Acura Team Penske Dominates at Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, California, Sept. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura Team Penske swept today’s IMSA Monterey Grand Prix, dominating the two-hour, 40-minute contest at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya scored their third victory of the season and a 1-2 result for Acura. The result unofficially clinches the Manufacturers’ Championship for Acura, while Cameron and Montoya neared the drivers’ title.
In GTD, Katherine Legge and co-driver Christina Nielsen led the Acura NSX GT3 Evo effort, finishing sixth for Heinricher/Meyer Shank Racing; while teammates Mario Farnbacher and Trent Hindman closed on the GTD Drivers’ Championship following an eighth-place finish.
All championships will be formally decided in the season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, October 10-12.
Acura Team Penske ARX-05
Starting from the pole, Ricky Taylor took the #7 Acura ARX-05 prototype to an early lead, with teammate Montoya close behind. Near the end of the first hour, the pair swapped positions in traffic, with Cameron now at the wheel of the #6 Acura Team Penske entry.
Except for pit stops, the #6 Acura led the rest of the way for the third win of the season for Cameron and Montoya, and their seventh consecutive podium finish. They now hold a 12-point lead in the DPi Drivers’ Championship, and will secure the title with a finish of eighth or better at the season-ending Petit Le Mans 10-hour race in October.
With an eight-point lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship, Acura will officially claim the title at the season finale next month.
After fending off a mid-race challenge from the Cadillac prototype of Jordan Taylor and Renger van der Zande, Ricky Taylor and co-driver Helio Castroneves came home second to complete the 1-2 finish for Acura, moving the pair to third in the drivers’ title chase with one race remaining.
Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo
In GTD, Christina Nielsen and Katherine Legge ran as high as fifth in the competitive, production-based class, but faded in the closing laps as the handling deteriorated for both Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evos at the end of the race. Legge lad the pair home with a sixth-place finish in her #57 Acura.
Teammates Mario Farnbacher and Trent Hindman fought the same issues, and finished eighth in GTD in the #86 NSX GT3. Still, the result was enough to all but clinch the GTD Drivers’ Championship for the pair, as they leave WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca with a 32-point lead, with a maximum of 35 points available in the sole remaining race.
Social media content and video links from this weekend’s Acura Motorsports IMSA sports car racing action at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca are available on HPD’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HondaRacingHPD) and on Twitter at (https://twitter.com/HondaRacing_HPD). Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, YouTube video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.
Next
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship now takes three weeks off before resuming October 12 with the season-ending Petit Le Mans 10-hour endurance event at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, near Gainesville, Georgia.
Quotes
Dane Cameron (#6 Acura Team Penske ARX-05) race winner, third IMSA victory of 2019, closes on Drivers’ Championship with co-driver Juan Pablo Montoya: “It’s really, really nice to get a big win here. This is the level of performance and execution [three wins and seven consecutive podium finishes] that is expected of a Team Penske program: to be a contender for race wins week-in and week-out. It’s what makes us excited to be a part of it. It’s also what is expected of us as a group. I really feel like we’re firing on all cylinders and the team is doing an amazing job with both pit stops and race strategy. The car’s been absolutely amazing.”
Ricky Taylor (#7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05) finished second: “The primary goal today was to maximize the [championship] points for the #6 car [their teammates]. After today, they’re going to the Petit Le Mans season finale in great shape. It’s a perfect day for the team. We were there to support them the best way we could and bring Acura our second 1-2 finish of the season. I’m really happy for the #6 car guys and the team, and now we can focus on getting the win at Petit.”
Katherine Legge (#57 Heinricher/Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo) finished sixth in GTD“: “It was a tough race with varying degrees of tire degradation. I think we had great pace at the beginning of each stint, but after that it became a matter of preserving tires. Basically, we finished one place ahead of where we started. I think we deserved a top five, but unfortunately that’s not the way it worked out.”
Mario Farnbacher (#86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo) finished eighth in GTD, closes on GTD Drivers’ Championship with co-driver Trent Hindman: “We struggled a little bit for speed. It seemed like the Lamborghinis were on a different planet today. We did the best we could do to hit our smaller goals; we finished the race and scored points for the championship. Unfortunately, the Sprint Cup championship is over and you aren’t always going to win everything. I feel like we made the best of what we had today, and we’re in good shape going to Road Atlanta.”
