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Press Release | NHRA INDIANAPOLIS (July 1, 2024) – NHRA officials announced today that Mark Dawson has been named Northeast Division Director (Division 1), overseeing NHRA member tracks in Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as facilities in Canadian providences New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Dawson, who has more than 30 years of drag racing operations experience, comes to Division 1 from Famoso Dragstrip where he served as the Director of Racing Operations. He also spent time at Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, as well as Maple Grove Raceway, home of the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. “My time on the West Coast has been incredible,” Dawson said. “I have had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside countless great people. As I move on to this new chapter, I'm excited to return home and join the fantastic team in Division 1. “I look forward to working with the tracks, racers, and sharing the excitement and opportunities that NHRA offers both now and in the future. I am committed to continuing the proud traditions of NHRA drag racing while taking on new opportunities for growth and innovation in this amazing sport.” Dawson joins a team of division directors who represent the seven divisions of the NHRA. The Northeast Division hosts several Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events throughout the season, as well as NHRA national events at New England Dragway in Epping, N.H., Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va., and Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa. “We’re thrilled to welcome someone with a wealth of experience like Mark to the NHRA Division Director team,” said Josh Peterson, NHRA Vice President of Racing Administration. “Having already spent time at Maple Grove Raceway, Mark is a natural fit for the Northeast Division. He’s a great addition to our talented team of division directors, and Mark is passionate about growing the sport and working closely with our race teams, tracks and partners in Division 1.” For more information on NHRA, including the 2024 schedule, please visit www.NHRA.com. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

Press Release | NHRA SONOMA, Calif. (July 8, 2024) – As the summer heats up, all the stars in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series gear up for one of the highlights of the season – the 36th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 26-28 at picturesque Sonoma Raceway. Located in the heart of wine country, the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals marks the 12th of 20 events on this year’s NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, offering breathtaking backdrops and incredible action on the track. Sonoma Raceway has seen its share of NHRA history, too, including last season when Pro Stock Motorcycle phenom Gaige Herrera completed the sweep the NHRA Western Swing in Sonoma, becoming only the eighth competitor in NHRA history to do so and the first-ever in the category. Herrera will also look to double up for a second straight year, as the GETTRX NHRA All- Star Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout specialty event returns to Sonoma on Saturday. It’s one of the many thrilling highlights of a weekend that includes a can’t-miss nitro qualifying session under the lights on Friday, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday as all the top names in the NHRA will look to put on a show at one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit. Last year, Justin Ashley (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car) and Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all took home NHRA Wally trophies, as well as the Sonoma Raceway specialty wine goblet trophies. This year’s race will again be broadcast on both FOX and FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 4 p.m. PT on Sunday, July 28 on FOX. In the Top Fuel ranks, Justin Ashley will be on the hunt for his second straight Sonoma win and third win of 2024. He’ll be up against points leader and reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, who has three wins on the season. Also in the mix will be past Sonoma winners Shawn Langdon, Antron Brown and Steve Torrence, as well as Tony Schumacher, Clay Millican and NASCAR legend Tony Stewart, who will be making his track debut in Top Fuel at the event. Funny Car’s J.R. Todd has seen a lot of success at Sonoma Raceway in both nitro categories. He has two wins in each nitro category from the facility and would like to capitalize on his past success at this year’s