IMS confirms PennGrade as presenting sponsor for 100th Indy 500 - MotorSportsTalk

Going back to last May, Hulman Motorsports CEO Mark Miles told MotorSportsTalk that it was quite likely the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 would have a presenting sponsor.

“I think we’ll have a presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500 Race by next year’s race,” Miles told me at the time. “There’s a few prospects. But it could very well be a new company to come in as a partner, and there’s more out there.”

And, officially, later Thursday night after a couple reports out earlier in the day (from RACER, Indianapolis Star if you’re interested), it was confirmed that PennGrade Motor Oil will become the first presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500.

So, 2016 will be the “100th Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.” Even though most everyone will still just call it the Indianapolis 500.

PennGrade, a subsidiary of Indiana-based D.A. Lubricants, has signed on for a three-year deal at $5 million, per the Star, to step up as presenting sponsor for the race.

The race telecast on ABC has had a presenting sponsor before, with GoDaddy a prominent example, but not the race itself.

D.A. Lubricants re-entered IndyCar after a lengthy hiatus last year in an associate sponsorship role with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and driver Graham Rahal. The company also supported Rising Star Racing, the Art Wilmes-led program to help support young American drivers; Spencer Pigot (Indy Lights) and Neil Alberico (Pro Mazda) raced under the RSR banner last year with Josef Newgarden as their mentor.

It’s another revenue stream, and it doesn’t make the race lose its name – it’s just the proverbial add-on that comes with an additional chunk of change.

.@GrahamRahal is at sponsor @DALubricant's #Indy500 announcement. pic.twitter.com/TbXnyPQTpU

— RLL Racing (@RLLracing) January 21, 2016

Exciting things happening for #PennGrade and @IMS! Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/hN3AtmrGTo

— PennGrade (@penngrade) January 21, 2016

.@PennGrade Motor Oil Named First-Ever Presenting Sponsor of the #Indy500 – https://t.co/VyBbpXoGog pic.twitter.com/TdfvKq6io6

— Indy Motor Speedway (@IMS) January 21, 2016

We have many exciting things in store with @penngrade for the #100thRunning of the #Indy500 and 3 years to come! pic.twitter.com/VPR0gDNpkF

— Indy Motor Speedway (@IMS) January 21, 2016

The full release is linked here.

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With three multiple winners now vying for the championship, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series heads to Round 11 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

Chase Sexton earned his second victory of the season in Detroit when Aaron Plessinger fell on the final lap. Though he was penalized seven points for disobeying a flag, Sexton is third in the championship race. The Honda rider trails leader Cooper Webb (two victories) by 17 points, and defending series champion Eli Tomac (five wins) is three points behind Webb in second with seven races remaining.

Tomac won last year in Seattle on the way to his second season title.

Honda riders have a Supercross-leading 20 victories in the Seattle event but none at Lumen Field since Justin Barcia in 2013. Tomac and Barcia are the only past 450 Seattke winners entered in Saturday’s event.

Here are the pertinent details for watching Round 11 of the 2023 Supercross season in Seattle:

(All times are ET)

BROADCAST/STREAMING SCHEDULE: TV coverage of Round 11 will begin Saturday at 10 p.m. ET streaming on Peacock with a re-air Monday at 1 a.m. ET on CNBC. The Race Day Live show (including qualifying) will begin on Peacock at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

NBC Sports will have exclusive live coverage of races, qualifiers and heats for the record 31 events in SuperMotocross. The main events will be presented on Peacock, NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBC Sports digital platforms.

Peacock will become the home of the SuperMotocross World Championship series in 2023 with live coverage of all races, qualifying, and heats from January to October. There will be 23 races livestreamed exclusively on Peacock, including a SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff event. The platform also will provide on-demand replays of every race. Click here for the full schedule.

POINTS STANDINGS: 450 division l 250 division

ENTRY LISTS: 450 division l 250 division

EVENT SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Here are the start times for Saturday’s Supercross Round 11 in Seattle, according to the Monster Energy Supercross schedule from the AMA:

4:50 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 1
5:05 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:20 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 1
5:35 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 1
6:25 p.m.: 250SX Group B Qualifying 2
6:40 p.m.: 250SX Group A Qualifying 2
7:55 p.m.: 450SX Group A Qualifying 2
8:10 p.m.: 450SX Group B Qualifying 2
10:06 p.m.: 250SX Heat 1
10:20 p.m.: 250SX Heat 2
10:34 p.m.: 450SX Heat 1
10:48 p.m.: 450SX Heat 2
11:22 p.m.: 250SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:34 p.m.: 450SX Last Chance Qualifier
11:54 p.m.: 250SX Main Event
12:28 a.m.: 450SX Main Event