NextEra Energy 250 | Daytona International Speedway (100 Laps / 250 Miles) Friday, February 17 | Daytona Beach, Florida | 7:30 p.m. ET TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Team: No. 41 Worldwide Express/Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet Silverado Driver: Travis Pastrana (Annapolis, Maryland) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr. Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com Follow Travis Pastrana: Twitter: @TravisPastrana | Instagram: @TravisPastrana | Facebook: /TravisPastrana | Web: www.travispastrana.com
Travis Pastrana on Friday’s Race at Daytona: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Al [Niece], Cody [Efaw] and the Niece Motorsports crew quite a bit since the team was formed. I was looking to be part of as much racing as possible during Daytona Speedweeks this year and couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to drive their 41 truck with support from WWEX Racing in my first Daytona start in the Truck Series.
Cody was my car chief when I raced Daytona for my first time in the Xfinity Series. We qualified third and finished 10th, despite being backward across the grass when I crossed the line! We have an amazing team with amazing sponsors like Worldwide Express/WWEX Racing, Black Rifle, Dixxon and Wienerschnitzel. As always, we are approaching the race with optimism that we have the package to put in a great result, while having the most fun of anyone at the track!”
Pastrana at Daytona International Speedway: Pastrana has two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, including a 10th-place result in 2013.
The Action Sports legend has five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts to his credit, with his most recent coming at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2020.
Pastrana’s trip to Florida is off to a strong start after winning Feature No. 1 at Volusia Speedway Park in a DIRTcar UMP Modified on Feb. 9.
On the Truck: Pastrana’s No. 41 Chevrolet will also race with support from WWEX Racing, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Dixxon and Wienerschnitzel.
Through its WWEX Racing program, the Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers brands will provide full-season support to the No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado as Niece Motorsports eyes the Truck Series Owners Championship.
Logistics leaders Worldwide Express, Unishippers and GlobalTranz provide access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions and managed transportation services. Together, the three brands are the Official Logistics Partner of Niece Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing and NASCAR.
Black Rifle Coffee Company was founded in 2014 by former U.S. Army Green Beret Evan Hafer and built upon the mission to serve coffee and culture to people who love America.
Established in 2013, Dixxon began with the goal of creating the world’s best flannel and used that approach – classics redefined – for their full array of products, which now includes apparel for men, women and youth, as well as hats and accessories.
Founded in 1961 by John Galardi with a single location in Southern California, Wienerschnitzel has grown to be the world’s largest hot dog chain serving more than 120 million hot dogs a year.
About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.
Media Inquiries: media@niecemotorsports.com
About Worldwide Express:
Worldwide Express, LLC, is a full-service, non-asset-based logistics provider offering access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions and managed transportation services. The family of brands, comprised of Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers, serve more than 115,000 customers spanning from small and mid-size businesses to larger enterprises, with unmatched carrier options and strategic guidance for their supply chains.
With an annual systemwide revenue approaching $5 billion, the company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS® Authorized Reseller in the country. Through a selective portfolio of 65+ LTL and tens of thousands of truckload carriers, and powered by proprietary technology, clients benefit from an award-winning, relationship-backed approach to solving their shipping needs. To learn more about the brands, visit wwexracing.com.
NextEra Energy 250 | Daytona International Speedway (100 Laps / 250 Miles) Friday, February 17 | Daytona Beach, Florida | 7:30 p.m. ET TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Carson Hocevar on Friday’s Race at Daytona: “We were pretty fast last year, but we opted to ride in the back most of the race. We were fast at Talladega and led laps. The plan is to not ride. We want to win both stages, and just be up front, and hopefully not get crashed. That’s the expectation but, if we crash, I’d rather crash up front. I feel that we’re going to be the truck to beat when we go to Las Vegas and throughout the rest of the year.”
Hocevar at Daytona International Speedway: In two starts at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway, Hocevar has finished inside the top-10 in both appearances, including a top-five finish in 2021.
On the Truck: “With the support of WWEX Racing, Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, and Unishippers, along with Chevrolet support, we have the most resources we’ve ever had and have really high expectations this season.”
Hocevar on heading into his third season: “I feel really good. We now know what we were missing and that should be everything. We have really good pit crews, trucks, builds and notes going into the season. My number is about five; I think it’s going to take about five wins to win the NASCAR Truck Series championship; so that’s our goal.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2023, Niece Motorsports enters its eighth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as Twitter @NieceMotorsport.
About Worldwide Express: Worldwide Express, LLC, is a full-service, non-asset-based logistics provider offering access to industry-leading small package, truckload and less-than-truckload shipping solutions and managed transportation services. The family of brands, comprised of Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz and Unishippers, serve more than 115,000 customers spanning from small and mid-size businesses to larger enterprises, with unmatched carrier options and strategic guidance for their supply chains.
With an annual systemwide revenue approaching $5 billion, the company is the second-largest privately held freight brokerage and largest non-retail UPS® Authorized Reseller in the country. Through a selective portfolio of 65+ LTL and tens of thousands of truckload carriers, and powered by proprietary technology, clients benefit from an award-winning, relationship-backed approach to solving their shipping needs. To learn more about the brands, visit wwexracing.com.
No matter how many times a professional racer makes their annual wintertime journey to Daytona International Speedway for Speedweeks, there’s always a sense of awe about the race track and the events that are run there, especially the Daytona 500.
The Wood Brothers, who are returning to Daytona with Harrison Burton driving their No. 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang, have been racing at Daytona in February since the late team founder Glenn Wood drove – and regularly won – on the old beach-road course that preceded the 2.5-mile Superspeedway that opened in 1959.
Burton has been making the trek to Daytona for most of his young life, with his early trips as a child watching his dad Jeff Burton competing there.
Brian Wilson, crew chief on the No. 21 Mustang also has a fairly long history as a racer at Daytona. His first Speedweeks was in 2002, when he was an engineer and shock specialist for ARCA veteran Frank Kimmel.
“I thought it was so cool,” Wilson said of his Daytona debut. “In that moment I accomplished my goal in racing – to be on a team.
“From there I’ve made other goals, but that time in 2002 was my first one.”
He’s returning to the World Center of Racing to start his second year as crew chief for the Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang, and the sense of awe and anticipation that he felt 20 years ago remains just as strong today as it was back in the beginning.
“Every year when we start our season in Daytona all of the teams find reasons to have hope,” Wilson said. “There’s an excitement in the garage to see how the season will go.”
Wilson said the No. 21 team’s late-season surge in 2022 has brought an air of optimism to the entire organization as NASCAR heads into its 75th year.
“When looking at the end of our season on the No. 21 and how we progressed overall through the year it’s easy to have excitement within our team,” he said, adding that there have been some tweaks to the team’s line-up for 2023. “Within our group we’ve added experience, talent and depth to our roster. We added a new engineer, setup plate specialist and front tire changer, but the core of our 2022 group is still together.