Matthew Niles (Principal Engineer, Honda Performance Development): on today’s DPi race win and unofficial Manufacturers’ Championship crown: “It was near-perfect weekend for us. It doesn’t get much better than starting and finishing 1-2. The teamwork and execution from Acura Team Penske were exemplary, and we’re very close to achieving all of our championship goals for the season. But the job’s not quite done, and we need to continue to focus all of our efforts on finishing strong next month at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.”
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/995926/galstad_WRLS_0919_107040.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458749/acura_logo.jpg
SOURCE Acura Motorsports
“America’s Best Sedan” 2020 Honda Accord Heading to Dealerships
TORRANCE, California, Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With a choice of two turbocharged engines, standard Honda Sensing®, and a spacious and high-tech interior, the 2020 Honda Accord begins arriving at dealer showrooms tomorrow, September 17, with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $23,8701 (excluding $930 destination and handing). The 2020 Accord Hybrid on-sale will be announced separately.
The 10th-generation Accord offers midsize sedan shoppers a combination of performance, refinement, technology, and value that has made it the winner of dozens of awards and accolades since its introduction, including 2018 North American Car of the Year. The 10th-gen Accord has been called “America’s Best Sedan” by Car and Driver, and Accord is the all-time leader in the magazine’s “10 Best” awards with 33 appearances on the coveted list.
2020 Accord buyers can choose between two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines: a 1.5-liter, DOHC direct-injected engine with a peak output of 192 horsepower and 192 lb.-ft. of torque (both SAE net) backed by a CVT automatic transmission, or a 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo® with 252 peak horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (both SAE net) with a 10-speed automatic. In Sport trims, both engines are also available with a 6-speed manual transmission, and Sport trims are also available in two exclusive colors: San Marino Red and Still Night Pearl. All Honda Accords for the U.S. market are manufactured exclusively at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio, auto plant using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
2020 Honda Accord Pricing & EPA Ratings
|
Trim / Engine |
Transmission |
MSRP1 |
MSRP Including |
EPA Mileage Rating2 City/Hwy/Combined |
|
LX / 1.5L Turbo |
CVT |
$23,870 |
$24,800 |
30 / 38 / 33 |
|
Sport / 1.5L Turbo |
6MT |
$26,530 |
$27,460 |
26 / 35 / 30 |
|
Sport / 1.5L Turbo |
CVT |
$26,530 |
$27,460 |
29 / 35 / 31 |
|
EX / 1.5L Turbo |
CVT |
$27,770 |
$28,700 |
30 / 38 / 33 |
|
EX-L / 1.5L Turbo |
CVT |
$30,270 |
$31,200 |
30 / 38 / 33 |
|
Sport / 2.0L Turbo |
6MT |
$31,060 |
$31,990 |
22 / 32 / 26 |
|
Sport / 2.0L Turbo |
10AT |
$31,060 |
$31,990 |
22 / 32 / 26 |
|
EX-L / 2.0L Turbo |
10AT |
$32,270 |
$33,200 |
23 / 34 / 27 |
|
Touring / 2.0L Turbo |
10AT |
$36,100 |
$37,030 |
22 / 32 / 26 |
Safety and Driver Assist Technology
Standard on every 2020 Honda Accord Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies that includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with pedestrian sensing, Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). Also standard are automatic high-beam headlights, a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and a driver attention monitor, while additional available driver-assistive features include blind spot information (BSI) and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Thanks to its next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and advanced safety systems, Accord achieves a 5-star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA in its NCAP safety ratings, and is anticipated to receive a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the highest available IIHS rating of “Good” in all crashworthiness tests.
