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McMurray joins Spire Motorsports for Daytona 500 return

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Rachel Myers for SpeedwayMedia.com.

With the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season less than a month away from commencing, a familiar name will be returning to the starting grid for this year’s 63rd annual running of the Daytona 500. That name is Jamie McMurray after it was announced that the 44-year-old native from Joplin, Missouri, will be piloting the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE from Spire Motorsports sponsored by AdventHealth.

McMurray, who serves as a NASCAR analyst on FOX, made his 583rd and recent NASCAR Cup Series start to date in the 2019 Daytona 500, where he finished 22nd. His final full-time season in the Cup circuit was in 2018 with Chip Ganassi Racing. Through 2019, McMurray has made 17 career starts in the 500. He is also a former Daytona 500 champion, having won NASCAR’s prestigious event in 2010 with CGR.

With a charter, McMurray and his Spire Motorsports entry will be guaranteed a spot in the 2021 Daytona 500, which will mark McMurray’s 18th start in the event and his 584th start in the Cup Series.

“It doesn’t get any better than the Daytona 500, and I am so excited to have the opportunity, thanks to AdventHealth, to run this race one more time,” McMurray said. “I have enjoyed my time out of the car as an analyst covering NASCAR, but nothing can replace the feeling of actually racing. And it’s great to be partnering with a company like AdventHealth for this race. We share a lot of the same goals about health and fitness, and I’m looking forward to using this opportunity to talk to race fans about the importance of staying healthy and feeling whole.”

Along with his 2010 Daytona 500 victory, McMurray comes into the 2021 Daytona 500 with a bevy of success and experience towards NASCAR competition and superspeedway racing. He won at Daytona International Speedway in July 2007 while driving for Roush Fenway Racing and at Talladega Superspeedway twice (2009 and 2013). He is also a former winner of the Brickyard 400 and the All-Star Race, and he is the 2003 Cup Rookie of the Year.

Through 583 previous starts in the Cup Series, McMurray has won seven Cup career races while also achieving 11 poles, 63 top-five results, 168 top-10 results and three Playoff appearances, with a best points result of 11th place in 2004.

With McMurray’s entrance, Spire Motorsports has two cars set to compete in the 500, with Corey LaJoie signed on to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE.

The 2021 Daytona 500 is set to occur on Sunday, February 14, at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Vinnie Miller runs part time schedule at BJ McLeod Motorsports in 2021

By
Official Release
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22-year-old Michigan-native returns to BJ McLeod Motorsports

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 19, 2021): BJ McLeod Motorsports (BJMM) announced today that Vinnie Miller will return to the team with a part time schedule in the No. 99 NASCAR Xfinity Series entry in 2021.

Miller, who is no stranger to BJMM, signed with the team entering the 2019 season and had his career-best finish of 11th that year at Daytona International Speedway.

“I’m looking forward to my fourth year at BJMM,” says Miller. “Although I won’t be competing full-time this year, I’m excited to get the season started and continue to actively search for sponsorship to add races on to the limited schedule I already have.”

“Having Vinnie return to drive for us is something I’m really proud of,” says BJ McLeod. “He’s been with us for three years and is a part of the family and foundation that our team has built on.”

This year will be Miller’s fourth competing in the NXS. Miller is well  He grew up racing on the short tracks of Michigan and has ARCA Menards experience.

BJ McLeod Motorsports will once again field three full-time NXS entries in 2021. In addition, BJ and Jessica (McLeod) have partnered with Matt Tifft to form Live Fast Motorsports (LFM), operating under the charter that Tifft and McLeod obtained alongside Joe Falk. LFM will field the No. 78 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021 with a strategic partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing.

RE QUOTE ON WORKING WITH BJ JESSICA – TEAM LIVE FAST

The 33-race NXS season will begin with the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET live on FS1 and MRN Radio.

Sponsorship and other details regarding Miller’s 2021 NXS season with BJMM will be announced at a later date. For more information about BJ McLeod Motorsports, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.bjmcleodmotorsports.com.

About Vinnie Miller

Follow Vinnie Miller news and updates on www.vinniemillerracing.com and keep track of the latest announcements via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram .  


