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By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday!  This weekend NASCAR travels to Speedway, Indiana for the “Brickyard 400” at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Indianapolis is a 2.5-mile-long oval track.  Built in 1909, it is now the third-oldest permanent track in the world.  NASCAR only started visiting the track in 1994, where Jeff Gordon won the inaugural Brickyard 400.  In 2021, NASCAR moved the race to the Grand Prix road course.  This year marks the return of the oval configuration. Tomorrow’s race will be 160 laps long (for a total of 400 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 30 – 95 – 160.  Pit road speed is 40 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 45 mph. This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 5,657 laps, for 7,238.91 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed 100% of them, but Chase Elliott is just one lap short, and Martin Truex Jr. is 5 laps short. Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Indianapolis: Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Indianapolis: For the purposes of this article, we’re lumping Indianapolis in with the Intermediate tracks. Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediate Tracks: Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Intermediate Tracks: Jeff Gordon is the winningest driver at Indianapolis, having won 5 times.  Jimmie Johnson (who is running this race in the 84 car) has won 4.  Kyle Busch is the winningest current driver, with 2. Notable drivers who have not won at Indianapolis: No current driver has earned their first Cup Series win at Indianapolis. Based on average finish, no drivers list Indianapolis as their BEST track, but both Alex Bowman and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. have it as their WORST. Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers: Drivers Faring Better than in 2023 Drivers Faring Worse than in 2023 While some drivers may be doing better this year than they did in 2023, how does this year stack up against their entire career?  This statistic does not include rookies, as this is their first full year in the Cup Series. Drivers Having their BEST Career Year Drivers Having their WORST Career Year Here is the current battle for Rookie of the Year: The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1st, 35 for 2nd, 34 for 3rd, etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count. Manufacturer Standings Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis: Chartered Team Standings At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year: Stage Point Leaders Milestone Watch Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks: Winless Streaks The race begins Sunday, July 21st at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST) – Enjoy the race everyone! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @RacingRefresh Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

(Cover Photo Courtesy NHRA) PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE POSITION DRIVER ET MPH 01 Gaige Herrera 6.734 201.22 02 Chase Van Sant 6.742 199.94 03 Richard Gadson 6.756 199.35 04 Steve Johnson 6.804 197.33 05 John Hall 6.807 199.73 06 Chris Bostick 6.812 197.19 07 Matt Smith 6.822 200.56 08 Jianna Evaristo 6.835 199.52 09 Angie Smith 6.836 200.62 10 Hector Arana Jr 6.872 199.02 11 Eiji Kawakami 7.122 183.44 (Video Courtesy NHRA.TV ) PRO STOCK POSITION DRIVER ET MPH 01 Erica Enders 6.500 209.98 02 Eric Latino 6.518 209.82 03 Mason McGaha 6.520 209.85 04 Greg Anderson 6.521 209.95 05 Matt Hartford 6.527 207.94 06 Chris McGaha 6.532 211.13 07 Jerry Tucker 6.532 209.69 08 Cory Reed 6.533 209.82 09 Troy Coughlin Jr 6.534 210.01 10 Jeg Coughlin Jr 6.534 209.69 11 Deric Kramer 6.537 210.14 12 Aaron Stanfield 6.548 210.37 13 Dallas Glenn 6.556 210.28 14 Kenny Delco 6.573 209.65 15 Sienna Wildgust 6.583 209.85 16 Val Smeland 6.610 208.59 17 Joey Grose 6.790 205.07 (Video Courtesy NHRA.TV ) FUNNY CAR POSITION DRIVER ET MPH 01 Austin Prock 3.838 328.62 02 Ron Capps 3.886 331.53 03 Paul Lee 3.917 327.03 04 JR Todd 3.919 326.48 05 Chad Green 3.975 319.52 06 Matt Hagan 4.055 312.42 07 Dave Richards 4.072 315.27 08 Buddy Hull 4.076 312.57 09 Bob Tasca III 4.114 247.16 10 Alexis DeJoria 4.429 196.16 11 Blake Alexander 4.553 183.97 12 Daniel Wilkerson 4.572 181.18 13 Gary Densham 5.114 153.14 14 Cruz Pedregon 5.484 128.89 (Video Courtesy NHRA.TV ) TOP FUEL POSITION DRIVER ET MPH 01 Steve Torrence 3.688 335.32 02 Justin Ashley 3.694 331.04 03 Brittany Force 3.701 333.08 04 Doug Kalitta 3.710 326.40 05 Jasmine Salinas 3.734 332.43 06 Shawn Reed 3.736 325.61 07 Antron Brown 3.746 329.42 08 Josh Hart 3.748 329.99 09 Clay Millican 3.768 319.60 10 Tony Stewart 3.778 319.90 11 Billy Torrence 3.872 315.19 12 Tony Schumacher 4.389 186.46 13 Ron Smith 5.184 207.18 14 Shawn Langdon 6.734 56.30 (Video Courtesy NHRA.TV )

