NM Motor Sports Report June 2023

meet the muscle cars of trans am

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CONTENTS

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STORY BY DAVID SWOPE PHOTOS COURTESY OF STUDIO Z / HIGHSIDE PHOTOS

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ocal High School Senior, Caleb Stelzig, picked up his diploma from Volcano Vista on Monday May 15, 2023. He can now add that accomplishment to his 2022 New Mexico Motor Racing Association (NMMRA) Non-Wing Sprint Car Championship in only his second year of full-time competition in the division. Stelzig’s 2023 campaign has already started hot with 3 for 3 on starts with two victories at Vado Speedway and one at Sandia Speedway.

Dave: What's it like to balance going to high school, and being at the top of your game in non-winged sprint cars?

Caleb: Yeah, I mean it's definitely a balance. I never really was at the top of my class but yeah, there's a balance for sure. I just had to figure out. I had to make time to work on the race car, go for runs or the gym and homework all in one, but it worked out. I'm glad that's over with. Now I can focus on working and mainly sprint cars.

Dave: Talk a little bit about the changes that were made from year 1 to 2 that were able to help you get that championship last year.

Caleb: The big one was making a bunch of national shows and learning from guys like Mario Clouser and Brian Cripe and even Jake Swanson, back in Indiana. It's great mud for a week and learned a lot just watching and listening to what Jake had to say. That was really the big one, going to the heartland of sprint car racing.

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Dave: How does that translate to the tracks in New Mexico? There's a big difference between the shape at Sandia, Aztec and Vado. Last season, a majority of your victories came at Vado Speedway. Talk about the similarities and differences between the tracks.

Caleb: They're all pretty different. Sandia is super high banked. Vado is pretty flat. I really like Aztec. I think Aztec is one of my favorite tracks around here.

It’s just like hairpin corners and long straightaways. I like them all, but I mean they're all different for sure. You just have to figure out how they are different and what you can do to adaptable.

Dave: When did you get started in quarter midgets? How old were you?

Caleb: I started practicing when I was four and a half. Duane Oldfield stuck me in his car that Travis was driving. I started racing when I was allowed to at five.

Dave: When did you move to micro sprints?

Caleb: I was 11 or 12, I think 12. That was in 2017. During that transition, there were a lot of the other quarter midget drivers also going that way. We're some of them going to Legend cars. What, Dave: Have you been competing with the same people along your career?

Caleb: Not really. There's a bunch of guys a little older than me and a bunch of guys younger than me. I was never really racing in the same class. Travis, for example, I've known in my entire life, but the first time we were raised together was in a Sprint Cars. I was pretty much the only guy moving up at that point. I made a lot of good friends and lifelong friends in micros that still help me out today and couldn't be more thankful for them.

Dave: What are some of your short-term goals?

Caleb: My long-term goals haven't really changed. I want to race for a living. I want to move to Indiana and drive USAC Sprint Cars. So that's really the main goal and where it goes from there.

The complete interview is available on our website, nmmotorsportsreport.com from May 13, 2023.

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As of 5/13/2023 Pos Car Driver 1 21 Caleb Stelzig 2 45x Don Grable 3 0 JR Bonesteel 4 7D7 Spencer Hill 5 2 Michael Fanelli 6 38 Travis Oldfield 7 16 Theo McCarty 8 7 Shon Deskins 9 11 Jason Ziehl 10 7X Troy Treharn

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2023 NMMRA SPRINT CAR SERIES POINT STANDINGS Hometown Wins Top 5 Top 10 Features Albuquerque, NM 3 3 3 4 El Paso, TX

3 4 4 Albuquerque, NM 3 4 4 Albuquerque, NM 1 2 2 Rio Rancho, NM 2 2 2 Albuquerque, NM 1 1 2 2 Espanola, NM

1 1 Waddell, AZ 1 2 2 Las Cruces, NM 1 2 2 Peralta, NM 1 2 2

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Points 192 167 166 122 111 87 31 0 0 0

Gap 25 26 70 81 105 161 192 192 192

BIRTHDAYS • WEDDINGS GRADUATIONS

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ometimes the best ideas present themselves when you least expect it. That is what happened with Photo Bomb Classics. “Last year we went to a car show and there was a young lady there that asked me if she could use my Impala,” said owner Pete Vega. “I asked her what she wanted to use my Impala for.” The young lady wanted to use it for her Quinceanera. “My wife (Co-Owner, Maxine Vega) noticed that her dress went nicely with the Fleetline so we took it too. That is how it all started.”

