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NASCAR 2024 Silly Season updates

By
Angie Campbell
-
Photo by David Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

As 2023 comes to an end, the silly season begins. Check below for all of the driver and team news in anticipation of the NASCAR 2024 season. This list will be updated periodically.

Lawless Alan, No. 33 Reaume Brothers Racing 33 Ford (NCTS)
Reaume Racing announced on Jan. 14 that Lawless Alan has been signed to run full-time in the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series.

Anthony Alfredo, No. 5 Our Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS) and Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet (Cup)
Our Motorsports announced on Dec. 7 that beginning in 2024, Alfredo will race full-time in the No. 5 Chevrolet Xfinity Series car. It was later revealed that Josh Graham, former crew chief for Parker Retzlaff, will join the team as crew chief for Alfredo.
Beard Motorsports announced on December 20 that Anthony Alfredo will pilot the No. 62 Chevrolet in the 2024 Daytona 500 and the GEICO 500 on April 21 at Talladega.

Justin Allgaier, No 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)
Allgaier will return to JR Motorsports for the 2024 Xfinity Series season after signing an extension. Jim Pohlman will be back as his crew chief.

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS) (NCS)
Allmendinger will return to drive the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024 with crew chief Alex Yontz and will compete in select Cup Series races next season. Travis Mack will serve as his crew chief for the Cup Series races and will also assume the role of Technical Director for their Cup Series program.

Allmendinger will also compete in select Cup Series races next season. Travis Mack will serve as his crew chief for the Cup Series races and assume the role of Technical Director for their Cup Series program. On Dec. 20 it was confirmed that Allmendinger would drive the Kaulig Racing No 16 Chevrolet in the Cup Series Daytona 500.

Aric Almirola, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NXS)
Almirola will run a part-time Xfinity Series schedule in 2024 sharing driving duties in the No. 20 JGR Toyota with John Hunter Nemechek for an unspecified number of races.

Jordan Anderson, No. 32 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
On Feb. 12, it was announced on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that team owner, Jordan Anderson, will drive the No. 32 Chevrolet as a third entry for the organization in the 2024 Xfinity Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. Anderson’s father-in-law, Larry McReynolds, will join him as crew chief for the team.

Marco Andretti, No. 04 Cook Racing Technologies in alliance with Roper Racing Team (NCTS) and No. 17 Cook Racing Technologies Chevrolet (ARCA)
Marco Andretti has signed with Cook Racing Technologies to drive the No. 17 Chevrolet in 14 ARCA Menards Series races beginning at Daytona in February. Andretti will also compete in seven Craftsman Truck Series races in the No. 04 Chevrolet in an alliance with Roper Racing. His first Truck start will be at Circuit of the Americas on March 23.

Tyler Ankrum, No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)
Tyler Ankrum is moving to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. He will drive the No. 18, renumbered from the No. 35 driven by Jake Garcia in 2023.

Beard Motorsports, No.62 Chevrolet (NCS)
On Dec. 20, Beard Motorsports announced that it will compete in the following four races in 2024 – the Daytona 500 in February, the GEICO 500 on April 21 at Talladega, the Aug. 24 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, and the Oct. 6 YellaWood 500 at Talladega. Anthony Alfredo will drive the Beard Motorsports No. 62 Chevrolet in the Cup Series 2024 Daytona 500 and the GEICO 500 on April 21 at Talladega. Their schedule for the remainder of the 2024 season and the driver lineups will be announced at a later date.

Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NCS)
Stewart-Haas Racing announced in June that Josh Berry would replace retired driver, Kevin Harvick, in the No. 4 Ford in 2024. On Dec. 19, Eddie D’Hondt was named as the spotter for Josh Berry in his first season with SHR.

Josh Bilicki, No. 92 DGM Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
On Jan. 4, DGM Racing announced that Josh Bilicki will drive the team’s No. 92 Chevrolet Camaro in select Xfinity Series races in 2024. Bilicki’s first race will occur at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 17th.

BJ McLeod Motorsports, No. 78 Chevrolet (NXS)
On Jan. 30, BJ McLeod Motorsports announced that Pat Tryson will return to crew chief the No. 78 Chevrolet for the 2024 Xfinity Series season. The team has not revealed whether they will compete full-time or run a partial schedule.

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (NCS)
Blaney will have a new spotter in 2024 as Tim Fedewa joins the team. Fedewa is a former racer and was Kevin Harvick’s spotter for 10 years.

Spencer Boyd, No 76 Freedom Racing Enterprises Chevrolet (NCTS)
It was announced on Jan. 8 that Spencer Boyd and Chris Miller have formed a new Craftsman Truck Series team, Freedom Racing Enterprises. The team will compete full-time with Boyd in the No 76 Chevrolet & Greg Ely as crew chief. Jeff Hammond will serve as General Manager.

Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (NCS)
Burton has confirmed that he will return in 2024 to drive the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford with crew chief, Jeremy Bullins. Jason Jarrett (former spotter for Justin Haley) will spot for Burton in 2024.

Jeb Burton, No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Jordan Anderson Racing announced on Nov. 2 that Jeb Burton will return to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024. Shane Whitbeck will be back as Burton’s crew chief.

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NCS)
Kyle Busch, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)
In addition to competing full-time in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the Cup Series this season, it was announced on Feb. 7 that Busch will also drive an unspecified number of Craftsman Truck Series races in 2024 for Spire Motorsports.

Rajah Caruth, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)
It was announced on Feb. 4 that Caruth will drive the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet full-time in the Truck Series in 2024. HendrickCars.com will be the primary sponsor for 10 races. He will be paired with crew chief Chad Walter. Caruth was formerly with GMS Racing who ceased operations at the end of the 2023 season.

Ross Chastain/Busch Light, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (NCS)
Chastain has signed a multiyear contract extension with Trackhouse Racing to drive the No. 1 with Anheuser Busch as his primary sponsor in 2024. He will also compete in select Truck Series races throughout the season for Niece Motorsports.

Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (NCS)
Cindric announced in October that he will return to the No. 2 Ford next season.

Dawson Cram, No. 4 JD Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)
JD Motorsports announced on Dec. 6 that beginning in 2024, Cram will race full-time in the No. 4 Chevrolet.

Sheldon Creed, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NXS)
Creed joins Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024 to compete full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series after a two-year tenure with Richard Childress Racing in 2022 and 2023.

Cole Custer, No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NXS)
Stewart-Haas Racing announced on Nov. 2 that Custer is returning to the Xfinity Series in 2024. The Ford team will keep the same lineup of Custer and Riley Herbst.

Hailie Deegan, No. 15 AM Racing Ford (NXS)
Deegan will move to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing in 2024 with a multiyear deal. It was announced on Dec. 19 that Joe Williams Jr. will serve as Deegan’s crew chief in her rookie season.

Matt DiBenedetto, No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet (NCTS)
DiBenedetto announced on Aug. 30 that he would not be returning to Rackley W.A.R. in 2024, adding that he has no plans for next season but is “exploring all options in all series.”

Ty Dillon, No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet (NCTS)
On Dec. 29, it was announced that Ty Dillon is returning to the NASCAR Truck Series and will compete full-time in 2024 driving the Rackley W.A.R. No. 25 Chevrolet. Shane Wilson was named as Dillon’s crew chief on January 9.

Daniel Dye, No. 43 GMS Racing Chevrolet (NCTS) and No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Dye, formerly with GMS Racing, will join McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in 2024 as the full-time driver of the No. 43 Chevrolet in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. On Jan. 16, it was announced that Dye will also compete in 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series races for Kaulig Racing in the No. 10 Chevrolet.

Kaulig Racing will enter the NXS No. 10 Champion Container Chevrolet in the following races:
Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway
April 6 at Martinsville Speedway
April 27 at Dover Motor Speedway
June 15 at Iowa Speedway
July 13 at Pocono Raceway
July 20 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Aug. 17 at Michigan International Speedway
Sept. 28 at Kansas Speedway
Oct. 19 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Nov. 9 at Phoenix Raceway

Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota NXS)
Sam Hunt Racing announced on January 16 that Jeffrey Earnhardt will drive the No. 26 Toyota in 2024 for multiple races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. His first race will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24

Christian Eckes, No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)
Eckes will return to drive full-time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2024. Crew Chief Charles Denike will also return.

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, NCS
It was confirmed on Jan. 2, that Trey Poole will join Elliott’s team as his spotter in 2024. Poole is Elliott’s cousin and has previously worked as an additional spotter for the team as needed. His former spotter, Eddie D’Hondt, will move to Stewart-Haas Racing as the spotter for Josh Berry.

Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Alpha Prime Racing announced in August that Ellis will compete in his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series in 2024. On Jan. 27 the team revealed that Mike Hillman will lead the No. 43 team as crew chief.

Patrick Emerling, No. 07 SS-Greenlight Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
On Feb. 1, the team announced that Patrick Emerling will be the primary driver of the No. 07 Xfinity Chevrolet in 2024 when there isn’t a conflict as he attempts to also win a championship in the Whelen Modified Tour. Emerling’s first Xfinity Series race will be the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 17. His complete Xfinity Series schedule will be announced at a later date.

Grant Enfinger, No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)
CR7 announced on Dec. 12 that it signed Grant Enfinger to a multiyear deal to race full-time for the team, beginning in 2024.

Jake Garcia, ThorSport Racing (NCTS)
ThorSport announced on Nov. 15 that Garcia would join the lineup beginning in 2024.

Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (NCS)
Front Row Motorsports announced in August that Gilliland will return to drive the No. 38 Ford full-time in 2024.

GMS Racing (NCTS)
On Aug. 25, 2023, GMS officials announced that it would cease operations after the 2023 race season

Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NCS)
On Aug. 13 Stewart-Haas Racing announced that they had signed a multiyear deal for Gragson to drive the No. 10 Ford. The news came following Gragson’s reinstatement by NASCAR after a suspension for violating member conduct rules.