“In preparing our car for Daytona we can see the strength of the team as we’re all starting to work together.”
There are other changes as well heading into Sunday’s Great American Race.
“Another storyline this week will be the new bodies that each manufacturer has for 2023,” Wilson said. “The data that we get shows that Ford has really done an exceptional job in preparing for this change.
“The cars we’re bringing to Daytona are a great balance of drag vs. downforce. The Ford engineers were very efficient.”
The first time Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang will be on the track is for single-car qualifying on Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time.
The first of two 60-lap,150-mile Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying races is set to get the green flag at 7 p.m. on Thursday followed by the nightcap at about 8:45 p.m.
The first Cup practice session is scheduled to start at 5:35 p.m. on Friday, with the second and final practice getting the green flag at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The 65th-annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to start just after 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, with Stage breaks at Laps 65 and 130.
FOX Sports 1 will carry the TV coverage of the preliminary events, with FOX broadcasting the Daytona 500.
About DEX Imaging DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES: Reducing Operating Costs Reducing Paper Consumption Increasing Productivity
DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.
About Motorcraft® Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
About Omnicraft® Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is 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 and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com. *See seller for limited-warranty details.
Wood Brothers Racing Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the WoodBrothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.
RECAPPING THE CLASH: For two consecutive years, Kyle Larson has finished fifth at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His fourth-place finish in the heat race resulted in a 14th-place starting spot for the main event of the Clash at the Coliseum. The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM driver held a top-15 position for the entirety of the race and battled his way towards the front for a fifth-place finish.
WORLD CENTER OF RACING: This Sunday, Larson will make his 18th NASCAR Cup Series start at Daytona International Speedway. The 2014 Cup Series rookie of the year has earned five top-10 finishes and led 18 laps at the “World Center of Racing.” In the DAYTONA 500 specifically, Larson’s best finish is seventh (2016 and 2019) and four of his top-10 results have come in the season-opening, points-paying event.
DEFENDING THE POLE: In 2022, Larson earned his first DAYTONA 500 pole position. This marked the fifth instance in the Cup Series where a driver won the pole position at Daytona the year after winning the championship (Cale Yarborough in 1978, Jeff Gordon in 1999, Dale Jarrett in 2000 and Jimmie Johnson in 2008 were the others). With teammate Alex Bowman on the outside, Hendrick Motorsports swept the front row for the start of “The Great American Race” for the eighth time in team history.
QUITE THE PAIRING: Larson is in his full-time season with the 14-time Cup Series championship-winning organization. Paired with crew chief Cliff Daniels, the duo looks to add to their series-best total of 13 wins over the past two seasons and are on the hunt for their second championship together. Larson’s 13 victories place him fourth on the all-time wins list at Hendrick Motorsports.
OUT IN THE DESERT: Following the Clash weekend, Larson headed to his new home in Arizona for two events. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the 2021 Cup Series Champion visited Phoenix Raceway to show support at Basket of Hope’s charity event preparing gifts for seriously ill children in local hospitals. Larson led a track tour for patients and volunteers following the event. On Wednesday, Feb. 8, Larson took part in Radio Row at the Phoenix Convention Center to talk football and NASCAR just before Super Bowl LVII and the 2023 DAYTONA 500.
GET IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT: Larson will pilot the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 against 39 other drivers in this weekend’s DAYTONA 500 and you can see every angle of the paint scheme here. Prospective car buyers can pick their own ride at one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 95 dealerships nationwide. Customers can also shop from the convenience of their home selecting the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
WE’RE HIRING: Join 10,000+ others nationwide in working at Hendrick Automotive Group. The company is hiring technicians and other positions at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Individuals who are interested can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.
TALKIN’ ABOUT DAYTONA: In 14 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona International Speedway, Chase Elliott has two top-five finishes, four top-10s and three poles. He’s led 157 laps on the 2.5-mile superspeedway, including 31 laps last August. Elliott earned a runner-up finish in the 2021 DAYTONA 500 (his personal best in the season-opening event) and drove to a 10th-place result last year. He is one of only two drivers to have an active streak of top-10 finishes in the prestigious race with two. The 2020 Cup Series champion is one of five active drivers to earn a runner-up finish in the 500 and not yet win the event.
HISTORY MAKING: In 2016, Elliott became the youngest driver to earn the DAYTONA 500 pole at the age of 20 years, 2 months and 17 days. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native earned his second pole for the crown jewel event the very next year.
DRAFT DOMINANT: Across six drafting-style races in 2022 (Daytona, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway), Elliott was the only repeat winner. He earned the popular home track victory at Atlanta in July and backed that up with a playoff win at Talladega in October. The driver of the No. 9 led the series with five top-10 finishes and two stage wins in those six events and paced the field for 166 laps (second to only teammate William Byron).
HE’S COMING HOME: 2020 Cup Series champion crew chief Alan Gustafson will make his return home to the “World Center of Racing” for the DAYTONA 500. Gustafson grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida, just down the road from the legendary superspeedway. After graduating from Seabreeze High School, Gustafson enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study mechanical engineering. This year marks his 19th season as a crew chief and his eighth year with Elliott.
MOST POLES: Gustafson leads all active crew chiefs with four DAYTONA 500 poles. He’s tied with Leonard Wood and Waddell Wilson for the most DAYTONA 500 poles overall. Gustafson won three straight from 2015-2017, with Jeff Gordon taking the top spot in 2015 and Elliott following suit the following two years. His first DAYTONA 500 pole came with Mark Martin in 2010.
NEW YEAR, SAME FACES: In 2023, the No. 9 pit crew will remain the same as it has since 2018. The 2021 Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew award-winning group is comprised of Chad Avrit (rear-tire changer), Jared Erspamer (tire carrier), John Gianninoto (fueler), Nick O’Dell (front-tire changer) and T.J. Semke (jackman).
NAPA RETURNS FOR 500: For the eighth consecutive year, NAPA Auto Parts will kick off the Cup Series season on the hood of Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the DAYTONA 500. Elliott has never started the “The Great American Race” without primary sponsorship from the Atlanta-based company. This marks the 10th season NAPA has partnered with Elliott in his NASCAR career. Check out this year’s primary paint scheme here.
RACEDAY APPEARANCES: On Sunday, Elliott will stop by the Fan Zone in the infield for a Q&A session at 11:05 a.m. ET before heading out to the Team Chevy display at 11:30 a.m. ET. Also making an appearance at the Team Chevy display throughout the weekend – and all season long – is the 2023 No. 9 LLumar Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 show car.
DOUBLE-DUTY: In addition to competing in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500, Elliott will make his superspeedway debut in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race on Friday evening. He’ll drive the No. 35 Chevrolet Silverado RST with associate sponsorship from long-time partner NAPA Auto Parts.