QUINCEANERAS ADVERTISING • MOVIES The concept is so simple, I wish I thought of it. Through the Photo Bomb Classics website, you can book a time, a place and a vehicle of your choice. The rate is $150 per hour, per vehicle. “I'll park them, stage them and they can take as many pictures as they want. You just can't sit on them, but you can sit inside of them,” Pete clarifies.

“We get a lot of people who will come up at a car show and just want to tell stories, about a car they had that was similar or different color. They're always interested in being able to take a photo with it.”

Book a ride for your next event at photobombclassics.com.

Photo Bomb Classics currently has 9 vehicles to choose from. The model years range from 1947 to 1978. The collection includes a classic 1957 Chevy Bel Air that has been featured in several movies, shot locally. The 1967 Shelby GT represents a movie high-performance classic and the 1947 Fleetline is historically correct and includes the original glass. For the local racing fan, the 1978 Corvette Pace Car has a local tie considering that Al Unser Sr. won the Indy 500 that year for his 3rd of 4 victories.

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1947 Chevrolet Fleetline: Stock 235ci, 3 “On The Tree” Automatic, Restored Interior

1967 Ford Shelby 350-GT: High Performance 289ci, 4-Speed, Posi Rear-End

1973 Chevrolet Chevelle SS: 350ci (badged 454), Automatic, 373 Rear-End

1956 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup: Supercharged 350ci, Muncie 4-Speed, Italian Leather Interior

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air: 383ci, 465hp, 4-Speed, Ford 9”, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Fuzzy Dice

1975 Pontiac Firebird: 350ci w/ Turbo Automatic

1965 Chevrolet Impala SS: Big Block 396ci, 4-Speed, 373 Posi Rear-End, Exhaust Cut-Outs

1970 Chevrolet Impala “Land Yacht”: 350ci, Automatic

1978 Chevrolet Corvette: ’78 Indy 500 Pace Car, 350ci, Automatic

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Photos By Dianna Franco Creations

By Steve Maes

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andia Motorcycle Racing, Inc. (SMRI) kicked off its season on May 13, with Sandia BMW Motorrad sponsoring the first track day with food and giveaways. The Rust is Gold Racing Team was able to attend the afternoon session and spent most of the afternoon testing, tuning and talking with an impressive group of new and veteran riders that made their way through the pits.

During the lunch break we had a chance to talk to Timing and Scoring Officer, Christopher Franco, who gave us some insight on the track and new ownership and what we can expect for the season. According to Chris, “Track day went very well. There were a few hiccups as expected with the ownership changing, but they worked with us to ensure the track was safe and that we didn't have to cancel the weekend.” One thing we noticed immediately was there were a lot of new faces, and that track day specifically, seemed very active compared to last season. Chris also said they had a couple of new riders in the race school and we’re looking forward to seeing some new racers this season.

According to SMRI there were 61 riders on track day and 28 on race day and everyone is hoping to see those numbers grow over the season.

One big goal the Rust is Gold Racing team has set is to get as many new riders to the track as possible and if you are riding a vintage motorcycle, that’s even better. If you are new to the track here's a some tips we’ve learned along the way.

• Safety First: SMRI requires that riders wear proper riding gear, such as a full face helmet, leathers, gloves, and boots. Follow the rules and regulations of the race, and be mindful of other riders on the track. Respect the limits of your skill and avoid taking unnecessary risks that could lead to accidents.

• Bring a canopy or proper shade. It is a desert and there’s not much shade at the track. You will want to stay as cool and hydrated as much as possible throughout the day.