Kaz Grala, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford (NCS)
On Jan. 17 Rick Ware Racing announced that Kaz Grala has been signed to compete in 25 Cup Series races in the No. 15 Ford Mustang with crew chief Billy Plourde. His first start with the team will be in the Busch Light Clash exhibition race and his first regular season points race will be on Feb. 25 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The remainder of his schedule will be announced at a later date.

It was announced on Jan. 23 that Grala will also attempt to qualify the Front Row Motorsports No. 36 Ford Mustang for the Daytona 500. He will participate in the qualifying session on Wednesday, Feb. 14 and he can also lock into the race during the Duel events on Thursday.

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Tricon Garage Toyota (NCTS)
No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (ARCA)
Tricon Garage announced on Nov. 9 that Gray will return to the organization full-time for the 2024 Truck Series season. He will also substitute for William Sawalich in six races in the ARCA Menards Series (until Sawalich turns 18) driving the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Gray will also compete in six ARCA Menards Series races: Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 17), Talladega Superspeedway (April 20), Kansas Speedway (May 4 and Sept. 27), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 24) and Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 16).

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Tricon Garage Toyota (NCTS)
Tricon Garage announced on Nov. 10 that Gray will race his first full Truck Series season as pilot of the No. 17 next season.

Justin Haley, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford (NCS)
Haley will compete full-time for Rick Ware Racing in 2024 after signing a multiyear deal. He will be paired with crew chief Chris Lawson.

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NCS)
Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing announced in September that he will return to drive the No. 11 Toyota in 2024 and beyond.

Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NCS)
Harvick will move to the FOX Sports broadcast booth starting with the 2024 season after retiring from NASCAR competition at the end of the 2023 season.

Corey Heim, No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota (NCTS), No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota (NXS), Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing reserve driver
In October 2023, TRICON Garage announced that Heim would return to compete full-time in the Truck Series in 2024.

On January 10, 2024, Sam Hunt Racing revealed that Heim will drive the No. 26 Toyota for the team in the Xfinity Series for multiple races. His first start will be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2.

Heim posted on social media on Jan. 25 that he has also been signed by Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing, saying, “I’m grateful to announce that I’ve been signed by @LEGACYMotorClub as their simulator & reserve driver for this season and will also be the reserve driver for @23XIRacing.”

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NCS)
Hemric will return to the Cup Series in 2024 driving the No. 31 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing.

Riley Herbst, No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NXS) and No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford (NCS)
It was announced on Feb. 2 that Herbst will pilot the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford in the Daytona 500, the first of select Cup Series races for the team. Herbst currently competes full-time in the Xfinity Series for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Austin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Hill will remain with Richard Childress Racing and compete in the Xfinity Series in 2024.

Timmy Hill, No. 56 Hill Motorsports Toyota (NCTS)
Hill Motorsports announced on Dec. 8 that Timmy Hill would race a full-time Truck Series schedule in 2024

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCS)
Hocevar moves to the Cup Series as the driver of the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports and will be joined by veteran crew chief, Luke Lambert.

Bret Holmes, No 32 Bret Holmes Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)
Bret Holmes Racing announced on Jan. 19 that Brett Holmes will compete full-time this year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the No. 32 Chevrolet. They have signed a technical alliance with Spire Motorsports for 2024 and Mike Shiplett will join the team as crew chief.

Leland Honeyman Jr., No. 42 Chevrolet Young’s Motorsports (NXS)
Young’s Motorsports announced on Jan. 3, 2024, that Leland Honeyman Jr. will compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024 with Andrew Abbott as his crew chief.

Joe Gibbs Racing names Xfinity Series lineup (NXS)
JGR announced its full-time and part-time roster on Dec. 13. Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith will race full-time, while six drivers will compete part-time between two race cars. Aric Almirola, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Truex, Taylor Gray, William Sawalich and Joe Graf Jr. will make up the part-time portion of the lineup.

Jimmie Johnson, Legacy Motor Club No. 84 Toyota (NCS)
Johnson will run a limited number of NASCAR Cup Series races in 2024. As of Jan. 16, nine races have been announced:
Feb. 18 – Daytona (Sponsor – Carvana)
April 14 – Texas (Sponsor – AdventHealth)
April 28 – Dover (Sponsors – Dollar Tree and Family Dollar)
May 5 – Kansas (Sponsor – AdventHealth)
May 26 – Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (Sponsor – AdventHealth)
July 21 – Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (Sponsor – Carvana)
Sept. 29 – Kansas (Sponsors – Dollar Tree and Family Dollar)
Oct. 20 – Las Vegas (Sponsors – Dollar Tree and Family Dollar)
Nov. 10 – Phoenix Season Finale (Sponsor – Carvana)

Brandon Jones, No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)
Jones re-signed with JR Motorsports in September and will continue to compete in the Xfinity Series in 2024.

JR Motorsports – Chevrolet (NXS)
JR Motorsports announced its crew chief lineup for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series on Dec. 18:
Phillip Bell – Brandon Jones in the No. 9
Mardy Lindley – Sam Mayer in the No. 1
Jim Pohlman – Justin Allgaier in the No. 7
Adam Wall – Sammy Smith in the No. 8

Sage Karam, No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota (NXS)
Sam Hunt Racing announced on Jan. 23 that Karam will compete in multiple Xfinity Series races for the team this season beginning with the race at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.

Kaulig Racing – Chevrolet (NXS)
Kevin Walter will join the No. 11 Chevrolet team as a first-time crew chief and be paired with Josh Williams in 2024.
Alex Yontz will return to the team for a fifth season and will serve as the crew chief for AJ Allmendinger in the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro.
Bruce Schlicker will also return for a fifth season at Kaulig as crew chief for the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro with Shane van Gisbergen.

Parker Kligerman, No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
In August, it was confirmed that Kligerman will remain with Big Machine Racing in 2024 to compete in his second full-time season in the Xfinity Series.

Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCS)
LaJoie announced in August that he had re-signed with Spire Motorsports in a multiyear extension Ryan Sparks will continue as the crew chief for Corey LaJoie and the No. 7 team.

Legacy Motor Club (NCS)
The team announced in May that they would leave Chevrolet and partner with Toyota in 2024. Team co-owner Jimmie Johnson will drive the No. 84 in select Cup Series races with Jason Burdett as his crew chief. In October the team also announced that Matt Kenseth would join the organization as a competition adviser.

Legacy Motor Club released the news that Trevor Bayne would join the team on Jan. 25. “We are adding on two important members to the Club! Welcome Trevor Bayne as our Driver Optimization Leader and Corey Heim (previously announced) as our simulator & reserve driver.”

Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Love will move up to the Xfinity Series in 2024, taking over as driver of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet on a full-time basis.

Mason Massey, No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Ford (NCTS)
On February 12, Young’s Motorsport confirmed that Mason Massey will drive the No. 02 Chevrolet full-time this season in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (NCS)
Front Row Motorsports announced in August that McDowell will return to drive the No. 34 Ford full-time in 2024.

BJ McLeod, No. 78 BJ McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)
On Feb. 9, it was announced that BJ McLeod will return to his Xfinity Series team as the driver of the No. 78 Chevrolet to compete in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. It is unknown at this time if the team will run a full or part-time schedule.

CJ McLaughlin, No. 38 RSS Racing Ford (NXS)
McLaughlin will compete part-time in the 2024 Xfinity Series in the No. 38 Ford for RSS Racing as announced on Jan. 10. His first race will be on Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. The remainder of his schedule has not been released.

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Faction46 Chevrolet (NCTS)
On Dec. 8, it was announced that Thad Moffitt would race full-time in the Truck Series with the newly announced team, Faction46.

Frankie Muniz, No. 35 Joey Gase Motorsports Ford (NXS)
Muniz will run a limited number of Xfinity Series races this year for Joey Gase Racing. He will begin the season by attempting to qualify for the United Rentals 300 scheduled for Feb. 17 at Daytona International Speedway. On Feb. 9 the team also confirmed that the 25th-place owner points have been transferred to the No. 35 team.

John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (NCS) (NXS)
Nemechek will return to the Cup Series full-time in 2024 as the driver of the No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota. In addition to driving full-time in the Cup Series for Legacy Motor Club, Nemechek will make 10 Xfinity Series starts in the JGR No. 20, sharing driving duties with Aric Almirola.

Niece Motorsports, No. 41, No. 42 and No. 45 Chevrolet (NCTS)
The team revealed its 2024 Craftsman Truck Series driver lineup in February for the upcoming season.
Mike Hillman Jr. will return as crew chief for Bayley Currey and the No. 41 team as Bayley competes in his first full-time season.

Jon Leonard will join Niece Motorsports as the crew chief for Matt Mills in the No. 42 Chevrolet as Mills also enters his first full-time season in the Truck Series.

Ross Chastain, Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack and Johnny Sauter will share driving duties in the No. 45 throughout the season with crew chief Phil Gould on the pit box. Sauter will be behind the wheel as the season begins at Daytona International Speedway.

Stefan Parsons, No. 75 Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)
On Jan. 13, Parsons announced on social media that he will drive the Henderson Motorsports No. 75 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series this season. His complete schedule has not been released but he will compete in the season-opener at Daytona International Raceway.

Brad Perez, No. 45 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
On Jan. 8 Alpha Prime Racing announced Brad Perez will drive select Xfinity Series races this season in the No. 45 Chevrolet (which will compete in a partial schedule). His first race will be at Circuit of the Americas on March 23 with the remainder of his schedule to be determined. He will also take on the role of Development Driver and assist with simulator setup and will be the team’s reserve driver.