race. To collect another Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals win, he’ll need to get past points leader Austin Prock, who joined the Funny Car ranks this season, as well as Norwalk winner Bob Tasca III and defending world champion Matt Hagan, who each have two wins this season, and Ron Capps. The Pro Stock class will make its return to Sonoma after a year off in 2023. This season has been another year of intense competition between the two powerhouse teams of Elite Motorsports and KB Titan Racing. Reigning champion Erica Enders, six-time Sonoma winner Greg Anderson, points leader Dallas Glenn and two-time 2024 winner Aaron Stanfield will all be ready to pick up a win in wine country. Herrera has made more history in 2024, winning an NHRA-record 11 straight races. He’s undefeated in 2024 with six victories and will look to keep rolling against a class that includes six-time champion Matt Smith, Hector Arana Jr., Jianna Evaristo and fan-favorite Steve Johnson, who will be making his 500th career start in Sonoma. Also on the schedule for this year’s Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals is the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday. Semifinalists from the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Seattle will meet up again for a rematch for bonus points and bonus cash in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. The event also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the top drivers in the sport. The weekend includes the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Shootout, Street Legal and Top the Cops exhibitions as well, along with autograph sessions at the Mission Foods Midway Display and Pro Stock Motorcycle autograph sessions at the Suzuki Display. A special kids-only autograph session takes place at 2:30 p.m. on Friday under the main grandstands. entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, music and much more. Race fans at Sonoma Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday 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 Sunday 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 Sonoma. 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 two rounds at 4:30 and 6:45 p.m. PT on Friday, July 26 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, July 27 at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. PT on Sunday, July 28. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, and then eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. The first round of the GETTRX NHRA All- Star Pro Stock Motorcycle Callout takes place at 11:30 a.m. PT, with the semifinals at 1:45 p.m. and the finals at 2:30 p.m. It will be broadcast at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. To purchase tickets to the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223. For more information about NHRA, visit www.nhra.com . (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

NBC SPORTS Hailie Deegan and the AM Racing Xfinity Series team announced Monday that they have parted ways. The 22-year-old Deegan joined the team this season for her rookie Xfinity campaign. The team had Joey Logano drive in her place this past weekend for the Chicago Street Race. He finished eighth, giving the team its best result of the year. In a statement, Deegan wrote: “Beginning this season, I had a lot of excitement and hope in taking my next step in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. It’s something I’ve been working towards for years and always dreamt about. I worked hard to prepare for this season after the team pursued me to drive their car. “Unfortunately, it has not turned out the way that I expected. There are always several reasons within a race team as to why things do or do not work, but sadly our goals no longer align.” Deegan also stated that is focused on “getting back to being competitive. That is ALL that matters to me. I’m working as quick as possible to find the best opportunities to get back to the track.” Deegan had modest success in the Craftsman Truck Series before moving to the Xfinity Series but told NBC Sports before this season that “the moment you start questioning stuff is the moment it starts falling apart.” Deegan’s best finish this year was 12th at Talladega. She had 11 finishes of 25th or worse in 17 starts. In her career, Deegan: — Became the first woman to win a race in what is now the ARCA Menards West Series in 2018. — Finished second in an ARCA Menards Series race in 2020, tying the record for best result in that series by a female. — Scored the best debut by a female driver in both the Truck Series (2020) and Xfinity Series (2022). In a statement, AM Racing said it had parted ways with Deegan. The team later announced that Josh Berry will drive the car this weekend at Pocono Raceway (3 p.m. ET Saturday on USA Network). (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/FordPerformance )

