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Howie DiSavino III brings confidence into ARCA superspeedway debut

By
Official Release
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla: When it comes to superspeedway racing, confidence is always a good thing.

For ARCA Menards Series driver Howie DiSavino III, confidence is on his side ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Undoubtedly, the 2021 ARCA season opener will be the biggest race of DiSavino’s career, but that does not seem to faze the AM Racing development driver one bit.

“It’s important for me to do well at Daytona this weekend,” said DiSavino. “I really want to give this AM Racing team some momentum.

“Kevin (Cywinski), Jamie (Jones) and everyone on this No. 32 Chevrolet are going to Daytona with the mindset of winning the race and I think we can do that – I just need to do my job and have a little luck along the way.

“I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity to compete on this big stage,” added DiSavino. “It’s a very humbling moment for me and my family, but once I climb into the car on Saturday, I can’t treat it as the biggest race or biggest chance of my career – I just have to treat it as another race.”

That cool, calm demeanor could be the winning ticket for DiSavino aboard Kevin Cywinski’s No. 32 Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning | Front Runner Boats Chevrolet. Of course, AM Racing (formerly WinTron Racing) is no stranger to Daytona’s victory circle.

Cywinski alongside crew chief Jamie Jones have been fielding the No. 32 Chevrolet for several years around the 2.5-mile superspeedway and while also having fast race cars, when the payday window opened, they always found themselves collected in someone else’s mishap.

DiSavino isn’t thinking about the dreaded “Big One” this weekend, because chances are there will be nothing he can do to prevent being collected. What he can do is act off instinct and the guidance of his spotter, Tyler Monn.

To help prepare DiSavino for his superspeedway debut, the Chesterfield, Va. native participated in the open ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona last month with Jones and Monn by his side.

“I learned a lot at the test,” added DiSavino. “It certainly can be intimidating, but I felt like we made the best of the test for sure. We made adjustments throughout the two days and my comfort level was really at its best on Saturday and I feel like I’ve done my part studying up on the prior races since the test that will all help with the cause and our goal.

As DiSavino prepares for his sixth career ARCA Menards Series race, he knows he doesn’t have to go far outside his circle for advice on how to conquer Daytona.

DiSavino’s manager is former ARCA Daytona winner and former series champion Austin Theriault who captured both crowns during the 2017 season. Theriault has not only been instrumental in mentoring his young driver in the car but out of the seat too.

Former ARCA winner Joey Coulter has also played an important part in coaching Howie, in preparation for the biggest race of his career.

Former ARCA winner Joey Coulter has also played an important part in coaching Howie, in preparation for the biggest race of his career.

“Having them (Austin and Joey) is going to help me with my learning curve as I continue to climb the ranks. I’m glad they are on my side,” sounded DiSavino.

“Hopefully, our race ends with a strong finish and something to be proud about looking ahead to the rest of 2021.”

Bud’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Front Runner Boats and KEES Vacation will support DiSavino in 2021.
Additional details on DiSavino’s 2021 program are forthcoming.

For more on Howie DiSavino III, please visit howiedisavino.com, like him on Facebook (Howie DiSavino III Racing), follow him on Twitter (@hdisavino) and Instagram (HowieDiSavino).

For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2021 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri., Feb. 12 with a one-hour session from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Group qualifying is set for race day, Sat., Feb. 13 at 8:30 a.m. The season-opener for the 69th consecutive ARCA season is set to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric:

Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric is the recognized leader in residential and light commercial mechanical contractors in the Hampton Roads market. From simple, honest beginnings in 1969, Bud’s quickly rose to prominence, establishing a legendary reputation for quality, service and professionalism while always maintaining the same home-town personalized connections with clients throughout its 51-year history.

In 2000, Bud’s expanded under the current leadership of CEO Robert W. Nelson Jr. adding plumbing and electrical departments and introducing a science-based whole home approach that has now become the industry benchmark, while national influencing the market through innovative business and customer relations practices.

About Front Runner Boats:

Front Runner as defined by Meriam Webster is “a contestant who runs best in the lead.” Indeed, this defines the vision of Front Runner Boats’ founders, two fishing buddies and business partners who saw an opportunity to build the boats they enjoyed, but with their own ideas on how to build them better!

There are plenty of big, beautiful, boats on the market, but none that came up to the standards Mark and Phil had set for themselves. Standards that today’s boat builders have never seen. Standards that only people that take the sport of blue water fishing seriously will appreciate.