Blaine Perkins, No. 29 RSS Racing Ford (NXS)
RSS Racing has signed Blaine Perkins to race full-time in the Xfinity Series for the 2024 season.

Brennan Poole, No. 44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Poole and Alpha Prime announced on Nov. 9 that Poole will run a full-time season in the No. 44 for the 2024 Xfinity Series season. On Jan. 27 it was announced that Poole will be paired with crew chief, Frank Kerr.

Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NCS)
Preece announced on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Sept. 26 that he will return to race the SHR No. 41 in 2024.

Chase Purdy, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)
Spire Motorsports announced on Jan. 3 that Chase Purdy has been signed to drive the No. 77 Chevrolet full-time in the Truck Series. NASCAR veteran, Jason Trinchere, most recently a crew chief for Kaulig Racing’s Xfinity Series program, will be paired with Purdy to lead the team.

Parker Retzlaff, No. 31 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
Jordan Anderson Racing announced on Nov. 2 that Parker Retzlaff will return to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024 with Chad Kendrick (formerly with Matt DiBenedetto) as his crew chief.

Layne Riggs, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (NCTS)
Front Row Motorsports announced on Dec. 14 that Riggs has been signed to a multi-year deal to drive the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series after limited starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Xfinity Series in 2022 and 2023. Dylan Cappello will move up from his position as lead engineer to work as Rigg’s crew chief. Chris Lawson will leave his position as crew chief but will serve as a consultant to the team at the beginning of the season as well as working on projects outside of NASCAR.

RSS Racing (NXS) – Crew chief and spotter lineup:
28 Ford: Kyle Sieg – CC: Mike Scearce, Spotter: Freddie Kraft
29 Ford: Blaine Perkins – CC: Steve Addington, Spotter: Tony Raines
38 Ford: CJ McLaughlin – CC: Kevin Johnson, Spotter: Doug Campbell
39 Ford: Ryan Sieg – CC: Matt Noyce, Spotter: Tim Fedawa

Nick Sanchez, Rev Racing No. 2 Chevrolet (NCTS)
On Jan. 16 Rev Racing announced that Sanchez will drive the No. 2 Chevrolet in 2024 and compete full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series with Spire Motorsports as a new technical alliance partner. Sanchez will be paired with Kevin “Bono” as crew chief. Allen Hart, former crew chief for Sam Hunt Racing in the Xfinity Series, will join the team as the chief engineer.

William Sawalich, No. 1 Tricon Garage Toyota (NCTS), No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NXS) and No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (ARCA)
Sawalich will return to Tricon Garage in 2024 and compete in a partial schedule of nine Craftsman Truck Series races in the No. 1 Toyota:
Bristol – March 16, Martinsville – April 5, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park – July 19, Richmond – Aug. 10, Milwaukee – Aug. 25, Bristol – Sept. 19, Homestead – Oct. 26, Martinsville – Nov. 1, Phoenix on Nov. 8.

In addition, he will also make three Xfinity Series starts for Joe Gibbs Racing. His schedule includes Homestead, Martinsville and Phoenix (after he turns 18 on Oct. 3), in the No. 19 JGR Toyota.

Sawalich, the 2023 ARCA East champion, will also compete in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024 as the primary driver of the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, in all but six races. Tricon Garage Truck Series driver, Tanner Gray, will substitute for Sawalich until he turns 18.

Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford (NXS)
RSS Racing announced on Dec. 1 that, beginning in 2024, Sieg would race full-time with the team.

Chandler Smith, No. 81 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NXS)
On Dec. 12, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Chandler Smith would drive the No. 81 Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024. Smith will join JGR after one full-time season in the series with Kaulig Racing in 2023.

Sammy Smith, No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)
Smith will join JR Motorsports in 2024 with a multi-year deal to drive the No. 8 Chevrolet, previously driven by Josh Berry who will move up to the Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Zane Smith, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (Cup), No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)
Zane Smith has signed a multiyear contract with Trackhouse Racing and will move up to the Cup Series full-time in 2024, driving a Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in alliance with Trackhouse Racing. He will be paired with first-year crew chief, Stephen Doran. Josh Williams, former spotter for Ryan Blaney, will make the move to Spire Motorsports in 2024 and spot for Smith.

On Feb. 9 the team announced that Smith will also drive the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing No. 91 Chevrolet in four Truck Series races. His schedule includes:
March 1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway
April 5 at Texas Motor Speedway
May 4 at Kansas Speedway

Garrett Smithley, JD Motorsports No. 6 Chevrolet (NXS)
JD Motorsports announced on Feb. 13 that Smithley will return to the team this year and pilot the No. 6 Chevrolet in four Xfinity Series races, including the season-opener at Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Spire Motorsports Spotter Lineup
TJ Bell will return as the spotter for Corey LaJoie. As mentioned above, Josh Williams (previously the spotter for Ryan Blaney) will spot for Zane Smith. Tyler Green (previously the spotter for Harrison Burton) will spot for Carson Hocevar.

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (NCS)
Matt Swiderski will replace Travis Mack as the crew chief for Suarez and the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet team for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NCS)
Truex will return to race the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2024 for at least one more year.

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS) and No. 16 (NCS)
In December it was announced that Shane van Gisbergen will race full-time in the Xfinity Series next year for Kaulig Racing with crew chief Bruce Schlicker. He will also compete in a minimum of seven Cup Series races and an unspecified number of Craftsman Truck Series races for Trackhouse Racing in 2024.

In January 2024 it was announced that he will be doing double duty at Daytona International Speedway as he takes to the track for the season-opening race in the ARCA Menards Series in the Pinnacle Racing Groupentry before making his Xfinity Series debut.

Cup Series races announced as of Dec. 13:
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin on March 24
Talladega Superspeedway on April 21 and Oct. 6
Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26
Chicago Street Race on July 7
Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Sept. 15
Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 20

Kyle Weatherman, No. 91 DGM Racing Chevrolet (NXS)
On Nov. 14, 2023, DGM Racing announced that Kyle Weatherman will compete full-time in 2024 in the Xfinity Series after racing a part-time schedule for the team in 2023.

Josh Williams, No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS) and No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NCS)
Kaulig Racing announced on Nov. 16 that Josh Williams will pilot the No. 11 Chevrolet in 2024. He will be joined by crew chief Kevin Walter, formerly an engineer for the JR Motorsports No. 8 team.

On Jan. 29 Kaulig Racing announced that Williams will also run the No. 16 Alloy Employer Services Camaro ZL1 in select Cup Series races during the 2024 season, beginning with the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 4.

Jack Wood, No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced on Dec. 6 that beginning in 2024, Jack Wood will race a 14-race schedule in the No. 91 Chevrolet.

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (NXS) (NCTS)
On Jan. 11 Trackhouse Racing announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement with Connor Zilisch. He will enter a developmental program in 2024 and 2025 that will include races in the CARS Tour, ARCA, Trans Am and IMSA series. Zilisch will also compete in select NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series events.

ACTION-PACKED AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS KICKS OFF 2024 NHRA SEASON

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Official Release
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2024) – Celebrating the start of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season in grand fashion, the 55th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals promises to be one of the biggest races in the event’s long and heralded history.

Taking place March 7-10 at legendary Gainesville Raceway, the kickoff to the first event in the Mission Foods era promises to add even more history at a track and for a race that has featured so many incredible moments. This year’s version promises the unforgettable sights and sounds of 11,000-horsepower, 330-mph racing action, new faces in the professional ranks – like legendary racer and now Top Fuel rookie Tony Stewart – the Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout, pre-race festivities, and a host of events and action off the track to ensure fans will have a weekend to remember.

Along with the stars in all four professional classes (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle), the additional entertainment on tap helps make it one of the most massive Gatornationals in NHRA history, and includes the following:

  • Don Garlits Swamp Rat Alley: This special “Swamp Rat Alley” section will include several cars from legendary driver “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, autograph sessions, meet and greets and more
  • “Jungle Jim” Car Appearance: This can’t-miss opportunity takes place at the Don Garlits Swamp Rat Alley.
  • Golden Gator Trophy: The special trophy to honor the 55th anniversary will be given to winners of the marquee race, along with the coveted Wally trophy.
  • Gatornationals Beer Garden: New to the 2024 event, the extensive beer garden and massive footprint will be located in the midway.
  • Upgraded Top Eliminator Club: Special appearances, exclusive swag, premium parking, food and drinks all weekend, and much more.
  • NHRA Salutes: An appreciation for all veteran, active-duty military members and first responders will take place, along with a weekend flyover from the Air Force. A challenge coin collectable will also be given to all military and first responders in attendance.
  • Expanded Coverage on FS1 and NHRA.tv Coverage: The Gatornationals will receive comprehensive coverage on FS1, including the Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, live coverage on Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and continuing finals coverage at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday. NHRA.tv will include coverage of the of the “Baby Gators” Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event the weekend before, testing on March 5-6 and the Gatornationals.
  • Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fan fest: Takes place Wednesday, March 6 from 6-9 p.m. at Burnyzz Speedshop in nearby Ocala and will include driver appearances, autographs, live music and a car show at their top-notch facility.

Last year, Mike Salinas (Top Fuel), Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Gainesville, adding the legendary win to their resumés, with both Hagan and Herrera also winning world titles.

Reigning Top Fuel world champ Doug Kalitta looks to keep rolling after winning his first world title to close out 2023, taking on Brittany Force, Steve Torrence, Antron Brown, Justin Ashley, Tony Schumacher and class newcomer Stewart. In Funny Car, Hagan is after his third straight Gators win against a star-studded field of Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III, J.R. Todd, John Force, Daniel Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Austin Prock.

