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Press Release | THORSPORT RACING SANDUSKY, OHIO (July 3, 2024) – ThorSport Racing announces Luke Fenhaus’s return to the NASCAR Truck Series, driving the No. 66 Soda Sense Ford F-150, with Crew Chief Josh Hankish. Fenhaus is set to compete in the CRC Brakleen 175 at Pocono Raceway on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 5:30 PM ET. His third outing will be at the TSPORT 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 8:30 PM ET. “Excited to reunite with the No. 66 team at ThorSport Racing for Pocono and race in the TSPORT 200 at IRP. I’m looking forward to partnering with Soda Sense, Dunrite Exteriors, and ICS on our Ford Performance F-150 at the CRC Brakleen 175. I’m always eager to keep learning and improving. Looking to achieve a top-ten finish at Pocono and IRP,” says Fenhaus. (Photo Credit: thorsport.com )

Press Release | SS-GREENLIGHT RACING MOORESVILLE, NC, July 3, 2024 – NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Alex Labbe announced he will compete in this Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 at Chicago Street Race. Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Flood Brothers Disposal Co. will join Labbe as the primary marketing partner on the No. 07 Chevrolet Camaro of SS-GreenLight Racing. "We are thrilled to partner with Alex Labbe for the NASCAR Xfinity Series street race in Chicago this weekend. As a local, five-generation family-owned and operated waste and recycling company, we understand the importance of dedication, hard work, community support, and above all, teamwork—values that Alex embodies on and off the track,” said Kevin Flood, CEO of Flood Brothers Disposal Co.” “This sponsorship is not only an exciting opportunity for Flood Brothers Disposal but also a way to engage with our community and promote our commitment to sustainability and excellence. We look forward to a thrilling race and are proud to support Alex and his team in their pursuit of victory." Flood Brothers Disposal Co. is a fifth-generation, family-owned, and operated waste and recycling provider proudly serving the Chicagoland area. With over a century of commitment to our community, they deliver exceptional waste management solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Their comprehensive services include residential, commercial, and industrial waste disposal, along with innovative recycling programs designed to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. Rooted in their family's legacy of integrity, reliability, and customer-centric service, Flood Brothers Disposal Co. combines modern technology with traditional values to ensure efficient, eco-friendly waste management. Their dedicated team works tirelessly to maintain the highest standards of service, fostering long-lasting relationships with the communities they serve. Choose Flood Brothers Disposal Co. for dependable, responsible waste and recycling solutions backed by generations of experience and a genuine passion for keeping Chicagoland clean and green. “I’m looking forward to returning to the Chicago Street Race. It is a really fun course racing through downtown Chicago,” said Labbe. “I’m thrilled to represent Flood Brothers Disposal this weekend. They are such an innovative company with a long history of service in the greater Chicago area.” The Loop 110 (50 laps | 110 miles) is the 18th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2024 schedule. Practice begins on Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 9:00 – 9:50 a.m. Qualifying immediately follows at 10:00 a.m. The field is set to take the green flag later in the day shortly after 2:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. ET) with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (Central). For more information on Alex Labbe, visit https://alexlabberacing.com/  or follow him on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/AlexLabbe36 ), X ( https://twitter.com/AlexLabbe36 ) or Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/alexlabbe36 ). (Photo Credit: snowbeltmgmt.com )

Press Release | NHRA In a bold move designed to put his R+L Carriers team on a path to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Top Fuel championship, Josh Hart has announced the hiring of veteran crew chief John Stewart to assist Ron Douglas on the R+L Carriers dragster. The team, which has won twice in the tough Top Fuel division, also announced they have scheduled a comprehensive test session prior to the upcoming NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. “John is a welcome addition to our team, and this move is something that both Ron and I talked about and feel is needed to get our R+L Carriers team on track for the Top Fuel world championship,” said Hart. “We are going to test prior to heading to Seattle so we can make the most of the final four regular season races prior to the start of the Countdown [to the Championship]. Competing at this level with so many intricacies involved in the modern-day Top Fuel dragster, every team has two top-tier crew chiefs or tuners with years of experience in the pits, [so] this is just what we need to be as competitive as possible.” Stewart has more than five decades of experience tuning nitro Funny Cars and Top Fuel dragsters, working for some of the biggest names in the sport, including Darrell Gwynn, Don Prudhomme, Joe Amato, Shawn Langdon, and Dick LaHaie. One of Stewart’s principal strengths is his understanding of the dynamics of the intricate clutch system so critical in transforming power into performance. The R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be testing and then heading to Pacific Raceways for the NHRA Northwest Nationals, July 19-21. (Photo Credit: nhra.com )

