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Criteria Set for Historic 2021 Busch Clash At DAYTONA on Iconic DIS Road Course

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Official Release
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  • Event Set Under the Lights for Tuesday, Feb. 9 on 14-Turn, 3.61-mile course
  • Kicks off DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth; 63rd Annual DAYTONA 500 Anchors Week as Denny Hamlin Goes for Record Third Triumph in Great American Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 17, 2020) – NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway today announced the criteria for eligibility for NASCAR Cup Series drivers to compete in one of the most unique and anticipated events in all of motorsports – the historic 2021 Busch Clash At DAYTONA on the iconic DAYTONA Road Course.

Set for Tuesday, Feb. 9, under the lights, the 2021 Busch Clash At DAYTONA will mark the first time in history the traditional exhibition-style event will tackle the track’s 14-turn, 3.61-mile road course, which was introduced for the first time ever to NASCAR’s top three national series this past August. The 43rd Annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA, which kicks off DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth, will be held on the same course (with the lone addition a NASCAR fourth-turn chicane) of as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and the DAYTONA 200, North America’s premier races for sports cars and motorcycles, respectively.

Due to the pandemic, NASCAR adjusted the format for setting the field for a majority of its races in 2020. As such, the eligibility for next season’s Busch Clash At DAYTONA – which has long been tied to Busch Pole Award wins in the previous season – will have a new look. The eligibility requirements for the 2021 edition are:

· 2020 Busch Pole Award winners
· Past Busch Clash Winners who competed full-time in 2020
· DAYTONA 500 Champions who competed full-time in 2020
· Former DAYTONA 500 Busch Pole Winners who competed full-time in 2020
· 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers
· 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Race winners
· 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Stage winners

In contrast to the tightly packed competition on the Speedway’s famed 2.5-mile high-banked-tri-oval, the reimagined Busch Clash, which was held for the first time at Daytona in 1979, will utilize approximately three-quarters of the tri-oval along with the challenging infield portion of the road course. That translates into 14 turns instead of the usual four.

“The excitement by both the drivers and our fans leading up to the 2021 Busch Clash At DAYTONA is unprecedented,” said Speedway President Chip Wile. “NASCAR’s initial visit to the DAYTONA Road Course in August delivered big time, with incredible competition, adding to the legacy of the famed road course made famous with sports cars and motorcycles.

“Having the Busch Clash At DAYTONA on Tuesday night also adds to the anticipation of an action-packed Speedweeks calendar. With the talent level in the field, the race will now clearly have its own look and feel during DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth in 2021 and beyond.”

The 24 drivers eligible to compete in the ’21 Busch Clash include:
1 Aric Almirola
2 Ryan Blaney
3 Alex Bowman
4 Clint Bowyer
5 Chris Buescher
6 Kurt Busch
7 Kyle Busch
8 William Byron
9 Cole Custer
10 Matt DiBenedetto
11 Austin Dillon
12 Ty Dillon
13 Chase Elliott
14 Denny Hamlin
15 Kevin Harvick
16 Jimmie Johnson
17 Erik Jones
18 Matt Kenseth
19 Brad Keselowski
20 Joey Logano
21 Ryan Newman
22 Tyler Reddick
23 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
24 Martin Truex, Jr.

Tickets for the Busch Clash, as well as the 63rd annual DAYTONA 500 (Sunday, Feb. 14) – in which Denny Hamlin goes for a record third straight triumph in the Great American Race – can be purchased online at www.daytona500.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase tickets and multi-day packages with a “fresh look” for Speedweeks Presented by Advent Health:

· Tuesday, Feb. 9: 43rd Annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA (DAYTONA Road Course under the lights)
· Wednesday, Feb. 10: DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger
· Thursday, Feb. 11: Duel At DAYTONA qualifying races
· Friday, Feb. 12: NextEra Energy 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race
· Saturday, Feb. 13: NASCAR Racing Experience 300 (NASCAR Xfinity Series) and Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General

Tire (ARCA Menards) doubleheader
· Sunday, Feb. 14: DAYTONA 500, The Great American Race

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

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.

Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Daytona Winners Headed to HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour, December 3 – 6

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Official Release
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Daytona-Winning Lola T70, Chevron B26 and Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Competitors Set for Fifth Running of Classic Sebring 12 Hour Presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network Next Month at Sebring International Raceway

SEBRING, Florida (November 17, 2020) – Fast off Run Group victories two weekends ago at the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Daytona presented by IMSA, three of the winning competitors from the Classic 24 Hour HSR race have been confirmed for next month’s fifth running of the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network at Sebring International Raceway, December 3 – 6.

