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Press Release | INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group, will serve as honorary Pace Car driver for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG on Sunday, July 21. Hendrick will drive the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Pace Car and lead the field to start the 30th anniversary of the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Hendrick Motorsports. “Time goes by fast,” Hendrick said. “I can’t believe it’s been four decades since we started Hendrick Motorsports and 30 years since Jeff (Gordon) won the inaugural Brickyard 400. I’ll never forget the excitement around that event and the thrill of winning a race at Indianapolis. “I’m grateful to our 40-year partners at Chevrolet for the opportunity to drive a Pace Car for the first time. I also want to thank my great friend Roger Penske and everyone at the track. Taking the field to green on Sunday will be something I’ll always remember.” A self-described “gearhead,” Hendrick turned his passion for the automobile into successful business ventures in the retail automotive and professional auto racing industries. Hendrick worked on and raced cars as a young man. Alongside his father, “Papa Joe” Hendrick, he rebuilt his first car, a 1931 Chevrolet, at age 14 and regularly traveled to racetracks across the region, often volunteering as a crew member. Although he studied to become a tool and die maker, Hendrick’s enthusiasm for cars led him down a different career path – retail automotive sales. The transformation of his first dealership from struggling into the most profitable in the region ultimately led to the formation of Hendrick Automotive Group, which today operates collision centers, accessories distributor installers and 131 retail franchises across 13 states. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and employing more than 10,000 people, Hendrick Automotive Group is now the largest privately held dealership group in the country. In 2023, it generated over $13 billion in revenue after selling more than 195,000 vehicles and servicing nearly 2.5 million cars and trucks. Hendrick, 75, leads the organization as its chairman and CEO. While working to establish himself in the car business, Hendrick remained active in racing circles – setting world records in drag boats before returning to his roots in stock cars. In 1984, he founded NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports, which has become the sport’s most successful operation. It is home to 600 employees who support four full-time Chevrolet stock-car teams with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson in the elite NASCAR Cup Series. In May 2021, Hendrick Motorsports became the winningest team in Cup Series history. At NASCAR’s top level, Hendrick Motorsports holds every major statistical record, including championships, points-paying victories, pole positions and laps led. It has won at least one race in a record 40 different seasons and maintains an active streak of 39 in a row (1986-2024). Hendrick is also NASCAR’s all-time leader in national series championships with 18 overall. “For all of us at GM and Chevrolet, as well as for our partners at IMS, it’s an honor to have Rick Hendrick lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag at this year’s Brickyard 400,” General Motors President Mark Reuss said. “Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports have had a storied history together over the past 40 years. Having Rick pace the 30th anniversary of this prestigious race is a special way to celebrate our partnership and the legacy he has built in NASCAR.” Hendrick Motorsports won the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994. The winning Chevrolet Lumina, driven by Jeff Gordon, will be showcased in the Chevrolet display located in the fan midway throughout the weekend. “Honoring history, even as we look to the future, is a huge part of everything we do at IMS,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Rick and Hendrick Motorsports made history here in 1994 with Jeff Gordon’s win in the inaugural Brickyard on the famed oval. As we return to the oval and celebrate 30 years with NASCAR, having Rick pace the field is a fitting celebration.” Hendrick was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2013. He is a recipient of the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, NASCAR’s Bill France Award of Excellence and The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is bestowed upon outstanding North Carolinians. In 2014, Hendrick was honored with the Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award for significant contributions to the auto industry. NASCAR celebrates 30 years at the Racing Capital of the World in 2024 with the return to the oval at IMS. Visit IMS.com for ticket information for Brickyard Weekend on July 19-21. (Photo Credit: indianapolismotorspeedway.com )

Each week here at Racing Refresh we look back on the week that was in motorsports on X! Let's get started! 10. It's great that Brittany Force is getting back behind the wheel this weekend in Seattle. We should all take that as a positive sign in John Force's recovery. 9. Tony Stewart got it done at National Trails this past weekend. He has momentum going into Seattle. 8. NASCAR meets the craze that is Caitlin Clark. 7. Watch out for him when he's in autograph mode. 6. If Corey Heim does return to the Craftsman Truck Series next season, everyone knows who the favorite is going into 2025. 5. How cool is this? Selfishly, I think The King should have been driving the Superbird. 4. He will absolutely have a rock one day. He may be the the greatest driver at Pocono ever. 3. I have to say I don't like where the charter deal, or lack there of is heading. I believe firmly that the sport needs to get a deal done. 2. I have to say I disagree with this decision. Hooking somebody, especially at a track like Pocono is something that requires a message being sent. 1. This is history in the making at Richmond. Let's see how it goes.

