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Ron Capps was looking to make it four straight NHRA Winternationals final round appearances on Sunday at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, but a puff of smoke in the semifinals halted the three-time Funny Car world champion’s shot at capping off his weekend in the winner’s circle at a facility he considers to be a home track. The driver of the NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car has enjoyed an impeccable record at Pomona as of late. His last six outings at both the Spring and Fall events have included three No. 1 qualifiers, three runner-up finishes, and a win at the rescheduled 2021 Winternationals. After powering to the second-quickest pass during the second and final round of what became an abbreviated qualifying show due to persistent rain, the lifelong Californian and current Carlsbad resident placed his NAPA GR Supra in the No. 2 qualifying position and appeared to be on track to tie his former boss, Don Prudhomme, the only Funny Car driver to make four consecutive Winternationals final round appearances (1975 – ’78). Capps drew Funny Car newbie Austin Prock as his first-round competitor. When it was time to pull up to the line, the NAPA team caught fans by surprise when they chose what seemed to be the unfavorable left lane. After watching car after car struggle to make a clean pass in that lane, Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli flexed his crew chief muscle and tuned the NAPA Supra to a stout 3.891 E.T. to easily defeat Prock’s 4.138. The run not only sent Capps into the next round but held up to be low E.T. of the event. In the quarterfinals, Capps posted a 3.935 E.T. to activate the scoreboard win lights once again, defeating Terry Haddock in the process. The semifinals featured a battle between the two winningest drivers in the category, but the excitement was short-lived as Capps’ machine uncharacteristically went up in smoke early while Force made a clean pass in the opposite lane to advance. “It was us versus Force, Toyota versus Chevy,” Capps explained of his semifinal match-up. “Obviously, you want to do well for Toyota and thought we had the advantage there with our GR Supra body. We found something right before we went up there. You know, I’m always bragging about my team that we have the NAPA Know How, and they caught something that could’ve been a bigger deal and they caught it right before we went up. So, we were a little rushed, me getting in the car and getting up there. Then it started sprinkling and we thought they were going to hold off, but we got up there last minute. I haven’t talked to Guido yet to see mechanically why it smoked the tires, but just something the car hadn’t done all weekend. We felt pretty comfortable, and again like Gainesville, we had a great car. Felt like a car that could win the race. But the good thing is, we have a couple weeks off and two more West Coast races, so let’s see if we can go out there and get a trophy.” Shortly after the semifinal round was completed, the remainder of on-track activities were canceled for the day due to rain and hail. The NHRA Winternationals will be completed during the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona, April 5 – 7. Start / Finish: No. 2 / def. in Semifinals Points Standing / Total: No. 3 / 138 pts. Next Race: April 5-7, NHRA Arizona Nationals How to Watch or Listen: FS1, NHRA.TV NAPA Racing:@NAPARacing Ron Capps: @RonCapps28 Ron Capps Motorsports: @TeamRonCapps The post Capps Reaches Semifinals at NHRA Winternationals appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Chase Elliott and No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified ninth for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) As part of the team’s strategy, the 2020 Cup champions pitted in the closing laps of each of the first two stages to hopefully put themselves in a good position to battle for the win In the final stage, Elliott had just made a pass for fifth place when his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro got loose and he was penalized for exceeding the track limits Despite serving a pass-through penalty, the 28-year-old rebounded to 11th on lap 54 Turning some of the fastest laps of the field, he was close to breaking into the top 10 when he spun and dropped to 19th Elliott rallied to finish 16th and is now ninth in the Cup Series points standings Chase Elliott earned a ninth-place starting position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), marking the third straight week the No. 9 team qualified inside the top 10. At the start of the 68-lap race, Elliott held his own among the top-10 running order. He lost some positions as the run went on and was 13th when he relayed to the team that his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 felt stiff on initial load. Elliott advanced to 12th prior to being called to pit road in the closing laps of stage one for four tires and fuel – one of the popular pit strategies among the field. With some teams staying out on the track, Elliott was 18th following the pit stop and that’s where he remained to end the first stage. During the stage break, several teams that didn’t short pit the first segment made their way to pit road, putting Elliott in the ninth position to start stage two. Prior to taking the green flag, the 28-year-old driver reported that the NAPA Chevy was tighter through the center of the turns after the initial pit stop. Despite the tight handling condition, Elliott continued to turn laps inside the top 10 during the second stage. He ran as high as seventh and was scored in the eighth spot when crew chief Alan Gustafson radioed for Elliott to come to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. The team also took the opportunity to reverse an air-pressure adjustment that was made the first pit stop. Elliott returned to the track in 21st and stayed there to take the green-and-white checkered flag on lap 30. The 2020 Cup Series champion started the final stage from the 11th position on lap 33 and impressively maneuvered his way to sixth by lap 36. Elliott had just made the pass for fifth when he got loose in turn four and was issued a pass-through penalty for short cutting the course. The team challenged the call, but Elliott was ultimately forced to serve the penalty on lap 40. After leaving pit road, Elliott was scored 22nd but quickly made up ground on his competitors. Green flag pit stops got under way on lap 44 with the No. 9 team making its on lap 47. Following the four-tire pit stop, Elliott was 26th in the running order but was consistently turning some of the fastest laps of the field. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native was up to 20th on lap 50 and advanced to 15th just one lap later as green-flag stops continued. Elliott was up to 11th and had his sights set on a top-10 finish when he got loose and spun. The driver of the No. 9 was able to continue but the setback dropped him to 19th. Refusing to give up, Elliott fought hard to regain track position. He picked up a few spots and the team was hopeful for a late-race caution, but it never came. When the checkered flag waved, Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts crew was scored with a 16th-place finish. Elliott leaves COTA ninth in the Cup Series points standings, just 47 markers behind the leader. Next Race: Sunday, March 31, Richmond Raceway How to Watch or Listen: 7:00 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN or SiriusXM Start / Finish: 9 / 16 Points Standing / Total: 9th / 173 pts. (-47) NAPA: @NAPARacing Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team The post Elliott Rallies to 16th after Late-Race Setbacks at COTA appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Christian Eckes put on a furious rally on an overtime restart to capture an eighth-place finish on Saturday afternoon at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST had an eventful, up-and-down afternoon but showcased his resilience by rebounding from two penalties to record his second top-10 result at COTA. After qualifying 10th on Friday afternoon, Eckes was forced to start at the tail of the field after the NAPA Auto Care team changed transmissions before the race. The New Yorker was undeterred by starting shotgun and rocketed to 14th on the opening lap. An early caution on lap three helped Eckes continue his rapid run to the front on a lap six restart when he cracked the top 10. He maintained his top-five position at the end of Stage 1 on lap 12 to collect six points in fifth position. Crew chief Charles Denike brought Eckes to pit road for four tires, fuel, and a small adjustment under the first stage caution. Eckes restarted 11th on lap 15 as several trucks stayed on track. He immediately climbed into fifth on lap 18 and took advantage of an impending caution to pit on lap 21 before the yellow flag flew. However, Eckes was nabbed with a penalty for exceeding track limits and was sent to the tail of the field. He restarted 23rd on lap 24 and hustled his way to close Stage 2 in 12th on lap 26. During the second stage caution, Eckes stayed on track to inherit track position and restarted eighth on lap 29. While running sixth on lap 30, Eckes incurred another track limit violation and ran 26th after serving the penalty under green. With the aid of a caution on lap 38, he restarted 10th on lap 40, but spun at the top of Turn 1 on lap 41. Denike and the NAPA Auto Care team gave Eckes four tires for the two-lap overtime as he restarted 22nd on lap 45 with two laps to go. As the OT green flag dropped, Eckes went on an all-out rampage, slicing through the field in the final two laps to take the checkered flag in eighth position. “We came from the back at least four times today and felt like we were a top-three truck,” Eckes said. “Our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet was pretty well balanced but just had too many mistakes on my part. Our team did a great job responding from it to get back to eighth at the end.” Start / Finish: 10 / 8 Points Standing / Total: 6th / 177 pts. (-30) Next Race: Friday, April 15, Martinsville Speedway How to Watch or Listen: FS1, MRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Christian Eckes: @christianeckes Bill McAnally Racing / McAnally-Hilgemann Racing: @BMR_NASCAR The post Eckes’ Late Rally at COTA Results in Top-10 Finish appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

ATLANTA, March 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), a leading global distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, announced today that its board of directors has appointed James F. Howe to the position of President, Motion, the company's industrial business, effective April 1, 2024. With nearly three decades of dedicated service to the company, Mr. Howe brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. Genuine Parts Company - James Howe Most recently, Mr. Howe served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial and Technology Officer, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the corporate trajectory of Motion. His leadership in overseeing eCommerce, strategic pricing, sales excellence, corporate accounts and human resources has been instrumental in driving the company's success. In his new capacity, Mr. Howe will continue to report to Randy Breaux, Group President, GPC North America. "James has an impressive history, having served in numerous executive roles during his long career at Motion," said Paul Donahue, Chairman and CEO. "His extensive experience makes him an excellent choice to lead Motion. We feel confident that under James's leadership, our talented and experienced Motion team will continue to achieve great results." About Genuine Parts Company Established in 1928, Genuine Parts Company is a leading global service organization specializing in the distribution of automotive and industrial replacement parts. Our Automotive Parts Group operates across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, while our Industrial Parts Group serves customers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. We keep the world moving with a vast network of over 10,700 locations spanning 17 countries supported by more than 60,000 teammates. Learn more at genpt.com. SOURCE Genuine Parts Company For further information: Investor Contact: Timothy Walsh, 678.934.5349, Senior Director - Investor Relations; Media Contact: Heather Ross, 678.934.5220, Vice President - Strategic Communications View the full article

