On Point Motorsports announced that Tate Fogleman will be joining the organization as a full-time competitor for the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
Fogleman, a 21-year-old native from Durham, North Carolina, will be piloting the No. 30 Toyota Tundra sponsored by Fowl Life TV as he will embark in his third full-time season in the Truck circuit. He is also set to become the seventh different competitor to drive in one or more events for On Point Motorsports.
“I’m looking forward to being with On Point Motorsports,” Fogleman said. “I know everybody that works here is dedicated to racing just like I am. They’re willing to work hard and use their resources, and they’ve had success in the previous season. I’m hoping to build on that. I’m looking to improve throughout the season as a team and to knock off consistent top 10 finishes.”
Fogleman, who made his inaugural presence in the Truck Series for three events in 2018 with Young’s Motorsports before going full-time racing in 2020, is coming off a memorable season, where he earned his first career victory at Talladega Superspeedway in October after sending John Hunter Nemechek spinning on the final lap and beating Tyler Hill in a photo finish before both competitors wrecked past the finish line. He also earned a ninth-place result at Knoxville Raceway in July and a total of eight top-20 results before concluding the 2021 Truck season in 20th place in the final standings.
Through 48 previous starts, Fogleman has notched one career victory, one top-five result, two top-10 results, 20 top-20 results and an average-finishing result of 23.7 with his best points result being 17th in 2020.
Prior to NASCAR competition, Tate Fogleman, who is the son of former NASCAR and CARS Tour competitor, Jay Fogleman, competed in the CARS Super Late Model Tour, beginning in 2016. He claimed his first career victory at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway in August 2017 and went on to finish in fifth place in the final standings. Two years later, he achieved a career-best fourth-place result in the final standings despite going winless and recording a pole and three top-five results.
Fogleman replaces Danny Bohn at On Point Motorsports. Bohn, the 2014 Bowman Gray Stadium Modified champion, spent the previous three seasons with On Point Motorsports, where he earned a total of four top-10 results, including two in 2021. Future plans for Bohn remain to be determined.
Fogleman is set to make his debut with On Point Motorsports at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2022, which will commence a new season of NASCAR competition.
“LEXIT Celebrates Motorsports Ahead of its December Launch”
A forthcoming virtual platform for transforming Intellectual Property into Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs), LEXIT is focusing its attention on the world of motorsports at the 24th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans in Atlanta, GA, where it is sponsoring and collaborating with championship winning drivers Tommy Milner and Corey Lewis. Launching in December 2021, LEXIT’s mission is to launch an industry-wide automotive/racing marketplace, which provides fans with a unique and deeper level of engagement, while creating a new source of revenue for drivers and teams.
“We are thrilled to debut our partnership with Corey and Tommy for the launch of LEXIT’s NFT platform,” shares Katia Zaitsev, co-founder and Chief Business Officer of LEXIT. “We are planning an automotive/motorsport-themed launch with an emphasis on providing fan engagement experiences with drivers – and we couldn’t imagine two better drivers to lead that launch.”
“I am beyond excited to have LEXIT on board for the Petit Le Mans race weekend. NFTs are rapidly growing and it is an absolute honor to be the first to have a Motorsport NFT with LEXIT,” says Corey Lewis, a Lamborghini factory driver racing for Paul Miller Racing. “I’m excited for the future and look forward to educating people in and out of Motorsports about NFTs.”
Tommy Milner, a Corvette Racing factory driver, says “ I’m excited to start this collaboration with LEXIT. Blockchain technology has interested me for a number of years now, and LEXIT’s approach to NFTs is a solution to make them far more usable and expand the spectrum of what is possible.”
LEXIT believes that NFTs could serve a potentially vital role for professional athletes by creating an auxiliary option to the traditional sponsorship model. The platform has additional drivers, car collectors, and automotive designers lined up to join Tommy and Corey for the launch. The platform will ultimately allow anyone owning art, music, film/videos, patents or technical inventions to join and submit a listing for an NFT launch, collect NFTs, follow and like their favorite creators or drivers, and have the ability to build their NFT identity in the LEXIT ecosystem. LEXIT plans to have no cost to utilize its platform and a strong KYC component to legitimize identity and authenticity.