Six-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders will try to win in Gainesville for the first time, facing off against Greg Anderson, Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford and Dallas Glenn. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Herrera is after a repeat win by knocking off the likes of Matt Smith, Steve Johnson, Hector Arana Jr. and Angie Smith.

The Pep Boys NHRA Top Fuel All-Star Callout is back to open 2024 as well, pitting eight standouts against each other in a unique, big-money specialty race that takes place on Saturday, March 9. The marquee shootout has become a huge attraction and highlight in Gainesville, with local standout Josh Hart taking home the win last year. First-round selections will be made on Friday at 12:30 p.m. in the Top Eliminator Club and an autograph session with participants takes place Saturday at 10 a.m. for all fans.

In addition, the Gatornationals will set the field for the #2Fast2Tasty Mission NHRA Challenge, which debuted in 2023. The Gainesville semifinalists will rematch during qualifying on Saturday at the next event in Pomona, with bonus money and bonus championship points on the line.

Along with racing in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, fans will also be able to see action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown. Fans can also look forward to the exciting cacklefests taking place at the Hot Rod Junction on both Friday and Saturday.

Race fans at Gainesville Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, which benefits the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the season-opener.

The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets and much more. Marching bands will also entertain the crowd each day, including the University of Florida on Sunday.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and race vendors create an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 9 at 12 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 10.

The first round of the Pep Boys Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET and the semifinals at 2:45 p.m. The finals are slated for 4:25 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the 2024 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. Get your tickets now for the Top Eliminator Club because these will sell out. For more info on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

Headquartered in San Dimas, Calif., NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 21 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES: Kyle Larson Media Availability Transcript

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Official Release
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PHOTO CREDIT: ADRIAN LAUERMAN / HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

NTT INDYCAR SERIES
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 6, 2024

Kyle Larson, No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, met with media via Zoom following a test he completed at Phoenix Raceway in preparation for the “Hendrick 1100”. The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Champion previously completed his Indianapolis 500 Rookie Orientation Program in October 2023, with this test marking Larson’s latest on-track activity in preparation for the 108th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Press Conference Transcript –

THE MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. The countdown to the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge continues. Yesterday afternoon, Phoenix time, last night as well, Kyle Larson taking part in a rookie evaluation test for Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway as he continues to get comfortable in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and his Chevy-powered Dallara.

Kyle, thanks for doing this. You kind of beat the rain and got in a lot of really solid hours of testing. Tell us a little bit. How would you characterize it?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, it was great to be able to test. Again, kind of like the Clash this last weekend for NASCAR, I was not expecting to race then, and I wasn’t expecting when I woke up yesterday that I was going to be running an INDYCAR. Had to kind of get my mind right to prepare myself for that.

Overall was pleased to get the test in. Great, great conditions with weather yesterday. Looks like it’s going to rain here shortly. Glad we were able to do that.

Yeah, I thought it went smooth. Got three or four hours in of laps, I think five sets of tires. Yeah, it was good to run through some things, get comfortable out there making laps, but get to do some pit stop sort of stuff. Got loose at one point and almost spun out, so that was good to kind of feel the limit there at slower speeds.

Kind of just worked through some balance stuff.

THE MODERATOR: I know you’ve been in the car a couple of times. How much more comfortable was yesterday compared to the rookie orientation program back in October?

KYLE LARSON: Honestly, yesterday was probably more uncomfortable just because it’s a smaller track. Things are happening quicker. You’re having to lift off the throttle a little bit. At Indy, once we got through the different stages and stuff, we were wide open pretty easy by yourself. It was a cool day and all that.

Yesterday was fun to kind of have to work on the timing of the corner and work through some balance things because, yeah, I mean, the balance was definitely not perfect, which was good to feel.

At Indy, like I said, I’m out there by myself. They have downforce packed into it. I’m comfortable. Didn’t really feel much about the car changing there, so… It was good to feel the car not be quite perfect at times yesterday.

THE MODERATOR: Let’s go ahead and open it up for questions.

Q. Sounds like the Arrow McLaren team is starting to put together a pretty talented group around you. Talk about some of the folks you’ve worked with so far. Hear there might be some familiar folks coming to the timing stand. Beyond what you’ve done on-track, can you share some insights of the folks surrounding you.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I honestly don’t know, like, a ton of the details. I think a lot of the people that were there yesterday are going to be a part of my team going forward. It was good to get around them a little bit.

It was so kind of fast-paced, and none of us were expecting to run. I didn’t really get a chance to hang out, get to know people, stuff like that. Honestly, don’t even know most of their names still at this point.

It was still good to get familiar with them and to work on, like, the pit stop stuff. That’s going to be really important with the guys that were there yesterday. Sounds like everything was going smooth there.

Yeah, Brian Campe, he was there yesterday with us. I don’t know exactly what his role is going to be going forward, but it’s nice to have him there for now, somebody who I’m familiar with on the Hendrick side of things, who has had a lot of success in INDYCAR and at the Speedway. I would love there to be a way to utilize him some more once we get to the month of May. I haven’t really talked to anybody yet.

No, it’s good. It’s good to get repetition with everybody and all that. Look forward to getting to spend more than one day with the INDYCAR and have some downtime to get to learn everybody. Just a little bit of the talking I got to do with a few guys yesterday…

I’ve known this, too, because of my days around the Ganassi days, there’s a lot of dirt fans in the INDYCAR paddock. Good to talk sprint car racing with some of those guys and learn about each other.

Q. Brian Campe will be on the timing stand for you. His journey is the ultimate example coming from NASCAR, wins the Indy 500, wins a championship, jets back to NASCAR. Tell me about that, knowing one of the people you’re familiar with from Hendrick will be there with you in the month of May.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I didn’t know his kind of path to where he’s at right now until we went to Indy last year during the month of May just to hang out for one day. I didn’t know at that point I knew he had won the Indy 500.

When we walked in there, all these race fans and mechanics were coming up to him. I was like, Man, this guy is like a celebrity around here. That was really eye-opening to me.

From then, I kind of asked him some questions on the flight home of, like, I didn’t know this about you. He went through his career path. I thought it was very unique. Coming from Penske on the NASCAR side of things to INDYCAR, have so much success really quickly, then end up in the role that he’s at now at Hendrick… before I knew all this, I was like, Man, this Brian Campe guy, he’s super smart. Just throughout our competition meetings, stuff like that. Once we got to Indy, it all made sense why he is who he is.

Yeah, I hope we can utilize him a lot. He’s obviously well respected, got a great résumé, a really smart mechanic/engineer person. You want all the best people in your corner, and he’s definitely a really, really smart guy.

Q. Super Bowl predictions this weekend?

KYLE LARSON: Obviously we hope that the 49ers win. Yeah, I mean, it’s going to be a tough game. Mahomes is so good. Would love to see the home state team win. My kids and my family, my side and Katelyn’s side, are huge 9ers fans. I’ll admit I’m a little bit on the bandwagon since they’ve been good the last few years.

I don’t follow sports super close, but I always cheer for the teams from my home state that are doing good. Like to see the 9ers do good. Loved to see the Kings in the Playoffs last year. Hope they can make the home state proud.

THE MODERATOR: Do you rock a jersey?

KYLE LARSON: I have a couple of hoodies. Katelyn got me a jersey for Christmas. We’ll probably have to bust that out.

THE MODERATOR: Which player?

KYLE LARSON: I don’t even know who is mine. I know she’s got McCaffrey. I’m probably Brock.

Q. You mentioned how very different Phoenix is compared to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. How do you envision that test day benefiting you? What did you learn in terms of trying to get ready for what you’ll tackle in May?

KYLE LARSON: I think it was good for me to go to Phoenix. It’s a totally different racetrack and all that. The banking through three and four is not too different than Indy. Like, I mentioned earlier, I had a few moments where I was uncomfortable. I thought that was good to feel at 190 or whatever we’re going, 180 maybe in the corner, compared to going 220 at Indy, having the moment, being surprised by something. I think that was a benefit.

I think just getting more reps of pulling in and out of the box, messing with the weight jacker and bar and all that. I didn’t really mess with any of that during my rookie orientation just ’cause the balance was so good, I didn’t really feel like I needed to do anything.

Yesterday my balance was kind of transitioning quickly. Kind of had to try to keep up with that a little bit. I’m not used to having cockpit adjustors. That’s what you have to do a lot of in an INDYCAR.

Yeah, it was just good to kind of do all that stuff, log some notes in my brain. Hopefully make the transition, when I get to Indy, smoother and quicker, and we can really just get to working on the important stuff with the car and things like that once we get to the month of May.

Q. Can you tell us more the loose moment you had on track, where that was, how you saved that?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, it was the last run of the day. We had been doing kind of shorter runs, running through changes, tires were cycling. I was getting much tighter each run, more understeer I guess you guys call it.

We went to do a long run, had different air pressures and stuff to start. The car felt a lot different early in the run. I kind of had my mind made up that it was going to build tighter. It was like starting to get loose pretty quickly. I was a bit confused, wasn’t quite expecting that. I was trying to make adjustments on the weight jacker and things like that.

Yeah, just got caught off guard a little bit. I had some warnings a few laps before. I went into INDYCAR turmoil. Got a little bit loose into the corner, got to the apex. As I was leaving the bottom, it just started to get sideways. Was able to catch it.

Honestly, though, nothing about yesterday felt way different than what a Cup car, Next Gen car, feels like. That was good for me. I think the characteristics of the INDYCAR versus the Cup car, at least at Phoenix, felt very similar. You’re just going a lot faster in an INDYCAR.

The moments happen a lot quicker. The edge of good versus not good feels a lot sharper. Yeah, it didn’t feel way, way different than what I was, I guess, used to. Even with those moments of getting sideways, it didn’t feel way different.