A tribute race to the 12 Hours of Sebring – which was run for the 68th time this past Saturday, November 14 – the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour celebrates not only the legendary race cars that have competed at Sebring over the last half century but also the rich military aviation history that first put Sebring on the map.

Classic Daytona winners set for the HSR Classic Sebring include the Lola T70 of Jim Cullen and Frank Beck, Gray Gregory and his Chevron B26 and David Porter and his spectacular Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, which was driven to the overall 12 Hours of Sebring victory in its competitive prime in 2011.

Cullen and Beck took the lead in the second of four Run Group A rounds at the Classic Daytona and never looked back to secure their second Classic 24 Hour HSR race win at Daytona in three years in Cullen’s Olthoff Racing-prepared 1970 No. 01 Lola T70. The No. 01 team and drivers scored their fist victory in the Classic 24-Hour race at Daytona in 2018 and backed it up with a convincing and trouble-free run to another win this year in one of the best drives of Cullen’s career.

Group B was a drama-filled finish at the Classic Daytona that saw the 1973 No. 26 Chevron B26 of Gregory, and co-driver Ethan Shippert, breakthrough for the victory in the fourth and final round of the race. The win was the second-straight HSR Classic victory for Gregory and the No. 26 Chevron Phil Reilly and Co. team after closing out 2019 with their second-straight HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour victory in Group B.

Gregory goes for consecutive Classic Sebring wins and the HSR Classics threepeat next month with longtime teammate Randy Buck, who co-drove with the No. 26 last year for the 12 Hour HSR race victory.

Porter in turn will be looking for his fourth straight HSR Classics win at Sebring after racing the GMT Racing Peugeot to a Group victory at Daytona last year and a couple of weeks ago. He also made the 908’s return to Sebring a winning one last December when he scored a Classic Sebring victory in the car’s first appearance on the legendary 3.74-mile Sebring circuit since the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring win.

Chassis number 10, and one of the last 908 HDi race cars built, the 2011 Sebring win with Team Oreca Matmut was the third and final victory for the Peugeot in just six races in its contemporary career. The car closed out the prime of its competitive career later in 2011 with a second-place finish at Petit Le Mans. Porter acquired the car a few years ago and has returned it to its original 2010 Peugeot factory livery.

In addition to the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour, the season-ending weekend also features the HSR Sebring Historics. Races on that event’s schedule include the final 2020 rounds of the HSR WeatherTech Sprint Series, the HSR B.R.M. Chronographes Endurance Challenge races, HSR Stoner Car Care Global GT, HSR Classic RS Cup and the HSR Sasco Sports International/American Challenge.

COVID-19 protocols and safety procedures will be in place through the HSR Classic Sebring weekend.

Detailed event information for the Classic Sebring 12 Hour and Sebring Historics, including weekend schedules and entry lists, is available at www.HSRRace.com.

Spectator tickets for the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour are available at www.HSRTickets.com. Tickets ordered after this Thursday, November 19, will be held in will call and available for pick up at the HSR registration windows starting December 3 at Sebring International Raceway. On line ticket sales will end on November 24 and begin again with on-site sales only at Sebring International Raceway starting Thursday, December 3, 2020. Learn more at www.HSRtickets.com.

About HSR: Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter and Instagram at @HSR_race. A dedicated website for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA is available at www.Classic24hour.com.

NCS NEXT GEN TEST: Kurt Busch Teleconference Transcript

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Official Release
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CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 16: Kurt Busch stands in the garage area during the NASCAR Cup Series test at Charlotte Motor Speedway on November 16, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

NASCAR CUP SERIES
TEAM CHEVY PRESS CONF. TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 16, 2020

CHIP GANASSI RACING’S, KURT BUSCH, is participating in a two-day Next Gen test held by NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kurt Busch met with media via teleconference to discuss his thoughts after the first day of the test, what he’s learned from the test so far, and more. Transcript:

IT WASN’T ALL THAT LONG AGO THAT YOU RACED THIS TRACK. GIVE US A COMPARISON OF HOW THIS DRIVES COMPARED TO WHAT YOU HAD THE LAST TIME YOU RACED HERE?
“Today has been a fun, exciting, interesting day. It feels like the first day of school because of how different the car is. With the sequential gearbox, that’s the most fun. I love shifting through the gears. Sequentially, you have to go second, third, fourth, fifth, and then you have to go back fourth, third, second. It’s not your typical H-pattern that we’ve had. So, this gearbox is fun to drive. The brakes are much bigger and the car can stop a lot quicker. And then, we actually have a hybrid horsepower range. Right now, we’re not in the full 750hp, but we’re not the low 550hp.”