By Adam Carabine 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). Power Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races. Zane Smith – This week: 34th – Last week: 33rd I actually feel like Zane Smith has made improvements in the past few weeks.  His results haven’t reflected it yet, but keep an eye on him. Austin Dillon – This week: 33rd – Last week: 34th When we’re praising a P23 from Austin Dillon at Pocono, things aren’t going well.  RCR is having a down year, and Austin Dillon isn’t helping. Kyle Busch – This week: 32nd – Last week: 26th The bad luck continued for Busch, getting spun by Corey LaJoie in Pocono, leading to his 5th DNF on the season. Harrison Burton – This week: 31st – Last week: 32nd Burton seems checked out after news of his replacement in the 21 came out.  Though, to be honest, Berry taking over the 21 in 2025 is a result of a fairly checked-out season. John Hunter Nemechek – This week: 30th – Last week: 31st Things looked good in Chicago for John Hunter, despite his finishing position.  He came back down to earth with a P28 at Pocono, but not all hope is lost here. Austin Cindric – This week: 29th – Last week: 28th I know he’s got a win, but the way he performs in equal equipment to someone like Ryan Blaney, it can’t be sustainable, can it? Michael McDowell – This week: 28th – Last week: 23rd McDowell tumbles a bit after a rough stretch over the last five races.  P5 in Chicago was his best, and everything else was 15th or worse. Noah Gragson – This week: 27th – Last week: 19th Fans of Gragson will be happy to hear he’s landed at Front Row Motorsports next year, but a DNF at Pocono with only 14 laps run isn’t too exciting. Corey LaJoie – This week: 26th – Last week: 27th Despite a controversial bit of contact with Kyle Busch, LaJoie managed to bring it home 16th, and avoid any penalties too.  Somehow LaJoie only has one DNF on the season so far. Ryan Preece – This week: 25th – Last week: 21st The lone SHR driver who still hasn’t found a ride for next year, Preece hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire.  His P4 at Nashville a few weeks back was his best finish of the year, and only his second Top 10. Erik Jones – This week: 24th – Last week: 29th Still just riding a single Top 10 this season (which came at the Daytona 500), Jones’ struggles are likely more a by-product of Legacy MC’s growing pains.  It does seem like Jones continues to outperform his equipment, though, and a P14 at Pocono moved him up a few spots. Daniel Hemric – This week: 23rd – Last week: 25th It’s strange that a P25 at Pocono can bump Hemric up 2 spots, but here he is.  His last five races did feature a P9 at Nashville, which ties his best on the season. Ross Chastain – This week: 22nd – Last week: 9th His average finish in the last 5 races has been 6 spots worse than his first 16 races.  Hopefully he can get it turned around before the playoffs. Carson Hocevar – This week: 21st – Last week: 24th Hocevar is only 28 points behind Josh Berry in the Rookie of the Year battle, and certainly he still has a chance to win it.  He’s been the bright spot for Spire this year, showing that he can outperform his equipment.  He’s only been outside the Top 20 once in the last five races, too. Josh Berry – This week: 20th – Last week: 18th Speaking of Berry, it’s been an up and down year for him, but his better races have been really good.  He’s finished P3 twice this season, including once in the last five races.  The future Wood Bros driver will look to wrap up his ROTY campaign this year. Chase Briscoe – This week: 19th – Last week: 30th When Briscoe has had bad races, they’ve been catastrophic, but he has still showed lots of signs of promise.  His P2 at Iowa didn’t hurt either.  He’ll be interesting to watch in the 19 next year. Bubba Wallace – This week: 18th – Last week: 22nd It’s actually been a pretty solid year for Bubba so far.  After Chastain’s DNF at Pocono, Wallace is only 27 points below the playoff cutline, and with five races remaining, it wouldn’t be impossible.  It’s clear he wants to win regularly, but it’s also about managing your points on the days you don’t win. Daniel Suarez – This week: 17th – Last week: 20th Currently Suarez is on a streak of nine Top 25s in a row.  Not bad, but for a team with a win already this year, probably not quite good enough.  P11 in Chicago and P16 at Pocono aren’t bad either.  He’ll want to start finding some consistency before the playoffs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – This week: 16th – Last week: 15th His last five races feature opposite ends of the spectrum.  