Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway… In 147 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway, Richard Childress Racing-prepared racecars have earned eight wins, all by Dale Earnhardt. The driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet claimed the checkered flag in 1986 (spring), both races in 1987, 1989 (fall), another sweep in 1990 plus spring events in 1993 and 1994. Additionally, the team owns two poles, 27 top-five and 49 top-10 finishes, have completed 91.8% of the laps contested (46,233 of 50,354) and have led 2,618 laps there entering Sunday afternoon’s race. Childress, a former driver in NASCAR’s top division, contributed a pair of those top-10s himself between 1977-1978.

In Good Company… RCR is tied for fourth all-time with Holman-Moody and the Wood Brothers for car owner victories at Darlington thanks to Earnhardt’s eight victories there.

A Place of Firsts… On April 15, 1973, NASCAR Hall of Famer Childress scored his first Cup Series top-five finish at Darlington. Driving the No. 96 Chevrolet for Tom Garn, Childress worked his way to the fourth position when the checkered flag waved, earning him a payday of $4,035 – nearly as much money as he had earned through the first four races of the season.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington… RCR’s best finish at Darlington in the NASCAR Xfinity Series is second, achieved on five separate occasions by four different drivers, and most recently by Austin Hill in 2024 (spring). While the team is still looking to find Victory Lane for the first time, the Welcome, N.C.-based organization has earned 14 top-five finishes and 34 top-10s in their pursuit of the checkered flag.

Win No. 100… With Hill’s win at Martinsville Speedway, RCR claimed their 100th Xfinity Series victory. Kevin Harvick carried the organization to its first Xfinity Series win at World Wide Technology Raceway in July 2000. Over the last 25 years, 20 different drivers have tallied victories to help the organization achieve this milestone feat. RCR’s winningest Xfinity Series driver is Harvick, who earned 35 wins behind the wheel of a Richard Childress entry. Of the 20 drivers who found Victory Lane, Hill is the only other driver with a double-digit win count – posting all 12 of his series victories while piloting the No. 21 Chevrolet.

Follow Saturday’s Action at Darlington… The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 Xfinity Series race at Darlington will be televised live Saturday, April 5 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Follow Sunday’s Action at Darlington… The Goodyear 400 Cup Series race at Darlington will be televised live on Sunday, April 6 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. The race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Practice and qualifying will air Saturday, April 5 on Amazon Prime beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway… Austin Dillon has made 17 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway, posting a career-best second-place finish in September 2020 when he missed Victory Lane by a narrow margin over Kevin Harvick. Dillon has completed 98 percent of the laps competed in the NASCAR Cup Series at the historic venue. Dillon also had a fourth-place finish in 2017.

More Than Cup Racing… Dillon has made four appearances at The Lady in Black in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, securing his best finish of fifth in 2012. The 2011 NASCAR Truck Series champion has two starts at the track in the Truck Series, earning his best finish of fifth in August 2010.

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Teams Up with Dillon… Dillon and the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team will be supported by BREZTRI AEROSPHERE®, an AstraZeneca product, at Darlington Raceway. This partnership is about more than just racing. You can learn more about Dillon and his family’s personal connection to the brand at Breztri.com. AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and Biopharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

Austin’s Family Connection to COPD… After his Grandpa Stan was diagnosed with COPD, Dillon saw how difficult life can be with the disease. With COPD, it made it hard for Grandpa Stan to travel to Austin’s races. BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) teamed up with Austin and Richard Childress Racing to raise awareness and urge fans affected by COPD to talk to their doctor about BREZTRI.

Darlington Throwback Parade… The Throwback Parade has been a tradition since the Throwback Weekend started in 2015. For many years, dating back to the 1950s, Darlington hosted a town parade in celebration of races being held at Darlington Raceway and bringing in tourists from across the country. It was a way for the locals to celebrate as well as those traveling in. The parade route will officially start at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday on HWY 151 heading towards the track. Dillon and other drivers will be on the parade float.

Did You Know… Dillon recently became the team owner of the South Carolina Outcast Angling Club, a professional fishing team in the Sport Fishing Championship. SFC is a competitive sportfishing league representing regions across North America. Fourteen Angling Clubs will compete in SFC’s first season under a new format, fighting for $2 million in prize money. The 2025 season will kick off in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on April 11.

Meet Dillon… Dillon is scheduled to appear at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Midway at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, April 6, at 11:30 a.m. local time. Stop by to meet the driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet and get new merchandise to wear on race day.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on Darlington Raceway?