“But, overall, the car’s first impression is that it’s fun, it’s exciting and different, and I encourage everybody to dig into it to find its differences and to respect the process that NASCAR is going through to implement all these new, exciting components. A new front bulkhead, a new rear bulkhead, and, overall, the cars driving and its feel. Out on the ROVAL, it feels like I’m qualifying every lap because of how impressive the lap times are and how much grip the car has in certain spots of the race track. Overall, a lot of fun. It’s neat working with all these different people trying to sort out a car that has never been on a road course before.”

YOU’RE A GUY THAT’S DRIVEN SPORTSCARS AND MARTIN TRUEX JR. HAS NEVER DRIVEN A SPORTSCAR. DOES THIS FEEL MORE LIKE A SPORTSCAR COMPARED TO THE BIG, STOCKY STOCK CAR THAT YOU GO AROUND THIS TRACK IN?
“It’s a good marriage between the two. (inaudible) With the independent rear suspension, there’s different lingo and talk about anti-dives,(inaudible), and different ways we’re going to adjust these cars instead of your typical track bar or wedge. So, there’s a lot of adjustments and a lot of new terminology. Driver to driver, they’re going to figure it out, and then you have to go to the next level in how you translate that information to your crew and how the crew goes through the new components and finds out what’s the most effective. That’s going to make things different.”

INAUDIBLE
“It’s a one-lever, sequential gearbox shift. So, you start out in neutral and then you’ve got to go first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and down fourth, third, second, first. And so, you can’t just go through the H-pattern and go to whatever gear you want – you have to go through them all.”

HOW PROBLEMATIC WOULD THAT BE WITH TRANSMISSIONS FOR GUYS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THAT PATTERN?
“It won’t be too bad. I think a racer will figure it out. A lot of us drove Legend Cars and that’s a motorcycle, sequential gearbox. That’s the easiest comparison. It might not be the most handsome and powerful comparison, but like an Australian V8 Supercar or a Sand Rail (inaudible).”

HAVE YOU GOTTEN A CHANCE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHERE TRUEX HAS BEEN? HAVE YOU GOTTEN A FEEL OF HOW THIS CAR MIGHT RACE?
“We’ve been on different ends of the track. The focus is to go through tires for Goodyear and finding the best combination. There’s a Watkins Glen tire here, there’s a Mid-Ohio tire, and there’s also a Sonoma tire that we need to run. I think we’re just trying to log laps on components for road course stuff and then Wednesday will be the primary focus on getting the cars out there together, seeing how they manipulate the air and if they’re less effected by the air.”

IS THIS CAR, IN DRIVING IT COMPARED TO WHAT YOU NORMALLY DRIVE, DOES IT TURN BETTER? DOES IT STEER BETTER? ARE YOU ACCELERATING QUICKER OR BRAKING LATER?
“Yes, everything. It even sounds roadier and deeper. The sound was very cool. I don’t get to hear cars a lot because I’m in the car racing, but to hear Truex go around and to hear the split exhaust – one pipes out the left, one pipes out the right – that’s an old school, Trans Am-style, thundering power feel. But the car accelerates quicker, it stops quicker, it turns quicker, it’s more nimble. All the lap time that’s been gained is through the infield section with the independent rear suspension and the ability to shift quicker. So, really the car, I don’t want to use the word ‘steroids’ – it’s just the car is more effective and the car is more sensitive to changes and to feel, even with a shorter side wall. The car is riding smooth, but you feel everything more vividly.”

SOME OF THE EARLIER TESTS, THE GUYS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT TWITCHINESS IN THE STEERING. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THE STEERING FEELS AND WHETHER IT’S TWITCHY, HOW RESPONSIVE IT IS, OR HOW SOFT IT IS?
“So, we’re doing good right now. They still have one more change to make things firmer – to have the sensitivity turned down a little bit more. Right now, yes, it’s on the aggressive side for feel, twitchiness and movement. But, we’re at a road course for the first time and I like its movement back and forth, left to right. But, on the oval sections, it’s a little bit on edge and we need to try to perfect that and that’s more of the Wednesday focus. We will run different valving tonight to help with the steering just to see what that change does. But road course stuff, we’re in the box. Oval, we’ll know more on Wednesday.”