If you’ve always dreamed of having everything you wanted in a boat, it’s time for Front Runner Boats.

Show your support for Howie, the team and our boats using #MrFrontRunner on social media.

Interview: First Seasons – Ricky Taylor

By
Briar Starr
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Rolex 24 at Daytona, IMSA, Daytona, January 2021, Photo Courtesy of Brian Clearly

In continuation of our feature series, “First-Seasons,” Speedway Media takes a look back at a driver’s first year or rookie year(s) of racing. This week we catch up with 2020 Daytona Prototype International Rolex 24 winner and Wayne Taylor Racing driver, Ricky Taylor.

In this interview, Taylor talks about growing up in a racing family, his first Rolex 24 start, how he prepared for his rookie season in 2008, his first victory at Lime Rock Park, how he handed expectations throughout his early years and so much more.

SM: You entered Grand-Am Sports Car Racing at the age of 18-years-old back in 2008,  driving on a partial schedule of eight races. What it was like making your debut back then and did you feel like that age was the right time for you to start racing  professionally?  

RT: “I have been very lucky to grow up in a racing family,” Taylor said. “To have my dad (Wayne Taylor, Team Owner of Wayne Taylor Racing) in the position he has been in, gave me many opportunities while I was growing up that I would not have had without him. In 2008, I was definitely underprepared to be competing in the Rolex 24, but it was a great opportunity to learn at a fast rate. And those opportunities to compete in major events with star drivers gave me the best schooling possible in what it  takes to compete at the highest level.”   

SM: Obviously, you’ve grown up with the Taylor name which has been a household name in racing for many years now. When you first started Sports Car racing, was there a lot of pressure for you to perform well, or did that not bother you knowing you could go to your dad for advice?  

RT: “It was a mental challenge for me,” he said. “I am a self-critical person, so it was natural for me to question why I was in a position that I was in. So, I always felt like I didn’t deserve what I was getting through my dad. But, at the same time, it would be silly to pass the opportunities up. It was great to be surrounded by such knowledgeable people and to have my dad play such a big role in my career helped me to learn in a way that most drivers do not have the opportunity to do. I always felt like I wanted to prove myself as a driver, first, to earn my position on merit and not because I was placed there, so that was always a struggle I had with myself to try to look at my career and performance impartially.” 

SM: As you entered the 2008 season, you ran part-time, competing in eight races of the 15-race schedule. Why the part-time schedule and was it hard to keep expectations realistic as the season wore on? Talk us through what your general expectations were for that year?  

RT: “A part-time season was a good opportunity to keep expectations in check and to learn as much as possible,” the two-time Rolex 24 winner said. “It was mixed together with a few different cars and tracks that were new to me so the pressure was high to prove myself but they were mostly with smaller teams where I could focus on learning with my teammates. 

SM: Your first IMSA start came at the famous Rolex 24 driving for your dad’s team, in the No. 10 SunTrust Racing machine. You started fourth but finished fifth, eight laps off the pace. Can you discuss how excited you were for your first Rolex 24 and racing for your dad’s team in your first Grand-Am start? I’m sure that had to be something special.

RT: “This was definitely an intimidating event and I felt very underprepared to be in a top team at the Rolex 24,” Taylor said. “But, (it) was very special to drive for dad for the first time and share the car with my mentor, Max Angelelli.”

SM: As you look back on the Rolex 24 in your first year in 2008, how anxious or nervous were you as the race came closer and closer on your radar? Or were you ready to go by the time the green flag flew? Is there anything in your mind you could have done differently for a  higher finish?  

RT: “I was extremely anxious and nervous before the race and it took me some time to settle into a rhythm in the race but did not drive much during the race.”

SM: After Daytona, you competed for Beyer Racing and then Doran Racing, before switching to Beyer Racing in 2009 to run the full schedule. How did you get connected with Beyer Racing to give you a full-time shot?  

RT: “Beyer Racing came about after meeting the Beyer family through Steven Charlesly who now works for Multimatic,” he said. “Steven was bringing the Beyer family into sportscar racing after they had been competing in their home state of Texas. We connected very well with the Beyer family. Jeff, who was the father, and Jared, the son/driver, and I had a great relationship in the first few races and it was a lot of fun to race together. Jared and I were a similar age and we both wanted to make a career of racing. We connected with the Cape Brothers to run the car for 2009 and it was a great group of people to compete together for the full season.” 

