NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 8, 2021

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 NAPA AUTO PARTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Daytona 500 Media Availability Transcript:

THOUGHTS ON GOING INTO DAYTONA.
“I’m looking forward to getting the season started. It’s the start of a very long road in our season. This is always very exciting week. I feel like every time I get to Daytona, I’m excited and ready to get started. It’s a great week for our sport and a big event, but also the first days of a very long season. I think anyone that travels this deal knows that. So, it’s a long road ahead.”

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT QUALIFYING FOR DAYTONA?
“To be honest, I don’t look at it any different. It’s a very straight-forward thing. Single-car qualifying is really a representation of your team, your organization, your aero department and engine shop… it’s an opportunity for them to come out of the box strong and for them to get the recognition and credit they deserve if you have a good day. It’s not about the driver. It’s just not. It’s not hard. There’s nothing hard about making a qualifying lap at Daytona or Talladega. The race is obviously very different. A lot of the thinking and decision-making goes into that. The qualifying side of things, it’s a representation of what your team has been working hard over the winter for and an opportunity to come out of the box strong.”

ARE YOU USED TO HAVING WHAT YOU NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE THERE IN QUALIFYING?
“I don’t think it’s me being good at it. I think it’s Alan (Gustafson, crew chief), our team, the Hendrick engine shop, Chevrolet and the people that work on our cars to give us fast race cars for a superspeedway like Daytona or Talladega. I’ve been fortunate to have been in that position since I got here. Kyle (Larson)’s past at Ganassi, they haven’t been as fortunate on the speedway qualifying side of things. It could be different this year, who knows. I think we’ll all have a good shot at it.”

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR AN ENCORE FROM 2020?
“Just keep pushing. Like I said throughout the winter and since Phoenix last year, it obviously was a great end. We were able to get hot at the right time and have really well-executed races to end the season. I think for us, and the cool thing for me that I’ve thought about since then, there is still much more for us to go get. I don’t think we are at our best in every category, which is really cool for me and something that I think our team should take a lot of pride in. To have the kind of result we had last year but also know that we can still improve in some pretty big ways is exciting. It should be for our team, and I know it is for me. I’m looking forward to cleaning up those areas that haven’t been so good and also to make the ones that have been good, better. I think we have to do that. Everyone else is going to be improving as always. We need to stay the course, keep doing our thing, keep being us and continue to improve in every area that we have been.”

CHANGES IN THE DRIVER LINEUP AT HENDRICK SINCE FIVE YEARS AGO?
“It’s changed, for sure. I’ve said this a few times over the last month since I’ve been racing and being asked questions. I feel like when I get done with my career, to look back and to have been one of very few people in those closed-door meetings to see legends step away and watch that room transition… it was really cool to see that happen. Our sport is an exciting place to be right now, whether you’re a driver, a team member or any one of our many teammates on the complex. It’s a fun place to be but really neat for me to look back and first-hand watch that room transition… it has been pretty wild.”

BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM FRIENDS OR TEAMMATES, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE NEXT-GEN CAR?
“To be really honest, I haven’t talked to anyone about it. I feel like still to this day there are things that they aren’t 100 percent sure that they’re either going to have on a car or not have on a car. I think there are components that we aren’t sure how they are going to hold up at a place like Bristol or Dover. I personally feel like until we have a definite on all those things, what’s the point? Until all those questions are answered, why mess with it? I’m looking forward to driving it when I have the chance. I was planning to do it last year early in the year but schedules didn’t work out for me to go. We’ll have plenty of time to test, and we’ll all have plenty of opportunity to drive that car and be prepared for next year. I just haven’t yet but I think we’ll all have our fair chance.”

DO YOU FEEL MORE RELAXED OR COMFORTABLE IN YOUR ROLE SINCE THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
“For me, I’ve been trying to just enjoy all of the different situations and scenarios I’ve been part of. Winning the championship is great and it brings confidence to our entire team. I’ve really just enjoyed my winter, enjoyed racing… just to go and seek out opportunities and have some opportunities come to me to be able to go race, I’ve had a lot of fun with it. It’s something I’ve put a lot of emphasis on at the end of last year… just enjoying those moments more. You have to enjoy those big spots to have success in them. From that standpoint, I’m trying to carry that over to everything and enjoying all the moments that you can… take advantage of opportunities when you have them. You may not always have these opportunities, so go race and do the things you enjoy. I’m still fairly young and am able to do these things. You gotta live life… live it and have fun with it.”

HOW DO YOU MANAGE REMAINING IN GEORGIA, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
“It’s home for me. I like where I live and I like the area. Georgia is where I’m from and like anybody, home is home. Not everyone has the opportunity to not have to move for their job. Sometimes you have to move and relocate. That can be tough. If you have the opportunity to stay where you want to stay and can make it work, I’d think most anyone would do that if they had the choice. Fortunately for me, the choice was there and I’ve been able to make it work.”

WHAT ARE THE MECHANICS OF MAKING THAT WORK?
“It’s as difficult as you make it. For me, it’s trips back and forth from Charlotte. A lot of it is managing logistics and your schedule… having good people to line those things up who understand that I am remote so that when I do go to North Carolina, I’m busy and I do what I have to do and fulfill my role… do all things that I need to do to do my job. It can be some added work at time, but for me I enjoy where I’m at. I enjoy flying and aviation, and this gives me more of an opportunity to do more of that, as well.”

YOU SAID LATE LAST YEAR THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR TEAM TO RISE TO THE OCCASION IN TOUGH MOMENTS. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO DO THAT GOING INTO THIS YEAR?
“In any sport, it’s what have you done lately. I think about all the disrespect that Jimmie Johnson got toward the end of this career. It’s like everyone forgot about how great he is just because he had a bad race or a bad stretch of races. The lesson that taught me is that no matter what you do, if you have a bad stretch or don’t do well, then they’re going to come after you about whatever you’ve done recently. On the flip side of that, if you have a good run after being trashed for a year or something, everyone is going to be hyping you up, be excited for you and jumping on the bandwagon. It’s all about performance and all about what you’ve done lately. We want to push; we want to continue to do good for ourselves and push our team internally. That’s all that matters to me, and that’s all that matters to our entire group.”

AMOUNT OF ROAD-COURSE RACES GIVEN HIS SUCCESS IN RECENT YEARS?
“That’s been a very popular question from the road course side. It’s been good the past few trips, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to go good next time. Again, it’s back to the ‘what have you done for me lately’ topic. That narrative can change very quickly. That’s just part of what we do. I don’t have a different approach, to be honest. There’s not been one part of me that watched the schedule change, saw seven road courses and thought, ‘Yeah, we’ve got it now.’ That’s just not how I am. The schedule is what it is. I don’t enjoy having any more or less road courses. I really don’t care where we go. At the end of the day, you have to be good everywhere and I want to be good everywhere. We as a team want to get to the point where we can win on any given week: road course, circle track, intermediate, dirt…whatever it is, we want to be able to win at any time. The great teams and the great drivers are capable of doing that, and I think we are capable doing that. So that’s where my head’s at – trying to be good everywhere.”

ARE THERE AREAS WHERE THE TEAM CAN FOCUS ON A LITTLE MORE THIS YEAR?
“Just eliminating bad tracks. We have some bad tracks and places where I’m not great at and places we haven’t been great at as a team… whatever it may be, just bad results. So yeah, we just want to clean that up. There is a really small group of guys that can win literally every week. Like, we all would leave the track and we wouldn’t not be a bit surprised that they won the race. I want our team to be a part of that conversation as well. I want to get to the point that whenever we leave the racetrack, no one was surprised that we won. Our team is very capable of doing that, and that’s where my head was at last year. If you can get among that group, consistently be there and have chances to win every weekend, everything else will fall into place and you’ll have plenty of opportunities for a long, long time to do great things.”

ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH KYLE LARSON ABOUT HIS WORK TO BETTER EDUCATE HIMSELF ON RACE-RELATED ISSUES AND CONTRIBUTING TO UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES?
“We’ve talked about it a little bit. Being on the outside looking in on his situation, I try to be supportive of him and try to better myself through all of the things that have happened in the last year. From my standpoint regarding Kyle, I just try to be a good friend and be supportive. His life really changed last year; I see a different Kyle than I did a couple of years ago. He and I have never been super close. We’re not best friends but we’ve always had a mutual respect for one another. To see the change in him, how his life changed overnight, the efforts he’s made to make that right and to better himself through that is something we should all admire about him and respect. To answer the question, I tried to be supportive of him directly right after that happened and still try to be today.”

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU’VE DONE TO BETTER YOURSELF?
“I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. That’s the golden rule, right. You learn that when you are in kindergarten. It sounds elementary and simple, but I really think it is that simple. If we all personally take on that rule, then there’s no problems in the world, in my personal opinion. It’s on each individual to treat each person with respect and things they deserve and that they would want to have for themselves.”

ARE YOU GOING BACK TO BUBBA (RACEAWAY PARK) TONIGHT?
“I’m planning on it. I was wanting to if the weather holds out. I was planning on running. Hopefully it does and we can finish it out. It’s been a long weekend over there with the rain and everything, so we’ll see how it goes.”

