Two Tickets to Inaugural Knoxville Truck Series Race Up for Grabs Courtesy of “Corey’s Dirt Track Payback”
CONCORD, N.C. (March 25, 2021) –Spire Motorsports will promote the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Race at Knoxville Raceway aboard Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
For the first time in its prestigious history, Knoxville Raceway will host a NASCAR National Touring Series event when the NCWTS races at the famed half-mile dirt oval on July 9. The event will be promoted in cooperation with Spire Motorsports’ sister company, Track Enterprises.
Current Knoxville Raceway NCWTS ticket holders and fans who purchase tickets at Knoxvilleraceway.com through March 28, will be automatically entered in “Corey’s Dirt Track Payback.” As part of the promotion, LaJoie will payback seven randomly chosen ticket holders for two general admission tickets for the Truck Series’ inaugural contest at the famed central Iowa track.
“Hosting a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Knoxville Raceway this season is certainly an honor for everyone associated with the track,” said Kendra Jacobs, Marketing Director at Knoxville Raceway. “Spire Motorsports and Corey are putting a spotlight on our event this week while all eyes turn to dirt-track racing. We’re thankful for this opportunity and love to see the enthusiasm for our inaugural NASCAR event.”
Meanwhile, Spire Motorsports will carry the Caregility and its hospital partner, Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC), logos aboard LaJoie’s No.7 machine. Caregility, a company dedicated to delivering care to wherever the patient is located through the use of the Caregility Virtual Care Platform, will leverage its motorsports partnerships to honor the nurses from MWHC during this weekend’s race as part of the Caregility Cares program. In addition, “MWHC Nurses” will appear over the passenger-side window.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has produced nearly daily challenges in the healthcare industry and the nurses at MWHC have risen to the challenge every step of the way,” said Ron Gaboury, CEO of Caregility. “We’re proud to be able to recognize their efforts and are excited to see them honored on the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Corey LaJoie.”
The Food City Dirt Race will mark the first time NASCAR’s premiere series will race on dirt dating back to 1970. NASCAR and Bristol Motor Speedway announced in September the legendary high banked Tennessee oval would be covered in dirt to create a one-of-kind racing experience for the drivers, teams and fans.
LaJoie will be joined by Stewart Friesen this weekend as teammates under the Spire Motorsports canopy.
Friesen, who has over 330 career wins in dirt modified racing, won the last time the NCWTS raced on dirt at Eldora Speedway in 2019. The Ontario, Canada native is currently sixth in the Truck Series Championship point standings.
Spire Motorsports jump started its 2021 campaign with a pair of top-10s in the Daytona 500 where Jamie McMurray and LaJoie finished eighth and ninth, respectively. Justin Haley has handled the driving duties for the No. 77 team since the second race of the year but will yield the seat to Friesen for Round 7.
LaJoie whet his appetite for this weekend’s festivities during last week’s Bristol Dirt Car Nationals where he won the 604 Crate Late Model B-Main. Much to his chagrin, a flat right-front tire stalled his efforts in the division’s main event leaving him 21st in the final rundown.
While the Concord, N.C., native has eight previous NCS starts at Bristol, he’ll likely throw away his previous notes as he prepares for his maiden voyage in a full-bodied Cup Series mount on the dirt-layered half-mile.
“This weekend at Bristol is going to be a new challenge for everybody,” said LaJoie. “It’ll be the first time we’ve had any sort of practice prior to a race in over a year. I ran a late model last week at Bristol just to get familiar with the track. Hopefully, it translates some to the Cup car. Most of the field has limited experience on dirt so it’ll be the most level playing field we’ve been on in a long time. We’ll have a little fun and give away some tickets for the Truck race at Knoxville. I’m looking to capitalize on what I learned last weekend at Bristol and rebound for a good result after a rough last couple of weeks.”
“It’s always an exciting opportunity when we can integrate our properties to achieve a common goal,” added Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “The Food City Dirt Race is, perhaps, the most highly anticipated race on the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. At the same time, we feel the same way about the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Knoxville Raceway. We’re confident those are going to be to two of the most watched and well-attended races on each of their respective schedules.”
The Food City Dirt Race from Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, March 28 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The seventh of 36 races on the 2021 NCS schedule will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
About Spire Motorsports … Spire Motorsports was established in 2018 and is co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. Spire Motorsports earned an upset victory for the ages in its first full season when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019.
About Knoxville Raceway… Located on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa, Knoxville Raceway is a 1/2-mile dirt track that hosts winged CT525, 360 and 410 sprint car racing nearly every Saturday night from April to September. The “Sprint Car Capital of the World” also hosts the Knoxville Nationals, sprint car racing’s most prestigious event, every August, as well as the Late Model Nationals, 360 Nationals and Corn Belt Nationals featuring non-wing sprint cars. In 2021, Knoxville Raceway also will host the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Knoxville Raceway is the third-largest outdoor stadium in Iowa with 20,377 seats and 32 luxury suites.
About Caregility: Caregility (caregility.com) is dedicated to delivering care to wherever the patient is located through the use of the Caregility Virtual Care Platform. Designated as the #1 2021 Best in KLAS Virtual Care Platform (Non-EMR), our core telehealth offering is a purpose-built ecosystem for the entire healthcare continuum. The Caregility Virtual Care Platform provides secure, reliable two-way audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Today, Caregility supports more than 4 million video sessions annually and has deployed over 9,000 access points of care systems across the US. From critical and acute, to urgent and emergent, to post-acute and ambulatory, and to the home, Caregility is helping transform the delivery of patient care everywhere.
About Mary Washington Healthcare: Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through over 50 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities, visit mwhc.com.
EATONTOWN, N.J. (March 25, 2021) – Caregility, a company dedicated to delivering care to wherever the patient is located through the use of the Caregility Virtual Care Platform, will leverage its motorsports partnerships to honor the nurses from Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) during this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. As part of the Caregility Cares program, the name “MWHC Nurses” will appear over the passenger-side window of the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet driven by Corey LaJoie for the 250-lap dirt race at Bristol.
MWHC, a 120-year old institution that has emerged into a modern not-for-profit regional healthcare system with two hospitals, three emergency rooms, and over 40 outpatient facilities and wellness services, is a partner of Caregility’s, utilizing the Caregility Virtual Care Platform to bring healthcare services to their patients. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the nurses at MWHC came together to form a plan to safely care for their patients. As hospitalizations increased, the nurses adapted to continue providing excellent care while also creating additional capacity to ensure everyone needing care in their community was able to receive it. With their focus on their patients, the MWHC nurses have worked diligently to administer Covid-19 vaccinations to over 70,000 members of their local communities at the MWHC vaccine clinic.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has produced nearly daily challenges in the healthcare industry and the nurses at MWHC have risen to the challenge every step of the way,” said Ron Gaboury, CEO of Caregility. “We’re proud to be able to recognize their efforts and are excited to see them honored on the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Corey LaJoie.”
The multi-faceted Caregility Cares program not only honors the individuals who work tirelessly to care for, protect and restore the health of patients impacted by the Coronavirus, but also works to provide scholarships through the Caregility Cares Essential Worker Scholarship Program. This year, five aspiring healthcare workers will be granted $5,000 to aid in their pursuit of higher education degrees in the field of medicine. Applications for the initial round of scholarships are due by May 31, 2021. Current healthcare workers and their family members who are interested in the scholarship program can learn more and apply here.
About Caregility:
Caregility (caregility.com) is dedicated to delivering care to wherever the patient is located through the use of the Caregility Virtual Care Platform. Designated as the #1 2021 Best in KLAS Virtual Care Platform (Non-EMR), our core telehealth offering is a purpose-built ecosystem for the entire healthcare continuum. The Caregility Virtual Care Platform provides secure, reliable two-way audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Today, Caregility supports more than 4 million video sessions annually and has deployed over 9,000 access points of care systems across the US. From critical and acute, to urgent and emergent, to post-acute and ambulatory, and to the home, Caregility is helping transform the delivery of patient care everywhere.
About Mary Washington Healthcare:
Mary Washington Healthcare is a fully integrated, regional medical system that provides inpatient and outpatient care through over 50 facilities including Mary Washington Hospital, a 471-bed regional medical center, and Stafford Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital. Mary Washington Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system with a longstanding commitment to provide care regardless of ability to pay. For more information about our services and facilities visit mwhc.com.
NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: Food City Dirt Race The Place: Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt The Date: Sunday, March 28 The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET TV: FOX, 2 p.m. ET Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 125 miles (250 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 75), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 150), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
NASCAR Xfinity Series Next Race: Cook Out 250 The Place: Martinsville Speedway The Date: Friday, April 9 The Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: FS1, 7 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 131.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Next Race: Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt The Place: Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt The Date: Saturday, March 27 The Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: FS1, 7 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 75 miles (150 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)
NASCAR Cup Series
Gettin’ Dirty: More than 50 years since NASCAR Cup Series has competed on dirt
Not since the checkered flag flew on NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty for winning the race on September 30, 1970 at North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina has the NASCAR Cup Series competed on a dirt track. Now more than 50 years later, the series is getting back to its roots in this weekend’s Food City Dirt Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) as more than 20,000 cubic yards of dirt were hauled in to create the temporary dirt track surface.
The NASCAR Cup Series has had a long legacy of racing at dirt tracks prior to the Modern Era (1972-Present), from 1949 to 1970 the series competed in 501 races on dirt. The very first NASCAR Cup Series points-paying sanctioned race in the inaugural season of 1949 was on dirt at Charlotte (Old) Speedway, a 0.75-mile track in Charlotte, North Carolina and the event was won by Jim Roper driving a Lincoln.
Top 10 Cup Winners On Dirt
Rank
Cup Dirt Winners
Wins
1
Lee Petty
43
2
Buck Baker
42
3
Herb Thomas
41
4
Tim Flock
36
5
Ned Jarrett
35
6
Richard Petty
31
7
David Pearson
23
8
Junior Johnson
23
9
Speedy Thompson
18
10
Fireball Roberts
15
Fonty Flock
15
In total, the 501 dirt Cup races have produced 76 different winners. NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty leads the series in dirt track wins with 46 victories; followed by Buck Baker with 42 and Herb Thomas with 41.
This week the competitors will be tasked with wrangling a Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track that has been measured to exactly 0.5-mile, and this weekend’s event will be 125 miles (250 laps) in length. The race will be broken up into three stages. The first two stages are 75 laps each and the final stage is 100 laps.
Plus, NASCAR has instituted a special format for Busch Pole Qualifying that includes qualifying races, very similar to what the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series did at Eldora Speedway, to decide the starting lineup. The lineups for the qualifying races will be done by random draw on Thursday, March 25 at 4 p.m. ET. There are four qualifying races scheduled with 39 entrants competing. The first three qualifying races will have 10 drivers each and the fourth qualifying race will have nine drivers entered.
Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt – Qualifying & Race Formats
This weekend’s racing will have special formats for both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. Below are details on the 2021 Bristol qualifying and race formats:
· Heat Race Starting Lineup – Random draw determines heat race designation and starting position for the heat race. The draw will be in order of current owner points.
· Qualifying Heat Races – Four qualifying races held at 15 laps each with only green flag laps counted – no overtime rule. Free pass and wave around procedures will be in effect.
· Passing Points – Drivers will accumulate points in the heat races based on finishing position and passing points. The points total determines the starting position for the feature event.
o Passing Points = The difference between assigned starting position and finishing position
§ Go forward – accumulate passing points
§ Go backward or finish where you started – zero passing points
§ Tiebreaker – Owner Points
Finish
Points
1
10
2
9
3
8
4
7
5
6
6
5
7
4
8
3
9
2
10
1
· Feature – Lineup based on combined points of Heat Race finishing position and passing points. Feature race will be 250 laps (NCWTS: 150 laps) divided into three stages (NCS: 75/150/250) / (NCWTS: 40/90/150). Running order will be frozen at the conclusion of each stage. During the stage breaks, teams can change tires, add fuel and make adjustments to their cars/trucks. These non-competitive pit stops must be completed in a time designated by NASCAR (TBD). No fuel or tires except at stage breaks.(Note: Teams will not be required to pit during the stage breaks. Teams that elect not to pit will re-start ahead of teams that pitted. Re-start order determined by the freeze at the conclusion of the preceding stage)
· Additional Event Highlights – Choose rule will not be in effect for the Bristol Dirt race. The overtime rules, free pass and wave around procedures will be in effect.
Streak Continues: Six different winners in the first six Cup races
Hendrick Motorsport’s Kyle Larson dominated Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend and looked to be ending the NASCAR Cup Series different winners streak that has been running through the first five races of the 2021 season. But in the closing laps of the Atlanta race, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney passed Larson to keep the streak alive making the 2021 season the eighth different year to start with six different drivers in Victory Lane; joining 2014, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1991, 1986, 1984. Now the NASCAR Cup Series is heading to the wildcard of wildcards, the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track to see if the streak can make it to seven different winners. Only four seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series Modern Era (1972-Present) have started with seven different winners: 2014, 2003, 2000 and 1991.
The Modern Era record of different winners to start a NASCAR Cup Series season is 10 set back in 2000. Dale Earnhardt Jr. snapped the streak winning his second race of the 2000 season at Richmond (Race No. 11).
Season
Race No.
Winners
Track
Date
2000
1
Dale Jarrett
Daytona
Sunday, February 20, 2000
2000
2
Bobby Labonte
Rockingham
Sunday, February 27, 2000
2000
3
Jeff Burton
Las Vegas
Sunday, March 5, 2000
2000
4
Dale Earnhardt
Atlanta
Sunday, March 12, 2000
2000
5
Ward Burton
Darlington
Sunday, March 19, 2000
2000
6
Rusty Wallace
Bristol
Sunday, March 26, 2000
2000
7
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Texas
Sunday, April 2, 2000
2000
8
Mark Martin
Martinsville
Sunday, April 9, 2000
2000
9
Jeff Gordon
Talladega
Sunday, April 16, 2000
2000
10
Jeremy Mayfield
Auto Club
Sunday, April 30, 2000
In the Modern Era (1972-2021), the record for the most different NASCAR Cup Series winners in a single season in its entirety is 19 set back in 2001. The series has also seen a total of 18 different winners (second-most) in a single season twice – in 2002 and 2011. Last season the series produced 13 different winners.
Cup drivers who have delved into the dirt before
When you start to think about drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series that have cut their teeth on the dirt tracks across this country, a few names like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe jump to the forefront, but what might be surprising is several drivers have dabbled in dirt over the years and this weekend could be the opportunity they were looking for to showcase their skills and get to Victory Lane.
Six of the seven winners from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Eldora Speedway are entered this weekend – Austin Dillon (2013), Bubba Wallace (2014), Christopher Bell (2015), Kyle Larson (2016), Chase Briscoe (2018) and making his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend, Stewart Friesen (2019). Matt Crafton won the Eldora race in 2017 but is not entered in the Cup race on Sunday.
In total, 17 drivers entered in this weekend’s Food City Dirt Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track have competed on the dirt at Eldora Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 2013-2019.
