Author: Mike Haag

Courtesy of the NHRA BROWNSBURG, Ind. – Matt Hagan set both ends of the NHRA Funny Car track record on Friday of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the world’s biggest drag race, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis. Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel), Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also lead qualifying in their respective categories at the 18th of 24 events on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Hagan ran a 3.799-second pass at 338.77 mph in his Mopar Express Lanes Dodge Charger R/T during the first of three qualifying days and first of…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series Race weekend: Friday Sept. 1 – Sunday, Sept. 3 Track: Watkins Glen International, an 11-turn, 3.37-mile road course in Watkins Glen, N.Y. Race distance: 60 laps / 202.2 miles Entry list: INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen (PDF) Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. Firestone tire allotment: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate. Teams must use one set of primary and one new set of alternate tires in the race. Twitter: @WGI @IndyCar, #INDYCARGP, #IndyCar Event website: http://www.theglen.com/ INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com 2016 race winner: Scott Dixon (No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet) 2016…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – NASCAR teams in all three national series will honor the state of Texas following the devastation from Hurricane Harvey with “Texas Strong” decals for all the race vehicles competing this weekend. The decal, which is located on the A-post that extends from the roofline to the base of the windshield on the majority of vehicles, will be utilized this weekend for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series races at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and the Camping World Truck Series event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario,…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series MADISON, Illinois – Josef Newgarden’s latest bold move led the Team Penske driver to win in the Verizon IndyCar Series’ thrilling return to Gateway Motorsports Park and extend his championship lead. Newgarden completed a daring pass of teammate Simon Pagenaud on the 218th of 248 laps on the 1.25-mile oval and he went on to win the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline by 0.6850 of a second over Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon. The triumph – Newgarden’s third win in the past four races and his fourth victory this season -…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series SIMON PAGENAUD (No. 1 Menards Team Penske Chevrolet): “We had a great race with the Menards Chevrolet. All of the adjustments left us with a great car at the end. When we needed to come up with a great pit stop, we did. Those guys really are the best. They always come through when they have to. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out there at the end. I can’t say that I’m overly pleased, but that’s racing. We still have the championship out there, so we’ll get ready for Watkins Glen.” JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No.…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series MADISON, Illinois – Andretti, Foyt, Castroneves … and now Power. Will Power joined an elite group of 50-time Indy car pole winners when he captured the Verizon P1 Award in record fashion this evening at Gateway Motorsports Park. Power will lead the Verizon IndyCar Series field to the green flag to start Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline. BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500: Qualifying results Driving the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, Power turned two laps at an average of 189.642 mph under twilight conditions. Power’s first lap of 189.709 mph (23.7206…

Race weekend: Friday, Aug. 25 – Saturday, Aug. 26 Track: Gateway Motorsports Park, a 1.25-mile oval in Madison, Illinois Race distance: 248 laps / 310 miles Entry list: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Valvoline (PDF) Firestone tire allotment: Ten sets for use throughout the weekend Twitter: @GatewayMSP @IndyCar, #Bommarito500, #IndyCar Event website: www.gatewaymsp.com/ INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com Most recent race winner (2003): Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota) Most recent pole winner (2003): Helio Castroneves (No. 3 Marlboro Team Penske Dallara/Toyota), 25.5732 seconds, 175.965 mph (one lap) One-lap qualifying record: Raul Boesel, 24.324 seconds, 187.963 mph, May 23, 1997 NBCSN television broadcasts: Qualifying, 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 26 (tape delayed);…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – The perks of purchasing Texas Motor Speedway Season Tickets have never been more abundant with the introduction of a referral program and an early pay gift to celebrate Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final season being added to the 2018 package. The referral program will provide Season Ticket Holders the opportunity to earn statement credits for every individual referred and converted into a fellow Season Ticket Holder as well as earn entry into a random drawing of unique race access and experiences at Texas Motor Speedway. Beginning Monday, Sept. 11, when…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – The SPEED Energy Stadium Super Truck Series will return to Texas Motor Speedway in 2018 for the “No Limits Off-Road Rumble,” creating another diverse tripleheader weekend scheduled for June 8-9 that also includes the Verizon IndyCar Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Stadium Super Truck Series received rave reviews from fans during its inaugural event held in June during the Texas Indy 600 weekend. The series hosted two races that same evening as the Verizon IndyCar Series race – one prior to that event and one following…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – Texas Motor Speedway staff members munched on Dickey’s “Out Of This World” BBQ sandwiches and Sun Chips followed by the just desserts of Moon Pies and Krispy Kreme “Total Solar Eclipse” doughnuts Monday as they prepped like the rest of the nation to witness the first total solar eclipse across the continental U.S. in 38 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1814Oun4pOE&feature=youtu.be But unlike the rest of the nation, the staff of approximately 80, along with local residents invited for a free public watch party in the infield, had the option of watching…