About BJ McLeod Motorsports

BJ McLeod Motorsports is owned by current NASCAR Cup driver, BJ McLeod, and his wife Jessica. For more information about BJ McLeod Motorsports, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.bjmcleodmotorsports.com. Follow along with the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Ty Dillon joins Gaunt Brothers Racing for Daytona 500 attempt

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Brad Keppel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Gaunt Brothers Racing announced that Ty Dillon will be driving the No. 96 Toyota Camry as he attempts to qualify for the 63rd annual running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 14.

Dillon, a former champion in the ARCA Racing Series, will be receiving sponsorship support from Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company as he attempts to make his seventh start in the Daytona 500 and his first NASCAR Cup Series start in a Toyota, with GBR entering Daytona without a charter nor a guaranteed spot for the 500.

“Gaunt Brothers Racing has given me a great opportunity to compete in the Daytona 500 and I couldn’t be happier,” Dillon said. “I love superspeedway races and the Daytona 500 is the biggest of them all. Toyota has certainly proven itself in our sport and in the Daytona 500. I’m looking forward to racing with them and reuniting with Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company.”

In addition, Dillon will be competing in a new Toyota Camry from GBR and with a Toyota Racing Development-powered engine.

“The best way to get a good start to your season is to have a good finish in the Daytona 500,” Marty Gaunt, President of Gaunt Brothers Racing, said. “We’ve got a talented driver in Ty Dillon with a strong TRD engine plugged into the best equipment available. Together with Toyota, Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company, we’re ready to compete and surprise some people.”

Dillon is coming off his fourth full-time season in the Cup circuit, where he claimed a stage victory, a career-best third-place result at Talladega Superspeedway in October, two top-10 results and a 26th-place result in the 2020 standings in the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for Germain Racing. With Germain Racing ceasing operations due to sponsor GEICO not renewing with the organization, Dillon was originally left without a full-time ride heading into the 2021 NASCAR season until joining forces with GBR.

Through 2020, Dillon has made 365 starts between NASCAR’s top three national touring series (Cup, Xfinity and Truck). Having won three Truck career races and one Xfinity race, Dillon is still pursuing his first victory in NASCAR’s premier series.

Gaunt Brothers Racing is coming off its first full-time season in the Cup Series with Daniel Suarez behind the wheel of the No. 96 Toyota. The driver and team failed to qualify for the 2020 Daytona 500, but went on to achieve three top-20 results and a 31st-place in the final standings. Suarez is set to drive for the newly formed Trackhouse Racing Team in 2021.

Through 2020, GBR has made 73 starts in the Cup Series, including three in the Daytona 500. Like Dillon, the team is pursuing its first Cup victory.

Schedules for Dillon and GBR for the remainder of the 2021 season remain to be announced.

BJ McLeod, Travis Braden unite in new short track racing program

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan 19, 2021) — BJ McLeod and Travis Braden join forces to develop a distinctive short track racing program, BJ McLeod Motorsports with Travis Braden. The program plans to provide a professional and turnkey, top-performing environment for developing drivers’ skills as they progress their careers. McLeod and Braden’s decades of experience in asphalt oval track racing compliment their mutual goal to assist drivers in reaching their full potential both on and off the track. The broader scope of what their program has to offer is a direct career path to NASCAR which separates the team from many other programs.

Travis Braden, the 2019 Snowball Derby winner and BJ McLeod, a 2010 World Series of Asphalt Champion, see the advantages of partnering together to bring extensive knowledge and experience that contribute to developing each driver that joins the team to be a champion-caliber asset. McLeod, who has tackled the racing ladder hands-on, owns and operates three full time Xfinity Series teams in addition to co-owning Live Fast Motorsports, a NASCAR Cup Series team with a debut in the 2021 season. McLeod has over 260 starts in NASCAR and is on the forefront of elevating his teams to perform at a higher level each season.  

 “I’m looking forward to this endeavor with Travis and the opportunity to return back to where it all started, super late models, which is our roots,” McLeod said. “Our goal is to bring top performing equipment and stellar coaching to enable drivers the opportunity to develop in the sport of short track racing, and Travis’s hands-on approach and success over the recent years will prove to be very valuable to the team.” 

