in their spot for the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, meaning all the stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will all have their sights set on a legacy-making Indy win and setting their playoff position. The jam-packed event will also feature the Pep Boys NHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout. The elite field of eight Funny Car drivers will battle it out in the unique callout style event on Sunday, Sept. 1. The previous day will see the final Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge bonus race of the season on drag racing’s biggest stage, while the weekend kicks off with an epic pro qualifying session under the lights on Friday. The world’s biggest drag race lives up to its name as well. Also competing in Indy will be drivers in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ and NHRA Holley EFI Factory X, as well as the special Sox & Martin Hemi Challenge presented by the McCandless Collection. Without question, there’s something for every drag racing fan to celebrate when The Big Go turns 70, including these special items: 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 in attendance all weekend. SealMaster Track Walk on Monday and winner’s circle celebration. 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. Last year, more than 900 cars competed on the hallowed grounds of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. A must-see Hot Rod Junction. Children 12-and-under get in free to an event offering all-day entertainment. Last season, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed NHRA U.S. Nationals victories. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1, including a special Callout broadcast on FOX at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 1 and eliminations coverage on FOX beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2. Brown has back-to-back NHRA U.S. Nationals wins to his credit and with three wins on the 2024 season, he is aiming for his fourth Top Fuel world championship. Leading the points is reigning Top Fuel champion Doug Kalitta, thanks to his three wins and two runner-up finishes. Past champs Shawn Langdon and Steve Torrence are also in the mix, as well as Justin Ashley and Indy’s winningest driver Tony Schumacher, who has an incredible 10 Indy wins. Others to watch include Brittany Force and racing legend Tony Stewart, who is making his Indy Top Fuel debut in 2024. Capps, a three-time Funny Car world champion, sported one of NHRA’s most iconic paint schemes last year with his Don Prudhomme Hot Wheels tribute car. Capps is the back-to-back NHRA U.S. Nationals winner and the rest of the Funny Car class will be pining to end that streak. Funny Car newcomer Austin Prock leads the points while three-time 2024 winner Bob Tasca III, reigning champion Matt Hagan, Daniel Wilkerson and Gainesville winner J.R. Todd will all be ready for action. Jack Beckman, who will be racing for John Force in Indy, will also be making his return to The Big Go. Hartford won his first NHRA U.S. Nationals last season over Fernando Cuadra Jr. The eight-time event winner is looking for his first win of the season and has his hopes set on NHRA’s biggest stage. Leading the Pro Stock points is standout Dallas Glenn followed by multi-time champs Greg Anderson and Erica Enders, with Aaron Stanfield and Jeg Coughlin Jr. rounding out the top five. Smith, a six-time NHRA champ, captured his third NHRA U.S. Nationals win last season when he defeated Hector Arana Jr. Smith has a win on the 2024 season at the most recent race in Sonoma and has his sights set on dethroning reigning world champion Gaige Herrera, who has won six of the eight Pro Stock Motorcycle events this season. Also in the mix is former NHRA U.S. Nationals winner John Hall, Richard Gadson, Jianna Evaristo, Angie Smith, Steve Johnson and Seattle winner Chase Van Sant. 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 also 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 Sunday, shifting to FOX at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets to the 70th annual 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 | MCANALLY-HILGEMANN RACING Statesville, N.C. (July 31, 2024) – McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) announced today that Connor Hall will make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series (NCTS) debut driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado RST at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, August 10th. Hall, a native of Hampton, Virginia, is one of the elite competitors in asphalt late model racing. He currently leads the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock championship and the Virginia Triple Crown standings, and is the defending NASCAR Weekly Series national champion. The 27-year-old currently has a 29-point advantage in the CARS Tour standings and scored a victory at his home track of Langley Speedway on June 1st. Hall has made Langley his own personal playground over the last 18 months by capturing the track championship in 2023 and started last season with 11-consecutive feature wins en route to his national championship. The Virginian hopes to translate his late model stock success in the Commonwealth to his NCTS debut at Richmond Raceway. “Every driver wants the chance at an opportunity like this, and I want to make the most of it”, Hall said. “Of all the places on the Truck Series schedule, I think Richmond will fit my driving style the best and the kind of racing we have in late model stocks can translate well. I’m incredibly excited for it, and I have to thank Bill McAnally, TowneBank, A-All Mini Storage, and everyone at MHR for making this happen.” Hall will join the No. 91 