Press Release | JOHN FORCE RACING KENT, Wash. (July 16, 2024) – With dad John responding positively to treatment for the TBI he suffered in a June 23 crash in Virginia, Brittany Force will be back in the cockpit of her national record-holding Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Top Fuel dragster this week when the NHRA Mission Foods tour moves to Pacific Raceways for the 35th NHRA Northwest Nationals. ​Although she missed the most recent race at Norwalk, Ohio, the two-time Top Fuel World Champion managed to hold onto the No. 10 position in the driver standings and is anxious to get back in the hunt in a car that, before her dad’s accident, had begun to respond to changes in its set-up. “I’m glad to get back to the racetrack after a tough few weeks,” said the 38-year-old who last year set the Pacific Raceways speed record of 334.73 miles per hour. “It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for our family since Richmond, but my dad has made great progress and we are all so proud of him. He has transferred now to a rehabilitation center closer to home. “I want to thank (crew chief) David Grubnic, John Collins and my team for their patience and support of my decision to stay with my father while racing continued in Norwalk,” she said. “Missing a race was tough, but I needed to be with my dad and family.  “I’m proud to be running our Flav-R-Pac dragster this weekend to honor our longtime partner, Frank Tiegs. He always reminded me to make sure I was still having fun because that is when you perform at your best. We won a championship together in 2022 and I’m proud to carry him and his family on the car this weekend.  “Our team’s current focus is to improve our starting position in the Countdown,” said the 16-time tour winner. “We’ve made great strides in our last few races and I’m eager to take that next step and put our Flav-R-Pac dragster in the winners’ circle for the Tiegs family and my dad!” ​Runner-up to Tony Schumacher at the 2022 Northwest Nationals after qualifying No. 1, Force will start Friday 67 points behind No. 9 Tony Stewart and 104 behind No. 7 Billy Torrence with just four races remaining before the points are adjusted for the Countdown. “It’s going to be hard to not have my dad at the track with me this weekend,” Force said, “but I know he will be watching from his rehab facility. Watching him fight his way back is what now motivates me to get back into the winners’ circle.“ (Photo Credit: johnforceracing.com )

Press Release | NASCAR NASCAR officials announced Tuesday that this summer’s Cup Series event at Richmond Raceway will have two Goodyear tire choices available to teams. The procedural change for the Aug. 11 Cook Out 400 (6 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App) at the Virginia short track comes after an audition during last month’s NASCAR All-Star Race, a non-points event held at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. This application will be the first in a points-paying race. “The All-Star Race is a great event obviously by itself, but it gives us the opportunity to learn,” Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, told NASCAR.com . “This past year, it gave us the chance to try something with tires, and we’re working really hard in NASCAR as well as the folks at the R&D Center to improve the short-track package. So the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro gave us the opportunity to introduce the option tire, something we’d never done to my knowledge in the history of our sport, to have different compounds during an event. “As that event unfolded, throughout the weekend, we were still optimistic that we would see something there that would really move the needle on our short-track package. We didn’t get the results at Wilkesboro that we were hoping for, with a very similar opportunity that we had at Bristol where we did see results, and even at Iowa where we did as well. Any time we can put our teams in a position where they have to manage tires, we really see some great racing and we see an entertaining race, so that’s our goal going into Richmond.” Teams will use two types of Goodyear rubber in Richmond’s 400-lapper — a softer “option” tire with the reward of more short-term grip balanced against the risk of less long-term durability, and a baseline “prime” tire that provides a more lasting ride with potentially less grip in its harder compound. As at the All-Star Race, option tires will have red sidewall lettering, and prime tires will carry the traditional yellow labeling. White-lettered wet-weather tires — used on road courses and the circuit’s shorter ovals — will also be available for racing under damp conditions. Competition officials indicated teams will be allotted six sets of prime tires and two sets of option tires for the race at the 0.75-mile track, 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 just two sets of option tires over the course of 400 laps is expected to place a premium on the strategy element, for when teams might opt to deploy them. “Once we get through practice, that 45-minute session, we’ll have the ability to work with Goodyear as well as our teams to see the