‘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.

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.”

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.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2024) – Superior Essex Communications, the leading manufacturer and supplier of communications cable and accessory products in North America, has partnered with Stewart-Haas Racing, the championship-winning NASCAR team co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart and Haas Automation founder Gene Haas.

The agreement allows Superior Essex Communications to leverage Stewart-Haas and its NASCAR platform to generate B2B relationships while simultaneously building brand awareness. Highlighting the initiative will be Superior Essex Communications adorning the No. 10 Ford Mustang of driver Noah Gragson during the March 31 NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. It’s a strategic venue for Superior Essex Communications, as the company played a large part in the track’s recent modernization, with its optical fiber cables sending data, graphics and video to the track’s massive infield scoreboard in addition to a host of other communications needs throughout the venerable facility.

“Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to where we can help our customers deliver information, technology and creativity is what we’re all about at Superior Essex Communications,” said Brian Ensign, vice president of marketing, Superior Essex Communications. “If you can dream it, we can help bring it to reality. We’ve demonstrated that for more than 90 years. Racing embodies what we do every day – finding efficiencies in a million little things to make big progress. There’s no better way to make that point and create inroads with new customers than with Stewart-Haas in NASCAR.”

Superior Essex Communications is focused on creating the future of smart and sustainable communications by developing technology that connects and respects the world. Government initiatives supported by the company to increase U.S. high-speed internet access for all Americans include the White House’s Internet for All program and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA’s) Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Beginning this week at Daytona International Speedway, Superior Essex Communications will have branding on the lower-rear quarter panel of Gragson’s No. 10 Ford Mustang.

“Racing is a people business as much as it is a sport, and you can’t be successful without good people,” said Gragson, who begins his first season with Stewart-Haas in 2024. “Superior Essex Communications is filled with people who have a never-ending drive and determination to make technology more accessible, more efficient and, more than anything, fast. It’s why they’re with Stewart-Haas and why I’m proud to represent them.”

Gragson will start eighth in tonight’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel – twin 150-mile heat races that will set the field for the 66th Daytona 500. The Duel gets underway at 7 p.m. with live coverage on FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The week then culminates with the Daytona 500 at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday with live coverage provided by FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

About Superior Essex Communications:

Superior Essex Communications is the leading manufacturer and supplier of communications cable in North America. It is on the forefront of innovation through Power over Ethernet, Intelligent Buildings and Cities, 5G Fiber infrastructure including Hybrid and Composite solutions, as well as technological advancements being made at its Product Development Center. Superior Essex Communications is also setting the pace on sustainability by being the first and only company with a Zero Waste to Landfill Certification at its Hoisington, Kansas, plant, the first wire and cable producer to contribute points to LEED certification, and the first to offer verified sustainable cables in over 50 products. Superior Essex Communications is Everywhere You Live and Work®. Additional information is available at SuperiorEssex.com.

About Stewart-Haas Racing:

Stewart-Haas Racing is the title-winning NASCAR team co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation – the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America. The Kannapolis, North Carolina-based organization has won two NASCAR Cup Series titles, two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships and 100 NASCAR races, including such crown-jewel events as the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and Southern 500. For more information, please visit us online at StewartHaasRacing.com and on social at Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Richard Childress Racing at Daytona International Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has collected seven points-paying victories in NASCAR Cup Series competition at Daytona International Speedway and won 11 poles. RCR owns three Daytona 500 wins (Dale Earnhardt – 1998, Kevin Harvick – 2007, Austin Dillon – 2018) and four Coke Zero Sugar 400 trophies (Earnhardt – 1990, 1993, Harvick – 2010, Dillon – 2022).

The Welcome, N.C. based organization has racked up 15 victories in the Daytona 500 Duel qualifying races, most recently by Dillon (2021). Earnhardt reeled off a record 10-consecutive Duel victories (1990 – 1999), while Mike Skinner (2001), Robby Gordon (2003), Jeff Burton (2011) and Harvick (2013) also claimed a front row starting position for the Great American Race.

In addition to its NASCAR Cup Series success, RCR has accumulated eight wins (Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – 2002, 2010, Harvick – 2007, Clint Bowyer – 2009, Tony Stewart – 2013, Dillon – 2015, Austin Hill – 2022, 2023) in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Hill returns to the World Center of Racing as the defending race winner of the United Rentals 300. RCR’s Xfinity Series program has captured an impressive seven of the last nine poles for the season opening event at Daytona International Speedway.

The 2024 Lineup… Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch return to RCR’s NASCAR Cup Series lineup for 2024, with Dillon driving the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Busch behind the wheel of the zone Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Daytona. Jesse Love joins Austin Hill as both drivers compete fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Love will pilot the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS while Hill returns to the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Big Power… ECR Engines will have a total of 25 engine programs competing at Daytona International Speedway, with 17 entries in the Xfinity Series race and eight entries in the Daytona 500.

