TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
63RD DAYTONA 500
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
DAYTONA, FLORIDA
FEBRUARY 14, 2021

TAKING THE GREEN FOR 2021
It’s among the most prestigious events in auto racing and it kicks off the 2021 season for NASCAR’s premier series: the 63rd running of the Daytona 500. The 2021 Daytona 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth is six days packed full of events by NASCAR’s three national series that leads to the green flag of “The Great American Race”.

Daytona Speedweeks kicks off with the 43rd Annual Busch Clash at Daytona under the lights tonight, Tuesday, February 9th, at 7:00 p.m. ET. For the first time in history, the exhibition-style race will take on the track’s 14-turn, 3.61-mile road course. Wednesday’s events include Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented by Kroger, where NASCAR’s stars battle to claim the pole position for the Daytona 500. Next on tap for NASCAR’s premier series are the Bluegreen Vacations Duels, taking the green Thursday, February 11th, at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1. The two 60-lap, 150-mile events will determine the remaining starting lineup for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

NASCAR’s three national series will take on three days of action at the 2.5-mile Florida superspeedway, with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) kicking off their season opener weekend with the NextEra Energy 250 Friday, February 12th at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The ‘World Center of Racing’ has been the host of the season opener for the NCWTS since 2000. Saturday’s action will get underway with an appearance by the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the ‘Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300’ on Saturday, February 13th, at 5:00 p.m. ET on FS1. The 2021 Speedweeks is capped off with the NASCAR Cup Series and the 63rd Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 14th, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX. For the 40th straight year, “The Great American Race” will start the NASCAR Cup Series’ 36-race season.

As NASCAR returns to action for the 2021 season, Daytona International Speedway will be the host to a limited number of fans for an in-person experience of the week’s events. The Daytona 500 is expected to have nearly 30,000 fans in attendance for the race, making it the largest sporting event to take place in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BUSCH CLASH AT DAYTONA
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series gets underway tonight with the 43rd Annual Busch Clash at Daytona. For the first time in NASCAR history, the 35-lap, 126.35-mile exhibition-style race will take place on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course, which was introduced to the Series in August 2020. The field of competition is limited to: 2020 Busch Pole Award winners, past Busch Clash winners, former Daytona 500 champions, former Daytona 500 Busch Pole winners, 2020 NCS Playoff drivers, 2020 NCS race winners, and 2020 NCS stage winners.

A Chevrolet has made its way to victory lane in the Busch Clash 21 times, more than all other manufacturers. Career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, is among just six drivers to sweep both the Busch Clash and the Daytona 500 in one year (1997). Gordon also holds the record for appearing in the most consecutive Busch Clash races with 22 (1994 – 2015).

Of the 24 drivers eligible for this year’s Busch Clash, eight (8) Chevrolet drivers met the criteria to compete. Here is the Team Chevy starting lineup:

2nd Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Camaro ZL1 1LE
5th William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Camaro ZL1 1LE
6th Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE
7th Chase Elliott, No. 9 Llumar Camaro ZL1 1LE
9th Erik Jones, No. 43 RP Funding Camaro ZL1 1LE
15th Kurt Busch, No. 1 AdventHealth Camaro ZL1 1LE
19th Austin Dillon, No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Off Road Camaro ZL1 1LE
20th Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Kroger/NOS Energy Drink Camaro ZL1 1LE

RACE FOR THE FRONT ROW
The 2021 season brings the return of qualifying at select events, including the Daytona 500. The front row of the prestigious event has been swept by the Bowtie Brand an impressive 18 times, including eight of the last 10 years. The last was 2020, when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. put his No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE on the pole in his debut in a Chevrolet. Joining him, Hendrick Motorsports’, Alex Bowman, qualified on the front row for the third year in a row.

With the front row set by qualifying, Thursday’s two 60-lap, 150-mile Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona will determine the starting lineup for the remaining 40-car field. Hendrick Motorsports’, William Byron, is the latest Chevrolet driver to score a Duel win when he took his No. 24 Camaro ZL1 1LE to victory lane in the 2020 event, capturing his first win in a Cup Series car.

