2022 Ross Chastain Trackhouse Racing Road America Advance
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Trackhouse Racing PR
Busch Light Apple Racing: Kevin Harvick Road America Advance
Notes of Interest |
● The Road America 250 Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, serves as the third of six road-course races on the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The series’ first road-course race came on March 27 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, where Kevin Harvick finished 11th. In the series’ most recent road-course race June 12 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, Harvick finished fourth. The three remaining road-course races after Road America are July 31 at the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Aug. 21 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, and Oct. 9 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval.
● Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Road America will mark just the third time NASCAR’s premier division has competed at Road America. Prior to last year’s race, it had been 65 years since the Cup Series first raced at the road course located 65 miles north of Milwaukee. The genesis of racing at Road America began in the early 1950s when sports cars raced on the streets in and around Elkhart Lake – until the Wisconsin state legislature banned racing on public roads. So, Clif Tufte, a civil engineer and racing enthusiast who was president of the Elkhart Sand and Gravel Company, went to work. He organized a group of local citizens and leaders of the Chicago region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and they collectively developed plans and sold stock to build a permanent road course. It helped that Tufte’s company just happened to own 525 acres of virgin land outside the Village of Elkhart Lake. Ground was broken for Road America in April of 1955 and the track’s first SCCA national race weekend was held on Sept. 10, 1955. At 4.048 miles in length and with 14 turns, the track is virtually the same today as it was when it was first laid out. The natural topography of the glacial Kettle Moraine area was utilized for the track, sweeping around rolling hills and plunging through ravines, making it one of the most challenging circuits in the world. The first Cup Series race at Road America was on Aug. 12, 1956. An estimated crowd of 10,000 braved terrible weather to watch the event, which was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tim Flock driving a Mercury for car owner Bill Stroppe. Flock led 17 of the race’s 63 laps, making just two pit stops en route to his victory. Flock won with an average speed of 73.858 mph and did it in 3 hours, 29 minutes and 50 seconds. It was his fourth victory of the 1956 season and he claimed it with a 17-second margin over second-place Billy Myers
● The second NASCAR Cup Series race at Road America was much nicer. Full sun and warm temperatures created a festive atmosphere for last year’s Fourth of July race, which was won by Chase Elliott with an average speed of 86.271 mph in 2 hours, 54 minutes and 33 seconds. Harvick finished 27th as he fought an ill-handling racecar that was loose in the right-hand corners and tight in the left-handers.
● Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Busch Light Apple Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, has made a total of 51 NASCAR Cup Series starts on road courses. He has 21 starts at Sonoma, 20 at Watkins Glen, four at the Charlotte Roval, two on the road course at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, two at COTA, and one apiece at Road America and the road course at Indianapolis. He has scored two wins – Watkins Glen in 2006 and Sonoma in 2017 – along with 11 top-fives and 25 top-10s with 195 laps led.
● When Harvick scored his first road-course victory at Watkins Glen in 2006, he had to beat his current team owner to do it. Tony Stewart – the “Stewart” in Stewart-Haas Racing – had won the past two NASCAR Cup Series races at the 2.45-mile, seven-turn road course and was poised to capture a third straight win as he was leading Harvick with four laps to go in the 90-lap race. But Harvick, who had already led once for 24 laps, passed Stewart on lap 87 as the two drag-raced down the frontstretch and into turn one. Harvick held onto the lead despite Stewart in his rearview mirror, earning a margin of victory of .892 of a second.
● Harvick’s second career road-course win also had a connection to Stewart. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he gave Stewart-Haas Racing its second straight victory at the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course. The winner in 2016? None other than Stewart. It ended up being his 49th and final NASCAR Cup Series victory as Stewart retired from NASCAR racing at the conclusion of the season.
● Harvick’s last road-course win was his first in a Ford. When Harvick won at Sonoma in 2017, he became the 83rd different driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race behind the wheel of a Ford. Harvick has now won 23 Cup Series races with Ford, which makes him one of only 13 drivers to win 20 or more races with the manufacturer. He is currently tied with Rusty Wallace and Carl Edwards for 11th on the all-time Ford win list.
