NASCAR Cup Series

RYAN BLANEY – No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion – WHERE AND WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO CONCENTRATE ON NASCAR? “It was really where we grew up at pretty much. My dad and my whole family grew up in Ohio and that’s dirt central pretty much right there. I grew up in North Carolina in High Point about an hour up the road and there is no dirt period around here."

The reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Champion has no fear that the new format that breaks races up into segments is going to be nothing but good and exciting. At the Charlotte Media Tour, Jimmie Johnson was confident that the format wasn’t conceived to stop him from winning championships.

The first Mexican-born driver to win a top-tier NASCAR national title, Daniel Suarez was certainly going to garner plenty of attention at the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. But thanks to Carl Edwards’s stunning announcement two weeks ago, Suarez took the stage on Wednesday not as the defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, but as the full-time pilot of the No. 19 Arris Toyota in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

KASEY KAHNE, NO. 5 FARMERS INSURANCE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at the annual Charlotte Media Tour and discussed his outlook for the season, what he experienced as a rookie in the Cup Series and many other topics. Full Transcript:

PAUL MENARD, NO. 27 MENARDS CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Media tour and discussed his outlook for the season, his favorite NFL team being knocked from the playoffs, and racing on road courses. Full transcript:

DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 AXALTA CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Media tour and discussed his return to the Cup Series, his recent marriage, and his expectations for the upcoming season and the remainder of his career. Full transcript:

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s highly anticipated return to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing is less than one month away. No one is more enthusiastic about the most popular driver’s comeback than Earnhardt, who spoke with media during Wednesday morning’s segment of the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet, is looking toward his second full-time season in NASCAR’s Premiere Series, but the soft-spoken son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, isn’t worried about a sophomore jinx.

Ford Performance, the racing arm of Ford Motor Company seriously strengthened their position in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series by adding Stewart-Haas Racing’s four teams and drivers.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO 95 K-LOVE CHEVROLET SS, met with members of the media at Charlotte Media tour and discussed the race format change, racing full time this year, his team goals, and more. Full transcript: