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Sprint Cars Tune Up For Speedweek At Tri-City Raceway Park

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FRANKLIN, PA (May 26, 2021): After a week off for the ULMS Late Models presented by Donovan and Bauer Auto Group, the four divisions making up the Sunday Thunder racing program will return to Tri-City Raceway Park this Sunday, May 30. Jared Miley was the winner of that special event, and Jacob Gomola and Justin Clark split the Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Car races that supported the ULMS show.

Two-time victor, Jack Sodeman, Jr., has a commanding 31 point lead in the championship standings in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Car ranks. Brandon Matus, who recently scored a win at another area speedway, sits in second even though he has yet to cash in at the Venango County oval. Kyle Colwell will be back with the 360 engine between the rails of his Sprint Car after running against the 305s last week. Colwell had mechanical troubles, so he will be looking to return to form against the more powerful 410s. Consistency has been Colwell’s strength despite his horsepower disadvantage.

Competition will be provided by veteran Brent Matus and youngster Chase Matheny. George Hobaugh, another winner on the Western PA circuit, should be back in action, along with A.J. Flick, who has a win and a crash on his Tri-City resume so far this season.

New Yorker Matt Farnham has been fast in his Tri-City appearances, and he wants to carry the winner’s share north of the border. But Carl Bowser, Darrin Gallagher, Bob Felmlee, and Brandon Spithaler may have something to say about that.

A question in the minds of many fans is whether any 410 Sprint racers will drop in unexpectedly to log some seat time at Tri-City in preparation for the Western PA Speedweek finale coming up on June 6. You will want to be on hand for both contests as the Sprint Cars present hair-raising speeds on the big half mile.

Jeremiah Shingledecker and Kevin Hoffman, the last two winners in the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds, will square off once again. Jimmy Holden and defending track champion, Kyle Fink, are just two of the drivers looking to score their first wins of the 2021 season. Teenager Nathan McDowell is looking to improve on his recent top five finish. Could this be his moment in the sun?

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A number of Empire State racers, headed by Nick Joy and Kyle Inman, and including Chad Brachmann and Greg Martin, add diversity and depth to the 358 Modified field.

Franklin’s Josh Seippel has a slim two point margin over William Hurrelbrink in the Pro Stock class, presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply. Veteran Bobby Whitling and teenager Tyler Wyant are divisional winners too, so fans of all ages can readily identify with the racers in this highly competitive group.

However, the closest championship contest is in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks. Dalton Speer and Justin Bailey are tied at the top of the standings, but Pat Hanlon and Evan Sobieski are within striking distance. The Mini Stocks are the most affordable class that competes at Tri-City Raceway Park, so if you are looking to join in the fun, that may be the class to start in.

Regular event ticket pricing will apply this Sunday. So, adults (ages 16-62) will be admitted for $15, and seniors (ages 62 and up) will see the show for $13. Students (ages 11-16) will be just $10. Children (age 10 and under) will be admitted free. The Family Pass will be available for two adults and two students at $45. Pit Passes will be $30.

The starting time will be 6 p.m., with practice sessions beginning a half hour earlier. Spectators can enter the grounds at 4 p.m. and the racers can get situated in the Pits beginning at 2 p.m.

Remember that you can get information regarding Tri-City Raceway Park by calling the track office, at 724-967-4601, or via e-mail at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. You can also check out the website at www.Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park. Tri-City Raceway Park is located on State Route 3430 in Oakland Township, which is a short ride outside the City of Franklin.

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Alex Palou and Scott Dixon grab Top 10’s to lead Chip Ganassi Racing at St. Pete

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Penske Entertainment: James Black

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (March 10, 2024) – Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou and Scott Dixon grabbed Top 10 finishes in Sunday’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by RP Funding.

Palou, the defending and two-time series Champion, started 13th on grid and by the midway point in the race he had worked his way up to the 11th spot in the No. 10 DHL Honda.

Palou continued to gain spots and after his final pit stop he was just outside the Top 5, finishing sixth.

“I’m happy to finish in the top-six and it’s a great start,” said Palou, who was the fourth biggest mover over the course of the race (+7). “That first yellow really didn’t help us, as it put everyone in the same position so we had 35 laps less of the race to do something. We finished two spots better than what we did last year. We started struggling at the beginning of the weekend, so it was an amazing recovery by Chip Ganassi Racing and the No. 10 DHL Honda team. ”

Dixon started right outside the Top 10 in the 12th position and on the opening lap avoided disaster when several drivers split Romain Grosjean, who appeared to approach Turn 1 cautiously.  Grosjean drifted right to avoid the driver on his left, only to make contact with Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda.  Luckily Dixon was able to continue without damage to his machine eventually finishing 9th.

“It was a bit of a bland day,” said Dixon, who will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Tuesday. “I thought we had a good situation at the start and then it all kind of closed down to go off-track to make sure that we didn’t hit anybody. There was just no tire degradation so there wasn’t as much racing as I would have liked. Ultimately, I think the PNC Bank crew should have had a fifth, sixth or seventh, so it’s not the absolute best way to start the season.”

Rookie Kyffin Simpson impressed in his INDYCAR debut, starting 23rd and advancing 9-positions to finish 14th in the No. 4 Journie Rewards Honda.