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT MULTIPLE TIMES. DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT KIND OF CHANGES THEY’RE MAKING BETWEEN RUNS? ARE THEY THROWING BIG THINGS AT IT OR JUST SMALL PRESSURE CHANGES AND STUFF LIKE THAT?
“I would say we’ve done pretty good to have aggressive changes so far. Small changes and different tire compounds have been across the car. My brain is swirling about all the gears that I want to change in the gearbox, but we’re just going to leave it for today. But yeah, the car is reacting well to typical changes and to new things that we’re talking about, as far as anti-dive, anti-squat. The caster changes we haven’t done yet are much different than years’ past with the way the shocks mount to the control arms and the wishbones. So, a bunch of new stuff to learn.”

HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN RUNNING THE SAME RATIOS IN THE BOX ALL DAY?
“Yes, same ratios. I don’t know what Truex has in his, but it’s in the ballpark.”

“We’re just trying to get a lot of the big things done on NASCAR’s checklist, instead of trying to fine-tune for speed. We’ll worry about that in 2022.”

WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR?
“So far, everything has a reason for either the twitchiness, the comfort level in the braking zones or even the feel out on the oval. It’s all had a reason for why it did what it did. (inaudible).”

WAS IT WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING IT TO FEEL LIKE?
“You know, it was like the first day of school, honestly. There’s so much to look at, digest, and feel. Overall, though, I still have yet to even see the laps times, but they told me it’s been an impressive pickup of speed versus the traditional car. So, to me, that says Next Gen all over it – when you’re going faster, turning better, accelerating harder, braking harder and braking faster. Just faster is better, so we’ll keep fine-tuning it.”

ARE YOU PLANNING TO RUN THE SAME CAR WEDNESDAY?
“Yes. That car that’s behind me – tomorrow, they’ll switch all the components over for oval track settings and then go out there on Wednesday.”

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.

Trans Am Cancels Laguna Seca Season Finale

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Official Release
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Road Atlanta stages doubleheader season shootout

Monterey, California (16 November 2020)- As a result of the new travel restrictions and quarantine requirements surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic put in place by California and surrounding states, the Trans Am doubleheader finale scheduled for December 4-6 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has been canceled for the 2020 season. The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is slated to return to Laguna Seca with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association in May 2021.

The new National finale will now take place this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in a doubleheader shootout. The Trans Am West Coast Championship will end based on the final results from the last round at Circuit of The Americas. Official class champions will be announced at a later date.

“We were really looking forward to ending our season at Laguna this year, it’s always a driver and fan favorite,” said Trans Am Race Company President John Clagett. “We’ve worked diligently to address all health and safety requirements, but California’s new travel restrictions and quarantine requirements made it no longer feasible to hold the event, but that’s just how this year has gone. We look forward to finishing the 2020 season in Atlanta and returning to Laguna Seca in the Spring.”

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has demonstrated extremely effective health and safety protocols to allow track rentals and races continue. But unfortunately due to the state of California’s mandates, new voluntary quarantine measures and guidance on how even families can celebrate Thanksgiving, there is too much uncertainty of what future mandates may be in place at the beginning of December that would limit or prevent the race to happen.

“Our whole team is disappointed by the cancelation of the Trans-Am SpeedFest,” commented John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “After two successful and safe races in October, we were hopeful to be able to continue with Trans Am for our season finale. But with the continuing outbreak, many participants coming from out of state, and the unknown state restrictions, we understand and sympathize with Trans Am’s and SVRA’s decision. We greatly look forward to welcoming their return to Monterey April 29 through May 2, 2021.”

The Atlanta SpeedTour event starts on Thursday, November 19 with testing. The official weekend commences on Friday, November 20 with practice in the morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon starting with the Trans Am class at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Saturday begins with the TA/XGT/SGT/GT race at 10:45 a.m. Eastern followed by the TA2® powered by AEM feature at 3:55 p.m. Eastern. The combined class finale will take the green on Sunday at noon Eastern.

The Atlanta SpeedTour is open to fans. Tickets are available at: SpeedTour.net.

All three races will be live streamed (starting Saturday) on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.

Front Row Motorsports Statement on John Hunter Nemechek

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (November 16, 2020) – Front Row Motorsports today announced John Hunter Nemechek has informed the team he will not be returning to the organization.