Cup Drivers Average Finish at Eldora Speedway
Rank
Active Drivers
Avg. Finish
Starts
1
Chase Briscoe
3.667
3
2
Bubba Wallace
4.000
2
3
Christopher Bell
4.000
3
4
Austin Dillon
5.667
3
5
Tyler Reddick
6.333
3
6
Stewart Friesen
8.500
4
7
Ryan Blaney
9.000
2
8
Kyle Larson
9.667
3
9
Ty Dillon
10.800
5
10
Ross Chastain
12.000
1
11
William Byron
14.000
1
12
Chris Windom
16.500
2
13
Erik Jones
16.500
2
14
Ryan Newman
16.500
2
15
Cole Custer
17.500
2
16
JJ Yeley
21.000
1
17
Brad Keselowski
28.000
1
One driver that shined every time he got behind the wheel on dirt at Eldora was Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe. Not only does the 2021 Sunoco rookie candidate have a win at the track (2018), but he also leads all the active Cup drivers with previous starts at Eldora in average finish with a 3.667 in three starts.
Dirt racing is in Chase Briscoe’s blood. His grandfather, Richard Briscoe, was a sprint car owner, builder and crew chief who fielded cars for legendary drivers such as Chuck Amati, Dave Blaney (the Buckeye Bullet), Dick Gaines, Jack Hewitt, Steve Kinser and Rich Vogler. Plus, Briscoe’s father, Kevin Briscoe, raced sprint cars for more than 20 years and won more than 150 feature events. He claimed track championships at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana, and Bloomington (Ind.) Speedway five times, including one streak of three consecutive.
Briscoe began racing sprint cars full-time in 2008, and he won the final race of the season at Paragon Speedway, his first win in a 410-sprint car. The victory was record breaking, at 13 years old, Briscoe became the youngest driver to win in a 410-sprint car, supplanting the previous record holder NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (Gordon was 14). From there, Briscoe moved on to wing and non-winged mini sprint divisions in 2016 and won at the Tulsa Shootout in both. Since 2015, he has regularly competed at the Chili Bowl Nationals.
Some other new faces to keep an eye on this weekend are Spire Motorsport’s Stewart Friesen, Rick Ware Racing’s Chris Windom and Live Fast Motorsport’s Shane Golobic, all of which mastered their driving talents on dirt.
Stewart Friesen will be piloting the No. 77 Spore Motorsports Chevrolet in his series debut this weekend. Friesen is the most recent winner at Eldora in the Camping World Truck Series (2019). Friesen, a native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, is a decorated stand out of Dirt Modifieds and Sprint Cars with over 330 victories in his dirt racing career stretching back to 1999. Friesen won the Short Track Super Series North and South Championships in 2020.
Shane Golobic, a Fremont, California native, is an accomplished winged/non-winged sprint car and midget racer. Golobic, 25, is a talented young driver with ability to adapt to various racing surfaces and cars. He has made three ARCA Menards Series West starts posting two top-10 finishes. Golobic is also a World of Outlaw Feature winner, USAC National Midget Feature Winner, 2016 Trophy Cup Champion, 2014 Civil War Series Champion, 2012 and 2014 Ocean Speedway Champion, 2009 Calistoga Speedway Champion and has claimed over 45 career feature wins. Golobic will pilot the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford this weekend.
Chris Windom, a Canton, Illinois native, was the seventh driver to complete a United States Auto Club (USAC) Triple Crown by winning titles in sprint cars, midget cars, and Silver Crown.
Windom won the 2017 USAC National Sprint Car Championship, the 2016 USAC Silver Crown Championship, and the 2020 National Midget Car championship. He is also a two-time Indiana Sprint Week (2011, 2018) & Eastern Storm (2017, 2018) champion, and a two-time winner of the Little 500 (2011, 2015). Windom has also made seven career starts in the ARCA Menards Series between 2011-2015 posting two top fives and five top 10s. He has also made five career starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series including two starts at Eldora Speedway where he posted a best finish of 14th.
Larson’s Luck: Last week was a heart breaker, this week could be a soul shaker
Last Sunday, Kyle Larson suffered a heartbreaking runner-up finish to Ryan Blaney at Atlanta Motor Speedway after dominating the event and winning the first two stages. It was the fourth time in Larson’s career he had won the first two stages of a race but didn’t bring home the checkered flag. Now the 28-year-old is looking to build on the early season strength and win the first Cup Series race on dirt in more than 50 years. A lot of drivers have raced on dirt before making their way to the NASCAR Cup Series, but none have come with such prestige, built on the success from dirt racing, as Hendrick Motorsport’s driver Kyle Larson.
The Elk Grove, Calif. native, has built an extensive and impressive racing resume with more than 250 career race wins. In fact, he has won in every racing series he’s competed in (NASCAR Cup, NASCAR Xfinity, NASCAR Camping World Truck, K&N East/West, ARCA, Sprint Car, Midget, Silver Crown, Late Model and IMSA). Most notably, Larson has earned seven victories in the NASCAR Cup Series and won the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals twice in 2020 and 2021, the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2019, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2015. He also won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway, winning in all three types of USAC cars in a single night, only the second driver in history to accomplish the feat. But Larson’s legend doesn’t end there, in 2020, he turned in one of the most impressive years in the history of dirt-track racing. While primarily driving sprint cars, he racked up an incredible 46 victories in 97 attempts. Larson led the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in victories with 12 despite competing in only 26 of its 54 events and he secured his first Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series win.
Larson has also competed in three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Eldora Speedway posting a win in 2016 and an average finish of 9.67.
Denny Hamlin’s consistent pace has him out front
Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver Denny Hamlin has set sail on the competition in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings. The Chesterfield, Virginia native, is currently leading the series driver standings by 43 points over second place Kyle Larson after he posted his fifth top-five finish in the first six races of the year.
Though Hamlin has yet to visit Victory Lane this season, he has been super consistent and leads the series in top fives (five) and is tied for the series-most top10s (five) with Kyle Larson and Kevin Harvick.
This will be Hamlin’s first time competing on a dirt track in a NASCAR national series event but has found success on the paved Bristol track posting two wins (2012, 2019).
Ryan Blaney quickly adds his name to the Playoffs & All-Star lists
For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career at Team Penske, Ryan Blaney is the first of the three Penske drivers to get a win during a season and in the process has locked himself into the Playoffs and the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway on June 13.
Prior to this season’s win coming in just the sixth race of the year, the earliest in a season he has won was the 13th race of last season at Talladega Superspeedway. Plus, his win last week at Atlanta, marks the fifth consecutive season for the High Point, North Carolina native to win in the NASCAR Cup Series (2017-2021).
Now Blaney is ranked seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings 83 points behind Denny Hamlin in the series standings lead.
Looking ahead to this weekend on dirt, Blaney’s father, Dave Blaney, is a successful dirt racer earning the name the ‘Buckeye Bullet’. Ryan Blaney is one of 17 drivers that competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Eldora. He made two starts posting an average finish of 9.0.
Stewart Friesen to race #77 Spire Motorsports car in Cup career debut at Bristol Dirt
Spire Motorsports announced last week that Stewart Friesen will drive the No. 77 car on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 28, with Halmar International as the primary partner. The car will be adorned in Friesen’s traditional Halmar colors and will be prepared for competition by Spire and led by Crew Chief Kevin Bellicourt.
Friesen will have a full schedule on the Bristol dirt this Spring. In addition to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race on March 28, Friesen will also be competing in the NASCAR Camping World Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt on March 27, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Bristol Bash on April 9 and 10, and the Super Dirt Car Series Big Block Modifieds on April 23 and 24.
Friesen, who has over 330 career wins in dirt modified racing, won the last time the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series raced on dirt at Eldora Speedway in 2019.
“It’s a dream come true to compete in the Cup Series,” said Friesen. “It’s the pinnacle of motorsports in North America. As a race fan myself, it has always been something I’ve dreamed about doing.”
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Rising Country Star Larry Fleet to perform prior to the Food City Dirt Race – Praised by CMT as “a rising country artist with a rich, bluesy voice,” Larry Fleet has struck a major chord with fans and this weekend he will perform the pre-race concert at Bristol Motor Speedway prior to the start of the historic Food City Dirt Race.