From the age of eight, Braden has worked his way up the racing ladder as an “outsider,” gaining years of experience while building a foundation for his racing career. Braden has spent recent years competing as a late model standout, collecting wins at marquee events such as the Snowball Derby, Winchester 400, and Kalamazoo Klash. Now, he wishes to build from his successes and continue giving back to the racing community. “I’ve got a huge desire to expand my involvement in short track racing for years to come as I pursue the next phase of my driving career, working to compete in NASCAR,” Braden explains. “I want to see this sport continue to grow and watch the next generation flourish. When I came through the ranks, it was hard to progress without having any established names validating me to their audiences.  I can help change that now.” He added, “If I can help other drivers and brands maximize their value in this sport, it benefits everyone.”

The team will utilize Fury Race Cars to ensure top performance and safety for drivers. Collaborating with Fury, an organization focused on performance and dedication to top-of-the-line competition will give BJ McLeod Motorsports with Travis Braden the foundation to stand out amongst other programs. 

Followers can also expect to see BJ, Travis, and other established racers behind the wheel at a number of events each year, an integral part of ensuring that the team’s brand is well established and provides the largest possible platform for drivers and partners to capitalize on.

Follow BJ McLeod Motorsports with Travis Braden news and updates on www.bjmcleodmotorsports.com/driver-development.com and keep track of the latest announcements via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Follow Travis Braden news and updates on www.TravisBraden.com  and keep track of the latest announcements via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram . 

The 2021 BFGoodrich® Tires Mint 400 Shifts to December

By
Official Release
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The Great American Off-Road Race rescheduled for safety of all participants

  • Racer, sponsor, staff and public safety/health prioritized amid lingering COVID pandemic
  • The Mint 400 will take place December 1st – 5th, with all marquee events fully operational
  • Large scale events still “on hold” in the State of Nevada, Clark County and Las Vegas
  • All race entries, exhibitor spots, parking passes, and tickets remain valid for December

The Mint 400 announced today that The Great American Off-Road Race™ will adjust their event dates and move to Wednesday, December 1st through Sunday, December 5th, 2021. The shift comes in response to the inability by the State of Nevada, Southern Nevada Health District and COVID 19 Mitigation Task Force to permit large scale events in Clark County. Since the Ivanpah Valley is closed to off-road racing between March 15th and November 1st, and there are numerous outdoor events already scheduled in the fall, the new December dates were the only available option.

“The health and safety of our racers, sponsors, exhibitors, staff, and the public has always been, and will always be, our number one priority,” said Mint 400 Co-Owner and CEO Matt Martelli. “We don’t have a green light from the State or County to hold the event in March, because all large scale events are still on hold. We are making this decision now because we recognize that traveling to Las Vegas and participating in the Mint is a significant financial investment. By doing so, we are preserving the safety, integrity, fun, and value of this historic race for everyone involved.”

The announcement today comes after several months of close consultation with all of the major Mint 400 stakeholders and permitting agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, State of Nevada, Clark County, City of Las Vegas, Fremont East District, Nevada Department of Transportation, and local law enforcement – all of whom expressed overwhelming support for The Mint 400 festival and race.

“The outpouring of support from the Las Vegas community has been very humbling,” said Mint 400 Co-Owner and COO Josh Martelli. “The Southern Nevada BLM office in particular has been instrumental in helping us make this move. They have a full calendar of fall events, and many other events are rescheduling as well, so we’re very grateful for their support. Back in December, we joined a new advisory panel with all of the other top outdoor event promoters in the state and we’re now collectively working to establish new guidelines for Nevada for safe reopening this year.”

Back in June 2020, The Mint 400 announced many new exciting features to the storied race, including new independent car/truck and motorcycle courses and two days of motorcycle racing. Qualifying was made open to the public and relocated to Primm. And a fourth of the classes saw decreases in entry fees in addition to an all new payment plan that allowed racers to put a deposit down on the race to secure their starting position. The Mint 400 expressed their commitment today to honor all of these exciting improvements. All of the currently planned festivities and event dates will be preserved, including the vehicle parade, two day off-road festival, public qualifying, and two days of thrilling off-road racing.

“We are very aware of what is at stake. We don’t want to risk pushing ahead to March, then not have an event at the last minute. That’s not fair to our racers, partners, or fans. We’re thrilled to have nearly 300 entries already, and to those racers who are currently registered – your start positions are secure and will carry over to December. Same goes for all spectators with parking passes and start/finish line tickets. Everything will simply shift forward to the fall. If for some reason you can’t make the new dates we will issue you a refund, no problem,” said Mint 400 Event Director Kilian Hamlin.