SM: For the rest of 2008, you had some respectable finishes such as fifth at Birmingham and seventh at Mid-Ohio. Were you starting to get more comfortable with the car or was there still a learning curve for you?  

RT: “It (my rookie year) was all a learning curve,” Taylor said. “Getting to race against people at a higher level than I was, made it to where I felt like I was constantly learning and while trying to remain confident in my own ability, trying to take in as much as possible to get to their level as fast as  possible, but it just took time.” 

SM: After a brief year with Beyer Racing in 09, you returned to your dad’s team in 2010 and eventually earned your first podium finish at VIR where you finished third after starting fifth. Looking back, did you think you had a shot to win that race as you look at the results and how satisfying was your first podium finish?  

RT: “2010 was a good year, where we fought for poles and wins throughout the year and, after a good year with Beyer, rejoining WTR (Wayne Taylor Racing) raised the expectations again.”

SM: Eventually, one race later at Lime Rock, you won your first Grand-Am race after leading 95 laps. What does that first victory still mean to you and have you ever had a chance to watch that race back?  

RT: “That (winning Lime Rock) was a great experience. It meant so much to win with Max and the WTR team,” he said. “Our car was extremely strong in Lime Rock and it was fantastic to break the seal of winning a race in the Grand-Am Rolex Series.”

SM: Looking back on your early years as a rookie driver, are there any races that stand out  where you thought, ‘I think we could have had this one won had we done this part  perfectly?’ If so, what race sticks out?  

RT: “There were many instances where we left the racetrack feeling that we could’ve done a better job,” Taylor said. “The most regular piece that I would take out of those early days was, with how limited the track time is, how we could make the most of the practice sessions and getting up to speed as fast as possible. Also, not being intimidated of the other competitors, but it mainly just took time to overcome that.”

SM: Some racers collect their own merchandise and some don’t. Are you a driver that collects your own memorabilia and if so, what do you have in your collection that  reminds you of your rookie season?  

RT: “I do keep hats and trophies from race wins,” he said. “But as far as my rookie season, mainly just  photos, videos and notes from the weekends.”

SM: Obviously, you’ve won the Rolex 24 twice in your career. However, aside from those two wins, what is your favorite trophy out of your collection and why?  

RT: “That (my favorite trophy) would have to be Watkins Glen 6 Hour from 2011 which was my first race win as the finishing driver.”

SM: Wrapping this interview up, it’s hard to believe your debut came 13 years ago already.  However, if time travel were available, what would a 31-year-old Ricky Taylor tell an 18-year-old Ricky Taylor? Is there anything you would do differently?  

RT: “It’s so hard to believe,” Taylor said. “I think the main thing would be to not be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and to trust that the experience just comes with time. If I had to do anything differently, it would be to not care as much about what people think and maybe  not join social media.”

Throughout Taylor’s career, the  Apopka, Florida native has earned seven career victories in the old NASCAR Grand-Am Series along with 20 podiums, 12 poles and 1,267 laps led. In today’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship career, Taylor currently has 71 career starts, 18 wins, 38 podiums, 17 poles and 3,431 laps led. The Wayne Taylor Racing driver also collected two championships (2017, 2020).

Fans can follow Ricky Taylor on Social Media, by checking out his Twitter and Instagram accounts and liking his Facebook page.

Additionally, fans of Wayne Taylor Racing can follow them on Twitter and Instagram and like their Facebook. Fans can also visit their website here.

Special thanks to Liz Van Oostenburg for coordinating this interview and many thanks to Ricky Taylor for taking the time out of his busy schedule for the interview.

DGR ARCA Menards Series East Recap: New Smyrna Speedway

By
Official Release
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Monday, February 8
Track: New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, half-mile oval
Race: 1 of 8
Event: Jeep Beach 175 (175 laps, 84 miles)

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion
Start: 1st
Finish: 3rd

  • Gray earned his second career ARCA Menards General Tire Pole Award and paced the field to the initial green flag. He led the opening 10 laps before being overtaken on lap 11.
  • A long green flag run allowed the No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion to find its groove and reassume the lead on lap 65. Caution flag waved on lap 90 and the team would pit for four tires and fuel.
  • A discrepancy on pit road relegated the No. 17 to restarting fourth. Gray quickly moved into third and held steady there until a caution on lap 164. Rain began to fall during this caution period and resulted in the race being under red flag conditions for well over an hour.
  • ARCA officials corrected the error from the prior pit sequence when cars returned to the track for the closing laps, which placed Gray in 2nd place for the restart. A quick yellow on the opening lap would set up a green-white-checkered finish. Gray took the lead coming to the white flag, but was bumped out of the groove in turns 3 & 4 and narrowly finished third in a three-wide photo finish.
  • Gray on New Smyrna: “It was just a short track last lap deal. The 18 tried to move me and didn’t do it right. It’s unfortunate to lead that many laps and not come away with a win, but on the positive side we had a really fast Ford Performance Fusion all day long. We will take the podium finish and move on to Pensacola to hopefully redeem ourselves and get a win.”

