TC Daily Pit Stop: Kyle Larson Second-Fastest in Wednesday Indy 500 Test; Hamlin Explains Beef with Marcus Smith; Miner Supporting Berry at Texas; Sesh Sponsors Emerling; Clean Harbors with Moffitt
TC Daily Pit Stop: Kyle Larson Second-Fastest in Wednesday Indy 500 Test; Hamlin Explains Beef with Marcus Smith; Miner Supporting Berry at Texas; Sesh Sponsors Emerling; Clean Harbors with Moffitt
TC Daily Pit Stop: Thursday, April 11, 2024
Kyle Larson Second-Fastest in Wednesday Morning Indianapolis 500 Oval Veterans Open Test
In a rain-shortened Indianapolis 500 Open Test on Wednesday, Kyle Larson turned the second-fastest lap time. Larson’s fast lap was a 226.384 mph lap, which came after the assistance of drafting from other cars.
The session was important for Larson, who is attempting to understand how his No. 17 Arrow McLaren IndyCar handles in the wake of other cars around him heading into his first-ever Indy 500 start in May.
“Getting in some traffic and feeling the turbulent air,” Larson said. “The first time I got in traffic, I think my tires still had good grip, so I was surprised. It didn’t feel that different in traffic. Then the last time, I was building understeer, and Newgarden got by me and I was super tight behind him.
“I’m just trying to learn all that and process all that and knowing what I can do in the car to cope with that. I’m just trying to figure out any bit of racecraft today, which I know is tough. Just get notes in my head and all that.”
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Denny Hamlin Cites Charter Negotiations, Lack of SMI Reinvestment as Source of Feud with Marcus Smith
On this week’s episode of Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin spoke at length about his public twitter feud with Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith. Hamlin says the dust-up was a combination of frustrations over the current NASCAR Charter Agreement negotiations as well as a sense that Speedway Motorsports is not actively reinvesting its chunk of the TV revenue pie back into its race tracks.
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Miner Docks, Doors, and More Supporting Josh Berry at Texas
On Wednesday, Stewart-Haas Racing revealed a new primary sponsorship partner for Josh Berry. San Antonio-based Miner Docks, Doors and More will adorn the No. 4 Ford Mustang this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
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Memphis Villarreal to Drive No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Truck for Texas
Memphis Villarreal will make his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of the 2024 season as he is set to slide behind the wheel of the No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.
Villarreal, a Texas native, has competed in four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races (all in 2023) and scored a best finish of 24th at Martinsville Speedway with G2G Racing.
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Sesh Nicotine Pouches Supporting Patrick Emerling, SS-GreenLight at Texas
Patrick Emerling, who will make his sixth NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season this weekend at Texas, will have his sixth different primary sponsorship partner of the year. Sesh Nicotine Pouches, which recently landed a deal to sell their product inside Buc-ee’s gas stations, will be displayed on the No. 07 SS-GreenLight Racing machine.
Additionally, a Sesh show car will be on display at the Buc-ee’s across from Texas Motor Speedway all weekend long and Emerling will sign autographs at the Buc-ee’s on Friday.
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Clean Harbors Signs on as Two-Race Primary Sponsor for Thad Moffitt
Thad Moffitt will have a familiar partner on his No. 46 Faction46 Chevrolet Silverado this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and for an additional race in 2024. Clean Harbors, which is a longtime supporter of Moffitt and the Petty family, will showcase its Safety-Kleen brand on the No. 46 truck.