team which will be led by Darren Fraley at Richmond. The No. 91 team is currently 12th in the NCTS owners’ point standings, 39 points behind the provisional cut line entering the regular season finale. “We’re really looking forward to having Connor drive for us at Richmond”, McAnally said. “Connor has been one of the best late model drivers in the nation over the past couple of years and is absolutely deserving of this. He has the talent to win races, and he has shown the determination to do it too. All that he needed was an opportunity and we’re glad to be able to make this a reality.” Hall will continue to chase the CARS Tour championship in the late model stock division on Friday, August 9th at Ace Speedway and will join the MHR team at Richmond Raceway the following day. The green flag is scheduled to drop on Hall’s NCTS debut at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/ connorhallweb )

Press Release | RICHMOND RACEWAY RICHMOND, Va. (August 1, 2024) – As NASCAR returns to Richmond Raceway August 10-11, the track and the sport will band together to make a difference within the community. Race week events include: Wednesday, August 7 – Track Laps for Charity: From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., motorists can drive their personal vehicles five laps around the ¾-mile D-shaped oval for just a $20 donation. All proceeds will benefit the Autism Society of Central Virginia and Richmond Raceway Cares. To register, visit https://www.richmondraceway.com/tracklaps/. Thursday, August 8 – Richmond Raceway Paces Budweiser Clydesdales: Starting at 5 p.m., come out and line the streets of Carytown to see the world-famous Clydesdales. Escorted by the Richmond Raceway pace cars, witness Budweiser’s biggest icons make beer deliveries to local stores and restaurants. This event is FREE to attend and helps amplify the mission of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing educational scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled U.S. service members and first responders. Friday, August 9 – The NASCAR Foundation Speediatrics Fun Day Festival: From 10 a.m. to noon, The NASCAR Foundation will host kids from the YMCA of Greater Richmond at the Richmond Raceway Fan Zone for the Speediatrics Fun Day Festival. The NASCAR-themed field day inside the NASCAR Experience display promotes healthy lifestyle habits for children in local racing communities through racing-themed lifestyle programming. Friday, August 9 – Finish Line Party at Q-Rooftop Bar at Quirk Hotel: At 5 p.m., Richmond Raceway and the Richmond Times-Dispatch will host the Finish Line Party at Q-Rooftop AddedBar at Quirk Hotel. Join us as we kick off the NASCAR weekend with themed cocktails and rooftop vibes to get revved up to race. This event is FREE to attend, with drinks and food for purchase. A portion of each Finish Line Party signature cocktail will be donated to Richmond Raceway Cares, a donor advised fund of The NASCAR Foundation. Street parking is limited. Paid surface lot and valet parking are available. Rideshare is encouraged. Saturday, August 10 – The NASCAR Foundation Bike Build sponsored by CRAFTSMAN at the Old Dominion Building: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The NASCAR Foundation will be joined by representatives from CRAFTSMAN, drivers in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and industry members to build 130 new bicycles for kids from the YMCA of Greater Richmond. Sunday, August 11 – On Track for Mental Health Pre-Race Trackwalk: From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., fans can get the exclusive opportunity to walk a few laps on track just hours before the stars of NASCAR take to their cars for the Cook Out 400. For a $20 donation to the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, enjoy a sneak peek at the infield, music, photos on the start/finish line and more. Ages 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Register at https://www.ckgfoundation.org/ontrack. The NASCAR Weekend at Richmond Raceway presented by Who’s Your Driver will kick off with the dramatic conclusion to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular season in the Clean Harbors 250 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 10. The action will roll right into Sunday as drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series look to secure a playoff berth under the lights in the Cook Out 400 at 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 11. Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now at www.richmondraceway.com. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | SIGMA PERFORMANCE SERVICES Las Vegas, NV — Sigma Performance Services (SPS) is thrilled to announce that renowned NASCAR driver Greg Biffle will be returning to his racing roots by competing in the ARCA Napa Auto Care 150 at Tri-City Raceway. Biffle will be driving the #23 Chevrolet for SPS in this highly anticipated race, set to take place on Saturday, August 10, 2024. In a homecoming that pays tribute to his Pacific Northwest origins and devoted hometown fans, Greg Biffle will tackle the unique ½-mile tri-oval challenge of Tri-City Raceway. Born in Portland and growing up in Vancouver, Washington, Biffle began his illustrious racing career on the bullrings of the Pacific Northwest, making him no stranger to Tri-City Raceway or any of the short-track speedways on the West Coast. Biffle, who earned a spot on NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list, is no newcomer to the ARCA Menards West Series. His impressive career includes competition in the former NASCAR Winston West Series in the early 1990s, a stepping stone in his ascent to the NASCAR Cup Series ranks. Biffle has also achieved