Q. You mentioned one of the places you didn’t feel as comfortable was getting adjusted to pit lane, hitting the right buttons. Whether it’s that or something else, where do you still feel like you need to get more comfortable before May and the open test here in April?

KYLE LARSON: All that same stuff really. It’s all the little details that you think you have to master if you really want to have a good shot at winning or running up front. Those details are pulling in your pit box, pulling out of your pit box. The steering wheel is so small, the cockpit is so tight, the steering so slow, turning in I have to turn way further than normal, be quick back the other way. Just getting all that timing pulling in is difficult.

The more reps you get, the better at it you are. Yesterday we did some kind of live pit stops at the end of the day. That was good because pit stops are a lot quicker than what I’m used to. In a stockcar, all you’re really worried about is popping it into neutral, coasting in, holding the brake pedal, they drop the car, put it in first gear and you take off. It’s similar to that.

Now I’m listening to tones in my headphones when they unplug. I can’t go into first gear until it’s unplugged. The timing and the window for that are much smaller. Yesterday, doing it, it feels like it’s all happening so fast.

With the more reps I think I get, that will slow down for me. I’ll get to where I can nail things a little bit better more consistently. So, yeah, just getting more reps is going to be important.

Q. How many laps did you do yesterday in your test?

KYLE LARSON: I have no clue. We had five sets of tires. We probably did 40 laps apiece on each set or so.

Q. Did you get a chance to take it close to the limit yesterday?

KYLE LARSON: I almost spun out, so I’d like to think I did (smiling).

No, I mean, I still think there was room for me, when my car was balanced close, I still think there was room for me to at times go another 10th or two faster. That was me I think being confident and committing to the throttle, knowing and trusting that the car was going to stay gripped, like mostly off turn four probably.

So, yeah, I felt like when the car was gripped up, I was close to optimizing it I would like to think. It’s so hard to say when it’s just me out there. Like, I wish there could have been, like, one other guy there that I could judge myself off of, look at data and compare. We were just comparing data to 2018. The cars were quite a bit different then. The tire was different, all of that.

I’m just out there kind of guessing and going off of feel, which is kind of cool because it’s like old-school style testing, I guess, than what I’ve been accustomed to the last, gosh, I don’t know, six to eight years probably.

But yeah, I felt like I got close to the limit. That last run when my balance was starting to get free, I felt it coming and felt like I was getting close to having a moment, then I did.

I like what my brain was registering actually happened. What I was feeling in the car on the other runs, I felt like I could feel the balance well and describe it okay, too.

Q. Because you drive so many different race cars, how quick are you able to determine the different environment in the race car and what you have to do to get it to go fast?

KYLE LARSON: I don’t know. I’m not sure. Again, I’m not able to compare to anybody else yet. I could have been half a second or more off the pace yesterday. I just have no clue.

But when I’m out there just judging off myself, I feel like I’m coming up to speed okay. Again, I don’t really know. Once we get to the month of May or the open test in April, that’s when I’ll be able to kind of judge myself based off of the guys who do this for a living.

As of right now, I think it’s kind of good to have that pureness of trying to learn on our own. Hopefully that will help me when I get to Indy.

Q. From a business angle, how much excitement are you starting to sense from a lot of the people involved in your businesses and your sponsors?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I mean, I think everybody is really excited about it. I think I’m the, I don’t know, fifth or sixth guy to ever attempt it. It’s a rare thing. I think that brings a lot of eyes and stuff to what’s going on.

I’m with a great brand with Arrow McLaren. Also on the NASCAR side, things with Hendrick Motorsports. It doesn’t get much bigger and better than the two teams I’m with. Yeah, I think that also helps things.

I don’t know. I’m just excited honestly to get going, get there. I don’t really worry too much about the business side of it. I do know there’s a lot of race fans that are excited to see me out there. That makes me excited, as well.

I feel like I’m a grassroots type of racer. Even though I race on Sunday in the Cup Series, I still feel like I resonate with the local short track fans. I think that’s exciting. That excites fans. That’s what gets people liking me.

I know I’ve got a lot of support on the fan side of things. I’m sure the whole NASCAR garage will be paying attention to how my couple weeks is going there. That’s all fun.

Yeah, I look forward to it.

Q. You have another big one coming up here in less than two weeks. What is your outlook heading to the Daytona 500? How well do you think you’re prepared for that?

KYLE LARSON: Hendrick Motorsports is always really fast there. I know our race car is going to be good. It obviously takes some luck to get to the finish, all that. But you also have to make good decisions and be prepared, all that.

I feel like our team has done a really good job. Although on paper we’re literally like the worst team on superspeedways, I do believe that we are much, much better than what we show on paper. I feel like 90% of the time we’re in the top six to eight at the end of the race, the final 10 laps, then we get caught up in a crash, end up finishing 28th or worse.

Eventually it’s got to work out. We keep putting ourselves in position. I’m confident that we can go out there and win or at least get a good finish and get off to a good start for the year. There’s a lot of factors that come into play at those superspeedway races. You have to cross your fingers that you can be in front of the pack and then you execute at the finish.

Q. It’s interesting to hear you talk about Phoenix, how stuff was happening so quickly. With the sprint car stuff, how quickly things happen there, how much different did a moment like that at Phoenix feel compared to something you would face on the sprint car side?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, the feel of the moments are way different. Like a moment in a sprint car, you hit a hole, you bike up and almost flip. I would say the INDYCAR and the stockcar, the Next Gen cars, are more alike than anything. I got sideways and almost spun.

I think where the INDYCAR and the sprint car will be more similar than the style of racing in NASCAR. The INDYCAR and sprint car stuff, runs happen so fast. You pass somebody, you put 10 car lengths by the time you get to the next corner. Where stockcar, you have to inch toward that, slowly, slowly. You spend two laps inside of them, then you finally get clear. It’s harder to get to somebody, pass them, and get away. INDYCAR and sprint car stuff, those runs happen quicker, checkups happen quicker, stuff like that.

I think – or I hope – being used to the sprint car and how quickly moves happen, I hope that allows me to be more confident when we get into kind of racing situations in the INDYCAR.

I have yet to be on track with anybody else, so I don’t know. That’s all me just assuming from watching videos and stuff. Yeah, just the quickness, the weight, all that I think will be similar. The balance stuff I think INDYCAR and stockcars are more similar.

Q. Phoenix 2021 Cliff Daniels talked about he was an East Coast asphalt guy, you’re a West Coast dirt guy, he went to school to learn dirt racing to learn what made you click. Are you able to do that from your side to the INDYCAR side learning this terminology, weight jackers? How much time is involved in that? Do you have the time to learn between now and May kind of like Cliff learned for you?

KYLE LARSON: I definitely think I have the time to learn. Once we get on track for two weeks in May, I’m sure we’ll run through a lot of those adjustments. Even yesterday, I was figuring the weight jacker and the bar stuff out, where to touch the corner for balance and things.

It’s difficult for me, like I really have to think about what is oversteer and what is understeer just ’cause my whole life I’ve been loose or tight. I think that’s more of something like they maybe, the engineers, need to get comfortable with my terminology more than me getting in touch with their terminology. But I’m not really sure.

I’m getting better at speaking their language, but it’s just weird. I don’t know why I can’t just say ‘loose’ or ‘tight’ (smiling). There’s time. It’s simpler than I make it sound I think to figure out weight jacker stuff, cockpit adjustment stuff.

Q. Obviously there’s only four races and an exhibition before Indy in May. How much do you foresee yourself paying attention more to the INDYCAR side? Do you foresee yourself paying attention more to INDYCAR than you would in previous years?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I mean, probably. It’s always been so hard for me to pay attention to INDYCAR just because we’re racing at the same time as they are. Two, I mean, I think the road course stuff is obviously quite a bit different than the oval at Indy.

Yeah, I mean, for sure I’m going to be paying attention more often to it than I would be before, trying to pay attention to the drivers on the racetrack, maybe their aggression levels, how people race. Even though it could be a road course versus the oval, if you see somebody who is aggressive on a road course, they’re probably going to be aggressive on an oval, as well. Just learning peoples’ driving styles a little bit, things like that.

Yeah, the race strategy stuff is way different. That’s not something I ever get involved in anyways. Yeah, just try to pay attention and learn whatever I can. Hopefully it translates to Indy. If not, at least I studied.

Q. You’re known for your adaptability with multiple different racing series and cars. With the INDYCAR specifically, all the extensive laps that you’ve had at Indy, you touched on the difference between the Cup and INDYCAR, but do you see that extra track time over the course of the next few months…

KYLE LARSON: What was the end of that? You broke up.

Q. Wondering whether the INDYCAR and Cup cars, all the extensive lap testing in the next few months, how that is going to help you with multiple racing series?

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, I mean, I don’t think it hurts at all. It’s always good when you can, as a driver, put yourself in new situations where you’re challenging your brain, you’re challenging yourself to evolve and learn something new, figure out the differences or similarities between race cars.

Yeah, I mean, I think there’s still a ton for me to learn and a ton left out on the table for me to get comfortable. The more reps I get with everything, not just making laps around track, but in and out of the box like I mentioned, exiting pit road hard, stuff like that is going to be important.

As far as, like, car balance stuff, I was really kind of surprised, like I mentioned, that it feels a lot like a Next Gen Cup car, the way that just the grip of the tire felt like when I turned to the wheel to a point, get past the slip of the tire. The sidewall, I felt like it all felt really similar to the Cup car. You’re just going faster.

It feels like you’re going to Phoenix, like when I was just there testing a couple months ago in a Cup car, we added downforce, the conditions were cooler, the amount of mid-corner speed you carry, it all felt pretty relative to me and very similar.

I don’t think they’re as far apart from each other as what the previous model NASCAR Cup Series car was like or what an Xfinity car might be like. Those are quite a bit different than a Next Gen car.

