Chicago, Illinois – NASCAR and ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation, announced today the ABB NASCAR Electrification Innovation Partnership and revealed a new EV prototype at the Chicago Street Race. ABB becomes the first Official Partner of NASCAR IMPACT, the sanctioning body’s platform driving NASCAR’s mission to strengthen its communities and contribute to a healthier planet, and together will work to advance NASCAR’s strategic sustainability ambitions across electrification.

 

“ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, and we help customers globally to optimize, electrify and decarbonize their operations,” said Ralph Donati, ABB Executive Vice President. “The objective of the collaboration between NASCAR, ABB in the United States and the NASCAR industry is to push the boundaries of electrification technology, from EV racing to long-haul transportation to facility operations.”

 

As part of the partnership, ABB in the United States will also help NASCAR achieve public sustainability targets around electrification and electric vehicle charging.

 

While NASCAR is committed to the historic role of the combustion engine in racing, it is also committed to decarbonizing its operations and reducing its own carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035 through electrification and innovative solutions.

 

“There could not be a more optimal moment in time to announce our first IMPACT partner than in tandem with the debut of the ABB NASCAR EV Prototype at the Chicago Street Race,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief IMPACT Officer. “ABB is an industry leader and will help in efforts to decarbonize our operations as we pursue achieving net-zero operating emissions over the next decade.”

 

The ABB NASCAR EV Prototype is the latest innovation from the NASCAR Research and Development Center team, which recently completed the largest overhaul of the NASCAR Cup Series car in NASCAR’s 75-year history. The Next Gen car, which debuted in 2022, put the ‘stock’ back in stock car, modernizing most of the vehicle’s components. It also marked NASCAR’s rededication to product relevance in ensuring its race cars match production cars on the street as much as possible.

 

The prototype was developed in collaboration with NASCAR’s OEM partners – Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota – and was built by the NASCAR engineers responsible for the Next Gen car and the Garage 56 entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Throughout the process, NASCAR and the OEMs collaborated on the design and elements of the vehicle.

 

The track-tested, electrified stock car has three STARD UHP 6-Phase motors (one front, two rear) supplying power directly to all four specially designed Goodyear Racing Eagle tires. Anchored by a 78-kWh liquid-cooled battery, the tunable powertrain can produce 1,000 kW at peak power. Regenerative braking converts kinetic energy into power, making the car ideal for road courses and short oval tracks.

 

The All-Wheel Drive car has a generic Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) body made of sustainable flax-based composite. It shares many similarities with both the Next Gen and Garage 56 cars – the body sits on a modified Next Gen chassis, and the steering, suspension, brakes, and wheels all derive from the NASCAR Cup Series car.

 

ABB is a founding partner of NASCAR IMPACT, an umbrella platform launched to shepherd sustainability, community engagement, and other social initiatives. At the core of NASCAR IMPACT is NASCAR’s plan to reduce its own carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035.

 

NASCAR has made material commitments to sustainable operations across its entire business. Moving operations from scope 1 (fuel burned) to scope 2 (electric) is a critical element of NASCAR’s sustainability strategy.

 

In addition to the long-term operating emissions goal, NASCAR’s annual carbon measurement informed near-term sustainability priorities, including sourcing 100% renewable electricity at owned racetracks and facilities by 2028, expanded waste diversion efforts, and on-site EV charging stations. ABB will play a critical role in helping NASCAR by providing valuable guidance, equipment, and support in electrifying key elements of the operational business.

 

The NASCAR Cup Series season continues with the Chicago Street Race, a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment festival in downtown Chicago on Sunday, July 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

 

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. Building on over 140 years of excellence, ABB’s more than 105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com.

 

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

 

A NASCAR Canada doubleheader at Riverside provides a case of déjà vu.

 

The series held both the Pro-Line 150 and the Choko 150 on Saturday due to the threat of weather in Antigonish on Sunday.

 

With only a two hour gap between races, it meant drivers and teams would have to be on their toes to get the most out of the weekend.

 

It was a flag to flag victory for Kevin Lacroix, taking the win from pole position ahead of Jonathan Hathaway and Alex Guenette.

 

The Mirabel, Que. native held on constant attacks from those behind.

 

Hathaway almost got the better of him on a couple restarts, however he had to settle for a second place finish.

 

Guenette closed out the podium, putting a great cap on a solid race from him.

 

Thomas Nepveu grabbed his best ever finish in the NASCAR Canada series coming home in fourth with Alex Labbe rounding out the top 5.