● Harvick has four road-course wins outside of the NASCAR Cup Series. Two came in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2007 and Watkins Glen in 2007 – and two were in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – Sonoma in 1998 and Sonoma in 2017. Harvick’s K&N Series win at Sonoma in 1998 was three years before his Cup Series debut on Feb. 26, 2001 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.
● All of these statistics and anecdotes make Harvick the apple of one’s eye at road courses, which is fitting since the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion will race the No. 4 Busch Light Apple Ford Mustang at Road America. Busch Light Apple is a crisp, refreshing, apple-flavored lager with a touch of sweet on the front end and a clear, beer finish on the back end. It is available for a limited time only NATIONWIDE for its LAST YEAR EVER in 12-, 24- and 30-packs at a store near you.
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Kevin Harvick, Driver of the No. 4 Busch Light Apple Ford Mustang |
What were your overall thoughts last year racing at Road America? “Being in that part of the country and seeing the way that the Cup Series was taken to by the fans, and seeing all the fans – I mean, they were hiding between the trees, campers, all over the place. It was definitely a lot of fun to see all the people, and just a neat place to be during that time of the year.”
At 4.048 miles in length, Road America makes for a long lap. How do you navigate it? “I haven’t spent a lot of time at Road America, but the thing I did take away from last year is there are a lot of heavy braking zones. So, I think that’s still going to be the ticket to passing – making the time into the heavy braking zones and being able to out-brake somebody.”
You ran the NASCAR Xfinity Series race last year at Road America in addition to the NASCAR Cup Series race. How valuable was that time on Saturday to better prepare you for Sunday? “Just being able to make laps and being able to memorize the racetrack is something that’s important. The more laps, the better, but the cars were quite a bit different, so some of it helped, some of it hurt.”
Because a lap is so long at Road America, pit strategy is a big factor, and your pit strategy can be undone by an untimely caution simply because there is so much real estate there for someone else to bring out a caution when you’re on pit road. Is Road America a race where your crew chief, Rodney Childers, truly is your co-pilot because he has a view of the race you don’t? “They definitely have a better view, but I think stage racing has taken some of that out of play because you have to put tires on at the end of those stages because Road America does eat the tires up pretty good. It’s such a long lap that you have to think so far ahead, but the stages have definitely minimized the strategy that comes with it because of where the stage ends fall.”
Do we need actual stage breaks with full-course cautions on road courses? “In my opinion, there should be no stage breaks. I think the stages should be rolling laps and when the stage ends, the stage ends, and you score points on that lap. But I think that the stages, and all the extra cautions, especially at a place like Road America, they just take away from the race.”
TSC PR |
Jeff Hensley Returns to GMS Racing to Serve as Crew Chief for Grant Enfinger and the No. 23
This week, GMS Racing announced that it would be welcoming veteran Crew Chief Jeff Hensley back on top of the pit box for the No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet driven by Grant Enfinger in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
As one of the most respected crew chiefs in the garage, Jeff Hensley brings vast knowledge from a career spanning over 35 years in the sport. In total, Hensley has amassed 18 Truck Series wins and 11 Xfinity Series wins, and was the championship winning crew chief for the 1990 Xfinity Series season. He was previously with GMS Racing for two seasons in 2016 and 2021, serving as crew chief for drivers Spencer Gallagher, Chase Purdy, and AJ Allmendinger.
Hensley is optimistic about a change in scenery, stating "I am grateful for the opportunity to return to GMS Racing and reunite with Grant. We have great chemistry, and Grant is a driver that I have a lot of respect for on and off the racetrack. We have high hopes for the remainder of the 2022 season, and we have a team capable of contending for wins on a consistent basis. I look forward to showing our strength in these final eight races of the year."
Keen followers of the series will remember that this will not be the first pairing between the two. Hensley and Enfinger have worked well together in the past, as the duo won five races during a four season span from 2017-2020. Ironically, the last time these two personalities worked together, they made the final round of the playoffs and competed against three GMS Racing teams for the championship. That year in 2020, Enfinger earned his best points finish to date, finishing fourth in the overall standings.
