Home Blog Page 1210

Reddick wins first Bluegreen Vacations Duel amid last-lap pass; Johnson rallies to make Daytona 500 field

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

After posting the 36th-fastest qualifying lap during Wednesday night’s single-car qualifying session for this year’s Daytona 500, Tyler Reddick responded with vengeance and in dramatic style after executing a final lap pass on Kyle Larson to storm to the victory in the first of two Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion from Corning, California, led only the final lap of 60 scheduled laps in an event where he rallied from starting towards the rear of the field to methodically carve his way to the front. After nearly getting in a wreck following a bump by Martin Truex Jr. during the event’s lone cycle of green flag pit stops with nearly 20 laps remaining, Reddick would draft his way from the top 10 toward the front during a six-lap shootout before overtaking Larson on the final lap to win his first Duel event at Daytona of his career.

In the midst of Reddick’s victory, Jimmie Johnson rallied from being involved in a late multi-car wreck to overtake JJ Yeley on the final lap and claim a transfer spot into this year’s Daytona 500.

Prior to the event, Joey Logano, the 2024 Daytona 500 pole winner, started on the pole position and was joined on the front row by Kyle Larson.

When the green flag waved and the first Duel event commenced, Logano and Larson dueled for the lead through the first two turns and through the backstretch until Larson started to muscle ahead from the outside lane with drafting help from Austin Dillon. Then through Turns 3 and 4, Larson managed to muscle ahead and clear the field as he managed to fend off Logano to lead the first lap in his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 while Logano was locked into a side-by-side battle with Dillon amid a tight packed lane fanning out two lanes.

During the proceeding laps, Larson continued to lead as he also remained on the outside lane while receiving drafting help from Austin Dillon while Logano remained as the first competitor leading the inside lane with drafting help from Chase Elliott. The outside lane, however, would continue to gain the advantage through the straightaways as Larson, who then transitioned from the outside to the inside lane, maintained the lead while Todd Gilliland battled Dillon for the runner-up spot. In addition, Chris Buescher was in fourth while Logano was mired in fifth as he was battling Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones and Elliott, with the field battling amid two tight-packed lanes.

Through the first five scheduled laps, Erik Jones was the leader ahead of Daniel Suarez, who overtook Larson for the lead during the previous lap. With Jones and Suarez dueling for the lead amid two tight-packed lanes, Jones had Martin Truex Jr. drafting him on the outside lane while Suarez had Larson drafting him on the inside lane.

At the Lap 10 mark, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made his way into the lead by 0.069 seconds over Jones while Truex, Corey LaJoie, Suarez, Jimmie Johnson, Larson, Ty Gibbs, Gilliland and Alex Bowman were running in the top 10. By then, Logano had fallen back to 15th while JJ Yeley, who was battling Johnson for a transfer spot into this year’s Daytona 500, was mired back in 17th. In addition, Anthony Alfredo, who guaranteed himself a starting spot for the Daytona 500 based on his qualifying speed from Wednesday night’s single-car qualifying session, dropped back to 21st place, dead last, to preserve his primary car for the main event.

Not long after, a side-by-side battle for the lead ignited between Stenhouse and LaJoie as Stenhouse had Jones’ No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE drafting him for the lead on the inside lane while LaJoie had drafting help from Johnson’s No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE on the inside lane. Stenhouse, however, would receive another strong shove from Jones through the backstretch to muscle away from LaJoie and clear the field to gain sole possession of the lead ahead of the pack nearing the Lap 15 mark.

A few laps later, the top three competitors led by Stenhouse and including Jones and Truex cleared the field while the rest of the field led by a side-by-side battle between Suarez and Johnson were stacked in two tight-packed lanes.

By Lap 20, Stenhouse maintained the lead ahead of Jones, Truex and Suarez while Johnson tried to ignite another run to the front from the outside lane. Meanwhile and as the field slowly started to fan out to three lanes, LaJoie, who was battling towards the front, was drifting to the back of the field after he was placed in the middle of a three-wide battle and lost the draft.

Six laps later and with the field returning to running in two tight-packed lanes, Truex gained a huge run through the backstretch to draft his way into the lead from the outside lane followed by Larson and Johnson while Stenhouse, who transitioned from the outside to inside lane to keep Erik Jones drafting him, fell back to within the top five. Two laps later, however, Stenhouse fought his way back from the inside lane as he drew Truex into a side-by-side battle exiting the frontstretch and through the backstretch.

At the halfway mark on Lap 30, Truex was drafted into the lead from Larson ahead of Stenhouse while Johnson, Jones, Ty Gibbs, Suarez, Tyler Reddick, Bowman and Chastain were battling in the top 10. By then, Johnson was in a transfer spot ahead of JJ Yeley, who was mired back in 14th, while Logano was scored in 18th behind Austin Dillon and rookie Carson Hocevar.

With 25 laps remaining, Truex was leading from the outside lane in his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE as he had Larson drafting him along with Johnson while Stenhouse remained on the inside as he had Jones drafting him while he continued to keep Truex within his sights. By then, Alfredo, who pitted under green, was penalized for speeding on pit road, which dropped him out of the lead lap category.

Then with 21 laps remaining, pit stops under the green flag commenced as the Toyota competitors Johnson, Reddick, Jones and Ty Gibbs pitted. Prior to the pit stops, Truex bumped and nearly sent Reddick sideways into Ty Gibbs as Reddick was trying to make the turn to pit road while Austin Dillon nearly got turned in the middle of the pack as he barely squeezed Gilliland up against the outside wall. The following lap and with the field dispersed, Austin Dillon and Stenhouse pitted under green while Larson was leading ahead of Chastain, Suarez, Bowman and Elliott.

Then with 17 laps remaining, a majority of the field, led by Larson, pitted under green as Todd Gilliland assumed the lead. During the pit stops, Chastain was penalized for speeding on pit road and was forced to make another trip to pit road to serve a pass-through penalty. Shortly after, the following names that include Gilliland, Logano, Ryan Preece and Buescher pitted under green.

Following the pit stops, Larson rocketed his way back into the lead followed by Chevrolet teammates Suarez, Elliott and Bowman while Logano, who tried to blend in front of the Chevrolet competitors, fell back to fifth. Amid the completion of pit stops, Johnson continued to run in a transfer spot within the top 10 with less than 15 laps remaining in the event.