Time to Duel… On Thursday evening, the Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona feature two 150-mile races from which the majority of the final starting grid for the Daytona 500 will be set. After their single-car qualifying times on Wednesday night, Dillon will compete in the first duel while Busch will race in the second duel.

Catch the Action… The Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona, two 60-lap qualifying races, will be televised live Thursday, February 15 beginning at 7 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 at Daytona will be televised live Saturday, February 17 beginning at 5 p.m. ET on FS1 and will be broadcast live on Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The 66th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live Sunday, February 18 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Daytona International Speedway… With 21 previous starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway, Austin Dillon heads to the World Center of Racing with experience on his side. So far in his career, Dillon has acquired two wins, one pole award, four top-five and nine top-10 finishes in the Cup Series at Daytona. The Welcome, North Carolina driver, who grew up attending races at Daytona International Speedway with his family, has 10 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the track with one win, seven top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He has two starts at the track in the NASCAR Truck Series.

Defending A Win… Dillon is a former winner at Daytona International Speedway in both the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The 33-year-old most recently won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in August 2022 to clinch a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs and is also the 2018 DAYTONA 500 Champion. Dillon won a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona in 2015.

Former Pole Winner… Dillon earned his career-first NASCAR Cup Series pole award with a lap of 196.019 mph (45.914 seconds) in the 2014 edition of the Daytona 500. Dillon also started on the front row for the July 2015 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Dillon’s starting position for this year’s Daytona 500 will be determined by his finishing position in the Bluegreen Vacations Duels on Thursday (7 p.m. ET on FS1).

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

About TRACKER Off Road… Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service, and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER Off Road was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology.

Meet Dillon… On Friday, February 16, the Coca-Cola Racing driver is scheduled to make an appearance on behalf of Coca-Cola at Walmart (1101 Beville Road, Daytona Beach, Florida, 32119), beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET. Dillon is also scheduled to participate in a Q&A session on behalf of Coca-Cola at the Wendy’s display in the infield at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 17 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

Being a defending winner of the Daytona 500, how does it feel coming back for another Daytona 500?

“The events I think about are 2021 and last year, so the ones you didn’t win. Probably the most dominant race car I had here would have been in 2021 when (Michael) McDowell won. Won the Duel, ran inside the top-five all day and just were very close to winning that race and we finished third. That one was everything, man. That was a magical weekend – to run the Duel, running top three, and close to winning another one. And then you come back last year and Kyle (Busch) and I find ourselves first and second, coming to the white flag when the caution falls, and then you know, mayhem ensues after that restart and trying to push him around the backstretch. And then I get hit, and those are the ones you think of that got away. There’s potential of having three Daytona 500 wins by now in my career, so that gives you even that much more confidence. You know how to find that way, to be in that position in this thing, so it gets you excited. Losing definitely hurts, but it also gives you the confidence that there is a pattern here. There’s a reason why I’m able to get to the end of these things and be in a position to win. You lean back on that confidence… that pattern you’ve been able to create as a driver here. You use that to your advantage.”

Does coming back to Daytona International Speedway as a previous winner (in 2018) take any pressure off coming into this week?

“Once you’ve won it, you put the pressure on yourself because you want to do it again. You know what that experience is like. I don’t feel pressure from the outside because I’ve already become a Daytona 500 champion. But it’s more for me because I enjoy this place, everything that it is, the victory lane here, and what comes with it. Once you win here, it’s a game-changer. Not very often do you get to live in your dream, because everybody dreams about winning something, and dreaming about winning the Daytona 500 was one of those dreams for a long time for me. Then, you go and accomplish it, and you get to live in it. You taste it. It’s something you crave after that.”

Bass Pro Shops is on your No. 3 Chevrolet this weekend. Can you talk about what that partnership means to you and Richard Childress Racing?

“Having the Morris family, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, and TRACKER Off-Road on the No. 3 Chevrolet is an unforgettable experience. It’s more than a partnership when it comes to Johnny Morris. There’s a friendship there and we’ve become family. We get to go hunting and have a good time together, so we just want to go out there and get that Bass Pro Shops logo at the front of the field on Sunday. That’s what Johnny likes us to do. He wants us to be out front having fun. It’s great to see the relationship between RCR and Johnny Morris evolve over the last 30 years. Anytime we can go outdoors together and have a little fun, we can do it. Daytona’s probably one of Johnny Morris’s favorite tracks so when he comes to the races you see a sea of red Bass Pro Shops hats walking around.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Daytona International Speedway… Kyle Busch has one win (2008 Coke Zero Sugar 400) and one pole (2013, also in the summer event) at Daytona International Speedway and will make his 38th NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2.5-mile facility. His best finish in the Great American Race came in 2019 when he rallied from a 31st-place starting position to finish in the second position. Since making his debut in 2005, Busch has eight top-five and 11 top-10 finishes at the World Center of Racing.