Press Release | WOOD BROTHERS RACING Wood Brothers Racing announced that Josh Berry will drive the No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2025. The team held a press conference earlier today and answered questions from the media about the move. JON WOOD, President, Wood Brothers Racing – WHAT WENT INTO THE DECISION TO HIRE JOSH?  “I think Josh was the obvious choice. We had to look at Chase (Briscoe) first with the relationship that we had with Ford and he had with Ford, but when it was obvious that wasn’t gonna work out, Josh was by far and away the top prospect. He being a Ford driver works, but his results speak for themselves aside from that. We’re just happy it worked out.”   JOSH BERRY, Driver, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT DOES THIS OPPORTUNITY MEAN TO YOU TO BE WITH SUCH AN ICONIC TEAM?  “First and foremost just the history, the heritage, the family atmosphere that the Wood Brothers provide. It just really feels like a great fit for me. I feel like I fit their brand and who they are and how I’ve gotten here and how they’ve gotten here. I feel like this is a great fit. I’ve really enjoyed my relationship with Ford and to continue that on was something that’s important to me and I appreciate and I’m thankful to have that opportunity. It just really means a lot to drive an iconic car like the 21. I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me. I feel ready to provide results and I think that, all in all, it’s gonna be a great relationship.”   EDDIE WOOD, Chief Executive Officer, Wood Brothers Racing – THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS DECISION. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MADE YOU LAND ON JOSH?  “Basically, like Jon said, we had to talk to Chase first because he had a relationship with Ford Motor Company, Ford Performance, through the development series that went back a number of years. So, that didn’t seem like that was gonna work out. He already had an offer when the got there, but we had Josh in the back of our mind anyway and when everything unfolded like it did, we were just really excited to get to talk to Josh and we didn’t waste any time doing it. I think we met the Monday after Sonoma, which was right away, and it was a real easy process. We’re just happy that he’s with us.”   LEN WOOD, Chief Operating Officer, Wood Brothers Racing – WHAT QUALITIES HAVE YOU SEEN IN JOSH THAT MAKE HIM A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?  “We started hearing Josh’s name like, who won Hickory? Josh Berry. Who won Tri-County? Josh Berry. That kind of stuck in the back of our head from years ago. I think when he came in and drove for Chase Elliott when he had his leg problem, he did really well. He adapted quickly. I think it was Darlington where he didn’t have a good qualifying lap and started in the back, but he finished third. That kind of catches your eye. And then the last few weeks he’s been pretty much up front at the end of each race, so that’s what we’re looking for.”   JON WOOD CONTINUED – “When he substituted for Hendrick that was pretty eye-opening. I mean, he can tell you, but I can’t. These cars are monsters and to have no experience in a Next Gen car or a Cup car and to hop in that thing and go like he did at different types of tracks, I mean, it gave every one of us pause and you don’t really know it at the time. It’s not something that you’re aware of. You’re not like, ‘Well, this might be our next driver,’ but you still remember it and it stood out.”   QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION:   JON WOOD CONTINUED – CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CREW CHIEF JOSH WILL BE PAIRED WITH?  “We’re stunned that that’s a question first and foremost (laughter). The crew chief part hasn’t been worked out yet. There’s a lot of good people at Team Penske. We have a really good team now and that’s just not something that we’ve really addressed.”   JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – TO LAND WITH A TEAM THAT HAS SO MUCH HISTORY AS THE WOOD BROTHERS, HOW CAN YOU SUM UP WHAT THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN LIKE?  “It’s definitely been a whirlwind from going – 2020 was the weekly series national champion on the NASCAR side of things, late model racing full-time and really didn’t believe that opportunities outside of that were coming my way, and I’ve just been very thankful and very fortunate to have a lot of great people behind me that have given me opportunities, but also opportunities that have provided results and allowed me to continue on this path. It’s been a lot going on the last few years. I’m really thankful for Dale and Kelly, LW, everybody at Junior Motorsports. I called Tony last night. Tony was super excited for this. He spoke so highly of the Wood Brothers and the people that they are and they feel like this is a great fit for me and I’m thankful for Tony and Gene and the opportunity that I had at Stewart-Haas Racing. That landed me here and now I have a new opportunity ahead of me for next year, which I’m really excited for. I think it’s a great fit for me. I have a great opportunity to come in here and help be a part of getting them back to running where they want to run and where they expect to run and I have the same expectations. I feel like between everyone here at the Wood Brothers, between the affiliation at Team Penske and Ford, I think we have the pieces in place to be competitive, and I think where I’m at with the Next Gen car we’ll be able to hit the ground running.”   WHAT IS IT THAT IS GOING TO CARRY THIS ORGANIZATION FORWARD BEYOND WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS?  “From my side of things, I feel like they’re getting somebody that’s not gonna quit. I’ve worked way too hard at this and done it for so long that you can’t beat somebody that gives up and I’ve had to grind it out for years to get to this point, and I feel like I’ve proven myself over and over again, and I feel like I’m ready for this challenge next.”   JON WOOD CONTINUED – WHAT DO YOU FEEL THE TEAM HAS BEEN MISSING THE LAST FEW YEARS?  “We need to be better. There’s no secret in that. This is a business that’s based on chemistry and it’s a sport that’s based on results and, right now, we’re just not having those results. If Harrison shares some of the responsibility, if it’s on us, we’re not pointing fingers. We’re not here to say this one is at fault or that one is at fault, we’re just not where we need to be. Finding that right chemistry and balance to have those results in performance, that’s what we’re looking for.”   EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED – “Like what Jon said, a race team is not unlike a football team or a baseball team, probably more like a football team. You can have the greatest people in the world and it not work. You can’t really figure out why. I used to make fun of people when they would say, ‘Well, the chemistry is not working. You need this and that.’ I believe that now, especially with this race car. This race car is so different from what we grew up with and worked and raced all our life. It’s just so different. We used to go to Talladega and Daytona four times during the winter just to get ready for the 500. You would be there four days each to gain one-tenth, and you felt like you had done something if you did that. Then you’d go home and cut the body off and do all that. Now, it’s like you race speedways every week. Road courses, short tracks, everything matters. Everything on the cars matter. Where you are. Your track position, pit crews, the tiniest thing matters and there’s no leeway. You used to have a little bit of a cushion. If you got a little bit behind you could make it up in the pits or sometimes change two tires versus four. There was always a way, but now you’ve got to do it all right all day long and when things aren’t working and, like I said, we’ve struggled. We can’t figure it out, either. It’s really hard.”   