PACING THE FIELD
A trio of Chevrolet high-powered vehicles will lead all three of NASCAR’s national series to the green in the season opener weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Pacing NASCAR’s premier series in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 will be the mid-engine Corvette Stingray coupe. A Silverado 1500 RST will be leading the field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ NextEra Energy 250, with a Camaro SS 1LE pacing the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ ‘Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner 300’.

COMING TO DEFEND THE TITLE
With five NASCAR Championships up for grabs heading into the 2020 Season Championship at Phoenix Raceway, Chevrolet closed the season with four titles: 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Championship, 2020 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Manufacturer Championship, 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Manufacturer Championship, and the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championship.

After piloting his No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet Silverado to victory lane in the season finale at Phoenix Racing, Sheldon Creed captured his first-career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title, Chevrolet’s 14th Driver’s Championship in the series. In addition, with 10 Chevy Silverado trips to victory lane among five Team Chevy drivers during the 23-race season, the Bowtie Brand earned its 10th Manufacturer Championship.

The 2020 season brought Chevrolet its 22nd Bill France Performance Cup in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the most of any other manufacturer. Four Team Chevy drivers were able to put a mark in the ‘win’ category, giving the Bowtie Brand 10 wins throughout the series’ 33-race season.

It was a year of records for Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott when his trip to victory lane at Phoenix Raceway named him the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, his first title in NASCAR’s premier racing series. Elliott captured the checkered flag five times during the 2020 season, the most in one season of his career. After adding his name to the Championship history book alongside his NASCAR Hall of Fame father, Bill Elliott, they became just the third father-son combo to win a championship in NASCAR’s premier series, joining the Petty family, Lee and Richard, and the Jarrett family, Ned and Dale. Elliott’s title delivered Chevrolet its 32nd NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Championship, a number surpassing any other manufacturer.

NEW TO THE LINEUP
The 2021 season will bring new faces to the Team Chevy lineup for the NASCAR Cup Series:

· Making their NASCAR Cup Series debut at the 2021 Daytona 500 is Trackhouse Racing. Co-owned by Justin Marks and Grammy Award-winning global superstar Pitbull, the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will join the lineup, piloted by 29-year-old Daniel Suarez. Coming into his fifth season in NASCAR’s premier series, Suarez has eight top-five and 32 top-10 finishes.

· Erik Jones will pilot the iconic No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Richard Petty Motorsports. Entering into his fourth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Jones has scored two wins, 33 top-five finishes, and 62 top-10 finishes in 147 career starts in the series.

· Corey LaJoie will drive the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time in 2021, his third season in NASCAR’s premier series. Fielding two cars this season, the team’s No.77 will find a variety of drivers behind the wheel, with former Daytona 500 winner, Jamie McMurray, to make a one-time appearance at the 2021 Daytona 500 to kick off the car’s season.

· Returning to the NASCAR Cup Series, Kyle Larson will pilot the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Hendrick Motorsports, the first time the organization will field the team’s flagship number since 2017. In 223 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Larson has captured six wins, 56 top-fives and 101 top-10’s, all in a Chevrolet. In his NASCAR career, he’s scored 20 points-paying wins among all of NASCAR’s national series.

BOWTIE BULLETS:
· Victories by current Chevrolet drivers at Daytona International Speedway:
Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE, has one win (February 2017)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE, has one win (July 2017)
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1 1LE, has one win (February 2018)
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1 1lE, has one win (August 2020)

· Chevrolet has made the trip to Daytona 500 victory lane 24 times, more than all other manufacturers. In addition, the Bowtie Brand has won 92 times at the 2.5-mile superspeedway across all three NASCAR National Series, making Chevrolet the winningest manufacturer at Daytona International Speedway in NASCAR history.

· Of the 147 appearances made by NASCAR’s premier series at the “World Center of Racing”, Chevrolet has recorded 50 poles, 218 top-five’s, 437 top-10’s, and led 8,004 laps.

· A Bowtie Brand machine is no stranger to starting from the pole in the ‘Great American Race’. Chevrolet leads all manufacturers in Daytona 500 poles with 28, including a string of eight consecutive years; a record-long streak of topping any manufacturer at Daytona International Speedway. Accompanying the pole winner, Chevrolet has swept the Daytona 500 front row 18 times, including eight of the past 10 years.