longevity of the option tire, what’s it look like, as well as the prime tire,” Sawyer said. “So we’ll have the ability to make some adjustments once practice is over, but as we go into the weekend, we’ll start with the allotment that was recently decided on by working with Goodyear and ourselves and prior history there.” Teams will not be able to mix the two tire types — for example, left-side prime tires and right-side options would not be allowed — but unlike the All-Star Race, Cup Series teams may start the race on the tire of their choosing. Teams must qualify on prime tires, but will be free to select either compound at all other times. Stu Grant, general manager for Goodyear Global Race Tires division, had hinted last month that an additional race for the tire-choice format was possible and that data from a tire test at Iowa Speedway on May 28 would help inform that decision. “This whole option tire thing is pretty exciting strategy stuff for us and for the sport,” Grant said before last month’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “You saw option tires in other forms of racing, you’ve really never embraced it in NASCAR, never really had a whole lot of dialogue about it until recently. You say, all right, we need to try to make the short-track racing a little bit better and then the option tire became more of a discussion with the crew chiefs, the drivers and with NASCAR. The whole North Wilkesboro thing came together pretty quickly and we said, hey, let’s give it a try. So we’ve got that data point — that’s nice. We’ve got that data point, and now we just go forward.” Sawyer indicated competition officials have had an open dialogue with Goodyear since the All-Star Race, and have held individual meetings with drivers, crew chiefs and team officials to further the discussion about tires. Officials had noted that the two types of tires were made on an accelerated timeline for the All-Star Race, but Sawyer said that production of the Richmond tires — which are the same constructions and compounds — has been eased by a longer lead time. “The extra runway has given us some latitude to be able to hopefully make really good decisions as we go into Richmond,” Sawyer says. “Again, once Richmond is over, we’ll have another data point, and we’ll see what next steps are from there.” As for what the next steps might be after Richmond, the next short-track opportunity for a tire-option race wouldn’t arrive until the Cup Series Playoffs — which has 0.533-mile Bristol Motor Speedway (Sept. 21), 0.526-mile Martinsville Speedway (Nov. 3) and the 1-mile Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 10) on the schedule. Those first two are elimination races where the title-eligible field will be trimmed, and the Phoenix season finale will determine the series champion. Competition officials are sometimes reluctant to make significant shifts in rules or race procedures during the postseason, and Sawyer admitted any thoughts of implementing tire options in that 10-race stretch would be premature. “If you look at Richmond not being in the playoffs, it gives us an opportunity to at least try it,” Sawyer said. “I think, as we’ve always laid out, you never say never, and in this situation, I wouldn’t say we wouldn’t introduce the option tire in the playoffs; it would have to be a much deeper discussion after Richmond to see if that’s something that, again, the industry, teams, our broadcast partners, ourselves all are aligned that that’s the right thing to do going forward. But it’s really too early to tell if that would be an option until we get through Richmond.” (Photo Credit: nascar.com )

Press Release | RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING WELCOME, N.C. (July 16, 2024) – Titan Risk Solutions will debut a multi-year, multi-car partnership with Richard Childress Racing this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ty Dillon will race the No. 33 Titan Risk Solutions Chevrolet in the Brickyard 400. The race airs live on NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET. Titan is a “one stop shop” for today’s trucking companies. With career trucking professionals as the founders, Titan Risk Solutions provides the very best in insurance, and insurance related services. “We’re thrilled to be able to showcase Titan’s vast reach across the trucking industry through the relationships and platform that our race team partnership with Richard Childress Racing provides,” said Tim Smith, president of Titan Risk Solutions. “I can’t think of a better place to introduce our relationship than Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a track seeded in history and tradition, and with a race team that exemplifies the same commitment to quality and family values as Titan Risk Solutions. We’re all looking forward to cheering on Ty Dillon this weekend, as well as an exciting lineup of Titan drivers in the years to come.” Dillon will be making his 243rd NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend. He is a former winner at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. “I’m excited to once again race on the oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, especially