JON WOOD CONTINUED – “The cars are just so equal.”   EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED – “And then that. It’s just hard. People get with other people and it clicks and you don’t know why, but if you’re one of the fortunate ones when you get together with a group and it clicks, you don’t ask why, you don’t care. It’s just a really hard sport right now.”   JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE RANGE OF EMOTIONS YOU’VE GONE THROUGH THIS YEAR?  “I think we’ve been through this for a decade. She’s been with me through late model racing all the way up to this change in our lives, but, really, the message throughout all that was really simple and that was to go out on the track and perform the best we can. I mentioned this a month ago, but it brought me back to a conversation I had with Dale Jr. last year when I was at Hendrick. He called me almost every week and talked me through all of my emotions and what I was dealing with at that time. He’s like, ‘Man, you’re at your best when your back is up against the wall and you have to go out and perform. That’s what makes you, you.’ I thought back to that this year with everything going on and obviously Stewart-Haas going away, that just provided us an opportunity to go out and perform. That was the only option, really. The emotions of it, yeah, it’s difficult sometimes, but we’ve raced together and we’ve always focused on performing, whether we’re at Hickory or Martinsville or Charlotte. That’s what ultimately my character and what I bring to the race team and being able to keep these opportunities and get these opportunities is what got me here, but also performing on the racetrack. So the main focus all the time was to do everything we could to do that and I think over the last couple of months I thought we did a good job of doing that.”   HOW MUCH CAN A DRIVER MAKE A DIFFERENCE?  “From my side of things it’s gonna be a new challenge. I know that we spoke early on the Rodney piece. Rodney and I have had a great relationship for sure, but this opportunity came about and they came to me and said, ‘Hey, we want to get you signed up first. We want to get our driver that we want and then we’re gonna go to work with you and whoever else that we’re gonna meet with, whether that’s at Team Penske or wherever and try to iron this out and figure out what’s the best fit. What I have learned this year is, and I think they spoke on it, how important the culture is and the fit and the belief between the driver and the crew chief and the ownership and the management and the team. That’s what I’ve learned the most about this year is how important that is and that’s just another layer, to me, that I’ve learned to appreciate and understand, and I think now we’re gonna attack this together and go through and make whatever changes or no changes that we feel we need to make to give me what I need and give us what we need to go be competitive. Really, that’s the extent of it, but everyone was very clear to me that they wanted to get this part first. They wanted my commitment first before they went to building around me and I appreciated that and understood it.”   JON WOOD CONTINUED – “I think when you plug a driver into a new team, it seems this car the results change faster than any other prior car. You look at Justin Haley. I mean, who would have imagined that? I’m not really wanting to give him credit for it, but Hocevar (laughing). It’s the same thing. You can use your own judgment in how you feel about this, and if I’m right or wrong, but just those two changes they started having results and it gets back to the chemistry thing. It’s not that it’s the driver’s fault that it’s not working out. It just seems like a driver can make a change with this car quicker.”   EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED – “To add to that, can anybody in this room explain dirty air? I mean, you’ve got a car and this is just kind of off subject, but let’s say you’re running 25th and you can’t even see the car in front of you, you don’t pick up, but the leader if he’s in that spot, he’s half a second or three quarters of a second faster than you. I’ve never understood that in my whole life, but to answer the question, we’ve had all different ages of drivers. We had Bill Elliott and he was over 50 and all of that worked. It gets back to what Jon and Josh said, it’s about chemistry.”   JON WOOD CONTINUED – HOW HAS YOUR NEW ROLE GONE?   “I don’t really see that my role has changed that much. The way that our family runs this business is we all just pull together and address whatever issue or whatever task needs to be handled. We never really worried about titles. It never really mattered. Now, I feel like today’s NASCAR is a little different. It kind of calls for those titles and names, but outside on paper that doesn’t really mean anything. We all do what needs to be done and we all just get along and get it done. I don’t really have any other way of explaining it.”   WHAT DO YOU SEE THE WOOD BROTHERS ROLE IN NASCAR GOING FORWARD?  “Well, if you would have asked me 10 years ago would we be sitting here in this position I would have felt like I would have been watching it from home. We’ve had so many close calls, so many opportunities that other teams did and would have failed, and somehow we made it through. Whether that’s making a right decision or whether that’s relationships, being good people. Them being good people (Eddie and Len). I’m questionable (laughing). I don’t know what did it, but to make it 74 coming up on 75 years you had to have done something right. A lot of people a lot of times question the decisions we make. That makes it tough to be on Twitter and Facebook anymore, but they give us a hard time at times and you kind of have to take that and brush it off because the mindset and the decisions that they make in the end seem to be right, so I just trust them in their judgment and try to do right.”   JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN CONTINUE THIS SOLID RUN AT SHR TO FINISH OUT THE SEASON?  “Yeah, I feel like we can continue that. We have a great group over there and they’re all really motivated to continue to get better like we have throughout the season. It’s gonna get harder and harder as we probably lost people here or there. It’s definitely gonna get more and more difficult as the distractions get more, but, all in all, we have a great group. I think our cars have been running well and I see no reason to think that the wheels are gonna fall off the wagon, so to speak. I feel like we can keep doing what we’re doing. I’m not gonna let us fail, just like Rodney said. I’m gonna do everything I can to keep that deal going as strong as we can week in and week out. I owe it to those guys for the opportunity that they gave me and for how they believed in me and I’m fully committed to continuing to battle all the way to Phoenix.”   IS IT FAIR TO SAY THE LEAST STRESSFUL PART OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE IS DRIVING RACE CARS THESE LAST FEW YEARS?  “I don’t know. I don’t really feel like I carry a lot of stress throughout this whole process. Four years ago I was racing late models, building late models, driving my truck and trailer to the racetrack racing with my buddies and winning all over the southeast. Getting an opportunity to go drive in the Xfinity Series and now the Cup Series, I’m still really grateful to be here and have this opportunity. I enjoy doing this and I think back to who I was five years ago and to tell that person that I would be sitting here with Len and Eddie Wood and Jon and getting ready to go drive the 21 car I wouldn’t believe it, just like I wouldn’t have believed that I was replacing Kevin Harvick. At this point I feel like anything is possible and I feel like my resume even outside the race car has helped me tremendously and in the race car as well, and I just feel like even through all this I felt like if we just went out and performed, everything would take care of itself. Obviously, I have a ton of great supporters with Josh Jones and Kevin Harvick at KHI Management and everything we’ve worked through I felt confident that if I just went and did my job, that things would work out and thankfully they did.”   DO YOU FEEL WORKING WITH DIFFERENT CREW CHIEFS AS A FILL-IN DRIVER LAST YEAR WILL HELP YOU ADAPT TO WHOMEVER YOU WORK WITH NEXT YEAR?  “I think I’ve grown tremendously in that area. Working with several different guys, I think I have a much clearer picture. When I first sat in and got in an Xfinity car I didn’t really have a clear picture on what I needed as a driver or what I wanted necessarily. I was kind of just happy to be there in a way, and now after working with several different guys I think I have a clearer picture of what I’m looking for and I think that will help us through the process. Like I said earlier, we’re gonna work together through this and find the right fit. Everybody is gonna have a fair opportunity at figuring out what we want to do, but I feel like I have a good understanding and I think that should help the process too.”   WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS ABOUT YOUR PERFORMANCE DURING YOUR ROOKIE SEASON THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO LAND THIS RIDE WITH A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME TO SHOW WHAT YOU CAN DO?  “I think it goes back to even last year with the opportunities at HMS, working through that and a couple different cars, and then this period I still, even though we’ve had some bumps in the road and things I wish I could do over or mistakes that I’ve made, I mean, we’re outside the playoffs but we’re on the grid. We’re in the picture, which is cool and I think we can win a race. I think that says a lot for a rookie in this series. We’ve been in contention the last few weeks and I think we have some good tracks coming up that if we do the right things and execute, we could find ourselves in that position again.”

(Photo Courtesy NHRA) By Peyton Lohr In just two short months, we will be blessed again with the privilege to watch the NHRA U.S. Nationals. This year, it is the 70th anniversary of “The Big Go” as it is affectionately called. For a race that spans seven decades, we should take a look back into the history, the legacy, and of course, some notable moments thus far.  The NHRA was originally founded by Wally Parks in 1951. However, four years later, with a desire to promote drag racing as a legitimate sport, and to have it in a safe and controlled environment, the U.S. Nationals (known only then as the Nationals) were born. The event was initially held at the Municipal Airport in Great Bend, Kansas. That first year, a rainstorm came through, and the final three rounds had to be held in Phoenix a few weeks later. In Phoenix, Calvin Rice beat Fritz Voight by running a 10.30 at 141.95 mph.  In 1958, the event was moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and took place at the State Fairgrounds. It was only there for a year, and in 1959 it moved to the Detroit Dragway, in Detroit, Michigan where it stayed for two years.  In 1961, the U.S. Nationals finally established a home. The event was moved to Indianapolis Raceway Park (now Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park) in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has remained there ever since. This location provided a stable venue for the U.S. Nationals and allowed it to grow into the annual spectacle it is today.  Since the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911, Indianapolis has had a rich history of auto racing, and this helped drag racing flourish. It was an ideal location, and the track’s facilities and infrastructure helped accommodate the growing needs of the event. In the 1960s, the competition was fierce, and this attracted drag racing enthusiasts to this premier event year after year. It also gained significant media coverage during this time, and became a must-attend event. In the 1970s, the U.S. Nationals continued to grow in size and stature. More fans attended the event, and the competition included a wider range of classes and categories. There were more technological advances, leading to faster speeds, and also more safety protocols to protect both the drivers and spectators.  During the 1980s and the 1990s, the U.S. Nationals became known for its dramatic finishes and high-stakes racing, further solidifying its status as a premier event. The U.S. Nationals continued to expand its schedule to include more classes and events. New additions like the "Hemi Challenge" and "Big Bud Shootout" attracted a wider range of participants and fans. In addition to this, the event became a week-long festival, featuring car shows, concerts, and interactive displays, making it a celebration of automotive culture.  