· In 2019, Chevrolet team, Hendrick Motorsports, made Daytona 500 history when teammates William Byron, Alex Bowman, Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott swept the top four qualifying positions for the first time.

· Coming off of his first-career NASCAR Cup Series Championship title, Elliott could potentially become just the fifth champion in NASCAR history to claim the Harley J. Early trophy the following season. He would join the company of NASCAR Cup Series Champions Dale Jarrett (2000), Jeff Gordon (1999), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Richard Petty (1973).

TUNE IN
FOX will telecast the 200-lap, 500-mile race live at 2:30 p.m. EST Sunday, February 14. Live coverage can also be found on MRN and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

QUOTABLE QUOTES:
AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CAMARO ZL1 1LE
YOU’VE HAD SUCCESS AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY. HOW DO YOU NEGOTIATE STAYING OUT OF THE WRECKS THROUGHOUT THE RACE SO THAT YOU CAN BE IN CONTENTION AT THE END?
“It’s tough. It’s a game of putting yourself in position. I call it high-speed chess because you know at some point in time, you’re going to be vulnerable. You hope that someone doesn’t take advantage of that too much and cause a big wreck. It’s one of those things where you are constantly moving and trying to guess the flow of the pack. I think the best place to be is in the front most of the time, but it’s impossible now with the way we race to keep yourself up there for the entire race. You see guys do it for long periods of time. Denny Hamlin has been pretty amazing at putting himself in the right position as of late. I’m going to do my best this time around to put ourselves in position for another shot at the Daytona 500.”

DO YOU FEEL THE “BIG ONE” COMING OR DOES IT HAPPEN SO FAST THAT YOU’RE JUST IN IT?
“Sometimes you’re in it, and there is nothing you can do about it because you know time is running out and you’re in it either way. It’s an odd feeling knowing your putting yourself out there and something is about to happen. It’s an issue of timing. You’re hoping you just get through it. I’ve been fortunate to sneak through some of them, or be in front of some of them. You usually know when the intensity is rising and the pack is starting to get a little bit out of control. You try to do your best to give yourself an out or be in front of it.”

YOU WERE ABLE TO GET SOME EXPERIENCE ON THE DAYTONA ROAD COURSE BY COMPETING IN THE ROLEX 24 THIS YEAR. DID ANYTHING JUMP OUT AT YOU ABOUT THE TRACK THAT YOU CAN USE FOR THE BUSCH CLASH THIS YEAR?
“It’s not so much of a technical track like some of the tracks that we go to that are road courses. It’s pretty self-explanatory. I like the fact that the tires seem to wear quite a bit at the track. I haven’t gotten to run the new chicane coming off Turn Four, so I need to make sure I try to stop when I get over there this time around from the Rolex to this race. I enjoyed it and I think the experience I got in the 24 was great. We’ll see how it all plays out in the end.”

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 SPIRE MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“It’s awesome to be joining Team Chevy this season with Spire Motorsports. My dad had a ton of success behind the wheel of a Chevrolet, so I hope to continue that success, starting at Daytona.”

TYLER REDDICK, NO. 8 RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING CAMARO ZL1 1LE
THIS WILL BE YOUR DEBUT START IN THE CLASH AT DAYTONA. HOW ARE YOU AND THE I AM SECOND TEAM APPROACHING THE RACE?
“I’m looking forward to being part of the Clash at DAYTONA this year. It has been fun in the past watching the drivers and teams go out there every year and kick off the season with an exhibition race, but I’m excited to be part of the action this year. With NASCAR making the change to have the Clash on the road course, it also helps serve as a bit of a test session for our Daytona Road Course race later this month. Having no practice that weekend makes the Clash race this week even more valuable as far as on-track time.”

YOU’RE KICKING OFF YOUR SOPHOMORE YEAR IN THE CUP SERIES THIS WEEKEND WITH YOUR THIRD DAYTONA 500. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
“It’s hard to predict what will happen in the DAYTONA 500 just because of the nature of that race, but I’m excited to have another shot at it. I feel like I learn more during each superspeedway race I have in the Cup Series. My team and I worked really hard during the off-season to identify where we struggled last year and how we were going to be better in 2021. Sunday will be the first major test for us, but I’m confident in my No. 8 Lenovo team and our plan for the year.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 9 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“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.”