significant success as a champion of both the Craftsman Truck Series and the Xfinity Series, showcasing his versatility and talent across different NASCAR divisions. In collaboration with GMS Fabrication, Chevrolet, and the ARCA Menards Series management group, Greg Biffle is set to return to the track with renewed vigor. His participation in the Napa Auto Care 150 marks a significant moment for both Biffle and SPS as they navigate the challenging turns of Tri-City Raceway. Greg Biffle said, “I’m so excited to return to the famous Tri-City Raceway in the Tri-Cities, Washington area. I’m looking forward to returning to the track in an ARCA West car almost 30 years after I won the track championship. It’s an honor to drive for one of the teams well-known in the sport, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to return to racing at this historic Northwest race track.” SPS team owner Joe Farré expressed his excitement, stating, “We couldn’t be more proud to be a part of Greg’s return to his racing roots in the Pacific Northwest. As a West Coast racer myself, I cannot thank the local supporters, track owners, series sponsor, and series officials enough for the opportunity to return to iconic race tracks like Tri-City Raceway. We need more people like Greg, the people of the Northwest racing community, and sponsors alike, to support the continuation of these tracks, teams, and series.” Farré further emphasized the importance of community support in sustaining the sport of racing, adding, “Greg’s commitment to this race, the racing community, and growing teams like ours just goes to show how important it is that we all work together to keep racing alive in the Pacific Northwest, and across this great country. Racing is more than business or competition; to many, racing is a way of life, a way to socialize and gather as a community. Racing is an American pastime that we cannot allow to be lost.” The ARCA Menards Napa Auto Care 150 promises to be a thrilling event, showcasing top-tier talent and electrifying racing action. Fans can catch the excitement via live stream on FloRacing starting at 7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET (Photo Courtesy Sigma Performance Services)

Press Release | HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports with this officially licensed history featuring stunning photography, including rare images from the archive of the 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions. Rick Hendrick built on a successful career in the retail automotive business to launch NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports in 1984. Over the ensuing four decades, it has become one of the most successful and high-profile teams in the sport’s long history. Competing in the elite NASCAR Cup Series, as of 2023, the team had posted the most points-paying wins and the most championships. Hendrick Motorsports’ driver roster is a who’s who of the sport’s greats, including NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Today the team fields four drivers: William Byron, Alex Bowman, and Cup champions Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Hendrick Motorsports even fielded a team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023! Hendrick Motorsports: 40 Years relates the team’s incredible history through 40 stories focused on team milestones since its founding in 1984. Stories and highlights include: The first win at Martinsville that saved the team Involvement with the motion picture “Days of Thunder” The dominance of Jeff Gordon and the Rainbow Warriors The team’s historic 1-2-3 finish at the 1997 DAYTONA 500 The record-tying seven championships of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus Hendrick Motorsports and the Earnhardts Becoming the first team to reach 300 wins at NASCAR’s highest level The ground-breaking Garage 56 Le Mans program Authored by long-time NASCAR journalist Ben White, with a foreword by Jeff Gordon and afterword by Rick Hendrick, the 200-page book includes images from top NASCAR photographer Nigel Kinrade and from Hendrick Motorsports’ archive. As the official 40th anniversary book covering the team’s entire history, Hendrick Motorsports: 40 Years is the ideal retrospective. Author Ben White attended his first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1972 at Darlington, South Carolina, at age 11. The Clinton, North Carolina, native drove his own race cars on a few local short tracks in the late 1970s later joining Richard Childress Racing as a crew member in 1980. White started writing about NASCAR in 1983 for the Lexington Dispatch (NC) newspaper, and he continues to write for that publication today, as well as North Carolina newspapers in Fayetteville, Kinston, Burlington, and Asheboro. From 1989 until 2010, he was a staff writer, managing editor, and senior editor of NASCAR Illustrated Magazine and managing editor of the American Racing Classics book series from 1991 to 1994. White has authored numerous NASCAR books, including Motorbooks’ NASCAR Then and Now, NASCAR Racers, NASCAR Legends, and 20 Years of Hendrick Motorsports. White resides in Salisbury, NC. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) By Logan Morris The Pomp and Circumstance was on full display at the 47th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire in Norwalk, Ohio. The evening kicked off with a rousing patriotic intro by Summit Motorsports Park Owner, Bill Bader Jr. The evening served as another star-studded reminder of why it’s arguably the greatest spectacle in drag racing. The incomparable flames and fireworks show that took place Saturday night would have made even the most avid WWE fan impressed by all the glitz and glamour. But, there was a focus on one team in particular during this one-night spectacular. John Force Racing was using this traditionally laid-back event for the very unique and serious purpose of getting 2012 NHRA Funny Car World Champion, Jack Beckman, re-accumulated with a Funny Car. The man known as “Fast Jack” is filling in for the injured John Force for the remainder of the season as Force continues to recover from injuries sustained in a crash at this year’s Virginia Nationals. Beckman made clear to the packed house at “America’s Racetrack” that his focus is on getting the namesake of the team his 17th Funny Car World Championship as he steps back into a world he thought he was done with. The team made their focus known as well by getting Beckman and the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro on track more than any team during Friday’s test sessions and Saturday’s qualifying runs. Beckman did incredibly well for himself making it to the final round of Saturday’s Funny Car finals and coming up just short against Dale Creasy Jr. after suffering a mechanical issue. He would ultimately run an 8.766 ET at 85.51 mph. While there’s certainly more work to be done, Beckman took a big first step in knocking off the rust. Ron Capps and his NAPA team took third for the evening after defeating Cruz Pedregon. (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) In Top Fuel, Brittany Force won the evening in her triumphant return to Norwalk after she missed this year’s Norwalk Nationals to be with her father. She defeated TJ Zizzo in the final round with a 4.19 ET and will look to build momentum as the NHRA Countdown to The Championship closes in. Clay Millican defeated Antron Brown to take third for the evening. (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) At the end of the night, fans were able to walk the track and take pictures with the drivers and their cars as Bill Bader Jr. handed out the trophies. The NHRA returns in two weeks with the Lucas Oil Nationals In Brainerd, Minnesota, August 15-18, 2024.

(All Photos Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)

Press Release | JOHN FORCE RACING BROWNSBURG, Ind. (July 30, 2024) – With an NHRA championship still very much in play, John Force Racing president Robert Hight announced Tuesday that 2012 Funny Car World Champion Jack Beckman will drive Force’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS for the remainder of the 2024 season in what the team is calling, “Joint Task Force – Mission Championship”. While Force continues to recover from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) suffered in a June 23 crash in Richmond, Va., “Fast Jack” will slide into the seat occupied by the 157-time tour winner during the season’s first nine races. Beckman will make his debut in the PEAK Camaro in this week’s non-championship event, the 47th Annual Cornwell Tools “Night Under Fire” at Summit Motorsports Park, where he and John Force Racing teammate Brittany Force in the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet dragster will both compete. When Force was injured, he was second in points behind John Force Racing teammate Austin Prock. By NHRA rules, when a driver is unable to compete, the race team may employ a substitute who can earn points for the original driver in a maximum of eight tour events. This means when Beckman rolls to the starting line for qualifying at the 42nd Lucas Oil Nationals at Brainerd, Minn., on August 16, he’ll be pursuing a 17th championship title for Force. He currently sits sixth in the driver standings with two races remaining before points reset for the Countdown to the Championship. “When you think about someone who can handle the driving, can deal with the media, take care of the sponsors and take care of the fans, there was only one obvious choice and that was Jack Beckman,” Hight said. “Plus, he has history with Chris Cunningham (co-crew chief on the PEAK Chevy with Dan Hood and Tim Fabrisi) and has the respect of John’s family.” A 33-time event winner in Funny Car, Beckman last raced competitively in 2020 when he returned to being a full-time elevator technician, a career that he left 22 years earlier to follow his drag racing dream. The 58-year-old Californian is keenly aware of the unique situation. “It’s been nearly four years since I stood on the throttle, and I thought that feeling was something I’d never experience again. Though the circumstances that brought me back are regrettable, the opportunity presented to me is beyond my ability to find words. I’m not replacing John…nobody could ever do that. John is one of a kind, and his impact on this sport, and my life, cannot be overemphasized. I know how fortunate I am to have been picked to fill in for John, and I should be easy to spot in the pits. I’ll be the guy who can’t stop smiling.” Brian Bohlander, Director of Marketing at Old World Industries added, “We’re happy to have the PEAK team back on track and Jack is the right person for this job until John can return. It’s great for the fans and our customers as Jack is an automotive enthusiast and DIYer who will fit right in with our program on and off the track.” Although he won the Funny Car championship in 2012, Beckman’s best season was 2015 when he advanced to nine final rounds and won seven races coming up just 56-points shy of being a two-time Funny Car champion. A cancer survivor and U.S. Air Force veteran, Beckman has taught more than 7,000 students the basics of drag racing as an instructor at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School. Among them were Force’s daughters, Ashley, Brittany and Courtney, and his wife, Laurie, who also earned her Super Comp license under Beckman’s tutelage. Before distinguishing himself in the Funny Car division, Beckman