• Study the Track: Familiarize yourself with the track layout and its unique characteristics.Take a slow lap around the track to get a feel for the corners, surface conditions, and any potential hazards. Like the hairpin turn. If you can, ask one of the veteran riders if you can follow their lines for a lap or two. Understanding the track will help you plan your racing lines and make better decisions during the race.

• Try a few track days before deciding to race. Consistent practice is key to improving your racing skills. Set aside dedicated time for track sessions, the more time you spend on the bike, the better you'll become at controlling it and optimizing your performance.

• Focus on Smoothness: Smoothness in your riding technique is essential for speed and control. Avoid sudden or jerky movements, and aim for fluid transitions between acceleration, braking, and cornering. Smooth is fast.

• Maintain Your Motorcycle: Regularly inspect and maintain your motorcycle to ensure it's in optimal condition. Keep the tires properly inflated, check the suspension, and ensure all components are in good working order, especially if riding a vintage motorcycle. A well-maintained bike performs better and minimizes the chances of mechanical issues during races.

• Stay Focused and Calm: Motorcycle racing requires intense focus and concentration. Stay mentally prepared and focused during the race, and avoid getting distracted by external factors, like faster racers. Learn techniques such as breathing exercises or visualization to help manage nerves and maintain a calm mindset.

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Finally, one of RIG’s major goals - focus on fitness and endurance: Motorcycle racing demands physical fitness and endurance. Regularly engage in cardiovascular exercises, hints yoga and strength training. A strong core and upper body strength are particularly important for stability and control.

We wrapped the first track day of the 2023 season with a mostly successful test and tune - the vintage BMW R75 held its own and so did its rider (for the most part). Rust is Gold Racing will be hosting a new rider workshop at the Rust is Gold Coffee shop this summer, so follow the official RIG racing website and Rust is Gold social media for dates and times. We look forward to seeing you out on the road racing track and be sure to register on the SMRI website for track days and racing times. Ride safe and see you on the track.

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Everything Goes wRight at CINCO DE BAJA H

askel Wright won Class 10 at Cinco de Baja 300 in El Paso.

His Ecotech rear-engined rocket flexed its 14” – 16” of travel to dominate the desert. The inline, dual cam 4 cylinder engine leveraged the variable timing and fivespeed tranny to maximize its 180 horsepower.

“It will scare you,” said Wright in a December 11, 2022 interview. “Our first big race in this car will be the Mint 400. My son and my daughter will probably be racing most of the race. It's a 300-mile race. I think they have a 100-mile Loop. I can't wait, looking forward to it.”

The Mint 400 in Las Vegas was contested on March 9 -12 and is considered one of the toughest desert races. In this case desert prevailed over machine and ended with a blown motor but the family team rallied to win in El Paso.

Outlaw Desert Racing was there providing pit support for Veterans and First Responders. Edgewood’s Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone also won in Class UTV Turbo Pro.

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UPCOMING CLAY OVAL SCHEDULE 6/3 6/10 6/17 6/24 7/1 7/8 7/15 7/22 7/24

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360 Non-Wing, Late Model, B-Mods, Flat Track 305/360 Wing, A-Mods, Micros, Cruisers 360 Wing, Late Model, A-Mods, Stock, Flat Track 305 Wing, B-Mods, Micros, Cruisers 360 Non-Wing, Late Model, A-Mods, Stock 305 Wing, A-Mods, B-Mods, Cruiser, Flat Track 360 Wing, Late Model, A-Mods, Stock, Micros 305 Wing, B-Mods, Micros, Cruisers 360 Non-Wing, Late Model, A-Mods, B-Mods

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2023 Schedule Whiskey Garage Drift Series Schedule: 5/27/23 5 - 11pm Round 3 7/8/23 5 - 11pm Round 4 8/5/23 5 - 11pm NCDP Practice 9 1/2/3 No Coast Drift Party 13 10/28/23 Halloween drift

ABQ Super Lap Schedule: 5/27/23 7am - 3pm 7/8/23 7am - 3pm 8/5/23 7am - 3pm The No Coast Drift Party 13 September 1st, 2nd and 3rd