When the 2000s rolled around, the NHRA was very focused on track preparation and safety, there were significant improvements made in those areas as this race attracted the top racers from around the world. In 2007, the NHRA introduced the “Countdown to the Championship” format, which added a new, exciting layer to the U.S. Nationals. It made this race a critical turning point for competitors, and it often determined championship contenders. The U.S. Nationals remains the highlight of the NHRA calendar as the event continues to attract the best racers in the world and offers a platform for new talents to emerge. Categories like Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle see intense competition, with racers pushing the limits of speed and performance.  NOTABLE MOMENTS 1958: The U.S. Nationals in Oklahoma City was the first drag racing event to be televised nationally, bringing the sport to a broader audience and increasing its popularity significantly. 1960: The introduction of the Stock Eliminator class brought attention to factory-produced cars, allowing everyday fans to compete.  1963: "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, one of the most famous names in drag racing, made his U.S. Nationals debut. Garlits' innovative contributions to the sport, such as the rear-engine dragster, revolutionized drag racing safety and performance. 1965: Don Prudhomme won his first U.S. Nationals in the Top Fuel category, marking the beginning of a legendary career. Prudhomme would go on to become one of the most famous and successful drag racers in history. 1970: Ed "The Ace" McCulloch made history by running the first 6-second pass in a Funny Car at the U.S. Nationals. This performance marked a significant milestone in the evolution of Funny Car speeds and technology. 1970: The Pro Stock category was introduced at the U.S. Nationals. This class, featuring heavily modified factory cars, became a fan favorite and a staple of NHRA competition. 1982: Shirley Muldowney became the first woman to win the U.S. Nationals in the Top Fuel category. Her victory was a significant milestone for women in motorsports and helped pave the way for future female racers. 1992: Kenny Bernstein broke the 300 mph barrier at the U.S. Nationals, becoming the first driver to exceed this speed in a Top Fuel dragster. This achievement marked a new era of speed in drag racing. 1996: Angelle Sampey became the first woman to win a Pro Stock Motorcycle race at the U.S. Nationals. 2000: John Force became the first Funny Car driver to run a 4-second pass at the U.S. Nationals. 2003: Tony Schumacher set a record with a 336.15 mph run, showcasing the incredible speeds achieved in modern drag racing. Schumacher’s performance highlighted the advancements in drag racing technology and the evolution of the sport. 2012: Antron Brown became the first African-American driver to win the Top Fuel category at the U.S. Nationals. Brown's victory was a significant moment in the sport's history, promoting diversity and inclusion in drag racing. 2020: The 2020 U.S. Nationals faced many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, the event was held with health and safety protocols in place, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of the NHRA and the drag racing community. The NHRA U.S. Nationals is more than just a race; it's a celebration of drag racing culture. It honors the sport's history while pushing the boundaries of speed and performance. The event is a testament to the passion and dedication of racers, teams, and fans who have made drag racing one of the most thrilling motorsports in the world. The 70th NHRA U.S. Nationals are due to take place at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park August 28 - September 2, 2024.

Press Release | HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY MIAMI, Fla. (July 2, 2024) – Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced long-time sports and entertainment media executive Guillermo Santa Cruz has been named the new president of the South Florida motorsports facility. Santa Cruz brings extensive experience in live event production, sales, and business development in the U.S. and Hispanic media markets to the position.   Santa Cruz joins the Homestead-Miami Speedway team after spending more than 10 years at IMG, a leading global sports agency, where he served as Vice President, Latin America, Mexico and US Hispanic. In that role he managed sales, business development, and client relations – with a heavy focus in sports and entertainment programming – across the entire region of Latin America for IMG.   During that time, he represented and negotiated media rights for several highly sought-after sports properties, including Major League Soccer, Concacaf World Qualifiers, WWE, and Roland Garros (French Open).   “Guillermo’s vast experience in the competitive media market will help grow Homestead-Miami Speedway into its next phase as one of the preeminent motorsports facilities,” said Chip Wile, Senior Vice President and Chief Track Properties Officer at NASCAR. “He has a diverse background in sales, production, and promotion in a key market for HMS and will offer unique opportunities for the team to expand the track’s influence.”   Prior to his work at IMG, Santa Cruz spent over a decade at Telemundo, including time as the executive producer of Olympics, and Vice President, Special Events/News & Sports. He began his career in sports media at Univision Network, where he was the lead producer of two FIFA World Cup events.   Santa Cruz’ leading role on the 2004 Olympics won him a Sports Emmy Award during his time with NBC/Telemundo, and his contribution to coverage of the events surrounding September 11, 2001, earned a special citation from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In 1996, Santa Cruz was also part of the Univision team that collected an Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast following its coverage of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta.   Santa Cruz’ ties to the greater Miami area are lifelong. The son of Cuban exiles, Santa Cruz was born in Puerto Rico and his family moved to Miami as he started middle school. He has called the area home ever since. Staying in Florida for college, Santa Cruz is a graduate of Florida State University. He currently lives in Miami with his wife and two college-age children.   “ It’s an exciting time to be a sports fan in South Florida, and having grown up here, and spending nearly my entire life working in sports, it’s a great honor to join the NASCAR family and be handed the keys to Homestead-Miami Speedway ,” said Santa Cruz. “ I believe in the future of Homestead, both the city and the track, and I can’t wait to get started. ”   Santa Cruz takes over for long-time Homestead-Miami Speedway executive Al Garcia, who has served as the president since 2019. Garcia will remain with the track in a consultant position.   “Al has been a key part of Homestead-Miami Speedway literally since its inception in 1995,” said Wile. “We’re grateful for everything he has done to make HMS a premier sports facility in South Florida and look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.”   The NASCAR Playoffs race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, October 26. The day kicks off with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The NASCAR Cup Series will cap off the weekend’s action on Sunday, October 27.    Tickets are available for purchase via phone at 866-409-7223 or online at www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com . Fans can stay connected to Homestead-Miami Speedway on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter .    (Photo credit: Homestead-Miami Speedway)