DID YOU HAVE TIME TO GET TIPS FROM CHRIS WINDOM AND CHAD BOAT TO IMPROVE YOUR CRAFT IN A MIDGET?
“We talked a lot. I feel like I made a lot of gains over there this weekend. It may not show, but I feel like I’ve gotten better in certain aspects. The biggest one for me is the race craft. I feel like there are times where I can make some decent lap time in comparison to some of the guys who are good, like Chris. In the racing environment, it’s understanding how to position your car, how to be around guys, how to move forward and how to restart and move forward without getting completely taken advantage of. Those are the situations are the areas where I need to get better at. There have been gains made, and I’ve tried to lean on those guys as much as I can. On the same token, you have to learn some of those things on your own. You can have great advice and great people will help you, which I’ve had. But you have to figure it out on your own. They’re not driving it for you, so you have to get there by yourself at some point.”

THE FEEL OF A STOCK CAR AND LEARNING FROM DRIVING IN OTHER FORMS OF RACING?
“On the stock car side of things, which I’m used to, that feel is kind of home to me. Everything else has been a little foreign to try to learn and get used to. I’ve had fun with it. I’m not sure what will translate, but I do think there are things about these different types of racing that I’ve done throughout the winter that will help – whether it’s mentally, racing environments… the dirt side of things is so fast-paced. There’s no time to really gather yourself and set up a guy. You can’t take five laps to set up a pass; you really have to get after it. I think that mentality of being precise coming out of the box and being good can translate to anything. At some point in time, you’re going to be put in tough situation. That’s a very timely situation from the very start in that world. I think that’s one good thing you can learn.”

HOW MANY TOTAL OFFSEASON RACES HAVE YOU RUN, AND HAVE DONE THIS MANY IN YOUR CUP CAREER?
“I’ve never done this in my Cup career. I think I’ve done five or six throughout the winter, something like that. I haven’t really done any type of racing like this since I’ve been in Cup. It’s been a nice change of pace. I’ve enjoyed traveling around, driving different cars and doing different things. It’s been fun.”

WHY DO SO MANY NOW? IS IT FOR FUN OR IN HOPES THAT IT MIGHT TRANSLATE TO CUP?
“Why not? I had some opportunities to go and do different things. I’m 25 and trying to live life, drive racecars and be good at what I can be good at… learn as much as I can, face new challenges, get uncomfortable, learn new things and have fun.”

WHAT KIND OF RACE DO YOU ANTICIPATE ON THE DAYTONA ROAD COURSE FOR THE SECOND RACE OF THE YEAR?
“The road course worked out good for us over the summer, for sure. I had a good start there. I just never felt that even at the end of the race – and Denny (Hamlin) would probably say the same thing – that I had even pieced together every part of the racetrack properly, really dialed in all my marks and maximized every corner. I felt like he and I at the end were still learning as we were still racing to the checkered flag, at least I was. I never felt like I found my limit in certain corners. That race was so unique because most of us had never raced on that track before, and we all just started the race. It was a bit of a guessing game. By the end, even though I felt much closer to maximizing a good lap or what I would consider a great lap at times, I never felt like I got there in all aspects. I think most guys would tell you the same thing – that we were basically still learning at the end of the event. That was the cool part about it for me, that we were kind of guessing. It was a fun environment.”

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE STUDYING YOU ON ROAD COURSES? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OTHERS HAVING SO MUCH DATA TO ZOOM IN ON WHAT YOU DO COMPARED TO WHEN THE PAST IN THIS SPORT, THEY HAD TO FIND THINGS THE HARD WAY?
“I don’t feel like I do anything special at those places. I’ll take that to my grave. That was exemplified in the Rolex 24. I was not even close to the great road-racers from around the world who were in that event. I really don’t think I do anything special. I’ve been fortunate to drive fast cars, and Alan does a really good job of putting an emphasis on things that matter in road racing. He has a little bit of a road-racing background from being from down here and being familiar with the sports car stuff. Also working with Jeff (Gordon) gets overlooked a little bit. That was a really good foundation for me coming in.”

“The data thing is interesting, but we’ve had data for a long time. It’s been around with pretty easy access for about 10 years, I would say. That’s nothing super new and obviously it isn’t going away. For me, I always struggle to find the small details that make the differences in the data because they are so small and it doesn’t depict it. I’m sure guys are going to be better, for sure their cars will be better and we have to be better, as well.”

ANY KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MENTORS ABOUT GOING INTO A SEASON AS DEFENDING CHAMPION?
“To be really honest, I have not talked to anyone about it. So, we’ll give it our best shot and go from there. What I have thought about going into the year, and this sounds boring like a lot of answers do, but just trying to be better and improving in those areas where we haven’t been good in or been great in. There is no defending. We need to be on offense. We need to keep pushing. I think if you’re back on your heels and trying to protect something, I don’t think your mind is in the right place. We want more. We’re not trying to play defense. We just simply want more. That needs to be our outlook and keep it as simple as that.”

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NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 8, 2021

RICK HENDRICK, OWNER OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, Daytona 500 Media Availability Teleconference Transcript:

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE ON RACE MORNING THIS YEAR WITH EVERYTHING BEING DIFFERENT?
“I think I went to two races last year. Daytona and Phoenix, and I was like every other fan and was watching it on TV and it was so strange. But NASCAR did a heck of a job to get it in. So, I am going to be in Daytona, and I am going to be nervous as I can be. A, because it’s the first time I have been back and B, it’s the Daytona 500 and you know you hope you can come through it okay. I guess I always get nervous at it for two times. The time when they crank the engines and if we are leading and its about to end. Those are the times when I get nervous.

“I just think there is so much excitement around the sport and it looks like we are getting ready to get to the end of this virus. Maybe not the end, but get enough people vaccinated so we can have fans back here. Hopefully by the summer, in full force. We’ve been through a tough time last year so knowing we have a vaccine that works and going to the Daytona 500. I would have loved to see The Clash on a road course, so I will probably end up with four cars, when its over. So, it’s exciting.”

WILL YOU BE ON PIT ROAD, OR WILL YOU BE IN A SUITE? ALSO, IF YOU ARE DOWN ON PIT ROAD WILL YOU BE ABLE TO WHISPER A WORD IN YOUR DRIVER’S EARS?
“I can do that, but I have learned over the years that most of the times when I make a suggestion it’s a mistake. So, I am going to be in the pits. I like being down there with the guys and it gives me a chance to be with them and I am really looking forward to it.”

CURIOUS IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PITS, HAVE YOU BEEN VACCINATED?
“Yes, I just got my second shot about a week ago. So, I have a few more days now, but I am very lucky. I have had a lot of health issues, so I was on that list and I got number two.”

YOU HAVE SEEN DRIVERS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THEN CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY CHANGE IN CHASE OR IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE TOLD HIM ABOUT AS FAR AS WHAT TO DO OR AVOID DOING?
“You know, I think Chase has such a sharp head on his shoulders that you don’t have to tell him much. He celebrated and now he is ready to try and go do it again. He is racing other cars just to introduce himself to the rest of the world. But man, Bill and Cindy have done a super job with him and he has got his head on right. So, he is a competitor, but I think he takes all of it in stride. So, I am excited about this year with Chase.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NEXT GEN CAR AND THE PROCESS AND TESTING SO FAR?
“Anytime you bring out a new car you are going to have to refine it. Just look at history, it’s always been that way. I think you have all the teams working on the same piece now, and we still have some work to do. But when you get a piece, and all the teams work with NASCAR, we will refine it. So, we will be good, and we will be good when next year rolls around. I think the tough part about it is we have to race this year, and we have to build the cars we are racing now. And then we have to build those cars at the same time. So, you are trying to win races and a championship, then you are going to factor in the new car for next year. It’s a load to do, but NASCAR has done a great job. They have worked with all the teams and different people have been in the cars. They will keep refining them and we will be good.”

REGARDING COST OF THE NEXT GEN
“At first you have to buy all the parts and pieces, and then you have to get rid of what you have. As time goes on, I think we will really see the benefits in the cost saving in the second and third year. The first year is going to be expensive, but in the long run its almost front-loaded. Once you get the equipment and the cars and parts, then as years go on, it should be cheaper. You won’t need the labor and you won’t be out trying to invent new pieces.”

IS THERE A MINDSET THAT CHASE AND THE 9 TEAM NEED TO HAVE IN GOING INTO THEIR FIRST YEAR OF A TITLE DEFENSE?
“Its one of those things when you have a competitor in Chase that is calm and cool, he knows how to race, he takes care of the equipment, he can run fast, and he can lead laps. But he is more confident in himself and he and (crew chief) Alan (Gustafson) are really clicking. I couldn’t believe the confidence level they had when they went into Martinsville. Alan said, ‘I am going to win that race’. Then to go into Phoenix, when he had to start from the back, I talked to Chase and I said, ‘man, I am sorry’. He said, ‘Well, I get to pass more cars’. The confidence level with Chase Elliott is unbelievable and also with Alan. They think they can win every week. Just let it come to you. Bill (Elliott) is there talking to him and he is just way more mature than his age. And that is something that Dale Earnhardt Sr. told me one time. He said you have to know when to race. He said you have to know how to race, but you have to know when to race. And Chase does that.”

WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION DO YOU THINK KYLE LARSON WILL RECEIVE IN THE GARAGE AND IN THE GRANDSTANDS?
“I think Kyle will get a very good reception. Most people know how hard he has worked to make things right, or to say he is sorry, or to take ownership. The body of work he has done has been amazing and we announced some sponsors for him last week. And one of the sponsors said they were covered up in emails and calls where they were excited they were sponsoring him. And we have other interests. So,
fans love him, he drives the wheels off the cars whether its Sprint Cars or Midgets. He is a racer and from a personal relationship with him, he is excited about what he is doing off the track. Whether its his foundation, working with the Urban Youth Racing School – which he was working with them before anything happened. I have seen a different kid, well not a kid, but his life has changed, but he is determined to win. If you make a mistake and you not just own it, but you dedicate your career to be a role model for other people who have made a mistake; or people that haven’t thought about it into the depth that he has now. I feel like he is going to be very popular and we are already getting calls on him. I think the proof is in what he has done, and people can see that.”

HOW COSTLY CAN A WEEK OF DAYTONA BE AS FAR AS CRASHES AND HOW TROUBLING IS IT FOR THE UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF CARS IN CRASHES THERE?
“It’s super expensive because usually in a crash there, there is no fixing it. You just junk it. When you go down there and maybe lose one in The Clash and two or three in the 500, I’ve lost four there before, its costly. You put so much work into those cars to make them as aerodynamic as can be. They are like a fine watch, and when the race is over, they look like they raced at Martinsville. It’s just something we live with and it’s the Super Bowl for us. I am really glad that we are running the road course in The Clash because I don’t think we will have nearly the opportunity for wrecks as we would have on the oval. It’s the most expensive race we run.”

WE HAVE THREE NEW TEAMS AND OWNERSHIP GROUPS. IS IT GOOD TO SEE SOME NEW PEOPLE COMING IN AND IS THERE INTEREST YOU HAVE SEEN FROM OTHER GROUPS?
“There is tremendous interest in it and I think the word has gotten out that its going to be cheaper to do down the road. I think the new team with (Michael) Jordan and Denny (Hamlin) is excellent for our sport and create a lot of interest from other fans, whether they are basketball fans or whatever. So, all these new teams that are coming in, and the new people that are interested, that is good for us. It keeps us healthy, brings new sponsors, and new fans. I am excited because when you look at NASCAR last year and the ratings against other leagues, we kind of held our own, and I think the interest is there.

“Again, I think NASCAR did a heck of a job. I never dreamed that we would get through the year, run all the races, and get to the championship. Matter of fact, they were kind of the pioneer that showed a lot of the other sports how you could do it. So, I feel good about NASCAR and I probably feel the best I have felt in years looking at the competition level, the rule packages, and the interest in new teams coming in. Everybody was asking who was going to replace me, Roger (Penske), (Jack) Roush, and Joe (Gibbs). Now they are leaving us old folks alone and are talking about the young folks coming in. It’s good for the sport.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CHASE ELLIOTT DOING SO MUCH OFF-SEASON RACING? WERE YOU AWARE THAT HE WANTED TO DO SO MUCH AND THAT THE SCHEDULE WOULD BE SO FULL?
“In the perfect world, I wouldn’t want him to race anything; but it means so much to him. And I think anytime they can drive whatever it is, it helps them. But you always worry about them getting hurt. But I think the desire is so much there, for both him and Kyle, I’ve made it pretty plain that I don’t want to see you racing in the weekends and around the events that we have. If you can pick your times that don’t affect the team; and when it starts affecting the team, stop them.”

IF THERE IS ANY TRANSITION OR TRANSLATION INTO THE SEASON, AND HE GETS A MONSTER NUMBER OF WINS OR SOMETHING, IS THAT GOING TO BE SOMETHING YOU ENCOURAGE?
“I’m not going to encourage them to do it. I’m not going to do that. I feel like the relationship with those guys, they want to run those races and whether it’s a dirt modified or a Chili Bowl or whatever, the safety is a lot better than it used to be, but you can get hurt in anything. I just think it’s that spirit. I would rather have a guy that wants to drive every day than a guy that doesn’t want to do anything and show up to run a race. But it’s got to be off-season. You can’t inflict with the job we’re doing every week and they’re not focused on the job at-hand. I think the risk is getting hurt. If it’s just a lack of focus, we’re going to handle that part. It’ll have to stop.”

DOESN’T A RISING TIDE LIFT ALL BOATS? THESE GUYS ARE OUT THERE SINGING THE GOSPEL OF NASCAR. ISN’T THAT GOOD FOR MOTORSPORTS IN GENERAL?
“Yeah, I’m sure it is. If you look at the ratings at the ROLEX 24, when Chase drove a car, and Jimmie got in the car, if you look at the air time those sponsors, I think the viewership was up 18 to 20 percent. I may have those numbers wrong. But that was a draw of having Jimmie Johnson, seven-time champion, and then Chase Elliott, most popular driver and a champion in those cars. They had a lot of great guys from INDY and all that, from all over the world, but those two guys were the centerpiece that got all the attention. And it helped them some and it made for good TV.”

IS THAT A GOOD FOR GENERAL MOTORS AND HENDRICK AUTO?
“Well yeah. I sell Cadillacs. I have five Cadillac stores and they were on the car. Ally, I do a lot of business with them and they were on the car. So, there’s my relationship with General Motors and the fact that I sell those cars, not that kind of car, but a Cadillac, and we reached a lot of different people. There’s another audience altogether that we can get interested in our drivers. I had so many people talk about and write about, and fans respond to Jimmie Johnson being so humble and easy to talk to and down to earth and engaged, and Chase the same way. Chase beat himself up after he got out of the car the first time and then he goes out there and picks his speed up. It impressed a lot of people. So, it’s just the more we can get those superstars out and get visibility the better off NASCAR is going to be. But that does show you the strength of our sport and what it can do when they show up and what the fan reaction is and interest is.”

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PREDICTIONS GOING INTO THE 2021 SERIES AND WHERE DRIVERS AND TEAMS ARE GOING TO END UP. DO YOU FEEL LIKE HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS IS ALL THE WAY BACK TO ITS GLORY DAYS?
“I don’t know what you mean by the glory days; maybe when we won five in a row or whatever and had two or three cars battling for the championship. Hey, I’m just going to be satisfied to be in the mix. We want to make the Playoffs and then if we can go to the Final Four, then I’m going to be happy. Look if we can lead laps, win races, then the rest will come. We’re not in that dominant area where you can win 17 races in a year and I don’t think anybody is anymore. There are too many good cars and drivers. But I feel better about where we are today than I have been in probably three, four, or five years.”

KYLE LARSON SAID YOU SUPPORTED HIS ON-TRACK EDUCATION AND WORK TO HELP OTHERS AND BETTER HIMSELF. HOW SPECIFICALLY HAVE YOU SUPPORTED HIM? DO YOU WANT TO SEE THAT WORK AND EDUCATION CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THIS SEASON AND BEYOND?
“Sure. I mean he’s committed to that. And he’s doing a good job of showing people what you can do. Forget about that he made a mistake and said something. Forget about that part. Think about the Urban Racing School that he’s bought simulators for. And he had one of those kids and his mother at the race that he won in Dover and he’s very tight with that family. So, he’s been to Missouri, he’s done things with other foundations, and it has changed his life. That’s the thing that probably most people can’t see. But he is a different person. He’s looked at things he never looked at before. And it feels good to him that he’s making a difference. And so, I think he’s not going to stop. I can tell you that. He’s too involved with it now. And I think he can really make a difference in so many different areas, especially the Urban Racing School.”

ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY IS THAT IT’S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET A SECOND OPPORTUNITY IF YOU EARN IT, AND I’M GLAD KYLE LARSON IS GETTING THAT SECOND CHANCE. HOW MUCH PRIDE DO YOU TAKE IN BEING ABLE TO GIVE HIM THAT SECOND CHANCE?
“Well, I felt for him when it happened. And you know, I never knew how things were going to turn out. I didn’t know whether my sponsors were going to have a problem. I didn’t know how the fans were going to react. But I knew his heart. And I thought, this is a talented young guy and it’s a shame. He’s shown his heart now. He should have a chance. And so, I feel good about that. I also feel good about his talent in the car. I’ll have to say, you know, we didn’t know. I probably drove Jesse Essex crazy. But in my heart, I felt like, I’ve known him. I’ve worked with he and Chip (Ganassi) and this young man drives a motorhome with his family in it and goes racing. He didn’t tuck his head. He started doing things nobody asked him to do. He did what he had to do with NASCAR, but he went way over that.

“So, when you look at the character of what he is; a lot of people do things and they say I’m sorry, right? They just say I’m sorry and go right on running their life. And that’s all they have to do. And people say okay, we’ll give you another shot. This guy did ten times that. And he’s created an image and things in that community that people really respect him. So, I guess the answer to the riddle is that I’m a part of it, but it was Kyle’s heart and Kyle’s desire that got him back.”