9/9/23 7am - 3pm 10/8/23 7am - 3pm 11/5/23 7am - 3pm

HOS TED BY ERNIE VIGIL

SMRI Schedule:

SWMS Schedule:

May 13 - 14 7am - 4pm

May 6 - 7 8:30AM

June 17 - 18 7am - 4pm

June 3 - 4 8:30AM

July 15 - 16 7am - 4pm

July 1 8:30AM

Aug 12 - 13 7am - 4pm

August 27 8:30AM

Sep 16 - 17 7am - 4pm

Sept 23 - 24 8:30AM

Oct 21 - 22 7am - 4pm

Oct 14 - 15 8:30AM

Rage Stock by Ernie Vigil August 18th, 19th and 20th

Clay oval racing happening all season long! suikacircuit.com/sandiaspeedway

photo: Tim Walsh

Join our community, check out the schedule and stay updated with changes at:

www.suikacircuit.com NMMOTORSPORTSREPORT.COM

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Albuquerque Dragway 2023

S AT U R D AY J U N E 1 0 T H A L L O U T C A L L O U T. C O M

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START YOUR CAREER WITH A FULLY-LOADED TOOL BOX!

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ince 1982, the Car Crafters’ Team has provided the best Collision, Mechanical, and Glass repair in New Mexico. Our mission is to be the body shop of choice for customers, insurance companies, and employees, while providing the highest quality and safest repairs available today.

Jim Guthrie, owner and first technician of Car Crafters, started a body shop in his parent’s garage as a teenager. After filling up the cul-de-sac with cars, Jim’s parents told him to focus on college or find a shop and move out of their garage. From that moment on, Jim has been pursuing his love for repairing and customizing cars.

Today, you can visit one of Car Crafters’ 5 locations around Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. With the highest quality equipment and certified technicians, Car Crafters can take care of all your auto repair needs. From collision repair and oil changes, to fixing that nick in your windshield, Car Crafters is your One-Stop-Shop for all your vehicle needs!

On top of delivering the highest quality and safest repairs, Car Crafters also makes customer convenience and comfort a top priority. Customers can relax in our beautiful front lobby and enjoy refreshments. We offer Otis Spunkmeyer cookies and Java Joe’s coffee while you wait.

Our technicians and staff are professionally trained to handle all types of car repair needs. Car Crafters is the one stop body shop for everybody’s vehicles.

We also provide an onsite Enterprise Rent-A-Car or Hertz Car Rental and representatives from some of the top insurance companies to make sure you have a timely visit, each and every time.

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GETTING A JOB WITH CAR CRAFTERS Start making money right away ($26,500-$32,000) first year wages based on $12 an hour at start and $15 an hour once your preliminary toolbox period is up.

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We give you a full toolbox, a training program to follow, AND pay for all of your training and certifications ($10,000+ in value over 4 years) Be making $70,000+ by year 4 just by following the training program And that is just the START! Some of our most experienced body men and painters make $100,000+!

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www.carcrafters.com/car-crafters-body-shop-apprenticeship/

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STORY BY SUSAN WADE PHOTOS COURTESY NHRA.COM

Just who is this Gaige Herrera who keeps hogging all the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle trophies?

In two-wide or four-wide fashion, he has crushed the competition, winning all three completed events (at Gainesville, Fla.; Concord, N.C.; and Joliet, Ill.) from the No. 1 starting position.

He has set low elapsed time (E.T.) and top speed at every race. And he owns four of the class’ top six E.T.s. and has amassed 28 Countdown bonus points so far. And he has opened a 169-point lead in the standings ahead of closest opponent, his Vance & Hines Mission Foods Suzuki Hayabusa teammate Eddie Krawiec.

He even got a thrill in the final round at Joliet, defeating Chip Ellis, one of his childhood heroes whose poster he had pinned up on his bedroom wall years ago.

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His crew chief, Andrew Hines, called the team newcomer “flawless” and “a phenom” and said he’s proud to see Herrera “rise to the occasion. It’s a lot of pressure, and he’s feeling it now. The kid is just solid now.”