A statement from Bob Jenkins, Owner, Front Row Motorsports:

“We want to thank John Hunter for being a part of Front Row Motorsports and beginning his NASCAR Cup Series career with us. He certainly helped elevate our performance this past season and brought added value to our No. 38 team. We wish him the best in the next phase in his career and he will always be a friend of ours.”

FRM will announce plans for its NASCAR programs in the future.

About Front Row Motorsports
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Camping World Truck Series. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team– from its Mooresville, N.C., headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Trans Am Champion Amy Ruman- Modern Trailblazer at Road Atlanta

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SM
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Trans Am returns to Road Atlanta for double-header weekend

BRASELTON, GA (16 November 2020) – The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli gets back to action with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association Atlanta SpeedTour November 19-22 after the originally slated event in March was postponed at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (Live Stream Starts Saturday, November 21).

The new date will now hold a pair of races offering up a unique opportunity for Ohio-based driver Amy Ruman, who has found a second home at the challenging 2.54-mile circuit in her family-owned No. 23 McNichols Co. Corvette.

Following in the footsteps of trailblazing Trans Am drivers like Deborah Gregg and Lyn St. James, Ruman became the first female driver to win in the Trans Am Series at Road Atlanta in 2011.

The Road Atlanta victory in the 2011 season finale helped her place third in the final standings. That began a run that saw her finish in the top-three in six of the next seven seasons. Ruman has gone on to win 16 races in her 14-year Trans Am career, including eight in 2015 – her first of two consecutive championships.

“Road Atlanta is a very special place for us, because it’s the place where I won my first Trans Am race,” said the 46-year-old driver. “I was breaking barriers because I was a woman in the Trans Am Series, so there have been a lot of firsts.”

Finishing near the front has been a habit for Ruman at Road Atlanta. She won at the Georgia circuit in 2015, her fourth consecutive victory in a streak that began at the 2014 season finale at Daytona. She won there from the pole in 2016, beginning a two-race winning streak. She’s also finished second; third on three occasions; and fourth twice. Her lone finish out of the top five at Road Atlanta was ninth in 2018.

“Road Atlanta is a tough track,” she said. “You have to be consistent there, for sure. There are a lot of challenges there, especially with the downhill Esses and the downhill coming down to the front straight. Overall, I think if you setup is good and the weather is good, you can do really well there.”

Trans Am racing is a family affair. Amy’s dad, Bob, joined the series at St. Petersburg in 1996, driving an ex-Paul Gentilozzi Chevrolet Camaro to a 10th-place finish – an impressive debut for a privateer. Bob competed in 95 career races, posting 30 top-10 finishes. He switched to a Corvette for Sebring in 2000, and ran that marque for the remainder of his career.

Ruman made her series debut with a seventh-place finish at Cleveland in 2005. She was at the wheel of a Corvette – the only car she’s raced throughout her 14-year career. Ruman became the first woman to capture a pole position in only her third start – at Topeka, Kansas, during the abbreviated 2006 season – her first of five career poles.

“I’ve found a home in Trans Am,” she said. “We love it. We’re part of the Trans Am family, and I’m proud to be part of the Trans Am legacy. A lot of people jump around, but our team’s got so much invested in it. We know the cars – and these are cars that we like to run. There’s so much horsepower. They’re fast and fun to drive, and we love the format. We run 100-mile races, and we don’t need to have pit stops, fueling and a lot of crew members.”

Still going strong, Ruman began the 2020 campaign with a third-place finish at Sebring International Raceway, her 44th career podium finish. Since then, she’s finished second at Brainerd and third in the combined race at VIR. In her 118-race career, she has 77 top-five finishes, 77 top-10s and five poles in 118 starts.

“Our competition is getting pretty deep,” she said. “Trans Am is where it’s at, and a lot of people are coming to our series, and we’re faced up against a lot of top drivers, a lot of top teams. It’s very competitive, but that’s what makes it fun.

“For us, ‘bad’ is to take home a third or a fifth,” Ruman added. “Some people would love to get that. But once you start hitting the top three, you want to stay there. We’re up against a lot of good teams, but we want to stay relevant and put on a good show for the fans. We want to stay on the top. I love to race – that’s what I’m here to do.”

The four-day event starts on Thursday, November 19 with testing. The official weekend commences on Friday, November 20 with practice in the morning followed by qualifying in the afternoon starting with the Trans Am class at 4:50 p.m. Eastern. Saturday begins with the TA/XGT/SGT/GT race at 11:10 a.m. Eastern followed by the TA2® powered by AEM feature at 4:55 p.m. Eastern. The combined class finale will take the green on Sunday at noon Eastern.
The Atlanta SpeedTour is open to fans. Tickets available at: SpeedTour.net.