(Photo Credit: teamjdmotorsports.com) Press Release | JD MOTORSPORTS Itasca, IL - Race fans are ready for some “serious satisfaction” in Chicago. JD Motorsports proudly announces that Crav’n Flavor will team up with veteran driver Ty Dillon for The Loop 110 Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 6. Ty will jump behind the wheel of the No. 4 Crav’n Flavor Chevrolet for the second annual NASCAR Xfinity Series street race through the Windy City. Crav’n Flavor is one of the leading brands across several food categories, from frozen entrees and pizzas to sweets and savory snacks, and fans have likely seen them in their local grocery stores like Food City, Hy-Vee, Piggly Wiggly, and several other independent retailers throughout the country. The Chicago Street Race will mark their first official foray into the sport of NASCAR, and driver Ty Dillon couldn’t be happier to help introduce them to the excitement of racing. “It’s great to have new faces like Crav’n Flavor in the sport,” says Dillon on the partnership. “I’m proud to welcome them into NASCAR. I can’t wait to highlight the brand for shoppers across the country. I’m thankful to Johnny Davis for letting me be the one to introduce Crav’n Flavor to NASCAR fans.” The No. 4 Crav’n Flavor Chevrolet features a bold orange and black paint scheme to match the bold flavors of the signature Crav’n Flavor line of snacks. The brand is excited for their street race debut in one of the most talked-about NASCAR events of the year. “We are excited to bring some serious snacking to the NASCAR Chicago Street Race with Crav’n Flavor,” said Kevin Stafford, Vice President of Marketing for K-VA-T Food Stores and Topco member. “We are thrilled to partner with Ty Dillon and his team, and we know our Crav’n Flavor shoppers will be ready to cheer him on this weekend!” For fans at home, Crav’n Flavor offers a huge selection of race day snacks, ranging from crackers like Crav’n Flavor Cheese Crisps, their signature line of Crav’n Flavor kettle cooked chips, and sweet treats like their Crav’n Flavor fudgy covered cookies, all of which are available at local grocery stores. Fans can head to CravnFlavor.com to find their local stores and stock up for the perfect race day watch party. 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: amracingteam.com) Press Release | AM RACING STATESVILLE, N.C.: AM Racing confirmed today that Ford Performance driver Joey Logano will drive the No. 15 AM Racing Ford Mustang for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street Race on Saturday, July 6. Logano, Sunday’s winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 race at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway will fill in for Hailie Deegan, who has piloted the team’s Ford Mustang in the first 17 Xfinity races of the season. After a rough start to the first half of the Xfinity Series season, the team is looking to channel the two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and Sunday’s winner at Nashville Superspeedway to help provide feedback that the team can use to improve on-track competition as the sport heads into the second half of the season. “The level of competition in the Xfinity Series is as competitive as it’s ever been,” commented AM Racing team president Wade Moore. “It is our goal at AM Racing to field a competitive race team through our technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing and provide any of our drivers the best equipment and opportunity to be successful on track each weekend.” “With that being said, we haven’t had the success on track that we were hoping for in the first half of the season. When the opportunity to have Joey in the car at Chicago became a possibility, we felt we needed to take advantage of the knowledge and feedback that a two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion could provide to our teams’ growth.” Added Moore, “We intend to take the feedback and data from the Chicago race weekend and apply it to building better race cars each week so AM Racing can have a stronger second half of the season.” Team partner Klutch Vodka will support Logano’s return to Xfinity Series competition in the second-annual Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course. “We support AM Racing and we’re happy to have Joey Logano behind the wheel of the No. 15 Klutch Vodka Ford Mustang at the Chicago Street Course,” offered Klutch Vodka CEO Anthony S. Quattrochi and his Co-Founder, fiancé Brandy Wong. “His experience and talent will be a great asset to the AM Racing team this weekend and no doubt will present the opportunity to introduce the Klutch Vodka brand to new race fans as well.” Logano, a native of Middletown, Connecticut, has delivered many achievements in the Xfinity Series, including 36 poles, 30 wins, 95 top-five and 143 top-10 finishes. The Team Penske driver did not compete in the inaugural Xfinity Series race last year in Chicago; however, he finished eighth in the first-ever Cup Series Street Course event. AM Racing at the Chicago Street Course, with driver Brett Moffitt, captured a Xfinity team-best of fourth after starting seventh in the 2023 The Loop 121. “Racing in the rain on Chicago’s Street Course last year was a challenge within itself. Any extra seat time is always a positive for unique tracks such as this one. Driving the NASCAR Xfinity Series cars are a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to climbing behind the wheel of the No. 15 AM Racing Ford Mustang, with high hopes to wheel it to the front.” The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Race is scheduled for Saturday, July 6th, at 3:30 p.m. Fans can tune in to NBC to see all the action from the Windy City.

