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Racing Notebook: Pocono Camping Sold Out; Firecracker 100 weekend starts Thursday and more!

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Photo: Pocono Raceway

PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – The latest edition of the Pittsburgh Racing Now Notebook is getting you ready for a busy weekend of racing in the Keystone State with NASCAR out East and the World of Outlaws Late Models at Lernerville.  Plus the NTT INDYCAR SERIES makes a schedule adjustment.

Pocono Camping Sold Out:

  • Pocono Raceway has sold out all available camping for this weekend’s NASCAR Doubleheader at ‘The Tricky Triangle’.  Pocono started the week on Monday with only 71-sites available but those quickly sold out.  The action gets started Friday with the ARCA Menards Series General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200.  On Saturday it’s the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series CRC Brakleen 150 and the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325.  Sunday features the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pocono Green 225 presented by J.P. Mascaro & Sons and the NASCAR Cup Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 350.  Tickets are available at www.poconoraceway.com.

Pocono Organics CBD To Sponsor Cup Race:

  • Pocono Organics, one of the largest Regenerative Organic Farms in North America, will sponsor the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on Saturday, June 26. Pocono Organics will highlight their line of USDA Certified Organic, Full-Spectrum Hemp CBD products with the Pocono Organics CBD 325. The Pocono Organics CBD 325 is part of the 2021 NASCAR Doubleheader at ‘The Tricky Triangle’ featuring five NASCAR & ARCA Races in three days, including two NASCAR Cup Series races taking place on back-to-back days, from June 25-27.
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Tickets On Sale For Grand Prix of Portland:

  • Ticket sales are open for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Grand Prix of Portland. After missing their visit last year due to the global pandemic, the stars and cars of the Indianapolis 500 are coming back to Portland International Raceway for the first of three stops on its west coast swing to end the 2021 season September 10-12, 2021. Pricing starts at $85 for Bronze-level 3-Day Grandstand seating, $105 for Silver, and $165 for Gold which includes a Paddock Pass. General Admission for the entire three-day weekend is $65. Single-Day tickets will be released for sale in July.  Tickets are available at portlandgp.com.

INDYCAR Will Not Replace Toronto:

  • The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will not replace this year’s race on the street of Toronto with another race on the schedule.  Toronto had to be cancelled for the second year in-a-row due to the global pandemic.  Options to replace the race with one at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or maybe turning the Mid-Ohio weekend into a doubleheader were considered but the timing of the cancellation failed to give promoters enough time to secure sponsorship to host an additional race.

Firecracker 100 Weekend Begins Thursday:

  • The World of Outlaws Late Model Series rolls into Lernerville Speedway this weekend for the legendary ‘Firecracker 100’.  The Racing starts Thursday night with the $6,000-to-win Firecracker 100 qualifier along with the RUSH Late Model Series preliminaries for the Bill Emig Memorial and continues on Friday with another WoO qualifier and more prelims for RUSH LMS.  Saturday is the 15th Annual Firecracker 100 for the WoO and the Bill Emig Memorial for the RUSH LMS.  Tickets and information is available at www.lernerville.com.

Points Battles Continue Sunday At Tri-City:

  • As the racing season nears the halfway mark, four familiar names appear at the top of the point standings at Tri-City Raceway Park. In the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint division, defending champion Jack Sodeman, Jr. leads the standings on the strength of multiple feature wins. Jeremiah Shingledecker, the leading winner in the Krill Recycling 358 Modifieds, leads the way with 406 points. The closest battle for supremacy is in the Hovis Truck & Auto Supply Pro Stock class. William Hurrelbrink’s consistency has him in control, with 296 points, even though he has yet to take a checkered flag. Dalton Speer, with multiple wins in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks, leads with 408 points, the highest tally of any driver in any division. The action will start at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening. Gates will open at 4 for the fans and 2 for the racers. Tickets are available at Tri-CityRacewayPark.com.

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Doug Boles named President of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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Penske Entertainment: Karl Zemlin

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February, 11, 2024) – Doug Boles, the President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is replacing Jay Frye as INDYCAR President, as Penske Entertainment makes several key organizational changes 17-days before the season opener.

“Doug is the ideal choice to lead both INDYCAR and IMS as we enter a new era of opportunity and visibility,” said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment President & CEO. “He’s an exceptional leader and motivator who is appreciated by our fans and respected by our owners, drivers, partners and additional key stakeholders.”

“Racing is in my DNA, and no form of racing resonates more personally and strongly with me than the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” said Boles. “I’m honored to lead the amazing team at INDYCAR, and I truly believe the future is bigger and brighter than ever for our sport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.”