AJ Appeal - Special Contributor, RacingRefresh.com Lexington, OH – In a landmark event for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Pato O’Ward emerged victorious in The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid, the first-ever race featuring INDYCAR's new hybrid power unit. O’Ward's win was hard-fought, as he resisted relentless pressure from championship leader Alex Palou over the closing laps to clinch victory by just 0.4993 seconds, marking the closest finish this season on a road or street circuit. The race, held at the 2.258-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, highlighted the debut of the hybrid power unit, which combines traditional Push to Pass with an additional boost from the hybrid system, providing drivers with an extra 120+ horsepower on demand. This new technology aims to enhance both the performance and excitement of the races. Race Dynamics: Tire Strategy and Pit Stops The race quickly became a tale of tyre strategies. Both front-row starters, Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward, began the 80-lap contest on Firestone primary (black) tyres. Palou established early dominance on the more durable rubber, building a lead of approximately eight seconds before O’Ward made his first pit stop at the end of Lap 27, switching to the softer, grippier Firestone alternate (red) tires. Palou followed suit a lap later, maintaining his lead after the first pit cycle. However, O’Ward's car came to life on the red-sidewall Firestone alternate tires. By Lap 43, Palou's lead had shrunk to 4.2 seconds, and by Lap 54, O’Ward was just half a second behind, setting the stage for a strategic battle. Crucial Pit Stops and Lead Change The decisive moment came around Lap 56 when both leaders pitted for the second and final time. O’Ward's pit stop was flawless, while Palou encountered trouble exiting his pit box, costing him valuable seconds. "We had a slow stop," Palou said. "I couldn’t really engage first gear. Maybe I was trying to get it too fast, so probably my fault. Anyways, good race. Had fun. Good, solid day.” This mishap allowed O’Ward to take the lead around the Keyhole after emerging from the pits. Despite Palou's relentless pursuit, O’Ward managed to hold his position, even as he navigated through traffic in the closing laps. Victory and Post-Race Reactions O’Ward slid his No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet through the final corner to secure his sixth career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory and his second of the season. “That was a hard-fought race,” O’Ward said. “We were really, really strong on the reds. Palou was really, really strong on the blacks. So, all I needed to do was kind of stay up in the first stint and come into the pits and put those reds on and kind of try to close the gap.” Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Sonsio Team Penske Chevrolet, marking his second podium in the last three races. Colton Herta placed fourth in the No. 26 Gainbridge Honda, and Marcus Ericsson rounded out the top five in the No. 28 Delaware Life Honda. Championship Standings and Looking Ahead Despite finishing second, Alex Palou maintained his lead in the championship standings, now with 329 points. Will Power, who finished 11th, is second with 281 points, followed by O’Ward in third with 259 points. Palou recorded his eighth top-five finish in nine races this season, expanding his points gap and solidifying his status as the championship frontrunner. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES now shifts focus to oval racing, with a doubleheader at Iowa Speedway. The Hy-Vee Homefront 250 presented by Instacart will take place at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 13, followed by the Hy-Vee One Step 250 presented by Gatorade at noon ET on Sunday, July 14. Both races will be broadcast live on NBC, Peacock, and the INDYCAR Radio Network. Mid-Ohio: A Historic Venue The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been a staple in the INDYCAR calendar since its first race on July 13, 1980. This year's event continued the tradition of thrilling races at this renowned 2.258-mile permanent road course, featuring 13 turns and a minimum track width of 32 feet, all raced in a clockwise direction. Pato O’Ward's victory at Mid-Ohio not only marks a significant personal achievement but also highlights the ongoing evolution and excitement within