Then with 10 laps remaining, the first Duel’s first caution flew after Daniel Hemric, who briefly stepped off the gas as the field briefly checked up in front of him while fanned out to nearly four lanes, was bumped by Stenhouse, which sent Hemric’s No. 31 Cirkul Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 sideways and head-on into the outside wall in Turn 3. Amid Hemric’s wreck, Stenhouse, Austin Dillon and Johnson made contact that sent all three spinning below the apron. Amid the incident, Hemric retired while Stenhouse, Dillon and Johnson continued, with the latter now locked in a tight battle with Yeley to claim a transfer spot for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

With the race restarting with six laps remaining, Larson and Suarez dueled for the lead ahead of Elliott and Ty Gibbs while Johnson, who pitted during the caution period, was trying to regain speed to keep pace with Yeley towards the rear of the field. As the field continued to jostle and battle amid two stacked lanes from the backstretch and through the frontstretch, Larson and Suarez remained dead even for the lead followed by Ty Gibbs, Elliott, Hocevar and Logano as the event reached its final five-lap mark remaining.

As the laps continued to dwindle, Larson and Suarez remained dead even of one another for the race lead ahead of the pack while Johnson was trying to keep pace and remain ahead of Yeley towards the rear of the field, but with a starting spot for the Daytona 500 up for grabs.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Larson was scored the lead as he started to muscle ahead of teammate Elliott, Suarez and the field through the frontstretch. Entering Turns 1 and 2, Elliott transitioned from the outside to the inside lane as he was drafted into a brief lead by Hocevar before Larson fought back with drafting help from Reddick. Then through the backstretch, Reddick seized an opportunity by veering to the left and making his move beneath Larson for the lead, which he executed as Larson got loose off the front nose of teammate Bowman and lost the draft.

With Larson losing ground as the field fanned out entering the frontstretch, Reddick was able to muscle his No. 45 Nasty Beast Toyota Camry XSE away from the field and beat a hard-charging Elliott by 0.056 seconds to win the first Duel event.

With the victory, Reddick, whose previous best Duel result was eighth, was awarded a handful of championship points and the third-place starting spot for this year’s 66th running of the Daytona 500 that is set to occur this upcoming Sunday, February 18. Reddick also became the first Toyota competitor to win a Daytona Duel event since his owner Denny Hamlin made the last accomplishment in 2017 as he also recorded the first Duel victory for 23XI Racing. The 2024 Cup Series season is set to mark Reddick’s fifth full-time campaign in NASCAR’s premier series and sixth consecutive attempt to win his first Great American Race.

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“It’s a great way to start off the weekend,” Reddick said on FS1. “Man, this [car] is a beast. It’s a great way to kick off a brand-new product. Go out and get some Hard Tea, have a good time tonight. I know we are.”

Chase Elliott settled in second place followed by teammate Bowman, Hocevar and Erik Jones while Suarez, Logano, Ty Gibbs, Larson and Chris Buescher finished in the top 10 on the track.

Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson was also left smiling after rallying from his late incident to race his way into the Daytona 500 after overtaking JJ Yeley entering the frontstretch and crossing the finish line in 12th place while Yeley ended up in 16th place, which left him and NY Racing out of this year’s Daytona 500 field.

With his accomplishment, Johnson will make his 21st career start in the Great American Race at Daytona, his second in a row as a driver/co-owner of Legacy Motor Club and his first piloting a Toyota Camry XSE stock car. He will also pursue a third Daytona 500 victory.

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“I’ve never been in a position like this before and I have such a greater appreciation for everyone before me that’s tried to race their way in,” Johnson said. “It’s very stressful. I’m very thankful we got this Carvana Toyota into the race. I knew the first half of the race was going too easy. I knew there’d be a challenge thrown at us and we got it just in time. Hats off to JJ Yeley. He put up a heck of a fight in a very competitive car. We were just in the right spot at the right time when the checkered [flag] fell.”

There were 15 lead changes for nine different leaders. The event featured one caution for four laps.

Results.

1. Tyler Reddick, one lap led

2. Chase Elliott

3. Alex Bowman

4. Carson Hocevar

5. Erik Jones, five laps led

6. Daniel Suarez, two laps led

7. Joey Logano, one lap led

8. Ty Gibbs

9. Kyle Larson, 20 laps led

10. Chris Buescher

11. Ross Chastain

12. Jimmie Johnson

13. Ryan Preece

14. Martin Truex Jr., 14 laps led

15. Corey LaJoie

16. JJ Yeley

17. Todd Gilliland, one lap led

18. Austin Dillon

19. Anthony Alfredo, one lap down

20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – OUT, DVP, 15 laps led

21. Daniel Hemric – OUT, Accident

The second Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona International Speedway is underway and will complete the starting lineup for the 66th running of the Daytona 500 scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Jeremy Clements Racing readies for Daytona with mainstay partners One Stop Convenience Stores and All South Electric on board

By
Official Release
-

Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing is ready for a thrilling 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Season and aims to greatly improve upon their 2023 season. The team is excited to kick off the new season with their long-time winning partnership of One Stop Convenience Stores and All South Electric.com at Daytona International Speedway in the United Rentals 300 on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Associate partners, including Fox Sports Spartanburg, Sherfick Companies, American Countertop, Impel Union, The Racing Warehouse, and Alliance Driveaway Solutions will also fuel the No. 51 Chevrolet in the season-opening race at the 2.5-mile tri-oval World Center of Racing.

Clements, who will be starting his 14th full-time season in the XFINITY Series for the family-run, single-car independent team, expressed his immense gratitude towards all the partners for their unwavering contribution to the team. He mentioned that their support will power their efforts to be part of the Playoffs and even secure a win or two.

Additionally, the No. 51 Chevy Camaro SS will carry the logos of supporters, Workforce, Whitetail Smokeless, E3 Spark Plugs, Elite Towing and Recovery, Zmax Race Products, Carolina Driveline, Matman Designs, Dynamic Paintware, Papa G Drywall, and Nordic Logistics.

With such a strong team and support from their partners, Jeremy Clements Racing is poised for a winning season and is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats in 2024.

RACE PREVIEW
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Date: Saturday, February 17th, 2024
Broadcast Information: TV: 5:00 pm EST on FS1

FAST FACTS
Best Start 8th – 2021
Best Finish 1st – 2022
28th career start at Daytona

JCR TEAM
Team: No. 51
Crew Chief: Mark Setzer
Manufacturer: Chevrolet

ABOUT ALL SOUTH ELECTRIC
All South Electrical Constructors, Inc. was founded on June 1, 1993, by Chuck and Charlie Koon as a single-family and small multifamily/commercial electrical contractor. By 1996, All South Electrical had created one of the most creditable reputations within the State of Georgia for its outstanding support to its customers.