Boles extensive resume includes serving as IMS President since 2013 after serving as the speedway’s Chief Operating Officer in January of that same year while Vice President of Communications for Hulman & Company.  Boles joined IMS in November of 2010 as Director of Public Relations.  Boles has more than 15-years of executive-level motorsports experience in team operations, marketing, sponsorship and public relations.

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In addition to Boles serving the dual roles of IMS and INDYCAR President, Penske Entertainment is making these changes:

  • Mark Sibla will be promoted to Senior Vice President, INDYCAR Competition & Operations.
  • Kyle Novak will become INDYCAR’s Vice President of Officiating and Race Control.
  • Alex Damron has been named Chief Marketing Officer, INDYCAR, while also continuing as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Penske Entertainment.
  • Louis Kissinger will be promoted to General Manager, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Operations.

No reason was given for Frye’s departure.  Frye was named INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations in 2015 and just INDYCAR President in 2018.

“It has been an absolute honor and privilege to be the President of INDYCAR and work alongside the dedicated and talented men and women at INDYCAR and in the INDYCAR paddock,” said Frye in a statement.  “The growth and success the series has had over the last 10-years would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration of the owners, drivers and teams.”

The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season opens February 28 – March 2, 2025 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.

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Chip Ganassi Racing unveils new look for Scott Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda

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PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 5, 2025) – Scott Dixon’s No. 9 PNC Bank Honda is sporting a new look for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Season.

The familiar Orange, Blue and White PNC colors return with the biggest change along the sidepods of the No. 9 Honda, which are now orange and then the colors transition to blue over the rear wheel arches and rear wing.

“I’m excited. It was a long off-season,” said Dixon, who is second only to INDYCAR legend A.J. Foyt in wins (Dixon – 58; Foyt – 67.) and Series Championships (Dixon – 6; Foyt – 7). “We definitely have some big areas and some low-hanging fruit where I think we can make some big shifts and some big changes for a positive effect for the No. 9 PNC Bank Honda. I’m looking forward to that.”

Dixon is on-track to break Mario Andretti’s all-time starts record with his 407th start at the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025.

PNC Bank returns to the No. 9, amassing 2-Championships, 17-Wins and 46-Podiums, as primary sponsor for seven seasons, after serving as an associate sponsor of CGR for decades.

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“Being shoulder-to-shoulder in an INDYCAR partnership with PNC has been extraordinary because the things that make them a great bank are also what makes Scott and the team so consistent,” said Mike Hull, Managing Director CGR.  “They all do the little things brilliantly, which is why the partnership with PNC is so perfect. We are happy to return with the orange and blue once again of PNC Bank on the No. 9.”

PNC’s community commitment will continue in 2025 in multiple ways.  Dixon again this season will appear at early childhood education centers to demonstrate the importance of reading to inspire a love of learning as part of PNC’s ‘Grow Up Great’ – it’s signature philanthropic initiative focused on improving high-quality early childhood education across the country.

PNC Bank’s ‘Day at the Track’ program will again provide STEM students with the opportunity to get an up-close look at the high-performance operations of CGR’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES team.

Dixon is facing some stiff competition for his seventh title and it is coming from inside the same building as teammate Alex Palou will be battling for his third-straight title.  Together CGR will attempt to score the team’s sixth Championship in the last eight years and its 17th INDYCAR Championship, which would tie it for most all-time.

Dixon and his PNC Bank CGR Honda team will start the season February 28 – March 2, 2025 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding.

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DHL Chip Ganassi Racing unveils Alex Palou’s 2025 Honda livery

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DHL Chip Ganassi Racing

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (January 29, 2025) – Three-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Alex Palou’s DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda will have a bit of a different look as he goes for his third straight Championship in 2025.

The No. 10’s updated livery feature’s the famous Postyellow and DHL Red, with additional yellow areas and larger DHL branding further cementing an already iconic look for DHL, CGR and Palou.

“Our first season with Chip Ganassi Racing and the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Honda was nothing short of spectacular,” said Mike Parra, Head of Global Sponsorship DHL. “We take immense pride in seeing our vibrant colors emblazoned on the car, symbolizing our commitment to delivering with speed and passion around the world. As Alex Palou defends his title, we are excited to inspire our fans, customers, and employees to reach new heights with us in what promises to be another thrilling chapter of our partnership.”

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Palou is itching to get back behind the wheel and continue his impressive performance of three Championships in five seasons, four with CGR.

“I’m looking forward to the 2025 season with the No. 10 DHL Honda team. The competition will be tough. We won the last championship with only two wins, so that shows how competitive it is in INDYCAR. The goal is to try and repeat that, improve a bit, and try to win the Indianapolis 500.”

The green flag drops on the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding weekend, February 28 – March 2, 2025.   Tickets are available at gpstpete.com

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