won the 2003 NHRA Super Comp World Championship. He is licensed in 12 different NHRA competition categories including Top Fuel, the class in which he made his professional racing debut in 2005. The following year, he made his Funny Car debut late in the season, and in just his fourth race in the category, he won the NHRA Nevada Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Two weeks later, in the season-ending World Finals, he qualified No. 1, set NHRA national records for time and speed, and finished runner-up to Force. Eventually, Beckman would become one of only a few drivers in the sport to enjoy a winning record against the Hall of Fame driver and car owner. Force won the most recent of his 16 championships in 2013 after starting the Countdown from the No. 4 position. Beckman won his Funny Car championship from the No. 3 starting position. Team President Robert Hight made history in 2009 for himself and JFR when he won his first championship from the No. 10 starting position. (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/NHRA )

Press Release | NHRA DALLAS (July 29, 2024) --- Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, the first television offering produced by Werner G+E LLC, will debut on the NHRA FAST Channel Wednesday, July 31, at 8 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. PST The interview-style program, hosted by NHRA professional Funny Car driver Buddy Hull will be the latest original series added to the NHRA’s 24/7 digital channel which is available on 13 platforms including the Roku Channel (USA & Canada), Tubi, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, and others. Interested viewers can search NHRA and select the LIVE option on any of these platforms. “I am excited to share Talkin’ Funny Cars with the NHRA audience as well as motorsports fans who might not know that much about our sport,” said Hull, who is entering his fourth year as a professional driver. “I am new to the Funny Car class this year, but I started racing in Fuel Altereds and Funny Cars have always held a special place in my heart. I want this show to highlight the personalities of Funny Car drivers throughout the years as well as shed some light on new stories and insights from some of the coolest drivers on the planet.” The first episode will feature a wide-ranging interview with Ron Capps, three-time Funny Car world champion. Capps and Hull talk about their shared passion for the class while Capps tells stories of growing up with a drag racing mom who impressed fans and fellow racers with her skills behind the wheel in Southern California. The conversation also touches on the rise of Capps’ driving career and how impactful a fateful phone call was to launch his career as a Funny Car team owner. “I am a huge fan of the FAST Channel first of all. Anytime we have company over we have it running all the time,” said Ron Capps, three-time Funny Car champion. “Getting to know Buddy over the first half of the season has been wonderful. He is a great guy, and he fits right in with all of us Funny Car drivers. When I heard the concept of the show, I thought this has been a long time coming for something this cool. To be invited to sit down with another Funny Car driver like Buddy and talk about where we came from and what turns us on about Funny Cars, I think the fans are really, really going to love this show. I can’t wait to watch more episodes down the road.” Future episodes will include up and coming Funny Car drivers as well as established winners and Hall of Fame legends. Each episode will be a free-for-all of conversation with the one constant being the Funny Car Fast Five segment, a rapid-fire Q&A getting thoughts and opinions from each guest in quick succession. Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull is the brainchild of Werner G+E LLC president Elon Werner, who also owns a successful sports public relations company, Werner Communications, and is the creator of Drag Race Bracket Bonanza. Future shows are in the works all focused on bringing original and dynamic content to the NHRA FAST Channel. The opportunity to produce television shows featuring drivers, crew chiefs and NHRA personalities has intrigued Werner since the opportunity was first presented earlier this season. “The NHRA is a rich landscape of interesting personalities and stories,” said Werner. “When the opportunity to create an original series was presented earlier this year, the creative wheels in my head just started spinning. I think there are endless storylines available for original content whether it is 30-minute personality driven shows or longer form documentaries and even scripted series. Our goal at Werner G+E will be to develop these shows and bring them to life.” Following the original broadcast of each episode of Talkin’ Funny Cars with Buddy Hull, the show will go into programming rotation on the NHRA FAST Channel. The goal is to air future new episodes each Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. PST prior to NHRA national events for the rest of the 2024 season. (All Photos Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | CHRIS BOSTICK MOTORSPORTS SONOMA, Calif. (July 28, 2024) - Pro Stock Motorcycle star Chris Bostick raced to a new personal best elapsed time at the 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals and rose into the Top Ten in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series points standings. Tucked away among the vines and lines of Northern California’s Sonoma County, Sonoma Raceway is a favorite stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series for fans and race teams alike, creating an idyllic setting for Bostick’s latest achievement aboard his Surf Signature RV Resort