I feel like these new cars have really transitioned to an INDYCAR. Even adjustments that we made yesterday, they weren’t telling me the adjustments they made these few times, but I went out and I was like, Oh, I felt looser on entry. We made another change. I was like, I felt like I was out of the track, less grip there.

The first change I think they raised the back of the car up. That made me loose in. That would have made me loose in the Cup car. Next they raised the front up to match the rear. That’s when I said I had less grip. I’m pretty sure that’s what that adjustment would have felt like in a Cup car, as well.

Between the underbody and all that, the mechanics of the car, I feel like our stockcars are much similar. I guess what I’m getting at is that I hope it makes the transition between the two simpler than what it would have been four or five years ago.

THE MODERATOR: Sounded like they’re testing you at the same time, make a change and you can figure out what they did.

KYLE LARSON: Yeah, no. I was happy that the changes they were making I could feel ’em, kind of relay it, and it matched up with what I guess should have done. It was all good.

THE MODERATOR: We’ll leave it there for now. Kyle, thanks for doing this. We look forward to seeing you at the Indy 500 open test coming up the 10th and 11th. First and foremost, good luck at Daytona this year.

KYLE LARSON: Thank you.

BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND WEATHER GUARD RENEW NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES ENTITLEMENT FOR SPRING RACE WEEKEND IN MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION

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BRISTOL, Tenn. (Feb. 6, 2024) – Bristol Motor Speedway and WEATHER GUARD®, an industry leader in heavy-duty equipment for work trucks and vans, announced today a multi-year contract extension for WEATHER GUARD® to continue its title sponsorship of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race during Bristol Motor Speedway’s spring NASCAR weekend.

The partnership includes the 2024 WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race, which is scheduled to take the green flag at 8 p.m. on March 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway and will air live on FS1 and MRN Radio. In addition to official naming rights for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular season race, WEATHER GUARD® also will receive premium signage displays throughout the BMS facility, feature activations in the track’s Fan Zone, hospitality privileges and the opportunity to select VIP dignitaries for a variety of pre-race honorary roles.

“We are thrilled that WEATHER GUARD® has elected to renew its entitlement sponsorship of our spring NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We have enjoyed our partnership with WEATHER GUARD® as the truck entitlement sponsor and we appreciate how their truck boxes help our operations crews be more efficient and organized by having secure storage of their tools on the truck. We look forward to working with them for years to come to put on exciting racing events for our fans.”

In addition to the renewed Truck Series race entitlement, WEATHER GUARD® continues to be the Official Truck Tool Box sponsor at BMS, and, through existing contracts, the official sponsor of the WEATHER GUARD® Work Crew for BMS and 10 other Speedway Motorsports properties: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Circuit of the Americas-NASCAR, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.

“We enjoyed our first year as entitlement sponsor for the WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway as it aligns perfectly with the WEATHER GUARD® brand and our mission to support hard working pros who use our truck and van product solutions every day,” said Stacy Gardella, head of global marketing technology and operations at WernerCo Professional Brands. “We look forward to growing this partnership and crowning the 2024 WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race champion on Saturday night, March 16, and catching some thrilling racing under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway.”

The Bristol race weekend also will feature action in the NASCAR Cup Series with the Food City 500 on Sunday afternoon, March 17 (3:30 p.m., FOX and PRN Radio). The WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race will kick-off the weekend action on Saturday following Bush’s Beans Practice and Bush’s Beans Qualifying.

To purchase tickets for the WEATHER GUARD® Truck Race or any of the events during Food City 500 weekend, please visit the BMS website, or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.

About WEATHER GUARD®
WEATHER GUARD®, a WernerCo professional brand, is an industry leader in truck and van equipment, including truck boxes, drawer units, shelving, cabinets, and racks for trucks, vans and utility vehicles. WEATHER GUARD® organizes trucks and vans for greater productivity and provides tools and valuable superior protection against break-ins and weather. WEATHER GUARD® products are manufactured in Crystal Lake, Illinois. For more information, visit www.weatherguard.com.

About Bristol Motor Speedway
Forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is The Last Great Colosseum, a versatile multi-use venue that hosts major auto races, football games, concerts and many other captivating events. The facility features a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking and 650-feet straightaways that offers racing in several NASCAR touring series, highlighted by two major Cup Series weekends each year. In 2020, the track also served as host of the prestigious NASCAR All-Star Race, and from 2021-2023 converted to a temporary dirt track each spring to take the Cup Series back to its racing roots. While at the track, fans are offered a unique viewing experience courtesy of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen with a 540,000-watt audio system. The adjacent quarter-mile dragstrip, Bristol Dragway, offers more than 50 events annually, including the marquee NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health transforms Bristol Dragway into a premier outdoor concert venue for the world’s greatest music performers. Three football games have kicked-off inside the oval, most notably the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, where border rivals the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech met before an NCAA-record crowd of 156,990. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports, a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States.

Rapper and actor Ludacris, rising country star Riley Green will headline third annual Confluence Music Festival

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Adam Wainwright, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson among more than 30 acts performing June 1-2 as part of NASCAR Cup Series Weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway

ST. LOUIS (February 6, 2024 — Ludacris and rising country music star Riley Green will headline the third annual Confluence Music Festival when it returns to the St. Louis area June 1-2 as part of NASCAR Cup Series Weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. Ludacris performs June 1; Green performs June 2. They will be joined on multiple stages by more than 30 national and local acts, including Adam Wainwright, Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson & Cowboy Troy, Brittney Spencer and Tim Dugger.

Ludacris, born in Champaign Illinois, has won three Grammys and is known for hits such as “Stand Up” and “Rollout (My Business).” His work as an actor has included starring roles in the long-running “Fast & Furious” film franchise. He has won a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critic’s Choice Award and an MTV Video Music Award.

Green, named the Academy of Country Music’s 2020 New Male Artist of the Year, has released two albums and has three chart-topping hits, including the platinum “There Was This Girl,” double-platinum “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” and “Half of Me.”

Confluence Music Festival acts from across the region include Blinded by Stereo, the Bobby Ford Band, Dave Grelle’s Playadors, DJ Mahf, DJ Mo Samba, DJ Nune, Dr. Zhivegas, Fanfare, JC Supercar, Lamar Harris’ Georgia Mae, Malena Smith, Matt Jordan, Red and Black Brass Band, St. Boogie Brass Band and We Are Root Mod. There also will be special performances by BeBe Winans, J Creek Cloggers, the Madison High School Marching Band, The Muny Teens, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and more.

The Confluence Music Festival is a showcase of innovation, talent and live entertainment. The festival attracts fans from across the country in welcoming NASCAR, the premier form of motorsports in the United States, to WWTR.

“Once again, we are delivering another incredible lineup of world-class music to accompany the on-track excitement of the NASCAR Cup Series,” said WWTR Owner and CEO Curtis Francois. “Throughout the industry, the Confluence Festival is known as the unprecedented showcase for the intersection of music and motorsports.”

Ticketholders for the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 will have access to Confluence Music Festival concerts, plus interactive entertainment displays, a STEM education showcase, car displays and live interviews with St. Louis-area sports legends. Nearly 100,000 fans attended the festival and race in 2023.

Confluence Music Festival upgrade packages include front-of-stage/Fan Zone access. Adult Sunday ticket packages start at just $67.

“We’re excited for fans to experience what’s in store for our third Confluence Music Festival,” said Kwofe Coleman, executive producer for the festival. Coleman also is president and CEO of The Muny. “People and businesses that really care about our region continue to make this possible with their support and for that we are grateful. We have a great lineup of diverse acts representing many genres, true to the mission of Confluence. It’s going to be quite a party!”

A full Confluence Music Festival entertainment schedule with performance times will be announced.

For tickets and more information, please call World Wide Technology Raceway at (618) 215-8888, visit WWTRaceway.com or follow @WWTRaceway on social media.

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in St. Louis’ Metro East region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering 700 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1.25-mile superspeedway; 1/4-mile drag strip; 2.0-mile road course; the Gateway Kartplex state-of-the-art karting facility; and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and Owner & CEO Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2023 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction; 2023 Innovation in Philanthropy Award by the St. Louis Business Journal; 2022 Explore St. Louis Hospitality Hero Recognition; 2022 Best in Show and Best Event & Festival from the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism; 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association.

Our mission: We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.

About The Muny

The Muny’s mission is to enrich lives by producing exceptional musical theatre, accessible to all, while continuing its remarkable tradition in Forest Park. As the nation’s oldest, largest outdoor musical theatre, we welcome more than 350,000 theatregoers each summer for seven world-class productions. Now celebrating 106 seasons in St. Louis, The Muny remains one of the premier institutions in musical theatre.

Tibbetts Lumber to Sponsor Boyd in First Ever Race with Freedom Racing Enterprises

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Mooresville, NC (February 6, 2024) – Daytona International Speedway will mark the location for a few firsts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Tibbetts Lumber will be the primary sponsor for the newly formed team Freedom Racing Enterprises’ first race on February 16, 2024. Driver and co-owner of the team, Spencer Boyd, will be behind the wheel of the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado for the Fresh From Florida 250.

“There are always emotions going in Daytona,” remarked Boyd. “It’s the first race of the year and it’s the biggest weekend in motorsports. And that’s just the normal part! We’ve got a brand-new team going to the track for the first time with equipment we haven’t put on the track before. I’m thankful we have assembled a great bunch of guys that I can trust in getting the job done. I have so much confidence that we are giving it our best shot because I’ve seen day in and day out the work that Greg (Ely) and team have put in since November to be ready for this moment.”