AT ONE POINT YOU HAD ONE OF THE OLDEST DRIVER LINE-UPS ON THE RACE TRACK. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO RE-GENERATE YOUR TEAM BY GOING WITH YOUNGER DRIVERS. WHEN YOU MADE THAT DECISION, DID YOU HAVE A MINDSET THAT THERE WAS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR THAT?
“When you see a guy with talent, no different than Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon, or Chase, when I saw him at the age of 14, you have to say hey, he’s got the potential and it’s going to take some time. Nobody is just going to step into one of these cars. Look at Jimmie and Chase when they got in the 24-Hour race down there. They were lost compared to those other guys. But their learning curve came pretty quick. If you look at Chase and William and Alex, they all have grown in their experience level and their talent is showing. I knew it probably would be a drought for three or four years maybe. But I’m super excited about this year. Alex can win. William won Daytona. And they’re just going to get better. They’re not into their prime. They’re going to get better. It’s hard to believe that the average age is 26 and the eldest is 28. But it sure makes me feel just a wee bit younger. I mean I love to watch them. It’s like you’re watching your kids play high school sports and now they’re going to college and maybe they’re going pro. It’s fun to watch them get excited and do something for the first time. Like Chase, he grabbed me after the race and said can you believe this? It’s nice to win multiple times, but it’s really nice to see the first one.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

Denny Hamlin
#11 FedEx Express Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing

Race Info:
Race: Busch Clash
Date/Time: Tuesday, Feb. 9/7:00 p.m. ET
Race Distance: 35 laps/126.35 miles
Track Shape: Road Course
Track Length: 3.57 miles
2019 Winner: Erik Jones

Express Notes:

Press Kit: Download the 2021 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

Busch Clash at Daytona: Denny Hamlin and the FedEx Racing team return to begin their 2021 NASCAR Cup Series campaign this Tuesday with the 35-lap Busch Clash on the Daytona International Speedway road course. A three-time winner of the event on the Daytona oval (2006, 2014 and 2016), Hamlin is one of only six drivers to win both the Clash and DAYTONA 500 during the same Speedweeks. His only previous start on the infield road course yielded a second-place finish.

Hamlin Statistics:
Track: Daytona International Speedway – Clash
Races: 14 (oval)
Wins: 3 (2006, 2014, 2016)
Top-5: 5
Top-10: 8
Laps Led: 154

Hamlin Conversation – Clash:

You had another great season in 2020. Looking ahead to this year, what can we expect from you and the FedEx team?

“We made it to the Championship 4 again last season, and our goal starting today is to get back there again for a shot at bringing home the title. I know Chris (Gabehart, crew chief) and the rest of the team are ready to go, and so am I. We’re excited to get back out on the track for the 2021 season.”

Thoughts on the Clash now being on the road course?

“It’s kind of a cool change. We’ll be back racing the road course for points in a couple weeks, so it’s a good opportunity to get some laps down and see how we do. We started second and finished second on this course last year, so we’ll see if we can make enough improvements to move up one more spot.”

FedEx Express Along for the Ride at Daytona (Clash): FedEx Express is pleased to recognize the team members at the MCOR ramp in Orlando, Fla., for their exceptional performance by featuring the letters MCOR on the B-post of the FedEx #11 at the historic 2021 Busch Clash at Daytona. This dedicated team of employees is a three-time winner of the FY21 Ramp of the Month award for July, August and November. The team is coming off an historic peak season and playing a pivotal role in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Central Florida.

FedEx Office – Closest to Daytona International Speedway: 2274 W International Speedway, Daytona Beach, (386) 323-7840

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 8, 2021

KYLE LARSON, NO. 5 NATIONSGUARD CAMARO ZL1 1LE, Daytona 500 Media Availability Transcript:

YOU’RE WITH A NEW TEAM AND A NEW CREW CHIEF IN 2021. TELL US ABOUT THE ADJUSTMENT TO HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS.
“I don’t know – I guess there hasn’t been much of an adjustment, just because I’ve been out of a NASCAR Cup car for so long. I guess the biggest adjustment is getting the cockpit right. Even though we have the measurements and stuff from when I was in the No. 42 car, now things don’t maybe feel the same because I’ve been out of a car so long and my body has kind of gotten accustomed to sitting upright in a sprint car or midget. So, getting in the cockpit and trying to remember – OK the shifter feels normal there; my pedal distance feels right or it doesn’t; the throttle and brake geometry and stuff like that I think has probably been the toughest part to remember if that’s comfortable or not.”

KYLE, THIS COUNTRY IS BUILT ON SECOND CHANCES AND GIVING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE AND I’M GLAD YOU’RE GETTING YOURS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT SECOND CHANCE AS YOU’RE ON THE EVE OF STARTING THE SEASON?
“I feel extremely grateful. I never really thought I would get another chance to race in NASCAR and I kind of accepted that throughout the middle of last year and I tried to shift my focus towards what’s ahead in my new life of racing a bunch, driving up and down the road and stuff like that. I was trying to figure out how that would be with my family, my kids, once they start school. So, yeah like I said, I’m grateful for the opportunity that Mr. H has given me. It’s pretty unbelievable and I’m very thankful. I hope to do a good job for everybody at Hendrick Motorsports and all my sponsors – just do a good job on and off the track to really take advantage of this second chance that I may not have deserved.”

YOU OBVIOUSLY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROVE IN A LOT OF WAYS BECAUSE OF THE PERFORMANCE YOU’VE HAD ON THE RACE TRACK, BUT DO YOU FEEL AT ALL LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE EITHER ON OR OFF THE TRACK OR ANYTHING GOING INTO THIS SEASON?
“I don’t know – I think with the success I had in the dirt stuff last year, winning 46 times, I’d like to be able to come back to NASCAR, being with an amazing organization that just won the championship, go out there and be strong and win a lot of races, too. I had a 50 percent win percentage last year. Obviously, I know that’s probably impossible to ever happen in NASCAR. But I’d like to be competitive each week, win a lot of races and hopefully contend for the championship.”

“Also, I think I do have a lot to prove off the race track, showing people who I really am and showing people the good person that I know am. Yeah, I think there is definitely a lot I need to prove on and off the race track, and I’m looking forward to getting that started here in a few days.”

HOW DO YOU FEEL GETTING READY TO GET TO DAYTONA TOMORROW? IS IT LIKE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL? ARE YOU NERVOUS AT ALL? ARE YOU AT EASE?
“I think I’m just really excited. I feel like time has flown by for me up until these last two or three weeks. It’s felt like forever to get down to Daytona. I drove my bus down yesterday and was just excited to get to that day – get to Sunday to get to drive it because I felt like once I got down here, things will start moving a little bit quicker again. Just ready to go. It’s been so long since I’ve been in a Cup car. Now that I’m with a great team, there’s just a lot that I’m excited about. I’m excited to get on track, get racing and competing, and getting to work with a bunch of new guys. When I was at Ganassi, our team changed a little bit – there were a few different people once Chad Johnston came on. But, for the most part, that was the same group of people that I worked with since 2014. So, just excited about a fresh take on things, get competing and hopefully do a good job.”

YOU AND BUBBA (WALLACE) ARE BOTH IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS YEAR – FOR TWO DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT BOTH ABOUT RACE. HOW ARE THINGS WITH YOU AND BUBBA? WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WILL BE LIKE THIS YEAR?
“Yeah, Bubba (Wallace) and I are good. It’s funny you ask that, just before I walked in here, I was texting with him asking him about what gaming console to get – whether to get an Xbox or a PlayStation for my bus. He was texting us about golf last night. So, yeah everything is fine with Bubba and I. I’m excited to get on track with him. We’re each in really good equipment and I’m sure we’ll be battling each other a lot. I think the two of us look forward to leading NASCAR in this transformation.”

HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIFF DANIELS DEVELOPING? HOW ARE YOU WORKING ON YOUR CHEMISTRY AND HAVE YOU GUYS DONE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF JUST TYPICAL STUFF AT THE SHOP?
“Yeah, it’s been great to work with him. He’s super, super driven, a perfectionist and holds everybody to high standards. It’s been great to with work with him and seeing how on top of everything he is. I’ve never really been around Chad Knaus as a crew chief, but I always heard that Cliff (Daniels) is kind of like a mini-Chad. I think we all know the success that Chad’s had in NASCAR, so I hope Cliff and I can build a resume like that. I’m confident that we can. Jimmie (Johnson) had really fast race cars last year, so we should be good.”

“Our chemistry is great, so far. He’s been to a handful of my dirt races throughout the off season. We did some team building stuff last week or two weeks ago with the team – the pit crew and everybody. It’s good to get to know everybody and finally get to see everyone on my team without their masks on, socially distanced in a big conference center over close to the race shop. It was good and I look forward to building an even better friendship with everybody on the team.”

IS HE MORE OF A TASK MASTER THAN YOU’VE BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO AS A CREW CHIEF?
“I don’t know. I think if you’re a Cup crew chief, you have to be a task master. Maybe he takes it to another level, but Chris Heroy and Chad Johnston, they were both two amazing crew chiefs. But every crew chief is different. Cliff kind of a brings a different attitude and personality that I’ve probably never worked with as a crew chief, so that’s something I’m excited about – to work with somebody that’s totally different and kind of broaden my abilities as a driver and learn a lot from him.”

WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH GOING TO BE TO SOCIAL MEDIA? ARE YOU GOING TO BE ACTIVE ON IT? ARE YOU GOING TO READ STUFF – DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO READ STUFF ON THERE?
“I don’t know – I guess see how things are going. I’ve kind of, not stepped away from social media, but a little more silent I guess on it for the last 10 months or so. And I actually like that. I get to spend more time doing other things, more important things than burying my face in my phone. I don’t know – even in dirt stuff this year, I was winning a lot, so yeah, I want to read all the good things. But if I had a bad race, crashed or something, then I would stay off because I know that’s when people come out and say things. I feel like over the years, not just this past year, but over the years; I’ve gotten good, I’m not sure good is the right word, but I’ve learned to just stay away from reading things when stuff’s not going good. I guess I don’t plan on reading a whole lot, but I’ll probably try to slowly get more into it and show the fans my personality again.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’LL NEED TO START SPEAKING UP ON SOCIAL ISSUES AND THAT TYPE OF THING?
“I’m sure when those things present themselves, yeah I could put my voice out there. You don’t really know until that day comes.”

IS THERE MORE PRESSURE FOR QUALIFYING?
“Yeah, I think that puts a little more pressure on it. You want to be perfect if you know there’s a small window of being the few other guys that probably have a shot at the pole. So, you want to hit your shifts perfect, you just want to do everything right. When you leave pit road, you want to be perfect. Yeah, I think it puts a little more pressure on you, as a driver, just to not screw anything up to put yourself on the front row. If you put yourself on the front row, you can kind of relax throughout the Duels. You’ll learn some things early in it and then if you fall back, you can kind of be careful to save the race car. I want to do a good job and do my job to get the pole.”

LAST YEAR, YOU VOLUNTEERED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND WORKED WITH THE URBAN YOUTH RACING SCHOOL AND YOU FUNDRAISED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS WINTER. DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE THAT WORK AND EDUCATION ABOUT RACE-RELATED ISSUES DURING THIS NASCAR SEASON? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ENCOURAGING YOUR TEAMMATES OR TEAM AT LARGE TO JOIN IN WITH YOU?
“Yeah, definitely. I had a good time and learned a lot with everything that I did last year, but getting to meet great people like Tony Sanneh, Jackie Joyner-Kersee; all the people I’ve met throughout the year. And getting to continue to work with the Urban Youth Racing School was great and building a deeper friendship with Anthony, Michelle and the kids there. So, yeah, I plan on continuing to do that this year. Right now, I’m working on starting a foundation and trying to work out the specifics and details of that. There’s a lot of things I’m excited about that I’m going to continue to do.”
“And for sure – I think the team members, Mr. Hendrick especially, are all on board with anything that I’m going to do. It’s great to have people that support me, have my back and join together with me.”

YOU’RE STILL WORKING ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE FOUNDATION, BUT DO YOU HAVE A FOCUS OR DO YOU HAVE THAT LAID OUT YET?
“Like I said, still trying to work out all of the exact details. I want it to be something that’s personal to me and obviously everything I went through last year is very personal to me. It’s going to be a lot of fun to do that – I’ve never had my own foundation. I’ve been to a lot of other events and things like that throughout my career in NASCAR. I’ll take bits and pieces from every one that I’ve been through and try to make an impact.”

WONDERING IF YOU’RE STILL WORKING WITH JOSH WISE, AS FAR AS WITH YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE?
“Yeah, I still work with Josh (Wise). He’s amazing. It’s weird – I still go to work every day at Ganassi every morning because that’s where his gym is. So, that’s a little bit weird, but it’s cool. Josh’s company has grown so much in the last year and he’s doing an amazing job with all the drivers he works with. It’s fun to kind of be competitive with everybody there and push yourself to be better.”

WHEN NASCAR ANNOUNCED THEY WERE GOING TO PUT THE DIRT ON BRISTOL, DID YOU CIRCLE IT ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR NOT JUST NASCAR, BUT FOR THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS BECAUSE THERE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE A CONFLICT WITH TALLADEGA.
“It’s definitely a race I look forward to running just because of really the uniqueness of it. There will be a lot of eyes on that event and you want to be the first to win the NASCAR race there. I’m also excited to race other forms of race cars there. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do the World of Outlaw race there yet – I’d like to. I’m definitely going to do the late model race the week before the Cup race, so I’m excited about that. It’s cool that Bristol is doing it and bringing grassroots racing also to the race track. I think there’s over like a thousand cars entered or something between however many classes of cars they have – like four or five divisions. It’s cool they’re doing it and I hope I can win something there.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE CHALLENGES MIGHT BE?
“I don’t know. I think it’s all really unknown until we all get there. Obviously, a Cup car is 2,000 more pounds than the race cars I’m used to running and have 200 less horsepower. Yes, (Christopher) Bell and I have a lot of dirt experience, but I don’t really believe it to be that beneficial to us in a stock car because it’s so different.”

“We’ve all been to Bristol that time of year and it rains all the time, so I have no clue how the track is going to be. It could be hard and slick or hard, rubbered down and one lane. Or it could rain and it could be heavy and rough, and we’re ripping the noses off the car. Honestly, I hope it does get a little bit rough because I think that will add some characteristics to the track, open up some different things like that. I don’t know what to expect though. I can’t wait for that event and I guess the week before – get some laps and get an idea of how the surface is and then I can go talk to our team.”

IN THE TIME THIS SUMMER WHEN YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT YOUR FUTURE WAS GOING TO BE WITH NASCAR, HOW HARD WAS THAT AND HOW WAS RACING YOUR DIRT CAR HELP YOU GET THROUGH THAT TIME PERIOD?
“Yeah, there were a lot of thoughts on, like I said, my life going forward throughout the summer. But I was kind of at peace with that. Dirt racing has always been something I can go back to whenever I’ve had a rough stretch of things in NASCAR and kind of turn my confidence around and get my attitude going in the right direction. That’s kind of what this past year of getting back to racing sprint cars and midgets, and even the late model stuff, kind of helped me do. And I’ve had my best season ever in a race car, so whenever you’re winning, that’s always helping things.”

“I didn’t know if I’d have the opportunity to race in NASCAR, but I was trying to do everything I could on and off the race track throughout last year to try and get that opportunity. I’m thankful that Mr. Hendrick saw the work I was putting in and picked up the phone to get me hired on at their race team. It was a tough year, for sure, but I grew as a person, grew as a race car driver, and now I look forward to putting everything together this year and be a great person and a great race car driver.”

GOING INTO BRISTOL, YOU ARE THE FAVORITE ACCORDING TO ANYBODY THAT TALKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR EVEN THE VEGAS ODD-MAKERS. IS THERE ANY EXTRA PRESSURE FOR YOU OR ARE YOU LOOKING AT IT AS ANOTHER CHALLENGE?
“I don’t know – I don’t really look at it one or the other. Honestly, I kind of just look at it as another race. I put a lot of emphasis into every race that’s upcoming and it will be no different at Bristol. As of right now, as we sit in February or whatever, I don’t put any extra pressure on myself going there. But I’m sure as we get within a week or two of that event, yeah maybe I’ll put more pressure on myself. But, like I said, I’m not going to prepare any differently.”

“Being a dirt racer, maybe I’m just trying to downplay it, but I don’t think myself, (Christopher) Bell, Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) or whoever the other dirt guys are in the field, aren’t going to have a huge advantage over everybody. I really believe that, if the weather cooperates and things like that, it’s going to be smooth, rubber down, one lane, kind of like a pavement race. So, I don’t think the running order is going to look much different than a normal race weekend at any other race track or any other oval. But I also don’t know because we haven’t been there yet, so I could be totally wrong. And I hope I am – I hope I’m way wrong and I go out there and dominate every time we hit the track and I hope I have an advantage over everybody. But I don’t think it’s going to be that big.”

HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO MARRY YOUR FAN BASES AND WHERE DO YOU TAKE THAT FROM HERE SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE SUCH A DIVIDE BETWEEN NASCAR FANS AND DIRT FANS?
“I don’t know – I don’t really think there’s a divide. I think some NASCAR fans are very passionate about NASCAR racing and that’s what they love to watch; that’s what they care about. I think I was able to bring some people to the dirt side of things last year and I think dirt fans are now excited to see me back in the seat on Sunday’s. I think being back in NASCAR builds the fan base back up in all forms that I compete in. I think me dabbling into the late model world, too, has built my fan base up a bunch and I think brought thousands of race fans back to watching NASCAR, if they hadn’t already. I get excited about that as a driver who feels like I’m doing something good for the sport of racing and not really having to do anything other than just race and win races to do it. I definitely think my fan base has grown a lot, just from me being able to win a lot last year and, like I said, dabble in new forms of racing. I hope all those fans that watch me on the dirt tracks will now watch me on their TV screens at home. Just build racing all around.”

HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCES LAST YEAR CHANGE YOU IN YOUR FATHER ROLE AND THE WAY YOU PARENT YOUR CHILDREN?
“Yeah, I think everything that I learned throughout last year I’ve been able to put into my parenting and really just being an overall good person. Whether it be as a parent, a friend, a husband, a son – I feel like I’m better all around. With my children, my daughter is really young, but Owen – you’re always trying to teach him respect and really taking it seriously, rather than just saying things. Really meaning it and things like that. They’re kids, they treat everybody equally – children do. But I think as they grow up, continuing to let them know that you need to treat everybody equally. I look forward to that as they get older. Like I said, they’re both really young and it’s hard to really teach them about what I did and said and went through to get better. Owen just turned six – I think he’s probably got a couple more years until he can really grasp everything that went on last year. And I look forward to that day of teaching them about it. Being a parent is a very rewarding thing and I think I’ll be rewarded as I see them grow up and learn from me and what I did.”

Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

Matt DiBenedetto and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are headed to Daytona International Speedway, where they will kick off their 2021 Cup Series campaign with Tuesday night’s Busch Clash on the track’s infield road course. Once that checkered flag falls the action shifts to the 2.5-mile superspeedway for the Daytona 500 festivities that culminate with the Great American Race on Feb. 14.

Then DiBenedetto and his Cup Series peers will make an encore run on the road course on Feb. 21 for the second points-paying event of the season. That race was moved to Daytona from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., due to challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Running on a course other than the superspeedway during Speedweeks may seem unique for some, but DiBenedetto’s Wood Brothers team competed on the old 4.1-mile beach-road course in the 1950s, before the “big track” opened in 1959.

Team founder Glenn Wood was one of the stars of the beach-road course. He swept the pole and the class win in the Sportsman division for its final three races on the beach, and in the 1958 finale set the overall fast time in his Sportsman car, outrunning the Modifieds that had an advantage rules-wise.

News reports from the time described Wood’s 139.679 miles per hour pole run as the biggest shocker of Speedweeks time trials. Mr. Wood considered his pole win that day the highlight of his driving career.

DiBenedetto, speaking during a Zoom call with reporters, said he’s hoping to carry forward the momentum he and the No. 21 team enjoyed during the closing weeks of the 2020 season, when they posted four top-10 finishes in the final seven races, three of those coming in the final three races.

He said the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team was able to work through the challenges brought about by COVID, which were especially tough on a new team with its members trying to learn each other.

“It felt like the last half of the season – especially the last third of the season – is where all of a sudden it really clicked for us as a team,” DiBenedetto said. “That’s why you saw us clicking off top 10s consistently, running up front, competing for wins.

“That momentum, I feel confident, is going to carry directly over into the season just because we have all that time together, we have all those notes together and that’s where it’s really coming together.”

DiBenedetto, who earned a starting spot in the non-point Busch Clash due to making the Playoffs last season, said he’s hoping the extra laps on the road course will help him, crew chief Greg Erwin and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team prepare for a 2021 schedule that features seven points-paying Cup races on road courses. In addition to the Feb. 21 race on the 14-turn, 3.61-mile track at Daytona, the Cup Series will compete on the familiar tracks at Sonoma, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte ROVAL. New to the schedule are the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, Road America in Wisconsin and the infield course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“I look at [the Clash] as a great opportunity, because I felt like our road-course program last year was where we needed the most improvement,” DiBenedetto said. “Not that it was terrible, it just needed some work.

“We know the things that we need to work on, so I still feel very good about our chances [on Tuesday]. We basically have a race to evaluate what gains we’ve made and how to continue to get better at those places because our speed on the short tracks, on the intermediates, on those places were excellent, especially the last bit of the year.

“We were really flying at those places, so glad we get an extra opportunity at the Clash to go out there and try and see what we’ve gained on and go try and win.”

The starting line-up for the Clash will be determined by a draw on Monday night, and the 35-lap race is set to start Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time with TV coverage on Fox Sports 1.

About Motorcraft:

Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln Dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.

About Omnicraft:

Omnicraft is part of the Ford lineup of parts brands: Ford Parts, Motorcraft and Omnicraft. Omnicraft is the exclusive non-Ford/Lincoln parts brand of premium aftermarket parts. With over a century of parts heritage to build upon, Omnicraft provides excellent quality and fit and is a preferred choice of professional automotive technicians. To find out more about Omnicraft, visit www.omnicraftautoparts.com or contact your local Ford or Lincoln Dealership.

About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center

Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine vehicle maintenance including tire repair and replacement with a Low Tire Price Guarantee and a full menu of automotive services including oil and filter, brakes, alignments, batteries, and shocks and struts on all vehicle makes and models. Service is performed by certified technicians at more than 1,000 locations worldwide while you wait, and no appointment is necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 200,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Wood Brothers Racing

Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glen Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glen’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Matt DiBenedetto in the famous No. 21 racer.

NASCAR CUP SERIES
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA 500
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
FEBRUARY 8, 2021

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE Teleconference Transcript:

THIS YEAR YOU HAVE A NEW CAR NUMBER AND A NEW PRIMARY SPONSOR. TELL US ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN STORE FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM IN 2021.
“It’s really exciting for all of us. I think all the guys are really excited to be working on the No. 48 car. The No. 48 car means a lot to Greg (Ives) as a crew chief. For me, I’m just having a lot of fun with it. Working with Ally so far has been a lot of fun. I think the paint scheme looks great. Obviously, it’s been an interesting off-season just with how the pandemic has affected everything. I haven’t been in the shop as much as I normally would be. It’s kind of been an odd feeling in that sense. But I’m just excited to get to work and excited to go to the race track. Obviously, driving the No. 48 is a really big deal. Hopefully we get it back into Victory Lane and get Ally their first win.”

WHAT’S THE DYNAMIC LIKE THERE WITH KYLE LARSON IN THE LINE-UP?
“That’s a tough question to answer just because we haven’t really done much yet. Obviously, I’ve known Kyle for a long time. Kyle and I have been friends and raced against each other and have somewhat of a similar background in a sense. I think it’s going to be really good. But I just don’t know yet. We haven’t had competition meetings or the weekly things we roll through. The little bit we’ve done so far has been really good. You’re not going to replace Jimmie Johnson in those meetings. He was a great leader for us and just a great person and a good guy to be around. We all know how Jimmie is. I think each one of the drivers brings something to the table and have their own unique strengths. At the same time, we have so much depth in our organization and have a ton of really smart people. So, I think it will still be really good.”

WITHOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON THERE, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND BE A LEADER. DO YOU WANT MORE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE?
“Yeah, for sure. Somebody is going to be a leader I feel like. We all looked at Jimmie like a leader, but he was never that guy that like stood up and talked over everybody like took charge and like really was that leader. He just acted like we were all the same even with his accomplishments. We all know how humble he is. He acted like everything was equal. So, I feel like there’s not like somebody needs to do. I feel like the way we all work together will continue to work well. But yeah, I think there’s definitely opportunity for that. Chase (Elliott) just won a championship. I’ll put the pressure on him for that one (laughs).”

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT QUALIFYING AT DAYTONA? DRIVERS ALWAYS SAY IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL AT DAYTONA, BUT WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF QUALIFYING AT DAYTONA?
“You’ve just got to floor it. You can’t lift. Qualifying at Daytona is really about the guys back at the shop and all the hard work that each person that has touched that race car has put into it. As a driver, you can really only screw it up. Your launch is really important. And then just not turning the steering wheel; really small input just trying to keep it straight and get your shifts right. But it really comes down to the race car that the guys have built back at the shop. At Hendrick Motorsports, especially with our team, we’ve been on the front row for a couple of years here and it means a lot to Greg. So, I’m really excited to have another shot at that and hopefully get a pole for the No. 48 car right away.”

DO YOU THINK IT WILL FEEL UNUSUAL AFTER HAVING NOT DONE IT FOR A WHILE? OR DO YOU JUST SNAP BACK INTO IT?
“I don’t really know. It might be a little unusual just for the fact that we’re going to be in five days or whatever is unusual compared to what we’ve been doing. But at the same time, it’s a little bit more normalcy, so that’s good to see. I’m just excited to get back behind the wheel of the race car.”

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY DIFFERENCE IN CHASE ELLIOTT SINCE HE WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
“I don’t really know. I’d say the difference that I’ve seen is that he’s been racing a lot. He did Chili Bowl and the 24 hours at Daytona and has done all those things. I think he was going to do that whether or not he won the championship. That’s a tough one. I’ve obviously been around him a little bit at the race track, but I haven’t really been around him at the shop or at meetings or anything like that. I don’t really think much has changed. Chase is really plugged in. He does a really good job, especially for somebody who doesn’t live here, right? He does a really good job of being able to balance it and be a big part of the team. I wouldn’t say much on that No. 9 team is going to change, maybe a little more confidence. But they’ve been really dialed-in for a really long time. I think that’s just going to continue.”

LAST YEAR WE SAW HIM GIVE KYLE BUSCH THE BIRD. WE SAW HIM THEN DO THE BOW. THOSE ARE MAYBE SOME THINGS WE HAVEN’T SEEN FROM HIM AS FAR AS AN OUTWARD PERSONALITY-TYPE. WAS THAT NEW TO YOU AS WELL, OR HAVE YOU ALWAYS SEEN THAT?
“I think Chase has always been really confident, especially on the race track. He’s definitely a really confident guy. I think last year our race cars were much improved over what they’ve been for a while, so it gave probably all of us a situation where it was a little easier to be confident in an outward manner at the race track.”