“Darlington Raceway is one of my favorite tracks, and I love racing there. It’s a racer’s track, and the history there is so special. It’s one of the hardest races to win. I have finished second there in the past, so we want to improve on that. The track gets slick and wears tires quite a bit. The key to Darlington Raceway is trying to race the track and not the competition. It would be pretty special to take the No. 3 Chevrolet to Victory Lane on Sunday.”

What is your earliest memory of making laps around Darlington Raceway?

“My first time going to Darlington Raceway was with Buddy Baker during a test. Buddy took me around and showed me the line. We drove the track forward, and drove the track backward. We just looked at everything. I had to correct him a couple of times, on which end Turns 1 and 2 were verses 3 and 4. Buddy taught me more what not to do than what to do.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway… Sunday’s Goodyear 400 will mark Kyle Busch’s 27th career NASCAR Cup Series start at Darlington Raceway. Busch has one win (2008), seven top-five finishes and 15 top-10s at the 1.366 mile oval. Additionally, the 39-year-old driver has led 899 laps, has an average starting position of 13th, an average finish of 13.4, and has completed 94.6 percent (8,544 of 9,029) of the laps he’s contested there.

Busch has career totals of 63 wins, 34 poles, 252 top-five finishes, 385 top-10s and 19,437 laps led in 721 career Cup Series starts.

A Dominating Darlington Victory in a Dominant 2008 Season… Busch earned his lone Cup Series victory at Darlington in May 2008. He overcame numerous issues thrown his way to lead a race-high 169 of the 367 laps en-route to becoming the youngest winner on NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway. He led early, but a penalty following a pit stop dropped him to 29th. He bounced hard off the wall an estimated “five or six times” as he worked his way back to the front in what would become an eventful fight to the finish. The win was his third of eight that season.

Last Time Around at Darlington… Busch saw a significant streak come to an end in the regular-season finale at Darlington, an 11-year run of Cup Series Playoffs appearances. Busch did not go down without a fight, however, as he finished second by just .361 seconds to race winner Chase Briscoe.

Success Not Limited to the Cup Series… In addition to his Cup Series success at Darlington, the veteran racer also has two NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at the egg-shaped oval.

Get to the Points… After his 17th-place finish Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, Busch gained one position in the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings. He enters Darlington 16th.

232 and Counting… Busch enters Sunday’s race at Darlington with 232 career wins among NASCAR’s top three divisions – Cup (63), Xfinity (102) and Truck (67) – following his Truck Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 22.

About Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen… Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is the homestyle casual dining restaurant where guests always Get a lot. For not a lot™. The restaurant offers a variety of homemade meals and generous portions served up in a warm, welcoming atmosphere – all at an unbelievable price. After being welcomed with a signature Honey Butter Croissant on the house, guests can enjoy signature entrées like hand-breaded Chicken Tenders, homemade Chicken Pot Pie and slow-smoked Baby Back Ribs. Cheddar’s operates more than 180 restaurants in 28 states. For more information or to locate the nearest restaurant, visit Cheddars.com. Fans can like or follow Cheddar’s on Facebook, X and Instagram.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

What do you remember about your first race at Darlington Raceway and how long did it take before you got your first stripe?

“I’m trying to remember if I hit the wall in my first race there. I remember that it was in the No. 87 Chevrolet. I finished second. I don’t know if I ever hit the wall, because I ran the bottom of three and four the whole time. That was my money maker. My next race there, though, I was in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and I knocked it down. We were getting really loose on the long runs, and I was kind of backing it into the corner like a dirt car, putting the right rear tail light up against the fence and the right rear tail light grabbed and slapped the front over. It’s not a cushion, and this isn’t dirt car.”

Is there a particular race at Darlington Raceway that stands out to you as more difficult than another?

“Not really. I would say they’re all pretty tough, you know, but I think the long ones, the 500-mile races. But no, I can’t think of one that comes to mind.”

Austin Hill and the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway… Austin Hill will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. The Winston, Georgia native has competed in seven NASCAR Xfinity Series races at the South Carolina facility, earning a pair of second-place finishes and a top-10 result in each event. Hill has also made three NASCAR Truck Series starts at Darlington, posting a best finish of third in 2020.

First Cup Series Start of 2025… This weekend will mark Hill’s first of five starts aboard the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet during the 2025 Cup Series season. The full race lineup includes Chicago Street Course on July 6, Daytona International Speedway on August 23, Bristol Motor Speedway on September 13, and Talladega Superspeedway on October 19.