Krawiec said he “knew after seeing him his first weekend that he was going to be good. He has confidence when he rides, and it shows.

I believe it’s very rare to see.

It’s kind of hard to explain, but he just knows he can do it, and confidence is one of the key things.”

in Super Comp. He said, “I still actually still do drive every once in a while. I drive my grandfather's 68 blown small-block Camaro. My family started in cars, so my grandpa's heart still is in cars, but he supports the whole bike stuff, too. My dad's the one that branched off and started the whole bike deal.”

An iron worker and pipefitter during the day, Herrera works in his shop doing “custom wiring harnesses on mainly drag bikes,” he said. “I do custom harnesses. I build motors, build exhaust systems, basically build complete motorBut Herrera credits the motorcycle for his perfect recycles besides chassis. So, I definitely branch out and do cord: “It gives me a whole lot of confidence having a bike a lot. And then I do a lot of tuning. I fly all over, doing like this. This whole Vance & Hines team has this bike tuning, or I do remote tuning almost every other day.” on rails, and it takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. To Via the Internet, he has tuned bikes in Dubai. “So I'm get a third straight win means a lot. You couldn’t draw definitely, definitely busy with the racing side.” it up any better than this. It’s just a dream right now for us.”

Herrera doesn’t travel downstate to the Vance & Hines headquarters at Brownsburg often, but Hines said he’s an Herrera, the 29-year-old fourth-generation drag racer asset on the mechanical side. “Gaige is a skilled welder/ from La Habra, Calif., who has moved to DeMotte, Ind., fabricator, engine builder, wiring guy, and mechanic. had earned a couple of titles in other series and for the With those attributes we gained a crewman also,” he past several years had been a force in Outlaw and XDA said. “He is able to do just about anything we ask on the Pro Street competition before joining the Vance & Hines bike between rounds or in a thrash to change engines.” organization. He had extensive experience on a Suzuki, even as the fastest Suzuki Hayabusa racer in the U.S. Herrera’s beginning-of-the-season goals were surprisingly modest in light of his early success. “I definitely He also has been a force on four wheels. He drove a want to try to go for at least a top three, because I know Datsun in Super Gas for about a year, then he competed I got the bike more than capable to be up there,” he said.

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Today, in this first fulltime campaign after riding parttime for the Stoffer team in 2022, It’s hard to imagine that at this rate, anyone will overtake Herrera.

He simply, said, “My overall goal is to be consistent on the motorcycle, riding-wise, and consistent as far as holding my composure and not letting anything distract me. So it's definitely on me.”

After skipping the June 2-4 New England Nationals, the Pro Stock Motorcycle class will be back on track June 9-11 Thunder Valley Nationals at Tennessee’s Bristol Dragway.

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LET'S RACE TWO AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY STORY AND PHOTOS BY SYDNEE HAMBLIN, WHM PHOTOGRAPHY

Racers from across the globe took the opportunity to gain valuable track time at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg Ohio during the Let’s Race Two weekend May 5th and 6th. The race included a meeting of the World of Outlaws winged sprints and the United States Auto club non-wing sprints. Wing sprint car drivers all looking to gain as much knowledge as possible going into the much anticipated Eldora Million on July 13th.

May 5th saw Logan Schuchart fend off Rico Abreu for a trip to victory lane in the Wing division. Abreu gave Schuchart everything he had including a last lap pass which Schuchart was able to recover from leading flag to flag to claim a $10,000 check. Abreu finished second with Donny Schatz rounding out the podium. In the non-wing main, Justin Grant was victorious after starting 6th, with a dominating performance over Brady Bacon, Kyle Cummins, Emerson Axom, and Kevin Thomas Jr.

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Saturday, Rico Abreu would not be denied his turn in victory lane bringing Donny Schatz and David Gravel to the podium with him. This marked Abreu’s 3rd victory of the season with the Outlaws, proving his strength early in the season. Abreu fended off hard charges throughout the race due to a set of early race cautions. Another set of drivers also took their place on the podium in the non-wing division.