behind the wheel of the No. 33 Titan Risk Solutions Chevrolet,” said Dillon. “Kissing the bricks at the historic track is a special moment that I’ve been fortunate enough to experience with RCR. Every time we go to Indy, the memories come back. I’m grateful for the opportunity and look forward to having a great showing while representing Titan Risk Solutions.” This weekend’s race kicks off a multi-year, multi-car partnership between Titan and RCR. “Titan Risk Solutions is made of up career trucking professionals with the knowledge and integrity that we look for in all of our partners,” said Torrey Galida, president of RCR. “Their real time platform of trucking solutions aligns well with the needs of our industry and partners. We’re thrilled to welcome Titan to our sponsorship portfolio and to have the opportunity to help them achieve their business goals.” Titan Risk Solutions, based out of Overland Park, Kansas has representatives located around the U.S. to assist those in the trucking industry. With the ability to provide insurance quotes or customer support in a matter of minutes, Titan has positioned themselves as market leaders for motor carriers across the country. For more information or to contact Titan, visit www.titantruckins.com For more information and all that is going on at RCR, visit rcrracing.com . (Photo Credit: rcrracing.com )

Press Release | NASCAR CHARLOTTE, N.C. / SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL (July 16, 2024) – NASCAR announced today that NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez will plan to compete in the NASCAR Brasil Series’ Special Edition, a tournament that runs parallel to the main competition, behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Camaro at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, the weekend of August 2-4. While the world looks on to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games, Suárez will participate in another international competition. The Monterrey, Mexico native, who will already be in Brazil to celebrate his wedding day with fiancée Julia Piquet, will make the stop in São Paulo before his return to the United States for a couple of days of racing action at the world-renowned racing circuit. “I am excited to have the opportunity to compete in the NASCAR Brasil Series,” said Suárez. “Not only is this an opportunity to try something new, but with my fiancée’s family roots in Brazil, it gives me a chance to race in a place that she calls home. I am equally excited to support all the people at NASCAR who have helped me along my journey to the NASCAR Cup Series. Hopefully we can have some fun and bring some attention to the series from outside Brazil along the way”. Suárez welcomed the invitation to compete in the international series while the NASCAR Cup Series enjoys a two-week hiatus in the 38-race season for the Olympic break. He also competed in a separate international event earlier this year in the NASCAR Mexico Series race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where he drove to victory in his first series start since 2014. Launched in 2022, the NASCAR Brasil Series is the sanctioning body’s fourth international series and first in South America. The series began competition in 2023 as a partnership between NASCAR and the GT Sprint Race series in Brazil. “We are extremely excited to have Daniel join us once again for an international race,” said Chad Seigler, Vice President, Chief International Officer at NASCAR. “As NASCAR continues to grow and expand on a global scale, we want to showcase that our international series provide the competition level, resources and industry connections to help the most talented competitors advance their careers.” Brazil’s strong motorsports culture has extended to NASCAR over the past 20 years. Three Brazilian-born drivers have competed in NASCAR in the United States – Christian Fittipaldi made 15 Cup Series starts in 2003, Nelson Piquet Jr. started 83 races across NASCAR’s three national series from 2010-16 winning three times, and Miguel Paludo has 81 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, including three this past season. “It’s a pleasure to welcome Daniel Suárez to our race, a driver with such a great story, who has already qualified for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Playoffs”, said Thiago Marques, NASCAR Brasil representative. “His presence puts a great deal of value on our grid. Based on his profile, I think he will get along with everyone and have a great weekend at Interlagos.” (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