He’s got two finishes worse than 30th, and the other three are in the Top 10.  At this point, Ricky’s going to need to win to make it to the playoffs, and time’s ticking down.  Keep an eye on Daytona though. Todd Gilliland – This week: 15th – Last week: 8th What has been a really solid run lately for Gilliland came to a bit of a halt after a P34 at Pocono.  He takes a dip in the Power Rankings, but he’s been showing some promise lately. Justin Haley – This week: 14th – Last week: 17th Three of his last five races are all in the Top 20, which for a Rick Ware Racing car could be seen as a victory.  He’s clearly outperforming his equipment, and may even be elevating the RWR program as a whole. Alex Bowman – This week: 13th – Last week: 14th Following up a win on the Chicago Street Course with a P3 at Pocono, Bowman might have just caught some of that much-needed confidence.  It will be interesting to see how he fares at the Indianapolis Oval this weekend, somewhere he hasn’t traditionally run very well. Joey Logano – This week: 12th – Last week: 11th It’s back and forth again for Logano each week, it seems.  P6 at Sonoma, P32 the next week.  He wins in Nashville, then follows it up with a P23 in Chicago.  P5 at Pocono is good, but can he put a few good results together in a row for a change? Ty Gibbs – This week: 11th – Last week: 13th In a very impressive sophomore season, Ty Gibbs has been sliding a bit lately.  He’s currently +67 to the playoff cut line, which is pretty solid, but an outside-winner could derail his playoff hopes very quickly.  I think he makes it, but I’m curious to see how he handles his first Cup Series playoffs. Brad Keselowski – This week: 10th – Last week: 10th It’s been said here before that Keselowski’s been in a bit of a bad stretch the past few races.  He looked solid at Pocono and finished P7, so maybe that’s a momentum swing for the 6 team.  He’s already matched his 2023 total of seven Top 5s this year, and he’s got 15 races to build on it before the end of the season. Chris Buescher – This week: 9th  – Last week: 6th Just ahead of his teammate, Chris Buescher has had a better run these past few weeks, including back-to-back Top 5s.  While Buescher is clinging onto a playoff spot right now, a win would be nice for this team about now, just to lock it in. William Byron – This week: 8th – Last week: 12th It’s been kind of a strange year for Byron.  He’s got three wins on the season, but am I the only one who feels he’s been kind of quiet?  He’s only 6 points ahead of a winless Martin Truex Jr., and he’s about 60 points back from the points leader (currently Chase Elliott).  Does he wake up in the playoffs? Or is he fading at the wrong time? Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 7th – Last week: 7th There’s something to be said for Truex and his ability to minimize the damage on difficult days – of which there seem to be a lot this season.  He’s still winless on the year, but also 137 points up on the playoff cutline.  His playoff berth looks safe, but have we already witnessed his last Cup win? Kyle Larson – This week: 6th – Last week: 3rd Larson’s only 3 points off the leader, and let’s not forget he didn’t earn any points at the Coca-Cola 600.  He’s had a couple of DNFs in the last 5 races, which hurt his Power Ranking spot. Chase Elliott – This week: 5th – Last week: 5th Elliott is the points leader, even with just one win.  However, his results have been just okay over the last five races.  There’s a P3 and a P9, but the other three are outside of the Top 15.  He’s still got the best average finish in the Cup Series. Denny Hamlin – This week: 4th – Last week: 16th A big surge from Hamlin this week, as he finished P2 at Pocono with arguably the best car of the day.  A few bad results in a row leading up to this had him further down the Power Rankings, but he’s making his way back to the top. Tyler Reddick – This week: 3rd – Last week: 4th In his last five races, four of Reddick’s finishes are 6th or better.  He’s only got one win on the season so far, but he’s 15 points away from the points lead.  Keep an eye on him, he’s going places. Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 2nd A win in his last five races helps keep him near the top of the Power Rankings.  He’s also had two DNFs, but his underlying stats are still impressive, even if his finishing position doesn’t always show it. Ryan Blaney – This week: 1st – Last week: 1st With his win at Pocono, he now has two in the last five races.  His year started off inconsistent, but he’s shown himself to be peaking again at the right time.  If he can sustain some of this pressure in the playoffs, he’ll be a threat to repeat as champ.