The Mint 400 has adjusted its racer payment plan around the new dates so racers can continue to reserve their start positions with a small down payment. All details are now updated on themint400.com/racerinfo.

Racers – If you would like to request a refund you may do so by logging into your Off-Road Racer Profile and initiate the refund inside your dashboard.

Parking Pass/Ticket Holders – If you would like to request a refund, email refunds@themint400.com with the following information:

  • Receipt/Order Number
  • Name of Ticket Purchaser
  • Please put “Mint 400 Refund” in the subject

About The Mint 400
The Mint 400 is the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America, and is held each March in the treacherous foothills of Sin City. The multi-day event features a massive vehicle parade down the world famous Las Vegas Strip, a two day festival on historic Fremont Street, and two days of grueling off-road racing on a desolate and punishing 400-mile racecourse. Nearly 65,000 off-road and recreational enthusiasts come to watch 500 race teams in 50+ classes from 25 different states and 15 different countries go door to door, while the Livestream coverage is beamed to over 800,000 viewers worldwide. No other off road race allows fans the thrilling experience of watching the top off-road race teams from around the world battle for fame and glory, in a festival setting – complete with a luxury VIP section. The Mint 400 is “The Great American Off-Road Race”!

Chevrolet Names Klauser as First Sports Car Racing Program Manager

By
Official Release
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DETROIT (Jan. 19, 2021) – Chevrolet has named Laura Wontrop Klauser as its newly created Sports Car Racing Program Manager as the manufacturer continues its shift toward an engineering-based approach throughout its motorsports programs.

Klauser, who resides in Detroit, moves into the role which includes engineering and technical oversight of Corvette Racing on behalf of Chevrolet. Already she manages the Cadillac DPi-V.R and Camaro GT4.R programs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The goal is to expand the level of engineering and technical direction for Corvette Racing as it sets a course for its future with the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette C8.R, along with all the Chevrolet road-racing programs.

“It’s a huge honor to move into this role with Corvette Racing,” said Klauser, who has been part of General Motors’ racing activities for the last five years. “It unquestionably is one of the premier programs in all of sports car endurance racing. The rich history of Corvette’s successes in IMSA is something of which everyone at Chevrolet can be proud. At the same time, this motorsports management restructure is a great opportunity to rethink how Chevrolet operates on IMSA weekends. My goal is to promote more synergy between our racing programs and funnel our technical learnings back to GM so we continue to make and sell better cars to our fans and customers around the world.”

Klauser earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Engineering. She began at General Motors in 2008 and spent eight years on the production side of the business including advanced design work on the Corvette C7. Motorsports competition came calling in 2016 after stints on the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Cruze and Spark production teams. She was named Program Manager for the Cadillac ATS-V.R effort in Pirelli World Challenge.

A year later, Klauser helped launch the Cadillac DPi-V.R program, which to date has claimed two Manufacturers Championships, four Michelin Endurance Cup Championships and 18 race wins including four consecutive victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

Corvette Racing has spent the last 22 years building its championship pedigree with 14 Team titles along with 13 Manufacturers and Drivers championships. Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor are coming off a GT Le Mans title-winning season in which they won five times and drove the C8.R to its first victory in July at Daytona.

Klauser also is heavily involved with SAE. A past participant the student level, she remains an active member and volunteer for the FSAE program as Dynamic Events Coordinator for the Michigan Competition. She has served on the SAE Detroit Section Board since 2011 holding the Chair position for 2018.

She also is a familiar face to the Corvette customer and enthusiast community. Klauser has participated as a Corvette Team representative at the National Corvette Museum Birthday Bash’s Ladies Garage and Corvettes at Carlisle events annually. She also participates in track days driving her 2013 Corvette Grand Sport.

“We are pleased to have someone as enthusiastic and experienced as Laura as our Sports Car Racing Program Manager,” said Mark Stielow, Chevrolet Director of Motorsports Competition Engineering. “Corvette Racing and GM’s road-racing efforts will benefit from her engineering experience with both the Corvette and Cadillac production cars, and her relationship with a large number of our fans and Corvette owners.”