WILLIAM BYRON, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE
BYRON ON BEING EAGER FOR THE START OF THE 2021 SEASON:
“I’m excited to get back to Daytona and get the season started. I’ve put in a lot of work in during the offseason preparing for this year, and I know Rudy (Fugle) and the team guys have done the same. We want to be as prepared as we possibly can be to get the season started off on the right foot. Good finishes in the first few races of the year can really change the strategy and dynamic compared to a few bad ones that put you in a hole. As a team, we’re all on the same page and all have the same goals, and that is to improve off last year, get as many wins as we can and hopefully be in contention for a championship at the end of it. I think we’re fully capable of that.”

BYRON ON WORKING WITH FUGLE AGAIN:
“It’ll be great to work with Rudy again. We had a lot of success together in the truck series. Since then, I have gained a lot of on-track and off-track knowledge. Rudy’s worked hard to get adjusted this offseason, and I think all of our efforts will benefit us. We’ve always had a good working relationship and level of communication with each other. I feel like we have basically picked up where we left off and that familiarity will hopefully translate to our on-track performance.”

RUDY FUGLE, CREW CHIEF, NO. 24 AXALTA CAMARO ZL1 1LE
FUGLE ON THE OFFSEASON PREP WITH HIS NEW TEAM:
“While I’m new to Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 24 team, it really has been a pretty smooth transition getting ready for the season. I’ve done what I can to learn the processes and get up to speed, and now we’re working on improving as one unit. William has definitely put in extra time this offseason as well to take us to that next level. Every week is going to be a building block to put us in the position we want to be in. I fully believe that this team is capable of winning races early on and that’s going to be our goal.”

FUGLE ON THE OPPORTUNITIES DAYTONA OFFERS:
“I think Daytona provides a good opportunity to get the season started off on the right foot. We have so much track time between the Clash, the Duels and practice sessions, that you really should have your car and strategy dialed in when you get to the start of the DAYTONA 500. If you get through that opening week of racing with good results, that only strengthens your team and gives you an extra boost of confidence heading into the few weeks.”

RYAN PREECE, NO. 37 COTTONELLE CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“I expect to be fast, wide-open and holding the bottom with my No. 37 Cottonelle Camaro. It’s really going to come down to preparation and not having a strong headwind or anything like that when I go out to qualify. I’m not stressed about it at all. If everything works out the way I think it’s laid out, we should qualify on speed. So, I feel pretty confident with it. Working with Trent (Owens, crew chief) and the team, I feel confident that we should have plenty of speed and we can get in on time, which will make the Duels that much less difficult. No matter what plan you come up with when it comes to Daytona, you can be as prepared as possible, but you never know what’s going to happen. If we qualify in on time, everything becomes easier throughout the weekend. If we don’t then it will come down to executing and making sure everything goes right to get ourselves in. You always show up every single week to the track, do your best and get the most out of your equipment. Our approach for Daytona is the same as it has been every year with our Cottonelle Camaro, except we’ll be a little more aggressive than we have been in years past when it comes to stages. We’ve typically tried to lay back and make sure we are there at the end. I think stage points are so important now that you have to race every single lap.”

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“That’s the ultimate goal at the end of it all – to hopefully win a race this year and get us in the Playoffs. Richard Petty Motorsports has been doing a lot over the last few years to really strengthen their organization and I think it’s showing in performance, too. The trend is going in the right direction and we want to keep it going that way this year; keep going to a better points finish and continue to get more and more competitive on track.”

“I look at some of the tracks that we go to this year and I think there’s opportunities to win. It’s tough to win in the NASCAR Cup Series – we all know that; I know that from experience. But I think we have a lot of opportunities this year where we can do it.”