Cutting-Edge Connectivity
All Accord trims come standard with Bluetooth® music streaming and Hands Free Link®, as well as Pandora® compatibility. Accord Sport and above trims add an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, while EX and above trims boast a range of leading-edge connectivity features, including HD Radio™ and SiriusXM® satellite radio. The range-topping Accord Touring adds HondaLink® subscription services (subscription required) which allow a wide range of remote services such as locking and unlocking doors from virtually anywhere via a compatible smartphone, automatic emergency calling, stolen-vehicle tracking, automatic collision notification and enhanced roadside assistance. Accord Touring also comes with built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi (subscription required) and can even accept in-vehicle package deliveries via Amazon Key (subscriptions required, including Amazon Prime).
About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Insight, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.
Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2018, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
For More Information
Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2020 Honda models is available at hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/honda.
1 MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $930 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
2 Based on 2020 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, lithium-ion battery pack age/condition and other factors.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/995934/2020_Honda_Accord_Touring_2020.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/451598/Honda_Logo.jpg
SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Cargill and Rumba Meats Recognize Hispanic Heritage Month Through Scholarships and Leadership Program for US Hispanic Students
WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Cargill and Rumba Meats, its food brand focused on celebrating family and keeping Latino traditions alive, is partnering with the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) to award 25 scholarships of $1,000 for post-secondary education. Rumba Meats is also investing in USHLI’s Student Leadership Series program, which serves more than 85,000 high school students, in more than 25 states, annually. The Student Leadership Series is designed to connect students with resources, tools and support to achieve higher education.
High school seniors across the U.S. are invited to apply for the Rumba Meats Scholarship between Sept. 15 and Nov. 30. Unique to the Rumba Meats scholarship application is an essay asking students to articulate how their heritage has influenced the direction of their lives, their leadership aspirations and how they plan to serve their communities in the future.
“Rumba Meats, USHLI and Hispanic Heritage Month all share a common priority: to celebrate Latino culture and preserve it for generations to come. That starts by investing in today’s youth so that they can become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Hilary Gerard, Cargill Protein – North America brand manager for Rumba Meats. “We are proud to partner with USHLI to invest in higher education for Latino youth and be a part of their bright future.”
Cargill recently joined 81 other companies in signing the We Are All Human Foundation “Hispanic Promise,” supporting workplace diversity. The promise is a first-of-its-kind national pledge to hire, promote, retain and celebrate Hispanics in the workplace.
For almost 40 years, USHLI has advocated for the education and leadership development of Latinos and similarly underrepresented groups. Founded in 1982 by Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. – one of America’s most decorated Hispanic figures – USHLI has empowered millions of Latinos to pursue education, civic engagement and more. The organization’s cornerstone program is its Student Leadership Series – a program dedicated to empowering high school students to stay in school, graduate and pursue post-secondary education.
“Education is the single greatest tool to help today’s youth have a successful future,” said Andrade. “Investment in scholarships from organizations such as Rumba Meats allows students to achieve a higher education and build a future they may have otherwise thought impossible.”
Students can learn more about the Rumba Meats scholarship, including eligibility criteria and how to complete their application, by visiting the Rumba website.
About Rumba Meats
Rumba Meats, part of the Cargill family of brands, helps the Latino community celebrate their culture and preserve their heritage through food. With nearly 30 different specialty beef cuts available, Rumba delivers high-quality traditional variety meats that are an integral part of Latino traditions and culture. Customers can find Rumba Meats in mainstream and independent grocery stores and retailers nationwide. To learn more, visit https://rumbameats.com/ or www.facebook.com/rumbameats.
About Cargill
Cargill’s 160,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 154 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side by side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture.
About the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute
Based in Chicago, USHLI is an award-winning national nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization. Since 1982, USHLI has registered 2.3 million new voters; published 425 reports on Latino demographics in the Almanac of Latino Politics; sponsored 35 annual national conferences, each attended by leaders from 40 states; trained over 1.1 million present and future leaders; and awarded over $1.3 million in scholarships and internships.
SOURCE Cargill
Acura and Genius Launch Live Music Series Featuring Emerging Artists Who Superfans Predict Will Pop
TORRANCE, California, Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura is collaborating with Genius – music media platform and the world’s largest digital destination for song lyrics and music knowledge – to feature emerging artists in a new music series, “Acura x Genius: Precision Crafted Performances.” The series spotlights rising artists at exclusive, hand-curated live showcases targeting tastemakers, influencers and music aficionados in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta and Miami. The kickoff event will take place in Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Mack Sennett Studios, featuring intimate performances by Destiny Rogers and Olivia O’Brien.