The main sponsor for the team at this race, Tibbetts Lumber is one of the largest independently-owned lumber and building materials supplier in the Southeast USA to the professional contractor. CEO and Vice Chairman, Russ Hallenbeck, commented on the partnership, “I’m a life-long fan of NASCAR so this is a very special moment for me personally. Professionally, it puts Tibbetts Lumber out there like we have never done before. It is our first ever sponsorship in racing and Spencer couldn’t be a better representative for our brand. The yeoman’s type work he does is exactly what our customers do so the synergy is perfect.”

Kyle Hooker, Executive Chairman of Tibbetts Lumber, said “Spencer and Freedom Racing stand for everything Tibbetts Lumber stands for and we are honored to be a part of such a historic team and race!”

Headquartered in the Tampa Bay area since 1949 with 11 locations throughout Florida, Tibbetts designs and manufactures wood roof and floor trusses, lumber and building materials, custom interior and exterior doors, millwork, siding, windows, offers and offers installation services.

The new team brings back the familiar number 76 for Boyd and a bright orange paint scheme that won’t be missed on the high banks of Daytona.

Boyd continued about the relationship with Tibbetts, “This partnership is a long time in the making…almost a year. I’m elated they chose me to drive their truck and know it means a lot to the family and the employees of the company. Kyle and Russ invited me to the Tibbetts Lumber Christmas party and was humbled by the hard work everyone there does to make their company successful. I’m honored to be in the same circle as these great business-people.”

The Freedom Racing Enterprises debut with first-time sponsor Tibbetts Lumber will be on February 16, 2024 at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race, the Fresh From Florida 250, at Daytona International Speedway. Catch this race and all the Daytona 500 weekend action on the FOX family of channels.

The Mike’s Weather Page Hurricane Awareness Machine powered by Firman Power Equipment Returns to Daytona International Speedway

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GAFFNEY, SC – Buckle up, racing fans, because the Daytona International Speedway is about to be hit by a force for good: the Mike’s Weather Page Hurricane Awareness Machine is back in 2024.

Once again, NASCAR Xfinity Series team JD Motorsports has teamed up with some of the storm industry’s most powerful players – Mike’s Weather Page, Firman Power Equipment, Coastal Claims, and Paratec Door Solutions – to sponsor Dawson Cram’s No. 4 Chevrolet in the season-opening United Rentals 300 on Saturday, February 17 at 5 p.m.

This electrifying race car won’t just be turning heads with its sleek design, it will be a rolling billboard for hurricane preparedness. Prominently featured on the No. 4 Chevy will be the logos of all the partnering companies, along with support from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, reminding everyone of the importance of being ready for those swirling tempests.

“The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season will be here before we know it, so this event is a great reminder for all Floridians to start updating their disaster plans now and make sure their families are prepared.” said Division Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “Finding innovative ways to come together with our partners to educate the community on disaster preparedness is always a win in my book, and I am thankful to Mike’s Weather Page and Firman Power Equipment for another year of partnership. We are all rooting for the Hurricane Awareness Machine.”

“Bringing together these incredible storm industry partners to build the Hurricane Awareness Machine for Daytona for a second time is a dream come true, again,” said Mike Boylan, founder of Mike’s Weather Page. “Our shared goal is to educate people about potential storms and be there for them every step of the way. As a lifelong Floridian and NASCAR fanatic, this is an incredible opportunity to combine my two passions for a greater good.”

Fans should mark their calendars for Saturday, February 17th at 5 PM EST because the United Rentals 300 will be more than just a race: it’s a statement about preparedness, resilience, and the power of community in the face of nature’s fury.

“FIRMAN is proud to partner with the Florida Division Of Emergency Management and Mikes Weather page again for a great day of racing at Daytona! We’re looking forward to a safe and FAST race for Dawson Cram in the number 4 JD Motorsports car – LET’S GO!”

Dawson Cram is a Xfinity Series rookie of the year candidate who is in his first year as a full-time driver with JD Motorsports. The son of former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Kevin Cram, the 22-year-old Cram turned heads racing a part-time schedule in the Xfinity Series in 2023.

“I am thrilled to take on the high banks of Daytona in my JD Motorsports #4 Chevrolet Camaro carrying Mike’s Weather Page and Firman generators,” said Cram. “Daytona brings on an excitement like no other track and I cannot wait to share that excitement with all of my fans and all of Mike’s Weather Page’s 2 million fans, we will have a big fan section cheering us on for sure!

Tune in to watch the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 17 at 5 p.m. The race will be broadcast on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90)

About Mike’s Weather Page

Mike Boylan, a Florida native, is the creator of Mike’s Weather Page. Graduating from USF with a Marketing degree in 1996, Mike took an interest to the internet and website design. Being a weather fan his entire life and experiencing Florida’s active 2004 season, Mike created a weather website to make tracking the tropics easy. Joining social media in 2009, his audience has expanded globally now reaching over 2 million followers with his website becoming a ‘one-stop shop for tropics’. Mike broadcasts live weather shows called the ‘Daily Brew’ on the tropics helping educate people and prepare, and even drives into storms bringing live coverage. Mike’s Weather Page has been accredited by NOAA, the NWS, FEMA, the Hurricane Hunters, National Meteorologists, the Weather Channel, Government officials, and several state county EOCs. Mike just recently won the 2021 Governor’s Hurricane Conference Tropical Meteorology award. https://spaghettimodels.com/

About Firman Power Equipment
As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of portable generators, we pride ourselves on the unparalleled quality of our products. At FIRMAN we are committed to constant innovation. It’s not enough to be “as good” as the competition, we strive to be better in every way that matters to our customers. FIRMAN provides the power you need when you need it plus expert guidance to conquer anything life throws your way. firmanpowerequipment.com

About Coastal Claims Services, public insurance adjusters.

A public adjuster is a licensed claims adjuster who represents the insured policyholder in their insurance claim. We do not work for the insurance company. The team at Coastal Claims Service is here to work on your behalf to secure the best possible insurance settlement for all types of claims, both commercial and residential. We represent you, the business or homeowner, not the insurance company. If you have suffered storm damage, water damage, fire, and smoke damage, we can assist you with your claim. coastalclaims.net

About Paratec Door Solutions

Paratec Door Solutions stands at the forefront of the door industry, anchored by a deep history of experience. Their specialization spans a diverse range of services, from installing and maintaining high-speed and rolling steel doors to full-view sectional doors, loading dock equipment and HVLS fans. At Paratec, their factory-certified technicians are dedicated to delivering swift and dependable services, ensuring your operations run seamlessly. Their team is their biggest asset. Their technicians are trained and certified, making sure the job is done right the first time. They work hard to make sure everything runs smoothly for you. With Paratec, you’re choosing quality, reliability, and experience. Every product and service they offer is backed by their years of experience and dedication.“Our commitment isn’t just to the doors we install, but to the people and businesses they serve, ensuring security, efficiency, and peace of mind.”- Billy, Founder of Paratec Door Solutions. www.paratecdoor.com

Florida Division of Emergency Management

The Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters. Division staff members provide technical assistance to local governments as they prepare emergency plans and procedures, as well as conduct emergency operations training for state and local governmental agencies with the mission of coordinating, collaborating and communicating with all community stakeholders for a more resilient Florida.The Division maintains the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee which serves as the communications and command center for reporting emergencies and coordinating state response activities alongside county emergency officials. Additionally, the Division operates the State Warning Point, a state emergency communications center staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.floridadisaster.org

JD Motorsports

Team Owner Johnny Davis first began fielding the No. 4 car in what is now the Xfinity Series in 1983 with Joe Henry Thurman as the driver. From 1983-1985, Davis and Thurman competed in 41 races and put the JD Motorsports name on the map. Although JDM has seen a sharp rise in on-track performance in the past few years, success is nothing new to this team. Years of good drivers and excellent runs have paved the way for what JDM is today. www.teamjdmotorsports.com

A.E. Engine, sales and marketing partner

A.E. Engine is a full-service sports sales, marketing, and content creation company. Founded in 2005 by sports publishing and marketing executives, A.E. Engine has earned a reputation for conceiving, creating, and delivering high-quality, premium content and programming for passionate fans. www.ae-engine.com

TRD USA unveils 2024 Driver Development program lineup

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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 6, 2024) – Coming off another exceptional season across multiple motorsport categories, TRD USA (Toyota Racing Development) is pleased to officially unveil its 2024 Toyota Driver Development (TD2) lineup.

“The TD2 program is something that we take much pride in at TRD,” said Trent Rodriguez, Manager, Driver Development, TRD. “Providing opportunities for young drivers to reach their goals in motorsports will always be something that TRD celebrates. Our lineup for this season is incredibly diverse and filled with exceptionally talented drivers. With this group, we look forward to earning countless race wins and championships across multiple racing series this year.”

The accomplished program reached new heights during the 2023 racing year as a graduate or current member of the TD2 program achieved a Championship 4 berth in each NASCAR national series, along with titles earned in the ARCA Menards Series and dirt racing action. TRD also celebrated the second graduate of the program – John Hunter Nemechek – achieving a full-time opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series, joining back-to-back Championship 4 driver Christopher Bell.

This season’s talented lineup, across three motorsports disciplines, includes Jade Avedisian, Brent Crews, John Geesbreght, Tyler Gonzalez, Taylor Gray, Corey Heim, Buddy Kofoid, Isabella Robusto, Gio Ruggiero, William Sawalich, Chandler Smith, Ryan Timms and Westin Workman.