Throughout the night, Justin Grant seemed like he was once again the man to beat. Starting 7th, Grant quickly drove towards the front of the pack. Gaining on Leary, Grant made contact with a stalled lap car on lap 19 ending his night. C.J. Leary was finally victorious during the Let’s Race Two visit, after finishing 2nd on four separate occasions. Also on the podium was Jake Swanson from 6th, and Chase Stockon who started 3rd.

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A strong field of 49 winged sprint cars visited the hallowed ground of the Ohio oval, looking for the chance of a one million dollar payday in July. The teams, from far and wide, are all looking to gather as much information and track time as possible to give themselves even a slight advantage over the competition. An even larger field is expected in July as the Million is scheduled along with the 40th annual Kings Royal weekend. A two night “every point matters” format is planned for the July 13th race starting Wednesday the 12th. Drivers will accumulate points each time on the track, where the more points they gain, the better starting position they have on Thursday. Following the Million the weekend will conclude with the traditional Kings Royal format Friday and Saturday.

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Chase Elliott Suspended for Coca-Cola 600 Wreck Story By Jonathan Fjeld

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images

NASCAR suspended Chase Elliott for wrecking Denny Hamlin in the Coca-Cola 600.

The sanctioning body swiftly handed down the penalty, just a day after the wreck happened. Elliott will miss one race.

Exiting turn four on lap 187, Denny Hamlin squeezed Chase Elliott up the track. Elliott hit the wall, then hooked Hamlin in the right-rear quarter panel in the dogleg. Hamlin slammed the wall hard and bounced back into Elliott.

Elliott and Hamlin fell out of the race, in 34th and 35th.

NASCAR’s precedent for the suspension ironically lies with an incident involving Hamlin’s driver, Bubba Wallace, and another Hendrick driver, Kyle Larson.

Last fall at Las Vegas, Wallace hooked Larson into the frontstretch wall after Larson put him into the wall.

This is the first time NASCAR has ever suspended Elliott.

The Coca-Cola 600 was also the first time since Talladega where Hendrick Motorsports had their primary lineup racing. Now, at Gateway, they’ll go back to having at least one fill-in driver [Corey LaJoie in the No. 9].

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Team Penske completes Memorial Day weekend double

By Joseph Eigo

Photos and Graphics Courtesy of Team Penske, Getty Images, AP CONCORD, N.C– Team Penske has nearly done it all in motorsports, but Monday night they celebrated another feather in their cap after capturing both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600 on the same weekend.

Josef Newgarden’s last lap pass in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 brought home team owner Roger Penske’s 19th victory in the 500. Rain showers forced the team owner to wait until Monday to see Ryan Blaney complete the Memorial Day weekend sweep.

“Obviously a big weekend for Team Penske.

Watching the Indy 500 yesterday, how that played out, and watching Josef win his first one and watching Mr. Penske win No. 19, that’s really cool to see,” Blaney said. “Especially when that stuff happens, you’re like, well, the pressure is on for us to try to sweep the weekend, especially in two really big races.”

It’s the first time in history a team has swept the two races on Memorial Day weekend.

Hot Streak Penske is on quite the streak right now. In 2022, the team brought home the Daytona 500 with Austin Cindric. They also won the NASCAR Cup Series championship with Joey Logano and the IndyCar championship with Will Power.

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back. He might have texted me back after I won too, but I haven’t spoken to Josef yet.”

After the win, Blaney jumped into the stands to celebrate with the fans, just like Newgarden did after his win Sunday.

Coming into Monday’s Coke 600, Penske and Ford had struggled to find the win column. Logano won in Atlanta this spring, but it had been 59 races since Blaney had won a points race. The No. 12 car has shown consistent speed in 2023, even finding himself near the front late in races on multiple occasions this season. Blaney finally sealed the deal on Monday in his first career crown jewel victory.

“I appreciate everyone sticking around, but I saw how excited they were, and I was like, you know what, I’m going to go in the stands like Josef did and have some human contact after five hours of not having it,” Blaney said.

“That was a lot of fun. The excitement level of the fans makes us feel good as competitors, and it was really cool to do that. I think some of it was because Josef did it. Some of it was showing my appreciation.”