By Adam Carabine Best Turnaround For the last few years, Pocono has been circled on everyone’s calendars, and not for a good reason.  Mostly due to the design of the Gen-6 car, Pocono had become the race you circle for a good Sunday afternoon nap, rather than excitement at the track. With passing being as difficult as it is, a lot of times Pocono was more of a parade than a race, with drivers just driving around in, well, triangles, counting down the laps to the finish. However, recent developments in the Next-Gen car have led this to become a fairly exciting race.  I found this weekend’s Cup Series activity at the Tricky Triangle to be a lot of fun, actually.  Yes, track position was still key, and it was still hard to pass.  But the differences in strategy made this a race that I might circle on next year’s calendar - for a good reason this time. With the size of the track, you’re usually able to pit under green without going down a lap.  That opens up a wide variety of pitting strategies, which makes for a more exciting race.  You have some teams running for stage points, other teams trying to jump the end of the stage and pitting with a few laps to go. Track position is always key, which maybe could be frustrating to some, but the creative ways that the strategists and crew chiefs of the NASCAR world have come up with to find it and keep it?  Chefs Kiss In the end, Ryan Blaney had the winning strategy, coming down pit road before the end of Stage Two, giving him great track position to stay in front and earn his second win on the season - ahead of a perennial Pocono favourite, Denny Hamlin. Worst Corner Each of Pocono’s turns are meant to be modeled after other famous turns at other tracks.  Turn One is modeled after Trenton Speedway, Turn Two is modeled after Indianapolis (which coincidentally is the next track on the NASCAR schedule), and Turn Three is modeled after The Milwaukee Mile. It’s a neat idea, and I think Pocono adds a much-needed uniqueness to the schedule. However, Turn Two at Pocono differs from Indianapolis in one way, and that’s that there’s a tunnel underneath it (as Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. breathe a sigh of relief).  What that means is that the surface across the turn is bumpy.  And it seems to keep getting worse. It might be one of the most difficult turns in NASCAR, to be honest.  When you see the cars bottoming out, or just struggling to maintain any sort of grip as they’re taking the corner, and then also remember that they’re going about 140mph around that same corner, you know there are some clenched buttocks in those cars. I may have called it the Worst Corner, but I live for things like this.  The drivers might see it as the worst, because it is one of the hardest, but from the fan perspective, I think we should encourage little nuances like this.  I’m sure that in the coming years, Pocono will likely repave the track, and fix the bumps through that turn, and I think that’s a shame. A lot of what gives each track its character are the little unique differences.  Take Sonoma, for example.  For years it was likely the most abrasive surface on the schedule, which meant that tire wear and tire management played a huge role in determining the winner.  There are other tracks where the surface is pretty smooth and tire wear isn’t a factor. Variety being the spice of life, we shouldn’t try and fix these little ‘problems,’ as they may be seen by track officials.  We should embrace them, as that’s what makes the sport unique, and that’s what makes each week a new exciting adventure. Worst Paint Scheme I get that Busch is a huge sponsor name, and when they ask you to do something, you do it.  But it feels weird to see Ross Chastain talking about any other fruit than watermelons!  Surely Busch should come up with a watermelon flavour to really maximize the potential crossover here. Best Stats Each week we look at some of the underlying driver stats from the race.  This week, obviously Ryan Blaney won the race, but he also led the most laps (44), and had the most fast laps (22) on the day. Our statistical winner of the day was Denny Hamlin.  I think he had the fastest car of the day, but just wasn’t able to catch Blaney at the end.  He led 31 laps, had an average running position of 5th (best of any driver on Sunday), and was one position shy of a perfect sweep of both stages, earning him a field-best 19 extra points. A strange anomaly in the underlying stats was Chase Elliott seemingly passing everything and everyone.  His pass differential showed that he passed other cars 55 times more than he was passed, and had 68 quality passes (passes while running in the Top 15) - both of which were the tops in the field. The worst pass differential on the day belonged to Josh Berry, though it wasn’t entirely because he drove poorly.  At one point he hit a restart with a flat tire and had to let the entire field pass him, limp it around (while it stayed green, so passing stats continued to rack up) to pit road.  To be honest, his P20 on the day was impressive considering this! And finally, today’s 13 DNFs were the most we’ve had in a single Cup Series race this season (so far). Worst Look Stacking pennies, and stacking up the field, Corey LaJoie had an interesting day to say the least.  Let’s just say he’s probably glad that there is a tunnel under Turn Two. It’s been a rough go for Lajoie and the 7 team over the last few weeks, though there could be some good news on the horizon.  Spire announced this week that Rodney Childers, a hall-of-fame crew chief who won 37 races with Kevin Harvick, will be joining the 7 team next year.  