24 WILLIAM BYRON Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997) Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle Standings: 6th (2022)
No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
CLASH-ED AT THE COLISEUM: Heading to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the second time in the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron and the No. 24 team got to work early at the quarter-mile track. He led all 25 circuits of the fourth heat race to line up fourth for the 150-lap main event. Spending much of the Clash at the Coliseum running in the top 10, Byron ultimately crossed the finish line in the 10th position.
DAYTONA DUELS: Byron will make his sixth start in the Daytona Duels on Thursday. In last year’s qualifying race, he lined up on the outside row for his duel race but with a split pit strategy taking place late in the event, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native finished in the 12th position. In 2020, Byron captured the win in the qualifying race when led the final three laps to take the checkered flag.
TWENTY-FOUR TO THE FRONT: In five of the last eight DAYTONA 500 races, the No. 24 has started from the front row. In 2015, Jeff Gordon started from the pole and Chase Elliott did the same in 2016 and 2017. Byron added to that stat by becoming the second-youngest DAYTONA 500 pole winner in 2019, which also marked his first pole in the Cup Series. He was part of a Hendrick Motorsports sweep of the front row in 2021 as he started second, while Alex Bowman was on the pole.
BACK AT THE BEACH: During his time in the Cup Series, Byron has 10 starts at Daytona International Speedway. In that time, he has collected one win, two top-five finishes, two top-10s, and led 94 laps. However, his stats don’t fully depict Byron’s success at the 2.5-mile oval. Not only is this the venue where he earned his first Cup Series win, but he also was in position to capture the win during the summer race in 2019 before weather ended the event early, resulting in a runner-up finish for the driver of the No. 24. Byron’s success at Daytona doesn’t end there. During his 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship campaign, he led 29 laps en route to the victory, becoming the youngest driver with a Xfinity Series win at Daytona at 19 years, seven months and one day.
SUPER ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS: While superspeedway racing brings a lot of uncertainty, Byron has seen success with that style of racing. In the past 10 superspeedway races, Byron has three top-five finishes including his first Cup Series win at Daytona in the summer of 2020. He also led 193 laps at drafting tracks (Daytona, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway) during the 2022 season – the most of any driver.
FUGLE FILES: Entering his third season as a Cup Series crew chief, Rudy Fugle will climb on top of the No. 24 pit box for his third DAYTONA 500, and his fifth Cup Series start at the 2.5-mile oval this Sunday. In 2021, the duo started both races at the Florida-based track from the front row. Despite running up front in every Daytona event they’ve raced at together in the Cup Series, misfortune has struck the No. 24 as they have been collected in on-track incidents before the checkered flag. Aside from those four Cup starts, the Livonia, New York, native has nine other starts at Daytona, with seven coming in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Fugle has one runner-up result and two top-10 finishes across those seven races. Of those Truck Series starts, one of them was with Byron where the duo qualified and finished 13th.
RAPTOR® TOUGH: RAPTOR® Tough and Tintable Protective Coatings will return in 2023 as the primary sponsor of William Byron and the No. 24 team. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of items, including truck beds, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and more. With 16 pre-mixed colors available, it’s easy to personalize anything you want to protect. RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores, and online retailers. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here.
RETURNING TO THE ROOTS: Prior to NASCAR festivities getting started at Daytona International Speedway, Byron was victorious at New Smyrna Speedway. Driving the No. 24 Super Late Model for Wilson Motorsports, he scored the win in Monday night’s World Series of Asphalt race and will also compete in Tuesday’s Super Late Model event at the track. Monday’s win marks Byron’s third victory in four starts in the event after posting two wins last year as well.
BEACH BUMS: Kicking off Speedweeks in the “Sunshine State,” two crew members on the No. 24 team will be making their way back home for the first points-paying race of the 2023 season. Engineer Brandon McSwain grew up approximately 100 miles from the “World Center of Racing” in Auburndale, Florida. While just a few miles down the road from where McSwain grew up, engine tuner Ben Proctor calls Lakeland, Florida, home.
COLISEUM CONQUERED: In the exhibition race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Alex Bowman took home a fourth-place finish in the 150-lap main event. The 29-year-old driver got to the Clash at the Coliseum by finishing second in the opening heat race. From there, he spent all of the main event in the top 10 and much of the second half of the event in the top five – running as high as second at one point.
GIVE HIM THE REINS: This Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series field will kick off the 2023 regular season at Daytona International Speedway when Bowman will make his 14th start on the 2.5-mile superspeedway. In his previous 13 races, the Tucson, Arizona, native has tallied six front row starts including two pole positions in 2018 and 2021, and three top-10 finishes.
LET’S MAKE IT SIX: Bowman has become a familiar face at the front of the DAYTONA 500 field, having started on the front row for the crown jewel race for a record five consecutive years. The No. 48 driver earned the pole position in February 2018 and 2021. He is the fifth-youngest pole winner in the event’s history based on his 2018 pole at 24 years, 9 months and 17 days old.
BIG COMPANY: With five front row starts in “The Great American Race,” Bowman is tied for the most in that category in the history of the event with some of the sport’s most decorated individuals. All five drivers he is tied with have been inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. They are Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon, Buddy Baker, Bill Elliott, Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough.
WINNING WAYS: Bowman is no stranger to victory lane. Since the start of the 2021 Cup Series season, Bowman is tied for the third-most wins in the sport’s top series with 2022 Cup Series Champion Joey Logano. Only Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson have more wins, with seven and 13, respectively.
BLAKE AT SUPERSPEEDWAYS: Crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Racing team Blake Harris will make his second start atop the pit box at Daytona. In his first start with the No. 34 team at Front Row Motorsports, Harris qualified sixth and finished seventh with driver Michael McDowell. However, at Talladega Superspeedway last season, Harris led the No. 34 team to one top-five finish and two top-10s, finishing eighth in April and third in October. They started the races in 21st and 29th, respectively.
DAY ‘N’ NITE: The No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will adorn two versions of the primary scheme during the 2023 Cup Series season. The No. 48 Ally Chevy “day” scheme will host a white base with bright plum, grapefruit, and seafoam stripes down the side. This version of the primary scheme will appear at races that take place during the day. When the lights come on over the racetrack, the black-based No. 48 Ally Chevy “night” scheme will be sported with a similar design to its daytime counterpart. This weekend for the DAYTONA 500, the No. 48 machine will adorn the “day” scheme. Check out all the angles of the No. 48 machine’s new look here.