Press Release | JOHN FORCE RACING KENT, Wash. (July 18, 2024) – On a Pacific Raceways track on which he has won a record nine times, most recently in 2019, John Force won’t have the opportunity to reach double digit success during this week’s 35th NHRA Northwest Nationals. Instead, drag racing’s winningest driver will continue to rehab at an Arizona facility specializing in the treatment of the kind of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) he suffered in a June 23 crash in Richmond, Va. While the 75 year-old-racer is sidelined indefinitely, John Force Racing president Robert Hight confirmed Thursday a plan to put the 16-time champion’s PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet Camaro SS back in competition before the start of the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship in September. “After conversations with John’s team and with our partners, especially Brian Bohlander at PEAK and Jim Campbell at Chevrolet, and with John’s input and approval, we have begun taking the steps necessary to get the PEAK Chevy back on the racetrack,” Hight said. The tentative target for the car’s return is the 47th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, August 2-3, at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, an event in which Force was to have raced against Funny Car rivals Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon and Dale Creasy Jr. as part of a show that also includes Top Fuel dragsters, jets and a world class fireworks show. “We hope to tie up all the loose ends and introduce a driver some time right after Sonoma (the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28),” Hight said. “There’s a good pool of driving talent out there but, obviously, we need to find the right fit for both the team and our sponsors.” Hight, a three-time NHRA Funny Car Champion and two-time Seattle winner, has himself been sidelined this year by health issues, his seat in the Cornwell Tools Camaro capably filled by current point leader Austin Prock, who this week is trying to become just the third driver to win Northwest Nationals titles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. (Photo Credit: johnforceracing.com )

Press Release | HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS It will surely be a historic weekend in Indiana when Hendrick Motorsports and the NASCAR Cup Series take to Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s oval configuration for the first time since 2020. “The Brickyard”, as the track is also known, comes from the facility’s original racing surface. While the entire 2.5-mile circuit now features asphalt for drivers to compete on, Indianapolis was originally built in 1909 with a racing surface made of brick. Although the surface has changed, one single strip of bricks remain just past the start/finish line. With roughly nine degrees of banking in each of the four corners, the track’s flat surface serves as a unique challenge for competitors looking to take home one of the sport’s most prestigious races. In total, Hendrick Motorsports has won a record 10 times on the oval configuration at Indianapolis. Currently vice chairman Jeff Gordon’s five victories are the most in Cup Series history while Jimmie Johnson’s four victories are the second most. Kasey Kahne is the most recent winner of the event for Hendrick Motorsports having won the race in 2017. Kyle Larson will drive the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Fan Appreciation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 this weekend in Indianapolis. The paint scheme boasts the same special colors he planned to run in the Coca-Cola 600 before rain brought the crown jewel race to an early ending. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | RICHMOND RACEWAY RICHMOND, Va. (July 17, 2024) – Richmond Raceway announced today that American icon, NASCAR Hall of Famer, Seven-Time Cup Series Champion and the winningest driver in NASCAR history “The King” Richard Petty will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Clean Harbors 250 on Saturday, Aug. 10. Amid the Petty Family’s 75th year in NASCAR, Petty will say the most famous words in motorsports prior to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Finale.   “An event as significant as this deserves to have one of the most prominent figures in sports history give the command to start engines,” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran. “We’re thrilled and honored to have “The King” Richard Petty serve as the Grand Marshal for the Clean Harbors 250 in what should be an electrifying race under the lights.”   As the most successful driver the sport has ever seen, Petty’s legendary 35-year career sets the standard for greatness across all motorsports. The Level Cross, N.C. native has the most NASCAR Cup Series wins (200), most poles (123), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10), most starts (1,185), and tied for the most championships with Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson (seven).   