The one-time construction worker who was discovered by fellow Country artist Jake Owen in 2017 while playing a friend’s backyard party, Fleet will take the stage at the Sugarlands Roof at Turn 4 in the track’s infield at approximately 2:30 p.m., safely distanced away from fans and participants.
Fleet’s first single, “Where I Find God” recently hit the airwaves to critical acclaim and follows the success of his first album, “Workin’ Hard,” which was released in November 2019 on Big Loud Records. His performance at BMS will be his first ever at a NASCAR event.
“I’ve always been a massive fan of Bristol and it’s been on my bucket list to go,” Fleet said. “Playing the pre-race show my first time being at the track makes it that much sweeter and it’s something I’ll always remember.”
Cup Stars In The Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals – Headlined by the powerful dirt Super Late Models, the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals, March 15-20, provided fans with a first look at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track, which features 19-degrees of banking in the corners and a 50-foot wide racing surface. NASCAR Cup Series stars Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Core LaJoie are among the drivers who entered the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals in one of the eight classes of competition. The NASCAR drivers used the event to prepare for this weekend’s historic Food City Dirt Race.
“Having the opportunity to showcase some amazing dirt track racing during our 60th anniversary really is very special, given the overall roots of racing and the history that dirt has here at The Last Great Colosseum,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager, Bristol Motor Speedway.
Doubling The Duty On Dirt – Seven different NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be attempting to compete in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race this weekend at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track – Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. are all entered in the event.
Milestone To Watch For: Truex, Busch are racing to 10,000 laps led – Two drivers are looking to become the 19th and 20th different drivers all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series to lead 10,000 laps in their career. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. currently has 9,963 laps led, just 37 laps shy of reaching the 10,000-lap led goal. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch is not far behind Truex with 9,905 laps led, 95 laps shy of 10,000.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Justin Allgaier turns season around with victory at Atlanta
Justin Allgaier’s 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season didn’t start out the way he had hoped. In five races, the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet had only one top-10 finish. Allgaier had been involved in various on-track incidents and started the season at Daytona International Speedway by starting second and finishing 28th. But he turned that all around at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend by winning the race and taking home his first victory of the season all while punching his ticket to the Playoffs.
The win marked the 15th victory of Allgaier’s career. Now the veteran driver has an extra two weeks to enjoy the spoils of the win and regroup for the next event at Martinsville Speedway on April 9. A track he made his series debut at last season and finished second.
Atlanta didn’t disappoint
Last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway was two hours, 10 minutes and 50 seconds long with an average speed of 115.117 mph that culminated in JR Motorsport’s driver Justin Allgaier beating second-place finisher and 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. by 1.449 seconds. Truex won both stages in his first race in the Xfinity Series since 2010and he led a race-high 103 laps, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Justin Allgaier.
Harrison Burton, Noah Gragson and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top five. Burton, Gragson, Allmendinger, along with Allgaier, all became Dash 4 Cash qualifiers as the four highest-finishing fulltime drivers in the race.
The Xfinity Series has a break this weekend as the Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series head to the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track. The next weekend the sport is off in observance of the Easter holiday so the series has quite a break to get everything in order.
The Cook Out 250 at Martinsville Speedway will take place at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, April 9.
Dash 4 Cash information The NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash program was designed to add elements of unpredictability and drama leading up to and during four designated races, increase on-track competition, engage fans and reward / recognize NASCAR Xfinity Series regular competitors.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash will take place at four tracks in 2021:
Martinsville Speedway (April 9)
Drivers competing in Dash 4 Cash will be Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet), Harrison Burton (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Noah Gragson (No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet), AJ Allmendinger (No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet)
Talladega Superspeedway (April 24)
Darlington Raceway (May 8)
Dover International Speedway (May 15)
The March 20 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be the initial qualifier for 2021 Dash 4 Cash program. The top four full-time finishers in the Atlanta race will qualify for the first round of the Dash 4 Cash at Martinsville Speedway on April 9.
The first of the four Dash 4 Cash competitors to finish at Martinsville Speedway will win the $100,000 bonus.
The Dash 4 Cash winner and next three highest finishing full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will then qualify for the next round of the Dash 4 Cash program at Talladega. That format will continue to Darlington and Dover.
Playing In The Dirt: Xfinity drivers racing this weekend at Bristol Despite the NASCAR Xfinity Series having the weekend off, three series drivers – Myatt Snider, Ty Dillon and Cody Ware – with their championship eligibility selected for the Xfinity Series this season are entered this weekend to take on the high-banks of the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track.
Richard Childress Racing’s Myatt Snider is having a breakout year in his NASCAR Xfinity Series career having posted his first win and clinched a spot in the Playoffs already this season. He sits seventh in the Xfinity driver standings 98 points behind Austin Cindric in the series standings lead. This weekend, Snider will be competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt for Reaume Brothers Racing in the No. 33 Chevrolet. Snider is no stranger to racing on dirt in the Truck Series he has one start at Eldora Speedway in 2018 where he started 15th and finished 20th.
Then on Sunday keep an eye out for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Dillon and Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware as both drivers will attempt to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Bristol Dirt track. Though both drivers are running part-time schedules in the Xfinity Series both have selected to run for a title in the series. Dillon has made three starts this season for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series posting a best finish of 14th in the season-opener at Daytona. Dillon is currently 36th in the series driver standings. This weekend Dillon will pilot the No. 96 Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota. Dillon has quite a bit of experience on dirt. He made five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Eldora Speedway posting one top five and two top 10s.
Much like Dillon, Ware has made just three starts this season for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series posting a best finish of 23rd last weekend at Atlanta. Ware is currently 43rd in the Xfinity driver standings. This weekend, Ware will once again be driving for Petty Ware Racing in the No. 51 Chevrolet. This weekend will be Ware’s first time competing in a NASCAR national series race on Dirt.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Outlook Following Atlanta-1:
Rank
Driver
Points
Wins
Stage Wins
Playoff Pts
Pts From Cutoff
1
Austin Cindric
277
2
4
14
In On Wins
2
AJ Allmendinger
194
1
1
6
3
Myatt Snider
179
1
0
5
4
Justin Allgaier
171
1
0
5
5
Daniel Hemric
231
0
2
2
97
6
Harrison Burton
212
0
0
0
78
7
Justin Haley
193
0
0
1
59
8
Jeb Burton
187
0
0
0
53
9
Jeremy Clements
165
0
0
0
31
10
Brandon Jones
155
0
1
1
21
11
Brandon Brown
142
0
0
0
8
12
Riley Herbst
135
0
0
0
1
13
Michael Annett
134
0
0
0
-1
14
Noah Gragson
114
0
0
0
-21
15
Landon Cassill
112
0
0
0
-23
With five different race winners so far in 2021 and four drivers already locked in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, there are a lot of shakeups each week in the Playoff picture.
Justin Allgaier took the fourth Playoff spot with his win at Atlanta over the weekend, joining Austin Cindric, AJ Allmendinger and Myatt Snider on the list of winners going to the postseason.
Daniel Hemric has stayed consistent and keeps the highest Playoff spot without a win. He’s 97 points above the cutline and has two stage wins and two Playoff points.
In terms of biggest surprises in the Playoff outlook so far, two drivers are standing out. Jeremy Clements has been in the top 12 for most of the season and has shown speed all year. For a small, one-car team (Jeremy Clements Racing), this is a big deal to them. Clements is currently 31 points above the Playoff cutline.
The same goes for Brandonbilt Motorsport’s driver Brandon Brown, who is having a career season and got a career-best finish of third at Phoenix Raceway. In total, Brown has made six starts this season posting one top-five and three top-10 finishes. He is currently eight points above the Playoff cutline.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year update
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs is still leading the charge in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He’s won two awards and has 88 points. He’s made two starts in 2021, including the first Xfinity Series start of his career and walked away with a win at the Daytona Road Course. His second start was at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished second from the 27th starting position.