(Photo Credit: Twitter.com/Team_SHR26) Press Release | SAM HUNT RACING MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 1, 2024) – Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announces today that ColtureSports, a rapidly growing multi-media ecosystem of agencies, will join Sam Hunt Racing asa primary partner for the Chicago Loop 110 on Saturday, July 6 with road course ace SageKaram behind the wheel. Colture Sports, serves as the sports management company with a diverse roster acrossbasketball and football under the COLTURE Holdings umbrella, an investmentmanagement company that focuses on entertainment, music, technology and sportsassets. Under Ty Baisden and Jayne Andrew’s leadership, COLTURE has achievedremarkable success, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in the independent musicscene. Their innovative strategies and dedication to artist development have beeninstrumental in Brent Faiyaz’s meteoric rise. This comprehensive strategy underscoresBaisden’s innovative vision and dedication to fostering a diverse and successful businessecosystem within NASCAR. “Colture Sports is thrilled to announce our new partnership with Sam Hunt Racing. Thissponsorship represents a significant step in our commitment to supporting dynamic andcompetitive sports teams,” said Colture Sports Founder & CEO Ty Baisden. “Colture Sportsand Sam Hunt Racing share a passion for excellence, innovation, and communityengagement. This collaboration is a natural fit for both our brands. Diversity is at the heartof Colture Sports and we believe that embracing different perspectives and backgroundsfosters creativity and drives success. Each year we hope to continue to collaborate tofurther raise the bar and deliver a diverse and thrilling fan experience.” Through its partnership with Sam Hunt Racing, Colture Sports aims to break down barriersand create opportunities for drivers from diverse backgrounds to excel, contributing to theevolving landscape of NASCAR. By leveraging the creative vision that propelled COLTURE’ssuccess in the music industry, Colture Sports and Sam Hunt Racing are dedicated tomaking NASCAR more inclusive and reflective of its diverse fan base. “A primary goal within my role is to help my teammates succeed as humans, and use ourplatform to reach new places, cultures, and athletes outside of motorsport,” said SamHunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing. “To partner with Colture Sports for the Chicago StreetRace, a forward-thinking brand that genuinely believes in providing a positive culture fortheir talent that goes far beyond support within their respective sport – is something we arenot only excited about, but truly believe in. Ty [Baisden] is building a positive movement forthe future, and we are ready to bring Colture Sports into the forefront of the NASCARspace.” Sage Karam will return to the streets of Chicago for the Chicago Loop 110 to pilot the No.26 Colture Sports GR Supra. In the inaugural Chicago Street Race event in 2023, Karamqualified 11th out of a full field of 38. The 110-lap event, which takes place in the Grant Parkfootprint, will mark Karam’s 30th career NXS start and fifth start with Sam Hunt Racing. In 2023, Karam made his SHR debut in the No. 24 entry at Road America. It was a careerbestweekend for Karam, as the multi-time Indy 500 starter earned his career-best startingposition (sixth) and his career-best finish (fourth) after battling for the win in the closing laps.Karam’s efforts also marked SHR’s best starting position [at the time] and established a newteam-best finish on a road course. In the inaugural Chicago Street Race event, Sam Hunt Racing entered two cars, bringinghome 10th and 16th-place finishes. The Chicago Loop 110 in Chicago, Illinois will take place on Saturday, July 6 at 3:30PM ET.Viewers and listeners can tune in to NBC, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCARChannel 90.

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) By Logan Morris The pomp and circumstance were evident entering the final day of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. The intensity was noticeably ramped up, and spirits in the grandstands were high after a positive update on the legendary John Force , who continues to recover from injuries sustained in his crash at the Virginia Nationals. Bob Tasca III defeated three-time Funny Car champion Ron Capps in the final round of the day to win the Wally thanks to a 3.908 run at 330.47 mph using skills he learned from John Force. Tasca admitted that every win is special but this one meant more. (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) “You don't realize how hard it is to win. Definitely, it's harder than anyone gives it credit for. There are a thousand things out of your control that have to go your way too, and if one goes wrong, you lose. So all of these wins are hard and special but this weekend, you know, for me, to be able to stand in front of that camera and talk to Force and his family, which I know they'll be watching, meant everything to me.”  Points leader Austin Prock was defeated in the Semi-Finals by Tasca in what was an emotional weekend for the John Force Racing driver, who served as the team’s only entry in Norwalk.   (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) In Top Fuel, Antron Brown got his 60th career win by eclipsing points leader Doug Kalitta, who had shown his prowess all weekend by coming into Sunday as the No. 1 qualifier. Brown’s run of 3.736 seconds at 334.65 mph dashed Kalitta’s Wally hopes. I had a chance to ask the three-time world champion if he ever feels the pressure of just how competitive Top Fuel is these days. (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) “No, to be honest with you, our team likes pressure. I don't know if you ever looked at our stats, close into who we race. We always win like this, many-time world champions, this many time world champions, or Brittany Force, or Doug Kalitta, and we have to do that to win the race. But the thing about that for our team is, this class has always been very intense and I don't know what it is. Whoever we race, they run their best ET (elapsed time) and cut their best light against our team. We don't get the guy that cuts like a 200, like we never get that. We get a guy that cuts a 20 light against us. They never cut 20s. But that's the nature of our sport where they bring their A+ level game." In Pro Stock, Aaron Stanfield won his second consecutive race by defeating points leader Dallas Glenn with a run of 6.539 at 208.91 mph.  As the NHRA comes up on a few weeks off, Stanfield is planning to stay focused and not get too caught up in the time off. (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) “I’m going to go home and make sure our equipment is in tip-top shape. I’m going to keep my head on straight and we need to keep going and keep doing what we’ve been doing.”  In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera won his astounding 11th consecutive NHRA Wally by defeating Matt Smith thanks to a 6.539 run at 208:91 mph. Despite some lacklustre runs over the weekend, Herrera’s confidence never wavered.  (Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh) “At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what you do on Friday and Saturday. Once I saw what the weather was going to do, I was actually very excited. My bike drives really good in that weather. The main focus is always on Sunday. I always want the Wally and I definitely wanted the ice cream scoop.” Sunday’s round-one eliminations kicked off with a couple of stunners. Perhaps most notably of all, the man with the most wins in Pro Stock, Greg Anderson squared the tires at the hit and was bested by Ohio native Larry Morgan. Pro Stock had its one and two qualifiers not advance out of round one for the first time since 2012. The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action July 19-21 with the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle.