For the first time for a live show, the real-time search trends of the Genius superfan community will help identify and curate music’s fiercest emerging artists taking the stage, through the use of “Music IQ”. Genius’s “Music IQ” proprietary trend-spotting data is powered by special Genius stats and insights, encompassing everything from the world’s most accurate lyrics and metadata to trend-spotting analysis that identifies music’s hottest emerging artists ahead of the crowd. Each Acura x Genius show will feature two of these emerging artists at a critical moment of their career, between underground buzz and mass discovery, including Destiny Rogers and Olivia O’Brien who will be performing at the Los Angeles showcase later this month.
“Our hope is that this program shines a light on these amazing artists and the unique ways they’ve challenged the status quo to get to this pivotal point in their career,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura Brand Officer. “The Acura x Genius series builds on Acura’s passion for music seen across our marketing and festival partnerships by creating new opportunities for music fans to engage with our brand, which is all about exciting experiences and performance.”
“We’re honored to team up with Acura to celebrate the artists and performers shaping the next wave of music culture,” said Rob Markman, Genius’s Head of Artist Relations. “This collaboration is extra special because we’re tapping into Genius’s Music IQ data to curate each showcase with new voices who our community is really excited about.”
Destiny Rogers, who is performing at the first Acura x Genius showcase in Los Angeles added, “When I’m on stage sharing my music, I feel confident and I know this is where I’m meant to be. I’m really happy to be a part of this experience and I’m stoked to connect with the audience, especially for those who hear my music for the first time. There’s no better introduction to who I am than that.”
“I’m really excited to perform with Genius and Acura! I think it’s going to be a really fun event and great show,” said Olivia O’Brien, also performing at the Los Angeles showcase.
Acura x Genius Music Series
The Acura x Genius Precision Crafted Performances make up a multi-city music series hitting select U.S. music markets, including Los Angeles on September 26; shows in New York, Atlanta, and Miami will follow in the coming months. Live performances and behind-the-scenes content from the series will be shared across Genius’s social channels and on Genius.com. Each event will also feature curated food and beverage menus, unique photo opportunities, and Acura vehicles on display, including the NSX supercar with a DJ booth in its trunk, and the ILX sports sedan.
Destiny Rogers
Destiny Rogers is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist born and raised in Lodi, California. Growing up in a musical home, listening to all genres from classic rock to mariachi, Destiny started to gravitate towards pursuing a career in music. This rising singer infuses her tomboy-ish style, skater culture vibes, and soulful pipes into her music, proving that staying true to yourself pays off. The California native’s empowering lyrics feel more authentic than anything else on pop radio.
Olivia O’Brien
Olivia O’Brien is a native of Napa, California and is known for writing moody, emotionally honest songs like “hate u love u,” which has racked up more than 122.5 million Spotify plays. O’Brien overcame childhood bullying and the pains of being an outsider to become one of the hottest young pop stars in the game.
Acura Music History
Acura has a long history supporting music and the arts, from partnering with events and festivals that align with the brand’s values of performance and innovation, to the soundtracks featured throughout Acura advertising. This year, Acura celebrated 20 years as a sponsor of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, where the Acura Stage again hosted many of the world’s most accomplished musicians. Acura also returned for the fifth year as the automotive partner of the Trombone Shorty Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting traditional jazz music education, instruction, mentorship and performance in New Orleans, and was the Presenting Sponsor of the Foundation’s largest fundraising event, “Shorty Fest.” Sharing a collective passion for innovation and superior performance, Acura has been the official automotive partner of the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for the last eight years.
About Acura
Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance – a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability. The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX premium luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the five-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV, and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar.
Five of the six Acura models sold in North America are made in central Ohio, using domestic and globally-sourced parts, including the ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans (Marysville Auto Plant), the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs (East Liberty Auto Plant) and the Acura NSX supercar, which is built to order at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.
Additional media information including pricing, features & specifications and high-resolution photography is available at AcuraNews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com. Follow Acura on social media at Acura.us/SocialChannels.