It’s Penske’s third victory in the 600-mile race all time. They also won in 2020 with Brad Keselowski and 2010 with Kurt Busch.

He said he reached out to Newgarden after Sunday’s 500.

“I texted him, I bet he’s got 8,000 text messages. I texted him after the race on Sunday and said congratulations and all that stuff. Then, I texted with Roger and Walt and Bud Denker and Tim Cindric but I haven’t had a chance to call,” Blaney said. “I don’t even think he’s texted me

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e NA S C A R T h r o w b a c k N i g h t

By Justin Melillo

Junior Gaming and eSports Editor, Traxion.GG In May, NASCAR took to Darlington Raceway for its annual celebration of the history of the sport. Throwback weekend is one of the more popular weekends every year, and this being the 75th anniversary of NASCAR, the celebration was made even sweeter following the addition of 25 more of the Greatest Drivers to the existing list of 50 from 1998.

When you take a look at eNASCAR, the 75th celebration has already been underway thanks to Rise Esports and their No. 75 Chevrolet driven by Zack Novak. Novak, the 2019 series champion, joined Rise back in 2020 following his championship with RFK Racing. Throughout this 2023 season, that No. 75 has adorned many legendary liveries, from Dale Earnhardt’s classic black scheme to one of Richard Petty’s famous STP rides.

instead to two classics from the mid-2000s with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne.

A Harvick paint was also found on the No. 3 of Jordy Lopez with an old Coca-Cola C2 scheme from 2004. More dated throwbacks than that included an Elton Sawyer throwback on the Front Row Motorsports’ No. 38 of Michael Cosey Jr—the same scheme that Todd Gilliland ran the weekend prior. Perhaps the deepest cut For once, however, Novak didn’t stand out in the crowd as the came from the other Team Dillon Esports Chevy as Tucker Mintmajority of the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series field took part er minted Harry Gant’s Skoal Bandit No. 33, but with Funk Away in this year’s Throwback race at virtual Darlington Raceway on 16th as the brand on board.

May, just two days removed from the real-world event. Novak still had a mighty fine throwback, fittingly to the team he scored his title There were some faux-backs from the RFK Racing camp as they with, as he drove Jeff Burton’s No. 99 Exide ride, but as usual, with ran the same two schemes they ran in the real-world event.

Sunoco branding onboard.

The Letarte Esports guys both had schemes inspired as well, with the His teammate Jimmy Mullis, who has No. 36 inspired by Goodyear’s 125th been running the “Spirit Of ” cars this seaanniversary and the No. 40 inspired son, also took part, albeit wasn’t an actual

by Kyle Petty’s 2007 Coke Zero 400 throwback, but more paid homage to the scheme. Kyle Busch was a popular man greatest NASCAR members from the State to throwback to, having both Joe Gibbs of South Carolina. There were some other Racing rides returning to Busch’s years sort of throwbacks as well, where the with Interstate Batteries. Jim Beaver Kanaan Esports duo had stock car repreEsports also had a Kyle Busch throwsentations of Tony Kanaan’s old 7-Eleven back for driver Malik Ray. IndyCar and the Williams Esports guys were driving Formula 1-inspired throwbacks on stock cars to Nigel The other Jim Beaver car of Garrett Lowe was one of two drivers Mansell and his 1992 championship season. in the field with a throwback to themself. Lowe ran a similar scheme to the real-world Bandolero he drove as his first racecar.

The rest of the field stepped their game up, for sure. Novak wasn’t Michael Conti was the other self promoter. This being Conti’s the only Jeff Burton/Exide inspired scheme—Collin Bowden took final season, a self-throwback was acceptable for sure as he the 2000 lightning ride for a spin on his eRacr No. 69. Elliott Sadler harkened back to his early days on the iRacing platform, a special Esports surprisingly didn’t throwback to their namesake owner, but event that he participated in 2011 that was coincidentally hosted

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eNASCAR Throwback night an ode to NASCAR and sim racing’s past

by Landon Cassill.

There were two standout winners of the throwback festivities.