All South Electrical has employed a group of professionals whose goals and objectives are the same as its founders, to provide a quality product at the most economical price while maintaining a safe environment within the workplace.

Today, All South Electrical is one of the most competitive electrical contractors within the multifamily market. Presently we average 5000 units per year as well as our service department.

All South Electrical is licensed in all the Southeastern states. For more information see www.allsouthelectric.com.

Hendrick Motorsports celebrating 40th Anniversary Season in 2024

By
Official Release
-

14-TIME NASCAR CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCE INITIATIVES INCLUDING RUBY RED CARS, MAY FAN EVENT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2024) – In a press conference today at Daytona International Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports announced several public-facing initiatives to commemorate its 40th anniversary season in NASCAR. The yearlong ruby anniversary celebration will include special paint schemes, fan events, a line of Chevrolet Camaro street cars and more.

Founded by NASCAR Hall of Fame owner Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in Cup Series history with all-time records of 301 points-paying race victories and 14 championships. The organization holds every major statistical record at NASCAR’s top level, including pole positions, top-10 finishes, top-fives and laps led.

“When I think back on our story, I have a hard time believing it myself,” Hendrick said. “In 1984, we had five employees, 5,000 square feet of rented space and a lot of desire to make it work. I dreamed of one day winning a race, but I never imagined it would grow into what it is now. Every bit of success we’ve had is due to the contributions of our people and the incredible support we’ve received over 40 years. We’re here because of the commitment, the passion and the sacrifices made by so many.

“It’s been an incredible ride, and we’re just getting started.”

With drivers Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports will seek a record-tying ninth DAYTONA 500 win on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX). It will mark nearly 40 years to the day since the team made its debut on Feb. 19, 1984, in “The Great American Race.”

RUBY RED CARS AT MARTINSVILLE

In the eighth race of the 1984 season at Martinsville Speedway, driver Geoff Bodine recorded Hendrick Motorsports’ first Cup Series win, which kept owner Hendrick from shutting down the fledgling team. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of that key victory, today Hendrick Motorsports unveiled four ruby red paint schemes it will field April 7 at Martinsville – the eighth race of 2024:

  • Larson’s No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
  • Elliott’s No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
  • Byron’s No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
  • Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

In addition, Chevrolet surprised Hendrick by naming him the honorary pace car driver for the spring race, and the track announced Bodine and nine-time Martinsville Speedway winner Jeff Gordon as the event’s grand marshals. Hendrick Motorsports has fielded only Chevrolet race cars in the Cup Series since it was established and has 28 Cup-level victories at Martinsville, which is the all-time record for team wins at a single track.

Today, Martinsville Speedway also announced a special ticket offer to Hendrick Motorsports fans, which is one of several initiatives by the track to celebrate the team’s 40th anniversary during its April race weekend. For the April 7 NASCAR Cup Series race, discounted adult tickets are available at $40 and youth tickets (12 and under) at just $10. The offer expires March 1.

40 YEARS, 40 CAMAROS, ONE BIG WINNER

In 2024, a limited line of Hendrick Motorsports 40th Anniversary Edition Chevrolet Camaro street cars will be sold exclusively through select Hendrick Automotive Group Chevrolet dealerships.

Prepared at Hendrick Motorsports, the vehicles will feature the radiant red tintcoat color, a custom graphics package, 40th anniversary branding and a unique owner’s kit with an invitation for a behind-the-scenes tour of the team’s facilities. Only 40 of the cars will be produced by Hendrick Motorsports.

In addition, a lucky fan will drive home one of the special cars thanks to a pair of the team’s partners. With the Ally “Win Your Wheels” sweepstakes fueled by HENDRICKCARS.COM, people can enter to win a Hendrick Motorsports 40th Anniversary Edition Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE by visiting the Ally Fan Zone at Daytona International Speedway and other select tracks. An entry can also be submitted online at Ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar. The promotion launched today and will end Sept. 20.

HENDRICK HOMECOMING

As Hendrick Motorsports gears up for the grueling Coca-Cola 600 at its home track of Charlotte Motor Speedway and the team’s inaugural appearance in the storied Indianapolis 500, the organization will host “Hendrick Homecoming,” a free 40th anniversary fan event on its campus in Concord, North Carolina, over Memorial Day weekend.

On May 24-25, Hendrick Motorsports will offer appearances and autograph sessions with current and past drivers, crew chiefs and other personalities from the team’s history. The all-ages, family-friendly event will include food trucks, displays, games, giveaways, live music and more.

Official information will be available at HendrickMotorsports.com/homecoming and via the team’s official social media accounts.

40 YEARS IN THE BOOK

In September 2024, publisher Motorbooks will launch “Hendrick Motorsports: 40 Years,” the only officially licensed book commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 14-time Cup Series champions.

Authored by veteran auto racing writer Ben White and illustrated with images from top NASCAR photographer Nigel Kinrade, the retrospective will include 40 different stories from the team’s history.

“Hendrick Motorsports: 40 Years” is currently available for pre-order at the Hendrick Motorsports online store and other book retailers.

HALL OF FAME EXHIBIT

The NASCAR Hall of Fame today announced it will introduce a special Hendrick Motorsports 40th anniversary exhibit in 2024. Details of the display will be shared at a later date.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame has enshrined 13 people with ties to Hendrick Motorsports, including team owner Hendrick in 2017, four-time Cup Series champion and current vice chairman Gordon in 2019, and most recently seven-time champions Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus in 2024.

Past inductees Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2021), Ray Evernham (2018), Ron Hornaday Jr. (2018), Terry Labonte (2016), Mark Martin (2017), Benny Parsons (2017), Tony Stewart (2020), Darrell Waltrip (2012) and Waddell Wilson (2020) all have Hendrick Motorsports connections.