About Genius
Genius is the world’s biggest encyclopedia of music. From its foundation in lyrics, Genius has grown to become a leading brand in music, producing popular video series like VERIFIED, Deconstructed, Genius News, and Open Mic and hosting career-spanning live conversations with the likes of Nicki Minaj, The-Dream, and Mariah Carey.
Genius reaches over 100 million people monthly across the globe and has over 6 million YouTube subscribers. It continues to power the successful “Behind the Lyrics” integration on Spotify and drives a major lyrics integration on Apple Music. Top names in music—including Chance the Rapper, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Frank Ocean, Billie Eilish, and Lin-Manuel Miranda—use Genius to share the stories behind their songs with the world.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/985701/Acura_x_Genius___Precision_Crafted_Performances.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/985702/Acura___Olivia_O_Brien_and_Destiny__Rogers_performances.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458749/acura_logo.jpg
SOURCE Acura
(Español) Cómo recuperarse después de un huracán
Blue Shield of California Provides Medicare Beneficiaries More Benefits With New Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Blue Shield of California today announced its new Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra, the latest addition to its Medicare Supplement plan portfolio that offers innovative services such as coverage for over-the-counter items, access to physicians via smartphones and a gym membership at no additional cost.
Blue Shield’s Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra is available to Medicare beneficiaries throughout California that’s designed to be affordable. This new plan has all the benefits offered by Medicare Supplement Plan G plus additional services such as:
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) items benefits: including up to $100 allowance per quarter at CVS for eligible OTC health and wellness products such as cold and allergy medicines, first-aid supplies and pain relievers
- Physician consultation benefits: available by phone or video via computer or mobile application
- Hearing aid benefits: including an annual hearing test and savings on Vista brand mid-level and premium-level hearing aids
- Vision benefits: including coverage for the cost of eye exams, frames, eyeglass or contact lenses that are not traditionally covered by original Medicare
- SilverSneakers® Fitness Program: includes a fitness benefit at no extra cost
“We are thrilled to introduce our new, innovative Medicare Supplement Plan G Extra, providing additional benefits for Medicare beneficiaries throughout California,” said Krista Bowers, General Manager, Senior Markets, Blue Shield of California. “The Medicare landscape continues to change and evolve, and we are excited to offer members of the Medicare community this new product.”
Medicare’s Annual Election Period is October 15, 2019 to December 7, 2019. For more information about Blue Shield’s Medicare offerings, please visit https://blueshieldcamedicare.com/.
About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of our family and friends that is sustainably affordable. We are a not for profit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.
For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com.
Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
|
CONTACTS: |
Carol Thornton |
|
Blue Shield of California |
|
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415-229-5359 |
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Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/810201/blue_jpg_Logo.jpg
SOURCE Blue Shield of California
Acura Team Penske Sweeps Qualifying at Laguna Seca
MONTEREY, Calif., Sept. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Acura Team Penske swept the front row in qualifying today for Sunday’s Monterey SportsCar Championship race, with Ricky Taylor claiming the pole with a new lap record time of 1:15.035 in his Acura ARX-05 prototype, and teammate Juan Pablo Montoya claiming the outside of the front row with the second-fastest qualifying run.
In GTD, Trent Hindman continued his run of front-row starts this year for Meyer Shank Racing, and will start second in his Acura NSX GT3 Evo.
Acura Team Penske ARX-05
Taylor and co-driver Helio Castroneves paced the final practice sessions prior to qualifying, and Taylor went to the top of the time charts in the 15-minute DPi qualifying session, posting a new qualifying record of 1:15.035 in his Acura ARX-05 to take his first pole of the season, and the fourth of the year for Acura.
Teammate Montoya led the first half of the session, and ultimately slotted in second in the ARX-05 he will share with Dane Cameron, just over three-tenths of a second off Taylor’s pole-winning time. The pole is the fourth of the season for Team Penske – one for each of the team’s full-season drivers – and the third 1-2 sweep for Acura, with the others coming at Detroit and at Road America.
Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo
GTD championship leader Trent Hindman led qualifying until the final minutes of the session with a time of 1:25.063, when a last-lap effort from Paul Miller Racing’s Corey Lewis dropped him to second by the narrow margin of 0.101 of a second. Hindman will be starting his Meyer Shank Racing Acura from the front row of the GTD field for the fourth time this season – including three GTD poles – before handing off driving duties to co-driver Mario Farnbacher.
Returning to the #57 MSR/Heinricher Racing Caterpillar NSX GT3 she will share with four-time Acura GTD race-winner Katherine Legge, Christina Nielsen qualified seventh, just 0.349 tenths of a second off the pole in the very competitive GTD category.
Where to watch
Live network television coverage from WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca begins at 3 p.m. Sunday on NBC. Complete, live race coverage will also be available on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports App with NBCSN authentication.
Quotes
Ricky Taylor (#7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05) pole qualifier: “I was the only one on the team without a pole [this year] and I just felt like I had to pull my weight today! The whole team gave us a fantastic Acura today, locking out the front row shows what a great team it is. It’s going to be a tough race tomorrow. We need to make sure we can keep the tires under us, and be there at the end.”
Trent Hindman (#86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo) qualified second in GTD: “Once again, the turn around for this Meyer Shank Racing team from practice yesterday to qualifying today was pretty ‘mega.’ I think we went a little bit too far in one direction [with the chassis setup] in qualifying here, but it was good to learn that for tomorrow. Of course, I wanted the pole, but at the end of the day we’re thinking ‘championship’ and we’re certainly in a great starting position.”
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/995808/Acura_Motorsports_Ricky_Taylor_Race_Car.jpg
SOURCE Acura Motorsports
Singer/Songwriter Erika Ender receives Philanthropy Award from the Ismael Cala Foundation
MIAMI, Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This Saturday, Erika Ender, Panamanian composer, president of the Fundación Puertas Abiertas (‘Open Doors Foundation’) and creator of the Talenpro project, received the Philanthropy Award of the Ismael Cala Foundation for being “an example of social responsibility.”
“She has created an exponential platform for young talents, interweaving entertainment and culture with efforts to promote the social welfare of others. Coming from Panama and acting on behalf of the world, she has prioritized the professional and emotional education of new generations, with the aim of training balanced human beings,” Ismael Cala emphasized as he handed over the prize to the renowned, multiple award-winning artist, who has broken records of all kinds. Her songs have been recorded by more than 200 international artists, including the smash hit Despacito (‘Easy does it’).
Cala said that Ender “today is an example of an artist with a sense of social responsibility, involved in managing solutions for Panamanians and providing an example for the Americas overall.”
The award was presented at Gala Fifty, in Miami, which celebrated the Ismael Cala Foundation’s first 50 months of work.
During the event, funds were raised to strengthen Foundation programs and contribute to the education and social transformation of children, adolescents and young adults, with Daniel Sarcos and Alessandra Villegas serving as Emcees.
“This foundation is part of my DNA. It didn’t just come into being by chance or inertia, but because I wanted to build something like this. Obviously, this is a team effort. I’ve just been the manager. It’s all the people who work here who make all the difference,” said Cala in his remarks.
In its 50 months of activity, 6,359 young people from 13 countries in Latin America and the United States have benefited from its programs, which seek to develop their potential and enhance their wellbeing and social development.
Dilcia Ruan, ambassador of the Foundation and organizer of the Gala, indicated that “with the funds raised at the gala, some 500 young people from Latin America will benefit from emotional intelligence programs.”
At the Gala Fifty an auction was also held to benefit the “Fly a Kite program,” initially launched in Guatemala, and scheduled to reach nine other countries. Its aim is to offer tools for emotional intelligence and leadership to adolescents.
Salsa legend Oscar D’León brought the gala to a close with a driving salsa beat.
Celebrities such as designer Nicolás Felizola, journalists Mariana Atencio (NBC) and María Alejandra Requena (CNN en Español) walked the blue carpet, among guests from the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Ecuador, Belgium, Germany, Chile, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and other countries.
The event’s official auction featured contributions from the designers Carolina Herrera, Nicolás Felizola and Giannina Azar, among others.