Suzuki. Bostick and the White Alligator Racing (WAR) team experienced some struggles in the first two rounds of qualifying on Friday. On Saturday, however, crew chief Tim Kulungian found the power they’ve been looking for and Bostick sped down the track with an impressive run of 6.777 seconds at 197.19 mph, his best elapsed time in his Pro Stock Motorcycle career. He backed it up in the final qualifying opportunity with another great pass of 6.781 at 196.22. “The new personal best was amazing,” said Bostick. “We finally got our 60-foot time really figured out. In Q3 and Q4 we had either the best or second-best 60-foot time of the session. Tim is making such progress with the front half of the track. So here’s the good part: I’m still only running around 196 mph. That means there’s still more in the back half that we can gain. We are closing that gap.” Entering race day from the No. 8 qualifier position, Bostick lined up against Hector Arana Jr. for the first round of eliminations. Bostick let the clutch out early and left before the light turned green, giving the win to Arana. “It was my race to win,” Bostick remarked. “And I was excited and I threw it away. But I am so ready for Indy.” Bostick will return to racing action when Pro Stock Motorcycle competes in Indianapolis for the NHRA U.S. Nationals, August 28 - September 2. (Photo Courtesy Chris Bostick Motorsports)

(Photo Courtesy NHRA) PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE PRO STOCK FUNNY CAR TOP FUEL

Press Release | NHRA SONOMA, Calif. (July 28, 2024) – Top Fuel’s Antron Brown defeated first-time finalist Tony Stewart in the final round of the 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, picking up his third win of the 2024 season on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 12th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. Stewart left first with a slight advantage on the starting line, but Brown quickly tracked him down, going 3.746-seconds at 329.67 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools/Toyota dragster to earn his 77th career victory. Brown defeated Shawn Reed, Steve Torrence and Brittany Force to reach the final round, leaning on consistency time after time this weekend in Sonoma. It paid off in a major way, as Brown, who qualified seventh, powered to his fifth Top Fuel victory at Sonoma, which ties him with Doug Kalitta for the most in class history at the facility. “Sonoma has a special meaning to me. It’s like a piece of heaven out here and just being here puts me in the zone,” Brown said. “Me and Tony know each other well. When I started as a team owner he was putting together TSR, we talked a lot about budgets and spread sheets and all that. “He was also a hero of mine when he ran NASCAR and IndyCar. I know how good of a driver he is. He understands the science so as soon as he showed up I knew what he could do. I did tell him to come on over but there are a lot of sharks in the water here. His time is coming and it won’t be one win. It will be a lot of them, but this is a good win for us. My team stays poised and they were incredible all weekend. I’m super-pumped for all of them. We went down the track every single lap and that was an awesome, awesome job to get a win like this.” Stewart’s first final in Top Fuel came after defeating Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley and Ron August Jr., who upset points leader, No. 1 qualifier and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta in the first round. In Funny Car, nobody could track down Bob Tasca III all weekend and that continued in the final round, racing to his second Sonoma win in three years by taking down Ron Capps in the final round with a 4.088 at 277.15 in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang. It’s also the third win of the year for Tasca, who remained second points, and he did it in incredible fashion. Tasca qualified No. 1 with a 338-mph run, added a weekend-best run of 338.77 in the opening round against Buddy Hull and then drove past Paul Lee and points leader Austin Prock to reach the final round. The semifinals against Prock was a thriller, as Tasca won on a holeshot with an .022 reaction time, sending him to the final round where he held on to the win against Capps. It was another rewarding moment for Tasca, who now has 18 career wins as he gets into championship form. “It’s so hard to win these things and that’s a testament to my crew, to Todd Okuhara and Aaron Brooks,” Tasca said. “They pulled it back and still ran 337 mph. I was a bit surprised in the final. It was pulling great and then it knocked the tires off. You have no idea how that feels. I looked out the side window because I expected him to come by me. Fortunately, I got it to recover. “I thought if we could get the car to run like it ran in Q4 we could beat him and I said that to Todd. I said, ‘Let’s run as quick as we can and if he beats us, I’ll be the first to congratulate him.’” Capps advanced to the finals for the second time in three races and the 149th time in his career by getting round wins against Cruz Pedregon, defending event winner J.R. Todd and reigning world champion Matt Hagan. Aaron Stanfield stayed red-hot in the Pro Stock ranks, which meant Elite Motorsports did as well, as Stanfield won for the third time in four races while taking down first-time Pro Stock finalist Cory Reed in the championship round with an impressive run of 6.540 at 209.98 in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Janac Brothers car. It’s also the 11th career win for Stanfield, whose efforts over the past two months have helped propel Elite Motorsports to six straight victories. Stanfield has three of them in that span, grabbing his second career win at Sonoma Raceway