Enfinger looks forward to working with a familiar face once again, stating “Jeff and I have had success together in the past, and I’m looking forward to having him back to call the shots for the remainder of the season on our Champion Power Equipment Chevy. We know each other well so we should be able to pick up where we left off a couple years ago.”
The newly reunited duo will make their first on track appearance at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the O'Reilly Auto Parts 150 on Saturday, July 9th. Enfinger currently sits ninth in the NCWTS points standings in a season highlighted by three top-fives and seven top-10 finishes, and is eyeing his fourth playoffs appearance. The No. 23 GMS Racing team is positioned in eleventh in the team standings, and is actively pushing to make a run at making the owners' points playoffs with just two races left in the regular season.
GMS Racing PR
Atlanta Singer/Songwriter Blanco Brown Takes Laps at Ams
Atlanta singer and songwriter Blanco Brown got a taste of speed at Atlanta Motor Speedway Tuesday.
Brown took laps in Atlanta Motor Speedway's pace car in preparation for his duties as Honorary Pace Car driver for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart on July 10.
"I'm so excited and it means so much because I grew up listening to cars go around this track, so to be able to drive the pace car is a blessing," said Brown.
Brown is no stranger to NASCAR at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He's been coming to races at AMS since he was a child and always enjoys time at the track.
"My first time being here at this track I was around 11 years old and I didn't know what to expect," recalled Brown. "Seeing it on TV and actually being in the stands is a whole other feeling. There's nothing else like it.
"I love it and now it just feels like home. NASCAR is a go-to for me."
Tickets to the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart weekend July 8-10 at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available online at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
AMS PR
NASCAR Is on USA Network – Nearly 200 Hours of Coverage in 2022
USA Network begins its run as NBC Sports’ new cable home of the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series this weekend with live race coverage from Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., this Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, beginning at 2 p.m. ET each day.
USA Network will be the exclusive home for 23 of the next 26 NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races through September, visiting iconic tracks such as Atlanta Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Darlington Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.
Including practice and qualifying, as well as the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series and Whelen Modified Tour, USA Network will present nearly 200 hours of NASCAR coverage in 2022.
USA Network has been a top five cable entertainment brand for over 20 years and is widely available across cable, satellite and streaming providers, including:
- AT&T U-verse HD: Channel 1125
- Charter Spectrum HD: Channel 101
- Comcast XFINITY TV HD: Channel 823
- Cox Contour HD: Channel 1028
- DIRECTV HD: Channel 242
- DISH Network HD: Channel 105
- Verizon FiOS: Channel 550
- Optimum: Channel 38
Channel listings may vary by market and could be updated by the provider to a different channel at any time.
USA Network is also available via most streaming services, including:
- DirecTV Stream
- fuboTV
- Hulu + Live TV
- Sling TV (Blue package)
- Youtube TV
Earlier this year, USA Network became the cable home of premium NBC Sports events, which, in addition to NASCAR, includes coverage of the Premier League, INDYCAR, the Olympic Games, USGA and The R&A Golf Championships, horse racing, cycling and more.
As in years past, coverage airing on USA Network will also stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app via authentication.