the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as drivers and teams continue to push the boundaries of speed, strategy, and technology. Final Race Results: Pato O'Ward - D/C/F - 80 laps - 1:33:22.6191 Alex Palou - D/H/F - 80 laps - 0.4993 seconds behind Scott McLaughlin - D/C/F - 80 laps - 16.1558 seconds behind Colton Herta - D/H/F - 80 laps - 24.8725 seconds behind Marcus Ericsson - D/H/F - 80 laps - 31.6809 seconds behind Alexander Rossi - D/C/F - 80 laps - 32.2443 seconds behind Christian Lundgaard - D/H/F - 80 laps - 32.5714 seconds behind Kyle Kirkwood - D/H/F - 80 laps - 35.2218 seconds behind Christian Rasmussen (R) - D/C/F - 80 laps - 40.3182 seconds behind Santino Ferrucci - D/C/F - 80 laps - 46.9084 seconds behind

(Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) By Peyton Lohr Former three-time Australian V8 Supercar champion, Shane Van Gisbergen, has recently become the talk of the NASCAR world after winning the inaugural Chicago Street Course Cup Series race in 2023. Some thought he could just be the next big thing, while others saw through the burnout smoke and said it must be a one-off. This wouldn't be the first time NASCAR has had a "transplant¨ come in and steal the show. Let's go back and look back at some of those examples, and maybe determine if SVG (as he is commonly known) has a spot in the history books with them.  Let's go back to 1995, and talk about Tony Stewart, one of auto racing's most successful all-around drivers. He's the only one to have won both an IndyCar championship and a NASCAR championship. In 1995, he became the first driver to win USAC´s Triple Crown - meaning he won championships in all three of USAC´s major divisions (National Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown). In 1996, he started racing in IndyCar and in NASCAR's Busch (now known as Xfinity) series. A year later, Stewart captured the IndyCar championship and transitioned to the NASCAR Cup Series. He would go on to win three NASCAR Cup Series championships, in 2002, 2005, and in 2011. Stewart was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020. He also won the IROC Championship in 2006, and more recently, the SRX Championship in 2021. Currently, Stewart competes full-time in the NHRA as a Top Fuel competitor.  (Photo By Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Next, let's go back to 1986, the year that Jeff Gordon began racing Sprint cars. He won three races that year, and was awarded a USAC license when he turned sixteen the next year. He and his family had to move from California to Indiana for him to continue racing, and there he became the youngest racer in the World of Outlaws. In 1989 he would be the USAC Midget Car Racing Rookie of the Year, and when he was only 20 years old he became the youngest driver to win the USAC Silver Crown Championship. In 1991, Gordon started his NASCAR career, where he would go on to win four Cup Series Championships in 1995, 1997, 1998, and 2001, with 93 career wins. He was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019. Currently, Gordon serves as the Vice Chairman at Hendrick Motorsports.  (Photo by Dozier Mobley/Getty Images) Lastly, let's look at Kyle Larson. Larson got his start in outlaw karts at the age of seven, and also moved to USAC as a teenager where he raced Midget, Sprint, and Silver Crown. At the same time, he was also racing in the World of Outlaws. In 2011, he became only the second driver to win in all three types of USAC cars in a single evening at Eldora Speedway. He would also go on to win in the K&N Pro Series and in the ARCA series, before he would move on to NASCAR. He has one championship so far, earned in 2021, and 26 race wins. He currently races full-time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, while also dabbling in many other series. Of note, Larson ran the 2024 Indianapolis 500 with plans to run NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 the same day, until weather unfortunately got in the way.  (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) So back to SVG - does he have what it takes? He also comes from a history of racing karts and quarter midgets, until he found success in V8 Supercars. As mentioned earlier, he won his first ever Cup Series start at last year's Chicago Street Course. This year he is competing full-time in NASCAR's Xfinity Series, where he has won three consecutive road course races, including yesterday's event at the Chicago Street Course.  Will he be NASCAR's next big star like so many before him?  The NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 in Chicago kicks off on Sunday at 4:30pm ET on NBC, with Shane Van Gisbergen starting fifth.