LEXIT plans to release an extension of its NFT launchpad with an integration of its Decentralized Exchange (DEX), which will make launched NFTs immediately available for trading on LEXIT’s DeFi Pools.This extension will enable even more users or fans to be involved in the drivers NFT launch.
If you are a driver or a fan and interested in being a part of LEXIT’s launch. Please visit www.LEXIT.com to join the waitlist & www.LEXIT.com/contact-us to be a part of our launch.
About Tommy: Tommy Milner is an American race car driver with 18 seasons in the top sports car racing series, having represented and raced for some of the most successful racing teams and manufacturers over those years. He currently competes for Corvette Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. He previously raced for BMW USA and Rahal Letterman Racing. His major accomplishments include two class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two driver’s championships in IMSA GT competition, and 20+ wins in IMSA GT competition highlighted by class wins at the Daytona 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour. Tommy has experience in the world of eSports and sim racing as a Co-Owner of PRIVATE LABEL Team Hype and as a consultant to multiple sim racing titles over his 20 years of sim racing experience.
About Corey: Corey Lewis currently competes in the Continental Sports Car Challenge, Weather Tech United SportsCar Series, and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series. Corey has been racing for 19 years, beginning with karts at 8 years old. After earning regional championships and national championships in karting, He progressed into the Skip Barber regional series where he honed my “race craft”. Corey advanced into the national Skip Barber series earning many podiums before moving into Formula Mazda cars. His driving abilities have enabled him to compete at many infamous venues including Infineon Raceway, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Road America, VIR, Lime Rock, COTA, Laguna Seca, and the streets of Toronto. Most recently, he claimed victory in the 2018 12 Hours of Sebring with Lamborghini Carolina’s and 3rd place at Petite Le Mans with Paul Miller Racing helping the team win the Team, Driver, & Manufacturer Championships. In 2015, he won the Lamborghini Super Trofeo PRO-AM World Championship in the Monster Energy, Change Racing, Huracan ST.
Follow on that success, he has been named as one of the official Lamborghini Development Drivers for 2018.
About LEXIT: LEXIT is a platform for transforming Intellectual Property into Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Anyone owning Art, Music, Film/Videos, Patents or Technical Inventions, can join and create a listing for an NFT, collect NFTs, follow/like its favourite creators and have the ability to build their NFT identity with LEXIT.
LEXIT will soon after also release an extension of its NFT Launchpad with an integration of its Decentralized Exchange (DEX) which will make launched NFTs immediately available for trading on LEXIT’s DeFi Pools. This extension will enable even more users or fans to be involved in the creators NFT launch.
By Joe Chandler Director, Public Relations South Boston Speedway
SOUTH BOSTON, Va. (Nov. 30, 2021) — South Boston Speedway will celebrate its 65th anniversary in 2022 with August being a full 65th anniversary month that will include a pair of vintage racing events that will take race fans back to some of racing’s early days.
The regional touring Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club will hold races for its Late Model Sportsman and Modified divisions at South Boston Speedway on Saturday night, August 6 as an added feature to the track’s regularly scheduled NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series event.
That event will mark the second scheduled appearance for the Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club at South Boston Speedway for the 2022 season. The Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club will also appear at “America’s Hometown Track” on Saturday night, April 30 as part of the Sentara Healthcare American Sprint Car Weekend that will feature the Must-See Racing winged 410 sprint cars and the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Cars.
The Southern Ground Pounders Vintage Racing Club is one of the most respected vintage racing clubs on the East Coast. The club features owners and drivers competing with vintage Modified and Late Model Sportsman cars from the 1950s to the 1980s.