Petty’s astounding accomplishments led him to be inducted into the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 and named as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. Additionally, he has been elected to the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame, International Motorsports Hall of Fame, North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and serves as Chairman of the North Carolina Motorsports Association.   The Petty legacy will be well-represented on-track in Saturday’s Clean Harbors 250, with Richard Petty’s grandson Thad Moffitt driving the No. 46 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST.   “The King” highlighting pre-race ceremonies is just part of the excitement fans can witness in the Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 10. At 7:30 p.m. ET. NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series drivers will have one last chance to clinch a playoff berth before 10 drivers move on to battle for a championship. Then Sunday, Aug. 11, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will compete for a playoff berth in the Cook Out 400 at 6 p.m. ET.   “Clean Harbors and the Petty family have maintained a successful partnership for decades and we couldn’t pick a better person to start the race than ‘The King’ himself!” said Clean Harbors Marketing Director Buddy Judy. “We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Richmond for what’s sure to be a memorable event this summer.”   Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets now at www.richmondraceway.com . (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | TRACKHOUSE RACING New York, NY and Concord, NC, July 17, 2024 – The Avenue Sports Fund today announced it has acquired a significant minority stake in Trackhouse Entertainment Group, the parent company to Trackhouse Racing, which fields teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, the most popular racing series in North America, and in the FIM MotoGP World Championship , the premier motorcycle racing series in the world.  Trackhouse Racing, founded by Justin Marks, a former NASCAR and sports car racer, debuted in 2021 and has won seven Cup Series races with drivers Daniel Suárez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen. In 2022 Chastain finished second in the standings and Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win a Cup race. Last year, Van Gisbergen, a New Zealander, became one of six drivers in the sport’s 76-year history to win in a debut race. The team’s sponsorship roster includes some of the most recognizable names in corporate America.  Separately, on the MotoGP grid, Trackhouse debuted in 2024 as the first American team in the sport since 2007. One of the team’s riders, Miguel Oliveira, earned a second-place finish in the German Grand Prix Sprint race on July 7.  “We are excited to partner with Justin Marks and his organization as they continue to compete aggressively in the NASCAR Cup Series and MotoGP series and potentially in new motorsports in the future,” said Marc Lasry, Avenue Capital's Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder. “NASCAR has long held its position as the most popular racing series in North America, and MotoGP is now one of the most popular motorsports in the world with millions of cumulative race attendees and a substantial digital audience – all compelling attributes for an investment by Avenue Sports.”  Marks said the partnership with Avenue will make Trackhouse Racing more competitive in the marketplace and on the track. "From the day of Trackhouse's inception it has been a central goal to build a valuable, diverse, and global motorsports platform. Partnering with Avenue is a monumental step forward in continuing to develop and execute that vision. With Trackhouse in the Avenue portfolio, the company will be able to draw on the experience and expertise of a leading global sports fund to scale into one of the most powerful motorsports companies in the world with best-in-class on-track competitiveness, partner services, and racing event experiential assets."  (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Martinsville Speedway and the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin today announced that the spec series will hold an exhibition race as part of the 2024 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season finale event on Saturday, Oct. 26. The event will be a 300-lap doubleheader called the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 with the Mazda MX-5 Cup taking to the track for 100 laps, directly followed by the 200-lap finale of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. The Mazda MX-5 Cup race will award $15,000 to the race winner. The exhibition event will not count toward the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Cup championship, which concludes Oct. 11 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The Martinsville schedule will consist of two practice sessions, single-car qualifying and a 100-lap race split into two stages. Yellow flags will not count for the first 50-lap stage, but will be in effect for the second half. Prize money will also be awarded to the top three drivers at the stage break. “It’s a great compliment to Mazda MX-5 Cup that NASCAR and IMSA leadership enjoy the series and want to