Josh Berry is second in the rookie standings with 79 points and one award. Berry has made five starts for JR Motorsports this season and has a best finish of seventh at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Unfortunately, Berry has been the victim of some on-track incidents resulting in a 38th-place finish last week at Atlanta and a 36th-place finish at Phoenix the week prior. Of his five starts, he has three DNFs.
Ryan Vargas is third in the rookie standings with 60 points and three awards. Vargas has run in all six races so far this season and has a best finish of 18th in the season-opener at Daytona.
Jordan Anderson and Sam Mayer, who both have declared for rookie points for 2021, have not yet made a start so they are currently fourth and fifth in the rookie standings.
Manufacturer update Chevrolet is leading the manufacturers championship standings right now with three wins and 221 points. Myatt Snider, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Allgaier got Chevrolet their three wins.
Ford is second in the manufacturer standings with two wins and 211 points. Ford’s two wins came from Austin Cindric in the season-opener and at Phoenix Raceway.
Toyota is in third with one win and 214 points. Their win came from Ty Gibbs at the Daytona Road Course.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Camping World Truck Series playing in the dirt at Bristol
While the NASCAR Cup Series will be racing on dirt this weekend for the first time in more than 50 years, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to the surface in 2013 at Eldora Speedway in Ohio.
Although the 2020 edition of the Eldora race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trucks will race on dirt twice this season – this weekend in Saturday night’s Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and later this season at Knoxville Speedway in Iowa.
Of the seven races run on the dirt at Eldora between 2013 and 2019, five of the race winners will try to qualify for this weekend’s race – Bubba Wallace (2014), Kyle Larson (2016), Matt Crafton (2017), Chase Briscoe (2018) and the most recent winner in 2019, Stewart Friesen.
In addition to Wallace (driving the No. 11 Toyota for Spencer Davis Motorsports) and Larson (No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet), several other NASCAR Cup Series regulars will be taking a turn on the dirt with the Camping World Truck Series.
Daniel Suarez (No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet), Kevin Harvick (No. 17 Team DGR Ford), Ryan Newman (No. 39 Diversified Custom Concepts Ford), and Martin Truex Jr. (No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota) will all be attempting to make the main event Saturday.
In total, there are 22 drivers entered (half the field) who have raced at least once at Eldora Speedway on the dirt in the Camping World Truck Series. Crafton and Johnny Sauter are the only drivers who competed in all seven Eldora races between 2013 and 2019.
And on top of Eldora dirt experience, a pair of drivers in the field have won an ARCA Menards Series West race on dirt – in the pair of races held on the dirt at Las Vegas. Sheldon Creed won there in 2018 while Hailie Deegan won the race in 2019. Derek Krause also won his qualifying race in each of those two years on the Las Vegas dirt.
Setting the Truck field and race format
A total of 44 trucks are currently entered for Saturday night’s Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) to vie for 40 spots in the final field for the 150-lap race.
To set the field, Saturday afternoon will feature four qualifying races with 11 trucks per race, starting at 4:30 p.m. ET. A random draw determines the heat race designation and starting position for the heat races, and the draw was done in the order of current owner points.
Each qualifying race will be 15 laps, with only green flag laps counting and the overtime rule will not be in effect. Free pass and wave around procedures will be in use.
Drivers will accumulate points in the heat races based on finishing position and passing points. Then, the lineup for the feature race will be based on combined points of heat race finishing position and passing points.
Passing points are defined as the difference between the assigned starting position and the finishing position of the trucks. There will only be positive passing points awarded for moving forward – if a driver finishes in the same or a lower position, they will receive zero points.
Finishing points are awarded as such (11th place will also receive one point):
Finish
Points
1
10
2
9
3
8
4
7
5
6
6
5
7
4
8
3
9
2
10
1
The feature race will be 150 laps divided into three stages (40/90/150). The running order will be frozen at the conclusion of each stage. During the stage breaks, teams can change tires, add fuel and make adjustments to their trucks. Trucks cannot add fuel or change tires except at stage breaks.
Husband and wife team to tackle Bristol dirt
In a first for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, a married couple will attempt to compete against each other in a race. Jessica Friesen, a well-known sprint car and modifieds dirt racer, will be making her NASCAR national series debut while driving the No. 62 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota.
The No. 62 will mark the first time Halmar Friesen has fielded a second truck for a race, and it will be alongside the familiar No. 52 of Jessica’s husband Stewart Friesen – the most recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series dirt race winner (Eldora, 2019).
The Friesens have competed against each other in a race before (they actually finished first and second in a race at Utica-Rome Speedway two days after their wedding in 2014). But they will be attempting to become the first husband-wife duo to compete in the same NASCAR national series race since Elton Sawyer and Patty Moise last did it at Atlanta in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 1998.
The weekend won’t end on Saturday after the Camping World Truck Series race for the Friesens, however. Stewart will be running the No. 77 Spire Motorsports entry on Sunday in his NASCAR Cup Series debut.
Championship hunt
Two drivers have locked in their spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs by virtue of wins this year – Ben Rhodes swept the opening pair of races on the Daytona superspeedway and road course configurations while John Hunter Nemechek won at Las Vegas.
And those two drivers lead the points, as well – Nemechek in first with 204 points and Rhodes in second with 157 points.
Sheldon Creed (154 points) and Matt Crafton (145) have put together a solid season in regards to points, holding on to third and fourth, respectively. Creed is just three points behind Rhodes, while Crafton holds a 23-point lead over fifth-place Stewart Friesen (122).
Of note, all three of those drivers have found success on dirt – with Creed having and ARCA Menards Series West win on the Las Vegas dirt and Crafton and Friesen both having golden shovels from Eldora.
Austin Hill (115), Johnny Sauter (103), Zane Smith (99), Carson Hocevar (93) and Chandler Smith (92) currently round out the 10 Playoff positions based on points. (Grant Enfinger is ninth in overall points, but is not eligible for the Playoffs after missing the Daytona Road Course race.)
Hocevar takes over Sunoco Rookie of the Year lead
By the most narrow of margins, Carson Hocevar took over the lead in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings following Atlanta. After trailing by 22 points heading out of Las Vegas, a 12th-place finish at Atlanta vaulted Hocevar to a one-point lead over Chandler Smith. Smith finished 35th at Atlanta.
Chase Purdy (third) and Hailie Deegan (fourth) are just a point away from each other, as well, following Atlanta. Deegan finished 21st at Atlanta while Purdy was 24th.
This weekend will provide for a fun challenge that may favor Deegan in the standings, who has a win in the ARCA Menards Series West on the dirt at Las Vegas.
Richard Childress Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track… With the NASCAR Cup Series taking to dirt for the first time since 1970, Richard Childress Racing will compete in the inaugural event at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Before the main feature on Sunday, Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick will run two 50-minute practice sessions and a qualifying heat to determine the starting lineup. Both Dillon and Reddick are armed with dirt backgrounds and have spent significant time preparing for this unique race with their teams.
Richard Childress Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway… While Sunday’s race will make history on the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt oval, Richard Childress Racing has found success on the half-mile’s typical concrete surface. In 179 NASCAR Cup Series starts, the Welcome, N.C. organization has scored nine wins, 35 top-five, and 71 top-10 finishes at the Tennessee short track.
Catch the Action… The NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race will be televised live Sunday, March 28, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / TRACKER Off Road Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Bristol Motor Speedway… While this weekend marks the first NASCAR Cup Series race on Bristol Motor Speedway’s dirt configuration, Dillon has made 14 paved Cup starts at the track, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Winner, Winner… Dillon has won at Bristol Motor Speedway on both the paved and dirt configurations. In addition to winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the track in August 2016 (paved), Dillon was among the first drivers to compete on the track’s dirt surface last week. He won two features and a heat race in dominating fashion in a 604 Crate Late Model for Corey Hedgecock Racing.