On Saturday night, August 20 the competitors of the East Coast Flathead Ford Racing Association, a flathead Ford racing club that was organized in Virginia in the 1980s will hold a race at South Boston Speedway as an added event to the night’s scheduled NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series event. The addition of the of the event for the East Coast Flathead Ford Racing Association makes August a full month of celebration of South Boston Speedway’s 65th anniversary season.
The East Coast Flathead Ford Racing Association features flathead Ford V8 racing engines and cars. It is comprised of a group of owners and drivers of antique Ford race cars that show and race the antique cars at speedways in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The club is dedicated to preserving the history of the famed Ford flathead V8 engine used by Ford for stock car racing in 1932 to 1948 Ford automobiles.
For people looking for Christmas gift ideas, South Boston Speedway has gift certificates on sale for all of its regular 2022 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series events. The gift certificates are priced at $10 each.
Gift certificates do not include the track’s special events – the SMART Modified Tour event, the new event for winged 410-sprint cars, the 200-lap Late Model Stock Car Division event in July and the CARS Tour event in October – and cannot be used for those events.
Gift certificates are on sale online on the South Boston Speedway website www.southbostonspeedway.com. They may also be ordered by phone by calling the speedway office at 434-572-4947 during normal office hours.
With the speedway’s move to an online ticketing system this year persons ordering gift certificates will be mailed a paper certificate to use as a gift. In January, the speedway will send tickets to be used in place of the gift certificates to scan in at the gate.
The latest news and information about South Boston Speedway can be found on the South Boston Speedway website and through the speedway’s social media channels.
Hattori Racing Enterprises announced that Chase Purdy will be joining the organization as a full-time competitor for the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.
Purdy, a 22-year-old native from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and winner of the 2018 Snowflake 100 and Dixieland 250, will be piloting the No. 61 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro with continuous sponsorship support from BAMA Buggies, beginning with the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway in February, as he pursues his first victory and Playoff appearance in the series.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the HRE team,” Purdy said. “They have consistently won races and been a weekly contender for the last several years. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to race with this group in 2022.”
“This is a humbling, yet a big chance for me to elevate my performance with such a family-oriented team,” Purdy added. “It is also great to have the continued support of BAMA Buggies and rejoin the Toyota Racing family. Hopefully, we can contribute towards another manufacturer title in the new Tundra TRD Pro and make a strong run at the playoffs.”
“Chase has shown a lot of potential and we’re happy to have him join HRE,” Shigeaki Hattori, owner of Hattori Racing Enterprises, added. “He has won some big races in his career and has the ability to be successful with our team. We’re looking forward to putting the right people around him and have Chase up front on a weekly basis.”
Purdy, who competed in his first two Truck career races during two of the final three races of the 2018 season with MDM Motorsports, is coming off his first full-time season in the series, where he drove the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing to two top-10 results and a 19th-place result in the final championship standings. He was absent from Watkins Glen International in August following a positive COVID-19 test.
In 30 career starts in the Truck Series, including seven in 2020 with GMS Racing, Purdy has achieved three top-10 results, eight laps led and an average-finishing result of 21.9.
Prior to the Truck Series, Purdy competed in the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season with David Gilliland Racing, where he earned five runner-up results and a fourth-place result in the final standings. He also competed on a full-time basis in the 2018 ARCA Racing Series for MDM Motorsports, where he earned 10 top-five results and a fourth-place result in the final standings.
Purdy’s entrance to HRE comes approximately two months after it was announced that Austin Hill will not be remaining with the team for the upcoming Truck Series season. Hill, who is set to join Richard Childress Racing for the 2022 Xfinity Series season, spent the previous three seasons with HRE, where he competed in 68 Truck races and 15 Xfinity races. During this span, he achieved eight career victories, three poles, 27 top-five results, 53 top-10 results and three Playoff appearances in the Truck circuit with a best points result of fifth in 2019. He also achieved one top-five result and four top-10 result in the Xfinity circuit.