Press Release | SCRAPPERS RACING NORWALK, Ohio (June 30, 2024) - It was a banner weekend full of milestone moments for the Scrappers Racing teams at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio. Not only did Top Fuel rookie Jasmine Salinas achieve a new personal best speed in her Scrappers Racing dragster, but her sister, Pro Stock Motorcycle standout Jianna Evaristo, gained significant momentum aboard her Scrappers Racing Buell as she secured a new personal best elapsed time and a new personal best speed over the course of the event. Jianna also won the iconic NHRA Ice Cream Eating Contest, unique to Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, for the second consecutive year, defending her title with vigor.  Jianna Evaristo started qualifying on a high note when she made the second fastest pass of the first qualifying session, 6.802 seconds at 200.62 mph earning a couple of valuable bonus points along the way. On Friday evening, the talented pilot laid down the fastest speed of her career, going 201.13 mph in 6.811 seconds. She made similarly consistent passes on Saturday, but it was the elapsed time of her first qualifying session that put her in the No. 4 qualifier position on the eliminations ladder. In what was deemed the “Marquee Matchup” of race day, Jianna faced Chris Bostick in the first round of eliminations. Bostick shut off early and Jianna reached a new personal best elapsed time on her way to turning on the Round One win light when she ran 6.754 at 200.53. In the quarterfinals, Richard Gadson got the starting line advantage against Jianna and held onto the lead to advance to the semifinals. “There’s something about winning that ice cream contest that just set us on a positive path for the weekend,” joked Jianna. “Things are coming together for us as I gain more confidence on this Buell. Matt and Angie Smith have been so instrumental in guiding me every step of the way and it feels good to be making progress. This track is so cool and the fans are just unbelievable. I’m glad to have set some new personal records in front of such a great fanbase.” Top Fuel rookie Jasmine Salinas is certainly picking up steam in her first season of NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competition. After making consistently impressive runs throughout qualifying, the talented driver achieved a new personal best speed in the final qualifying session on Saturday when she made it down the track in 3.762 seconds at 332.02 mph.  Entering eliminations from the No. 12 qualifier position, Jasmine faced Tony Stewart, one of the most accomplished figures in motorsports history, in the first round. In a stunning upset, Jasmine defeated Stewart with a pass of 3.750 at 329.34 to advance to the second round for the second time in her inaugural professional season. In the quarterfinals, Jasmine faced four-time Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence. She got the starting line advantage with a respectable reaction time of .065 seconds, but moments after launching, her Scrappers Racing dragster lost power and Torrence got the win.   “It was really good for all of us to get another round win under our belts,” said Jasmine. “We are gaining consistency and right now, everything is an opportunity for learning and improvement. Unfortunately, we had a parts failure when I hit the gas in E2, causing our day to come to an end. Overall, it was a motivating weekend. We will just keep building off of these milestones and hopefully more round wins are in our future.”   The Scrappers Sisters will make their next stop on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour at the NHRA Northwest Nationals, July 19-21 at Pacific Raceways, just outside of Seattle.

Press Release | SHUMAKE RACING NORWALK, Ohio (June 30, 2024) -   Many competitors in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series have goals for each event that go beyond simply winning. For Top Fuel rookie Travis Shumake, his goals for his third professional drag racing bid included making a full pass down the track and seeing if he could reach the 1,000-foot finish line in less than four seconds for the first time. The talented up-and-comer achieved both behind the wheel of the CAS Top Fuel dragster at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals Shumake started qualifying on a good note, making a straight-forward pass of 4.052 seconds at 256.02 mph. Under the pressure of a quick turnaround time, Shumake’s small but mighty crew had to thrash in the pits to get his nitro-burning engine torn down and rebuilt before the Friday evening session. They rolled into the staging lanes with only a few minutes to spare, still cranking and making last-minute adjustments on the 12,000 horsepower machine, affectionately nicknamed “Judith Light,” right up until the time she hit the track.  The crew’s thrashing session paid off as Shumake powered his CAS Top Fuel dragster down the track to make his first sub-four-second pass in competition. Amid an unbelievably fast Top Fuel field, Shumake’s impressive run of 3.927 at 280.49 wasn’t quite enough to get him into the show. But making his quickest and fastest professional pass gave the team the confidence they need to continue pursuing excellence. “It just keeps getting better,” remarked Shumake. “I’m starting to connect with my car and the team seems to have a nice handle on her performance. I cannot thank CAS, Stonewall Columbus and all of these amazing Ohio fans enough. This has been a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel again. Keep an eye out for us. Judith and I have a lot more to show you!”

(All Photos Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)