The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship will open its 2021 season with the Roar Before the 24 from Jan. 22-24 and the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31, which will air beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 30 across NBC, NBCSN, TrackPass and the NBC Sports App. A 100-minute qualifying race from the Roar will air on TrackPass at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 24 and again same-day at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. IMSA Radio will air full qualifying and race coverage at IMSA.com.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at .

King Shocks’ Concrete Motorsports Tops the Podium in Season Opener in Parker

By
Official Release
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King Shocks sweeps the podium at the Best in the Desert Parker 425

Best in the Desert kicked off their 2021 race season with the Parker 425 this weekend in Parker, Arizona. After earning the Overall Points Championship in 2020, Concrete Motorsports showed up to the desert rocking the #1 plate and continued their successes after a short break over the New Year. The duo of Kevin Thompson and Harley Letner took the overall win in the #1 Trick Truck with a time of 05:35:27.383, beating second and third place finishers and King Shocks racers Adam Householder and Kyle Jergensen by over five and fifteen minutes. The finishes marked a clean podium sweep for King Shocks.

Harley Letner started the race in 14th position and dominantly worked his way to 4th on the road when handing off the truck off to Kevin Thompson after two laps. With one lap to go, Concrete was 1st on corrected time and Thompson powered to the finish line to earn the first win of the 2021 desert racing season.

“Parker is such a great race with a huge history. Last year we finished in the middle of the pack, so to bounce back and earn the overall win this year is a huge accomplishment for our race team and testament to our sponsors who support us,” said team owner and driver, Kevin Thompson. “King Shocks have taken the overall win at the Parker 425 the last two years, so we are excited to keep that streak alive.”

Concrete also fielded their second King equipped pre-runner TT in the Sportsman/8100 class the day prior and took the class win amongst seven in the class.

Grabowski Brothers Racing had a strong showing this weekend, taking a first and second place class finish for King Shocks. Amidst a field of 11 total entries on Friday, #5072 Troy Grabowski finished second in class and fifth place overall. #6172 Dustin Grabowski won the 6100 class, the race’s most competitive class with 21 total entries, on Saturday. Dustin’s elapsed time of 06:03:02.294 was just under a minute faster than the second place finisher and secured another first place finish for the team.

Next on the desert race schedule for King Shocks is the King of the Hammers Desert Challenge January 30th-31st.

About King Off-Road Shocks
King Shocks is a world-class manufacturer and servicer of custom made adjustable and rebuildable automotive shock absorbers and performance racing products for utility vehicles, OEM replacement and professional racing use. For over twenty years King Shocks has taken pride in putting quality, performance and customer service above all. Every product sold is the result of constant testing and development done with top racers in competition worldwide. This real world testing exposes their designs to a level of abuse and destructive forces that cannot be duplicated in a laboratory. King Shocks, The leader in Off-Road Shock Technology.

Drivers Edge Development Unveils Class of 2021

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE / STATESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 19, 2021) – Coming off another successful year, the Drivers Edge Development Program, presented by Chevrolet, GMS Racing and JR Motorsports, announced the program’s 2021 driver class. The class includes five returning drivers – Zane Smith, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum, Noah Gragson and Sam Mayer, as well as newcomers Chase Purdy, Raphael Lessard, Jack Wood and Will Cox.

“The Drivers Edge program has become a successful training ground for some very talented young racers,” said Dayne Pierantoni, GM Racing’s program manager for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. “Last year our drivers scored multiple wins in the ARCA, Truck and Xfinity series culminating with two ARCA Championships for Sam Mayer and the Truck Series Championship for Sheldon Creed. 

“We have some exciting things in store for 2021 and a full slate of activities for our participants utilizing cutting-edge tools and training methods. With another group of exceptional drivers, I can’t wait to see what we can do in 2021.”

Now in its third year, Drivers Edge Development is designed to groom the next generation of racing superstars through a tiered competition pipeline. Equally as important as the competition focus, Drivers Edge Development provides added training to enhance participants’ professional growth off the track. Drivers will partake in educational programs presented by industry experts focusing on their physical, mental and technical development. An emphasis is placed on areas such as brand building, social media and digital content, media training and fan relations in addition to support for partner procurement and retention. As part of the physical and mental development, Josh Wise will continue to guide the program, reprising his role as driver coach and providing comprehensive physical training for each driver.