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 KROGER/NOS ENERGY DRINK CAMARO ZL1 1LE
“I can’t express enough how awesome it would be for me personally to win the Daytona 500 for our Kroger partners and everybody on our race team. That’s our number one goal going into Daytona is to win this thing with our No. 47 Kroger/NOS Camaro and our season-long goal is finishing races strong and minimizing mistakes. We’re planning to park our No. 47 Kroger Camaro in Victory Lane and leave our car in the Daytona Hall of Fame down there. That’s what we want to do. It would be a huge accomplishment for us and it would really be a game-changer for everybody on our race team and organization. Being fast is key, but specifically at Daytona in our Kroger/NOS Camaro. It’s about having a car that handles better. It needs to drive good so you can be more aggressive with your strategy. It’s going to be important to put myself in better situations throughout the race to battle for that checkered flag. We’ve got to do everything right to limit mistakes and put ourselves in a winning position at the end. I feel really good about our Kroger/NOS Camaro. The boys have been working really hard back at the shop. And, I’m excited for Pole night on Wednesday that’s sponsored by Kroger and keep that trophy in the organization following last year’s pole win.”

ALEX BOWMAN, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
BOWMAN ON STARTING FIRST RACE WITH ALLY:
“Hendrick Motorsports has seen a ton of success at superspeedways in the past and that is a great feeling going into the first race of the year with Ally. Daytona is a place where anything can happen at any moment and you must try to stay out of trouble. This No. 48 team worked hard over the offseason to build off the momentum that we ended with last season. Every year, we bring a fast Chevrolet to Daytona and I am excited to finally be able to get on track with Ally on board. It feels like it has been forever since we announced the move to the 48 with Ally’s support, so we are pumped to finally be able to get on track.”

BOWMAN ON VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF SPEEDWEEKS:
“Daytona Speedweeks has so many different elements with the CLASH, qualifying, Duels and the 500. It is going to be exciting and interesting to run the CLASH under the lights on the DAYTONA road course. Last year we battled some issues on the road course here and there, but we fought hard and finished inside the top 15. Our summer run on the 2.5-mile tri-oval ended with a top-10 result and provides some good momentum going into the Duels and the DAYTONA 500. We have qualified well for Daytona in the past and that will determine the strategy for the Duel event.”

GREG IVES, CREW CHIEF, NO. 48 ALLY CAMARO ZL1 1LE
IVES ON 2021 OUTLOOK:
“The excitement of heading to Daytona has always been prevalent throughout each offseason. The design of the new paint schemes, uniforms, equipment redone, and improvements to the team as a whole bring anxiousness to get to the track. Add in the fact that we will be working with Ally and bearing the 48 has us wanting to continue the prestigious history. Our 2020 playoff run is where our team needs to continue to perform and with the consistency in the team we have, no doubt we can pick up where we left off.”

Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 39
First title for Chevrolet: 1958
Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Drivers Championships:
Total (1949-2020): 32
First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)
Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016

Event Victories:
Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2020 STATISTICS:
Wins: 9
Poles: 3
Laps Led: 2,399
Top-five finishes: 51
Top-10 finishes: 120

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:
Total Chevrolet race wins: 795 (1949 to date)
Poles won to date: 717
Laps led to date: 236,705
Top-five finishes to date: 4,065
Top-10 finishes to date: 8,402

Total NASCAR Cup wins by corporation, 1949 to date

       General Motors: 1,129
       Chevrolet: 795
       Pontiac: 154
       Oldsmobile: 115
       Buick: 65

       Ford: 804                                                         
       Ford: 704
       Mercury: 96
       Lincoln: 4

       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467
       Dodge: 217
       Plymouth: 191
       Chrysler: 59

       Toyota: 152

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.

Toyota Racing – Ty Dillon
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH (February 9, 2021) – 23XI Racing and Gaunt Brothers Racing driver Ty Dillon was made available to media via videoconference prior to the Clash and Daytona 500 today:

TY DILLON, No. 23 Root Insurance Toyota Camry, 23XI Racing (Clash)

No. 96 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry, Gaunt Brothers Racing (Daytona 500)

Have you talked much to Bubba (Wallace) about the race tonight? How are you approaching this race to learn things for him or that it’s your race?

“A little bit of both. I think selfishly see this moment as a race for me – this is my race to go and take full advantage of, especially the way that this offseason has gone. This is a great opportunity that I’m very thankful that I was awarded with from 23XI Racing. To be the first official driver on-track with Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin is a really cool thing. It’s a big moment for me personally, but this whole time that I’ve worked with Wheels (Mike Wheeler, crew chief) and the guys at 23XI – there has been a conscious effort that I’m doing everything I can to help their effort as well. Hopefully, tonight’s a good night for us.”