Redemption was served on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) as Christian Eckes was victorious after leading 144 laps and swept the night for his first victory at “Thunder Valley”. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST atoned for his runner-up finish at BMS last September in convincing fashion by pacing practice, earning his seventh-career pole award, and leading the most laps. The sixth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) victory of his career vaulted him to fifth in the championship standings after earning a race-high 57 points. Eckes put the entire field on notice during practice that his NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet would be the truck to beat. He posted a quick time of 15.55 seconds in practice and backed it up with MHR’s third-straight pole on the BMS concrete, and his second-consecutive. At the green flag, Eckes jumped out to a quick lead and paced the opening 52 circuits. A loose handling condition hindered him from collecting a playoff point in the first segment but still earned nine points in second position at the end of Stage 1 on lap 65. Crew chief Charles Denike kept Eckes on track during the first stage caution to employ a one-stop strategy in an effort to maintain track position. The race ran without incident from lap 77 through the end of Stage 2 on lap 130. During the run, Eckes continued to wrestle with a loose condition on corner entry and was scored third to earn eight points at lap 130 before coming to pit road for his only pit stop of the night for four tires, fuel, and adjustments. The NAPA Auto Care team gained a position for Eckes on the stop and allowed him to restart on the front row for the lap 143 restart. He began to pressure Kyle Busch for the race lead on lap 154 and reclaimed the top spot on lap 159. Eckes perfectly executed a restart on lap 227 and created a comfortable gap over the final 24 circuits. In the waning laps, Eckes was able to fend off Busch’s response for the lead and banked his first BMS win. His victory also marked a historic night for MHR as teammates Zane Smith and NCTS points leader Tyler Ankrum joined him in the top-five, marking the first time the organization has had three of the top-five finishers. “Oh, man, it’s so sweet” Eckes said. “There’s just so much behind this win from last year, missing out on the Championship 4 and losing the race with six (laps) to go. To come back and redeem ourselves was our number one goal, and not only that, but the first three races, how terribly they’ve gone. We had a lot of issues, and to come back and run really good just show the resilience of the team.” Start / Finish: 1 / 1 Points Standing / Total: 5th / 142 pts. (-32) Next Race: Saturday, March 23, Circuit of the Americas How to Watch or Listen: 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Christian Eckes: @christianeckes Bill McAnally Racing / McAnally-Hilgemann Racing: @BMR_NASCAR The post Eckes Seizes Redemption with Dominant Bristol Win appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Chase Elliott and No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified fifth for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway In a race where tire management was key, the 28-year-old driver persevered to earn the No. 9 team’s first top-10 result of the season and his third straight top-10 at Bristol The 2020 Cup Series champion led twice for a total of five laps on the day – including the 80,000th lap for Hendrick Motorsports in the sport’s premier series – en route to an eighth-place finish Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Bristol sixth in the Cup Series points standings Chase Elliott earned a fifth-place starting position in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Once the green flag dropped, Elliott held his own inside the top 10 and advanced to third before the first caution of the race came out on lap 22. Under the yellow, Elliott reported that the right front was “taking a beating” but that the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s balance was spot on for the current track conditions. Crew chief Alan Gustafson called his driver to pit road for right-side tires and fuel. Elliott restarted fourth on lap 30 and was running in the same position when the caution flag waved again just two laps later. Staying out, he restarted fourth on lap 38 and charged to the lead on lap 61. Elliott stayed out front for four laps, earning Hendrick Motorsports its 80,000th lap led in the Cup Series in the process. When the race slowed for a caution on lap 71, Elliott was scored in the fourth position. He reported to his team that the NAPA Chevrolet was having some voltage issues, but he was ultimately able to remedy it without the team needing to make repairs. Elliott brought the NAPA Chevy to pit road for four tires and fuel. A fast stop by the No. 9 crew gained Elliott a spot on pit road and he lined up third for the restart on lap 79. The Hendrick Motorsports driver held strong inside the top 10 for several laps, but as the run went on Elliott began to get too much wear on his tires and he slid back to 15th to end the first stage. Gustafson called Elliott to pit road during the stage break for four tires and fuel. Following the stop, the team examined the tires and discovered that both right-side tires were corded – something that a majority of the field was also dealing with. Elliott started the second stage from 13th on lap 140. For several laps, cars ran double file and Elliott was stuck on the outside. At the time of the lap-177 caution, Elliott was scored 23rd. He relayed to his team that he felt that a lot of his competitors were running too hard at the start and that he was trying to protect his tires. After stopping for fresh tires and fuel, Elliott restarted 20th and improved to 17th before the yellow flag was displayed on lap 228. He radioed that he was happy with his NAPA Chevy’s balance. When Elliott came to pit road for four tires and fuel, there was trouble on the pit stop that dropped Elliott deep in the field. Once the race was back to green, he maneuvered his way to 22nd before the green-and-white checkered flag waved to end stage two at lap 250. After receiving four fresh tires, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native took the green flag for the final stage from 18th. However, the NAPA Chevy was too tight during the run and Elliott dropped to 30th as he hurt the right-rear tire trying to make his car turn. When a caution came out on lap 311, the team took the opportunity to make a chassis adjustment to the No. 9 during the four-tire stop. Elliott restarted 27th and was up to 25th when the final yellow flag of the race waved at lap 369. The six-time National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award winner brought the No. 9 Chevy to the attention of the pit crew for a fresh set of tires. He was scored 23rd after the pit stop and advanced inside the top 20 after the race went back to green. Elliott methodically pressed forward and broke into the top 10 on lap 432. During the long green-flag run, the team opted to stay out on the track longer than most. Elliott made his way to fifth before coming to pit road for his final pit stop of the day on lap 447. Once pit stops cycled through, he was scored in the 11th position. With fresher tires than some of his competitors, he continued to gain spots in the final laps to take the checkered flag eighth. It was his third straight top-10 finish on the high-banked concrete oval. Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Bristol sixth in the Cup Series points standings, just 33 markers behind the leader. “Normally, you could just bury the car into the corner so far and you don’t ever really get beat by guys with tires that bad,” Elliott said, describing what made the race so challenging. “You could just fall off a cliff there with the way that was. It was like racing at a really old, worn-out short track. It was a lot of fun. I think there was probably a little better balance somewhere up there, but I had a good time.” Start / Finish: 5 / 8 Points Standing / Total: 6th / 152 pts. (-33) Next Race: Sunday, March 24, Circuit of the Americas How to Watch or Listen: FOX, PRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team The post Elliott Earns Eighth-Place Result at Bristol appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

When it comes to working in the shop, personal safety should always be the top priority. Safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, even work boots are all meant to keep your body protected. It should come as no surprise that with new hybrid and electric drivetrains, there are also new safety gear requirements. Insulated tools are just the start of a well-stocked shop. There’s more to electrical safety than just owning a set of insulated screwdrivers. This expert advice is meant to give an overview of the kinds of general personal protection equipment (PPE) needed to service hybrid and electric vehicles. It is important to follow proper repair procedures for these vehicles, as described in the vehicle specific repair manual. This includes using all required PPE listed in the repair procedure with no exceptions. If you do not have ALL of the necessary PPE, DO NOT proceed with a repair, as doing so could lead to severe injury or even death. Now that you have an idea of the serious nature of vehicle high-voltage electrical systems, let’s take a look at how you can protect yourself. Personal Protection Wearing the right personal protection gear is a must when working with electric and hybrid vehicle high-voltage systems. The electrical energy stored in a typical main traction battery pack is more than enough to kill or seriously injure a person. In the past, wearing gloves while working on a car was usually a personal preference. Today, when working on high-voltage electrical systems, wearing gloves is mandatory. And not just one pair of gloves, but two pairs (inner and outer) are to be worn together. Just in case you are wondering, welding gloves are NOT the same as high-voltage electrical safety gloves. Class 0 gloves are required for protection up to 1,000 volts AC and 1,500 volts DC. One pair of rubber gloves (inner) protects against electric shock, while the leather gloves (outer) protect the rubber gloves from mechanical wear. They must be worn together in order to perform correctly. Electrical gloves must be tested every six months to ensure they are still capable of insulating the user from the rated voltage. Gloves will be labeled with the test date near the cuff. The exact personal protection gear needed for a repair will be spelled out in the vehicle service repair manual procedures. This may include an insulated apron, coveralls, insulated arm sleeves, safety glasses, arc flash face shield with neck protection, and insulated mats or blankets. These layers of protection are necessary not just for avoiding shocks, but also potential explosions like an arc flash. Tool Safety It may seem odd to consider hand tools as part of personal protection equipment, but that is exactly the case when working with electricity. Most ordinary hand tools are made from metal, which does an excellent job conducting electricity. For servicing high-voltage electrical systems tools need to be designed in such a way that they don’t provide a path for electricity to travel to the technician, or to other vehicle components. That’s why EV