Press Release | JOHN FORCE RACING RICHMOND, Va. (July 5, 2024) – Less than two weeks after drag racing champion John Force suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), among other injuries that included a fractured sternum and a right wrist injury, following an engine explosion that sent his Funny Car into a concrete guard wall at over 300 miles per hour, doctors acknowledged his positive response to treatment. He was moved out of neuro-intensive care and into acute neuro care at the hospital where he was transported by air ambulance on June 23. The latest upgrade was welcomed by Force family members who have maintained a presence at the hospital since the 16-time NHRA Champion’s arrival, but medical professionals emphasized once again that the journey ahead will be a long and difficult one. Although Force is still dealing with cognitive and behavioral symptoms from his TBI, the fact that the Hall of Fame driver can converse with medical staff, family members, and John Force Racing president Robert Hight, who flew in this week, is an encouraging sign. However, there have also been periods of confusion, which doctors say require time and patience to treat. Also noteworthy was the fact that the 75-year-old grandfather of five has regained his equilibrium to the point that he has been able to start walking with the assistance of medical staff members.  According to family, the next step for the man whose career has spanned six decades likely will be a move to a long-term facility specializing in TBI and associated symptoms. A time frame for that move has not yet been determined. (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/JFR_Racing )

Press Release | NHRA NHRA has announced its future building plans at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, unveiling a multi-phase plan for the legendary facility that includes a new Wally Parks Tower, renovated suites, a new entrance for fans, and moving the Professional pits to the west side of the facility. As part of an overall reinvestment into the facilities the NHRA owns and operates, the reimaging of Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park will be a multi-year project and begins this year. The project will take place over three phases: Phase 1: New Wally Parks Tower and Renovated Suites Phase 2: Fan Enhancements, New Entrance, New Restrooms, New Ticket Office, and Ditch Relocation Phase 3: Shifting the Pro Pits to West Side of the Facility The new Wally Parks Tower is set to be completed in time for the 2025 NHRA U.S. Nationals and will be an impressive three-story facility that will feature race control, a media center, television broadcasting capabilities, and three suites on the third floor. The open-air covered roof will include an overview area and an event space that can host more than 500 people. The state-of-the-art tower will also have dedicated bathrooms, a staircase, and an elevator, and will sit in the same area as the previous tower. “We’re very excited to introduce these plans for Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The U.S. Nationals is the hallmark of our schedule, and we’re investing for the long-term to continue to make this the crown jewel on the NHRA schedule and as a facility on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour,” NHRA Vice President of Track Management and Operations Kasey Coler said. “This project is the start of a multi-phase approach, and it’s a project that will provide improvements for all the stakeholders involved in the sport: race teams, fans, sponsors, media, and race officials. There’s going to be something for everyone, and we’re so thrilled to see this project come to life.” Along with the new tower, a major overhaul on the current eight suites above the west side grandstands will begin in November. Each suite will receive a full remodel, and new elevators for the suites will also be installed. From there, the focus during the second phase will move into creating a new entrance on the west side of the track, aligning with the new road that was built by the city of Brownsburg, Ind., to lead into the property. The ditch relocation will be part of this phase, as well as several different fan enhancements, including a new ADA parking lot, upgraded parking and transportation options, new and renovated restrooms and food and beverage buildings, an updated ticketing building, and more. With that in place, the third phase will include bringing the Professional pits, the manufacturers midway, and the fan experiences to the west side of the track, which will be paved. Fan parking will also shift to that side of the track, allowing fans easier access to the Pro pits and a more fan-friendly way to enjoy both sides of the track. A road will also be placed at the top end of the track, allowing traffic to both sides of the facility. Racers in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will move to the east side of the pits (where the Professional classes currently are parked), helping better serve all the racers competing at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. “There will be a lot of updates to the fan amenities, either refreshing what we have or introducing new options,” Coler said. “It’s exciting to see what the future holds for this great facility.” Full renderings of the new Wally Parks Tower and upcoming renovations will also be on display at the upcoming 70th annual NHRA U.S. Nationals, which takes place Aug. 28-Sept. 2 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. 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. (Photos Credit: nhra.com )