after defeating Mason McGaha, defending world champion Erica Enders and No. 1 qualifier Greg Anderson. He delivered another strong reaction time in the final round against Reed, rolling to the victory as Stanfield continues to make big strides this season. “This is a great win, but I want to shout out to Cory Reed for going to the final in his second race,” Stanfield said. “This week we lost a good friend, Tim “the Iceman” Kelly, to cancer and I wanted to get it done for him. I know Cory is fresh to the class so I would have been surprised if he played any games, so I just did my normal routine. I think I’m driving better this year and I’d love to continue that. “We didn’t have a great ladder since all the hitters seemed to be on one side. I had to race Erica and we’re teammates, but we still want to beat each other. Then there was Greg and you’ve got to be on your game anytime you race him.” In just his second career Pro Stock start, Reed, who previously raced in Pro Stock Motorcycle, advanced to the final round by taking down Deric Kramer, Eric Latino and Jerry Tucker. Dallas Glenn remains the points leader in the class. Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith, a six-time world champion, finished off one of the best weekends in his career on Sunday, getting his first win of the season by taking down teammate John Hall in the final round with a run of 6.700 at 203.77 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell. It was a picture-perfect three days for Smith, who qualified No. 1, set the track record with a stellar 6.655, won the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout on Saturday and then snapped a winless streak that stretched back to the Countdown to the Championship opener last September in Reading, Pa. That drought is over in emphatic fashion, as Smith, now a two-time Sonoma winner, took down Eiji Kawakami and Seattle winner Chase Van Sant to reach the final round against Hall. His teammate left the starting line first, but Smith, who also picked up his 39th career win, quickly chased him down, picking up a meaningful win and putting him right back on track when it comes to racing for what would be a class-record seventh world championship. “This is very big,” Smith said. “This is a Denso event which is our sponsor, and we won everything there is to win. We put a lot into getting our bikes ready for this weekend. We’re gaining ground on the rest of the field and that takes a team effort. “It’s all in the 60-foot area. Our class is so dependent on that. The Suzuki’s stepped up their game and we need to follow them. I learned to leave low and take power our to get the bike to leave the starting line. I’m 51 and I’m getting older but I can still do this. To me, the magic number is seven. If I get that seventh title this year I promise I’ll get off the bike and put some young kid on it who can do the job.” Hall reached his second final round this year and the fourth in his career by defeating Angie Smith, defending world champion and points leader Gaige Herrera and Hector Arana Jr. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Aug. 15-18 with the 42nd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minn. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | SCRAPPERS RACING SONOMA, Calif. (July 28, 2024) - The Scrappers Sisters experienced an outstanding weekend in front of their hometown crowd at the 36th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway. Aboard her Valley Services Scrappers Racing Pro Stoc Motorcycle, Jianna Evaristo became the fastest woman in Pro Stock Motorcycle when she raced to a new personal best in the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout, where she earned a runner-up finish. Her sister, Top Fuel rookie Jasmine Salinas, made the second-best pass of her career and raced with a special livery honoring Pleasanton Ready Mix. The dynamic duo from Northern California welcomed tons of fans, friends and family in the Scrappers Racing pit. To the delight of everyone in the drag racing community, their father and Scrappers racing team owner, Mike Salinas, returned to the track (alongside his wife Monica) for the first time after stepping back to deal with a health matter earlier this year. Jianna had a phenomenal race weekend in front of her hometown crowd at Sonoma Raceway. The talented Pro Stock Motorcycle standout wowed fans when she became the fastest woman in the ultra-competitive category, achieving a new personal best speed of 204.54 mph, the second-fastest speed in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle history. After qualifying in the top half of the field for the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout, Jianna got the opportunity to call out her Matt Smith Racing teammate, John Hall, in the opening ceremonies for the specialty event which took place during qualifying on Saturday. She outpaced Hall to the stripe, making the best pass of her career, 6.674 seconds at 204.54 mph. Jianna advanced to the semifinals where she would face yet another Matt Smith Racing teammate, Angie Smith. With almost identical reaction times, Jianna and Angie battled it out in a great drag race down the quarter-mile strip. Jianna turned on her second win light of the day, moving on to the finals where she paired off against Matt Smith, her crew chief and mentor. Smith held on to his starting line advantage to win the All-Star Callout. Jianna’s performance in qualifying earned her four valuable bonus points and landed her in the No. 2 qualifier position. In eliminations, Jianna faced Pro Stock Motorcycle newcomer Clayton Howey in the first heat of the day. Aboard her powerful Matt Smith-tuned machine she turned on the Round One win light with an impressive run of 