Joey Iest, No. 54 ASN/Basila Ranch Ford Fusion
Start: 3rd
Finish: 5th

  • Iest qualified 3rd, but the inside row checked up hard on the initial start and caused him to fall to 11th on the opening lap.
    The California native stayed composed and worked his way back through the field to second-place on lap 82. He was on the bumper of the leader when the caution flag waved on lap 90 for pit stops.
  • The pitting discrepancy forced the No. 54 to restart the race in 5th. Iest quickly moved to fourth and was running there when the caution waved on lap 164.
  • After the lengthy rain delay and lineup reshuffling due to the pitting error, Iest would restart third and come away with a fifth-place finish in his ARCA Menards Series East debut.
  • Iest on New Smyrna: “It felt great to come to a new track with a new team and have speed right out of the box. After that initial start where the inside lane bottled up, I think we showed that we had one of the fastest long run cars here. I wish we could have gotten a long run to the finish, but a top-five to start our ARCA Menards Series East campaign with DGR is awesome. I can’t wait to get to Pensacola in a few weeks and build on this performance.”

Next event: Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on February 27 at 6 p.m. ET.

Dale Earnhardt Legend, Legacy Explored in New ESPN E60 Documentary

By
Official Release
-

One-Hour Special Airs 20 Years After NASCAR Star’s Fatal Crash in 2001 Daytona 500

Twenty years ago, the world of racing lost one of its biggest stars when Dale Earnhardt died during a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500. In a new special, ESPN’s E60 will take viewers back to that fateful day to explore the legacy of Dale Earnhardt and the effect his loss has had on the sport of NASCAR, including safety improvements to cars and racetracks 

E60 Presents – Intimidator: The Lasting Legacy of Dale Earnhardt will debut on Sunday, Feb. 14, at noon ET on ESPN, just hours before the 2021 Daytona 500 gets underway at Daytona International Speedway.

ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee, who has covered NASCAR for more than 25 years, is the reporter for the story. 

In the program, McGee has a revealing interview with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and the retired NASCAR star speaks openly about his father, what he remembers about that day 20 years ago, and how safety in the sport has evolved.

In addition to Earnhardt Jr., among those interviewed for the story:

·         Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.

·         NASCAR driver Ryan Newman, who survived a spectacular crash in last year’s Daytona 500.

·         Former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty.

·         Dr. Steve Bohannon, trauma physician who was one of the first to reach Earnhardt’s wrecked car. 

·         Mike Helton, NASCAR Vice Chairman, who announced Earnhardt’s death.

·         Steve Phelps, NASCAR President.

·         Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President Chief Racing Development Officer.

·         John Patalak – NASCAR Senior Director of Safety Engineering.

·         Mike Massaro, former ESPN reporter who covered 2001 Daytona 500.

The multiplatform treatment will include a four-part series written by McGee for ESPN.com, beginning Tuesday and running on consecutive days through Friday. 

Excerpts from the program will air on SportsCenter during the week and on Sunday morning, when McGee will be reporting from Daytona and will join the program. The Saturday edition of Outside the Lines on Feb. 13 will have a preview of the special as will the OTL on SportsCenter segments in the noon ET SportsCenter on Thursday and Friday. 

McGee also will be a guest on the ESPN Daily Podcast on Friday, Feb. 12.

After the initial airing, the program will re-air multiple times on ESPN networks and will be available for on-demand viewing on the ESPN App.

The program was produced by Scott Cikowski, Jason Kostura and John Minton.

In addition to his work for ESPN.com, McGee is the co-host of Marty and McGee, which airs on SEC Network and ESPN Radio. He also co-authored Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s book Racing to the Finish in 2018.

Max Gutiérrez wins 2021 ARCA Menards Series East opener at New Smyrna

By
Official Release
-

NEW SMYRNA, Fla: Taking advantage of a second overtime restart at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, 2020 NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series champion Max Gutiérrez stole the victory from Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith with a three-wide pass coming to the checkered flag in Monday night’s Jeep Beach 175.