expand its footprint,” said Jonathan Applegate, senior manager, Mazda Motorsports. “We’ve seen increased interest in the series from drivers with NASCAR aspirations who want to grow their skill set. Racing at Martinsville is a unique opportunity to capitalize on that and we are really excited about this opportunity.” The concept of racing Mazda MX-5 Cup at Martinsville started amongst NASCAR and IMSA leadership, who recognized the entertainment value of the series’ incredibly close racing. Martinsville, the short track, was deemed a perfect fit for the small convertibles and a test featuring several drivers was conducted in August of last year. “Martinsville Speedway has such a unique and rich history of racing, and we couldn’t be more excited to add another incredible event to that history,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “It’ll be the first time we have open-top cars racing on track since our early days in the ’50s, tapping into our past and also our roots as we host the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finale on the same weekend. We’re excited to bring the Mazda MX-5 Cup to Martinsville, and I know this will be one the fans enjoy.” The Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 will be the first race on an oval circuit for MX-5 Cup, though it has held events at roval tracks familiar to NASCAR fans, including Daytona International Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Entries are open for all racers and are not limited to MX-5 Cup or IMSA drivers and teams. In addition to a $15,000 check from Mazda for the winner, Martinsville will award one of its famous grandfather clocks as well. Runner-up receives $5,000, third place receives $4,000 and payouts continue through 10th place. To prepare for this unique race, MX-5 Cup will hold a test at Martinsville on Aug. 26. The date is exceptionally convenient for MX-5 Cup teams that will have just concluded a doubleheader at VIRginia International Raceway, an hour’s drive away. For more details on the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300 and to purchase tickets to the race weekend, visit www.martinsvillespeedway.com. (Photo Credit: imsa.com )

Press Release | NASCAR Daytona Beach, Fla. (July 17, 2024) – NASCAR is once again taking the virtual racing world by storm, this time with the launch of “NASCAR Tycoon” on Roblox created by Dubit. Building on the success of its previous “NASCAR Speed Hub,” this new experience promises to deliver an even more immersive and interactive NASCAR world. Developed in partnership with the renowned metaverse studio Dubit, “NASCAR Tycoon” allows players to dive deep into the management and racing aspects of NASCAR, offering a unique blend of strategy and high-speed thrills in a distinctly Roblox-native way. Players will have the opportunity to jump in the driver’s seat of cars styled after NASCAR’s Next Gen Cup Series vehicles, competing against each other and managing teams in thrilling races. Earning fame and fortune as they build their virtual tycoon, players can make passive income while they play. As players progress in “NASCAR Tycoon,” they will unlock exclusive perks such as building their own NASCAR racing teams, expanding their garages, collecting new cars, accessing customizations and attracting sponsors. The launch comes hot on the heels of recent Fortnite activations and follows the debut of NASCAR in “Jailbreak” and “NASCAR Speed Hub” last year – a virtual environment built by Dubit, for players to race around tracks linked to real-world races. “We’re thrilled to launch ‘NASCAR Tycoon’ on Roblox, developed in partnership with Dubit, marking a key milestone in our ongoing efforts to authentically engage with the Roblox community,” said Nick Rend, VP of Interactive and Emerging Platforms at NASCAR. “This initiative is about more than reaching new audiences; it’s about deepening our connection on a platform where we see tremendous potential. By blending the excitement of NASCAR with the interactive and dynamic environment of Roblox, we’re enhancing traditional fandom in ways that are engaging, fun, and distinctly forward-looking.” With more than 300 million monthly active users, Roblox is ripe with opportunities for entertainment properties like NASCAR and offers a chance to engage with audiences in an immersive and interactive environment. Andrew Douthwaite, Chief Commercial Officer at Dubit, shares his excitement: “We’re thrilled to bring the next phase of NASCAR to life on Roblox, building on the success of previous activations. NASCAR Tycoon allows Roblox players to experience the excitement of NASCAR racing like never before, blending the strategic elements of team management with the adrenaline-pumping action on the track. It has been a true joy working with such a forward-thinking, iconic sports brand in NASCAR, and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries together” Dubit has created Roblox activations, virtual merchandise ranges and experiences for global brands including Unilever, Samsung, Reckitt, Kraft, H&M and adidas. “NASCAR Tycoon” is now available on Roblox: http://roblox.com/NASCAR (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)