GEAR UP

Officially licensed apparel and merchandise inspired by Hendrick Motorsports’ 40th anniversary are available via the team’s online store and at its museum located in Concord.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history. At the sport’s premier level, the organization holds the all-time records in every major statistical category, including championships (14), points-paying race victories (301) and laps led (nearly 80,000). It has earned at least one race win in a record 39 different seasons, including an active streak of 38 in a row (1986-2023). Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024, the team fields four full-time Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson. Headquartered on more than 100 acres in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs approximately 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

Layne Riggs Prepares for Truck Series Debut at Daytona

By
Official Release
-

Daytona Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 15, 2024) – Front Row Motorsports (FRM) will be entering into a new era with Layne Riggs, who will kick off his rookie campaign this Friday at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway; a race that FRM is back-to-back winners of.

Joining Riggs, Dylan Cappello will begin his first year as crew chief for the No. 38 Love’s RV Stops Ford F-150 team. Entering his fifth year in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS), Cappello has served as the lead race engineer for Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith. Cappello now looks to call the shots on top of the pit box in hopes of another NCTS Championship.

Track activity will begin with practice on Thursday, February 15th at 5:00p.m. ET.

Qualifying for the event will take place Friday, February 16th at 3:00 p.m. ET. The green flag for the 100-lap race will drop at 7:30 p.m. ET and can be watched live on FS1. Fans can also listen in on the action from Sirius XM and the Motor Racing Network.

No. 38 Love’s RV Stops Ford F-150:

DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:

“There’s a lot of pressure going into this race, especially with Zane (Smith) winning it two years in a row. But I know our truck will be fast and I have full faith in this 38 group.”

“We have a great group of guys on this team, and under the leadership of Dylan (Cappello), I see no reason why we can’t go out there and be competitive.”

CREW CHIEF DYLAN CAPPELLO:

“Yeah, like Layne said, there’s a lot of pressure, but I’ve been here before. This is what we have worked all off season towards, and now it’s time to just go out there and start the season off with a bang.”

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.

Austin Prock eager to add family’s Gainesville Funny Car success at Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals

By
Official Release
-

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2024) – When Austin Prock stages his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro Funny Car for John Force Racing during his first official NHRA Funny Car pass during the opening round of qualifying at the 55th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on March 7-10, he’ll have lots of Gainesville Raceway memories and thoughts.

After all, his grandfather, Tom Prock, was the Gatornationals Funny Car runner-up at the 1975 event and his father, Jimmy, has won the race four times with Robert Hight, for whom the younger Prock is subbing while Hight addresses some medical concerns. Gainesville Raceway is also the track where Austin made his first pass in any kind of Funny Car, back in 2008 at the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School.

“I’ve always seen the success my dad had there, and, before his, my grandfather, and that place has a special place in my heart,” he said. “It’s also where we lost my good friend Eric Medlen [former John Force driver who died in a testing incident in 2007]. Eric was a great friend of mine, and a mentor to me. He took me under his wing and took care of me and taught me things, like how to paint helmets. It’d be cool to get the job done for that and my family’s legacy.”

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. This year’s race will air 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.

After licensing in a trio of JFR entries in 2018 – driving the cars of team boss Force, his daughter Courtney, and with his dad tuning Hight’s car – and then saddling up in Team Force’s Top Fueler in 2019, Prock had made just two Funny Car runs heading into 2024. It’s also a move reuniting father and son as a tuning and driving tandem, while Austin’s brother, Thomas, serves as their father’s assistant crew chief.

“This whole this whole deal is a thrill, getting to race with my dad and my brother both up in the lounge making the calls and me in the seat,” Prock said. “I mean, this is storybook stuff, the stuff you write up, and it’s actually happening in real life, so it’s really special.

“We all know this car will run,” he added. “This thing flew last year with Robert driving so we’re just getting all the bugs worked out and I gotta keep learning and try not to make any mistakes and give the race car a shot to do what it needs to do. It’s all a learning process.

“I really truly enjoy drag racing and loved running the Top Fuel car, but Funny Car is where I belong. I always dreamed of driving one like my grandpa, and I am having an absolute blast. I’m loving every second of it. I love the challenge of these cars. I love sitting behind the engine. I love the body dropping. And to top it off, I’m doing it with my family.

“I’m so blessed to have John Force in my corner. He loves the sport ad has built his empire off of family racing, and he gets to watch that happen with my family too, under the same roof. He’s given us an outstanding facility to race out of we always have the right parts and money. He just wants to see win lights turn on and have fun. He knows the love that I have for this sport and the love I have for Funny Cars, and I’m glad to have him in my corner.”

The fact that he’s jumping into one of the best Funny Cars on the planet and filling in for three-time world champion Hight is not lost on him. Pressure? You bet.

“Plenty of people have come up and said, ‘Man, you got big shoes to fill,’ but I know you can do it, but I’ve been a Nervous Nellie, up in the middle of the night thinking about it and trying to run through all the scenarios and just trying to manifest doing a good job.

“I’m not going into this race season any different than any other one or any race that I’ve ever gone into, and the team’s not either. We want to go there and run low E.T. every round, and we want to win every race. If you’re competitive and a racer, that’s what you expect. And I believe we can do that. We’re hungry. We want to do good for John Force Racing. We want to do good for Robert Hight. And we want to do good for all of our great partners. We don’t expect any less than that.”

Prock will deal with a host of Funny Car standouts to kick off the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series in Gainesville, including defending world champ and back-to-back race winner Hagan, Ron Capps, Force, Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd.

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 Tony Stewart.

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 on Saturday, March 9. Local standout Josh Hart won the Callout last year. Action will also take place in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown to open 2024.

Race fans at Gainesville Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies for drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, which benefits the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville, as well as a ring ceremony for the 2023 world champs (Kalitta, Hagan, Enders and Herrera) and a flyover from the U.S. Air Force. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners.

The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction and the main entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, the NHRA Insider Podcast, Shirley Muldowney Q&A and meet and greets. 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 cars, get autographs from their favorite drivers and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere of 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.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Daytona NXS Advance (Cole Custer | Riley Herbst)

By
Official Release
-

COLE CUSTER | RILEY HERBST
Daytona NASCAR Xfinity Series Advance
NASCAR Xfinity Series Overview

  • Event: United Rentals 300 (Round 1 of 33)
  • Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
  • Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway
  • Layout: 2.5-mile oval
  • Time/TV/Radio: 5 p.m. EST on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • The 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer is back and ready to defend his title as the 2024 season kicks off Saturday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with the United Rentals 300. The driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang returned to the Xfinity Series fulltime at the start of the 2023 season and, while it got off to a slow start, the team picked up speed over the summer to become championship contenders. Custer would earn three victories on the season – June 3 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway, July 1 at the Chicago Street Course, and the Championship 4 finale Nov. 4 at Phoenix Raceway. They were among his 14 top-five finishes in all. The title was Custer’s first after finishing runner-up in his previous two fulltime seasons in 2018 and 2019. As the reigning champion, Custer has high expectations for himself and hopes to start the season with his first career Daytona victory.
  • Saturday’s race at Daytona’s historic 2.5-mile oval will mark Custer’s 144th career Xfinity Series start and his ninth at the track. He scored career-best finishes in both races there last year – ninth in February and fifth in August. Prior to last year, Custer never finished better than 14th there. In addition to his Xfinity Series starts at Daytona, Custer has five Cup Series starts, one Craftsman Truck Series start, and one ARCA Menards Series start. Best of those was his 10th-place finish in the February 2016 ARCA race.
  • Jonathan Toney returns as the crew chief on the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang this season. Toney is one of the most tenured members of SHR. The native of Newton, North Carolina, joined Haas CNC Racing in December 2003, five years before Tony Stewart partnered with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas to form Stewart-Haas Racing on the underpinnings of Haas CNC Racing. Toney was the lead engineer for Stewart and the No. 14 SHR Cup Series team from 2009 through 2012, helping secure the team co-owner his third championship in 2011 and the first for SHR. He remained an engineer at SHR, assisting the organization across its Cup Series and Xfinity Series programs, spending considerable time with Custer during his previous stint in the Xfinity Series. The 2023 season was Toney’s first as a crew chief, but his history with Custer proved to be strong as the duo picked up multiple wins and the championship in their first season together.
  • Custer didn’t take his foot off the gas during the offseason as he embarked on his own champion’s tour. Since he clinched the title on Nov. 4, the 26-year-old driver has attended Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes National Hockey League games, and a New Orleans Saints National Football League game to promote the Xfinity Series and his championship. The champion had some exciting news to share during the offseason as well. Custer announced last week that him and his wife Kari are expecting their first child in August 2024. The two celebrated their one-year anniversary on Jan. 6 and currently reside with their dog Honey in Cornelius, North Carolina.

Riley Herbst Notes of Interest

  • Riley Herbst is poised for a breakout season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series as the season kicks off Saturday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with the United Rentals 300. While the 2023 season was a roller coaster ride for the No. 98 Monster Energy driver, he ended it on a high note with five consecutive top-fives, scoring the most points scored of any driver in the playoffs’ Round of 8 along the way, and earned his first career Xfinity Series win Oct.14 at his hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Saturday’s 120-lap race marks Herbst’s 143rd career start and his 10th at Daytona. His best finish at the track is fourth, earned in August 2020 and then again in the 2022 season opener. In his three seasons with SHR, Herbst has only finished outside the top-15 twice at Daytona.
  • Herbst has seven starts at Daytona outside of the Xfinity Series – three in the ARCA Menards Series, two in the Craftsman Truck Series, and two in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned a best finish of seventh in the Truck Series season opener in February 2020. He made his Cup Series debut during last February’s 65th running of the Daytona 500, during which Herbst earned an impressive 10th-place finish to become only the second driver in NASCAR history to record a top-10 in his Cup Series debut in the iconic race. He joined Terry Ryan, who made his debut in the 1976 edition of The Great American Race and finished sixth. Herbst went on to participate in both Cup Series races at Talladega and the August Daytona race, earning a best finish of ninth in the October Talladega race after leading 10 laps, his first laps led in the Cup Series. He’ll hope to add to those numbers once again during Sunday’s 66th running of the Daytona 500 behind the wheel of the No. 15 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing.
  • Davin Restivo returns as the crew chief for Herbst and the No. 98 Monster Energy team after taking over the role halfway through the 2023 season. This duo combined to record Herbst’s first career victory on Oct. 14, 2023, at Las Vegas. It was Restivo’s 16th race as the crew chief on the No. 98. Restivo’s career began working on Late Model teams in Liberty, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduated in 2012 with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduating, he went on to work with notable drivers such as Ron Hornaday Jr., Kyle Larson, Justin Marks, Ross Chastain, John Hunter Nemechek, Custer, and most recently Aric Almirola as the lead engineer. He earned his first Xfinity Series victory as a crew chief on June 10, 2023, when Almirola captured the checkered flag at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. Two weeks later, he was named crew chief of the No. 98 Ford Mustang.
  • During the offseason, Herbst went back to his family roots when he traded in his stock car for an off-road Trophy Truck for the 55th running of the Baja 1000 just prior to Thanksgiving. The 24-year-old racer from Las Vegas had a lot to be thankful for, having driven the middle leg of the 1,310.94-mile journey down Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Co-driving with his father, Troy Herbst, and Terrible Herbst Motorsports driver James Dean, the team crossed the finish line first in the Trophy Truck Spec class, marking Herbst’s first Baja 1000 victory and his father’s third, to go with his previous wins in 2004 and 2006. The younger Herbst finished third in the 2022 running of the Baja 1000, and ninth in 2021.

Cole Custer, Driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang

After a tremendous finish to the 2023 season that resulted in your first career championship, how do you approach the new season, which kicks off at Daytona?

“I think for us, we just hope to rebound and be strong competitors after winning the championship. It’s all about how we can follow up last year. We’ve never been in this situation before, so we’re trying to figure out how we can go into this year and really be at that same level we just were. We have to focus on the details and do a lot of things right. It’s going to be intriguing to see how we can follow that up. Going into 2024, we’re trying to figure out how we can win more races and race up front pretty much every weekend. We had a few wins last year, but we didn’t really get hot until the end of the season to win the championship. This year we’re hoping to see that week in and week out. It’s going to take a lot of focus and looking at a lot of details. I’m confident that this No. 00 Haas Automation team can step up and make it happen.”

Superspeedways, especially Daytona, are unpredictable by nature. How do you prepare for a race where it’s difficult to make a solid plan because anything could happen?

“So that’s what is so tough about Daytona and superspeedways. Your plan is always changing. There can be like 15 situations that could happen, and no matter what situation, you have to know what to do when presented with each one. Honestly, you have to take these races lap-by-lap to see what kind of scenario you’re in and then adapt from there. You can’t have a solid plan going into a superspeedway because it’s always going to change and you’re forced to adapt to whatever comes your way.”