All three races will be live streamed (starting Saturday) on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App. Download here: https://nagrasports.app.link/lIQjdAuxq7

Tickets On Sale for Talladega Superspeedway’s Springtime NASCAR Weekend, Featuring the GEICO 500 & NASCAR Xfinity Series Event

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Official Release
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GEICO 500 Cup Series Set for Sunday, April 25 While Xfinity Race on Saturday, April 24; Both Winners Advance to the 2021 NASCAR Playoffs

Talladega, Ala. (Nov. 16, 2020) – Tickets are officially on sale now for Talladega Superspeedway’s spring 2021 NASCAR weekend, consisting of the GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, April 25, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series event on Saturday, April 24.

For a limited time only, fans are urged to secure their tickets early which will provide economic savings with a host of advance-priced opportunities for both grandstand seating and camping options. Multi-day grandstand seating packages start at just $60 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and younger. Fans can get information on how to reserve their spots by calling 877-462-3342 (Go2-DEGA) or visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.

The 52nd edition of the GEICO 500 will be the premier series’ 10th points race of the year, and the winner will secure a spot in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Ryan Blaney is the defending champion of the GEICO 500, winning by just seven one thousandths of a second. Denny Hamlin is the latest Cup Series winner at the 2.66-mile venue, edging Erik Jones by just .086 second.

Justin Haley swept both of the Talladega NASCAR Xfinity Series races this year, cementing his place in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. He eventually made his way to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. The Xfinity Series has been a staple at the iconic track since 1992 when Ernie Irvan took the checkered flag. Additional information on other aspects of the 2021 Talladega Superspeedway weekend will be forthcoming.

Fans can keep up with all the happenings at the biggest, baddest race track on the planet by following Talladega Superspeedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway – which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year – is the most competitive race track on the NASCAR schedule (record 88 lead changes in 188 laps), the highest-banked (33 degrees) and the longest (2.66 miles), as well as the most fun and fan-friendly. Three- and four-wide racing at 200 mph are a norm at Talladega Superspeedway, along with nail-biting, photo finishes. For information, visit www.talladegasuperspeedway.com or call 1-877-Go2-DEGA.

Jeb Burton to Drive for Kaulig Racing in 2021 with Nutrien Ag Solutions

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Official Release
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Lexington, N.C. – (November 16, 2020) – Kaulig Racing announced today the addition of Jeb Burton to its NASCAR Xfinity Series driver lineup. Burton, son of NASCAR legend Ward Burton, will compete for the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship with primary partner Nutrien Ag Solutions.

“Jeb is a hard worker on and off the track,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “He’s a great fit for Kaulig Racing and our partners. I’ve known the Burton family and worked with them back in the 1980’s, so it feels like everything has come full circle. We are going to go out and compete for wins and championships. Jeb is a guy we can build a long term, successful program around.”

This will be Burton’s first full-time season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving for the championship. In his two full-time seasons competing in the NASCAR Truck Series, Burton collected one win (Texas Motor Speedway), 18 top-10 finishes and seven pole awards.

“It’s an honor to have this opportunity driving full-time for Kaulig Racing and Nutrien Ag Solutions,” Burton said. “I’ve worked so hard, not only behind the wheel, to get an opportunity like this, and it couldn’t be more perfect – representing a brand with the same values and beliefs as my family. This partnership represents everything we are, and I can’t thank Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice and Nutrien Ag Solutions enough.”

Nutrien Ag Solutions, the world’s leading agriculture retail, began its partnership with Kaulig Racing in 2019. Since then, the duo has taken the green flag together in 33 NASCAR Xfinity Series events and has collected five runner-up finishes and 24 top 10s, leading the field for a total of 636 laps.

“Nutrien Ag Solutions is excited to have Jeb behind the wheel of the No. 10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet for the 2021 Season,” said Brent Smith, VP of Marketing, Sustainability + Proprietary Products at Nutrien Ag Solutions. “Both Jeb and his dad Ward are longtime customers of ours and have worked tirelessly on agriculture and forestry conservation and sustainability. We can’t wait to lead the field with Jeb.”

In addition to its primary partnership with Burton, Nutrien Ag Solutions will serve as an associate sponsor at Kaulig Racing and will continue its DocuSeries, “Two-Track Mind,” airing season two in 2021, with Burton’s story.