Drivers Edge Development 2021 Roster:

·        Tyler Ankrum (NCWTS driver of the No. 26 for GMS) – Ankrum enters his second full-time NCWTS season with GMS and his second year as part of the Drivers Edge Development program. Ankrum collected three top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in 2020 and qualified for the Playoffs for the second consecutive season. Ankrum scored his first career NCWTS win at Kentucky Speedway and took home Rookie of the Year honors in 2019.

·        Will Cox (Late Model driver for JRM) – Will Cox III is the newest addition to JRM’s championship-winning Late Model team for 2021. The 15-year-old Raleigh, N.C. native will compete in his first full-time Late Model campaign in the CARS Racing Tour as well as some special events. Cox III had a rapid rise through the karting and U.S. Legend Car ranks, winning the Young Lions National Championship race and finishing third in the World Road Course Finals. In 2020, Cox III made the move to Late Models, starting with the Carolina Pro Late Model Series and making his first CARS Tour start in August.

·        Sheldon Creed (NCWTS driver of the No. 2 for GMS) – Creed had an impressive sophomore NCWTS season with GMS in 2020 where he scored five wins, nine top-five, 13 top-10 finishes and led 587 laps culminating in being crowned the 2020 NCWTS Champion. The Alpine, Calif. native had four top-five and 11 top-10 NCWTS finishes in 2019 and made a lone start with JRM with its No. 8 NXS entry in the Daytona event in July 2019.

·        Noah Gragson (NXS driver of the No. 9 for JRM) – Gragson enters his third full-time NXS season with JRM. Gragson earned a career-best two wins, 17 top-five and 25 top-10 finishes in 2020 and finished fifth in the championship standings. Gragson is an alumnus of the 2016 NASCAR Next class and has been part of the Drivers Edge Development program since its inception.

·        Raphael Lessard (NCWTS driver of the No. 24 for GMS) – Lessard is a newcomer to the Drivers Edge Development program and is set to compete in only his second full-time season in NCWTS. Lessard collected one win at Talladega Superspeedway in 2020 and finished the season with four top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

·        Sam Mayer (NXS driver of the No. 8 for JRM) – Mayer is entering his third year as part of the Drivers Edge Development program and will take over the No. 8 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series upon turning 18 years old on June 26. Mayer is the youngest champion in NASCAR history and collected back-to-back ARCA East Series championships in 2019 and 2020. Mayer was also crowned the 2020 ARCA Sioux Chief Showdown champion and earned his first career NCWTS win at Bristol Motor Speedway in September in only his sixth start in the series.

·        Chase Purdy (NCWTS driver of the No. 23 for GMS) – Another newcomer to the Drivers Edge Development program, Purdy is an alumnus of the 2017 and 2018 NASCAR Next Classes. Purdy will compete for Rookie of the Year honors in the NCWTS for GMS after running a partial schedule for the team in 2020. Purdy amassed 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes en route to a fourth-place finish in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings in 2018.

·        Zane Smith (NCWTS driver of the No. 21 for GMS) – Following an incredible rookie season, Smith enters his second full-time NCWTS season with high expectations. Smith earned two wins, seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes en route to a second-place finish in the championship standings in 2020. Smith also took home Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver honors in 2020. The Huntington Beach, Calif. native turned heads among stiff competition in 2019, claiming two top-five and seven top-10 finishes in only 10 NXS starts for JRM. Smith has been part of the Drivers Edge Development program since its inauguration.

·        Jack Wood (ARCA driver of the No. 21 for GMS) – Wood is set to run his first full-time season in the ARCA Menards Series East with GMS in addition to running the Showdown schedule in 2021. The Loomis, Calif. native has competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West since 2019 and collected one top-five and six top-10 finishes in eight starts in 2020.

The nine drivers enrolled in Drivers Edge Development are part of established and successful operations. The JRM Late Model team has 75 wins in the last five seasons and five championships, including the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series title. GMS Racing owns 14 wins, a series championship and a Sioux Chief Showdown championship with its ARCA program and earned back-to-back championships with its ARCA East team in 2019 and 2020. Its NCWTS entries have amassed 37 wins along with championships in 2016 and 2020. Over 16 years of competition, JRM’s NXS program lays claim to 51 wins and three championships, including consecutive titles in 2017-18.