Time to Duel… Busch owns three victories in the Daytona 500 qualifying race, Bluegreen Vacations Duels (2009, 2013, and 2016).

Solid Start to 2024 Season… Busch enters the Daytona 500 on the heels of another solid performance in the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 4. The Las Vegas, Nevada native finished second, his third top-five in three races at the Coliseum, giving him an average finish of 2.33.

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KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

How special is the Daytona 500?

“Obviously the Daytona 500 is the biggest race of our season, our Super Bowl, so it’s a huge deal. It’s certainly a race that’s high on my bucket list. We were leading last year at mile marker 500 but it didn’t work out. I’ve been so close to winning that race. Maybe one of these days we can check the box and bring home the Harley J. Earl trophy.”

What can you learn in the Duel that will help you in the 500?

“I think one of the biggest things you can learn in the Duel for the 500 is just how fast your car is, working on the balance making sure it’s not too tight, it’s not too loose, and that it drives good. But I think the other thing is working around other cars, seeing how well your car drafts, how well it sucks up to others, how well it pushes, how well it does getting pushed, all of those things. You’re just trying to build the notebook and build the confidence in the car for Sunday.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Camaro SS at Daytona International Speedway… Jesse Love will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on Saturday evening, as the rookie driver takes to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Love has made one career start at the World Center of Racing, competing in last season’s ARCA Menards Series event. Love started from the second position, faced motor issues and finished in seventh-place.

Rookie Stripe Incoming… Love will compete for the Sunoco Rookie of the Years honors throughout the season. The 19-year-old made his first laps behind the wheel of an Xfinity Series car at a recent rookie test at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but Friday’s practice session at Daytona International Speedway will officially start the next chapter of his career.

Did You Know? Love became the youngest champion in NASCAR history with his ARCA Menards Series West title at the age of 16 in 2020. The Menlo Park, California native repeated as back-to-back champion of the west touring series in 2021.

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Meet Love… On Friday, February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET, Love and RCR teammate Austin Hill will participate in a fan Q&A session at the Chevy Stage in the Fan Midway at Daytona International Speedway.

JESSE LOVE QUOTES:

What are your expectations for your rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series? How would you define a successful season?

“I’m not a very goal-oriented person, because most of the time, you can’t control the outcome. With that being said though, the goals for myself personally are to do my job well each week and make our team better. The things that we are focused on are to win more than one race and make the Playoffs. After that, we want to make the deepest playoff run that we can. Anything outside of that, I don’t think we can control. Overall, doing a good job, being happy with my performance, and making myself and our team better each week are the best things that we can focus on. Obviously, we as a group on the No. 2 team, want to go out and win multiple races and compete for a championship in the next few years.”

RCR cars have been historically fast at superspeedways, but the competition will be different than the ARCA Menards Series. Talk about your thoughts about making your first start at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“The Xfinity car is definitely going to be different than the ARCA car, given the package. The bubble is a lot smaller, you are going a little quicker, and the car is going to drive differently. But your technique is pretty much the same. Air is air in a car. I will have to change a lot of my technique from going from the ARCA car to the Xfinity car at a place like Charlotte Motor Speedway, but for plate tracks, I feel like it’s all relevant. I’ve done a lot of work to know what to do and what not to do, but nothing is really different. It’s just going to be more important to do the right things, because you won’t be able to rebound as quickly in the Xfinity Series with the field being stronger.”

What have you done over the last couple of months to prepare for your rookie campaign?

“I can’t tell you all of my trade secrets, but I’ve relied on Austin (Hill) a lot for the plate tracks. He is really good at what he does on those type of tracks, so I wanted to learn as much as I could from him before getting to the track. I’ve worked with my crew chief, engineer, and spotter quite a bit over the last few weeks to prepare. I’ve talked to as many people as I can that know more than I do and watched a lot of film to correlate a face to a name of what to do and what not to do.”

You were able to test at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the end of January. What were your initial thoughts after making laps in a Xfinity Series car?

“It was what I expected. Nothing surprised me. I was happy overall with our speed, pace, and falloff. Nothing went wrong and I thought the day allowed our team to gain confidence. The biggest takeaway was the confidence boost that we are going to have speed and be good throughout the season.”

You have two superspeedway starts in your career – both in the ARCA Menards Series last season. Discuss how those races went and what you learned.

“Last year in Daytona, we qualified decent, broke a motor, but were able to still run up front for a while. Getting shucked out of line was a problem, because we didn’t have the power to form a different line. I was fourth coming to the line, made a move to go to the top, and no one went with me which cost us some spots. I thought we had a shot to win if we didn’t have the motor issues, which was proven when we went to Talladega and won there. We dominated that race and that was the moment that set us off for a lot of wins.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Camaro SS at Daytona International Speedway… Austin Hill has made four career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Daytona International Speedway. One year ago, Hill qualified on the pole position, led 39 total laps, and earned his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The Winston, Ga. native has also competed in six NASCAR Truck Series events, securing the checkered flag in his 2019 victory.