Max Gutiérrez led only one lap in his Rette Jones Racing debut, but it was the most important as he edged Smith by 0.046 seconds for his first career ARCA Menards Series East victory in just his third series start.

Gutiérrez was announced last week as the driver of the No. 30 TOUGHBUILT Ford Fusion for car owners Mark Rette and Terry Jones for the entire 2021 ARCA Menards Series East season.

“I can’t believe it,” said a jubilant Gutiérrez in Victory Lane. “To qualify second was a surprise for me, but the last green-white-checkered, I was thinking OK (running third), this is good for the championship.

“But on the last corner there were battling for first and I saw an opportunity and I took it. I’m very happy and proud of the team and my sponsors TOUGHBUILT, Telcel, TekNekk and Avaya, I can’t thank them enough for everything. This is a great, great start toward the championship.”

Gutiérrez impressed earlier in the night by qualifying his Rette Jones Racing Ford Fusion on the front row. And despite a hiccup at the start of the race, Gutiérrez spent the entire race battling back from adversity that ultimately put him in a position to win his first career ARCA Menards Series East race even after a lengthy rain delay.

“I can’t believe it,” said team co-owner Rette. “I’m so proud of Max and his determination, not to mention the work by everyone on this Rette Jones Racing team. I knew we had a shot if we timed it right and Max did his job when it counted most and we’re winners again in the ARCA Menards Series East.

“Can’t wait for Five Flags later this month and an opportunity to race for the championship with Max and this Rette Jones Racing team.”

Next up for the ARCA Menards Series East is the Pensacola 200 at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway on Sat.Feb. 27, 2021.
For more on Max Gutiérrez, please visit maxgutierrez.com, like him on Facebook (Max Gutierrez Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@maxgutierrezmx).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never give up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2021 in the ARCA Menards Series East, while also hopeful to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS).

The winning ARCA East team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Gutiérrez goes three-wide to win ARCA East opener at New Smyrna

By
SM
-

The 2020 NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series champion Max Gutiérrez took advantage of the second overtime restart by making a three-wide pass on Taylor Gray and Sammy Smith coming to the checkered flag in Monday night’s season opener Jeep Beach 175 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

Gutiérrez, a 18-year-old native of Mexico City won his first career ARCA Menards Series East victory by 0.046 seconds over Smith in just his third series start for Rette Jones Racing.

“I can’t believe it,” said a jubilant Gutiérrez in Victory Lane. “To qualify second was a surprise for me, but the last green-white-checkered, I was thinking OK (running third), this is good for the championship.”

Gutiérrez qualified his Rette Jones Racing Ford Fusion on the front row and messed up at the start of the race.  He spent the entire race battling back and ultimately put himself in the position to win his first career ARCA Menards Series East race even after a lengthy rain delay. You can also battle back like these at casinosuden.com.

“I can’t believe it,” said team co-owner Rette. “I’m so proud of Max and his determination, not to mention the work by everyone on this Rette Jones Racing team. I knew we had a shot if we timed it right and Max did his job when it counted most and we’re winners again in the ARCA Menards Series East.”

“Can’t wait for Five Flags later this month and an opportunity to race for the championship with Max and this Rette Jones Racing team.” team co-owner Rette added.

Smith was leading the race until the rain with five laps remaining and was penalized for pitting out of sequence during the halfway break and he restarted in fourth.

“You know none of that should have happened.  They penalized us eight laps later for something we did right and everyone else did wrong.  You can’t really control that.” Smith said.

Smith had been leading the race until it was halted by rain with five laps remaining. During the break, Smith was issued a penalty for pitting out of sequence during the halfway break and restarted in fourth.

Smith finished second after leading a race-high 78 laps, Gray finished third, Mason Diaz fourth and Joey Iest rounded out the top five.