ABOUT GMS RACING:
GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Sheldon Creed, Zane Smith, Tyler Ankrum, Chase Purdy and Raphael Lessard. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Jack Wood. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championship. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https:/gmsracing.net

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of 50 NASCAR-sanctioned races.  Now in its 20th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports races in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it won championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018.  The company also competes in Late Model competition and owns five championships in regional late model divisions.  To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.

Jr III Racing Set to Take the Green for the 2021 IMSA Season at Daytona

By
Official Release
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Father-son and father-daughter driver line-ups ready for a full family affair in Daytona

Daytona Beach, Fla. (19 January 2021) – Jr III (“Junior Three”) Racing will head to Daytona International Speedway to open the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge (IPC) season with the Scouts of America 145 on Saturday, January 23rd (TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold, 12:45PM ET).

Having expanded into two full-time IPC entries in the off-season, the No. 3 Copps Industries Ligier JS P320 of Greg and Eric Palmer will be joined by the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier JS P320 of Ari and Natasha Balogh and will represent the the Mooresville-based team at the iconic road course.

The father-son driver pairing of Greg and Eric Palmer will return to the No. 3 Copps Industries Ligier JS P320 for their sophomore season in IPC competition. The Palmers combined for a strong debut run in 2020 with Jr III Racing by scoring the team’s first top-five finish in full-time IMSA competition at Sebring International Raceway. The duo also combined to collect five consecutive top-ten finishes.

“I am looking forward to getting on track at Daytona for the Roar,” said Greg Palmer. “Coming back to IPC for a second season allows Eric (Palmer) and I to continue growing as drivers and working towards strong results. There is nothing like driving into the track and having the high banks surround you – it feels like a coliseum. It’s absolutely amazing and I feel very lucky to be able to turn a wheel at Daytona. I am ready to go racing!”

Having made the transition into the Prototype ranks in 2020, the Palmers are ready to build on their experience with a good start to the 2021 season.

“After our first year of competition in IMSA Prototype Challenge for not only me, but also Jr III Racing, we will look to continue our constant improvements and success that we had in 2020,” said Eric Palmer. “We are no longer starting from scratch, but rather have a collection of data, knowledge, and experience that we look to implement at every event in 2021. Daytona will be the first opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities and it will be an exciting race. We are hopeful to improve on last year’s top 10 finish.”

Keeping racing in the family, Ari and Natasha Balogh join Jr III Racing in the No. 33 Airbnb Ligier as the second full-season entry for the team.

The elder Balogh brings experience at the 2.5-mile course with five previous starts in the GT category including a fourth-place finish in the 2016 Michelin Pilot Challenge event. Balogh will make the switch to the Ligier Prototype for 2021 and make his IPC debut as he takes the green flag on Saturday.

Following in her father’s footsteps, Natasha Balogh will make her professional racing debut when she climbs into the No. 33 Ligier. The 21-year-old began racing in NASA and SCCA events where she showed her natural talent behind the wheel as she went on to earn a second-place finish in the E1 class at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in 2018.

“Though we haven’t had much time in the car, I’m feeling pretty good,” said Natasha Balogh. “I’ve never driven a car that has as much aero that the Ligier does, so it’s been a challenge getting used to it. We have come so far quick which is exciting as we go into our first race. Daytona is another opportunity to keep learning and moving forward. It’s kind of perfect that I’m making my debut in professional racing with my dad. I don’t know that there are many people who are as competitive as we are about everything. Whether it’s who’s a tenth faster, or who gets to the top of the stairs first, we push each other to be better in all that we do. It’s an odd definition of fun, but it’s ours and that will translate to competing on track.”

Adding a second full-time entry marks another chapter in the progress for the growing Jr III Racing organization, which also fields multiple entries in vintage competition as well as managing high-end restoration programs for clients. The team has a long-term ambition to grow into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, which has integrated the LMP3 platform into the championship starting with the 2021 season.

Team Principal Billy Glavin has invested in additional equipment and crew to better service the two Ligiers.