Following are NBC Sports’ full 2022 NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series schedules:
| NBC SPORTS 2022 NASCAR CUP SERIES SCHEDULE | |||
| Date | Location | Platform | Time (ET) |
| Sunday, July 3 | Road America | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 10 | Atlanta | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 17 | New Hampshire | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 24 | Pocono | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, July 31 | Indianapolis Road Course | NBC | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, August 7 | Michigan | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, August 14 | Richmond | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Sunday, August 21 | Watkins Glen | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 27 | Daytona | NBC, Peacock | 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, September 4 | Darlington | USA | 6 p.m. |
| Sunday, September 11 | Kansas | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, September 17 | Bristol | USA | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, September 25 | Texas | USA | 3:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 2 | Talladega | NBC | 2 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 9 | Charlotte ROVAL | NBC | 2 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 16 | Las Vegas | NBC | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 23 | Homestead-Miami | NBC | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, October 30 | Martinsville | NBC | 2 p.m. |
| Sunday, November 6 | Phoenix | NBC, Peacock | 3 p.m. |
| NBC SPORTS 2022 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE | |||
| Date | Location | Platform | Time (ET) |
| Saturday, July 2 | Road America | USA | 2:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 9 | Atlanta | USA | 5 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 16 | New Hampshire | USA | 2:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 23 | Pocono | USA | 5 p.m. |
| Saturday, July 30 | Indianapolis Road Course | NBC, Peacock | 3:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 6 | Michigan | USA | 3:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 20 | Watkins Glen | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Friday, August 26 | Daytona | USA | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, September 3 | Darlington | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, September 10 | Kansas | USA | 3 p.m. |
| Friday, September 16 | Bristol | USA | 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, September 24 | Texas | USA | 3:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 1 | Talladega | USA | 4 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 8 | Charlotte ROVAL | NBC, Peacock | 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 15 | Las Vegas | NBC, Peacock | 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 22 | Homestead-Miami | USA | 4:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, October 29 | Martinsville | NBC, Peacock | 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, November 5 | Phoenix | USA | 6 p.m. |
NBC Sports PR
No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra News and Notes
- ALREADY PLAYOFF BOUND: By winning the Las Vegas, Atlanta and Richmond NASCAR Xfinity Series races, Ty Gibbs has qualified for the Xfinity playoffs which will begin at Texas Motor Speedway on Sept. 24.
- ROAD AMERICA: In 2021, Gibbs won the pole at Road America and led two laps, but a problem with the transmission caused him to finish 33rd.
- NEW RECORD: Gibbs is the youngest driver ever to reach seven victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at age 19 years 5 months and 29 days. The previous record was held by Joey Logano.
- 2021: Gibbs completed in only 18 Xfinity races in 2021, but won four races and finished 13th in the Xfinity Series final driver point standings. That earned him the Xfinity Rookie of the Year award.
- WHAT A DEBUT: In Gibbs’ Xfinity Series debut in February 2021 at the Daytona Road Course, he led 14 of the 56 laps en route to his first career Xfinity Series win. Gibbs became the youngest driver to win a Xfinity road course race at 18 years, 4 months, 16 days. The Charlotte, N.C., native also became the second-youngest winner in Xfinity Series history after Joey Logano who won in June 2008 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta when he was 18 years and 21 days old.
- IN GOOD COMPANY: Gibbs is the sixth driver to win in his Xfinity Series debut, joining Dale Earnhardt, Joe Ruttman, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and Kurt Busch. Those five drivers had already driven in the NASCAR Cup Series before racing in the Xfinity Series.
- ARCA CHAMPIONS: Gibbs became the 2021 ARCA Menard Series Champions on the strength of 10 wins, plus one win each in ARCA West and ARCA East.
- ATOP THE PIT BOX: Veteran crew chief Gayle will oversee the No. 54 team’s efforts in the 2022 season. Gale, who is from Little Rock, Arkansas, has led his drivers to two NASCAR Cup Series victories and 33 Xfinity Series wins. The list of drivers Gayle has visited victory lane with includes Gibbs, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Sam Hornish Jr., Erik Jones, Elliott Sadler, Christopher Bell and John Hunter Nemechek.
- JGR AT ROAD AMERICA: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has competed in 36 races at Road America with two victories, eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. The team has two poles and has led 149 laps.
- RACE INFO: The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Saturday, July 2 and will be broadcast on USA, SiriusXM Channel 90 and MRN.
Ty Gibbs, Driver of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra
“It was good to get a top-five at Nashville, but now were ready for Road America. We had a good run there last year, but had a part failure late in the race. I enjoy road course racing and like Road America. I know Chris Gayle and the Monster Energy guys will bring me a good Toyota Supra.”
Chris Gayle, Crew Chief of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra
“Ty is a great road course racer and we’ll bring him a good Monster Energy Toyota GR Supra. Road America is tough because you have to have extra spotters and if you have any sort of issue, it’s a long way to pit road. But it’s a great course and we’re looking forward to getting up there and hopefully having success.”
