What’s Happening? This week, NASCAR returns to racing abroad as the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series head south of the border into Mexico City. NASCAR has raced outside the United States in the past. In fact, the first time NASCAR left the States was all the way back in 1952 when the Grand […]
This week, NASCAR returns to racing abroad as the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series head south of the border into Mexico City. NASCAR has raced outside the United States in the past. In fact, the first time NASCAR left the States was all the way back in 1952 when the Grand National division ran a temporary course in Ontario, Canada. Since then, NASCAR has held events abroad off and on across its many divisions. With NASCAR returning to Mexico City this weekend, and with talk about having next year’s Clash in Brazil, we here at The Daily Downforce thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the instances when NASCAR raced outside of the country on an international stage.
So, buckle up! Here are some of the times NASCAR raced abroad.
Twin Ring Motegi (1998)
The site of Danica Patrick’s lone professional racing win, NASCAR once raced at the now-defunct Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan. Twin Ring Motegi is a motorsports park that includes a road course and, yes, the only oval racing circuit in Japan. The oval track is an egg-shaped speedway, similar to Darlington, with turns three and four being much tighter than turns one and two. NASCAR’s only race at the track happened on November 22, 1998. The race was the Coca-Cola 500 and was most notable for being the first race in which the father-son duo, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced against one another. Both sponsored by Coca-Cola, Junior and Senior drove the number 1 and number 3 Coca-Cola Racing Family Chevrolets, respectively.
Jeremy Mayfield claimed the pole for the race and led the opening lap. Jeff Gordon took the lead from him on lap 2 and led until lap 28. In the laps that followed, Mayfield, Gordon, Sterling Marling, Jeff Burton, and Mike Skinner swapped the lead. Dale Earnhardt took the lead on Lap 103. It was a highly competitive race. However, at the end of the day, Mike Skinner in the RCR number 31 Lowe’s Chevy won the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. went on to finish 6th in his very first Winston Cup Series start, besting his father, who crossed the line in 8th. The three-year deal to race in Japan concluded after this event and NASCAR did not return there for the 1999 season.
Twin Ring Motegi continued to be a fixture on the IndyCar schedule until 2011. For the 2011 running of the race, the race was moved over to the road course circuit as the oval had been damaged by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Following 2011, IndyCar never returned to Motegi.
NASCAR Thunder Special in Suzuka (1996-1997)
I started this list with the Twin Ring Motegi race because that track was a more typical/traditional oval circuit. It fit NASCAR best. But, as referenced in that entry, it was the last race as part of a three-year deal with the Government of Japan to hold one NASCAR race a year in the country. Prior to going to Motegi, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series had a two-year stint in Suzuka.
The Suzuka circuit in Japan has held many races over the course of its long and storied history. Perhaps most famously, it’s the site of the Japanese Grand Prix of Formula One. But it did host a pair of exhibition NASCAR Cup races in 1996 and 1997 on an abbreviated course. The first running of the event was held on November 24, 1996, and it saw Rusty Wallace take home the win. The series returned a year later with Mike Skinner taking the crown. This means that Mike Skinner won two of the three-year race deal between NASCAR and Japan. That’s just wild!
Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigez (2005-2008)
Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigez is the circuit NASCAR is returning to this weekend. That is to say that NASCAR has raced there before. Between 2005 and 2008, the Mexico City circuit was a regular fixture on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule. For the first three years, the race was run in early March during the Cup Series first off weekend of the year. During its first two years, the track used the chicane in its layout. The chicane was ditched for the final two runnings of the event.
Eventual 2005 and defending NASCAR Busch Series champion Martin Truex Jr. won the inaugural race at the track. To date, he was the only Xfinity Series regular to win the event as the Buschwhackers hoisted the trophy in subsequent years. Denny Hamlin won the 2006 running of the race while Juan Pablo Montoya won it in 2007. The last race until Saturday to run at the track was won by Kyle Busch in 2008.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2007-2012)
With the success of the races in Mexico City, the NASCAR Xfinity Series added yet another race abroad for the 2007 schedule, this time opting to cross the northern border into Montreal, Quebec, Canada at the infamous Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The NAPA Auto Parts 200 was run for six years between 2007 and 2012 and it was always a show. Gilles Villeneuve’s son, Jaques Villeneuve ran the race almost every year and was an absolute terror in the Team Penske number 22 Dodge. No driver wanted to see him in their rearview mirror because it only meant one thing: in the next corner, they were getting dumped.