The veteran leadership that Childers brings will likely help the 7 team to become more relevant week in and week out. However, this past weekend, LaJoie turned Kyle Busch on a restart, sending Busch spinning back into the rest of the field, resulting in the end of multiple drivers’ days. I don’t want to criticize the move itself, as I want to recognize that a lot of these incidents happen so fast in real-time, that your decision making has little room for error.  In this case, I believe that LaJoie made a mistake and it cost a few of his fellow drivers their day. What I don’t like is the attitude about it, as the entire team doubled down on it over the radio afterward. “He hooked himself,” Lajoie said over the radio to his team, to which they responded: “Fuck him, we ain’t worried about him, we’re worried about ourselves.” The team went even further, with LaJoie’s crew chief Ryan Sparks adding: “You let him have [the spot] the first time.  The second time he got what he deserved.” Alex Bowman showed us last week at Chicago what it’s like to own up to your mistakes, and he stayed classy throughout the entire post-race.  Maybe the 7 team should have been taking notes. Biggest Full Circle (er… Triangle?) Ryan Blaney’s first ever Cup Series win came at Pocono seven years ago.  It was his 68th start, in his second full-time season with Wood Brothers Racing.  Fast forward to this Sunday, and he finds himself back in Victory Lane (as the defending Cup Series Champion, no less) to celebrate his 12th career victory. But even before he earned his first Cup Series win, Pocono has been a place of fond memories for Blaney.  Back when he was just a young pup, he was winning on the Pocono Quarter Midget Track, which sits just outside of Turn 3.  The 1/14th-mile clay track still stands today, and runs regular Friday night Quarter Midget races. Blaney’s win at Iowa earlier this season happened in front of 70+ of his own family.  This week he won in front of his fiancée Gianna’s family. While Pocono isn’t necessarily a ‘home track,’ for Blaney, it’s clear that his fondness for the facility led him to find that extra gear, and he was rewarded with a checkered flag. Best Answer IYKYK

Press Release | HATTORI RACING ENTERPRISES (Mooresville, N.C.) - Hattori Racing Enterprises (HRE) announced today that the team will field an entry for Johnny Sauter for the TSport 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP). Sauter will pilot the No. 16 AISIN Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the event. Championship winning driver Johnny Sauter is set to make his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2024. The veteran driver boasts an impressive resume in the series, amassing 24 wins across 21 seasons with one championship. Sauter's dominance was on full display in 2016, where he captured the coveted NASCAR Truck Series championship title. In his title run, Sauter captured three wins, 12 top 5's, and 19 top tens. With 322 career starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Sauter has consistently proven his ability to compete at the front of the pack. Fans can anticipate seeing the accomplished driver add to his legacy as he takes on the unique .686 mile oval. Sauter stated that he is thrilled to be back behind the wheel of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at the always exciting Indianapolis Raceway Park with Hattori Racing Enterprises. "IRP is a unique track, it has a very unique layout with multi-groove racing," Sauter said. "I think track position is going to be key and staying up front out of trouble is the goal." Getting to work with his former crew chief, Richie Wauters, for the TSport 200 is another exciting aspect for Sauter this weekend. "Getting back to the truck series with Richie has been something I've been looking forward to since we first discussed racing at Indianapolis Raceway Park a couple weeks ago," he explained. "I want to thank Shige Hattori for the opportunity to drive the #16 AISIN Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the TSport 200." Team owner Shige Hattori looks forward to veteran Sauter joining the organization for the Indianapolis Raceway Park event. "We're excited to have Johnny behind the wheel of our #16 AISIN Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at Indianapolis Raceway Park. His experience in the series, with many different platforms of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series trucks, will be invaluable. He understands the unique challenges of these vehicles and this bullring-style track. Johnny will also give us a great understanding of where we are at as a team and give us some valuable feedback”. Hattori Racing Enterprises is also excited to welcome new partner Toyotetsu to NASCAR competition. Toyotetsu North America region has locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Ontario, Canada, and Guanajuato, Mexico. HRE looks forward to welcoming a few Toyotetsu guests at the event. The TSport 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park kicks off on Friday, July 19th at 8:30pm EST. Catch all of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing action on FS1. (Photo Courtesy Hattori Racing Enterprises)