The Ismael Cala Foundation (IFC) aspires to develop the emotional and educational leadership of at-risk children, adolescents and young adults in our region and among the Hispanic population of the United States. To accomplish its mission, the ICF has created a variety of programs, among them the Scholarship Award program. In alliance with educational institutions, companies and other social development organizations, it promotes the education and training of young people by awarding scholarships for classes and/or programs of study for personal and professional improvement, in this way increasing their wellbeing and social development.
SOURCE Cala Enterprises
New Events Make San Antonio’s Day of the Dead Celebration Largest in the U.S.
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — San Antonio is renowned for its lively atmosphere and colorful cultural events. This year, the city’s Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities are hitting an all-time high as new offerings join dozens of annual events, creating the largest celebration of the holiday in the U.S.
Dating back to pre-Columbian times, Day of the Dead is a traditional Mexican holiday when people celebrate their deceased loved ones. Participants create festive altars adorned with photographs, food and other gifts associated with the holiday such as marigolds, incense and candles to honor those who have passed. It’s said that on Nov. 1 and 2, the distance between the living and the dead is at its closest point creating a special moment to share memories and send wishes to dearly departed family and friends.
Taking place Oct. 26 through Nov. 3, San Antonio’s festivities include events big and small, some going back more than 40 years, with traditional altars, live music, Mexican cuisine and parades, many of which are family friendly and free and open to the public. Restaurants, cafes and cultural institutions across the city will showcase altars, customary décor and fresh-baked pan de muerto, a sweet bread that’s a traditional offering.
Día de Los Muertos (Oct. 26-27): For its seventh year, this celebration, also known as Muertos Fest, has expanded to a new location at Hemisfair in the heart of downtown. The free, family-friendly event features the largest open altar exhibition in the city along with live music on two stages, original Day of the Dead art, a drum and puppet procession, poetry readings and more. The fest was named one of the 10 Great Day of the Dead Celebrations by USA Today and the second best Día de Muertos Celebration in the country by Tripping.com.
Day of the Dead San Antonio (Nov. 1-3): The historic La Villita neighborhood serves as home to the new celebration. The three-day program includes artistic displays, activities for children, musical performances, gastronomical treats, a beer garden, Spirits Bar, dancing and opportunities to learn about the historic and cultural importance of the celebration. Additional Day of the Dead San Antonio events include:
- Catrineras on the River (Nov. 1) – The kick-off to Day of the Dead San Antonio will dress the city’s famous river barges in the colorful hallmarks of the holiday for a floating parade down the River Walk. The parade ends with a performance of “La Danza de Las Mojigangas” at the Arneson River Theatre.
- Celebrating Life 5 Run-Walk (Nov. 2) – Participants receive a race kit including a skeleton t-shirt, water bottle and finisher medal. Runners also will have the opportunity to get their faces painted by a team of makeup artists pre-race.
Cultural Exhibitions:
- The Witte Museum’s Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids (Sept. 28 – Jan. 12) – Part of this exhibition, which explores the science and history of the world’s most popular imaginary creatures, will include a section on Alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of mythical creatures, from Oct. 22 – Nov. 16.
- Mexicraneos Street (Oct. 15 – Nov. 15) – A series of sculptural skulls encompass a street art exhibition along Houston Street and around the new Frost Bank building in downtown San Antonio.
Pearl (Nov. 1-2): Pearl Park will be transformed for its elaborate Día de Muertos celebration with altars throughout the property, live music, a procession and children’s crafts. Hotel Emma and other Pearl businesses will join in the festivities with ornate altars and original programming.
Muertitos Fest (Nov. 1-2): SAY Sí, a creative youth development organization, curates one of the city’s comprehensive Día de Muertos celebrations. This year’s theme is Mestizo and will reflect the convergence of cultures and indigenous roots of the region.
Huarache Turbo Night Run (Oct. 26): This 5K fun run takes place around Día de Muertos each year, with a prize going to the best costume. The fiesta kicks off once the last runner finishes.
Come and experience one of San Antonio’s most vibrant traditions. To learn more, explore visitsanantonio.com/dia-de-los-muertos.
Additional events, information and media images available at media.visitsanantonio.com
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SOURCE Visit San Antonio