A healthy mix of series regulars, Buschwhackers, and road course ringers went to victory lane during this span of races. Winning the first one in 2007 was Kevin Harvick in the number 21 Chevy for RCR. The following year, Ron Fellows won the race in the rain in the number 5 JR Motorsports GoDaddy.com Chevy. Current NASCAR on Prime broadcaster and NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Carl Edwards won the race in 2009. Boris Said captured his only NASCAR win in the race in 2010. SVG’s mentor, Marcos Ambrose, won the race in 2011. And finally, in 2012 future Xfinity Series Champion, Justin Allgaier won the final race at the track, driving for Turner Motorsports.
Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (2013-2019)
After the deal with Circuit Gilles Villeneuve ended, NASCAR wanted to keep a presence in Canada. So, while the NASCAR Xfinity Series returned to racing exclusively in the States, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series struck a 9-year deal to run at the less popular Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Ontario, Canada. Chase Elliott won the first race at the track in 2013, driving the number 94 Aaron’s Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. His buddy Ryan Blaney won it the following year in the Brad Keselowski Racing number 29 Ford. Erik Jones won the race in 2015 for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Perhaps the most thrilling finish during this stint was the 2016 finish. The race came down between now-Cup Series drivers John Hunter Nemechek, driving for his father’s NEMCO Motorsports, and Cole Custer, driving the 00 for JR Motorsports. Coming to the line, JHN pinned Custer against the wall and held him there as he crossed the line first. Custer, furious, confronted Nemechek and the two brawled on the frontstretch. As a JRM fan, I never forgave JHN for this move. Other winners at the track include Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, and Brett Moffitt.
Though races in 2020 and 2021 were scheduled, they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In their place were additional races at Darlington Raceway. NASCAR never returned to the track at any capacity.
Conclusion
That does it for this one, Daily Downforce readers! What are your expectations for this weekend’s return to Mexico City? Do you expect a thrilling finish? What are your hopes for NASCAR racing abroad in the future? Let us know! And be sure to comment what you think on all of our social media pages (X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
What’s Happening? In a bombshell news drop, the NASCAR Heat gaming franchise took to social media to announce that the Heat servers will permanently close on August 1, 2025. This is all part of the licensing transfer from Monster Games to iRacing. Monster Games acquired NASCAR licensing rights in 2016 and relaunched the NASCAR Heat […]
In a bombshell news drop, the NASCAR Heat gaming franchise took to social media to announce that the Heat servers will permanently close on August 1, 2025. This is all part of the licensing transfer from Monster Games to iRacing.
Monster Games acquired NASCAR licensing rights in 2016 and relaunched the NASCAR Heat series, beginning with NASCAR Heat: Evolution. In total, 5 console games were released under the moniker.
In 2021, the rights lapsed, and Motorsport Games was created. Through this publisher, the game NASCAR 21 was released. However, recently iRacing acquired the rights to NASCAR console gaming, along with the rights to the World of Outlaws. The first game under their license will be NASCAR 25, which is slated for release this fall.
As referenced in the NASCAR Heat post, the game will remain playable but only in single-player modes. On August 1, 2025, online features and updates will be disbanded permanently.
As you know the journey has begun for the new licensors, with their game expected to release this year. As part of the licence transfer, the NASCAR Heat servers will be permanently closed on 1st August 2025.
The game will remain playable in single player modes after this time.
CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, is out at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season. Trackhouse and Suárez officially called the parting a “mutual decision” that allows the driver an earlier opportunity to pursue a new ride for next season. While Trackhouse […]
CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, is out at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season.
Trackhouse and Suárez officially called the parting a “mutual decision” that allows the driver an earlier opportunity to pursue a new ride for next season.
While Trackhouse did not name a replacement in the No. 99 Chevrolet, Suárez’s departure opened the door for the team to promote teen sensation Connor Zilisch into the ride. Zilisch, who drives in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, has run three Cup races for Trackhouse this season, including Saturday night at Atlanta.
Suárez has just two wins in 305 career Cup starts, and is a distant 29th in the points standings this season. The 33-year-old Suarez is in his fifth season with Trackhouse Racing and was the team’s first driver in 2021. He made NASCAR’s playoffs two times with Trackhouse.
“We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021 and in just a couple of years we were winning races and running upfront on a weekly basis,” Suárez wrote on social media. “Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change and we have agreed to each go in our own direction.”
Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks thanked Suárez for his contributions.
“The role Daniel has played in the Trackhouse origin story and its first five years will remain a valued part of the company’s history forever,” Marks said. “His commitment, work ethic and dedication to the effort is one of the most impressive things I personally have seen in my career.”