About Kaulig Racing™
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time multi-car NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started and made the Championship 4 round for the first time in 2020. Kaulig Racing fields two full-time entries; the No. 10 Chevrolet driven by Jeb Burton and the No. 11 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, as well as, a part-time entry – the No. 16 driven by AJ Allmendinger. Kaulig Racing™ earned five wins in 2020 and have come to be one of the top competitors on track each weekend. The team also made its first-ever NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) start in the 2020 Daytona 500 with Justin Haley where he finished 13th. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

About Nutrien Ag Solutions™
Nutrien Ag Solutions™ is the retail division of Nutrien™ Ltd. It combines global innovation with local expertise to provide full-acre solutions through a network of trusted crop consultants at retail locations around the world. Nutrien Ag Solutions strives to help growers achieve the highest yields with the most sustainable solutions possible, offering a wide selection of products, including our proprietary brands: Loveland Products, Inc.®, Dyna-Gro® Seed and Proven® Seed

5 Things NASCAR Drivers Do to Relax After a Race

By
SM
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NASCAR racing is one of the most intense and high-stress sports in the world. Some of the stresses NASCAR drivers have to deal with include trying to get the best out of the car and themselves, chasing the race leader, and trying to avoid crashing into other vehicles on the speedway. Not only that, but they also have to deal with the stresses of traveling around the world to different places and spending time apart from their family and friends.   

Lots of NASCAR drivers find it difficult to relax before and after a big race, but there are lots of things NASCAR drivers can do to lower their stress levels. Here we look at some of the ways NASCAR racing drivers lower their stress levels and relax:

  1. Rehydrate

NASCAR races are both physically and mentally exhausting on the body. Being crammed into a small car for numerous hot laps with minimal fluids and air ventilation available means that drivers often find themselves feeling dehydrated after a race. This is why it’s important for NASCAR drivers to rehydrate after a race. Research has shown that taking care of your body can help to reduce stress levels. 

  1. Eat Well

NASCAR drivers are often tempted to go out and celebrate after a good race, but a Chinese from the local takeout or a pastry from a nearby shop isn’t ideal recovery food. Instead, drivers need to get some nutrients back into their bodies. NASCAR drivers should have a healthy snack or meal around 30 minutes after a race. This should include protein for muscle repair and carbohydrates for energy. Eating well not only helps your body to recover but it can also help to reduce stress levels.

  1. Spend Time with Family and Friends

NASCAR drivers will often spend a lot of time away from home focusing on their profession and traveling between race tracks. This makes quality time with family and friends even more important and special when they get it. In fact, almost all NASCAR drivers will tell you that the one thing they look forward to after a long race is spending some quality time with their family and friends. Spending time with family and friends can help you to relax and unwind after a stressful time at work. 

  1. Get Some Sleep

Sleep is one of the foundations for good health along with regular exercise and a healthy diet. It consolidates memory, repairs tissue, and keeps us alert and fresh. Unfortunately, lots of us don’t get the quantity of sleep we need. Getting enough sleep can help manage stress and allow us to tackle stressors better. This is why it’s so important that NASCAR drivers get enough sleep before and after a big race. 

  1. Start a New Hobby

NASCAR drivers are constantly thinking about training and preparing for the next big race in the calendar. Once the race is over, many drivers feel a bit low, as the excitement and anticipation have gone. One way they can combat this feeling is by starting a new hobby. Whether they choose to start swimming, running, meditating, or want to relax and play games online is up to them. A brilliant way to unwind is to play in an online casino. Playing games while traveling to your next NASCAR race has never been easier. As long as you own a mobile phone you can play in a mobile casino real money.

Driving in a NASCAR race can be extremely stressful. Both personal and professional situations can get drivers tangled up in a ball of anxiety and cause them to feel stressed. If you’re a NASCAR driver and you want to reduce your stress levels, then follow some of our top tips above. 

Team Hardpoint Leads Laps and Earns Season Best Top Five IMSA Finish in 12 Hours of Sebring Debut

By
Official Release
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Co-Drivers Rob Ferriol, Andrew Davis and Pierre Kaffer and the No. 30 GridRival/Team Hardpoint R8 LMS GT3 Scored the Young Team’s Fifth Place in the Season Finale

SEBRING, Florida (November 15, 2020) – Team Hardpoint earned a season-best finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday at Sebring International Raceway. Co-drivers Rob Ferriol, Andrew Davis and Pierre Kaffer finished fifth in the No. 30 GridRival/Team Hardpoint Audi R8 LMS GT3 during the 68th running of the event.