tools are specially designed to protect the technician when used properly. An EV tool set is a must-have for any technician looking to service an electric vehicle. A good start for insulated hand tools is an insulated screwdriver set, an insulated pliers set and an insulated socket set. Electric vehicle tools used for diagnostics need to handle higher voltages, like this digital multimeter. For repairs where the battery pack must be removed, special care must be taken due the extreme weight involved. A specialized battery pack lift is the proper way to lower and transport a hybrid or electric vehicle battery pack. You wouldn’t pull an engine out of a car without the proper lifting equipment, so give the same respect to a heavy traction battery pack. Work Space Safety Normally, when a car is being worked on in a service bay, there is little danger to fellow technicians. But that isn’t the case with a modern electric or hybrid vehicle. Whenever the high-voltage electrical system on one of these vehicles is exposed, proper notification must be given to those working in the area. Place orange cones and caution tape around the vehicle whenever the high voltage electrical system is being serviced. This warns other technicians that there is an electrical shock hazard in the shop, and to keep their distance. You may also place an electrical warning sign on the vehicle to signal to everyone in the shop to stay away. Part of your workspace safety gear must be an insulated safety hook. If a technician suffers an electrical accident while working on a vehicle, anyone attempting to help them is also in danger of electric shock. An insulated safety hook must be used to separate the victim from the electrical source. The last tip for work space safety is to never work on an electric or hybrid vehicle alone. Always let another technician or coworker know you are working on a high-voltage electrical system, and to check in on you periodically. Training Is The Key To Safety Working on hybrid and electric vehicle high voltage systems requires meticulous procedures and extensive training. While there are plenty of dangers when working on internal combustion vehicles, many of the safety procedures surrounding those vehicles have been known for decades. As EV and hybrid drivetrain become more mainstream, so will their service safety procedures. Tackling hybrid and electric vehicle high-voltage system repairs isn’t impossible, but there must be dedication to proper training. If you are a technician (or are wanting to become a technician), and are looking for electric vehicle service training, NAPA Auto Tech can help. NAPA Auto Tech offers a wide variety of convenient, cost-effective ways to become an automotive professional. In addition to eLearning and instructor-led training, NAPA Auto Tech offers hands-on and seminar-style classes for almost every make and model to help technicians keep their skills up to date. Photos courtesy of Brian Medford. The post The Best PPE For Your EV & Hybrid Service Shop appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Three-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps didn’t predict that a double-step and a red light in the second round would mark the end of his weekend on Sunday afternoon at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. When opponent J.R. Todd double-stepped while waiting for the tree to drop, Capps reacted early and turned on the red light in his quick and consistent NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra. Capps in his Dean ‘Guido’ Antonelli-tuned hot rod qualified third after consistently going down the track and making the third-quickest pass in all three completed qualifying sessions; Saturday’s fourth session was canceled due to weather. He picked up one bonus point in each of those sessions. It was Capps’ 3.871-second pass at 333.00 MPH in Friday’s second session that put him third on the final qualifying order. In the first round of eliminations on Sunday, Capps left the starting line first against Jim Campbell and charged to a 3.870-second pass at 332.18 MPH to get the win over a tire-hazing Campbell. It was the second-quickest performance of the round and Capps’ quickest of the weekend, extending his record over Campbell to a class-record 18-0 and giving him lane choice in the second round. Capps met up with past world champion and fellow Toyota driver J.R. Todd in the second round. Todd double-stepped the throttle, leading Capps to smash the throttle pedal in his NAPA Auto Care entry. He hit it .037 seconds too soon, as the red light came on in his lane. The third-year team owner coasted to a 4.185-second run at 249.39 MPH knowing he was disqualified due to the red light. “A heartbreaking Sunday race day, obviously, more so because we had such a great race car,” Capps said. “We were so well prepared for our NAPA Auto Care team to go down the track every single run we were here. Even the run that we lost, with all that went on at the starting line, this car still went down the track under power until they killed the ignition switch on me. It probably would have gone to the finish line, but we didn’t want to take a chance after the weird starting line scenario.” Capps went into the weekend as a four-time Gatornationals winner who was attempting to tie former boss Don ‘The Snake’ Prudhomme’s record as the second-winningest Funny Car driver at the historic Florida track. He said the bizarre second-round incident spoke to the pressure that exists in the Funny Car class, especially at the season-opening Gatornationals. “Obviously, we wanted to get another Gatornationals win, but that was so weird up there,” Capps said. “You’re so keyed up. It was a long delay for the starting line, which is great because I love that. It really makes everybody be on their toes. But when your right foot and your butt is strapped into 13,000 horsepower, you could cut the air with a knife. J.R. just made a mistake, and he felt terrible, but it’s nothing he did wrong. It’s just part of it. I tried to hold my foot, but I heard his car and reacted.” Capps took comfort in the fact that he didn’t lose due to the performance of his NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra. He’s confident the car’s consistency will carry over to the next race at one of his home tracks, In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. “It’s upsetting because of how good a car we had, but it’s also a silver lining leaving here,” said Capps, owner of Ron Capps Motorsports. “It makes it a little less agonizing because I know how good we are right now. We’ll just move on to Pomona with a great hot rod.” Capps and the Ron Capps Motorsports Funny Car team will be back on track March 22 – 24 at the NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, Calif. Start / Finish: No. 3 / def. in second round Points Standing / Total: 5th / 59 pts. Next Race: March 22-24, NHRA Winternationals, Pomona, CA How to Watch or Listen: FS1; NHRA.TV NAPA Racing:@NAPARacing Ron Capps: @RonCapps28 Ron Capps Motorsports: @TeamRonCapps The post Capps Loses Bizarre Second-Round Matchup at Gatornationals appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Chase Elliott and No. 9 Kelley Blue Book team qualified third for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway The 28-year-old driver earned valuable stage points, finishing fifth in stage one and seventh in stage two A slew of cautions in the final stage prompted multiple strategies among teams. Elliott restarted 17th after the final caution of the race and ultimately finished the race in the 19th position Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Phoenix ninth in the Cup Series points standings After posting the seventh fastest lap in Friday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Phoenix Raceway, Chase Elliott backed that up with a third-place qualifying lap on Saturday. The 28-year-old driver took the green flag for the 312-lap race from the second row on Sunday afternoon. Elliott was still running inside the top five when the first caution flag of the race waved on lap seven. The early report from the Hendrick Motorsports driver was that his No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was locked down and tight in the back. With the team opting not to pit, Elliott restarted in the fifth position on lap 12 and remained there as the rest of 60-lap first stage went caution free. The fifth-place stage finish garnered six stage points for the Dawsonville, Georgia, native. Under the stage-ending caution, Elliott relayed to crew chief Alan Gustafson that the Kelley Blue Book Chevy was tight and that it freed up as the run went on. The crew opted for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment during a fast pit stop which gained Elliott a spot on pit road. He lined up fourth to start the second stage on lap 69. Elliott raced three-wide once the field went back to green, taking over the third position on lap 70. He held strong, maintaining his top-three running position through a long green-flag run. The field started making green-flag pit stops on lap 115, with Elliott bringing the Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet to pit road on lap 117 for four tires and fuel. With the field stretched out, Elliott was bogged down in traffic following his stop, making it harder to gain track position. Still, he managed to score a top-10 finish in the second stage, taking the green-and-white checkered flag in the seventh spot. The result added four more stage points to his total. During the stage break, Elliott brought the Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet to pit road for four tires and fuel. The pit crew knocked out another fast stop, gaining the 2020 Cup Series champion three spots. Elliott took the green flag for the final stage from the fourth position on lap 194 and was scored in fifth place when the caution came out just two laps later. Elliott kept his Chevrolet on the track under the yellow flag. He lined up fifth for the restart on lap 202 and was battling inside the top 10 when the race was slowed once more. Staying out while some drivers deeper in the field visited pit road, Elliott restarted eighth and was scored in ninth at the time of the lap-216 caution. Gustafson called Elliott to pit road with the rest of the leaders for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment. With varying pit strategies among teams – some taking only two tires and others opting to stay out – Elliott restarted in the 17th position on lap 220. He managed to advance as high as 16th early in the run but being stuck in dirty air made it difficult for Elliott to continue forward progress. When the checkered flag waved on lap 312, he was scored with a 19th-place finish. Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Phoenix Raceway ninth in the Cup Series points standings, just 28 markers behind the leader. Start / Finish: 3 / 19 Points Standing / Total: 9th / 123 pts. (-26) Next Race: Sunday, March 17, Bristol Motor Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team The post Elliott Maintains Top-10 Points Position after Phoenix appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Jack Wood began the ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW) campaign with a seventh-place finish on Friday evening at Phoenix Raceway to mark his second consecutive top-10 result at the one-mile tri oval. The driver of the No. 16 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet SS kick started his AMSW championship bid with his 12th-career top-10 finish as the race was called short due to rain and lightning after 115 of 150 scheduled laps. Wood began his effort in the desert by posting the eighth-quickest time in practice and followed that up with an eighth-place qualifying effort. The Californian began the event by wrestling an extremely loose handling condition in the NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet. Wood radioed the team that his balance was a “10 out of 10” loose on both ends of Phoenix’s flat mile but managed to stay on the lead lap during the first half of the event. Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt took advantage of a caution on lap 70 to bring Wood to pit road for a crucial wedge adjustment while running 14th. On the ensuing restart at lap 75, Wood rocketed forward to claim the sixth position by the time the halfway caution flew on lap 76. Wood took on four fresh General Tires, fuel, and additional chassis adjustments during the halfway break to tweak the improved balance on his Chevrolet. When the race restarted on lap 81, Wood was a mainstay in the top-10 until a caution for lightning slowed the field on lap 113. Wood was credited with a seventh-place finish as a rare thunderstorm enveloped the desert mile and forcing an official finish after 115 laps were completed. “With as deep as the field was here, seventh is a solid start to our season,” Wood said. “Our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet was too loose in the first half of the race, and we really needed that caution before halfway to get an extra adjustment. Kevin and the guys made a good call, and it really improved the car. I would have liked to see us run out the full distance to see if we could have gotten into the top-five, but that’s a solid finish for our first race as a group. We have a good foundation here and we’ll work on getting ready for Irwindale in a couple weeks.” Start / Finish: 8 / 7 Points Standing / Total: 7th / 37 pts. Next Race: Saturday, March 30, Irwindale Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 10:00 p.m. ET on FloRacing NAPA: @NAPARacing Jack Wood: @DriverJackWood Bill McAnally Racing / McAnally-Hilgemann Racing: @BMR_NASCAR The post Wood Begins ARCA West Season with Top-Ten Run at Phoenix appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

You might know how to check the fuel level, but do you know how to check fuel pressure? There’s a handy gauge on the dashboard that tells you how much fuel is in the gas tank, but if that fuel isn’t reaching the engine under enough pressure, a mechanical failure could be brewing. Let’s take a look at the process necessary to check fuel pressure. What Does Low Fuel Pressure Mean? If fuel can’t reach the injector with enough force to atomize the fuel, then the engine won’t run right. More often than not low fuel pressure means a failing fuel pump. A bad fuel pump might limp along for a little while, but eventually it won’t build enough pressure to feed the engine. How To Check Fuel Pressure Using A Fuel Pressure Gauge To check fuel pressure, you will need a fuel pressure gauge (also called a fuel system pressure tester). Make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area, as some fuel fumes may escape during the procedure. Turn off the engine. Open the hood. Locate the fuel rail. You may need to remove the engine cover for access. Locate the Schrader valve on the fuel rail. This is where the fuel pressure will be tested. Remove the cap from the fuel rail Schrader valve. Attach the fuel pressure tester, making sure the connection is tight. If the fuel pressure tester has a pressure relief hose, route it to a proper container to capture the released fuel. A fuel can makes a perfect catch container, and the fuel can then be used later. Turn the ignition switch to “on,” but do not start the engine. The fuel pump will pressurize the fuel system, and you will be able to read the fuel pressure gauge. To test the fuel pressure with the engine running, leave the fuel pressure gauge attached, but place it where it will not contact any of the rotating engine accessories (fan, fan belt, pulleys, etc), and ensure the gauge will not fall due to engine vibration. You may wish to have an assistant hold the fuel pressure gauge. Start the engine, and observe the fuel pressure gauge. Refer to a vehicle repair manual for fuel pressure specifications. Once you have taken the fuel pressure reading, shut off the engine. With the pressure relief hose secured to a container, release the fuel pressure from the gauge. Properly dispose of the released fuel or reuse it. Disconnect the fuel pressure gauge from the Schrader valve on the fuel rail. Wipe up any fuel that has spilled, and dry the spill area thoroughly. Place the cap back on the Schrader valve. Replace the engine cover, if it was removed. Close the hood. How To Check Fuel Pressure Using A Diagnostic Tool Wondering how to check fuel pressure without gauge access? Checking fuel pressure using an OBD diagnostic tool can perform this vehicle test. The exact procedure will vary based on the manufacturer. Refer to the user manual for instructions on how to view live data using the OBD tool. In the case of the Actron CP9670, start at the Diagnostic Menu and select the “View Data” option. The tool will scan for available parameter identifications (PID) that can be read. Once the tool has read all the PIDs, it will prompt the user to “Select Data to View.” Choose “Entire Data List” for a readout of all the discovered PIDs. In that list should be a line called “FUEL PRES” or a similar term. That diagnostic reading is the current fuel pressure. For those who are more tech savvy, there are smartphone apps that can connect directly to a third-party OBD-II wireless transmitter. These apps display the real-time information flowing through the onboard diagnostic system. Information like engine temperature, transmission fluid temperature, fuel pressure and oil pressure are commonly available, but will depend on the app. Monitoring Fuel Pressure If you are the kind of driver who prefers to keep a constant eye on what’s going on under the hood, consider installing a fuel pressure gauge. There are a wide variety of gauge styles to match your interior, while also delivering needed information. You can keep an eye on fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature and more with an aftermarket gauge set. If you have a performance vehicle or work vehicle, keeping an eye on engine vitals can help stop a problem before it starts. You can use a mechanical gauge attached directly to the fuel system under the hood, or a digital gauge in the cabin that uses a sending unit. Frequently Asked Questions: What Are The Symptoms Of Low Fuel Pressure? Common low fuel pressure symptoms: Vehicle will not start or keeps stalling Long engine cranking time Hesitation when accelerating Engine is low on power Check engine light is one (engine lean, misfire OBD-II codes stored) What Are Symptoms Of A Bad Fuel Pressure Regulator? If the fuel pressure readings are erratic or not within the specification, those may be symptoms of a bad fuel pressure regulator. What Are Symptoms Of A Bad Fuel Pressure Sensor? If the fuel pressure sensor has gone bad, you may have an illuminated check engine light, trouble getting the engine to start due to low fuel pressure, or reduced engine power. If your engine isn’t running right or the check engine light is on, then a fuel pressure check can be a good starting point for diagnosis. As you can see, the process is pretty straightforward with the right diagnostic tool. Your local NAPA Auto Parts store and NAPAonline carry a wide variety of fuel pressure testing tools to fit your needs. Don’t feel like leaving the house or don’t have the time? Order on NAPAonline to get One-Day Shipping on 160,000+ products. However you choose to shop, make sure to take advantage of NAPA Rewards to receive 1 Point for every dollar you spend. When you earn 100 Points, you automatically get $5 off your next purchase! Don’t feel like testing fuel pressure yourself or just don’t have time? You can also swing by your local NAPA Auto Care for a fuel pressure check. Their ASE Certified technicians have the right tools and training to diagnose any fuel related issues that your car, truck or SUV experience. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The post Ask The NAPA Experts: How To Check Fuel Pressure appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

The NAPA Network supplies adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts with the best RV cleaning products to keep their home away from home fresh and road ready. Whether you drive a large recreational vehicle with its own engine or tow-behind camper trailers, including Airstreams, pop-ups and fifth wheels, we have you covered. And of course, NAPAonline and NAPA Auto Parts stores carry Truck Towing Parts and Equipment. To start off, browse through products specifically designed for interior detailing. Suck up any loose debris, dirt and pet hair using a high-powered vacuum cleaner from popular brands like Craftsman, Armor All and Milwaukee. Keep in mind, even the best vehicle vacuum leaves behind crumbles wedged into crevices. To grab up as much as possible, utilize a reusable cleaning gel that can squeeze into hard-to-reach gaps. A cleaning gel features a non-stick, residue-free formula that leaves no mess behind, making it simple to clean your vehicle’s surfaces without the need for water or additional cleaning agents. If you are shopping for the best products for RV interior spring cleaning, you can’t go wrong with 303 Mold & Mildew Cleaner. An RV is jam packed with surfaces that are coated with sticky handprints, food residue, grimy gear and pet hair. This multi-surface cleaner does not contain bleach, and is safe to use on vinyl and upholstery fabrics. And, after being applied, it will prevent mold and mildew from forming, which is great for families spending time at the beach or lake. Speaking of surfaces, an RV camper is filled with glass surfaces from appliances to bathroom fixtures to windows inside and out. Our NAPA experts highly recommend grabbing a bottle or two of the Duragloss Glass Water Spot Remover. If foam glass cleaner is your thing, go for the ammonia-free Voodoo Ride Streak-Free Glass Cleaner that works on windows, mirrors and more. And finally, no bucket of RV cleaning products would be complete without air fresheners. Place Armor All FRESHfx Odor Absorbing Charcoal Bags underneath seats or inside cabinets and drawers. This vehicle deodorizer works on smoke, pet smells and food odors that are difficult to remove. For a quick refresh, stock up on a New Car Smell Air Freshener from Chemical Guys. Don’t forget, participating NAPA Auto Parts stores offer a convenient Buy Online, Pick Up In Store option, so you can get back on the road in no time. And, NAPA offers even more savings with NAPA Rewards. Earn 1 Point for every $1 you spend. Collect 100 Points, and automatically get $5 off your next order. Get Your RV Road Ready For Spring At NAPA, we realize you bought an RV camper to spend more time outdoors, so let’s head outside. To start off your kit of RV exterior cleaning products, our experts recommend purchasing a solution to tackle splattered bugs, road tar and bird droppings. Because your recreational vehicle is massive, and you are likely to need to complete many washes in a season, go for the 32-ounce concentrate of Bugs B Gone Dried-On Crud Remover by Sea Foam. This pre-soak eliminates the need for hard scrubbing, and is safe on vehicle paint, clear coats, gel coats, metal, glass, mirrors, outdoor carpet, plastic and vinyl. Follow up this pre-wash application with a true RV exterior cleaner, like a Ceramic Wash & Coat from Griot’s Garage. The ultra-slick formula offers a versatile application, including a traditional hand-applied bucket wash or with a foam sprayer. After doing all this intense spring cleaning, protect your hard work with the best RV wax that is safe on fiberglass. Our experts recommend, Star Brite Premium Cleaner Wax, formulated specifically to remove oxidation from fiberglass or painted surfaces. The glossy shine provides unbeatable protection from harsh UV rays. Apply by hand or with an electric buffer. Need to stock up on the best RV roof cleaner? For RV roof cleaning, grab a bottle of Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner. It cleans, penetrates and rejuvenates nonpainted vinyl and rubber surfaces like new. Then, work your