Stock Car

Smith, 21, returns to the TD2 program after running for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time last year, along with three NASCAR Cup Series starts in 2023. Smith and Toyota have earned much success together, including five Truck Series victories and a Championship 4 berth in 2022, along with 10 ARCA Menards Series triumphs. For 2024, Smith will compete full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the No. 81 Toyota GR Supra in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Heim, 21, will return full time to TRICON Garage after an exceptional 2023 season. In his first full Truck Series season, Heim won the regular season title, qualified for the Championship 4, and earned a series-leading 19 top-10 finishes in 22 starts. The Georgia-native will also return to Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) for an expanded Xfinity Series schedule in 2024. He scored a top-10 finish in just his second career series start at Darlington Raceway in May.

Gray, 18, will also return to TRICON Garage for his first full CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season. The New Mexico-native missed the first three races of the 2023 season due to NASCAR’s age restrictions and earned a career-best second-place finish at the fall Kansas race. Gray will also make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut for JGR this year.

Sawalich, 17, earned the ARCA Menards Series East championship last season after an incredibly consistent performance in 2023. He won half the races on the tour and finished inside the top-five in every event. Sawalich will look to defend his title this year, along with additional ARCA Menards Series races for JGR. The Minnesota-native will also run several NASCAR Truck Series events for TRICON Garage and will make his Xfinity Series debut for JGR after turning 18 in October.

Ruggiero, 17, had an exceptional season with many big late model victories, including the Tar Heel 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway and Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway. The Massachusetts-native will continue to compete in late model events for Wilson Motorsports, while running several ARCA Menards Series races for Venturini Motorsports (VMS), including competing for the ARCA Menards Series East title.

Robusto, 19, makes her return to full-time competition this year after making a full recovery from a season-ending injury suffered in a racing incident last year. Robusto will compete in several series in 2024, including late model events for Lee Pulliam Performance and Wilson Motorsports, GT4 races with Smooge Racing and ARCA Menards Series competition with VMS. Robusto is scheduled to make her ARCA debut in March at Phoenix Raceway.

Crews, 15, earned many on-track achievements in 2023, including becoming the youngest TA2 champion while scoring his first ARCA Menards Series victory in only his second start. Crews has a busy schedule in 2024 as he will run several events with VMS in the ARCA Menards Series, along with late model races for Kevin Harvick, Inc. and Wilson Motorsports.

Grassroots Dirt

Kofoid, 22, who is a multi-time champion for Toyota in the dirt midget ranks, will take on the full World of Outlaws schedule for Roth Motorsports. Kofoid is already a race winner in WOO competition after a victory at Placerville Speedway last fall.

Avedisian, 17, became the first woman to win a national dirt midget title last year, when she earned the Xtreme Outlaw Midget championship and shortly after signed a multi-year contract with TRD. In 2024, Avedisian will continue to compete in various national dirt midget races for Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM), along with the full Toyota GR Cup Series schedule for Nitro Motorsports.

Timms, 17, will return to the historic KKM #67 in USAC National Midget competition after a successful run in 2023. Timms finished inside the top-five in the final standings after earning multiple race wins last season. He is the youngest feature winner in series history.

Sports Car

Geesbreght, 20, will continue to climb the sports car ranks as he returns to compete for Smooge Racing in the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO in IMSA and SRO competition. He picked up a victory at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) last season.

Gonzalez, 19, who won the inaugural Toyota GR Cup Series title with an incredible seven race wins, will also compete in the GT4 ranks for Smooge Racing as Geesbreght’s co-driver for the SRO series season.

Workman, 19, joins the TD2 program after a successful debut in his first Toyota GR Cup Series event at Road America last season. The North Carolina native impressed with two top-five runs, including one podium finish. He joins Copeland Motorsports for the full Toyota GR Cup Series schedule in 2024.

TRD takes an active role in each TD2 driver’s development to help them achieve their goals of long-term success in motorsport with support of partners such as ExxonMobil, GEARWRENCH, JBL, Safelite AutoGlass, SoundGear and Yahoo. The mutual long-term commitment allows TRD to provide additional opportunities on-and-off the track to encourage and support their personal development. TD2 drivers, along with drivers who compete for Toyota-supported race teams, also have access to the celebrated Toyota Performance Center (TPC), which provides support with physical fitness, sports psychology, recovery and nutrition.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America (more than 49,000 in the U.S.).

Over the past 65 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 45 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, the company’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.4 million cars and trucks (more than 2.1 million in the U.S.) in 2022, of which, nearly one quarter were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).

B’laster Holdings, Front Row Motorsports Begin Multi-Race Partnership

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Official Release
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Partners with Michael McDowell and No. 34 Team in 2024

CLEVELAND, OH (February 6, 2024) – B’laster Holdings, LLC. is proud to announce a partnership with Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and Michael McDowell for several NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) events in 2024.

B’laster will kick off its campaign aboard Michael McDowell’s No. 34 Mustang Dark Horse this summer and continue in the fall of the 2024 season. The partnership will feature select brands from the B’laster Holdings portfolio.

Forming its roots in Cleveland, Ohio, the heart of the Rust Belt, B’laster has manufactured penetrants, lubricants, cleaners, solvents, rust removers, greases, and protectants for professionals and DIYers since 1957. Known for PB B’laster, the #1-selling penetrant, B’laster products are formulated to penetrate, lubricate, loosen, overcome, fix, and conquer each job.

“We can’t wait for the B’laster car to make its 2024 NASCAR debut,” said President & CEO, Randy Pindor. “We are excited to be partnering with an even more vetted team for the 2024 season to hopefully bring some more eyes to McDowell’s No. 34 Mustang Dark Horse and the B’laster brand!”

The No. 34 Mustang Dark Horse of Michael McDowell will carry the B’laster brand during the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

“The opportunity to work with the B’laster brand, known for its commitment to excellence and innovation, is exciting,” McDowell said. “We were introduced to B’laster when Matt (Tifft) raced with us at FRM and now it’s great to work again with both Matt and B’laster with this relationship.”

For more information about B’laster, please visit www.BlasterProducts.com.

ABOUT B’LASTER HOLDINGS

B’laster Holdings has a portfolio of strong brands that consumers rely on to get the job done. With a legacy going back to 1957, the Company prides itself on serving its customers with flexibility, while being a fun, people-focused place to work. Its brands include B’laster, AC Avalanche, Casite, Gunk, Liquid Wrench, and Titeseal.

ABOUT B’LASTER:

B’laster LLC is a chemical manufacturing company based in Valley View, OH. Founded in 1957 with PB B’laster Penetrant, the company has since expanded its portfolio to include penetrants, lubricants, cleaners, solvents, removers, grease, and protectants. Currently, the company’s President and CEO is Randy Pindor.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Kevin Harvick Inc. Returns to Fulltime Competition

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Will Field Late Model Stock and Super Late Model Entries

Harrisburg, N.C. (February 6, 2024) – Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) announced today it’s return to fulltime competition with plans to field Late Model Stock and Super Late Model entries in 2024.

Brent Crews will pilot the No. 29 Mobil1 Toyota Camry in the CARS Tour Late Model Stock division, vying for the 2024 championship. Crews, 15, became the youngest champion in Trans Am history when he won the 2023 Trans Am TA2 ProAm Series championship. 2023 also saw Crews capture his first ARCA Series win in only his second start from the pole, becoming the second-youngest driver to win in ARCA history. Crews is the youngest winner in a National Midget as well as a TA2 Trans Am. He holds three world titles in karts.

Josh Berry, Layne Riggs, William Sawalich and Landen Lewis will share driving duties in KHI’s No. 62 Late Model Stock entry.

Ryan Preece, Josh Berry, William Sawalich and Landen Lewis will split driving duties behind the wheel of KHI’s Nos. 62 and 29 in select Super Late Model events.

Ryan Preece, a native of Berlin, Conn., is in his second full season behind the wheel of the No. 41 car in the Cup Series. Preece is a veteran of the Northeast open-wheel modifieds and won the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship. He has numerous wins and championship in open-wheel modifieds, as well as two Xfinity Series wins.

Josh Berry, from Hendersonville, Tenn., will compete in his first fulltime Cup Series season in 2024 taking over the No. 4 car from Kevin Harvick who retired from competition after 23 seasons. He has 12 Cup Series starts with a career-best finish of second at Richmond (Va.) Raceway in 2023. He has five Xfinity Series wins to his credit as well as being one of the most recognized names in Southeast Late Model racing.

Layne Riggs, a 21-year-old, second-generation racer from Bahama, N.C., cut his teeth in grassroots racing in and around the Southeast. He won 16 races and a track championship at South Boston (Va.) Speedway on his way to being crowned the 2022 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion. He is slated to compete in his first full season in the Truck Series in 2024.

William Sawalich, a 17-year-old driver from Eden Praire, Minn., found success early in Quarter Midgets and Legend Cars notching multiple podiums and championships. He clinched the 2023 ARCA Series East championship on the strength of 4 wins, eight top-five and eight top-10 finishes. In 2024 he will compete parttime in the Truck, Xfinity and ARCA Series as well as defend his ARCA Series East title.

Landen Lewis, another 17-year-old racing standout from Supply, N.C. immediately saw success at every level of competition. Starting in go-karts, Lewis moved up the ranks to compete in Legend Cars and Dirt Modifieds with multiple wins and championships. He made his ARCA Series debut in 2021 and won in just his second-career start from the pole at the age of 15. Lewis has two Truck Series starts to his credit.

“With KHI Management representing drviers with all levels of experience, it felt like a good opportunity to jump back in to fulltime competition,” Harvick said. “We love to compete and it brings all aspects of our businesses together on the track.”

You can follow KHI on Facebook, Instagram and X.

About Kevin Harvick Inc.

Established in 2001 by NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Truck Series and ARCA Series from 2001 through 2011. During that time, KHI earned 10 Xfinity Series wins, 45 Truck Series wins and three Truck Series championships, including two championships with NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday, Jr. Following the 2011 season, KHI stepped away from full-time competition until its return in 2023.

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