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang

You’re back for your fourth fulltime season at SHR and your fifth in the Xfinity Series. While last year had its ups and downs, you ended on a high note with five straight top-five finishes and your first career Xfinity Series win. Is there some comfort in coming back to the same team with mostly the same group of guys?

“It’s always good to work with the same group of guys from year to year. There’s a lot of time that goes into building those relationships and it helps us grow as a team, which translates over to the racetrack. Davin (Restivo, crew chief) and I were put together halfway through the season last year, so there wasn’t an entire offseason to get to know each other. Now, we’ve had the end of the season and the offseason to work on that relationship. I’ve never been so excited to start a season in my career. That win at Vegas was everything. Then, to end the season on a high note with five straight top-fives and the most points scored of anyone in the Round of 8, when we weren’t even in the playoffs, it meant a lot. It showed everyone that we’re here and we can win. I have high hopes for 2024.”

Not only are you racing in the Xfinity Series, but you’re also making your second start in the Daytona 500, where you earned an impressive 10th-place finish in your Cup Series debut last year. How excited are you to get back behind the wheel of a Cup Series car for the iconic race?

“I’m pumped. It’s every young racer’s dream to not only drive in the NASCAR Cup Series, but specifically the Daytona 500. It’s a pinnacle of this sport. I was lucky. I got to make my first career Cup Series start in The Great American Race, and not only finished it but scored a top-10 finish. It got our season started on such a high note, and it’s a moment that I won’t forget. Now, I get to go back and build on what I learned in my four Cup races last year. I can’t say thank you enough to Rick Ware Racing for the chance to run the Daytona 500 in the No. 15 Ford Mustang again, and Monster Energy for supporting me throughout every step of my career.”

RFK Racing Unveils Exciting Weekly Show on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

By
Official Release
-

‘Backstretch Banter with RFK Racing,’ – Hosted by SiriusXM Sports Personality Chris Childers – Will Air Weekly on SiriusXM Channel 90

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2024) – In a dynamic collaboration, RFK Racing and SiriusXM have introduced a new weekly show titled ‘Backstretch Banter with RFK Racing.’ This engaging one-hour program, hosted by SiriusXM sports personality Chris Childers, is set to air weekly on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and will be available to listeners in their cars (channel 90) and on the new SiriusXM app.

Featuring prominent personalities from RFK Racing, including drivers Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, the show is scheduled to premiere the week of Feb. 19, just ahead of the second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 25.

“We are thrilled to embark on this new venture with the launch of ‘Backstretch Banter with RFK Racing’ on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio,” said RFK Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Kevin D. Woods. “This show is an exciting platform that allows us to connect with fans in a unique and engaging way.

“The opportunity to share our insights, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments with SiriusXM listeners around the country, we are genuinely enthusiastic about. Chris Childers has been a friend to our team for years, and this is a fantastic addition to our content platforms. We look forward to bringing fans closer to the heart of RFK Racing through this dynamic show.”

Host Chris Childers, a distinguished sports talk personality, brings his wealth of experience to the forefront. Having been on the air at SiriusXM since 2005, Childers has primarily covered college football and basketball across various SiriusXM channels. Notably, he co-hosts the weekly college football show ‘Full Ride’ with former NFL and college player/coach Rick Neuheisel on the SiriusXM College Sports Radio channel.

“I’m incredibly excited to be part of ‘Backstretch Banter with RFK Racing’,” said Childers, a long-time motorsports enthusiast and self-proclaimed NASCAR ‘fanatic.’ “It’s an honor to host this new program that will delve not only into the world of RFK Racing, but sports and pop culture in general. We feel it will bring fans closer to the action, personalities, and stories behind the scenes.

“I cannot wait to share it with our listeners every week. Get ready for an engaging ride with ‘Backstretch Banter’!”

In addition to airing weekly on SiriusXM, the show will also be available on RFK’s award-winning social platforms and streaming on other popular media platforms.

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, entering its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Rick Ware Racing: Justin Haley/Riley Herbst Daytona 500 Advance

By
Official Release
-

JUSTIN HALEY | RILEY HERBST
Duel | Daytona 500
Event Overview

● Thursday, Feb. 15: Bluegreen Vacations Duel (twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500)
● Time/TV/Radio: 7 p.m. ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
● Sunday, Feb. 18: 66th annual Daytona 500 (first of 36 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races in 2024)
● Time/TV/Radio: 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Justin Haley, Driver of the No. 51 Tree Top / Fraternal Order of Eagles / Jacob Ford Mustang

● Justin Haley, driver of the No. 51 Tree Top / Fraternal Order of Eagles / Jacob Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing (RWR), will make his fourth start in the Great American Race when the NASCAR Cup Series takes the green flag Sunday for the 66th running of the Daytona 500. Haley finished 13th in his first Daytona 500 in February 2020, his best finish in the season-opening points-paying race. He preceded that outing with a victory in the July 2019 Cup Series race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, which was his first career win in the series in just his third start.

● During Wednesday night’s qualifying session, Haley was 30th quickest to earn a 15th-place starting spot in tonight’s second Bluegreen Vacations Duel. The twin 60-lap, 150-mile races will set the field for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

● Haley is viewed by his competitors as a master at superspeedways. He owns four superspeedway wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series – Daytona in August 2020 and 2021, and Talladega in April and October 2020. In 10 Xfinity Series starts at Daytona, he posted top-20 finishes in all but two races.

● The 2024 season marks a significant change in Haley’s career path. He left Kaulig Racing after five seasons to join RWR, which also marks the first time Haley raced for a manufacturer other than Chevrolet in his NASCAR career. The switch to the Roush Yates-powered Ford Mustangs may just be the advantage Haley needs to revisit victory lane, as the Ford camp has secured the win at Daytona in four of the last six races.

● Haley also began the 2024 season with a new crew chief in Chris Lawson. Lawson was previously paired with Zane Smith in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where the pair earned six wins over two seasons and claimed the 2022 Truck Series championship. Lawson was also atop the pit box for Smith in last year’s Daytona 500, when they earned a 13th-place result.

● Haley and Lawson turned heads in their first outing with RWR during the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 3. The 24-year-old driver qualified 10th for the feature event and ran within the top-10 for the majority of the 151-lap race. Haley was working his way back to the front after the halfway break when a fuel pump issue ended his run 15 laps short of the checkered flag.