How much do you think running the Clash is going to help you for the race in 12 days?

“I think any on track experience definitely is going to help. I think we have a little bit of a package change compared to what we raced here last time. It’s certainly going to help. It’s going to be two different teams, two different operations and different cars. There’s going to be a little bit of a difference there, but for me personally, to knock off the rust and get some laps on the track and be in some really strong equipment is going to be great.”

How do you feel about your career at this point?

“It’s definitely a unique, confusing time for me. I felt like over the past four years I’ve done enough as far as proving myself on track and off the track as far as being able to provide a lot to sponsors, and representing not only myself but our sport and the companies that I’ve been able to represent over the years very well, and for things to shake out the way that they have was hard this offseason, but I’m a strong believer and I know that God does things in his timing in way above anything that I could have ever planned. Things are working out great. I would have never thought I would have an opportunity to race for Toyota, in general, and then to have opportunities – to be connected with Joe Gibbs Racing, Gaunt Brothers Racing. This has opened up a whole new avenue and I see it as a whole new opportunity. Some things happen for a reason. Some things don’t come. Some doors close, and I see this as a chance to catapult to the next part of my career. I want to use this as a chance to tell everybody, if you are investing in me in anyway – whether its trading cards, or whatever, you better go load up because I plan on making a big case.”

How do you view yourself and your timeline?

“I see myself as unique to everyone. I think there’s some really young guys that are still trying to figure it out, and I think there’s a lot of team owners trying to figure out if really, really young guys even work. You look at the guys winning championships, and winning races, they are in their late-30s or 40s. I still have 10 years till I get to that point. Imagine the number of races I will run in the next 10 years before I will get to my so-called prime, and I’ve already done a lot of great things in the top level of the sport. I think it’s only a matter of time. I think the focus has to – for the sake of NASCAR – get shifted off just what a driver brings as far as money, backing. That’s just a sport-wide issue that we are all working on consciously. That will get handled. I think we are doing a great job of that with the new car – to be able to kind of get the gap closed up a little bit, from just financial backing to experience and opportunity and someone who could represent and talk well, and really do well for the sport. I think things are going to move in the right direction. There’s a massive gap in our sport. There are always times, but I think you can be 19 or 44 or 45 and have a chance at a championship. I’m right in the sweet spot. I’m still growing and getting better as a father and a husband and a driver, on-and-off of the track. I think even last year. It was probably my best as far as growth on-and-off of the track. I think every year from that point will get better and better. I know I’m getting physically stronger and better every time I strap in.”

Do you think the Xfinity opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing is your best opportunity to get your first win since 2014?

“It’s been a minute for sure. It’s been a couple years, but yes. Certainly. You get an opportunity in a Gibbs Toyota at any level, you want to take full advantage of it. I see this as a great opportunity for myself. I get four tries at it. I’m very thankful and lucky to get that opportunity, so I’m going to give it my all. No one is going to put more pressure on myself than me, but I worked really hard for this moment. I’ve grinded all off season to just try to get one ride, so I’m looking forward to the challenge. I fully believe in myself that I can get back to victory lane. I did it when I was 24, in ’14, which was a while ago. I was a lot younger than, and I’m a lot better driver – mentally, physically – then I was then, so I know I can still get the job done and probably get it done even better.”

What are your goals and expectations?

“Right now, it’s keep putting races together. I think that now that we are in Daytona the racing is starting to happen and I can start letting a little bit of performance speak for me, as well, as conversations off of the track continue. I want to continue to put races together. There are great opportunities out there. I’m very thankful for all of the opportunities that Toyota Racing has helped me with so far. Hopefully, those continue to grow. I certainly want to get back to track, full-time in the Cup Series again, hopefully, next year. Right now, I have the first two races going in the Cup Series, and I’ve got four so far in the Xfinity Series. I’m going to keep digging really hard and hopefully, you never say never, we can still keep putting races together all the way through the year. Now it’s time to start getting some of the performance in there to help boost some of the stock. I know there’s going to be a lot of eyes on the sport for the first couple of shows. I’m looking forward to that opportunity.”