Trackhouse Racing also has Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen under contract, along with Zilisch is its development driver. Chastain has six career wins and was the 2022 Cup Series runner-up while van Gisbergen has a win this year and is in the playoffs.
Suárez, who became an American citizen last year, also has three Xfinity Series wins and one Truck Series win. His 2016 championship in the second-tier Xfinity Series made him the only foreign-born driver to win a national series title.
He made a triumphant return last month to his home country when he won the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City driving for JR Motorsports at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Yet the balance of celebrating a homecoming with looming contract negotiations weighed on Suárez.
“It’s not the first time that I’ve been in this position. Definitely the first time with the Mexico race, but it’s not the first time that I’ve been in the position that we have to win or in the position that we have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season,” Suárez said. “It’s definitely a distraction. I won’t sit here and tell you that it doesn’t really matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and to put all this stuff on the side and just do my thing on the track.”
He’ll do his thing at the track in 2026 with yet another new team.
Suarez started his Cup career with Joe Gibbs Racing and has raced for Stewart-Haas Racing and Gaunt Brothers Racing. He has Cup wins in 2022 at Sonoma and last year in Atlanta.
Yamaha Donates Motorcycle Training Support Vehicle to Burbank PD
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, donated a UMAX Rally 2+2 utility golf car to the Burbank Police Department. The donation supports the department’s motorcycle training unit through the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI). The motorcycle training support vehicle will aid officers during skill-building exercises at the training grounds. Jay Leno, a longtime Burbank resident and motorcycle […]
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, donated a UMAX Rally 2+2 utility golf car to the Burbank Police Department. The donation supports the department’s motorcycle training unit through the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI). The motorcycle training support vehicle will aid officers during skill-building exercises at the training grounds. Jay Leno, a longtime Burbank resident and motorcycle enthusiast, helped connect Yamaha and the Burbank PD.
“As a friend and supporter of the Burbank PD, I heard they needed a reliable support vehicle for their training grounds, and I knew Yamaha would be the perfect partner,” said Leno, who hosted the presentation at his world-famous Jay Leno’s Garage, featured on the popular YouTube series of the same name. “The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is an incredible program that helps keep off-road recreation sustainable and safe for future generations.”
Monthly Training Gets a Boost from Motorcycle Training Support Vehicle
The Burbank Police Department conducts monthly training for motorcycle officers to maintain advanced riding skills. Officers will use the new Yamaha UMAX Rally 2+2 motorcycle training support vehicle during course design. They will also use it during course instruction. Furthermore, the vehicle will support operations at the department’s motorcycle training facility.
“We’re extremely thankful for Yamaha’s generous support and commitment to rider safety,” said Rafael Quintero, chief of police for the City of Burbank. “Whether it’s on the highway or on a trail, responsible riding starts with training and preparation, and we’re proud to set that example.”
Yamaha OAI Builds Safer, Sustainable Recreation
The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative protects and enhances access to public land for outdoor and motorized recreation. It leads the powersports industry in land access advocacy and responsible riding education. Since 2008, OAI has contributed more than $7 million to over 535 projects across the U.S.
“While most OAI grants fund trail building, maintenance and conservation efforts, we also recognize that access can be threatened by unsafe or irresponsible behavior,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha Motorsports marketing director. “That’s why we’re proud to support the Burbank PD’s training efforts — it’s a win for the community and for rider education.”
Major NASCAR Chicago street closures take effect in coming hours – NBC Chicago
Preparations are underway for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, but the biggest street closures are set to go into effect in coming hours. The circuit, set up through Chicago’s Grant Park, will play host to the Xfinity Series’ Loop 110 on Saturday and the Cup Series’ Grant Park 165 on Sunday, and the top drivers […]
Preparations are underway for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, but the biggest street closures are set to go into effect in coming hours.
The circuit, set up through Chicago’s Grant Park, will play host to the Xfinity Series’ Loop 110 on Saturday and the Cup Series’ Grant Park 165 on Sunday, and the top drivers in the world will make their way up and down several iconic Chicago streets.
Those streets are the focus of the latest rounds of closures, which could impact Chicago commuters on Thursday, according to officials.
Roosevelt Road, located along the far southern edge of the circuit, will close at 10 p.m. Wednesday between Michigan Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago officials said.
Just two hours later, another major closure will go into effect, as southbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will close between Randolph and McFetridge, impacting a major north-south thoroughfare for Chicago motorists.
On Thursday night at 10 p.m., Michigan Avenue will close between Roosevelt Road and Jackson Drive, officials say. At the same time, northbound DuSable Lake Shore Drive will close between McFetridge and Randolph.