An Ace on Dirt… Dillon first began racing dirt late models in 2006 as the natural progression in his career after starting out in legend cars and bandoleros. Under the tutelage of Shane and Dale McDowell, notable dirt racing victories include the All-Star Shootout at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 2009 and May 2007).
About Tracker Off Road… Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE prominently features TRACKER ATVs, a game-changing new line of all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides offering breakthrough performance, service and value in the off-road industry. TRACKER OFF ROAD was born out of a powerhouse partnership formed between Bass Pro Shops and TRACKER founder Johnny Morris and Textron Specialized Vehicles, bringing together the undisputed world leader in boating with a global leader in innovation and technology.
About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit .
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES: The configuration of the high banks on the Bristol dirt stands out. What are some other parts of the track that strikes you as either very similar or very different from dirt tracks that you’ve raced in the past? “Well, I think the dirt itself is interesting. The type of dirt they choose to lay down on Bristol is not a dirt that you see in the Midwest; it’s a sandy-dirt. When you really get into the dirt track racing world, you start talking about the type of dirt that you’re racing on and certain dirt puts on better races, and certain dirt goes through different transitions than the other. The good thing is that the dirt, I feel like, came from a track that I kind of grew up racing around and I kind of know the transitions and what it takes, I think, to create speed throughout the transitions that it’s going to go through. So, if anything, maybe that helps me. But it’s not a dirt that I believe you’re going to see a cushion built; it doesn’t do that. This stuff kind of creates a fluff and it gets up there; you can gain grip because it might be wet up there for a while, but it’s not something that you can use as a curb to catch you, which is different. And I’m glad that it came from around here because I feel like I’ve ran on it a lot and know when it has grip and when it doesn’t.”
Does the weight of the cars play into your favor? “From sprint cars to late models, I definitely think there’s some experience there that helps. Kyle (Larson), he’s driving late models now and doing really well. He about won the big race this past weekend in the super. The weight in those late models, they drive so much different than our Cup cars or a truck. A truck, from what I know in the past, the history that I have in my mind is that they are heavier. You don’t really drive them, I would say, like a late model or a sprint car. Definitely the weight is the biggest thing in the difference in how you drive.”
“Side force, too, I’ll throw that in there. Our cars don’t have the bodies that the late models and sprint cars have wings; they’re just built a lot different to rely on downforce.”
Talk about the importance of the practice session at Bristol. “It will be nice to have some practice to just test and tune. I think the difference between an asphalt track and a dirt track is we have so many notes on things that we don’t do. A dirt track is where you can go to it with an open mindset and do things that you wouldn’t normally do to find speed and that’s what’s going to be fun for all of the crew chiefs, car chiefs and mechanics out there to really do things opposite. The thought process has to be so open-minded when we get there to the track. Not only are you worrying about the setup, but you’re worried about the car. Make sure the heights are right, you’re not rolling the nose under – there’s a lot of things that we do at a dirt track to just make the car go around the track. And then it might not always be like ‘hey, we needed just a little more wedge to be perfect’. It might be ‘we need more clearance so I don’t hit the track right here and get tight’. There’s a lot of fun stuff about the practice.”
“The heat races – they’ll be challenging. It’s a short amount of time and you’ll want to get as many passing points as you can. Your starting position matters at any type of racing level. The draw – I haven’t really looked into how that’s going to go down or where we start in the heat races yet. But I think the whole process is going to be fun. I was hoping we would go off of a regular race weekend and go off of the past race, because we would have a pretty good starting position after our run at Atlanta this past weekend, and I think starting up front would be really good for us. I’m not really worried about where we start in the dirt race because I feel like if you do your job and practice that you should be able to move forward through the race.”
“I watched the stock car race and I felt like the stock car race was probably one of the best races this past week when I was there at the Dirt Car Nationals, and that’s what I’m hoping you guys get to see from the Cup level. All the guys that are preparing the track – I’ve been in touch with some of those people, trying to just give feedback to give it the best show we can put on for all the fans out there. I think they’re prepared; I think the knowledge they gained form the Dirt Car Nationals last week will really go a long way when it comes down to it of what you see this coming week.”
Tyler Reddick and the No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE at Bristol Motor Speedway… This weekend marks the first time the NASCAR Cup Series will be running on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. Reddick does have two Cup Series starts at the track on the concrete surface, with his best finish of fourth coming during last fall’s event. Reddick also has five NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track, winning the 2019 fall race with crew chief Randall Burnett, along with two top-five and four top-10 finishes. He also has two NASCAR Truck Series starts and two top-five finishes at Bristol.
Dirt Track Savvy… Both Reddick and his crew chief, Randall Burnett, came to NASCAR from dirt racing backgrounds. Reddick began racing on dirt at age four in Outlaw Karts before moving on to midgets, dirt late models and sprint cars. During that time, he became the youngest person to qualify on the pole for the World 100 at Eldora Speedway, as well as the youngest winner at the East Bay Winter Nationals and in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. Burnett grew up in Fenton, Missouri, where he often built and raced his own late models at local tracks before moving out to attend school at UNC Charlotte. Burnett continues to be an avid dirt racing fan today.
iRacing Success… On Wednesday night, Reddick climbed behind the wheel of his virtual No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the kick-off event of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series. After advancing through his qualifying heat, Reddick rode the high line to a second-place finish in the main feature.
About Bet MGM… BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International and Entain (formerly GVC), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM Resorts’ U.S. land-based and online sports betting, major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain’s U.S.-licensed, state of the art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino, Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey. TYLER REDDICK QUOTES: While they weren’t NASCAR vehicles, what are your thoughts on Bristol Motor Speedway’s dirt surface after seeing the Bristol Dirt Nationals take place last week? “I saw a lot of great racing and a really fast track for those divisions that ran last week. We saw a couple bumps develop in Turns 3 and 4, likely because of the rain, but overall it was a very fast track for those cars. That’s exciting to me because our Cup cars are so much heavier with more power and less tire underneath us, so we should have some great racing this weekend. I think one thing that will be interesting to see if it unfolds is if two lanes of competitive racing on the track will develop with the Cup cars at the same time. But regardless, from what I saw this past week, I think it’s going to be a good race. It was just really cool to watch. My crew chief, Randall Burnett, and I went up to Bristol last Friday afternoon to check it out, touch the dirt and really understand how it was going so far. To see how quick these late models were going was amazing. 250 laps is a lot for a dirt track, so the track will change quite a bit during the race on Sunday. It should be exciting for fans and I’m looking forward to being behind the wheel of the No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for it.”
What were some of the takeaways from your visit to Bristol last Friday on how the track has been prepared? “There’s a lot of things to look at. The track says they took banking out, but it still has a lot of banking in it, so that was wild to see. There’s a lot of dirt on this racetrack, and it’s really incredible to see how they all brought it together. They had a lot of equipment out there and were trying a lot of things on the track this past week. I think it was great Bristol had that week of racing with so many different entries ahead of NASCAR’s weekend there. Bristol now has a better idea of what the track is going to do with so many different cars having been on it, that now they can get the track where they want it to be for us.”
Race fans who like to “Break out the Herr’s” will have another reason to add May 22 to their calendar. Herr Foods and the Automobile Racing Club of America have announced the renewal of Herr’s entitlement sponsorship of the ARCA Menards Series race at Toledo Speedway.
The Herr’s Potato Chips 200 will be the fifth race of the 2021 season and the opening round of the ten-race Sioux Chief Showdown, the series-within-the-series that invites the best teams and drivers from the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West to battle for nearly a million dollars in race purses, point fund awards, and bonus money.
“We are pleased to continue our relationship with ARCA, and Menards,” said Bob Clark, VP Marketing at Herr Foods. “The partnership with ARCA and Menards has been a win-win for over a decade now, and we look forward to many more opportunities to introduce our products to race fans throughout the country.”