DIRT RUNS DEEP: Bowman is making another dirt appearance for Alex Bowman Racing at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday after running there on Monday. The No. 48 driver fields the No. 55X Ally sprint car for his self-owned race team. This is the second extracurricular set of events for Bowman as he spent last week racing his sprint car at Volusia Speedway Park with the World of Outlaws.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS /
2022
All-Time
DAYTONA 500
Races
36
1,309
39
Wins
11*
291*
8
Poles
8**
239*
15*
Top 5
34**
1,190*
29*
Top 10
62
2,045*
50*
Laps Led
2,375
77,317*
1,302
Stage Wins
18
79
1
*Most **Most (tie)
CLOSING IN ON 300: Hendrick Motorsports is nine points-paying victories away from 300 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Twenty drivers have combined to reach the organization’s current total of 291 wins, which is the most in the sport by any one team.
YEAR IN REVIEW: In 2022, Hendrick Motorsports notched a series-best 11 wins with Chase Elliott leading all Cup Series drivers with five victories and earning the regular-season championship. Kyle Larson and William Byron each posted multi-win campaigns. Alex Bowman earned a win for the fourth consecutive season. All four drivers made the playoffs and reached the Round of 12 with Elliott making the Championship 4 for the third consecutive season. The No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM team reached the owner’s Championship 4 for the second straight season. The organization’s 11 wins marked the ninth time that the team had won at least 11 races in a single season.
SETTING THE FIELD: The starting lineup for the DAYTONA 500 is set in a very different manner than any other race. Wednesday’s single-car, two-round qualifying will only set the front row for the DAYTONA 500. The remaining order of qualifying will determine the field for the two 60-lap Daytona Duels on Thursday night. The Daytona Duels will set the rest of the lineup for the 40-car field in the DAYTONA 500. The duel qualifiers also represent the first chance for drivers to earn points in 2023 with the top-10 finishers in each race earning as many as 10 points (for the win) all the way down to one point (for 10th).
POLE POWER: With 15 poles for the DAYTONA 500, Hendrick Motorsports leads all Cup Series organizations by a wide margin (the next closest team has six). Those 15 poles account for 38% of the poles for DAYTONA 500s that Hendrick Motorsports has competed in. Nine drivers have combined for the 15 poles: Ken Schrader (three), Bowman (two), Elliott (two), Jeff Gordon (two), Jimmie Johnson (two), Byron (one), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (one), Larson (one) and Mark Martin (one). The organization has won seven of the last eight poles for “The Great American Race” with all four active drivers securing at least one pole position in that stretch.
FRONT ROW FOCUS: There have been eight instances of a front row sweep for the Rick Hendrick-owned team at the DAYTONA 500. Five of those have occurred in the last eight years (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022) including three of the last four.
DUEL DOMINATION: Hendrick Motorsports’ 16 wins in the Daytona Duels are tied for most among all teams in the Cup Series. Gordon leads the way with five victories followed by Earnhardt Jr.’s three. Elliott and Johnson each have two wins. Byron, Schrader, Benny Parsons and Darrell Waltrip each have tallied one win. The 2015 wins by Earnhardt Jr. and Johnson mark the organization’s lone sweep of the qualifying races.
GREAT AMERICAN VICTORIES: The eight wins for the Concord, North Carolina, based team in the prestigious season-opening event are the second-most by all teams and the most among active teams. Gordon’s three wins (1997, 1999 and 2005) are the most for the organization. Johnson has two wins (2006 and 2013), while Geoff Bodine (1986), Earnhardt Jr. (2014) and Waltrip (1989) each picked up one apiece for the squad. The five different drivers to win for one team in the DAYTONA 500 are tied for the most with Wood Brothers Racing.
ON THIS DATE: This year’s DAYTONA 500 is set to be held on Feb. 19. Hendrick Motorsports has won two of the past three DAYTONA 500s held on that exact date – Waltrip’s win in 1989 and Johnson’s victory in 2006.
HIGH FIVE: With a win in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500, Hendrick Motorsports would become the first organization to win the race in five different decades. Currently, it is one of two organizations – Petty Enterprises is the other – to win the DAYTONA 500 in four different decades.
DRAFTING SUCCESS: Last season’s six races at drafting tracks (Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway) saw the team emerge victorious on three occasions. Byron won the first race at the repaved and reconfigured Atlanta, while Elliott won in the summer at Atlanta and the playoff race at Talladega. In fact, Byron and Elliott combined to lead 27% of the laps on drafting tracks.
QUOTABLE /
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the 2023 DAYTONA 500: “I’m excited to get going. It’s definitely a historic year with NASCAR’s 75th anniversary. I’m glad I’ve won one of the championships out of the 75 years. It’s pretty cool to think about your name on a fairly short list of champions. I would love to add my name to the winner’s list at Daytona. That’s our biggest race.”
Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on what winning the pole at the DAYTONA 500 means to Mr. Hendrick: “I think what it represents to him is everyone in the company working together and really trying to put our best foot forward to start the season. With all of the newness and change that it (a new season) brings from rules, to people, to resources and technology. Can we be the ones to put our best foot forward in outright car speed? There’s not any quirkiness to how you qualify at Daytona (International Speedway). It is straight up car speed. You either got it or you don’t. I think that’s why it’s always meant a lot to him. He’s mentioned it to us again this year, He certainly wants the pole at Daytona.”
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing in the DAYTONA 500: “This is a tough race. A tough race to be in position (to win). I feel like you can do all the right things and it still does not go your way. Hopefully, this is the year we can get it done. We’ve had a few good opportunities at it in the past, but it just hasn’t gone in our favor so far.”
Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on getting your car right for the DAYTONA 500: “Once you race in the Duels, you’re going know what your car has. You’re going to know your ailments and what you need to improve. You won’t be racing in the same temperature conditions as Sunday, but you’re still going to have a good understanding of what you have, and you’ll have a couple of days to try to improve that during practice.”
Gustafson, on the team’s outlook for 2023 and the sophomore season of the Next Gen car: “Going into 2023, we have a baseline now for all the tracks and we know individually we need to improve at those tracks. Overall, it’s always the same areas – you want a faster car, you want a better strategy, you want better execution, better pit stops. I think we know the detail now on what it’s going to take to do that, but so does everybody else. It’s going to take a lot of work and effort to get that extra 10%.”
William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his thoughts for this year’s DAYTONA 500: “I think we have some good momentum from the Clash that can get us excited for Daytona (International Speedway). While nothing correlates between those two tracks, we executed just about everything we needed to as a team. Now we’re going to a place where Hendrick Motorsports is known for having fast cars and being up front. I’ve been lucky enough to be contending for the lead in the DAYTONA 500, and I have the summer Daytona win under my belt. I just haven’t been able to avoid the misfortune in the 500 to be there at the end. I think if we can keep the car clean all race Sunday, we definitely will have a shot at the win and I want that for this No. 24 team.”
Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the No. 24 team’s goals for the 2023 season: “Keep climbing and stay hungry. If you’re looking behind you, people are trying to catch you and you’re looking the wrong way. We’re focused on continuing to climb forward and make that championship race. That’s our big goal for 2023 and what we’re striving for. William (Byron) has grown a lot and has experienced a lot. He’s ready to reach that point. This team is ready for it. We’re ready to tackle this season. We’ve learned a lot with these cars and we know that things will ebb and flow like they did last year with other teams learning things along the way. We just want to make sure to hit those high points at the right time in the year.”
Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on going for his sixth consecutive front row start at the DAYTONA 500: “Going for my sixth front row start at the DAYTONA 500 is something that is on my mind for sure. We have a lot of really smart teammates back at the shop building fast race cars and I owe all my speed and starts to them. I have had a lot of great starts at the (DAYTONA) 500, so this year the goal is to have a great finish at a superspeedway and kick off the season with a big win.”
Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his takeaways from the Clash at the Coliseum: “All of the things that we tried to execute as far as the team gelling and going through the first weekend went well. To be able to go through multiple sessions and have speed on top of that was a real positive takeaway for us. I thought Alex (Bowman) did a great job for us and kept our car out front and had us in a position to compete for a win. Overall, it was a successful weekend that set the stage for what our year will look like.”
Harris, on his expectations heading to Daytona International Speedway with the No. 48 team: “Hendrick Motorsports has a great history of qualifying well and having speed so that is our first focus when we go down there. The Duels are always difficult to tell how well prepared we are for the DAYTONA 500 since the duel is a smaller field with less teammates because you are typically split up so you have to take each session at Daytona (International Speedway) as they come. This year is different in that we don’t have practice until after qualifying so you have to rely heavily on your notes and Hendrick Motorsports has a history of great qualifying at superspeedways so that is really reassuring. Our mindset doesn’t change for this year. I have always focused on details and that will remain the same as we prepare to go to Daytona.”
Ty Gibbs Daytona Speedweek Advance No. 54 Interstate Batteries/Monster Energy Toyota Camry TRD for Joe Gibbs Racing
Event Overview
Wednesday, Feb. 15: Daytona 500 qualifying (single-lap qualifying to determine pole for the Daytona 500)
● Time/TV/Radio: 8 p.m. ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Thursday, Feb. 16: 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. 19: 65th annual Daytona 500 (first of 36 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races in 2023)
● Time/TV/Radio: 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Notes of Interest
● Guess Who’s Back: For the first time since 2007, Interstate Batteries will return as a primary sponsor for the Daytona 500, sharing space with Monster Energy. Interstate Batteries’ primary sponsorship at the Daytona 500 started in 1992 with the inception of Joe Gibbs Racing, its first of 16 primary sponsorships at The Great American Race from 1992 through 2007 with drivers Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, and J.J. Yeley.
● The Dale and Dale Show: With Interstate’s return to the Daytona 500, the 2023 edition of The Great American Race also happens to be the 30th anniversary of the “Dale and Dale Show.” In the 1993 Daytona 500, Interstate Batteries and JGR driver Jarrett beat the late Dale Earnhardt across the finish line with Jarrett’s father Ned in the CBS broadcast booth calling his son’s run to the checkered flag in one of the most memorable moments in Daytona 500 and NASCAR history. Not to mention the exciting call before a live audience on national television, the win was the first of many for JGR, and the first for sponsor Interstate Batteries just a year after their iconic partnership kicked off in 1992.
● Rookie Stripe: On top of Interstate Batteries returning to the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2007 and celebrating the 30th anniversary of its special Daytona 500 win, Ty Gibbs’ Daytona 500 debut will mark the beginning of his chase for 2023 Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors. He enters his first fulltime Cup Series season with a moderate amount of experience, however, having run 15 Cup Series races in 2022 and gaining valuable experience in the NextGen car while filling in for injured veteran Kurt Busch.
● To earn a spot in this year’s Daytona 500, drivers must first compete in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel – twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the 40-car field for the Daytona 500.
● Before drivers compete in the Duel, they race the clock in single-lap qualifying. The two fastest cars are locked into the field while the rest of the drivers are split into the Duel. Qualifiers in odd-numbered positions are in the first Duel and qualifiers in even-numbered positions are in the second Duel.
● At the age of 19 years, 9 months and 20 days, Gibbs made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start last July 24 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for 23XI Racing to become the 37th driver younger than 20 years old to make a Cup Series start. He started at the rear of the field, but completed all 160 laps on his way to an impressive 16th-place finish. Best of his 15 Cup Series starts last year was his 10th-place result at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
● Dazzling Debut: Gibbs was victorious in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in the February 2021 race on the Daytona road course. He led 14 of the 56 laps and became the youngest driver to win a Xfinity road-course race at 18 years, 4 months and 16 days. The native of Charlotte, North Carolina, also became the second-youngest winner in Xfinity Series history behind Joey Logano, who won in June 2008 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta at the age of 18 years, 21 days.
● Gibbs is the sixth driver to win in his Xfinity Series debut, joining Dale Earnhardt, Joe Ruttman, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte and Kurt Busch. Those five drivers had already driven in the NASCAR Cup Series before racing in the Xfinity Series.
● Speaking from Experience: While Gibbs is a Cup Series rookie, his crew chief Chris Gayle has plenty of experience, and even a pair of wins and some wins on his Daytona resume at Daytona. Gayle and driver Erik Jones won the July 2018 race at Daytona, as well as the 2020 Clash, both on the 2.5-mile superspeedway oval.
Ty Gibbs, Driver of the No. 54 Interstate Batteries/Monster Energy Toyota Camry TRD
You’ve probably watched a lot of Daytona 500s on TV and in person. How special will it be to make your Daytona 500 driving debut?
“It’s definitely really cool, for sure, to be a part of it for the first time. I’ve been a part of it attending as a fan and being with my family. But to compete in it as a driver for the first time is really special. I feel really blessed to have the opportunity, and to have both Interstate Batteries and Monster Energy on board when I do it makes it all the more special. Interstate Batteries was along for JGR’s first win, which was at Daytona 30 years ago. We would love to be able to get them another one on Sunday and I’m excited about our team.”
You are coming off an Xfinity Series championship last year and a very successful season in that series. What are your thoughts heading into your rookie season in the Cup Series?
“I got to race in some Cup races last year and I’m really looking forward to getting back in the Cup car fulltime, and now get to race against the best stock car racers in the world every week. Hopefully all my hard work will pay off. I’ve been working really hard in the offseason, and my team has been working really hard, as well. We’ll see how that translates to the track starting in Daytona, but it’s a long year and we’ll keep working each week and try to get better and better as the season goes along.”
This won’t be your first time at Daytona since you have some experience there in an Xfinity and Cup car. Does that help you know more of what to expect when you get down there?