Do you few your opportunity with Gaunt Brothers Racing as you think these two races could help you put more together?
“Absolutely, and you guys carry weight in that too, as well as you guys report on someone like myself getting an opportunity, needing a chance, needing backing that I can go out with a team like Gaunt Brothers, who is going to put a great car behind me in the 500 and in the road course. That just spurs more interest and I think we as a group deserve more opportunities throughout the year. It’s collaboration of things. It’s certainly running well – creates that opportunity.”

I know you try to put together something full-time, but is this situation – part-time in premier equipment – a better one for you in a way?

“I think so. I think you always want to run a full schedule. You always want to be running a lot of the races, but to be able to be in the best equipment is the ultimate goal. I was watching the Senna documentary the other day and if you are not going to race to win, you shouldn’t even be doing it. I want to be a part of teams that go out and win races. I think always having the opportunity to go out and win is forefront in my mind, whether the number of races matters or not. The first thing on the check list is getting in Victory Lane and I feel like I’m with a few teams this year that have great opportunities to do so.”

How much ribbing have you given Bubba (Wallace) because you are getting in the 23 before he does? Were you given this opportunity because of your relationship with Bubba?

“Honestly, it wasn’t. It didn’t have anything to do with that. Bubba and I’s relationship has grown so much over the past year and a half. I’m proud to be a friend of his and seen how he’s handled the last year and a half and to be there alongside to check-in and make sure he’s doing alright. He’s not only done a lot for our sport, but for the country in general as far as helping to bridge the gap. He’s also brought a guy like Michael Jordan to our sport, and many more eyes. I’m really thankful for this opportunity. I haven’t really ribbed Bubba on it, but maybe after the race if I run well, I’ll flip it to him after we get through the real Daytona road course race.”

Do you think the Playoffs is a good way to decide the champion?

“The reason we went to Playoffs – or the reason anyone goes to the Playoffs – is you look at other sports. If you would have looked at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in November, you wouldn’t have thought they would have won the Super Bowl. Momentum changes, momentum swings. Part of being a champion in our sport is being good from February all the way to the end of the year, whether you hit your stride and you’ve made the Playoffs and the last two or three races to go – you’re still the champion, but you’ve still got to get there. I think our Playoff model is really great. I think its setup well. It’s a little top-heavy with the stage points as far as teams that can really mount up points from 15th and 16th in points to 21st – it can get really hard because of the stage points, but it does make you have to compete even harder to get yourself in a stage point position as a team, if you want to get in there and compete. If not, you have to win a race. I think we’ve got a great model. I know that the 4 (Kevin Harvick) and the 11 (Denny Hamlin) dominated all year last year, and you would have thought for sure that they were shoo-ins to go 1-2 in the championship in some order. Not many people saw the Final Four shaking out the way that it did, and then Chase (Elliott) coming from nowhere and really taking it to the championship. So are sports. We all love the Cinderella story or the last second shot. I think you got that last year. I think our Playoffs provide a very exciting format for momentum shifts at the right time.”

What are your expectations for the Daytona road course events?

“It’s so unique. Last year, at the Charlotte ROVAL, we won the stage. I didn’t think that it would have locked me in the Shootout tonight, but here we are again at another ROVAL-style racetrack, so to speak a reward race for that. I’ve always liked road course racing. I’ve always liked the challenge, the uniqueness. I think I’ve always excelled at visually learning a track quickly. When you have unique situations, I learn very quickly and typically take off very well. I always look forward to these types of races, these kind of aspects in our sport. I think it’s a great opportunity for me. I’m going to have great equipment tonight to finally kind of show what I can do. I think really the last time I had a good shot at winning on a road course was back in the Trucks, the first time ever going to Mosport, and I got taken out in the last corner by last year’s Cup champion, so I’m looking forward to having great equipment, and getting a great opportunity again this year on a relatively new road course.”

Is this your year to make a name for yourself as you breakout from the family legacy a little bit?

“I hope it’s a breakout year. I’m very thankful for Toyota and the fact of just respecting me as an individual, believing in me as a driver and a person to go out and represent their company well as well as Gaunt Brothers Racing, 23XI and Joe Gibbs Racing – to accept me in, where it might be hard for people to understand that. For me, I’m a loyal person. As long as somebody wants me to race for them, I’m going to give it everything I have until they tell me to get out. I’m very thankful for the opportunity. I’m hoping that many more come of it and I always appreciate when people respect me as an individual, as a race car driver. This is the group and the team that gave me an opportunity and I promise you I’m going to make the most of it.”