Defending Race Winner… Hill returns to Daytona International Speedway as the defending back-to-back race winner of the Xfinity Series season opening event. In his two campaigns with Richard Childress Racing, Hill has driven the No. 21 Chevrolet to Victory Lane at the World Center of Racing in consecutive seasons.

Did You Know? Hill swept both pole positions last year, placing his No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet in the first starting spot in February and August.

Sophomore Year Recap… During his second season behind the wheel of the No. 21 Chevrolet for RCR, Hill posted three poles, four wins, 16 top-five, and 24 top-10 results, in route to capturing the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series Regular Season Championship. Hill’s four victories came at Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Pocono Raceway. The then-sophomore racer led a total of 346 laps and finished fifth in the overall driver championship point standings.

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Meet Hill… Fans have two opportunities to meet Hill before Saturday’s main event at Daytona International Speedway. On Friday, February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET, Hill and RCR teammate Jesse Love will participate in a fan Q&A session at the Chevy Stage in the Fan Midway. On Saturday, February 17 at 1:40 p.m. ET, the 29-year-old driver will visit the NASCAR Experience Stage in the Fan Midway for a fan Q&A session.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What is the No. 21 team focused on heading into the 2024 season?

“We have focused on all different areas, not just one specific area of the race car. Last season, we made strides with making our short track program better. We saw gains during the Playoffs and had good pace in the later half of the season specifically with our short track program, but we still want and need to be better on that aspect. We still have that circled as an area that can be improved – whether it’s the driver, car, or a little bit of both.”

Give an assessment of the current Xfinity Series lineup. You are seen as one of the favorites who should win multiple times throughout the season.

“There have been multiple moves throughout the off-season, with different drivers going to different teams and also a few rookies coming in – like my teammate, Jesse. I personally think the field is stacked pretty deep, just as deep as last year if not even deeper. Winning races is going to be tough each and every week. Winning a race and locking yourself into the Playoffs is going to be crucial, but we could see a lot of different winners this season. To get a good gauge, we need to pass the superspeedway races and get to Vegas and Phoenix. At that point, I think you will start to see who the players are and how strong the field actually is. Will there be eight winners or 12 winners? At this point, it’s hard to say. But for the No. 21 team, we are focused on getting multiple wins on the season like we have the last couple of years.”

You have a new teammate in the No. 2 car with Jesse Love joining the team. How have the two of you worked together during the off-season? What guidance can you provide a rookie?

“Based on our work together at the simulator, Jesse is going to be really, really good once he figures out the Xfinity car. He has the fire in him to go out there and work really hard. We haven’t had a chance to work together at the track yet but based on all of our time at the shop and the GM simulator, it has been a smooth transition of learning each other’s driving styles. The goal is for the No. 2 and the No. 21 to work together throughout the entire season and win a lot of races for RCR. We both want to run deep into the Playoffs. With the first two races being Daytona and Atlanta though, we have talked a lot about superspeedway stuff. We have touched on some mile-and-a-half stuff with Vegas being the third race. I have gone over a list of things that I have noticed in the Xfinity car that feel different than the Trucks or ARCA car to help him know what to expect. It’s definitely going to be a pretty big jump going from ARCA to the Xfinity Series, simply based on the strength of the field. It’s very deep on the Xfinity side compared to ARCA, so he will race against a lot of guys that can win each and every week. The tendencies of how the Xfinity car drives – low downforce, low side force, hard to handle, a lot of tire falloff – are all things that we’ve talked through and then I have just tried to answer any questions that he asks. I’ve answered everything to the best of my ability, but once he straps into the racecar and starts to figure it out in the racing environment, he is going to be quick.”

What is the outlook heading into Daytona International Speedway? You have won the last two Xfinity Series races there and had an exciting finish to last season’s event.

“Last year was pretty wild. I didn’t know if we had won the race or if John Hunter (Nemechek) going below the yellow line was going to be deemed legal. There were a lot of emotions and it felt like an eternity waiting for NASCAR to announce the winner. I’ve been fortunate enough to win at Daytona two years in a row, which has been great, but every time you go to Daytona, you never know what will happen. You could get wrecked on lap one in a large pileup or you could do like we have the last two years with staying up front and being lucky to have it all work out at the end. I have confidence going to Daytona though. There have been a few minor changes with the rear window slits to help cool the driver and lower the carbon monoxide levels. We don’t know yet if that will affect how the car drives. I fully expect our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet to be fast and have a shot at sitting on the pole though. If we make the right moves during the race, we should have a shot at winning a third in a row.”