 

Andrew Ranger and Marc-Antoine Camirand, who finished sixth and seventh respectively, were together and battling for what seemed like the entire race, with things getting physical and bumpers and fenders getting bent out of shape.

 

Donald Theetge, who had a quick car and was challenging up front, suffered a puncture late on, forcing him into the pits and he settled for 12th place.

 

D.J. Kennington was running well throughout the race until late issues caused him to fall out of the top ten, finishing in 14th.

 

In a much tighter affair, Lacroix would win to sweep the weekend at Riverside, with the rest of the podium inducing a bout of déjà vu.

 

Hathaway followed up in second after getting passed with five laps to go and Guenette coming home in third place, giving us a carbon copy of the top three result in the Pro-Line 150.

 

L.P. Dumoulin finished up in fourth place with Kennington grabbing fifth.

 

The starting lineup for race two was set from the fastest times from race one.

 

Labbe was meant to line up on the front row but was sent to the rear of the field for unapproved adjustments, which saw of Hathaway and Lacroix together again.

 

This race start went a bit differently, with the former getting the jump on the latter until around lap 21.

 

Lacroix took the lead and checked out while Hathaway was reeled in, losing second to Theetge around lap 97.

 

A caution five laps later for a stopped Ranger would set up the turning point in this race.

 

The subsequent restart saw a big wreck out of turn 2, involving the likes of Theetge, Camirand, Glenn Styres and Brand McFarlane.

 

This incident brought out the red flag to remove stricken cars and clean up the back straightaway.

 

Theetge, Styres, McFarlane, and Camirand were among those either forced into retirement from the race or out of contention with this crash.

 

When the action returned, fans were treated to an enthralling duel between Hathaway and Lacroix that saw the latter prevail.

 

The series heads back to Ontario and onto the dirt as they travel to Ohsweken Speedway for the next round on Thursday July 11, 2024.

Daytona, Florida - The NASCAR Canada series continues its trip out East on June 29th and 30th, as the series returns to Riverside International Raceway for the Pro•Line 150 and Choko 150, two 150-lap races. The ⅓  mile asphalt oval hosted 13 NASCAR Canada races between 2007 and 2019, and saw 10 different winners.

 

The track, designed by the late John “Nova” Chisholm, was modelled after Bristol Motor Speedway, one of NASCAR’s most prestigious oval, located in Tennessee. Riverside is a scaled rendition, at ⅓ mile compared to Bristol’s ½ mile length. 

 

On Friday, June 28th, the venue will host Country Rocks Riverside. Fans will enjoy a great night of country music with the James Baker Band headlining, along with special performances by Eddie Cummings and Merimac.

 

Series veteran Jason Hathaway, who won at Riverside in 2013 and in the most recent event in 2019, will look for a hat trick at this iconic track. D.J. Kennington joins Hathaway as the only other active driver with two wins at the track, his coming in 2010 and 2012. 

 

Mark Dilley returns to the series, at the track where he got his first career win in 2007. Dilley’s last NASCAR Canada race was the season finale of 2022 at Delaware. 

 

L.P. Dumoulin and Andrew Ranger are the only other drivers currently in the field with wins at Riverside. Ranger claimed the highest honours in 2009, while Dumoulin clinched the victory in 2009.

 

Alex Guénette returns to the series again for his second start of 2023 and second at Riverside. Kevin Lacroix, Donald Theetge, Larry Jackson, Alex Labbe, and Bryan Cathcart are poised to return to the Antigonish venue.

 

For many drivers, this will be their first time at this technical track. The likes of  Glenn Styres, Sara Thorne, Thomas Nepveu, Brandon Macfarlane, Maxime Gauvreau, and Port Williams, N.S. native Danny Chisholm will be making their Riverside debut.

 

Chisholm will be making his second  NASCAR Canada series start after competing in the 2024 season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, where the 19-year-old finished 21st. 

 

Three drivers from Newfoundland will follow the series from Eastbound over to Riverside. Sara Thorne and Brandon Macfarlane will make their debut at the Nova Scotia track, having finished 14th and eighth a week ago at home. Josh Collins will be making his second start at Riverside, his first since 2015, where he finished 10th. 

 

It will be an action-packed weekend with Saturday and Sunday’s on-track activities beginning at 1:45 PM AST with practice, followed by an autograph session in the grandstand from 4:00 to 4:30 PM AST. Qualifying starts at 5:20 PM AST, and the green flag drops at 8:30 PM AST.