● In the effort to find success at Daytona, Haley and longtime partner, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles,are continuing their relationship in 2024. When Haley earned his first Cup Series victory at Daytona in 2019, it was beind the wheel of the No. 77 Fraternal Order of Eagles-branded car with Spire Motorsports. They were also with Haley for his three Truck Series wins in 2018 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Canadian Tire Motosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, and Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

● The Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E) is an international non-profit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice, and equality, to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope. The F.O.E. donates more than $10 million a year to local communities, fundraisers, charities and more. As part of its philosophy, the F.O.E. gives back 100 percent of monies raised in the form of grants. Fundraisers are conducted for eight major charities, including kidney, heart, diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds, a children’s fund, memorial foundation and the Golden Eagle Fund.

● Also riding along on the No. 51 at Daytona are Tree Top and Jacob Construction. Tree Top is a farmer-owned cooperative owned by nearly 1,000 apple and pear growers. The cooperative was founded in 1960 in the heart of Washington’s apple country. Tree Top has led the way in premium-quality juices and apple sauce. With its fruit expertise and trusted sources of fruit, it now produces the widest array of fruit-based products and solutions for consumers and for a majority of the world’s leading food and beverage manufacturers. Tree Top operates seven production facilities near the fruit in Washington, Oregon and California to create healthful fruit products made from simple ingredients to the delight of consumers around the world.

● Jacob is a nationally certified, WBENC, woman owned, multifaceted construction firm with a focus on construction, design-build services, structural concrete and technology.

Riley Herbst, Driver of the No. 15 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Ford Mustang

● Riley Herbst returns to RWR behind the wheel of the No. 15 Monster Energy Zero Sugar Ford Mustang after a 10th-place showing in the 2023 Daytona 500. Herbst started the race 38th and successfully avoided the typical Daytona mayhem in his Cup Series debut to earn his first of two top-10 finishes in four Cup Series starts last season.

● With his 10th-place finish, Herbst became the second driver to earn a top-10 in his Cup Series debut in the Daytona 500. He joined Terry Ryan, who made his debut in the 1976 Daytona 500 and finished sixth.

● During Wednesday night’s qualifying session, Herbst was 12th quickest to earn a sixth-place starting spot in tonight’s second Bluegreen Vacations Duel.

● The Las Vegas native also embarks on his fifth fulltime Xfinity Series season in 2024 and fourth with Stewart-Haas Racing. Herbst earned his first career Xfinity Series victory last year at his hometown Las Vegas Motor Speedway in dominating fashion. Though his first win came at an intermediate track, the 24-year-old Herbst has shown his strength on the wild-card superspeedways. He has two top-fives and four top-10s in nine Xfinity Series starts at Daytona, and one top-five and three top-10s at Talladega. His high mark at each track is a fourth-place finish, earned three times – August 2020 at Daytona, October 2021 at Talladega and February 2022 Daytona.

● Monster Energy Zero Sugar will adorn Herbst’s No. 15 Ford Mustang at Daytona. Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, the company supports the scene and sport. Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports partnerships, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans.

Rick Ware Racing Notes

● Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age six when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that fields two fulltime entries in the NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, the NTT INDYCAR Series, Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX).

● In 2023, RWR enjoyed three NHRA Top Fuel wins with driver Clay Millican, two Progressive American Flat Track wins with rider Briar Bauman, and multiple WSX victories with riders Shane McElrath and Joey Savatgy coming off their 2022 WSX championship.

● The 2024 drag racing season unofficially kicked off last weekend in Bradenton, Florida, during the PRO Superstar Shootout, where Millican promptly set fast time in the first round of qualifying with an elapsed time of 3.688 seconds and a speed of 336.49 mph, and then remained atop the leaderboard by securing the No. 1 qualifying position. Millican advanced all the way to the final round of eliminations, a stout performance that highlighted an expanded role this season by longtime partner Parts Plus on the No. 51 Top Fuel Dragster, and the addition of NHRA veteran Nicky Boninfante as co-crew chief.

● In the first racing event of the 2024 season, Cody Ware scored a podium finish Jan. 20 on the 12-turn, 3.56-mile Daytona road course driving a Ligier JS P320 in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class. The following weekend, Ware and teammate Preston Pardus competed in the twin Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup races at Daytona.

Justin Haley, Driver Q&A

You’ve been really good at Daytona in previous years, and now you’re in the Ford Performance camp. Does that mean extra confidence as the RWR team continues to build its program?

“Yeah, I’ve told a lot of people that I’ve raced against the Fords for a long time. They have the best fuel mileage, the best strategy and the best teamwork and it has pissed me off for so long racing against them, so I’m excited to be in a Ford at Daytona. They qualify so fast – it’s been rare that Fords haven’t been dominant in qualifying at superspeedways, lately. I went through Roush Yates the other day, and what an impressive operation they have built. I’ve never seen an engine shop that looks like that before. They have crushed the other teams on fuel mileage, and now we’ve got an awesome new Ford Mustang Dark Horse, so I’m super excited to go down to Daytona and see what we’ve got.”

What makes you so good at the superspeedways, especially Daytona, where you got your first Cup Series win?

“I don’t know. I think there are a lot of things that impact how well you can be at a superspeedway. The organization and how they work, the driver relationship with the spotter, and things like that. For me, the situation this year is completely different other than me being in the driver’s seat. I think we’ll have to see how it goes, but I don’t really know that there is something you can pinpoint. I enjoy superspeedway racing and I’ve been fortunate to do really well. I feel really confident about what we can accomplish with Chris (Lawson, crew chief) and the work the team has put in, along with Ford. But yeah, I’m not sure what it is.”

A lot of changes happened at RWR over the offseason and that showed with your performance at the Clash in Los Angeles. Was there a different feeling in the shop after the Clash?

“There was definitely a good feeling, but we didn’t waste too much time on that with Daytona coming up. We saw we’re capable of running with some of the bigger teams. A lot has been put into the organization to improve. Some processes have changed back at the shop to make sure we have as much data as possible to prepare the car before we get to the track. If we can unload better, then we can learn more during practice, qualifying, the Duel. The offseason was a reset for RWR and there’s still work to be done, but I think we’re already showing that a change is happening and the effort is paying off.”

Riley Herbst, Driver Q&A

You have four Cup Series starts under your belt, but you’re not one of the guys looking to get that first win out of the way to lock into the Cup Series Playoffs. So, what is the goal for the Daytona 500 for you and the No. 15 Ford Mustang team?