“The Daytona 500 is such a big race, and to be a part of it is really cool. It’s a very crazy race and you have to try to stay out of trouble. Throughout the race, you need to be able to make the right adjustments. It’s going to be very important to have the car we want when it does get down to the end and things get crazy. Just hope to be there at the end. You’ve got to be in it to win it.”
With your first Daytona 500, many fans will be talking about you being one of the guys to watch. Do you embrace that attention as you head into your rookie season?
“To be honest, it’s really cool of the fans and seeing all the support going into the season. I’m very grateful for that. At the end of the day, I just do what works for me and our team, and just work on what I can control. It’s really cool to see all the fans that support me day in and day out and we wouldn’t be anywhere without the fan support that we get.”
The Daytona 500 is sold out again this year. The campgrounds, stands, and everything will be packed with an electric atmosphere that the Daytona 500 brings. How much are you looking forward to that?
“I’ve been able to be there when my family has been running and also winning that race. The race is special to be a part of, but also victory lane there is even more special. It’s a dream come true to be able to be a part of it for the first time this year. Hopefully we can have a shot to win and bring home that cool trophy. It would be awesome to bring it back to Charlotte.”
No. 54 Interstate Batteries/Monster Energy Team Roster
Primary Team Members
Driver: Ty Gibbs Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Chris Gayle Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Car Chief: Nate Bellows Hometown: Fairfax, Vermont
Spotter: Tony Hirschman Hometown: Northampton, Pennsylvania
July 10, 2022: at Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa. (HHP/Chris Owens)
HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 14, 2023) – Coca-Cola is bringing a new premium fan experience to the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, March 19.
With the new Coca-Cola Corner VIP Race Day Experience, fans can enjoy unrivaled pre-race access and exclusive experiences in the Coca-Cola’s Turn 1 VIP hospitality area, including a Q&A session with a Coca-Cola Racing Driver or Alumni.
“Coca-Cola is constantly working with us to find new, refreshing ways to enhance the fan experience,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “We’ve seen high demand for premium experiences during our NASCAR weekend, with our Club One suite being sold out for every race since 2021, so we’re thrilled to have a new option with experiences that only Coca-Cola can deliver.”
For $299, the Coca-Cola VIP Race Day Experience comes packed with a day full of fun and unforgettable experiences as Coca-Cola celebrates 25 years of the Coca-Cola racing family and 75 years of NASCAR:
A pre-race track pass, giving fans stage-front access to the Parmalee pre-race concert and driver introductions, plus a chance to walk on the track and see last-minute prep for the Ambetter Health 400.
Access to the Coca-Cola Corner VIP Hospitality, which includes a complimentary buffet and Coca-Cola beverages.
Access to an exclusive Q&A session with a Coca-Cola Racing Driver or Alum
A Lower Johnson Grandstand ticket to enjoy 400 miles of NASCAR action
Guided garage tours available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last
The Coca-Cola VIP Race Day Experience will be limited to 200 guests, so fans are encouraged to call the AMS ticket office at 877-9-AMS-TIX or go to www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/events/ambetter-health-400/ to purchase their Coca-Cola VIP Race Day Experience today.
About the Ambetter Health 400 weekend:
Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, March 19, with intense, door-to-door racing around the historic high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The race weekend also features Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, March 18, 2022. The thrills of the Fr8 208 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and the RAPTOR King of Tough 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day that race fans look forward to every year.
More information on the March 17-19, 2023, Ambetter Health 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:
Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.
Unprecedented Access Accelerates Momentum of North America’s Premier Open-Wheel Series
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023) – INDYCAR will reach more fans in more global markets with more accessibility than ever before. A robust list of international broadcasters will bring the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to 223 markets in 142 countries with major and impactful media partnerships.
In addition, INDYCAR LIVE, INDYCAR’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, will provide practice, qualifying and races in territories not covered by an international partner. All international markets will have access to INDYCAR LIVE’s complimentary coverage of NTT INDYCAR SERIES practices and qualifying.
“We are pleased to see the expansion of our international partners and offerings mirroring the impressive growth of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles. “This season, 15 nations are represented by our full-time field of 27 entries, which is the most since 2011. The global reach of INDYCAR is as important as ever as we reach new audiences with an expanding fan base.
“It’s very gratifying to continue our relationships with existing partners and increase visibility with our new ones.”
Partnerships heading into the 2023 INDYCAR season include:
New for 2023, a multiyear agreement with TSN. Canada’s sports leader will provide fans with comprehensive INDYCAR action of eight races, including the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and the Honda Indy Toronto via their linear platform. Live streaming of all 17 races in addition to coverage of all practice and qualifying sessions will be available on the newly launched TSN+.
An existing relationship with ESPN across Latin America will bring live coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to key markets, including Brazil and Mexico, where audiences can follow Indianapolis 500 winners Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan along with Arrow McLaren driver Pato O’Ward. ESPN in Argentina provides coverage of popular countryman and NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Augustin Canapino.
Continuing a relationship that began in 2019, Sky Group with Sky Sports UK, Sky Sport Germany (including Austria and Switzerland) and Sky Sport Italia return in 2023.
Canal+ will continue to provide coverage in France for fans of Andretti Autosport driver Romain Grosjean and Meyer Shank Racing’s Simon Pagenaud.
Sky Sport in New Zealand will once again be the home of coverage of Kiwis Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Armstrong and six-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon.
Australian fans of reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Will Power can follow him on STAN Sport, the series streaming partner in Australia, while sister network Nine Network will show race highlights mid-week.
Movistar+ partners with INDYCAR for a seventh consecutive season, allowing fans in Spain to follow former NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou.
Gaora returns to broadcast all races in Japan with special emphasis on Takuma Sato’s attempt to win a third Indianapolis 500.
Ziggo Sport provides coverage of countryman Rinus VeeKay to its audience in the Netherlands.
Viaplay will continue its intense coverage of INDYCAR in the Nordics allowing fans to follow Marcus Ericsson’s pursuit of back-to-back Indianapolis 500 wins as well as Felix Rosenqvist’s third season with Arrow McLaren. INDYCAR fans in Denmark will be able to follow 2022 Rookie of the Year Christian Lundgaard and AJ FOYT Racing rookie Benjamin Pedersen.
S Sport has acquired rights to provide coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, taking the series to Turkey and the Czech and Slovak Republics for the first time.
New international drivers in INDYCAR’s developmental series, INDY NXT by Firestone, have led to significant growth and interest from broadcasters across Latin America via ESPN and ESPN+, REV TV in Canada and a new TV agreement in the UK with Sky Sports. With more partnerships expected, remaining markets will see wheel-to-wheel INDY NXT action via INDYCAR LIVE.
“INDYCAR is a tremendous global series,” said Ericsson, driver of the No. 8 Honda for Chip Ganassi Racing. “That really hit home when I returned to Sweden last year to celebrate my Indianapolis 500 win. This lineup of international broadcasters will bring fans around the world closer to the action as they will be engaged with the series’ intense competition unlike ever before.”