The races take place Saturday and Sunday. There will be closures on Michigan Avenue, Monroe Street, Ida B. Wells Drive, Indiana Avenue, Post Place and Garvey Court, among others. A full list can be found on the OEMC website.
After the race is over, crews will work to quickly reopen as many major thoroughfares as possible, focusing on DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, according to the city.
All race-related cleanup will likely be completed within a week, according to the city’s schedule.
Kyle Kirkwood will become the second IndyCar driver to carry Honda branding this season with a new livery for his No. 27 Andretti Global Honda at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. “The collaboration comes at a home race for Honda, as the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is just over 60 miles from the Honda […]
Kyle Kirkwood will become the second IndyCar driver to carry Honda branding this season with a new livery for his No. 27 Andretti Global Honda at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio.
“The collaboration comes at a home race for Honda, as the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is just over 60 miles from the Honda Marysville and East Liberty Auto Plants as well as Honda Research & Development, and celebrates all of Honda’s products – from the streets to the sky,” Honda’s announcement stated. “More than 400,000 Honda and Acura automobiles are made in Ohio each year, as well as research and design on components for Honda products from lawnmowers to the HondaJet.”
The Mid-Ohio race marks the one-year anniversary of IndyCar’s shift to hybrid powertrains, and Kirkwood’s auto manufacturer livery follows the one-off Honda Racing Corporation US colors and branding carried to victory lane by Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou in April at Barber Motorsports Park.
“We are thrilled to have Honda represented on the No. 27 Andretti Global machine of Kyle Kirkwood this weekend,” said Honda and Acura motorsports manager Chuck Schifsky. “We’ve had a long partnership with the Andretti organization, and when the chance came up to have Kyle run a Honda-branded car here at the Honda race at Mid-Ohio, we jumped at it. It’s a great opportunity to bring awareness to all parts of the Honda brand – from planes, motorcycles and power products, to road cars and our hybrid-powered Indy cars – especially on this one year anniversary of IndyCar going hybrid.
“We have thousands of Honda associates from our five Ohio manufacturing plants and the North American R&D center coming to watch the race, and seeing that Kyle is one of only two drivers to win so far this year, and all nine races have been won by Honda, we’re hoping we can continue that streak and put on a great show for them.”
Drivers to watch, favorites to win and predictions for NASCAR Chicago
Drivers to watch, favorites to win and predictions for NASCAR Chicago originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia The city is buzzing, the track is almost ready and cars are arriving soon. Now, it’s time to meet the drivers. Advertisement The 2025 Chicago Street Race will see the world’s greatest stock car drivers hitting the track. […]
Drivers to watch, favorites to win and predictions for NASCAR Chicago originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The city is buzzing, the track is almost ready and cars are arriving soon.
Now, it’s time to meet the drivers.
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The 2025 Chicago Street Race will see the world’s greatest stock car drivers hitting the track. A combination of big name stars, past Chicago winners and young prospects will make up the field in Sunday’s race.
Here’s everything to know about the drivers competing in the Grant Park 165:
Who are the drivers in the NASCAR Chicago Street Race?
There are 41 drivers attempting to qualifying for the 2025 Chicago Street Race.
Thirty-six of the 41 entries are locked into the race by virtue of the NASCAR charter system. That leaves five drivers battling for four spots, with the slowest one going home after Saturday’s qualifying session.
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The five drivers who are not guaranteed a starting spot are Kaulig Racing’s Will Brown, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, Garage 66’s Josh Bilicki, 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim and Live Fast Motorsports’ Katherine Legge.
One of the standout drivers in Sunday’s race will be Tyler Reddick, who competes for Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing. He’ll be sporting a Jordan Brand-sponsored Toyota that will be tough to miss out on track.