Additional details regarding HRE’s NASCAR program for the 2022 season will be announced at a later date.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following the letter of intent signed in March 2021, Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) has presented Mayor John Cooper with a proposal to both revitalize the legendary 117-year-old Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and bring NASCAR Cup Series racing back to Nashville. Mayor Cooper has agreed in principle to the plan.
“This partnership creates an economically viable future for our historic track, spurs hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, and completes the last unrenovated part of the Nashville Fairgrounds at no cost to the Metro General Fund,” said Mayor John Cooper.
About the Proposal: The Bristol proposal meets Mayor Cooper’s objectives: revitalize the speedway at no cost to the Metro General Fund; benefit the overall Fairgrounds campus; implement noise mitigation as part of the redesign; reduce track testing days; and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact for Nashville.
The Metro Charter requires auto racing at the Fairgrounds, so Metro Government has an obligation to maintain the facility. A partnership with Bristol Motor Speedway satisfies those obligations while restoring the second-oldest operating motor speedway in the United States back to the national stage.
The Deal’s Benefits: The partnership will result in a modernized track that meets NASCAR series standards and transform Fairgrounds Speedway into a true multipurpose venue that can also host non-racing, revenue-generating events. BMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Speedway Motorsports, which owns and operates eight state-of the-art sports entertainment venues nationwide.
A renovated, activated Fairgrounds Speedway under experienced leadership would have a significant economic impact for Nashville and the region. A slate of NASCAR series and other major races in addition to an expanded calendar of revenue-producing non motorsports events would generate about $100 million annually in economic activity, through visitor spending in hotels, restaurants, and other local attractions, according to an analysis by Tourism Economics, a division of Oxford Economics.
Recent renovations to the Fairgrounds have included a new state-of-the-art MLS stadium and new expo facilities, but have lacked a vision for the historic speedway’s future. In March, Metro Government entered a letter of intent with Bristol Motor Speedway to explore involvement with the experienced track operator.
Next Steps: An independent sports finance consultant is currently reviewing the financial framework of the proposed plan. If the external consultant’s report confirms the sound financial footing of the proposal, it will be publicly presented to the Board of Fair Commissioners for consideration once the two open Fair Board seats have been filled. Mayor Cooper is working with Vice Mayor Shulman to create a Fair Board that reflects the cultural diversity of both Fairgrounds visitors and Davidson County overall. If the deal is approved by the Fair Board, the proposal will be submitted to the Sports Authority and the Metropolitan Council with related legislation.
“In keeping with the national profile that Nashville Soccer Club is bringing to the Fairgrounds in 2022, this innovative partnership will bring our historic speedway back to life as a crown jewel in the world of motor sports,” said Mayor Cooper. “No other city has professional soccer and NASCAR side by side. Our Fairgrounds will be a unique asset for Nashville’s future. I look forward to working with Bristol, the State of Tennessee, the Fair Board, the Sports Authority and the Council on this proposal.”
“I grew up going to the Fairgrounds Speedway with my dad on Friday nights, listening to him work as a spotter for racers like Andy Kirby and Steadman Marlin. It would be my honor to sponsor legislation that brings NASCAR back to Nashville and restores the track into something that our whole county can be proud of again,” said Zach Young, District 10 Metro Councilmember.
Key terms in the proposal include:
BMS would lease, manage, and operate the city-owned Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway for a 30-year term.
The Metro Sports Authority will issue 30-year revenue bonds to finance the speedway renovation.
BMS will install state-of-the-art sound mitigation components during track renovation and reduce track practice rentals to 20 days per year – a combination that will reduce sound impacts to surrounding neighborhoods by 50 percent, according to analysis conducted by Wrightson Johnson Haddon & Williams, an international acoustics engineering firm.
Revenue streams to pay for the speedway renovation include rent payments, user fees and taxes paid by patrons of the venue, sponsorship agreements, and event revenue.
The proposal limits race and practice dates and addresses other quality of life issues that were raised during more than two dozen community meetings conducted by BMS and the Fair Board over the last few months.