Said Grosjean, driver of the No. 28 for Andretti Autosport: “I know, firsthand, the impact of INDYCAR’s global partnerships and the importance of the international broadcasters. It is gratifying that so many of my fans in France and Switzerland can follow my progress. 2023 will be a special year of growth for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and I cannot wait to get started.”
The 2023 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 5 with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. The start of the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone season begins the same day, also at St. Petersburg. A full list of international broadcast partners is available here.
Campaign to Highlight Solutions and Address Health Disparities in the African American Community
Mooresville, N.C. (Feb. 14, 2023) – 23XI Racing announced today that Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, will team up with Walmart to help implement and amplify the GoLiveBetter campaign. GoLiveBetter is an important initiative that aims to address healthcare disparities in the African American community. Wallace made his first appearance in support of the campaign on Feb. 10 at the “Health is Wealth” Summit in Nashville, Tenn. The summit highlighted health solutions and preventative measures to help build healthier communities, along with addressing health disparities that often exist in underserved communities.
Throughout the first half of the NASCAR season, Walmart will also highlight the importance of taking care of your health with activations at local Walmart parking lots in several racing markets using Walmart’s mobile wellness clinic, where guests can access basic health care, such as blood pressure and diabetes testing, vaccinations and vision screenings, where allowed. While Walmart provides many of these services in their pharmacies and Vision Centers, these events will help expand access and convenience, bringing awareness to the need to “know your numbers” to help live a healthy life. Wallace will make appearances at each of the mobile wellness events to drive attention to the campaign. Locations and dates for the events will be announced in the near future.
In addition to focusing on basic health care, the GoLiveBetter campaign will also emphasize mental health awareness. Wallace has been very open about his own mental health, and recently addressed his journey at the “Health is Wealth” Summit.
“I’m really excited to be working with Walmart on this initiative,” said Wallace. “As a driver, health and fitness are important to me, but I realize that not everyone has access to basic health care services. GoLiveBetter is a great chance to be a part of something that can make a significant difference in people’s lives. I know I’ve probably helped people by being open about my mental health, and I hope these events provide people, particularly those in underserved communities, with access to the resources they need.”
“Bubba and Walmart working together to help address health disparities provides a great opportunity for 23XI Racing to continue doing what we can to make a positive difference within the sport and the communities where we race,” said Steve Lauletta, team president. “As we continue to strengthen our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, these events will also help us look at various needs from a different perspective and think about ways in which 23XI can continue to be a positive influence off the racetrack.”
About 23XI Racing
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. In 2023, 23XI will feature the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota and Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota.
· NCS/NXS/NCWTS/ARCA: Daytona International Speedway – February 16-19
PLANO, Texas (February 14, 2023) – It is the official kickoff to the 2023 NASCAR season as teams head to the iconic Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 race weekend.
NASCAR National Series – NCS| NXS| NCTS
Hamlin looks to add to incredible Daytona 500 success… Denny Hamlin continues to be one to watch in The Great American Race. Hamlin is Toyota’s only Daytona 500 winner – a feat he has accomplished three times – in 2016, 2019 and 2020.
Official Reddick Toyota-debut… Two-time Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick makes his official Toyota debut this weekend at the Daytona 500. Reddick had a strong run in the non-points, Clash at LA Coliseum, earning a top-10 finish in his first run behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry TRD for 23XI Racing.
Wallace plans to be one spot better… Bubba Wallace is coming off a career-best season with best-ever totals in top-fives (five), top-10s (10) and average finish (18.3). Wallace is looking to add to his success with a Daytona 500 win. The Alabama-native has finished in the runner-up spot in the Great American Race twice, including last season.
Pastrana ready for first Daytona 500 attempt… Motorsports legend Travis Pastrana will make his first career Daytona 500 attempt, aboard a third entry for 23XI Racing. Pastrana has two scenarios to make his way into the field either by being the one of the two fastest cars in single-car qualifying on Wednesday or by being the top-finishing open car in his Thursday duel event.
Double for Smith… Sammy Smith is experiencing his first Daytona Speedweek as the 18-year-old will get two opportunities to compete on the high-banks. Smith will make his Truck Series debut on Friday, driving the No. 17 TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, before making his Daytona Xfinity Series debut on Saturday in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota GR Supra.
Nemechek competing in Xfinity Series in 2023… After two seasons in the NASCAR Truck Series, John Hunter Nemechek returns to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the No. 20 Toyota GR Supra for a full season run. Nemechek has already had success with Joe Gibbs Racing, as he drove to victory at Texas Motor Speedway in 2021.
Grala back full-time… For the first time in his NASCAR career, Kaz Grala will compete full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing, as the team fields a full-time driver for the first time in its short history. Grala won at Daytona as an 18-year-old in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2017. The Boston-native also has top-five finishes in both of his Xfinity starts at Daytona.
Heim ready to back up rookie title… Corey Heim had a stellar run in his debut season in the NASCAR Truck Series with two wins and 10 top-10 finishes in just 16 starts. Now with the newly formed TRICON Garage, Heim gets to run for his first Truck Series title. Heim has won back-to-back races at Daytona in ARCA Menards Series action.
TRICON Garage set for debut… TRICON Garage, formerly David Gilliland Racing, is back with Team Toyota and will make its return with five Toyota Tundra TRD Pros at Daytona. In addition to Heim and Smith, Tanner Gray, Dean Thompson and Jason White will compete for the new look team.
NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA
Love looking for lots of wins in 2023… Toyota’s lone full-time driver in the ARCA Menards Series this season is 18-year-old Jesse Love, who turned 18 just last month. The Toyota development driver has run 28 national ARCA events with two wins and 24 top-10 finishes.
Venturini plans for sixth straight season opening win… Venturini Motorsports has had an incredible run of success at the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway as the team has won five consecutive races at Daytona. They will have four chances to continue that streak on Saturday with Love, Amber Balcaen, Toni Breidinger and Gus Dean behind the wheel.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 48,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 20 electrified options, with more in showrooms later this year.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Thursday, February 16 – NASCAR Cup Series Duels, 7 p.m. ET (FS1) Friday, February 17 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1) Saturday, February 18 – NASCAR Xfinity Series, 5 p.m. ET (FS1) Sunday, February 19 – NASCAR Cup Series, 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
The 65th Annual Daytona 500 is scheduled for this Sunday as the first points race of the season takes place at Daytona International Speedway. Ford has won “The Great American Race” a total of 17 times, including each of the past two seasons when Michael McDowell and Austin Cindric captured the championship.