way down to any pull-out awnings. Blue Magic Convertible Top Cleaner & Protectant should do the trick. It works on both vinyl and canvas materials. And finally, keep a can of Camco Slide Out Rubber Seal Conditioner on hand. Of course, spring cleaning an RV is only one part of the long list of maintenance items for this rewarding passion. The NAPA Network carries the RV replacement parts and camper accessories you need, from a roof vent cover to sewer caps and heavy-duty sewer hoses. And check out these detailed guides by the NAPA Experts on How to Conduct Your Own RV Oil Change and RV Tire Pressure For Safety And Longer Tire Life. Photo courtesy of Unsplash. The post NAPA Shopping Guide: What You Need To Get An RV Ready For Spring appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Is your car not shifting gears like it used to? An automatic transmission makes driving much less complicated than the manual gear (stick shift) alternative. But that convenience comes at the price of complexity. When an automatic transmission equipped car won’t shift gears, there could be several potential issues. These issues can range from a simple fix to needing a complete transmission rebuild. Below is technical expertise on “Why is my automatic car not shifting gears?” Low Transmission Fluid Your automatic transmission relies on hydraulic fluid pressure to operate. The pump pulls transmission fluid from the transmission pan reservoir to actuate different components. If the transmission fluid level gets low enough, the pump will be unable to push fluid where it needs to go. Even worse, the pump will pull air into the system, which could lead to a lack of lubrication that damages parts. If you are lucky, your vehicle has a transmission fluid dipstick so you can easily check the fluid level according to the instructions in the owner’s manual. If your vehicle does not have a transmission fluid dipstick but is “lifetime fill”, that doesn’t prevent you from checking the fluid level. In most cases, the fluid can be checked via a fill plug, but the transmission has to be at a certain temperature and the vehicle must be level. This isn’t an easy task, so it might be best to have your local NAPA Auto Care do it for you. Faulty Shift Solenoid We just mentioned how an automatic transmission relies on pressurized fluid to operate, but that fluid also needs to be routed to where it is needed. In a modern, electronically controlled automatic transmission, shift solenoids control the flow of transmission fluid. If the shift solenoid is faulty, then the fluid won’t be routed to the desired shift actuator. In older non-electronically controlled transmissions, shifting was controlled by shift valves, but the idea is the same. Shift solenoids can wear out or get stuck, leading to a no-shift condition. Fixing a faulty shift solenoid usually requires removing the transmission fluid pan to access the transmission valve body. Low Transmission Fluid Pressure You should be seeing a pattern of how important hydraulic fluid is to the operation of an automatic transmission. If the transmission fluid level is fine, there may still be a problem with the fluid pressure. Low fluid pressure can be caused by a worn out pump, clogged fluid passages or a clogged transmission fluid filter. A lack of shifting car gears due to low fluid pressure usually means it is time for a professional transmission checkup. If the problem is with the pump itself, then you are probably looking at a transmission rebuild. Bad Transmission Control Module Most modern automatic transmissions have an electronic transmission control module (TCM). The control module takes input from various sensors, and decides how the transmission should react. Depending on where the control module is mounted, it can lead a very hard life. Extreme temperatures, vibrations, leaking fluids and sometimes even how the circuit board is built can all lead to failures of microchips and other electronic components. If the check engine light is on while you are having shifting problems, the TCM may be the issue. Broken Shift Cable Each time you drive, the shifter is moved at least twice, once for driving and again for park. That movement adds up over the years. While an automatic transmission doesn’t have the complicated shifting mechanism of a manual transmission, there is usually a physical connection between the shifter and the transmission. Modern shift cables usually have plastic components that can break down over time. There may also be bushings that get worn out. The shift cable itself is usually metal and rarely breaks, but the pieces connecting it to the transmission can possibly fail. Shift Lock Engaged If the car is not shifting into gear from park, then the issue might be the gear shift interlock. Most modern vehicles have a lockout on the automatic gear shifter that requires the brake pedal to be pressed first. If the brake pedal isn’t pressed, the shifter won’t move. It is possible that the brake pedal sensor doesn’t read that the pedal is pressed, or a break in the shift interlock circuit interrupts the connection. The shift lock can be bypassed in an emergency. Worn Out Bands Just like how brake pads can wear out, so can the friction materials inside the transmission like the bands. Transmission bands hold certain components in place, while others are allowed to rotate. When this happens, the transmission won’t go into certain gears. Unfortunately worn out bands usually mean a complete transmission overhaul. Material from the worn out bands can make their way into sensitive fluid passages, clogging them or causing accelerated wear Failed Throttle Sensor This one may seem odd, but gauging how much throttle input the driver is giving makes a big difference in how the transmission acts. Whether the input is from a throttle sensor or a cable, if the driver pushes down the gas pedal, the transmission needs to change gears. But if that input isn’t received, the transmission has no idea what the driver wants to do. If the transmission doesn’t know the driver is hitting the gas, it might not shift into the next gear. Even worse, on some older transmissions, if the transmission isn’t linked correctly to the throttle input, severe damage can be done. If your transmission isn’t shifting like it used to, simply head to your local NAPA Auto Care center. Our team of ASE-certified technicians have the expertise and training to diagnose your automatic transmission issues. As a bonus, your repair is covered by our free 24-Month/24,000-Mile Peace of Mind Warranty (parts and labor on qualifying repairs and services), which spans across the entire nationwide NAPA Network, including 17,000+ NAPA Auto Care center locations. Photos courtesy of Pexels. The post Why Is My Automatic Car Not Shifting Gears? appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Chase Elliott and No. 9 LLumar team qualified 11th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway The 28-year-old driver finished 15th in stage one and advanced to sixth to end stage two, earning valuable stage points in the process The 2020 Cup Series champion continued to log laps inside the top 10 in the final stage before ultimately taking the checkered flag in the 12th position Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Las Vegas seventh in the Cup Series points standings Chase Elliott took the green flag in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race from the 11th position in his No. 9 LLumar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. When the first caution flag of the race was displayed on lap 10, Elliott was running in the same position. Under the yellow flag, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native reported that his entry was secure before bringing the LLumar Chevy to the attention of his crew for four tires and fuel. During the next run, Elliott continued to battle inside the top 12. He was scored in 11th when the race fell under the caution for the second time on lap 27. Elliott reported to crew chief Alan Gustafson that his Chevrolet was a little tight. Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for fuel and a set of scuff tires. With a couple teams opting not to pit and some only taking two tires, Elliott restarted in 17th. He gained two positions before taking the green-and-white checkered flag in 15th to end the first stage at lap 80. A fast stop by the pit crew set Elliott up with 12th-place starting position for stage two. After taking the green flag on lap 88, Elliott continued to race inside the top 15 through a long green flag run. After a round of green flag pit stops, the 2020 Cup Series champion found himself in the 11th position. Once there, he continued to methodically work his way forward, advancing to ninth on lap 134. Elliott was running in that same position when the caution came out on lap 156. After pitting for four tires and fuel, he lined up eighth for the restart and climbed to sixth to end the second stage at lap 165. Opting not to pit during the stage break, Elliott started the final segment in sixth on lap 172. The 28-year-old driver held his own inside the top 10 during a long green flag stint. Elliott was running in the 10th position when green flag stops got under way. He headed to pit road for four tires and fuel on lap 211. When an on-track incident brought out the yellow flag on lap 235, Elliott was scored in the eighth position. He brought his LLumar Chevy to the attention of his crew for the final time of the race, getting four fresh tires and fuel. He restarted in seventh on lap 240 and battled hard to try to keep a position inside the top 10, ultimately coming up just short with a 12th-place result. Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Las Vegas Motor Speedway seventh in the Cup Series points standings, just 23 markers behind the leader. Start / Finish: 11 / 12 Points Standing / Total: 7th / 95 pts. (-23) Next Race: Sunday, March 10, Phoenix Raceway How to Watch or Listen: 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team The post Elliott Earns Top-12 Finish at Las Vegas appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Christian Eckes tallied a resilient sixth-place finish on Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) for his best finish through three races. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST remains ninth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) standings after his second top-10 result of the young season. Eckes has now posted top-10 finishes in six of his eight races at LVMS. Eckes started the day in strong fashion by posting the second-quickest laps in practice and qualifying. He got the early holeshot off the initial green flag and led the first seven circuits. However, Eckes began wrestling with an extremely tight condition throughout the opening stage. The balance issues relegated him to run in 14th position at the end of Stage 1 on lap 30. Crew chief Charles Denike brought Eckes to pit lane during the stage yellow to change four tires and address the handling woes. A track bar and wedge adjustment proved to be the right direction for Eckes in Stage 2, but the tight condition persisted. Eckes restarted 16th on lap 36 but immediately leaped into the top 10 by lap 38. Despite his efforts, Eckes once again ran 14th at the end of Stage 2 on lap 60. Denike and the NAPA Auto Care team made an even bigger swing to improve the balance with chassis adjustments during the second stage caution. Significant wedge and a front suspension changes proved to be the proper tonic to wake up Eckes’ Chevrolet. He restarted 21st on lap 67 and marched back into the top-10 in less than 20 laps. A smoothly executed green-flag pit stop cycle vaulted Eckes from ninth to sixth with roughly 30 laps remaining. The improved balance allowed him to string together consistent laps over the final run to take the checkered flag in sixth for his second top-10 result of the season. “We definitely made improvements throughout the night to our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet,” Eckes said. “My guys kept making swings at it and we got the balance better, but we have some work to do to get the balance where we need it. It’s good to finish better than we ran all night, but we have some work to do.” Start / Finish: 2 / 6 Points Standing / Total: 9th / 85 pts. (-22) Next Race: Saturday, March 16, Bristol Motor Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Christian Eckes: @christianeckes Bill McAnally Racing / McAnally-Hilgemann Racing: @BMR_NASCAR The post Eckes Claims Best Finish of the Season at Las Vegas appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Brad Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team of Kasey Kahne Racing ventured to Golden Isles Speedway in Waynesville, Georgia, and were met with a challenging weekend of racing. The Deuces Wild event, which featured both the High Limit Racing series and the Lucas Oil Late Model Series, marked the first-ever 410 sprint car races for the track renowned for late model racing. On the first night of competition, Sweet started strong with a fifth-place qualifying effort at a time of 12.992 seconds. After a close, nose-to-nose start in his heat race, the NAPA driver challenged for the lead but came up just short, clinching a second-place finish. From there, the Big Cat transferred directly to the evening’s feature. The five-time World of Outlaws champion climbed from eighth to sixth, demonstrating his ability to navigate through a tricky field in dirty air. The NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team continued their momentum into the second night of the Deuces Wild, impressing spectators with a fourth-place qualifying run at 13.058 seconds. Sweet held his ground in his heat race, finishing second and securing a solid starting position for the evening’s feature. Despite the intense competition, the NAPA driver showcased his resilience, advancing from seventh to sixth in the main event. The strong performance at Golden Isles puts Sweet and the NAPA team second in the points standings with 225 points, just 18 points shy of High Limit Racing points leader Tyler Courtney. The Kasey Kahne Racing team will take the month of March off from competition to prepare for the remainder of the season before heading to Arkansas and Texas in April. Start / Finish: Thursday, Feb. 22: 8 / 6 Saturday, Feb. 24: 7 / 6 Points Standing / Total: 225 pts. / 2nd (-18) Next Race: Tuesday, April 9, Riverside International Speedway, West Memphis, Arkansas How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing NAPA: @NAPARacing Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt The post Peach State Proves a Challenge for Sweet & NAPA No. 49 Team appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Chase Elliott earned a hard-fought 15th-place finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway After starting from the rear of the field due to the team needing to make unapproved adjustments to the No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion overcame getting caught up in multiple incidents to salvage the top-15 result Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Atlanta sixth in the Cup Series points standings Chase Elliott and the No. 9 Hooters team qualified 28th for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but the Dawsonville, Georgia, native was forced to start at the rear of the field due to the team needing to make unapproved adjustments. At the drop of the green flag, Elliott began making moves towards the front when he was caught up in a multi-car incident on lap two. He brought his No. 9 Hooters Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to the attention of his crew for repairs to damage sustained to the nose. After multiple pit stops during the caution period, Elliott lined up 26th for the lap-11 restart and battled his way to 21st before the next caution flag of the race came out on lap 25. Under the yellow, the 28-year-old driver reported that his Hooters Chevrolet was loose after the earlier incident. Crew chief Alan Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for right-side tires and adjustments to try to improve the No. 9’s handling. The 2020 Cup Series champion restarted 28th on lap 32 and was up to 23rd when the race fell under caution with just eight laps to go in the first stage. The team opted to pit for four tires and fuel. Elliott restarted deep in the field for the one-lap shootout to the end the stage, taking the green-and-white checkered flag in the 27th position. Staying out during the stage break, Elliott gained pivotal track position to start the second stage in 14th on lap 68. He powered his way to fourth by lap 76 and continued to race inside the top 10 for several laps. Elliott lost a little bit of ground during the long green-flag run but was back up to 14th before teams started making green-flag pit stops on lap 128. After pitting for right-side tires and fuel on lap 134, Elliott maneuvered his way to the 13th position. On the final lap of the stage a multi-car incident occurred, bringing out the caution. The driver of the No. 9 crossed the line in the 10th spot to earn a stage point. Under the stage-ending caution, the No. 9 Hooters team made a fast stop for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment, gaining Elliott seven spots on pit road in the process. The Hendrick Motorsports driver was third to start the final stage on lap 170 and he continued to hold strong inside the top 10 with his damaged Hooters Chevrolet. He was scored in the seventh position when the caution flag came out on lap 176 and took fuel only during his pit stop. After restarting 10th, Elliott was working his way forward when contact with another car sent him spinning on lap 199. He managed to avoid any additional hard contact and brought his No. 9 Chevy to the attention of his pit crew under the caution for four fresh tires, fuel and to check for damage. Elliott was in 21st when the green flag was displayed and was up to 13th before the yellow flag waved yet again on lap 219. Gustafson called his driver to pit road for four tires, fuel and an adjustment. After pitting a second time for additional repairs, Elliott lined up 23rd for the restart and was up inside the top 20 when a multi-car incident slowed the race, bringing out the red flag. Elliott was in 11th when the field went back to green, but it wasn’t long before another incident impacting several cars prompted the yellow flag. Trying to avoid the melee, the driver of the No. 9 spun but avoided contact with other cars. Elliott reported a flat tire on his Chevrolet and drove to pit road for a fresh set of tires. He restarted 21st with just five laps to go and improved six spots to finish 15th. With the top-15 finish, Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Atlanta sixth in the Cup Series points standings, just 12 markers behind the leader. Start / Finish: 28 / 15 Points Standing / Total: 6th / 65 pts. (-12) Next Race: Sunday, March 3, Las Vegas Motor Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team The post Elliott Earns Hard-Fought 15th-Place Finish at Atlanta appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Honestly, CV boots are rarely a topic of discussion around automotive maintenance until something goes wrong. A torn CV boot seems like a minor issue at first, but if the situation is not remedied quickly, more damage will occur. A CV boot keeps lubricating grease from escaping the spinning CV joint. Without grease, the CV joint will wear out rapidly. CV boots also protect the CV joint from water, dirt and road debris. For an often-forgotten replacement part, the CV boot performs a pretty critical job. For even more technical insight, check out “What Is a Constant Velocity Joint?” CV boots aren’t just for front-wheel-drive vehicles either. Any vehicle design that must transmit power to a wheel, while also allowing for suspension movement, might utilize a CV joint. For example, a late-model, rear-wheel-drive Ford Mustang has an independent rear suspension and two CV axles, each with two CV boots. A late-model, front-wheel-drive Honda Civic also has two CV axles and four CV boots. But, in comparison, an all-wheel-drive Subaru Forester has four CV axles and a total of eight CV boots. Is It Possible Fix a CV Boot? If you’re searching for a how-to guide on replacing a damaged CV boot, you came to the right place. Let’s walk through a CV boot replacement with the help of some NAPA expertise. Keep in mind, a CV axle boot replacement is only for CV axles that are still in good shape. If your CV axle is clicking or the CV boot was damaged and leaking grease for an extended length of time, you need to replace the entire CV axle. Installing a new CV boot and applying new grease won’t fix an already damaged CV joint. Also, the labor to just replace a CV boot is nearly the same or greater than replacing the entire CV axle assembly. If the labor to replace a CV boot costs as much as a new or rebuilt CV axle, the smart choice is to replace the entire CV axle. How Long Does It Take to Replace a CV Boot? The time it takes for CV axle boot replacement varies by vehicle. Most of the labor time involves removing the CV axle from the vehicle. Budget at least an hour for the job if the CV axle is easy to remove or up to three hours if the vehicle is complicated. Cleaning the CV joint can take another 30 minutes as well. How to Replace a CV Boot A typical CV boot repair kit includes a new CV boot, two CV boot clamps and grease. Replacing a CV boot requires lifting the vehicle off the ground for easier access to the underside. A repair shop or well-outfitted home mechanic will utilize a vehicle lift, while a DIYer can use something as simple as sturdy jack stands. Never use a floor jack to support a vehicle, as they can suddenly fail. Lift the vehicle off the ground. Use a wheel chock to prevent any wheels on the ground from rolling. Remove the wheel on the axle that needs repaired. Refer to a repair manual for what steps to follow to access the CV axle. You will likely need to remove the brakes and detach steering and/or suspension components, as well as the axle nut. Remove the CV axle from the vehicle and place it on a workbench with plenty of working space. Cut off the failed rubber CV boot. The metal CV boot clamps will likely require a pair of diagonal cutting pliers. Due to the potential mess caused by the CV joint grease, we recommend wearing a pair of disposable work gloves for this step. Refer to your repair manual for how to remove the CV joint from the axle shaft. Note that inner and outer CV joints are possibly different and might require distinct methods of disassembly. Clean the axle shaft to remove any old grease. Use a parts washer to clean the CV joint. Let the CV joint dry thoroughly. If using non-split CV boot clamps, slide them over the axle shaft now. Slide the new CV boot onto the axle shaft, taking care to orient it correctly. The large cone opening should face the CV joint. You may need to use a small amount of silicone lubricant to help move the boot along the axle shaft. Refer to your repair manual to lubricate the CV joint using the correct specified grease. Refer to your repair manual to reinstall the CV joint onto the end of the axle shaft. Slide the CV boot over the CV joint, making sure it is seated evenly. Using the correct clamp tool, tighten both CV boot clamps. Reinstall the CV axle along with any components that were removed to access the CV axle. Pay attention to torque specifications during reassembly. Reinstall the wheel and tighten the lug nuts to the correct specifications. Lower the vehicle back to the ground. How Much Does It Cost to Replace a CV Boot? CV boot replacement cost can range from $300 to $900 depending on the vehicle. It is wise to price out replacement of the entire CV axle as well. In some cases, it is smarter to spend a little more money to replace the entire CV axle rather than spend time changing just a CV boot. Check out the NAPA Auto Care Repair Estimator for a better estimate of what this repair would cost for your vehicle (if applicable). Now that you know the typical steps of how to replace a CV boot, you can decide if this repair is something you can tackle yourself. Your local NAPA Auto Parts store can help you find the right CV axle boot repair kit for your application. You can also shop NAPAonline for Free One-Day Shipping on more than 160,000 items! Don’t feel like doing it yourself or don’t have the time? The ASE-certified technicians at your local NAPA Auto Care center have you covered with more than 17,000 locations nationwide. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The post Ask the NAPA Experts: How to Replace a CV Axle Boot appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Christian Eckes was one of the early favorites at Atlanta Motor Speedway before a brake issue put a halt to his strong afternoon. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST led 20 laps in the opening segment enroute to a stage win and captured his first playoff point of the season. However, Eckes’ afternoon resulted in a 32nd-place finish after completing 50 circuits. Eckes took the green flag in fifth position as he and his MHR teammates dominated qualifying, with all four trucks occupying the top-five spots in the starting lineup. In typical fashion, Eckes wasted no time making bold moves towards the lead. He grabbed the second position on the opening lap and took the lead on lap 11. Shortly after a restart on lap 22, Eckes radioed his NAPA Auto Care team that his brake pedal was going to the floor and that he did not have any brakes. Despite the alarming discovery, Eckes drove to the stage win on lap 30, but was forced to pit under the stage caution. Crew chief Charles Denike and the MHR team attempted to resolve the issue, but Eckes was forced to retire early and was credited with the 32nd-place result. “We had a really fast NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet,” Eckes said. “We drove straight to the lead early and was able to control the race for most of the first stage. The brake pedal went to the floor towards the end of the first stage and had some fluid inside the truck, so its really unfortunate for our team and everybody at NAPA that was out here today with us. We’ll go to Vegas and try to make up for it” Start / Finish: 5 / 32 Points Standing / Total: 9th / 54 pts. Next Race: Friday, March 1, Las Vegas Motor Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 9:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Christian Eckes: @christianeckes Bill McAnally Racing / McAnally-Hilgemann Racing: @BMR_NASCAR The post Eckes Captures Stage Win before Brake Issue Slows Atlanta Run appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

It doesn’t matter if you call them window visors or rain guards, the car window wind deflectors you are seeking are available at NAPAonline. An in-channel wind deflector is designed to divert rain away from slightly opened windows, which typically draw moisture and wind inside the vehicle cabin. You can add rain visors or wind vent visors to your sporty sedan, hard-working pickup or deluxe SUV for a little outside ventilation even during a complete downpour. What Do Window Deflectors Do? There are four main reasons why a vehicle owner chooses to customize their ride with a set of side window wind deflectors: a more refreshing ride, noise reduction, releasing trapped air and an attractive aerodynamic upgrade. Placing wind deflectors on cars is vital to cruising down the highway. Let the fresh air in without moisture or debris even on a windy, rainy day. Even a low-profile vent visor allows air in without the roaring, whistling effect of gusting wind. The NAPA experts recommend that you install a set of car window deflectors to release trapped heat and humidity fogging up your glass, both while driving and when parked. If your vehicle often sits in the sun on a summer day, vent visors allow you to crack the window to let hot air escape without allowing in thieves, pests or pop-up showers. On the road, your SUV’s backseat and cargo area is filled with excited dogs, smelly teenage athletes, take-home food containers and wet swim gear. A set of four high-quality window deflectors allows you to move the odor out of the vehicle without letting in any more elements. Finally, attractive rain guards (specifically designed to complement your vehicle) enhance the style of your ride. And, this sleek, streamlined upgrade is both an aesthetic and aerodynamic improvement, which means you get more miles out of each fill up or charge. Shopping Window Deflectors for Cars, Trucks & SUVs NAPAonline offers a huge assortment of aftermarket automotive accessories to customize your ride from the roof to the rims. Whether you want to outfit your off-road Jeep, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevy Silverado or Ford F150, NAPA offers top brands like AutoVentshade (AVS), Rugged Ridge and WeatherTech. And, keep in mind, AVS vent visors and WeatherTech wind deflectors are the perfect additions for any hybrid or electric vehicle. If you are searching for side window deflectors, the NAPA experts recommend selecting a long-lasting, durable, shatter-proof product, typically made of scratch-proof, fade-resistant acrylic or polycarbonate material. Look for descriptions like “guaranteed not to bend, warp or crack.” Most visors and deflectors are offered with either a smokey tint treatment or matte black finish. One popular model is the EGR In-Channel Rain Guards, which is backed by a Lifetime Warranty. The easy, pop-in installation is confirmed by the great customer reviews! Also, check out the Putco Element Window Deflectors constructed from injection-sculpted, high-grade automotive ABS plastic with moisture-wicking capabilities and a beaded edge. Specifically shopping for an AVS wind deflector set? Check out the AutoVentshade Seamless Window Deflectors, which are made in the U.S. Depending on your make and model, some of these specialized window visors are trimmed in chrome to match the look and feel of your vehicle without the high price of a dealership upgrade. If you have a bit more stretch in your budget, consider the AVS Color Match Low Profile Window Deflectors. Not only do these visors incorporate a flat design, but they also come in a range of color options, including silver, gray, white and black. How to Install Window Deflectors on Your Vehicle To make car window deflector installation as easy as possible, most products utilize a computer-engineered design for a seamless fit to your exact make and model. Most window deflectors are offered in either a two-piece front set or four-piece front and rear set. Whether you opt for tape-on sidewind deflectors (using the provided 3M adhesive tape) or snap-in rain guards (inserting directly into each window channel), your window deflector installation should not require any drilling or specialized hardware. This makes installing wind deflectors an easy afternoon project in your garage, driveway or parking lot. The NAPA experts are here to guide you through how to install window deflectors, but your deflector kit will include clear and easy-to-follow instructions. Start by cleaning and drying the window and window channel to remove any dirt, grime and moisture. If you are installing a tape-on wind deflector, clean off the door frame at the top and sides of the window. To install in-channel wind deflectors, place the front end of the deflector flange on the top of the outer windowsill weatherstrip. Then slide the flange into the channel. It is important that the front edge is on the outer sill and not within your vehicle’s window well. Once the front end is in position, gently bend the deflector toward you. The rear end of the flange should slip into the rear vertical window channel. Work from front to back, tucking the flange into the window channel. Save on Deflectors, Visors & Guards at NAPA The price of quality car window deflectors ranges from $55 to $95. However, these simple, install-it-yourself aftermarket accessories are only part of the full package. Also, consider purchasing a WeatherTech sunroof deflector—designed to reduce the amount of noise and wind from above—or a custom bug shield, which prevents insects, rocks and other debris from scratching the hood of your vehicle. Take advantage today of our Free One-Day Shipping on more than 160,000 products. Additionally, NAPA offers even more savings with NAPA Rewards. Earn 1 Point for every $1 you spend—collect 100 points, and automatically get $5 off your next order. Not confident about completing an automotive customization project on your own? When in doubt, take your vehicle to a NAPA Auto Care center near you. Our ASE-certified technicians are here to provide expert service to give you peace of mind and an outstanding ride. The post The Best Wind Deflectors, Vent Visors & Rain Guards appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

Chase Elliott started the Daytona 500 from the fifth position after earning a second-place finish in the first of two Duels on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion claimed the stage one victory, earning a coveted playoff point Elliott narrowly missed a multicar incident late in the final stage, which resulted in a red flag, and he made a charge for the front before ultimately finishing the 500-mile race 14th The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 leaves Daytona fourth in the Cup Series points standings Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team started fifth in Monday’s Daytona 500, which had been postponed due to rain. Elliott earned the top-five starting position after finishing second in the first of two Duel qualifying races on Thursday evening. It didn’t take long for the first caution of Monday’s race to occur. The field was slowed at lap six for a multicar incident deeper in the field. Elliott pitted from the sixth position for fuel only and restarted inside the top 10 on lap 12. The driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 continued to run in the bottom lane before making moves to take over the lead for the first time of the race on lap 45. He held point for multiple laps before bringing his Chevrolet to the attention of his crew for a few seconds worth of fuel. Elliott returned to the track and battled hard in the closing laps to win the first stage of the race. Under the stage-ending caution, crew chief Alan Gustafson called Elliott to pit road for four fresh tires and fuel. Elliott lined up inside the top 10 to start the second stage on lap 70 and the field went three-wide early in the run. The 28-year-old driver eventually moved to the top lane to try to gain some ground after the inside lane he had been running in lost momentum. Elliott regained some track position after a pit stop for fuel on lap 115. He ran as high as second before his lane began to fade and he finished the second stage in 19th. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native came to pit road twice during the stage break, first for four tires and fuel and then he returned to top off the tank. He took the green flag for the final stage on lap 137 from the 24th position and worked his way up inside the top 20, where he spent much of the remainder of the race. Elliott pitted from the sixth position on lap 183 and was scored in fifth after a multicar incident brought out the red flag with eight laps to go. The NAPA Chevy received only minor damage as Elliott miraculously worked his way through the melee. Opting not to pit once the red flag was lifted, Elliott lined up in the top lane for the restart with four laps remaining. Elliott was determined to battle for the win, but ultimately finished 14th after he got shuffled out of the preferred lane and lost ground to the leaders. Elliott and the No. 9 team leave Daytona fourth in the Cup Series points standings. “I made a mistake there on the last lap and not sure I would have got to the front row, but certainly would have been a better finish for us,” Elliott said. “I hate that because we had a solid day otherwise. Happy for William (Byron) to kick off the 40th year of Hendrick Motorsports with the win.” Start / Finish: 5 / 14 Points Standing / Total: 4th / 42 pts. Next Race: Sunday, February 25, Atlanta Motor Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Chase Elliott: @ChaseElliott Hendrick Motorsports: @TeamHendrick No. 9 Team: @Hendrick9Team The post Elliott Earns Stage Win in Daytona 500 appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