The proposal is contingent on use of “guaranteed maximum price” construction contracts to eliminate the risk of construction cost overruns.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the mayor, government officials and Nashville community to breathe new life in the legendary Fairgrounds Speedway,” said Marcus Smith, president and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports and Bristol Motor Speedway. “In addition to bringing major NASCAR series races back to the historic facility, we’ll create a calendar for local racing and special events that generates a positive economic impact for the region.”
Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, said, “Once the renovations are complete, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway will be a new destination for motorsports and entertainment. We’ll operate to maximize event opportunities while mitigating the impact on area residents. Our goal is to create something that Nashville and the surrounding community can be proud of.”
Preserving the Historic Speedway: Historic preservation is a priority of the plan, Mayor Cooper said. Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, which opened in 1904, is the second-oldest operating motor speedway in the United States and hosted an annual NASCAR Cup Series event from 1958-1984. It has a celebrated history, with past champions that include Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and local drivers Darrell Waltrip and Sterling Marlin.
“I still remember the first time I came to the Fairgrounds to race. I fell in love with the place after the first lap,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “Nashville Fairgrounds is a historic and iconic venue, and Bristol Motor Speedway is the very best partner to continue that storied history. I’m looking forward to witnessing the next chapter in the life of this historic landmark.”
“The historic Fairgrounds Speedway is one of Nashville’s unique entertainment assets and deserves an opportunity to rekindle its great reputation,” said Butch Spyridon, president and chief executive officer of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “The relationship with BMS is an incredible opportunity to restore this track and bring top tier racing back to Nashville.
Home Improvement Leader to Partner with Both No. 2 and No. 12 Ford Mustang Teams
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 30, 2021) – Team Penske and Menards announced today that the industry-leading home improvement store chain will continue to build on its partnership with the Championship-winning racing organization in 2022. Menards will sponsor both the No. 2 Ford Mustang that will be driven by NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year contender Austin Cindric, as well as the No. 12 Ford Mustang raced by Ryan Blaney. In addition, Menards will also continue to support the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, driven by Cup Series rookie Harrison Burton in 2022.
“We’ve been really blessed through the years to have outstanding drivers who were also great ambassadors for our company,” stated Menards President, John Menard. “This longstanding tradition continues with Austin and Ryan, two tremendous young talents who are not only capable of winning on any given weekend, but also great role models for America’s youth. Our continuing partnership with Team Penske and all of our great racing partners will make 2022 an exceptional and thrilling year with much success.”
The partnership between Team Penske and Menards began in 2016, with the company serving as a primary sponsor on Team Penske’s No. 22 INDYCAR for five races. Menards expanded its Penske partnership in 2017, joining the team’s NASCAR program as it sponsored both the No. 12 Team Penske Ford, along with the No. 21 Ford Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Menards continues to provide support across multiple levels of motorsports, including as title sponsor of the ARCA Menards Series.
“Team Penske has enjoyed a great relationship with the entire Menards organization for many years and we are excited to continue the partnership across both our No. 2 and No. 12 Ford Mustang teams in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Roger Penske. “John Menard has been a tremendous supporter of motorsports for more than 30 years and the commitment to Team Penske, to Austin and to Ryan will help keep the Menards brand at the forefront of our sport. We are excited to see what Austin can do as a rookie in the Cup Series and we know Ryan will continue to provide veteran leadership for the team in 2022. Both drivers have a great opportunity as they will represent an industry-leading brand in Menards for the upcoming season.”
Cindric enters his first full season of Cup Series competition after four successful seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In addition to his 2020 Championship, Cindric helped secure the sixth NXS Owners’ Championship for Roger Penske this season as he fell just short of capturing his second-consecutive driver’s title. Collectively, Cindric has produced 13 wins, 62 top-five and 89 top-10 finishes in 133 Xfinity Series starts.
“I’m very proud of the success I’ve shared with Menards over the past few years in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said Cindric, the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion. “As I transition to the NASCAR Cup Series, there will certainly be challenges as a rookie at the top level, but I really look forward to accomplishing more together, and most importantly adding to the great pedigree that Menards has established in this sport. They are a key partner to our race team, and I think the No. 2 is going to look great in neon.”