The renewal marks the tenth year that Herr’s has been the entitlement sponsor of an ARCA Menards Series race. The relationship started with current NASCAR Cup Series star Chris Buescher winning at Madison International Speedway on his way to the series championship in 2012, kicking off a three-year run at the Wisconsin half-mile that also saw 15-year-old sensation Kyle Benjamin and Justin Boston score wins. The entitlement then moved to the legendary high-banked half-mile Winchester Speedway in Indiana for two years, with current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Wayne Self winning in 2015 and future NASCAR Cup Series star Chase Briscoe scoring his first career series win on the way to the 2016 series championship.
The sponsorship transitioned to the mile dirt track at the Illinois State Fair in 2017 and former series champion Grant Enfinger scored the most recent of his 16 career ARCA Menards Series wins. Current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series star and nine-time ARCA Menards Series winner Chandler Smith celebrated his first career ARCA win with a potato chip shower in victory lane at Madison in 2018 and followed with another at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2019. The 2020 version of the race was part of the ARCA Menards Series East schedule at Toledo Speedway and rising superstar Ty Gibbs earned the victory, one of seven he scored on the ARCA Menards Series platform throughout the year.
“ARCA race fans really do like to “Break out the Herr’s,” and that’s why this partnership between Menards and Herr’s is such a great fit,” said Menards promotions manager Jeff Abbott. “This relationship is now entering its second decade and we can always count on our friends at Herr’s to liven things up whether it’s in the snack aisle at our stores or in victory lane at the Herr’s Potato Chips 200. We look forward to seeing who will get showered with Herr’s chips in victory lane at Toledo Speedway on May 22.”
In addition to the Toledo Race entitlement, the sponsorship Package includes designation as the Official Salty Snack of the ARCA Menards Series, as well as per race, point fund and special award sponsorship. Herr Foods also supports the ARCA Menards Series Telecasts on FS1 and MavTV.
Advance discounted tickets will be available at Toledo-area Menards locations for just $20 starting in April. As has been tradition throughout the past decade, fans at the track will have the opportunity to sample their favorite Herr’s Chips flavors at the racetrack throughout pre-race festivities. For event information, please visit ToledoSpeedway.com and ARCARacing.com.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 25, 2021) – Carson Hocevar will run a special paint scheme honoring Bryan Clauson in this weekend’s Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“Bryan Clauson was a hero of mine and I got a chance to learn from him in quarter midgets,” said Hocevar. “I really look at how big of an impact he had on the racing community and how he handled himself on and off the track.”
Hocevar first met Clauson as a young racer, while in quarter midgets. Clauson and his father Tim helped Hocevar through the years, which Hocevar credits with helping him to become a better race car driver. Bryan and Tim helped Hocevar the first time he raced on dirt, which Hocevar says he remembers like yesterday.
Through the first four races of the season, Hocevar leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year point standings, on the strength one top-five and three top-15 finishes. The 18-year-old driver’s best finish of the year was a fifth-place result in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.
“Carson has really impressed me with how quickly he picks up each track that he visits for the first time, and I’m confident that will continue into this weekend,” said Niece Motorsports General Manager, Cody Efaw, who also serves as Hocevar’s crew chief. “I have to remind myself often that Carson is only 18-years-old because of the maturity that he carries himself with. I know this paint scheme is really special to him – we are honored to carry Bryan’s logo, and hope to make him proud.”
Hocevar’s No. 42 Chevrolet will carry a blue and white paint scheme that resembles a scheme that Clauson competed with in 2008, in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The No. 42 Chevrolet will also carry familiar partners Scott’s and GM Parts Now.
Scott’s Sport Cards, Coins & Jewelry carries the largest selection of high-quality estate jewelry, rare coins, and anything in between in Southwest Michigan. Since 1972, Scott Hocevar has been collecting, buying, and selling gold and silver jewelry, coins, and bullion. Having earned a reputation for offering fair prices, working with Scott’s allows customers to be confident that they are getting the best, most current prices available when buying gold and silver, estate jewelry, and sports memorabilia.
GM Parts Now is the go-to online auto parts store for OEM car parts. Whether customers are looking to repair or customize an old or new vehicle, GM Parts Now has what you need. GM Parts Now offers car parts and GM accessories for a variety of years, makes and models.
“I’m really excited to get our Truck on track,” said Hocevar. “I know this will definitely be a unique challenge, so we will be using the practice time we get to acclimate to the track as much as possible. I’m confident in the Chevrolet our team has prepared, and ready to tackle the challenge.”
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be on track Friday, March 26 for practice, and will race on Saturday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET, airing live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2021, Niece Motorsports enters its sixth season in the NASCAR Camping World 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.
BRISTOL, Tenn: On the heels of their solid top-20 finish in their first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race of the season last weekend at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Spencer Davis Motorsports (SDM) treks to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for the highly anticipated Pinty’s Dirt Truck Race.
Announced last week, Bubba Wallace in a collaborative effort with Hattori Racing Enterprises will pilot the No. 11 Columbia Sportswear Toyota Tundra for the 150-lap event.
Wallace lays claim to six victories in the Camping World Truck Series, including the 2014 dirt race at Eldora Speedway.
The Mobile, Ala. native is gunning for his first series win since 2017 and is focused to gain precious experience for the NASCAR Cup Series’ dirt event on March 28th.
SDM and driver Spencer Davis will utilize the fifth Truck Series race of the season to also gather notes for the upcoming dirt race at Knoxville Raceway in July.
“Even though I am not driving, this is an exciting weekend for Spencer Davis Motorsports,” said Spencer Davis. “We know that Bubba is going to go out there and wheel that No. 11 Columbia Sportswear Toyota Tundra to a good finish.
“I know that his prior Truck Series experience on dirt should prove to beneficial for him and his feedback will only help us accelerate as a company moving forward.”
Wallace, the full-time driver for 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series is set to compete in his first Truck Series race in nearly seven years since competing in the season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in 2014 for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“I’m pumped to get to Bristol and run on the dirt in the No. 11 Tundra,” said Wallace. “This is a race I’ve had circled on my calendar for the Cup race, so to be able to add the Truck race and have Columbia come on board just adds to the excitement for that week.
“I have the one win in the Truck Series at Eldora, and it was a lot of fun. I may need to pull some notes from that race to prepare, but I’m just really looking forward to getting back in a Tundra and starting the Bristol weekend with a win.”
Following Atlanta, Spencer Davis Motorsports locks 35th in the championship standings, up one position from the previous race at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Mar. 5, 2021.
“I am really proud of our efforts at Atlanta,” sounded Davis. “We wanted to come out of the box with a strong result that we could build on and we did exactly that. It is important for us to keep up that momentum and hopefully, the results will come too.”
The Pinty’s Dirt Truck Race at Bristol (150 laps | 75 miles) is the fifth of 22 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2021 schedule. Practice begins for the inaugural event on Fri., Mar. 26, 2021, from 3:05 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., with a final session, etched in from 5:35 p.m. – 6:25 p.m. Heat races begin on race day, Sat., Mar. 27, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. The 36-truck field will take the green flag later in the day at 8:00 p.m. ET with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.
Saturday, March 27 Track: Bristol Motor Speedway, .5-mile dirt oval Race: 5 of 22 Event: Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt (150 laps, 75 miles)
Schedule Friday, March 26
First Practice: 3:05 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1) Final Practice: 5:35 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
Saturday, March 27 Qualifying Races: 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports 1) Race: 8:00 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
Hailie Deegan, No. 1 Monster Energy F-150
Deegan makes her fifth start of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season in the No. 1 Monster Energy Ford F-150 on Saturday night in the Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The rookie driver will participate in a qualifying heat race to determine her starting spot.
Deegan has four starts at Bristol. One ARCA Series start in September of 2020 where she earned a sixth-place finish. Two K&N East Series starts in 2019 with a best finish of ninth, and one in 2018 resulting in a 22nd-place finish.
