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A14 SCIENCE
Saturday 19 March 2022
NASCAR and Hendrick to partner on 24 Hours of Le Mans entry

By JENNA FRYER Phelps, who oversees the
SEBRING, Fla. (AP) — NAS- creation of the annual
CAR and Hendrick Motors- schedule, to inquire about
ports have partnered on an an open week on the Cup
effort to enter the 24 Hours schedule that would free
of Le Mans next year with a some drivers to travel to
modified version of its new France for the event.
Next Gen car. "I think it would be nice to
The collaborative effort have a mix. We've talked
announced Thursday at about it a lot, if the calen-
Sebring International Race- dar works out, we'll just wait
way seeks the "Garage 56" and see what's available,"
entry, which was created said Hendrick. "But we've
in 2012 as a special single- got from the IMSA drivers a
entry class reserved for in- lot of drivers that have Le
novative cars. The Garage Mans experience. Especial-
56 entry allows for the test- ly with Chevrolet's involve-
ing of new technologies, ment, we'll be covered
creativity and innovation with drivers. But we would
without claiming a spot on like to see a Cup driver in
the traditional starting grid. the system if we could."
"We're not taking this lightly. Hendrick then joked he'd
This is a full bore, full blown like to use four-time NAS-
effort to run 24 hours and CAR champion Jeff Gor-
to run competitive times," don, who is retired now
said Rick Hendrick, the In a photo provided by IMSA, NASCAR President Steve Phelps; IMSA and NASCAR CEO Jim France; and the vice chairman of
winningest team owner in Rick Hendrick, Jim Campbell of Chevrolet; Stu Grant of Goodyear; ACO President Pierre Fillon; Hendrick Motorsports. Gor-
and IMSA President John Doonan gather at the announcement of a 2023 LeMans "Garage 56"
NASCAR history. "We're not program featuring a NASCAR Chevrolet Camaro car from Hendrick Motorsports. don turns 51 in August. He
going over there to ride Associated Press also said he'd be willing to
around. We're going to put use seven-time NASCAR
the best effort out there tive. When Jim told me dent." race car. NASCAR, Hen- champion Jimmie Johnson,
and run very competitively there will be a new genera- NASCAR last participated drick Motorsports, Chevro- who put together the IMSA
and finish the race. That's a tion of cars in NASCAR, with at Le Mans, the most pres- let, IMSA, and Goodyear all endurance team Hendrick
tall order. I feel strongly that using a hybrid system, he tigious sports car race in worked on the project, with has run since last season.
we can do it." had this crazy idea to en- the world, in 1976 when se- technical elements of the "We're going to put Gor-
NASCAR still needs an in- ter this car as a Garage 56 ries founder Bill France cut car and the team's driver don on a diet and get him
vitation from l'Automobile in 2023, I was immediately a deal to bring two cars lineup expected at a later in there," Hendrick said. "I
Club de l'Ouest, the orga- enthusiastic," Fillon said. "I to the endurance race in date. The Next Gen de- haven't talked to Jimmie
nizer of the 24 Hours of Le think this new generation the newly-created Grand buted this season as NAS- yet. I'm sure he would do
Mans, but it seemed a for- of NASCAR with the hybrid International class. Hershel CAR's newest Cup car. it if he doesn't have a con-
mality based on the magni- system is innovative. This is McGriff both owned and The panel assembled for flict."
tude of the announcement the future of NASCAR. This drove the Dodge Char- Thursday's announcement France, who succeeded
Thursday. Pierre Fillon, presi- car will bring some wonder- ger that entered the race, couldn't discuss possible his father, brother and fi-
dent of ACO, participated ful memories to the fans. while Junie Donlavey sent driver lineups — a team is nally nephew before taking
in the event alongside Jim "We have to convince the a Ford Torino driven by required to have at least on NASCAR's top job, said
France, chairman of both Selection Committee in Richard Brooks and Dick three drivers and no more bringing the Next Gen to
NASCAR and IMSA. 2023, but I'm sure with a Hutcherson. than four — or if current Le Mans was a tribute to his
"Garage 56 is a car dedi- high-level team behind this The 2023 entry will be a NASCAR drivers will be able late father and older broth-
cated to innovation. We project, you will take on this modified version of the Next to compete. France turned er, who like him were huge
need something innova- challenge. I'm very confi- Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to NASCAR president Steve fans of sports car racing.q

Blackmore 1st female jockey to win Cheltenham Gold Cup

CHELTENHAM, England (AP) took the lead on the final something better to say
— Rachael Blackmore be- jump before winning by 15 right now. I just can't.
came the first female jock- lengths. "You have all these plans
ey to win the prestigious Alex Ferguson-owned Pro- about how things are go-
Cheltenham Gold Cup tektorat nosed out Galvin ing to work out," Blackmore
when she rode A Plus Tard for third, about two lengths continued. "Racing doesn't
to victory on Friday. behind Minella Indo. let that happen all the time
A Plus Tard, a 3-1 favorite, Last season, the 32-year- and for some reason it's
stormed up the hill for a old Blackmore became happened to me today. I
comfortable victory as the the first woman to win the just can't explain how lucky
pair avenged last year's Champion Hurdle and I feel." Being attached to
second-place finish behind Grand National. De Bromhead's stable "is
fellow Henry de Bromhead- "I've had so many special just absolutely phenome-
trained runner Minella Indo. days. I wouldn't swap the nal," she said.
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Boodles Chelten- Minella Indo led by about Grand National for any- "To give me this horse is
ham Gold Cup Chase on A Plus Tard during day four of the Chel-
tenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, England, Friday, three lengths at the pen- thing but this is the Gold unbelievable," Blackmore
March 18, 2022. ultimate fence but A Plus Cup," the Irish jockey told said. "I don't know what to
Associated Press Tard closed the gap and ITV Racing. "I wish I had say."q