Career Cup Series Stats… Hill has taken part in a total of 10 Cup Series races, making at least one start in each of the last three seasons. The Xfinity Series championship contender posted a career-best finish of 14th at Daytona International Speedway in the 2023 premier series event.

About United Rentals… United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,591 rental locations in North America, 39 in Europe, 37 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 27,900 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers a fleet of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $21.43 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

Worksite Performance Solutions… United Rentals boasts the industry’s largest and most versatile fleet. In today’s digital age, the company goes beyond equipment, integrating people, equipment, and data to foster innovation and create connected worksites. United Rentals’ Worksite Performance Solutions enable unprecedented control, strategic decision-making, and unlock new opportunities. From the perimeter gate to the back office, United Rentals connects worksites to drive safety, productivity, and sustainability.

Meet Hill… On Sunday, April 6 at 12:00 p.m. local time, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Midway at Darlington Raceway. Stop by to meet the 30-year-old and purchase new United Rentals gear.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

How are you preparing for double duty at Darlington Raceway? Describe a good day for the No. 33 team.

“Darlington has been good to me on both the Truck and Xfinity sides. I feel good about going there and feel like we have a good shot at the win on Saturday. Then we will go have some fun on Sunday. We want to compete and try to run up front to see what we can do. The biggest thing for us is setting ourselves up for the end of the race. Stage points don’t matter for our United Rentals team. Overall, I’m just extremely excited to get this opportunity to run five Cup races for RCR this season. I’m going to soak up the starts, but when I get out on the racetrack, I’ll do everything I can to run inside the top-15, top-20, and complete all the laps.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway… Jesse Love has made two career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, both coming behind the wheel of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet in 2024. The Menlo Park, California native secured a pair of top-10 finishes – an eighth-place effort in the spring event and a sixth-place result in the fall race.

Did You Know… In both of his rookie year starts at the track “Too Tough to Tame,” Love completed 100% of laps competed.

Points Check… Through seven races, Love currently holds the fifth position in the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings – only three points behind fourth-place Sheldon Creed.

Live from the Driver’s Seat… The No. 2 Chevrolet will carry a Whelen in-car camera for Saturday’s 147-lap event. Live in-car coverage of Love racing at the historic South Carolina track can be seen for free on The CW app.

Cup Series Debut Upcoming… Last week, RCR announced that Love will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 13. Love will pilot the No. 33 C4 Ultimate Energy Chevrolet on the high banks of the Last Great Colosseum.

About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

JESSE LOVE QUOTES:

What is the current focus for the No. 2 team?

“Our No. 2 team is consistently getting better, and we’ve already seen improvements year over year. This season, our bad days are a sixth-place finish, whereas last year, our bad day was a 16th-place result. That is a testament to the work in the off-season, overall speed of our cars, and the prep that me and Danny (Stockman) did to get to this point. We are still looking for a little bit, but we aren’t looking for a lot. We are upfront every week and running inside the top-five consistently. The speed is there. The goal over the next few weeks is to build up some points and start chipping away at the regular season championship. If we are able to win that, it would set us up nicely for the Playoffs.”

What has Danny Stockman (crew chief) meant for your development?

“He’s been great. We are friends before crew chief and driver. I care about him more as a person than I do as my crew chief. But on the plus side, he’s a really great crew chief and does a great job for me. It’s not a secret that he is really good with young guys and young talent to help us get to a point to hopefully race on Sundays. That is his main goal. He has my back, and he knows that I have his back every week. That’s how our whole team operates. There are still things that will happen this season that he will need to give me advice on. He’s one of the people that I trust fully.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Darlington Raceway… Austin Hill has made seven career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Darlington Raceway, earning a top-10 result in each event. In the spring 2024 event at the historic South Carolina track, Hill drove the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet to a second-place finish. Hill has also competed in three NASCAR Truck Series races at Darlington, posting a best finish of third in 2020.

Solid Batting Average… In his seven Xfinity Series races at the “Lady in Black,” Hill has completed 100% of the laps competed (1033 of 1033) and posted a top-five finish in 42.9% of the starts. The Winston, Georgia native owns a pair of second-place results and has never finished worse than 10th. Hill has an average starting position of 10.3 and an average finishing position of 6.4.