Deegan has three starts at a dirt track in a stock car – two in the K&N Pro Series West at the Las Vegas Dirt Track, which included one win and a pole award. She has one start in the ARCA Menards Series at the Springfield Dirt Mile in Illinois.
Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Deegan started 28th and finished 21st in her first start at the mile-and-a-half track.
Veteran crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. has called five Truck Series dirt races in his career, all at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio which was previously on the truck schedule.
Deegan on Bristol Dirt:
Will any of your time racing on the dirt track at Las Vegas translate to racing dirt at Bristol?
“The Las Vegas dirt track and the Bristol dirt track will be two totally different feelings. Vegas dirt feels and looks completely different because it gets so dry there. There’s a very noticeable different in the colors of the dirt – Vegas dirt is a lot lighter. When you get to tracks where they bring the dirt in, its more like clay and holds the moisture so much better.”
What is a noticeable difference for you between dirt and pavement?
“Dirt is tough and it’s very uncomfortable for people that are used to racing on pavement. People that have raced on a lot of dirt are comfortable being uncomfortable. Pavement is super smooth and there’s a lot of grip. On dirt, you feel a little out of control but you’re trying to be precise.”
Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performance F-150
Gray has one career start at Bristol Motor Speedway coming in 2020 where he started 16th and finished third.
Starting positions for the 150-lap main event on Saturday night will be determined by passing points after four qualifying races. The lineup for the qualifying races will be determined by random draw on Thursday afternoon.
Through five starts this season, Gray has a best finish of 12th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He finished 19th last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
While the 21-year-old driver doesn’t have experience on dirt in a truck, he turned quite a few laps in 600cc micro sprints in his younger years, and still owns one to race at Millbridge Speedway in his spare time.
Gray on Bristol:
“I think I’m equally as excited as I am anxious heading into this race. I’m excited because I think it will be really fun and it’s something different compared to what we usually race. At the same time I have no idea what to expect when we hit the track. Thankfully we have practice and heat races so we can get as many laps as possible and adapt to racing on dirt.”
Kevin Harvick, No. 17 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford F-150
Harvick returns to the Truck Series for his first race since his lone 2015 series start` at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in August. The veteran driver started seventh and finished runner-up in the 69-lap event.
Harvick has support from long time partner Hunt Brothers Pizza for his first dirt race in a truck. The California native will also carry a Hunt Brothers Pizza on-board camera for Saturday night’s event.
The Ford driver has 123 career Truck Series starts which includes 14 wins, four pole positions, 48 top-five and 62 top-10 finishes. Harvick will utilize his Cup Series spotter, Tim Fedewa, for the truck race.
Seth Smith will be calling the shots from atop the pit box this weekend for the No. 17 F-150.
The DGR trucks will sport a “Get Well Soon Wes” decal this weekend at Bristol in support of shop foreman, Wes Ward.
(Lakeside, CA, March 24, 2021) The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series will kick off its second season of competition this Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27, with the Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Championships at Arizona’s Mojave Valley Raceway.
Both nights will be complete shows with $1,500.00 going to the winner on Saturday night. In addition, more than $500.00 in bonus money has been added to the purse. Among the entrants expected for the season openers are Brent Sexton and his teenage son Grant from Lakeside, California, Yucca Valley, California’s Jeff Dyer, Rudy Padilla, 2020 Rookie of the Year Kevin Bates, El Cajon, California brothers Jim & Jon Squire, and San Diego’s A.J. Bender & David Bezio.
Friday and Saturday’s events are the first two of 13 on the 2021 schedule for the Southwest Lightning Sprint Cars. Nine of the races, including this weekend’s races in the “Copper State,” will be winged races. The four other races will be wingless. Ten of the races will be at the series home track, the Barona Speedway. A total of three, including this weekend’s dates, will be at the Mojave Valley Raceway. In addition, several Southwest Series teams will be headed to Missouri for the POWRi Nationals at the end of May.
As well as the Southwest Lightning Sprints, the Western States Dwarf Car Nationals will also be taking place both nights. The IMCA Northern Sport Mods will also be in action.
For Fans who would like to attend this weekend’s races in Arizona, the spectator gates will open at 6:00 p.m. with racing at 7:00 on Friday. On Saturday night, gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with racing at 6:00. The track is located at 2550 Laguna Road in Fort Mojave (86440). The track website is https://www.mohavevalleyraceway.com/ and the office phone number is (928) 346-3000.
The Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Series would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 2021 season possible. Lucas Oil, Sexton Fire Protection, RTL Traffic Control & Equipment, Victory Graphix, United Cleaning Company, BK Wing, and A.M. Ortega Construction Inc. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, please contact Brent Sexton at (619) 454-6945 or mailto:sextonfire@cox.net
2021 Lucas Oil POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car Schedule March 26 Mohave Valley Raceway (Winged) March 27 Mojave Valley Raceway (Winged) April 3 Barona Speedway (Winged) April 17 Barona Speedway (Winged) May 1 Mojave Valley Raceway (Winged) May 15 Barona Speedway (Wingless) May 29 Missouri Speedway (POWRi Nationals) May 30 Missouri Speedway (POWRi Nationals) June 12 Barona Speedway (Winged) June 26 Barona Speedway (Wingless) August 7 Barona Speedway (Winged) August 21 Barona Speedway (Wingless) September 4 Barona Speedway (Winged) September 18 Barona Speedway (Wingless) October 2 Barona Speedway (Winged)
The dispute between car enthusiasts about which cars and bikes are better – American or European – has not subsided for as long as the American and European automotive industries have existed.
The balance between love for comfort on the verge of luxury and pragmatism in the Old and the New World is shifting from one end of the scale to the other, giving rise to the very features about which motorists argue.
Europe
It so happens that in Europe, the car is still considered a luxury. Hence, the attitude of producers and consumers. European vehicles, regardless of the brand of the manufacturer, cost considerable money. Accordingly, the repair and maintenance is not a cheap pleasure. Spare parts and components are expensive, even used ones, not to mention the new ones.
On the other hand, the European manufacturers are known for assembling very reliable cars. For example, BMW with its motors, which will survive more than one owner, if only quality gasoline and quality engine oil, timely maintenance, and a careful attitude to driving.
Speaking about European cars, we should understand that their quality and features vary from country to country, even with the existing level of globalization. In the case of Germany, it is high reliability, safety. The same thing can be said about Austrian motorcycle brands.
The French car industry is distinguished by interesting design solutions. Swedish automotive industry is interesting for countries with a severe winter climate.
In general, if you look at the European fleet of cars, you can notice that it illustrates the European approach to life. A car as seen by the European should be: safe, reliable, economical, comfortable, and, of course, environmentally friendly.
USA
It is difficult to mix up the production of the American car industry with European and especially Asian cars. If you ask the average motorist to characterize an American car, most likely you will hear the following: large size, a powerful and voracious engine, and automatic transmission.
This is partly true. American car brands have never miniaturized their models, because the peculiarities of this country, its roads, and the layout of its cities simply do not need to be miniaturized.
The iconic car type from the USA is a pick-up. Full-size pickups are five and a half meters long, while the elongated models reach up to seven meters. The width of a two-meter car is also normal for Americans.
To a big car – a big engine. American cars, as a rule, are equipped with large engines, which, by the way, do not differ particularly high power. American engineers are taking this decision to increase the life of the engine. Compared to Americans, the European engines that can squeeze the maximum out of them all have a much lower lifespan.
Automatic transmission – an important feature of American cars, which appeared in the fifties of the last century. Automatic is convenient and pleasant, but there are still nuances.
So which cars are better – American or European? In the end, everyone makes the choice for himself. Somebody cares about the brand, the image, the good look. Someone focuses on fuel economy, and someone is ready to pay a lot for gasoline, but not to spend money on an expensive car. Everything is individual. It is only important that the purchased car meets the initial requirements of the buyer.