A family-owned company started in 1958, Menards is headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and has 306 home improvement stores located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Today, Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s famous slogan Save BIG Money!® is widely known and easy to remember.
“It’s an honor to strap in the iconic neon yellow Menards Ford Mustang on Sunday afternoons knowing that you’re representing over 45,000 employees nationwide.” said Blaney, who has taken Menards to victory lane in the Cup Series at the Charlotte ROVAL, Talladega and Michigan. “In addition to those hard-working thousands of employees, Menards has some fantastic vendor partners that not only keep America moving, but are a huge supporter of Team Penske and motorsports in general. I’m looking forward to another successful season and the run for a championship in the No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang.”
About Menards A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 336 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
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 590 major race wins, over 650 pole positions and 41 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 55-year history, the team has also earned 18 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, along with a win in Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 race. Penske currently competes in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 30, 2021) – It wouldn’t be a proper Nashville party without a country music megastar gracing the stage.
Multiplatinum-selling entertainer Jake Owen will perform during the NASCAR Awards and Champion Celebration event this Thursday, Dec. 2 in downtown Nashville.
Before all the accolades honoring the 2021 NASCAR season, Owen will open the show at the Music City Center with a live performance of his latest hit single, “Best Thing Since Backroads.”
The Florida native is no stranger to NASCAR, having performed the pre-race concert before the 2019 DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
Fans can tune in to watch the 2021 NASCAR Awards, including Owen’s performance, when it airs Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. In addition to the Cup Series champion, NASCAR will honor the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series champions in the largest awards show to date.
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).
Danny Stockman to lead efforts of No. 18 team again next season
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 30, 2021) – Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) announced today that Chandler Smith will return to drive the organization’s No. 18 Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time in 2022. Safelite AutoGlass, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services, returns to KBM for a fifth season and will be the primary sponsor on Smith’s Tundra for 15 races. Veteran crew chief Danny Stockman will once again be atop the pit box for the No. 18 team in 2022.
Smith earned NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and finished eighth in the championship standings after producing two victories, one pole, 213 laps led, six top-five and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time season. He earned his first career Truck Series victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in September and in the series finale at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway earned his first career pole and swept all three stages en route to his second victory.
Across 38 career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts, the 19-year-old driver has collected two wins, 14 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. Additionally, Smith has produced nine ARCA Menards Series victories, 10 poles, 22 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes across 34 career starts.
“I’m really excited to be back partnered with Safelite and KBM for a second full-time season and ready for another run at a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship,” Smith said. “Danny (Stockman, crew chief) and I built something over the course of the year and really hit our stride late in the season. We’re looking forward to carrying that momentum over to starting 2022 strong. I feel that having some form of practice and qualifying at all the races next season will be big for our No. 18 Safelite team.”
“Chandler finished the 2021 season strong by winning twice over the last five races and we’re confident that he and Danny (Stockman, crew chief) will be able to pick up right where they left off next year,” Busch said. “It was awesome for us to be able to get Safelite into victory lane and celebrate with them multiple times in 2021 as they really support their racing program. I know that everyone on the No. 18 Safelite team is working hard to ensure we continue winning and push to be one of the four teams competing for a championship at Phoenix.”
“Safelite is excited to have Chandler Smith back in the No. 18 Toyota Tundra for the 2022 Season,” said Safelite AutoGlass Senior Vice President Garth Beck. “We are proud of his accomplishments in 2021, with his two-win season and earning the Rookie of the Year award, and we are looking forward to 2022 and all that he will accomplish.”
Stockman’s drivers have produced six victories at KBM across his first two seasons, including two with Smith behind the wheel in 2021. The veteran crew chief captured a Truck Series championship with Austin Dillon in 2011 and also won an Xfinity Series championship with Dillon in 2013. Stockman has totaled 10 career Truck Series victories to go along with seven in the Xfinity Series.