“I think the goal is to just get some guys to trust me and not be the one getting in their way and causing trouble. I felt like that was my goal last year and we accomplished that at Talladega in the fall and in the Daytona 500 last year, so I’m trying to do the same thing again this year. Just learn with each lap and hopefully have some guys trust me, have my teammate at RWR, Justin Haley, and all of our Ford teammates trust me so we can work together and try to make something of it. I’m excited to get there, run every lap and be there at the end to kind of see where the cards fall.”

Will you be able to gain anything from the Xfinity Series race on Saturday to apply to Sunday’s race with the Cup Series guys?

“I think laps in the race pace at Daytona or any superspeedway kind of help me become a better plate racer and helps me understand the moves that are coming laps before they even happen. I remember how eye-opening it was last year when I was racing against all of these great stock car drivers in the Daytona 500. Watching these guys set up passes and make them happen laps before I would even attempt them. I think that’s the coolest thing to experience and the thing that I’m eager to learn more and more about to make myself a better racecar driver.”

Are you able to watch what those other guys are doing and understand how they made something work and why it worked in that moment, or is the success based on the circumstances?

“I think it’s a little bit of both. I think that’s why we always hear drivers saying do your homework. For me, that’s watching hours of film of onboard camera footage and the view from the Goodyear blimp shot. That overhead shot is honestly my favorite camera angle to watch for the superspeedway tracks to see how people create their runs, when the run starts and how they execute their passes.”

Akinori Ogata announces preliminary schedule for 21st year in NASCAR

By
Official Release
-

MOORESVILLE, NC, February 15, 2024 – NASCAR driver Akinori Ogata today announced his preliminary schedule for the 2024 race season. Ogata, who moved from his native Japan to Mooresville, NC in 2010 to pursue his racing dreams, will compete in at least four Xfinity Series races with Joey Gase Motorsports.

Ogata will race at Martinsville Speedway on April 6, Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, Daytona International Speedway on August 23 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 19. Marketing partners Kyowa-Eidemiller Precision Machining and YKK AP America will continue their relationship with Ogata through 2024.

“I am excited to compete in all of my races, but YKK AP America and Joey Gase gave me an opportunity to race at Daytona in August,” said Ogata. “Daytona is one of my dream tracks.”

Kyowa-Eidemiller Precision Machining (KEPM) is a global supplier of quality precision machined parts. Their diverse equipment capabilities and experienced staff enable them to be your first choice for small to mid-sized machined components competitively priced.

KEPM handles proto-type, low and high volume production projects, and the company is committed to providing “Emergency Capacity”. KEPM is ISO 9001:2015 certified and features integrated manufacturing to produce high precision machined products including specialty and exotic materials.

YKK AP America Inc. is a leading manufacturer of award-winning commercial facade systems and residential windows and doors. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, all building products are manufactured in the company’s world-class production facilities located in Dublin, Ga., Macon, Ga., and Lakeshore, Ontario. Together with its subsidiary brand, Erie Architectural Products (Erie AP), the company serves architects, glazing contractors, homebuilders, and resellers across the country. YKK AP America Inc. is a subsidiary of YKK AP Inc., a global architectural products company based in Tokyo, Japan.

Ogata’s racing career started in motocross in Japan when he was 14 years old. He made his first NASCAR series start in 2003 at Hickory Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock. He earned his first win in the series at Hickory in 2022 and is the only Japanese driver to win a race in NASCAR. Ogata made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2014 at Phoenix Raceway, where he also made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2018.

“I really enjoyed and had good experience in races with the superspeedway program at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2023 in the Xfinity and Truck Series,” said Ogata. “I can’t wait for my coming race season!”

Ogata is working to add more races to his 2024 race season. Contact his team at akinoriperformance@gmail.com for information on partnership.

For more information on Akinori Ogata, visit his website (https://www.akinoriogata.com/index.html) or follow him on X (@AkinoriOgata) or Instagram (@akinoriogata).

Front Row Motorsports Extends Relationship with Ford Performance

By
Official Release
-

Begins New Strategic Alliance with Team Penske

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 15, 2024) – In the beginning of its 20th anniversary season, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) has announced a renewed and strengthened relationship with Ford Performance. The renewal coincides with a new technical alliance with the defending NASCAR Cup Series championship team, Team Penske.

Ford has been a part of Front Row Motorsports foundation and successes in the Cup Series dating back to the 2004 season. Memorable moments include FRM’s first win in 2013 with David Ragan at the Talladega Superspeedway, FRM’s first pole with David Gilliland at the Daytona International Speedway in 2014, Michael McDowell’s victory in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 in 2021, and the most recent win at the Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by McDowell. Ford has been the manufacturer for all four Cup wins.

Also, in the time with Ford Performance, FRM expanded into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the 2020 season. The partnership contributed to immediate success on track including the 2022 championship with Zane Smith, and 8 race victories with Smith, Todd Gilliland and Brett Moffitt.

“I am proud to wear the blue oval and be associated with an iconic American brand in Ford,” Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports said. “Our relationship with Ford has continued to build over the past decade and we’re now showing our success over the past several seasons in the Cup and Truck Series, and that is something that I’m very proud of.”

FRM and Ford Performance will not only expand their relationship over a multi-year agreement but increase the partnership to a Tier 1 program. FRM will now collaborate with Team Penske on engineering, aerodynamics, race setup, strategy, pit crew development and other projects. The alliance and additional support will position FRM to be stronger on track for years to come.

Another pivotal role, FRM will work with Ford Performance to develop Layne Riggs in the Truck Series and continue to be an avenue for future development drivers following in the footsteps of Gilliland and Smith in the FRM championship truck.

“A racer’s mindset isn’t suited to be patient. We all want results immediately, but the way Bob Jenkins and Jerry Freeze have built Front Row Motorsports through the years is a model for how it should be done,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. “We’ve always been proud of our partnership and can’t wait to see how much higher they can go with this new Team Penske alliance.”

FRM will field two NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2024, including Michael McDowell in the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and Todd Gilliland in the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, Layne Riggs will make his full-season debut in the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season.

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.

ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

ABOUT FORD PERFORMANCE

Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.

ABOUT TEAM PENSKE

Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 620 major race wins, over 680 pole positions and 44 championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car competition. Entering its 58th season in 2024, Team Penske has also earned 19 Indianapolis 500 victories, three Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. In 2024, Team Penske competes in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, NASCAR Cup Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

1...1,2091,2101,211...6,725Page 1,210 of 6,725