The Battle of the Bay at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa marked the opening of the High Limit Racing season, and Brad Sweet and the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 team of Kasey Kahne Racing arrived intent to make their mark on the points standings from the start. With 56 cars in attendance for the first night at East Bay, the NAPA No. 49 hit the top of the charts in qualifying with a lap time of 12.550 seconds. Heat race action followed, and the Big Cat battled his way from fourth to third, punching his ticket to the dash by being the fastest car in his heat. In the dash, Sweet showed consistent speed by charging from third to second. The action on night one of the Battle at the Bay truly heated up during the evening’s feature race. Despite starting strong in second place, the NAPA driver faced formidable competition and slid back in the field. The five-time World of Outlaws champion showed his determination though, and he fought his way to a fourth-place finish. That was just the beginning for the NAPA team. Because Sweet secured a fourth-place finish in Monday’s preliminary event, he was automatically locked into the heat races on night two, bypassing qualifying. This placed him fourth to start in Heat Race 4, where he revealed the speed of the NAPA machine on the 1/3-mile oval. Sweet charged to the lead, winning his heat and placing himself first to start the dash. Sweet took charge in the seven-lap dash and never looked back, earning the win. Finally, the 30-lap A-main took the green flag to mark the final race of the two-day event. Launching the NAPA Auto Parts No. 49 like a rocket, Sweet quickly caught the tail of the field. Competitor Tyler Courtney managed to sneak by the Big Cat for the lead, and Sweet lost another spot after a tough battle. He brought the No. 49 machine to the checkered flag in third, earning a spot on the East Bay podium. Next up for Sweet and the NAPA team is Deuces Wild at Golden Isles Speedway in Waynesville, GA. Start / Finish: Monday, Feb. 12: 2 / 4 Tuesday, Feb. 13: 1 / 3 Points Standing / Total: 1st / 133 pts. Next Race: Thursday, Feb. 22, Golden Isles Speedway, Waynesville, GA How to Watch or Listen: FloRacing NAPA: @NAPARacing Brad Sweet: @BradSweetRacing Kasey Kahne Racing: @KKRdirt The post Sweet Scores Podium Finish to Start 2024 Season appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

A resilient effort by Christian Eckes and the NAPA Auto Care team salvaged a top-10 finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) opener at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night. The driver of the No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST finished 10th despite being involved in three multi-truck accidents in the second half of the event. His 10th-place result earned him 39 points and places him third in the NCTS championship standings. Eckes was buried deep in the field after qualifying 25th, but he instantly darted toward the front once the green flag flew. Eckes’ aggression was immediately evident as he made three-wide moves on the opening lap. He narrowly avoided a multi-truck accident on lap six and joined the top-10 on lap 13. A one-lap dash to close Stage 1 saw Eckes grab three points in eighth position on lap 20. Crew chief Charles Denike kept Eckes on track during the caution to inherit track position and found themselves in the mix for the race lead when Stage 2 went green at lap 27. Eckes was in the thick of the battle for the race lead and pushed his new MHR teammate Tyler Ankrum to the Stage 2 win. Eckes pocketed another nine points by running second at the end of the segment on lap 40. Under the second-stage caution, Eckes pitted for four tires and fuel and restarted 12th on lap 45. A caution on lap 57 allowed him, and several other competitors, to make their final stop for fuel. Eckes restarted 16th on lap 62 and rocketed to the front with some aggressive drafting. He briefly took the lead on lap 72 but was involved in an accident on lap 79 while running second. Despite losing a lap, the NAPA Auto Care team made ample repairs and allowed Eckes to regain his lap on lap 86. With five laps to go, he suffered minor damage in an incident which set up an overtime restart. After restarting 24th with two laps remaining, Eckes drove halfway back through the field but was swept into a track-blocking accident on the final lap and suffered significant damage. Eckes was able to refire his Chevrolet Silverado RST and drove back around to the checkered flag to finish 10th and start the season just four points out of the championship lead. “Tonight was a wild night, for sure,” Eckes said. “We were able to drive our NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet up to the front a couple times and were going to be one of the trucks to beat. I was able to work well with our teammates for a while tonight until we got turned off Turn 4 there with 20-to-go or so. I’m proud of the guys on our NAPA team to get it fixed and got our lap back. We never gave up tonight and we saved a ton of points because of it.” Start / Finish: 25 / 10 Points Standing / Total: 3rd / 39 pts. (-4) Next Race: Saturday, Feb. 24, Atlanta Motor Speedway How to Watch or Listen: 2:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN or SiriusXM NAPA: @NAPARacing Christian Eckes: @christianeckes Bill McAnally Racing / McAnally-Hilgemann Racing: @BMR_NASCAR The post Eckes Starts 2024 with Great Points Day amongst Daytona Chaos appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article

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It’s no surprise that electrification has spread into every corner of the automotive world. From humble local delivery vans to high-voltage track monsters, the gamut of EVs on the road is impressive. So, it is no shock that manufacturers recognized the inherent benefit electric motors have in delivering a ton of torque at initial startup. That gives an EV tremendous power for launching off the line, something enthusiast drivers appreciate. Here’s the top hot rod electric cars that are guaranteed to get your blood pumping in 2024. Porsche Taycan – 750 Horsepower Porsche launched the Taycan in 2019 as its first dedicated electric car. Keeping with Porsche naming conventions, the highest output version, Taycan Turbo S, is the top-of-the-line in terms of performance. No, there is not a “turbo” in the traditional sense, but the Turbo and Turbo S models do get a nice first bump of recognition with the powerful name. Driver’s get a 2.6 second 0–60 mph launch and a 161 mph top speed for track days. Mercedes-AMG EQS – 751 Horsepower It should come as no surprise that the in-house hot rod division of Mercedes-Benz would get its insulated-gloved hands into the EV market. While the Mercedes-AMG EQS is not the first electric AMG vehicle (the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive gets that nod), it is the first on a dedicated electric vehicle chassis. Mercedes claims a 3.4 second 0–60 mph time, which is .1 second faster than the combustion-engine Camaro ZL1 Coupe from the same year. Rivian R1T – 835 Horsepower Rivian may only sell one vehicle (the SUV is pretty much identical to the truck), but sales show the payoff of extreme product focus. R1T buyers can select the quad motor version for combined 835 horsepower and a 3.0 second 0–60 mph time. That’s faster than a Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye, plus it has enough room to pick up a load of mulch from the local garden center. GMC Hummer EV – 1,000 Horsepower It feels kind of silly labeling the hulking Hummer EV as an EV hot rod, but stay with us. When the spec sheet shows three motors with a total of up to 1,000 horsepower and a 0–60 mph time of 3.0 seconds flat, that’s hustling. And when that hustle is brought by something the size of a tiny house, it is even more impressive. Sure “Watts to Freedom” mode sounds silly, but it is akin to a tank getting shot out of a cannon, so it matches. Tesla Model S Plaid – 1,020 Horsepower When it comes to drag racing electric cars, Tesla was likely the first manufacturer to grab driver’s attention. Fans of the 1987 movie “Spaceballs” should get Tesla’s name reference — setting light speed to Plaid. Three motors with a combined 1,020 peak horsepower rocket this sedan to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds. That’s a full second faster than a new Corvette. It also rips the quarter mile in 9.23 seconds at 155 mph. Just how quick is that? If you want to race your Tesla Model S Plaid at a sanctioned NHRA drag race, it will need a roll cage and a parachute! Tesla Model X Plaid – 1,020 Horsepower Tesla took the same drivetrain as the already insane Model S Plaid and put it in an SUV, thus creating the Model X Plaid. The added size and weight took a toll as 0–60 mph now takes 2.5 seconds, but the quarter mile time is just a touch slower at 9.9 seconds. That’s two seconds faster than a Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. Plus, it has cool gullwing doors and can tow 5,000 pounds. Lucid Air – 1,234 Horsepower Now we’re getting into ridiculous territory. Dropping $250k on a Lucid Air Sapphire gets you 1,234 horsepower and a top speed of 205 mph. That money also gets you to 60 mph in 1.89 seconds and an 8.95 second quarter mile time. All this in a four-door sedan that can go more than 400 miles on a single charge. Sure, a Bugatti Veyron will outrun it on the top end, but the Lucid Air Sapphire will make it claw for every inch on the way to 200 mph. Rimac Nevera – 1,914 Horsepower For our pick of the baddest electric hot rod, we have the Rimac Nevara. This is beyond simply an electric sports car and ventures into pure hypercar territory with a sleek body to match. Its 1.74 second 0–60 mph time set a new world record in May of 2023 along with a slew of other acceleration world records. It can hit 249 mph in just 21 seconds. It can also go from a dead stop to 249 mph and back to a dead stop in just less than 30 seconds. And, just for silliness, Rimac set a world record for the fastest driving…in reverse (171 mph). Now, for the big downside, that mind bending speed will set you back $2.2 million dollars. NAPA Is Your One-Stop EV Shop So, there you have it. Electric hot rod options from tame to insane. Rumors still surround a possible electric muscle car from Dodge in the form of the Charger Daytona SRT Banshee, but no official production date is set. Looking to build your own EV muscle car? Chevrolet Performance’s eCrate system is an electric motor swap kit that you should find available to the public soon. Thinking of upgrading to the electric vehicle lifestyle, but you need a complete at-home charging station setup? NAPA has you covered thanks to a partnership with Qmerit, which can assist you in purchasing the best home EV charger for your needs, and correctly installing a home EV charger in your garage. And remember, NAPA Auto Parts has a long history of supplying quality parts for at-home mechanics restoring muscle cars. Tackle your muscle car restoration with the best cooling fans, cold air intakes, control modules and more. Simply shop NAPAonline or head over to your local NAPA Auto Parts store. Sign up for NAPA Rewards now to start earning Points—earn 100 Points, and you get $5 off your next purchase automatically! Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The post Electric Hot Rods Designed to Ignite EV Enthusiasm in 2024 appeared first on NAPA Blog. View the full article