WITH THE NEXT GEN CAR COMING OUT NEXT YEAR, THERE IS TALK ABOUT A PLATFORM THAT SETS US UP TO GO HYBRID SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
“I’m all for it. I feel like that’s a little way off, time-wise. I think it would be cool. I’m all for new and cool things. New cars, new race tracks, new drivetrain stuff, like whatever it is, I think new stuff is cool. And having to adapt to those things and the challenges they present are things that I really enjoy. I’m sure when and if that happens it is going to present its own challenges and I’m looking forward to being able to adapt to that and seeing what it does. But I think it would be really cool. It’s been cool to watch that coming to other forms of motorsports and it would be cool to be a part of it.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE CHANGES IN THE SCHEDULE? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRACK YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO?
“That’s a tough one. I’m just excited to see how the Bristol dirt race works. I’ve been around dirt racing a lot and I feel like I have as not as much experiences as like (Christopher) Bell or Larson, but at least some. I’m excited to lean on that and go to the race track. But I’m excited to see really what the race track does and how the racing is and how the cars react, all those things and how the event works. New road courses are going to be a lot of fun with good opportunities to learn and improve my road course skills.”

HOW WEIRD IS THAT NEXT ZOOM COMPETITION MEETING GOING TO BE WITHOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON?
“For sure it’s definitely going to be different. My favorite part about Jimmie on Zoom meetings is technical difficulties and like calling in from some exotic place in Colorado and not being able to hear us and all that fun stuff. I’m going to miss that for sure. Really, the first things I’m going to miss is every aspect of not having Jimmie there. He’s been a really good guy and just a good friend over the last couple of years. As a teammate I’ve learned a lot from him. We can all learn a lot from him as a person. It’s going to be an honor to drive the No. 48. I’m definitely going to miss him being around.”

WITH COVID-19, A LOT OF THINGS ARE VIRTUAL NOW. HOW MUCH HAS THAT CHANGED THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN TEAMMATES?
“It’s definitely changed it quite a bit. Most notably, we used to all have a big meeting after final practice and all sit together and talk about our race cars with four drivers and four crew chiefs in the room. You have a lot to talk about and can really bounce ideas off each other and talk about what our race cars are doing. We don’t have that anymore. Obviously, we don’t have a lot of practice to talk about. We don’t have that 90-minutes of sitting together and talking. It’s just different. We still have some in-person competition meetings around here, and a bunch of Zoom calls. Zoom calls are my favorite. It’s still been really good. I feel like we all still talk. It’s just different, for sure.”

YOU’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE LEGENDARY CARS IN NASCAR LIKE THE NO. 88 AND NOW THE NO. 48. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PART OF THOSE LEGACIES?
“It’s been really cool. To step into the No. 88 and really have everything happen in a crazy set of circumstances and have a lot of support from Dale (Earnhardt, Jr.) to get that ride and end up taking a year off and then ending up in No. 88 car full time for Hendrick Motorsports was really cool. To get that car back in Victory Lane and have the success that we had with it was amazing. And then to try to fill another set of big shoes and go to the No. 48 is going to be really fun. I was definitely nervous when Mr. Hendrick first told me. You never know like working with a new partner and how it’s going to be but working with Ally has been so much fun so far. I’ve really enjoyed it. I just want to get on the race track and do my job. I’m just ready to go.”

WITH ALL THAT TOOK PLACE DURING THE OFF-SEASON, HOW HAVE YOUR INTERACTIONS BEEN WITH RICK HENDRICK?
“I haven’t seen the boss since Phoenix. I’ve been on some Zoom calls with him, so I’ve virtually seen him, but haven’t seen him in person. I miss seeing him around, for sure. But I’ve talked to him on the phone quite a bit. He calls me like super late at night. At Chili Bowl, one of the nights that we weren’t racing, there was a phone call there that I remember bits and pieces of; but it’s been fun to stay in touch about the open-wheel side of what we did over the Winter. He would question me on why my race cars weren’t faster and then just the regular day-to-day Cup shop stuff, as well. It’s fun to be friends with him. He’s a really good guy and I just really enjoy driving for him.”

DRIVING THE NO. 48 IS SUCH A HUGH THRILL, BUT COMES LOADED WITH PRESSURE & EXPECTATIONS AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT’S YOUR MINDSET ON DEALING WITH THOSE NEWLY FOUND EXPECTATIONS AND EYES WATCHING YOU?
“The biggest thing for me is there’s not a car number or situation in the world that’s going to put more pressure on me than I put on myself. I feel like all race car drivers are selfish but I’m really selfish. I just want to win for me. Obviously, I want to win for Hendrick Motorsports and for Chevrolet and for Ally and for everybody that makes this deal possible. But more so than any of that, I want to win for me. I put a ton of pressure on myself each and every week to go do that and to run well and to run how we should. I think outside situations don’t really add to that. I probably put too much stress on myself and too much pressure on myself at times, but it’s all from me because I care about how we run and because I want to run well. It’s not really because somebody is saying oh the No. 48 has to go win or needs to go win a championship. It’s because I want to win and because I want to win championships.”

YOU PUT ON A GOOD SHOWING LAST SEASON. HOW CAN YOU BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS AND WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU TOOK AWAY FROM THE SEASON AND RUNNING UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES?
“For me, it’s really been the same thing for the last two years. We just need to be more consistent. We were able to do that during the Playoffs. It was great. But throughout the course of the season, we were really hit and miss, hot and cold. We didn’t have the Summer that we needed to have and that put us way behind on Playoff points going into the Playoffs. If we had the Playoff points, we probably should have, and ran the way we did, we would have made the Round of Four. So, we really just needed to do a better job over the course of the season in being more consistent. That was the same going into last year. We know that’s what we need to do better. We just need to run how we should all year. If we can run how we did in the Playoffs all year long, we can make a lot of noise.”

ON THE UPCOMING CLASH, EVERYBODY WANTS TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM IT AS WELL. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
“Yeah, it’s really a big test session for us, right? We’re going right back and it’s going to be a points race on the road course there. We really just need to do the best job we can at knowing what our race car does in that race and knowing what we can do to improve our race car after that race. Also as a driver, the way that the Daytona Road Course went for me last year, we started in the back and had a tire issue. Like every restart I was buried in the back. I drove through the field like three or four times that day. While we still got up to the top 10 before kind of getting run over on the last lap, I never really felt like I had a great idea of where like max braking points are fresh tires were; and really had to maximize lap time there. So, for me, it’s great. I can get more laps there with less cars and more quality cars and really be able to learn those max braking zones and really try to figure out how to chase down Chase Elliott a little bit.”

WHAT ABOUT RACE DAY WHEN YOU STRAP INTO YOUR CAR LEADING INTO THIS PARTICULAR DAYTONA 500? HOW DO YOU MENTALLY STRAP INTO THAT ONE?
“I think the Daytona 500 is probably the only event that all that stuff going on outside of the race car, you really notice it more just because of the magnitude of it. The Daytona 500 is huge with so many people and so much going on. So that’s obviously going to be very different or somewhat different. But to me, once I get in the race car none of that other stuff really matters. I just turn everything else off and go do your job. I don’t think much has changed as far as my mindset. I’m excited to get going and really excited to see how our race cars stack up. There’s a really big unknown going into the season, just like every season when you don’t really know how your car is going to be until you get to the race track.”

DO YOU TRY TO CLEAR YOUR MIND AND NOT OVER-THINK THINGS?
“I’ve got to think as little as possible (laughs). If I try to think too much, I don’t have the brain capacity for it. But now, I think once I get in the race car nothing else besides that race car matters. I don’t know if I clear my mind if that’s what you want to call it, but it’s always been that way for me. Outside things or whatever is going on quits mattering once you strap-in and it’s just your job to maximize what you can get out of that race car.”

YOU’RE NOT THE OLDEST DRIVER AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, BUT YOU’VE BEEN AROUND HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS THE LONGEST AHEAD OF CHASE ELLIOTT AND WILLIAM BYRON AND OBVIOUSLY KYLE LARSON. ON LEADERSHIP, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW DID I BECOME THE VETERAN IN THIS GROUP OF DRIVERS?
“I think Chase has been here a little longer than I have but it’s been really cool to have this time at Hendrick Motorsports and I hope to be here for a really long time. The group of drivers we have is great. And I think everybody works together really well. I haven’t really looked at it like I’m the veteran. William and I kind of started at the same time, at least in a full-time sense in 2018. It’s been really cool. I might have more starts than they do with running all the way back in 2014 with some smaller teams in my rookie year which was the same as Larson’s in that sense. I feel like we’re all about the same on the experience level. I think we all have our own strengths and weaknesses we bring to the table. But I haven’t looked at myself as the veteran. Larson is a little bit older than I am, so at least I can point to somebody else as being the old guy.”