The ARCA Menards Series East heads to Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway for the Pensacola 200 on Saturday February 27, 2021 at 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

2021 Jeep Beach 175
ARCA Menards East Series race number 1 of 1
Monday, February 8, 2021 at New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, FL
175 laps* on a .480 mile paved track (84.0 miles)

Fin St No Driver Sponsor / Owner Car Laps Status Led Pts
1 2 30 Max Gutierrez * Toughbuilt   (Mark Rette) Ford 187 running 1 47
2 9 18 Sammy Smith * EngineIce   (Coy Gibbs) Toyota 187 running 78 44
3 1 17 Taylor Gray Ford Performance   (David Gilliland) Ford 187 running 43 43
4 5 74 Mason Diaz Solid Rock Carriers / Prince William Marina   (Marie Benevento) Toyota 187 running 10 41
5 3 54 Joey Iest * David Gilliland Racing   (David Gilliland) Ford 187 running 0 39
6 8 43 Daniel Dye * Halifax Health Race to Stop Suicide   (Ben Kennedy) Chevrolet 187 running 0 38
7 12 9 Colt Hensley * AMS Roofing   (Pat Jett) Toyota 187 running 0 37
8 11 22 Brandon Oakley Oakley Blacktop / Hothead Burritos / Rapid Fi   (Thomas Oakley) Toyota 187 running 0 36
9 6 42 Parker Retzlaff Ponsse / Strike Force   (Bruce Cook) Toyota 185 running 55 36
10 13 3 Willie Mullins CW Metals / Crow Wing Recycling   (Willie Mullins) Ford 183 running 0 34
11 7 6 Rajah Caruth * UTI / NTI   (Max Siegel) Chevrolet 177 running 0 33
12 15 11 Richard Garvie * Stretchlab   (Andy Hillenburg) Ford 176 running 0 32
13 4 21 Jack Wood Chevrolet Accessories   (Maury Gallagher) Chevrolet 127 crash 0 31
14 10 41 Carson Kvapil * Chevrolet Parts   (Bruce Cook) Chevrolet 120 ignition 0 30
15 14 10 Dick Doheny Fast Track Racing   (Andy Hillenburg) Toyota 4 vibration 0 29

Blaney draws 2021 Busch Clash pole

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

The 2021 Busch Clash at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course will have Ryan Blaney and his No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang start on pole position following a random draw and with a new season of NASCAR competition hours away from commencing.

The lineup was determined based on a random draw, which occurred on Daytona International Speedway’s Facebook page on Monday, February 8.

This year’s exhibition event will be the first on Daytona’s road-course layout, with the event to run on 35 laps and divided into two stages. The first stage will conclude on Lap 15 with the final 20 laps to occur in the second stage.

Blaney, who is set to enter his sixth full-time season in the Cup Series, will be making his fourth career start in the Clash. In his previous three Clash starts, he has finished in the top 10 in all starts with a best result of fourth place (twice: 2018 and 2019).

Alex Bowman, who is set to make his first start in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after replacing the retired seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, will start alongside Blaney on the front row. Denny Hamlin, the reigning three-time Daytona 500 champion and three-time Clash winner, will start in third place followed by Brad Keselowski and William Byron.

Tyler Reddick will start in sixth place alongside Chase Elliott, the reigning Cup Series champion. Rounding out the top-10 starting grid are Cole Custer, the reigning Cup Rookie of the Year; Erik Jones, the reigning Clash winner; and Joey Logano, a former winner of the Clash and the Daytona 500.

Rounding out the 21-car starting grid are Ryan Newman, Matt DiBenedetto, Chris Buescher, Ty Dillon, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Aric Almirola.

All 21 competitors met the eligibility criteria to participate in the event: 2020 Busch Pole Award winners, former winners of the Busch Clash, former Daytona 500 champions, former Daytona 500 pole winners (all as full-time Cup competitors), 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff competitors, 2020 Cup race winners and 2020 Cup stage winners.

The 2021 Busch Clash at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course will occur on Tuesday, February 9, at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

Daytona Speedweeks schedule

By
Angie Campbell
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

NASCAR is back and the season kicks off with the 43rd running of the Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway Tues., Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. But this year will feature a special twist as the Clash will be run on Daytona’s road course for the first time.

The lineup for the 21 eligible drivers was held via a virtual draw Monday night at Daytona and Ryan Blaney will start on the pole. This year’s event will consist of 35 laps with a scheduled caution at Lap 15.

Other highlights include NASCAR Cup Series qualifying Wed. night. The fastest two cars will make up the front row for the Daytona 500 Sunday afternoon. The Duels at Daytona will run Thursday evening and will determine the remaining lineup. The Duel 1 drivers will line up on the inside row in order of their finish while the Duel 2 drivers will line up on the outside row according to their finish.  

The ARCA Menards Series, Xfinity Series and the Camping World Truck Series will also take to the track this week in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series prestigious Daytona 500 Sunday afternoon.

All times are Eastern.