100th Race Winner… As Hill crossed the finish line at Martinsville Speedway to claim his first grandfather clock, Richard Childress Racing earned their 100th win in Xfinity Series competition. Hill has 12 of the 100 wins to his name and will now have his No. 21 Chevrolet in the RCR Museum in Welcome, N.C.

$100K In Hand… With Hill’s milestone win last week at Martinsville Speedway, the 30-year-old also claimed the Xfinity Dash 4 Cash $100,000 bonus for the first time in his career. This marked the ninth time that a Richard Childress Racing driver has earned the cash prize since the program started in 2009.

Double Duty… This weekend at Darlington Raceway, Hill will climb aboard the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet to make the first of five NASCAR Cup Series starts in the 2025 season.

About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies provides industry-leading logistics solutions that help businesses thrive. Whether you need specialized trucking, warehousing, 3PL, exporting, importing, or crane services, Bennett has the expertise to handle your most complex and time-sensitive freight. From LTL to over-dimensional truckloads, Bennett ensures safe, reliable, and on-time deliveries around the world. With a legacy of excellence since 1974, their family and woman-owned company is dedicated to providing personalized, flexible solutions that meet your unique business needs. Trust Bennett to deliver when it matters most – discover how we can help your business grow at www.bennettig.com. Together we can move anything.

Warehousing and Distribution… Bennett Distribution Services, LLC, a division of Bennett Family of Companies, provides warehousing and distribution services that are tailored to meet any business’s dynamic supply chain needs. With a strategic footprint in Augusta, Georgia, Bennett offers responsive and scalable solutions for streamlined delivery throughout the United States. Bennett’s focus on consistent operational improvement provides a wide range of logistics services to meet specific requirements.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What does it mean to you personally to win RCR’s 100th Xfinity Series victory?

“After our Atlanta win earlier this year, one of the first things that was said in the shop on Monday was ‘Alright, that’s win number 99. The next one is going to be 100 and it will be a big deal.’ Between the No. 2 and No. 21 teams, we had a nice little battle going on with who was going to get the 100th win. No matter which one of us got it, we were going to be happy for our entire organization to bring Richard and everyone at RCR, ECR, and CT Springs the win. It’s a huge milestone that I don’t take lightly. It’s something that I get to cherish for the rest of my career.”

What is the outlook for Darlington Raceway?

“Darlington is a place where you have to stay up front all day. If you lose track position, your day becomes much harder in an already short race. If your car is really good, you can drive back to the front. But in the process, you will hurt your tires and can’t save your right front and right rear. The first step for our No. 21 team is to have a good qualifying effort, ideally somewhere inside the top-10, and then be inside the top-five at the start of the third stage. If we can leave a set of tires for the end, it could help too because that track surface is rough. Chad (Haney, crew chief) is going to manage all that from the top of the box, and I’ll do my deal inside the car. If we bring a solid top-five Bennett Chevrolet, we will have a shot at the win.”

Darlington Raceway
Sunday, April 6, 2025
1.366-Mile Oval
3 PM ET
Location: Darlington, South Carolina
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (8 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
 Age: 32 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Week: 5th (Martinsville)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 2nd

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

2025	Cup Career	Darlington
Races	7	373	14
Wins	1	30	1
Poles	0	21	0
Top 5	4	123	7
Top 10	5	187	9
Laps Led	92	9,348	1,048
Stage Wins	2	64	6
Average Finish	10.4	14.0	10.8

• Kyle Larson led 55 laps en route to victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in 2023.
• Larson has won three of the last four stages at the egg-shaped South Carolina track.
• The driver of the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet has led 392 laps at Darlington in the Next Gen car, most of all drivers.
• The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion has 64 career stage wins, two behind Martin Truex Jr. for most all-time.
• Larson’s average finish of 10.4, average start of 9.6 and average running position of 9.64 are best among drivers that have started all seven races this season.
• Larson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman are tied for the most top-10 finishes this year with five.
• The Elk Grove, California, native has finished on the lead lap in the last 16 races, his longest such streak.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
 Age: 29 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last week: 4th (Martinsville)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 3rd

No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet

2025	Cup Career	Darlington
Races	7	329	16
Wins	0	19	0
Poles	0	12	0
Top 5	2	106	4
Top 10	4	175	7
Laps Led	44	5,570	151
Stage Wins	0	38	0
Average Finish	11.6	12.9	16.3