6.699 at 204.35. She met Hector Arana Jr. in the quarterfinals. Arana got the startling line advantage and took it to the finish line for a holeshot win. “It was really incredible to reach the second-fastest speed in Pro Stock Motorcycle, especially at DENSO’s race,” remarked Jianna. “The weekend didn’t end the way we wanted. We had the bike to beat. It’s frustrating to come out here, setting new records two weekends in a row, and fall short because of my reaction times. It’s definitely something to work for and I think I’m hungrier than ever to work on my skills so we can hit the ground running when we compete in Indy.” Jasmine started qualifying out on a positive note with an impressive pass of 3.776 seconds at 321.35 mph in the first session on Friday. As the sun dipped below the rolling hills surrounding Sonoma Raceway, Jasmine stepped up her game with a 3.725 at 329.10. That run held up through Saturday to put Jasmine in the No. 9 qualifier position for race day where she faced No. 6 qualifier Billy Torrence in the first round. In eliminations, Jasmine got the starting line advantage and made her best run of the weekend and the second-best of her career going 3.702 seconds at 331.94 but it was not enough to hold off Torrence who ran a 3.662 at 335.40. “We have some work to do,” said Jasmine. “This is a tough category and I’m learning a lot with every pass we make. I really wanted to turn on some win lights here in Sonoma for our friends and family, not to mention all of our supporters from Pleasanton Ready Mix and Valley Services. But I know we are moving in the right direction overall. This crew is amazing. We are all going to dig deep and get to work so we can come back better than ever.” The next race for Jasmine will be the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., August 15-18. Jianna will rejoin her sister when the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series comes to Indianapolis for the NHRA U.S. Nationals, August 28 - September 2. (Photo Courtesy Scrapper Racing)

Press Release | SCAG RACING SONOMA, Calif. (July 28, 2024) – The three-car SCAG Racing team wrapped up the two-race Western Swing Sunday at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway with a pair of quarterfinal exits and a first-round finish. Daniel Wilkerson and the SCAG Power Equipment Ford Mustang team earned their No. 5 qualifying position off a 3.887-second run at 334.82 mph during the third qualifying session on Saturday. They’d have to line up against SCAG Racing teammate Dave Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird team. This was the first time the teammates have faced each other in eliminations. Wilkerson would have the starting line advantage and hold on for the round win at 3.890 seconds and 329.83 mph to Richards’ 4.069 at 314.53. Wilkerson would match up with points leader Austin Prock in the quarterfinals. Wilkerson would go 3.914 at 330.39 but it wasn't enough for Prock's 3.904 at 328.70. “Very proud of our SCAG Power Equipment team this weekend, this car made three badass runs, and the runs we aborted we were able to easily see what we did wrong,” Wilkerson said. “The team is going to head home for a couple well deserved weeks of rest and relaxation and family time. Once recharged we know we have something for them in Brainard.” Richards and the Versatran / Bluebird team entered race day from the No. 12 qualifying position off their 4.012-second pass at 307.09 mph from Saturday early afternoon. It was their second-best qualifying effort of the season; they were 11th in Seattle just one week ago. During the final qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, Richards and the Versatran / BlueBird Funny Car team were awarded the Never Rest Award for their efforts in getting their car ready for the Sonoma Nationals after a mechanical failure put the Funny Car in the right wall during the first round of eliminations. “We feel good and we’re leaving Sonoma with our heads held high. I think we’ve nicknamed ourselves Team Never Give Up,” Richards said. “Randy and Kim Parker were life savers getting us ready for this weekend and this Versatran / BlueBird team put in some long hours and hard work, but we made it and we ran well this weekend. I’m extremely happy with our performance this weekend. We’re getting better every lap.” Justin Ashley and the SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel dragster team secured their second consecutive No. 2 qualifier with a 3.683-second pass at 333.91 mph during the third qualifying session. The SCAG Toyota team would pick up a first-round win over eight-time world champion Tony Schumacher. Ashley handled the cats eye gold dragster to a 3.701 pass at 332.84 mph while Schumacher smoked the tires and coasted to an 8.495 at 73.79. In the quarterfinals, Ashley would face motorsports legend Tony Stewart. Ashley entered the round with a 2-0 record against the Top Fuel rookie but wasn’t able to make it 3-0. The SCAG Toyota dragster would lose traction at the starting line and Ashley would pedal it to a 4.415 at 279.73 while Stewart had a clean pass at 3.781 and 330.72. “I am so proud of our SCAG Toyota team. Each race is an opportunity to learn and grow. That's exactly what we did,” Ashley said. “We expected to perform at a higher level on race day, but we qualified well, won a big first round matchup, and feel good going into Brainerd. A special thanks to everyone at SCAG, Metalcraft of Mayville, Toyota, Phillips, KATO and so many more. We are grateful to be partnered with you.” The Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series takes a two week break before returning to action at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota August 16-18. (Photo Courtesy Scag Racing)