Was there anything difficult about that decision?

“It wasn’t difficult because I wanted an opportunity to prove that I could win races as race car driver personally. When there is no opportunity there, you have to challenge yourself and challenge others to take a chance on you and show them how much you want it as a driver and want to work hard for the opportunity. It wasn’t hard, because I’ve put in so much hard work. I believe in myself. I feel like I can represent any company in this sport and represent the sport as good as anybody else, and for so many opportunities to just fall apart from a two to three-month span. I thought I had a ride going into late August last year, for this year with GEICO, and everything, and it all came tumbling down. When you’ve had a sponsor for four years as big as GEICO that sponsors all of the races, you don’t have time to talk to other sponsors or other companies just to get an opportunity for this year. For Toyota and Gibbs and 23XI and Gaunt Brothers to take an opportunity – that means a lot. In a time that most owners are just looking for money, they really took a good chance on me and I really appreciate them bringing me in.”

# # #

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants, 15 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021.

Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

• Corvette, Camaro and Silverado to pace three different NASCAR touring series
• Chevy MyWay broadcast event to highlight Team Chevy history, technology

DETROIT – Chevrolet will pace all three NASCAR national touring series races this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Each season-opening race will be paced by a different Chevrolet model powered by a distinct variant of Chevy’s famed 6.2L small block V-8 engine with ties to Chevrolet Cup Series racing engines. Chevrolet’s three pace vehicles will produce a cumulative 1370 horsepower.

The mid-engine Corvette Stingray coupe will serve as the pace car for the renowned Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 14. At the heart of Corvette is a LT2 V-8, visible through the rear glass hatch, which produces 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the Z51 performance package – the most horsepower and torque for any entry Corvette.

Also pacing the field this weekend:

• Silverado 1500 RST in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ NextEra Energy 250 at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Feb. 12
• Camaro SS 1LE in the Xfinity Series’ Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 13

Chevy MyWay gives race fans more to enjoy

For the first time, key members of Team Chevy will present a behind-the-scenes look at elements of Daytona’s history and the technology used in current Daytona races.

“Live from Daytona” will showcase the rare GM Firebird I concept, highlight the history behind the Harley J. Earl trophy, compare the Camaro ZL1 1LE street and NASCAR Cup Series cars and feature the 2021 Daytona 500 Corvette pace car.

“Live from Daytona” is presented by Chevy MyWay, a virtual showroom-like studio, providing customers a new and innovative way to interact with Chevrolet products. The free 20-minute broadcast is open to all, and begins Saturday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. ET on Chevrolet.com/myway.

“Coming off of a successful 2020 on track in all three NASCAR national series, our drivers and teams are fired up and looking to put Chevrolet back in Victory Lane, starting at Daytona,” said Tony Johnson, director of Chevrolet Car and Crossover Marketing. “In addition to exciting green-flag racing, we’re really looking forward to showing off the Daytona 500 Corvette Stingray pace car and so much more for race fans Saturday during the ‘Live from Daytona’ broadcast presented by Chevy MyWay.”

All three Chevrolet pace vehicles have a racy red, white and blue theme inspired by the 2021 Daytona 500 logo. The Corvette-exclusive Rapid Blue color is featured on each vehicle and will make its debut as an available option on the 2022 Camaro. A tiled pattern using the Chevrolet bowtie, red accents, bold white lettering and pace car lighting complete the look for Corvette, Camaro and Silverado.

This marks the sixth time a Corvette has paced the Daytona 500. Overall, Chevrolet has paced The Great American Race 14 times.

The 455-horsepower LT1-powered 2021 Camaro SS 1LE is equipped to deliver high-performance thrills. The optional 1LE performance package with magnetic ride control offers 1.02g cornering capability.

Silverado is built to do the job right – every time. The Silverado RST is powered by an optional 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8 engine, which offers 420 horsepower.

In 2021, Chevrolet is campaigning the Camaro ZL1 1LE in the NASCAR Cup Series, Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Silverado in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Chevrolet has won The Great American Race 24 times – more than any other manufacturer.

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.