Tuesday, Feb. 9                             

7 p.m.: Cup Series Busch Clash at Daytona – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio – (35 laps, 126.35 miles)

Wednesday, Feb. 10

12:05 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice – FS1/MRN

7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – FS1/MRN

Thursday, Feb. 11

5:35 p.m. – 6:25 p.m. Truck Series First Practice – FS1

7 p.m.: Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (60 laps, 150 miles each race)

Friday, Feb. 12

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: ARCA Practice

3:10: Truck Series Qualifying – FS1

4:35 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – FS1

7:30 p.m.: Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 – FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Stages 20/40/100)

Saturday, Feb. 13

8:30 a.m.: ARCA Qualifying

9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m.: Cup Series Second Practice – FS2/MRN

10:40 a.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying FS2/FS1*
*Broadcast coverage starts on FS2 then switches to FS1 at 11 a.m.

12:05 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS1/MRN

1:30 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire – FS1/MRN (80 laps, 200 miles)

5 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 – FS1/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Stages 30/ 60/120)

Sunday, Feb. 14

2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 – FOX/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Stages 65/130/200)

Interesting Tidbits for Tuesday’s Historical Busch Clash At DAYTONA Road Course

By
Official Release
-

Tickets are Available for Anticipated Event Which Will be Held Under the Lights on Storied Road Course

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2021) – Tuesday night’s 43rd Annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA will mark the first time that the iconic event will be held on the iconic DAYTONA Road course under the lights, and will continue a long history of incredible moments.

One of the most unique and anticipated events in all of motorsports, the Busch Clash At DAYTONA will mark the first time the traditional exhibition-style event will tackle the track’s 14-turn, 3.61-mile road course, and under the lights with a scheduled a 7:00 p.m. ET start. For information on how to be a part of the 35-lap (scheduled caution on lap 15) log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

The starting lineup for the will be determined via a blind draw Monday night during a virtual event on Daytona International Speedway’s Facebook page at 9 p.m. ET (facebook.com/DAYTONA), hosted by NASCAR.com’s Alex Weaver and Speedway President Chip Wile. Crew chiefs for the 21 teams scheduled to compete in the Busch Clash will also be a part of the program.

The 21 drivers eligible to compete in this year’s Busch Clash At DAYTONA are Aric Almirola, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Cole Custer, Matt DiBenedetto, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, Joey Lagano, Ryan Newman, Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Martin Truex.

One of the above will look to make history yet again. As anticipation grows, here are some interesting tidbits from the past of this star-studded event, which was first run on Feb. 11, 1979.

  • The initial race saw NASCAR’s “Gentle Giant,” Buddy Baker, go to Victory Lane.
  • The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009.
  • In total, 117 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have competed in the Busch Clash At DAYTONA; 89 of the 117 have participated in more than one.
  • Mark Martin leads all competitors with 24 starts while 2-time DAYTONA 500 Champion Bill Elliott, father of reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Chase Elliott, has 23. Jeff Gordon is the only other driver with more than 20 starts, at 22 (all consecutive).
  • Of today’s active warriors, Kurt Busch leads the field with 17 (Jimmie Johnson has 18 but will not compete Tuesday).
  • A total of 24 drivers have won the Busch Clash At DAYTONA.
  • Dale Earnhardt, Sr. leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Busch Clash victories with six (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
  • Denny Hamlin (2006, 2014, 2016), who will be gunning for a record third straight DAYTONA 500 triumph on Sunday, and Kevin Harvick (2009, 2010, 2013), lead all active drivers in Busch Clash At DAYTONA wins with three each.
  • Seven of the entries this year are former winners of the Busch Clash, led by Harvick and Hamlin with three wins each, along with one-time victors Keselowski, Logano, Kyle and Kurt Busch, as well as defending champion Jones.
  • There have been 10 multiple winners in the Busch Clash At DAYTONA.
  • Neil Bonnett, Ken Schrader, Tony Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back Busch Clash At DAYTONA races. No driver has ever won three straight.
  • The closest margin of victory is .013 second by Kyle Busch of Stewart in 2012.
  • Six times in the 42-year history of the race has the Busch Clash winner gone on to win the Great American Race: Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1987), Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000), Gordon (1997),(2016).

Tuesday, the drivers will compete on the same course (with the lone addition of a NASCAR fourth-turn chicane) as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, North America’s premier sports car race. The road course was introduced to NASCAR’s top three national series this past August for the first time and Chase Elliott took the honors. His thoughts on returning to Daytona?

“I’m looking forward to getting the season started,” said the driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. 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.”

