Red Bull GRC: Whitten set for Supercars debut in LA - MotorSportsTalk

Tanner Whitten will step up from Red Bull Global Rallycross’ GRC Lites division into Supercars for the season finale at the Port of LA this week.

See the release below for more information.

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SH Rallycross/DRR announced today that Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites driver Tanner Whitten will be promoted to drive in the RBGRC Supercar division this weekend for both season-ending events at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA.

Whitten, 23, will fill-in for Nelson Piquet Jr. and pilot the #07 WIX Filters Ford Fiesta ST for SH Rallycross/DRR on October 8, and the #07 MetRX Ford Fiesta ST on October 9. A native of Illinois, Whitten will become the first GRC Lites driver to be promoted to a full-time Supercar team in the same season that he ran in Lites.

“We are pleased to announce that Tanner will be driving the SH Rallycross/DRR car in Los Angeles,” said Dennis Reinbold, co-owner of SH Rallycross/DRR. “The opportunity presented itself with Nelson having a Formula E conflict, and we felt this was the perfect opportunity to promote a young, deserving driver up to Super Cars. We look forward to a successful weekend for both the team and our sponsors, WIX Filters and MET-Rx.”

One of the inaugural Red Bull Global Rallycross Lites test drivers in 2012, Whitten has had an impressive Lites career. He made his RBGRC Lites debut in 2015 making 12 starts finishing on the podium three times with one win and five heat race victories and a top-five spot in the standings. For 2016, he responded by earning three more podiums including a win, seven heat race victories and three straight poles. During his Lites career, Whitten has made a total of 16 starts with six podium performances including two finals wins and 12 heat victories.

“I want to thank everyone in the SH Rallycross/DRR organization for this opportunity,” said Whitten. “It is an honor to be working with the team for the season finale. Los Angeles is an amazing location to make my Supercar debut and I feel humbled to be competing at the highest level of the sport.”

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