Press Release | NASCAR Daytona, Florida – July 3, 2024: Today, NASCAR, America’s most popular motorsport, has officially entered the Fortnite ecosystem – announcing its debut with a one-of-a-kind, high-octane racing experience built in Rocket Racing. Developed in partnership with award-winning UK metaverse studio, Karta, the experience launches with a Chicago Street Course map, styled on the real NASCAR Chicago Street Race taking place this Sunday 7th July, merging the thrill of NASCAR racing with the dynamic creativity of the Fortnite ecosystem. With the first Chicago Street Map, players navigate multiple routes, master the art of speed, drift and avoid obstacles in intense multiplayer races or solo time trials. Debuting ahead of the real-life Chicago Street Race, NASCAR’s official launch on Fortnite brings its second annual event in the center of one of the world’s greatest cities, into the Fortnite world. The map gives NASCAR fans, and players of all levels who may have never interacted with the sport, the chance to get closer to the real event than ever before – setting it apart from typical Rocket Racing maps. With this fun experience aimed at gamers of all levels, NASCAR’s move into the Fortnite ecosystem isn’t just a one-time event while the Chicago race takes place. NASCAR is setting its sights on a permanent fixture on the platform, with the Chicago map marking the start of a long-term racing experience for players to continuously visit. Looking ahead at the NASCAR calendar, fans of America’s No. 1 form of motorsports and the Fortnite community can get excited, as NASCAR eyes wider plans to add more virtual recreations on the platform. “NASCAR has always been about pushing boundaries and connecting with fans in exciting ways,” said Nick Rend, Managing Director of Esports & Gaming at NASCAR. “Fortnite provides the perfect platform to engage a global audience, blending the intensity of NASCAR racing with the immersive world of Fortnite. Karta, with their incredible creativity, attention to detail and innovative approach, were the perfect partners to help us bring this vision to life. We wanted to build something with longevity for both diehard NASCAR enthusiasts and the wider Fortnite community and we think we have succeeded with just that.” Erik Londré, CEO of Karta, added, “Working with an icon of motorsports like NASCAR has been a dream come true. Our goal was to capture the essence of NASCAR racing – the speed, the strategy, the adrenaline – and inject it with a dose of Fortnite fun. The result is something truly special – a high-octane, visually stunning racing experience that we know players will love.” Karta is an award-winning metaverse studio renowned for creating engaging virtual gaming experiences for global brands. Karta has established itself as a leader in creating accessible and impactful brand experiences within the metaverse across gaming, music and esports. Since its inception in July 2021, Karta has collaborated with a diverse range of global brands, including Nicki Minaj, BLACKPINK, TWICE, Amazon Music, McDonald’s, Spotify, and Hugo Boss, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the ever-evolving landscape of metaverse entertainment. NASCAR Chicago Street Race is available to play on Fortnite now via the map code 0012-6902-9252. For more information on NASCAR please visit www.NASCAR.com and for Karta, visit www.karta.game.

Press Release | JD MOTORSPORTS Gaffney, NC—Road courses can be some of the most challenging tracks for NASCAR drivers, and the Chicago Street Course is even more difficult than most. That’s why Trans Am Series and ARCA Series regular Thomas Annunziata will once again team up with JD Motorsports for an exciting NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and this time they’re headed to the windy city. The New Jersey native driver is pursuing a full-time career in the upper echelons of NASCAR, and he’ll be getting another taste of it behind the wheel of the Opti-Coat No. 6 Chevy Camaro for the second annual The Loop 110 this Saturday. The 19-year-old Italian-American may have gotten a late start in racing compared to many other drivers, but he’s impressed many around the garage even in his short time in the sport. “We’ve heard the buzz around Thomas and we’ve seen it up close for ourselves,” said team owner Johnny Davis. “He’s got a very unconventional story, and I’m excited to help him write this chapter.” To make this all happen, Annunziata and JD Motorsports have partnered with Opti-Coat Ceramic Coating, The Daily Downforce’s YouTube channel, Chicago Food Guide, America’s Vet Dogs and BOOSTane to send him to Chicago with a sleek finish and a fresh style. “Opti-Coat and the other partners really have delivered me a slick-looking car,” said Annunziata. “I love the Daily Downforce YouTube videos, and they’re even bringing along some of their friends to join me. So Chicago is going to be a blast.” The Chicago Food Guide, one of the windy city’s most popular food content creators, is excited to put its mark on a race car as well. “Thomas and Johnny are bringing this incredible NASCAR show to Chicago,” said Amin Tomalieh of the Chicago Food Guide, “and I’ll be with them to make sure Chicago delivers them some incredible food.” Tune in to watch the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street Course on Saturday, July 6, at 2:30 p.m. The race will be broadcast on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90). (Photo Credit: teamjdmotorsports.com)