After an intense 12 hours of racing, the team covered 1,193 miles in 319 laps around the 3.74-mile circuit and finished just 10.085 seconds behind the class winner. The first-year team also reached other milestones during the event, with Davis earning a front-row start, Ferriol leading his first career lap after a turn one pass for the lead during the race’s second hour, and Davis led for eight additional laps during the ninth hour of the race following a full-course caution.

“What’s really cool for me is we had our best finish in 2020 in the longest race we ran,” Ferriol said. “I think it’s a great starting point for 2021, looking back here. I led laps, Andrew led laps, those are all good news stories for us. I couldn’t be prouder of Andrew and Pierre in the car, Will Bamber and Toni Calderon calling strategy and Owen Hayes as our engineer, and our entire team. We did 11 pit stops, and all of them were perfect. I can’t say enough about this team.”

Endurance racing comes with challenges to overcome, and that is especially true on the bumpy and treacherous Sebring surface. With three-hours, 30-minutes remaining and under full course caution, the team elected to stay on track rather than pit and move Davis to the lead. That strategy evaporated with 65 minutes remaining in the race when Davis pulled to pit lane with a punctured tire. Unfortunately, that stop was just minutes outside the fuel window to get to the finish.

“What a day, first off,” Davis said. “This race is one of the most grueling in the world. There are longer races, but this one just beats you up. Physically, for sure, because of the nature of Sebring International Raceway, but mentally it’s very, very difficult. Especially when darkness arrives. Being later in the year, there was a couple more hours of darkness which added some complexity to it. To come out in a top five finish, I actually was really pleased with the team. The effort put forth all week just to get the car better and give us something to fight with says something about this team, who is still in its infancy as a unit. I think the sky’s the limit for Hardpoint and I’m just excited I had an opportunity to run with them during the last couple of races of the year.”

Kaffer climbed behind the wheel for the run to the checkered flag, sitting eighth in class and still on the lead lap. In fuel conservation mode, Kaffer was unable to push the Audi to the limit. A final full-course caution with less than 30-minutes to go gave Kaffer enough fuel to get to the finish, but without enough time to make up any additional positions.

“Thank you to the whole team, they’ve done an awesome job the whole weekend,” Kaffer, an Audi Sport customer racing driver making his first start with Team Hardpoint, said. “I felt really confident from the first moment I joined Hardpoint and tried to help with my knowledge of the car. I think we had a great car today in our hands. In the end, it didn’t pay off for the podium because the tire puncture was two laps too early. I had to save fuel in my last stint. Without that, I think we could have finished P4 or P3. The full course yellow helped us. At the end, I was able to put some pressure on the (fourth place) Ferrari. Always when I was there, there was some traffic, and then the gap extended again. In the end, overall, all of us with Rob and Andrew did a great job.”

The fifth-place finish capped the inaugural season for Team Hardpoint, who joined the IMSA WeatherTech Championship in July with a plan to run only the sprint races. The team added Petit LeMans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring late in the season.

“I have to say thank you to Audi for all of the support we received this year,” Ferriol said. “We couldn’t have done this without them. It makes me super proud to be able to end the year on a high note with an Audi R8 LMS GT3 having led laps at the Sebring 12 hour and finishing in the top five.”

Team Hardpoint now turns its attention to the 2021 season and the recently announced Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche 911 GT3 R in the GTD class. The season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona is just weeks away, January 28-31 at Daytona International Speedway.

About Hardpoint Motorsports:
Hardpoint Motorsports was founded by Rob Ferriol in 2018 with the vision of combining his experience as a successful entrepreneur with his passion for racing. The Hardpoint brand brings together three distinct entities into one motorsport ecosystem. Team Hardpoint is the brand’s racing arm, providing its partners and customers opportunities to compete, brand, and promote in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Hardpoint Outfitters helps other teams and drivers extract more value from their motorsport investment by bundling branding, activation, and digital marketing services into customized turnkey packages, including design, apparel, hospitality, and social media management. The Hardpoint Paddock Foundation is the newest element of the ecosystem, created as a charitable foundation to support out of work paddock workers through the COVID-19 shutdown. As the shutdown comes to an end, the 501(c)3 Foundation is expected to grow into a more sustained model of providing vocational and educational support services to the professional sports car paddock community. More information on all of the Hardpoint Motorsports enterprises can be found at www.hardpoint.com or through its strong social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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