Further sponsor announcements for the 2022 season are forthcoming.
About Safelite AutoGlass:
With more than 7,900 MobileGlassShops™ and stores in all 50 states, Safelite AutoGlass® is the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration services. Last year, close to 7 million customers chose Safelite AutoGlass for its 24/7 national contact centers, advanced online scheduling, superior repair and replacement systems, and the industry’s only nationwide lifetime guarantee.
Safelite AutoGlass is a member of the Safelite® Group family of brands, which together make a difference in the lives of nearly eleven million customers annually. This leading service organization, founded in 1947, is reaching record growth thanks to its People Powered, Customer Driven strategy. The Columbus, Ohio-based company employs nearly 16,000 people across the United States.
About Kyle Busch Motorsports:
Since debuting in 2010, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) has quickly established itself as one of the most successful teams in all of NASCAR. Owned by two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and fueled by his passion for winning, the organization holds the Camping World Truck Series records for most career wins (90) and most wins in a single season (14 in 2014). In addition to collecting a series-record seven Owner’s Championships, the organization has produced two championship-winning drivers: Erik Jones (2015) and Christopher Bell (2017).
KBM prepares a fleet of race-winning Toyotas out of its state-of-the art 77,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C. Fans can stay up-to-date with all the latest KBM news online at www.KyleBuschMotorsports.com, by liking the team on Facebook (KBMteam) and by following the team on Instagram (KBMteam), and Twitter (@KBMteam).
Reigning Daytona 500 Champion Michael McDowell to Lead Young Duo
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 30, 2021) – In 2022, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) will again have a mix of veteran leadership and young, winning drivers stepping into new roles.
Michael McDowell will pilot the No. 34 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series. He will be teammates with Todd Gilliland who takes over the No. 38 Ford Mustang. Two-time NASCAR Camping World Series championship runner-up Zane Smith joins FRM to race the No. 38 Ford F-150 in the truck series.
Gilliland makes the jump to the NASCAR Cup Series to compete for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title after three full-time seasons in the truck series, the past two with FRM. In 2021, Gilliland had one win, 16 top-10 and 10 top-five finishes, resulting in a career best year. He led FRM to fourth in the owner’s championship. Gilliland will work with crew chief Seth Barbour.
Gilliland follows his father, David, as a driver of the No. 38 Ford for FRM in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“I feel like I’ve found a home at FRM,” said Gilliland. “I’ve been around the team when I was growing up and watching my dad race. I joined the truck team here and it has been a good place for my career. I can’t wait to step up into the NASCAR Cup Series. I know the challenges ahead, but I’m planning to be here and help grow with this team for a long time.”
“Todd has been a part of the FRM family before he even started his own racing career,” added owner, Bob Jenkins. “We know that Todd is committed to helping our No. 38 program. He helped us launch our truck program into a winning team and that’s our goal for him and the 38 Cup team.”
McDowell returns to the No. 34 Ford Mustang with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. It will be their fifth year together and their partnership continues to lead FRM. This past season they again set new records for the organization with five top-10 and two top-five finishes. Their season was highlighted by winning the Daytona 500.
“It was a storybook season for Michael, Drew and the 34 team,” continued Jenkins. “They helped elevate us to the next level and now we need to sustain and take the next step. The new car gives us a wonderful opportunity to do that.”
“I’m really looking forward to 2022 and the fresh start it brings across the sport,” said McDowell. “It’s an exciting time for the NASCAR Cup Series and for us at FRM. We have proven that we can win and now we want to find that consistency throughout the season to be even better.”
FRM welcomes Smith to its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, fresh off consecutive seasons as championship runner-up in the series Smith recorded three race wins and 27 top-10 finishes in his two full seasons in the series. The 22-year-old Huntington Beach, Calif. native will work with crew chief Chris Lawson with the goal of winning the championship in 2022.