Here’s the full entry list for the Grant Park 165, with car numbers, driver names, team names and sponsors:
Car number
Driver
Team
Sponsor
1
Ross Chastain
Trackhouse Racing
Busch Light Apple
2
Austin Cindric
Team Penske
Discount Tire
3
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing
Breztri
4
Noah Gragson
Front Row Motorsports
Rasmussen Air & Gas Energy
5
Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports
Valvoline
6
Brad Keselowski
RFK Racing
Kroger/Blue Buffalo
7
Justin Haley
Spire Motorsports
Gainbridge
8
Kyle Busch
Richard Childress Racing
Slurpee
9
Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports
NAPA Auto Parts
10
Ty Dillon
Kaulig Racing
Sea Best
11
Ryan Truex
Joe Gibbs Racing
Progressive
12
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
Menards
13
Will Brown*
Kaulig Racing
Mobile X
16
AJ Allmendinger
Kaulig Racing
Celsius
17
Chris Buescher
RFK Racing
Body Guard
19
Chase Briscoe
Joe Gibbs Racing
Bass Pro Shops
20
Christopher Bell
Joe Gibbs Racing
Craftsman
21
Josh Berry
Wood Brothers Racing
Motorcraft/Quick Lane
22
Joey Logano
Team Penske
Shell/Pennzoil
23
Bubba Wallace
23XI Racing
McDonald’s
24
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
All-Pro Auto Reconditioning
33
Austin Hill*
Richard Childress Racing
United Rentals
34
Todd Gilliland
Front Row Motorsports
Grillo’s Pickles
35
Riley Herbst
23XI Racing
Lucy
38
Zane Smith
Front Row Motorsports
Vermeer Midwest
41
Cole Custer
Haas Factory Team
Haas/Andy’s Custard
42
John Hunter Nemechek
Legacy Motor Club
Dollar Tree
43
Erik Jones
Legacy Motor Club
Advent Health
45
Tyler Reddick
23XI Racing
Jordan Brand
47
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
JTG Daugherty Racing
Rate
48
Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
Ally
51
Cody Ware
Rick Ware Racing
Arby’s
54
Ty Gibbs
Joe Gibbs Racing
Monster Energy
60
Ryan Preece
RFK Racing
BuildSubmarines.com
66
Josh Bilicki*
Garage 66
PureKick
67
Corey Heim*
23XI Racing
Robinhood
71
Michael McDowell
Spire Motorsports
DePaul University
77
Carson Hocevar
Spire Motorsports
Zeigler Auto Group
78
Katherine Legge*
Live Fast Motorsports
e.l.f. Cosmetics
88
Shane van Gisbergen
Trackhouse Racing
WeatherTech
99
Daniel Suárez
Trackhouse Racing
Jockey
Favorites, picks, predictions for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, Trackhouse Racing
The inaugural Chicago winner in 2023, SVG has only gotten stronger in the past two years. The former Australian Supercars driver has transitioned to full-time NASCAR, making him even more familiar with the American stock cars. He won the Xfinity Series race at Chicago last year and was in position to take the Cup victory again before an accident took him out. With one win already in 2025 at the road course in Mexico City, the 36-year-old Kiwi is again the heavy favorite in Chicago.
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Christopher Bell, No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing
In the first two years, no one has led more laps in Chicago than Bell (51) — he just doesn’t have the finishes to show for it. The Joe Gibbs Racing star was 18th in 2023 after winning both stages and 37th in 2024 after hitting the wall late. Bell has already won a road course race this year (Circuit of the Americas) and finished second to SVG in Mexico City. He could be the top challenger for van Gisbergen this weekend.
Chase Elliott, No. 9, Hendrick Motorsports
Fresh off a hometown win in Atlanta, Elliott has more momentum than any driver. He’s scored three straight top-fives, including a third-place finish in Mexico City behind SVG and Bell. Elliott’s road course prowess matches anyone in the field, leading all drivers with seven career wins. Even though he hasn’t visited victory lane at the track type since 2021, he’s been more consistent than anyone (25 top-10s in 37 career starts).
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Ty Gibbs, No. 54, Joe Gibbs Racing
Gibbs didn’t get the finish in Mexico City (11th), but he was the only driver to match SVG out front. He led 27 laps in the race, often battling side-by-side with the eventual winner. In Chicago, Gibbs has finished ninth and third with laps led each year. Still searching for his first career win, the 22-year-old Gibbs could finally get it done on Sunday in his 106th career start.
Michael McDowell, No. 71, Spire Motorsports
He’s not necessarily a household name, but McDowell is constantly in the mix at road courses. The 2023 Indianapolis winner started fifth and finished fifth in Mexico city — the same finish he had in Chicago last summer. That came after a seventh-place run in 2023. McDowell, like SVG, is one of the series’ best drivers at racing in the rain.
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Longshots and sleepers to watch
There are plenty of skilled street course racers in the field on Sunday that haven’t been mentioned — Kyle Larson, A.J. Allmendinger, William Byron and Tyler Reddick, to name a few. Another name to monitor is Will Brown, who is coming over from the same Australian series that gave us SVG. Brown, driving for Kaulig Racing in a one-off entry, made his Cup debut in Sonoma last year but has never driven the Chicago Street Race.