Press Release | NASCAR, DISNEY DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 15, 2024) – Disney and NASCAR announced today the release of a new Disney•Pixar Cars/NASCAR co-branded playset and six newly designed die-cast racers from Mattel.   The new Disney•Pixar Cars/NASCAR Lane Change Race Playset from Mattel is a 2.5-foot track set modeled after Los Angeles Raceway – a venue from the first Cars film.   The newly designed die-cast racers from Mattel combine the worlds of Disney•Pixar Cars and NASCAR for a fun twist on these illustrious brands.   Each vehicle is designed in 1:55 scale and features a NASCAR-inspired design, metallic die-cast body and rolling wheels. Every vehicle comes with a matching pit-stop barrier for racing fun and a thrilling display.   In addition to Lightning McQueen, fans can look for die-casts inspired by real NASCAR stars. Ryan “Inside” Laney (Ryan Blaney, Driver of the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske) GoGo Logano – (Joey Logano, Driver of the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske) William Byrev – (William Byron, Driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports) Carstin “Ace” Dillon (Austin Dillon, Driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing) Bubba Wheelhouse (Bubba Wallace, Driver of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing)   Fans will recognize Blaney and Wallace’s characters from their roles in the Cars 3 film.   “NASCAR’s continued collaboration with Disney and Pixar’s beloved Cars franchise provides incredible opportunities to engage the next generation of race fans and introduce them to real NASCAR stars in a fun, familiar way,” said Megan Malayter, managing director of licensing and consumer products at NASCAR. “It’s great to have an industry leader like Mattel bringing this line to life and knowing that fans will be treated to a quality play experience, which can be such a powerful contributor to future fandom.”   Each die-cast is sold separately and all products are only available at Walmart . (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY TALLADEGA, Ala. (July 10, 2024) – As drivers break through the postseason this fall, Talladega Superspeedway today announced that former Breakthrough Artist of the Year Jake Owen will headline the Saturday Night Concert during the upcoming NASCAR Playoffs race weekend in October.   Following the NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday afternoon, Owen will keep the party going, performing all his country music hits for fans to enjoy. One of the most popular artists in country music, Owen has had massive success and has become a staple of the industry. This will also be his first time performing at Talladega Superspeedway.   “The Saturday Night Concert is always a fan favorite event at Talladega Superspeedway and we have no doubt Jake Owen is going to add to the legacy this event holds,” said Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton. “Our team prides themselves on creating memorable moments throughout race weekend and we’re ready for Jake to put on an amazing show for our passionate fans.”   Owen has generated ten No. 1 hit singles and garnered over 3 billion U.S. on-demand streams in his career. Many will recognize his smash hits like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” and “American Country Love Song” in his incredible discography. His album Greetings from… Jake produced three No. 1 hits including “Made For You,” “Homemade” and ” I Was Jack (You Were Diane).” Owen released his seventh studio album, Loose Cannon, in 2023.   Owen’s debut studio album, Startin’ with Me , produced three singles (“Yee Haw,” “Startin’ with Me,” and “Something About a Woman”) which all reached top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. In his career, Owen has toured as an opening act for numerous country artists including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and Jason Aldean.   Established in 2010, Owen created The Jake Owen Foundation which has raised millions of dollars to aid various youth organizations in Indian River County in Vero Beach, FL. An annual Jake Owen Foundation weekend is held every year where Owen performs to raise money for the foundation. To learn more about The Jake Owen Foundation, please visit the link here .   The NASCAR Playoffs race action at Talladega Superspeedway kicks off Friday, October 4, with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Love’s RV Stop 225 during the Round of 8 followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday, October 5 in the Round of 12.   The excitement continues into Sunday with the return of the YellaWood 500 during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 at Talladega Superspeedway, as drivers prepare to tackle the iconic 33-degree banking.    For ticketing information and more details about upcoming events, including the fall Playoff weekend, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com .   Fans are also encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at Talladega Superspeedway by following along on  Twitter ,  Facebook  and  Instagram , as well as in the NASCAR Tracks  App  for the latest speedway news. (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/EFCountry )