“Having two full-time entries is very beneficial for us on and off the track,” said Glavin. “With double the amount of information and data, we are able to dial in a complete package for the Palmers and Baloghs to utilize on track. We have been able to test a few times and we’ve focused not only on speed and car setups but also pit lane and pit stop operations as well. The team is ready and prepared to make the most out of our time at Daytona.”

Each round of the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge season will be broadcast live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold. Flag-to-flag coverage of the IMSA Prototype Challenge Scouts of America 145 from Daytona International Speedway begins Saturday, January 23rd at 12:45PM.

Weekend Schedule:

Friday, January 22
Practice 1 – 9:00-9:45AM
Practice 2 – 2:00-2:30PM

Saturday, January 23
Qualifying – 8:45-9:00AM
Race – 12:45PM

*All Times Eastern

Female-Led Ownership Group Launches New NTT INDYCAR SERIES Team

By
Official Release
-

Paretta Autosport To Compete in Indianapolis 500 with Simona De Silvestro

INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021) – Paretta Autosport, a new NTT INDYCAR SERIES race team spearheaded by female automotive and motorsport executive Beth Paretta, has announced its entry for the 105th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

2010 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro has been announced as the driver for Paretta Autosport, which will utilize Chevrolet power and run the No. 16 for this year’s legendary “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The 32-year-old from Switzerland is a veteran of five Indianapolis 500 starts.

The team is an extension of INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s “Race for Equality & Change” announced last July. Team Penske will provide technical support to Paretta Autosport in assisting in the preparation for competing in the race Sunday, May 30.

Paretta Autosport will integrate women in the team to ensure that it provides opportunities, including competition, operations and administrative roles such as logistics, marketing and public relations.

“Today is the beginning of a commitment to gender equity in sport, to encourage women to work hard so they can earn their seat at the table or spot on the grid,” Paretta Autosport Team Principal Beth Paretta said. “INDYCAR has been a leader and a welcoming place for women for many years because of the hard work of many women and men before us, but now we have a stronger commitment with INDYCAR’s ‘Race for Equality & Change’ to make sure opportunities continue in the future.

“Our team, along with our technical alliance with Team Penske, will work hard to give Simona the best car we can provide so she can achieve her best results. Competition drives us. The Indy 500 is the greatest race in the world, and one day soon we hope to have a woman’s face on the Borg-Warner Trophy.”

Said Mark Miles, president and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp.: “We are pleased to welcome Beth and her Paretta Autosport team to INDYCAR this year. Her team’s addition to the INDYCAR ‘Race for Equality & Change’ program this year will ensure that INDYCAR and the Indianapolis 500 continues the legacy of having a female driver qualify for the 2021 Indy 500. Of course, it will be up to Simona and the team to qualify the car for the grid, but knowing Beth, I know that her team will be up for the task.”

Paretta has a long history as an automotive and motorsports executive in leadership roles with some of the most respected performance brands, including SRT (Street and Racing Technology) at FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), where she was the first female director to lead a performance brand and motorsports for an original equipment manufacturer. In that role, she led successful racing programs that earned three national championships: the NASCAR Cup Series championship for Dodge with Team Penske in 2012, the IMSA GTLM championship with the factory Viper GTS-R program in 2014, and the Trans Am championship with the Dodge Challenger TA2 in 2014. She is also a board member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

In addition to her Rookie of the Year honors in 2010, De Silvestro also captured the Tony Renna Firestone Rising Star Award for her 14th-place finish. Her accomplishments throughout the motorsports world are numerous after competing in Australian Supercars, as a Formula One development driver, in Formula E, the IMSA SportsCar Championship and, since 2019, as a factory driver for Porsche.

“I am very excited to have this incredible opportunity to return to Indianapolis and the Indy 500 with Paretta Autosport this year,” De Silvestro said. “My career really took off through my time competing in INDYCAR and the Indy 500, so returning to compete with Beth and her new team in alliance with Team Penske is a special and rare chance in my career. Being part of the goal of diversity and inclusion for everyone, and especially women in INDYCAR, and in motorsports in general, is very important to me and how I would like to see the future of racing. I want to thank the NTT INDYCAR SERIES for taking such an important leadership role in providing gender and overall diversity inclusion in motorsports.”

For more information and future announcements, please visit www.parettaautosport.com or the team’s social media channels.

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