IF YOU STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE TURNOVER IN DRIVERS AT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, DO YOU MAYBE LOOK AT THE GUYS WHO CAME BEFORE YOU AND GET A SENSE OF THAT THERE’S A STANDARD HERE? DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO TAKE THAT STANDARD AND RUN IT UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER?
“I think anytime you walk through the front door at Hendrick Motorsports you know there’s a very high standard here. The expectation is to win a lot of races and win championships. I’m glad that as an organization we were able to do that last year and go win a championship. I wish it was our team doing it. We’ve had some wins but not nearly enough. So, we just need to go win a lot of races and win championships and let that speak for itself. I think that’s what’s expected of any driver at Hendrick Motorsports. Mr. Hendrick gives us all the tools we need to go do it. We’ve just got to go make it happen.”

DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY NO. 88 MOMENTUMS OR HAVE TO TRIED TO GET RID OF EVERYTHING BEYOND THE CAR YOU WERE GIVEN?
“I didn’t really have a lot of No. 88 stuff, I guess. I have the side off the car, the first one that I drove in New Hampshire in 2016, and some little stuff like that. Obviously, there’s a race car in my shop. I don’t really know what I’m going to do with it (laughs). But other than that, I really didn’t have anything, so I didn’t have anything to get rid of. I had to change my social media handles. Who puts their car number in their social media channels? What a genius idea that was. Some things have changed but it really feels normal to me. I hope I stop on the No. 48 pit sign because everything else feels the same.”

GIVEN THAT OTHER MOTORSPORTS LIKE INDYCAR AND FORMULA USE A SEASON-LONG FORMAT, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NASCAR’S PLAYOFF METHOD OF DETERMINING THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
“I think we all have the same box to play in, right? We’re all racing under the same point system. So, for us, it’s like everybody has the same opportunity to go out and get points. Yeah, sometimes luck does become involved in it but I think the Playoffs have been really good. We’re not announcing the champion a couple of races before the final race like some other series do and like we had to do before the Playoffs started. I think it’s good for the sport. I think the Playoffs work well. Sometimes the guy that dominated the season has a bad Playoff run in a certain round like you saw last year, but that’s just part of racing. Racing has always been that way and stuff happens.”
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

Veteran Driver Returns to the Cockpit at Season Opening Event

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 8, 2021) – David Gilliland Racing announced today that Black’s Tire and Auto Service will partner with veteran driver and team co-owner David Gilliland for the upcoming season opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Gilliland will pilot the No. 17 Black’s Tire and Auto Service Ford F-150 at the 2.5-mile superspeedway on Friday, Feb. 12. Gilliland and Black’s Tire and Auto Service have a long-standing relationship throughout Gilliland’s racing career.

The California native competed in seven NCWTS events in 2015 for Black’s Tire and Auto Service owner Ricky Benton’s team. In 2018, he was behind the wheel of Benton’s NASCAR Cup Series’ owner debut, piloting the No. 92 Ford to a 14th-place finish in that year’s running of the Daytona 500.

In 2020, Black’s Tire and Auto Service served as a primary sponsor for Gilliland’s son, Todd. The younger Gilliland piloted a Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports.

“Ricky Benton and everyone at Black’s Tire and Auto Service have been like family to me over the years,” said Gilliland. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to get the behind the wheel again in a truck and to represent Ricky’s company. Getting to drive a truck that I own is neat, and I hope this is just one of several races I get to participate in this year.”

In 2019, Gilliland made two starts in the NCWTS for DGR-Crosley. He started second at Daytona in February but ended up with a 13th-place finish after being involved in an accident at lap 100. Gilliland’s second start of the season was at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in March, where he earned a 12th-place result.

“David has been a part of the Black’s Tire family for a long time,” said Benton. “We couldn’t be happier to support what he is building at DGR. They have fast trucks and an exciting lineup of drivers and we look forward to joining David and the No. 17 team in victory lane in 2021.”

The No. 17 Ford F-150 is slated to run a part-time schedule for the 2021 NCWTS season.

About Black’s Tire and Auto Service | blackstire.com

Black’s Tire and Auto Service was formed as Black’s Service Station by W. Crowell Black in Whiteville, N.C. in 1929. Now, with 50 locations in both North and South Carolina, Black’s remains a local, family owned/operated tire sales and service and vehicle repair business. In addition to the retail and commercial locations, Black’s also operates four warehouse / distribution centers, BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, a commercial sales division and a tire-retreading business, Carolina Retreads. The Black’s Tire family includes more than 700 highly skilled, service-minded team members and ASE certified technicians.

To learn more about Black’s Tire or to find a location, visit www.blackstire.com. Follow Black’s Tire and Auto Service on social media: Twitter at @BlacksTire, Instagram at @BlacksTire and Facebook at facebook.com/blackstire.

About David Gilliland Racing

David Gilliland Racing (DGR) is a race team owned by NASCAR veteran David Gilliland and businessman Johnny Gray. The team specializes in driver development, competing full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, multiple ARCA Menards Series divisions and CARS Tour with factory support from Ford Performance.

In its first four years of operation, DGR has achieved success in each series tallying up multiple wins and championships. The team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet in Mooresville, N.C.

FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: THE BUSCH CLASH

The 2021 NASCAR Cup season kicks off Tuesday night with the annual Busch Clash non-points event, featuring pole-winners from the 2020 season, along with former Clash winners who competed full time last year, former Daytona 500 pole-winners and race-winners who competed full-time last year, playoff qualifiers from a season ago, and anyone who won a series race or stage in 2020.

NINE FORD DRIVERS IN THE FIELD

There will be nine Ford drivers competing in the field for Sunday’s Busch Clash. Ryan Newman and Chris Buescher will be representing Roush Fenway Racing while Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske have three drivers each in the field. Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Cole Custer will carry the SHR banner while Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney compete for Penske. The final spot is held by Matt DiBenedetto, who begins his second season driving for the Wood Brothers.

ELLIOTT CLAIMS FORD’S FIRST CLASH VICTORY AT DAYTONA

Bill Elliott became the first Ford driver to win a non-points event in the NASCAR Cup Series on Feb. 8, 1987 when he captured the Busch Clash. The format that year was a single 20-lap run (50 miles) with no pit stop required. Elliott, who started on the pole in his No. 9 Coors Thunderbird after a blind draw, fell back to sixth on the start after Terry Labonte and Ricky Rudd were involved in an accident on the first lap. On the ensuing restart, Elliott steadily reeled in leader Darrell Waltrip and passed him on lap eight. Elliott led the final 13 laps and won with an average speed of 197.802 mph, a record that still stands for the event. A week later, Elliott won his second Daytona 500.

TAURUS WINS DEBUT AS RUSTY WINS INAUGURAL BUD SHOOTOUT

Taurus made NASCAR history as the first four-door sedan and it wasted no time in opening eyes as Rusty Wallace drove it to victory in its debut race – the 1998 Bud Shootout. The win was Wallace’s first at Daytona International Speedway and it came with a little help from his younger brother, Kenny, who pushed him across the finish line on the final lap. Bill Elliott and Jimmy Spencer finished third and fourth, respectively, to give Ford a sweep of the top four positions.

DJ HOLDS OFF JR FOR SHOOTOUT TRIUMPH

Dale Jarrett won his third Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 7, 2004 in his No. 88 UPS Taurus. The race was broken up into two segments – an initial 20-lap run followed by a 50-lapper to the finish – and marked the beginning of Nextel as series sponsor. Jarrett and Kevin Harvick were side-by-side at the white flag, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave Jarrett the push he needed to complete the pass on the outside going through turn one. Even though Ryan Newman and Jamie McMurray got into an accident on the backstretch, the race finished under green with Jarrett holding off Earnhardt Jr. for the win.

KESELOWSKI SET THE TONE IN 2018

In a foreshadowing of what the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series would look like, Brad Keselowski took Ford to Victory Lane in the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway. Keselowski led a Ford sweep of the top four finishing positions as he took the lead on lap 39 of the 75-lap feature and never looked back, holding off Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and Ryan Blaney, respectively. It marked the second straight Clash win for Ford and served as a springboard that saw the Blue Oval lead the series with 19 points wins and capture the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.

LOGANO BREAKS CLASH DROUGHT

Joey Logano snapped a 13-year Ford winless drought when he won The Clash in 2017, making him the manufacturer’s first victor since Dale Jarrett in 2004. Logano found himself in the right place at the right time, taking the lead after Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski made contact on the final lap. Keselowski had a run and was trying to pass Hamlin, whose attempt at blocking came too late and resulted in both cars colliding. That enabled Logano to get through and win the Clash for the first time in his career. Four Ford drivers finished in the top six spots as Danica Patrick was fourth, Kevin Harvick fifth and Keselowski sixth.

FORD CLASH HISTORY

The Clash has been held in some form since 1979 and Ford has won it nine times by seven different drivers. The best stretch for Ford in the event undoubtedly came during a three-year winning streak in which Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett all reached victory lane from 1998-2000. Jarrett owns three of Ford’s nine victories (1996, 2000, 2004) in the event and on two of those occasions (1996 and 2000) he went on to win the Daytona 500. As noted above, Bill Elliott was Ford’s first winner in the event while Geoffrey Bodine was next in 1992.

FORD’S BUSCH CLASH WINNERS
1987 – Bill Elliott
1992 – Geoffrey Bodine
1996 – Dale Jarrett
1998 – Rusty Wallace
1999 – Mark Martin
2000 – Dale Jarrett
2004 – Dale Jarrett
2017 – Joey Logano
2018 – Brad Keselowski