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“What an incredible day,” said Simpson, who finished the day as the top placing rookie. “I’m stoked to have such a good first race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. I felt like we had a good start to the race and then we just kept it clean. It was definitely tight at times with some side-by-side racing, but we were able to push through and keep things clean. We were able to really push it on the greens at the end with great pace. I’m very happy with the entire day for the Journie Rewards team.”

Linus Lundqvist was running ahead of Simpson and was sitting in 15th place at the midway point of the race and was methodically picking up spots.  Disaster struck on Lap 64 when Grosjean attempted a pass approaching Turn 10, sending the No. 8 American Legion Honda backwards into the tire barrier.  The No. 8 CGR crew replaced the rear wing on pit road and sent the 2022 INDY NXT Champion back into the fight.  Grosjean took responsibility for the ill-advised attempt and served a drive-thru penalty but that little solace for the No. 8 team.

“We were fighting on the edge of the top-10 and then sadly got taken out,” said Lundqvist. “It’s quite unfortunate because the guys and girls with the American Legion team did such a phenomenal job to be fighting for that top-10 position. It is a long season and we will definitely bounce back from that and bring the positives from the speed that we had.”

Marcus Armstrong and the No. 11 Ridgeline Lubricants Honda also showed speed all weekend and was the best qualifying car out of the CGR stable starting 11th and working his way into the Top 10 during the first 25-laps of the race.

Turn 10 challenged drivers all day because of a tricky tail wind going into the turn and Armstrong fell victim on Lap 27 when he ended up in the tire barrier.

“I was working on a fuel number and touched the brakes and locked the brakes immediately,” explained a dejected Armstrong. “I’m so disappointed by that mistake and I feel terrible for the No. 11 Chip Ganassi Racing Ridgeline Lubricants group because we were fast. To be honest, we weren’t pushing hard at the time. We were fuel saving and waiting for our time to push. It was a costly mistake and it stinks.”

Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden was basically untouchable all weekend leading 92-of-100 laps en route to the victory.

Next up for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the $1,000,000 non-points race at The Thermal Club.

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Racing Notebook: PA Motor Speedway cancels Test & Tune; INDYCAR at St. Pete; Kris Wright in Phoenix and more!

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Photo: Steve Skarupa

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway cancels this weekend’s ‘test & tune’; The NTT INDYCAR SERIES gears up for the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding; Kris Wright takes on Phoenix this Friday and more in the Pittsburgh Racing Now Notebook:

PPMS Cancels Test & Tune

  • Persistent rain on Tuesday and Wednesday have forced Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway to cancel this Saturday’s ‘Test & Tune’ one week before the season-opening ‘Pot of Gold 75’.  The Pits open at 9 a.m. and the Grandstands open at 11 a.m. with the Saturday program scheduled to start at Noon.  For more information visit PPMS.com.
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INDYCAR Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

  • The NTT INDYCAR SERIES kicks off the 2024 season on Friday with one practice session to get teams ready for Sunday’s season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.  Mayor Ken Welch, PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon and other dignitaries raised the flag Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at City Hall to signify the official civic event kickoff to the race weekend.

Kris Wright Gets Ready for Phoenix

  • Wexford native Kris Wright and his Venturini Motorsports team descend on Phoenix Raceway for Friday’s ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150. This weekend marks Wright’s first start at Phoenix in the ARCA Series. Wright has previously competed in a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race in 2022 and a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race in 2021 at the Avondale, Ariz., venue.  Wright has participated in two ARCA Menards Series West races, including one event with Venturini Motorsports. “I’m excited to return to Phoenix Raceway after having a fast car there in the fall. Our No. 15 Venturini Motorsports team has been working on it during the off-season, and we’re looking forward to heading back West for this race.”

Chip Ganassi Racing Unveils Season 2 Trading Cards

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Chip Ganassi Racing Unveils Season 2 of Trading Cards Series

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Chip Ganassi Racing

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (March 7, 2024) – Sports fans have a great opportunity to get their hands on some cool Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) team-official collectables and help out a great cause in the process.

CGR unveiled Season 2 of their classic trading card series Thursday, benefitting The American Legion and their Be The One initiative, which is a national platform to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. The program destigmatizes asking for mental health support, provides peer-to-peer support and resources and educates people on how they can Be The One.  Everyone can Be The One by asking veterans in your life how they are doing, listening when a veteran needs to talk and reaching out when a veteran is struggling.

Fans are invited to make a $10 donation for a single pack of eight random cards, drawing from the collection of 36 unique designs. Bulk ordering options are also available again, with quantities offered at 5, 10 and 20 packs.

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“We are excited to see the return of the Chip Ganassi Racing trading cards,” said Dean Kessel, Chief Marketing Officer of The American Legion. “This project was wildly popular last season because it not only provides a remarkable product to race fans across the country, but it also directly impacts our mission to support the veteran community and save lives. We’re proud of this partnership that continues to make a positive impact on the lives of those who have served our nation.”

Season 2 of the #CGRCards feature standard cards, unique chrome cards and rare, autographed inserts from the current Chip Ganassi Racing NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver lineup.

The chrome cards feature notable achievements from this past season and throwbacks to Chip Ganassi Racing lore, including ‘The Pass’ at Laguna Seca by Alex Zanardi, CGR’s first championship with Jimmy Vasser in 1996 and the team’s first Indianapolis 500 win in 2000 with Juan Pablo Montoya.

The trading cards will be available exclusively at ChipGanassiRacing.com/CGRCards. Only 2,000 packs of cards will be available through the 2024 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season so be sure to make a donation today and collect all 36 cards.

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