JOEY LOGANO 2015 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION
“Everyone has a chance to win that race and it is truly career changing when you’re able to do it. Everyone wants to have that on their resume and say they’ve won the Daytona 500 and then obviously the great things that come along with that, so it’s a big one you want to get.”
MICHAEL MCDOWELL 2021 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION
“It’s not just standing in Victory Lane. It was the journey getting there that makes this ring and that moment really special. It was a grind and it was tough, so it’s a good reminder of just staying in the grind, working hard, and persevering during difficult times and it paid off.”
AUSTIN CINDRIC 2022 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION
“I’ve only been doing this for a year now in the Cup Series, but you look at guys who have worked here for 10-20 years and what something like that means. It’s a career achievement for a lot of the people on my team and to be able to deliver that given the opportunity, for me, there’s nothing cooler than being able to do that.”
FORD GOING FOR THIRD STRAIGHT DAYTONA 500 WIN
As noted above, Ford has won the Daytona 500 17 times by 14 different drivers after Austin Cindric captured last year’s race. That marked Ford’s second consecutive victory in “The Great American Race” and fourth in the last eight years after Joey Logano won in 2015 and Kurt Busch in 2017. Only three Ford drivers have won the Daytona 500 more than once. Bill Elliott was the first to do it (1985 and 1987) with Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000) and Matt Kenseth (2009 and 2012) following.
FORD DOMINATES 2022 DAYTONA 500
Austin Cindric started off his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series with a bang by winning last year’s Daytona 500 in only his second attempt. Cindric got a push and then had to fend off his teammate Ryan Blaney on the outside off Turn 4 coming to the checkered flag to become the first rookie to win the Great American Race. It was a stellar day for Ford overall, claiming four of the top-five and seven of the top-10 finishing positions. Chase Briscoe came home 3rd, Ryan Blaney 4th and Aric Almirola 5th.
A DUEL SWEEP FOR RFK
You couldn’t script a better beginning for the debut season of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing as the newly-formed organization won both of the Duel races last year. Brad Keselowski, who joined the organization as co-owner with Jack Roush and the Fenway Sports Group, drove his No. 6 Mustang to victory in the first qualifying race while Chris Buescher followed suit in the second. Here’s what both drivers had to say in looking back on that moment:
BRAD KESELOWSKI
“It was a little bit of a shock. I didn’t expect us to have that level of success that quick, and we quickly got humbled in the weeks to come, but it was not what we expected at all. Sometimes you get shocked in bad ways. Sometimes you get shocked in great ways, and it’s nice to get shocked in a great way.”
CHRIS BUESCHER
“There was just so much change and so many unknowns. There was so much hard work put in before that it was nice to see it come to fruition and produce results immediately. It was a late night, but it was something that I think everybody really was able to take in and get everyone fired up, not only at the racetrack, but back at the shop in Concord as well.”
TINY LUND COMES UP BIG FOR WOOD BROTHERS
Ford won the Daytona 500 for the first time on Feb. 24, 1963 when Tiny Lund took the Wood Brothers to Victory Lane and completed a script that would have made Hollywood envious. Lund didn’t have a ride for the 500, but was at the track watching Marvin Panch test a Maserati when the car went out of control, flipped upside-down and started on fire. Lund, along with four others, rushed to the scene and eventually pulled Panch to safety. Panch, who was the primary driver for the Wood Brothers, was unable to race in the 500 due to his injuries, so the team tabbed Lund as a substitute. Lund defied the odds by winning the race on one set of tires to give For and the Wood Brothers their first win in “The Great American Race.”
KENSETH WINS EXPLOSIVE DAYTONA 500
When Ford won the Daytona 500 on Feb. 27, 2012 with Matt Kenseth, it marked his second victory in four years. But while Kenseth will be recognized for becoming the ninth multiple winner of the race, the weekend will forever be remembered for a series of unforeseen events. For the first time in its 54-year history, the race had to be postponed until Monday due to rain. As lingering showers persisted the next day, NASCAR officials decided to make it a primetime event for the first time. The race was building to a climax when caution came out on lap 157. During the ensuing caution, something broke on Juan Pablo Montoya’s car and sent it careening into a jet dryer that was working on the track. An explosion ensued and resulted in a red flag that lasted more than two hours as officials repaired the track. There were no major injuries, but the incident resulted in one of the more memorable photos ever taken as driver Brad Keselowski used his cell phone to post a shot from his vantage point on the backstretch. Kenseth eventually held off Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Roush Fenway teammate Greg Biffle on a green-white-checker finish to win.
A CINDERELLA STORY
Ford won the Daytona 500 for the 15th time after Kurt Busch took the checkered flag for Stewart-Haas Racing in its debut event with the manufacturer in 2017. That Cinderella story marked Ford’s fourth Daytona 500 win in a seven-year period, a streak that started with another Disney-type story when Trevor Bayne became the youngest Daytona 500 winner in 2011. The victory was even more memorable because it came one day after his 20th birthday and in only his second career NASCAR Cup Series start for the Wood Brothers.
LOGANO GIVES FORD FIRST SWEEP OF DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS
Joey Logano survived an intense final 10 laps, including a green-white-checkered finish, to give Ford a sweep of Daytona Speedweeks by winning the 57th running of the Daytona 500 in 2015. The win came on the heels of Tyler Reddick winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Ryan Reed taking the checkered flag for the first time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event. It also capped an undefeated month of racing at Daytona for Ford, which also won the season-opening Rolex 24 Hours. In the end, Logano used a push from Clint Bowyer to get in front of the pack, but when caution came out with three laps to go for an accident involving Justin Allgaier, the field bunch back up for the deciding restart. As the leader, Logano opted for the outside line and that proved to be the right decision as he got ahead of Denny Hamlin on the inside and stayed in front until the caution came out on the final lap to officially end the race.
COLE CUSTER RETURNING
TO NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
After running the last three seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he won once at Kentucky Speedway and earned 2020 rookie of the year, Cole Custer is back to compete for a championship in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Custer owns 10 career NXS victories, including seven in 2019 when he finished second in the overall standings. He currently ranks 10th on the all-time Ford win list, trailing Chase Briscoe by only one for ninth.
ZANE SMITH READY TO DEFEND TRUCK TITLE
Zane Smith will once again be running a full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with Front Row Motorsports as he looks to win a second straight championship. Smith, who gave the organization its first NASCAR title after winning last year’s season finale at Phoenix Raceway, will also be competing in a limited number of NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series events as well during the 2023 campaign.
THORSPORT BACK WITH FORD
It was announced in December that ThorSport Racing was returning to Ford Performance for the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season and would once again field four trucks on a full-time basis. Hailie Deegan will be running her first season with the organization while Ty Majeski and former series champions Matt Crafton and Ben Rhodes round out the lineup. Crafton won a championship during the team’s last stint with Ford in 2019, marking his record-tying third title overall.