Tickets for Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, excluding the DAYTONA 500, are still available as children 12 and under are FREE in the 100 level seating and $10 in all other reserved seating. Tickets start at $49 for adults for the Busch Clash, Thursday’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel At DAYTONA, Friday’s Nextera Energy 250 and Saturday’s doubleheader featuring the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. ® 300 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire for the ARCA Menards Series.

For information and a complete schedule of all racing events as part of Speedweeks, log onto www.DAYTONA500.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. Tickets are also available for the track’s tripleheader weekend on the DAYTONA Road course (Feb. 19-21), featuring NASCAR’s top three national series.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest speedway news.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of “The Great American Race” – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the “World Center of Racing,” boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

USAF Thunderbirds To Again Perform Flyover for Sunday’s DAYTONA 500

By
Official Release
-

For 11th Straight Year, “America’s Ambassadors in Blue” to Soar Over World Center of Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2021) – The world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will perform this Sunday’s flyover for the 63rd annual DAYTONA at Daytona International Speedway, the prestigious season-opening event to the NASCAR Cup Series (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The flyover will mark the 11th consecutive year, and 12th total, that “America’s Ambassadors in Blue” – officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron – will showcase their world-class talent and precise choreography flying their signature “Delta” formation over the World Center of Racing at the end of the National Anthem for The Great American Race.

“We’re honored to have the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds continue to be a part of the traditional DAYTONA 500 pre-race ceremonies,” Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile said. “For both the thousands of fans in attendance and the millions more watching on television, the sight of the USAF Thunderbirds soaring over the race track at the end of the National Anthem is one of the most exhilarating and treasured moments of the DAYTONA 500 experience.”

“We are excited to fly over the Daytona 500 again this year,” said Lt. Col. John Caldwell, Commander and Leader of U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. “This amazing event has kicked off our demonstration season for the past ten years, and we are grateful for the partnership between the Speedway and Air Force. There is always a lot of enthusiasm surrounding this race, and we’re honored to share the pride, precision and professionalism of the 693,000 total force Airmen to NASCAR fans around the world.”

The Thunderbirds feature six F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter aircraft. Assigned to Air Combat Command, the squadron is composed of 12 officers and more than 120 enlisted personnel serving in nearly 30 Air Force job specialties. They have a rigorous schedule, performing hour-long demonstrations across the United States nearly 30 weekends between April and November.

Since the unit’s inception in 1953, more than 400 million people in all 50 states and more than 60 countries have witnessed the distinctive red, white and blue jets in thousands of official aerial demonstrations.

For a select group of Thunderbird team members, the DAYTONA 500 will be in familiar surroundings as they hail from Florida:

  • Lieutenant Colonel John Caldwell, Thunderbird 1 – Commander and Leader, is from Orlando, Florida. He leads all the flying demonstrations as well as commands the 130-person squadron.
  • Major Zane Taylor, Thunderbird 3 – Right Wing Pilot, is also from Orlando, Florida.
  • TSgt Paton Holmes, #1 Assistant Dedicated Crew Chief, is from Islamorada, Florida.
  • TSgt Ned Johnston, Non-commissioned officer In-Charge of Public Affairs Operations, is from Tampa Bay, Florida.
  • TSgt Joshua Williams, Maintenance/Line Chief, is from St. Augustine, Florida.
  • SSgt Ryan Burns, Aircraft Maintenance Phase Technician, is from Pensacola, Florida.
  • SrA Aarien Foster, Aircraft Structural Maintenance Technician, is from Bradenton, Florida.

For information on the 2021 DAYTONA 500 and all Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, which kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 9) with the 43rd Annual Busch Clash on the DAYTONA Road Course under the lights, fans can visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP. All guests will be screened before entering the facility and will be required to wear face coverings while maintaining six feet social distancing throughout their visit. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest speedway news.

About the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

The official mission of the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron is to plan and present precision aerial maneuvers to exhibit the capabilities of modern, high-performance aircraft and demonstrate the high degree of professional skill required to operate those aircraft. The missions, objectives and goals of the Thunderbirds can be summarized into one word: ambassadors. The team is a group of traveling spokespersons for the Air Force, demonstrating a clear example of America’s air power. Performing at public venues tells the Air Force story, often to people in communities that have little interaction with America’s military.

About Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe, thus earning it the title of World Center of Racing. In addition to eight major weekends of racing activity, rarely a week goes by that the Speedway grounds are not used for events that include civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

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