JGR PR
Track Enterprises To Acquire Another Super Late Model Series
Officials from Track Enterprises and the ARCA Midwest Tour announced today that they have reached an agreement allowing Track Enterprises to acquire the regional ARCA Midwest Tour Super Late Model series at the end of the 2022 season.
Bob Sargent, President of Track Enterprises, and Gregg McKarns of the AMTW released a joint statement regarding the transaction. The acquisition will see AMWT Series owners Gregg and Angie McKarns and officials continue to work with the series for the foreseeable future.
“As the asphalt Super Late Model landscape continues to change, we look forward to where the Track Enterprises team can take the Tour. This will allow Angie and I to still promote numerous Super Late Model events throughout the region, while streamlining other operational aspects involved in Super Late Model racing across the nation,” indicated McKarns.
In addition to the ARCA Midwest Tour, Gregg and Angie McKarns promote and operate Madison International Speedway in Oregon, WI, Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, WI, and the Oktoberfest Race Weekend at LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway.
Established in 1985, Track Enterprises is a highly respected and successful motorsports marketing and event promotions company, hosting local, regional, and national events for parts of five decades. Headquartered in Macon, IL, Track Enterprises is involved in over 100 events annually. Sargent recently announced the acquisition of the Champion Racing Association, inclusive of the ARCA/CRA Super Series, JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour, and two additional regional grassroots racing series.
The CRA purchase announcement brought about speculation of a potential national tour for Super Late Models. Sargent once again alluded to that speculation.
“Gregg, Angie, and their staff have done a great job with the tour over the years. We are working for a consolidated future to better assist all the local and regional teams and look forward to exploring a national tour as well,” stated Sargent.
Track Enterprises promotes races featuring some of the nation’s most popular touring series, including the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, USAC, SRX, DIRTcar, UMP, World of Outlaws, POWRi Racing, and the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Additionally, Track Enterprises manages racing promotions at Macon (IL) Speedway, Lincoln (IL) Speedway, and the Nashville (TN) Fairgrounds Speedway.
Track Enterprises PR
Nebraska And Kansas Line Independence Day Weekend Triple With The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series
Kyle, Brexton Busch Confirmed For C. Bell’s Micro Mania During Nascar Playoffs Week
Brad Keselowski | Road America Advance
ADVANCE NOTES
Weekend Format
- The weekend schedule in Wisconsin features practice returning to its normal slot mid-morning on Saturday, immediately followed by qualifying.
Keselowski at Road America
- Keselowski finished 13th last season at Road America in the Cup Series’ debut.
- Overall, he has 11 top-10 finishes on road courses in Cup with a 15.2 average finish.
- In road course action this season, Keselowski has finishes of 14th (COTA) and 10th (Sonoma).
Matt McCall at Road America
- McCall led Kurt Busch and the No. 1 team to a fourth-place run last season at Road America.
- Overall on road courses, McCall has a 13.7 average finish with 11 results inside the top-10.
QUOTE WORTHY
Keselowski on racing at Road America:
“Road America is definitely one of our more unique tracks and one that’s challenging in so many ways. It can be fast, but it can also be slow, so finding the right balance in rhythm is key for our longest course on the circuit. Sonoma turned out to be pretty good for us, so our hope is that some of that momentum carries over to the weekend in our Kohler Generators Ford.”
Last Time Out
Keselowski was inside the top-10 late in the long race Sunday at Nashville before getting sent into the wall to finish 29th in the King’s Hawaiian Ford.
On the Car
Kohler returns for its seventh primary race this season. Kohler is the anchor partner for the No. 6 team throughout the 2022 campaign, and will be the primary in 14 races after initially joining the RFK partner family in 2021 with eight events on the No. 6 team.
Keselowski’s No. 6 this weekend will feature names of military heroes that include veterans, active military and military family members, as part of the Checkered Flag Foundation’s Tribute to Veterans Program. More than 135 names are displayed on the No. 6 for Road America, as the program has honored nearly 1,000 heroes since its inception four years ago. For more information on the Foundation and Tribute to Veterans, visit CheckeredFlagFoundation.org and visit them on social (@BCKFF on Twitter and Checkered Flag Foundation on Facebook and Instagram).
RFK PR