Conti’s JR Motorsports teammate Kevin King whipped out the 2008 Dale Earnhardt Jr AMP Energy scheme with Ledford Billiard on board. That scheme wound up winning the Traxion.GG community vote as best throwback.

The other winner? Well, that would be none other than the defending champion Casey Kirwan, driving a throwback to Tony Stewart’s final championship season in 2011. The Office Depot-inspired Chevrolet had just a touch of XSET camo, but the swoops were lined up neatly around the No. 95… and oh yeah, Kirwan wound up winning the race, his second of the season to date.

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WEBE RACING

NATURITA ,

Naturita, Colorado welcomed WeBe Racing on May 20-21.

COLORADO

PHOTOS BY C2 PROMOTIONS

Friday, racers started to roll into the race site, while others stayed in Naturita. Race days starts with a rousing GOOD MORNING WEBE over the PA system. The minis start gathering around the start line, ready for practice. Then, the fun starts. Minis race for 20 minutes over a .5-2-mile course. Weaving thru trees, picking ways around rocks, or learning good lines thru corners, the riders do their best to do it fast. Mini after mini cranking out laps, race after race. Sometimes having the same rider on multiple bikes or in multiple classes, the fun is fast paced and exciting. Moms, dads, crew, and everyone rooting and cheering each of the riders to do their best. After mini races finish, big bike practice starts. Getting their first look at the 9-mile course, racers are encouraged to ride at a moderate pace to observe obstacles and develop a race strategy. Practice over and it's time for Team Racing. Teams

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of 2-3 riders, race for 2 hours, trading off each lap by using a hair scrunchy. 30 minutes of rain added a level of difficulty to the course. Team races finish up and onto mini awards, the highlight of Saturday evening. The top three mini riders in each class receive their awards and get a chance to give thanks to mom and dad as well as any other sponsors that have helped them along the way.

Sunday morning starts with a riders meeting and other announcements. 830 sharp the green flag starts the C/ Novice class races. Some getting great starts and executing a flawless race. Others having their race derailed by flat tires or bike issues over 75 minutes. 11 sharp starts the Pro/A/B race. The Pros blast off first and set out to a blistering pace with the remaining classes in pursuit.

Racing for 2 hours with pit stops and multiple classes makes for some good racing. Everyone cheering on all the racers makes for a great environment and fun times. With the races ending early Sunday afternoon, course break down starts, the weekend comes to a close, and everyone sets their sights on the next race. Special thanks to the Naturita Volunteer Fire Department, Reams family, our WeBe family, and all our sponsors that help the series be the best.

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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SUPPORTED!

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A L O O K BAC K AT T H E ALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM CAR SHOW

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UPCOMING SHOWS June 9-11, 2023 June 10, 2023 June 16, 2023 June 16-18, 2023 June 17, 2023 June 17, 2023 June 17, 2023 June 17, 2023 June 18, 2023 June 18, 2023 June 20-24, 2023 June 24, 2023

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Albuquerque • NMMCA National Show Canon City, CO • 41st Annual Canon Car Club Car Show Santa Fe, NM • 2023 Cruise Nights on the Plaza Ruidoso, NM • Tattoo & Car Show Expo Convention Center Rio Rancho, NM • Mopar Fest Car Show Albuquerque, NM • 14th Annual Sagebrush Auto Show Portales, NM • Heritage Days Car Show Bernalillo, NM • Farmhouse Ale Car, Truck & Custom Bike Show Albuquerque, NM • Father's Day Fiesta Car Show Alamogordo, NM • Father's Day Show Albuquerque, NM • Cadillac and LaSalle Club Grand National Event Albuquerque, NM • 3rd Annual Vinyard Senior Park Drive by Parade

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Firecracker Nationals

Friday, June 30th • R.O.D.S. • Nitro Funny Cars & Combo Race

• Saturday, July 1st

Gates Open at 4PM

• R.O.D.S. • Nitro Funny Cars & Bracket Race

Spectators: $20

Spectators: $25

2 DAYS OF RACING Kids 10 & Under ALWAYS Free

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