“I’ve been watching Zane the past few seasons,” said Jenkins. “He’s a young driver who is a proven winner and he shows a lot of promise. We want to get him that championship in 2022, but also, we want to have Zane with us for a long time. We see a bright future for him.”
“I competed against Front Row for wins this past season and I know how competitive the team is,” said Smith, the 2021 Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Camping World Series. “Bob Jenkins has given me a wonderful opportunity to race for the truck series championship again. More importantly, there is an opportunity to grow with them in the future.”
The 2021 season will mark its 13th with Ford Performance, the team’s manufacturing partner since expanding to a multi-car organization in 2010.
FRM will announce team partners leading into the 2022 Daytona 500 and throughout next season.
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series and the 2021 Daytona 500 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 NASCAR Camping World 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.
All-new RZR lineup on display at Mint 400 Off-Road Festival
Defending manufacturer winners of the Great American Off-Road Race return as sponsor once again
Branden Sims and Jacob Carver led Polaris to 1-2 finish in UTV Pro Turbo in 2020
See the new 2022 Polaris lineup at the Mint 400 Off-Road Festival!
Polaris will return once again as a supporting sponsor of the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 in 2021, Mint 400 officials announced today. The prominent brand of UTVs will once again be represented heavily on the event entry list with countless competitors from Pro to youth classes, while the latest and greatest Polaris vehicles will also be on display at this year’s Mint 400 Off-Road Festival.
“Polaris has been a longtime supporter of the Mint 400, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them back for our 2021 edition,” said Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. “Polaris drivers dominated last year’s race, and between another stellar lineup of competitors and an exciting new 2022 product line for consumers, we’re greatly looking forward to seeing what the Polaris team has up its sleeve for this year’s race and Off-Road Festival!”
When the dust settled on last year’s Great American Off-Road Race, Polaris vehicles had taken home the lion’s share of hardware. The final results included a 1-2 in the UTV Pro Turbo class for Branden Sims and Jacob Carver, while Adrian Orellana, Kaden Wells, and Joe Bolton swept the UTV Pro NA podium. In the youth divisions, many of the sport’s future stars took to the short course in Mini Mint 400 action, wheeling their Polaris RZRs to some of the first trophies in what are sure to be illustrious off-road racing careers.
Polaris continues to push boundaries in off-road with the all-new RZR Turbo R and RZR Pro R. Delivering next level power, strength and control right from the factory, the RZR Turbo R provides thrilling turbo-charged acceleration, maximum maneverability and control and is built with rugged components to withstand the roughest terrain. Built for the most demanding drivers, RZR Pro R leads the way in power, strength and control; it puts you in charge of the biggest factory engine ever dropped into a side-by-side and gives you the confidence and control to make the most of it.
The Mint 400 has held the title of the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America since 1968 when it was first run. Initially, the race was a public relations event promoting the Mint Hotel’s annual deer hunt. but what started out as a hotel promotion soon grew into a legitimate desert race. Since its 2008 revival, “The Great American Off-Road Race” has only gotten bigger and more prestigious, and deeper fields every year only make it tougher to win.
This year’s BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 will take place from December 1-5 in Las Vegas. More information on the event for racers and spectators is available at TheMint400.com, or follow the event on Facebook and Instagram. For more information on Polaris, visit www.polaris.com.
About The Mint 400 The Mint 400 is the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America, and is held each March in the treacherous foothills of Sin City. The multi-day event features a massive vehicle parade down the world famous Las Vegas Strip, a two day festival on historic Fremont Street, and two days of grueling off-road racing on a desolate and punishing 400-mile racecourse. Nearly 65,000 off-road and recreational enthusiasts come to watch 500 race teams in 50+ classes from 25 different states and 15 different countries go door to door, while the Livestream coverage is beamed to over 800,000 viewers worldwide. No other off road race allows fans the thrilling experience of watching the top off-road race teams from around the world battle for fame and glory, in a festival setting – complete with a luxury VIP section. The Mint 400 is “The Great American Off-Road Race”!