• Chase Elliott qualified second last weekend at Martinsville Speedway, leading 42 laps in the early going, collecting 12 stage points and finishing fourth.
• Dating back to last season, Elliott has finished on the lead lap in 10 consecutive races, the third-best active streak in the NASCAR Cup Series. He’s one of four drivers to finish on the lead lap in all seven events this season. His average running position of 12.62 is currently seventh best.
• Elliott has finished in the top 12 in his last four Cup Series events at Darlington Raceway.
• This weekend, Elliott will take on double duty at Darlington, getting behind the wheel of the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday in addition to driving the No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet in Sunday’s Cup event.
• Elliott has four Xfinity starts on the track “Too Tough to Tame.” He won in his first start there in 2014 while driving for JR Motorsports and most recently finished fourth last fall in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 entry.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 27 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Week: 22nd (Martinsville)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 1st

No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet

2025	Cup Career	Darlington
Races	7	259	13
Wins	1	14	1
Poles	1	14	1
Top 5	3	57	4
Top 10	4	108	6
Laps Led	111	3,089	88
Stage Wins	1	24	2
Average Finish	10.6	15.1	16.0

• So far in 2025, William Byron has an average running position of 9.7 and an average finish of 10.6, both second best in the NASCAR Cup Series. He also has collected 70 stage points this season, second most.
• In addition, Byron leads all drivers with 735 laps in the top five. His 1,112 laps in the top 10 are third best.
• Byron has one Cup Series win in 13 starts at Darlington (May, 2023) with four top-five finishes and six top 10s.
• During the Next Gen era, the 27-year-old driver has spent 1,195 laps in the top five and 1,697 laps in the top 10 at the 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval, both tops in the series. He also has an average finish of 10.33, best of all drivers.
• This weekend, Byron will sport a No. 24 Axalta throwback paint scheme that pays tribute to Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon and his “final ride” paint scheme that he ran at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2015. This throwback celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Gordon’s last race as a full-time driver.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
 Age: 31 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Week: 27th (Martinsville)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: t-4th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

2025	Cup Career	Darlington
Races	7	331	14
Wins	0	8	0
Poles	1	6	0
Top 5	1	41	1
Top 10	5	101	4
Laps Led	68	1,430	42
Stage Wins	0	7	0
Average Finish	12.0	19.2	18.7

• Alex Bowman is currently tied for fourth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings heading into Sunday’s race at Darlington Raceway, 35 points behind leader and teammate William Byron.
• In honor of Hendrick Motorsports’ 200th victory, Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet will don Jimmie Johnson’s black and white paint scheme from the 2012 Southern 500.
• Over 14 starts at Darlington, Bowman has one top five and four top 10s. His best result was a second-place run in 2020.
• For the Best Friends Animal Society programming, Ally and Bowman will partner with Dorchester Paws in Summerville, South Carolina, as their selected shelter for this weekend at Darlington.
• Ally and HendrickCars.com are teaming up again to give fans the chance to win prizes with this year’s “Open Road Sweepstakes.” Fans can win VIP experiences at various races throughout the season and one lucky winner will hit the open road in a Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss with an Airstream camper. To enter, fans can stop by the Ally Fan Zone and check out the camper. To enter online, visit ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar. 

Hendrick Motorsports

2025	All-Time	Darlington
Races	7	1,388	68
Wins	2	314*	16*
Poles	2*	255*	8*
Top 5	10*	1,289*	57*
Top 10	18*	2,205*	95*
Laps Led	315	82,627*	4,016*
Stage Wins	3	118	9

 
*Most all time
**Tied for most all time

• Hendrick Motorsports is the all-time leader in NASCAR Cup Series wins (16), poles (eight), top-five finishes (57), top-10 finishes (95) and laps led (4,016) at Darlington Raceway.
• After last week’s race at Martinsville Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports drivers fill the top three spots in the points standings with William Byron leading, Kyle Larson second and Chase Elliott in third. Alex Bowman is tied for fourth.
• Thus far in 2025, Hendrick Motorsports has had at least one of its Chevrolets running in the top 10 in 96% of the laps run. The organization’s four drivers have spent a combined 4,013 laps in the top 10 through seven races, more than any other team.
• Hendrick Motorsports’ 18 top-10 finishes are the most by any company ever through a season’s first seven races.
• In each of the last 11 races at Darlington, Hendrick Motorsports has had at least one car finish in the top 10, the longest active streak.

QUOTABLE /
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on his No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM throwback paint scheme for Darlington Raceway: “I always look forward to this race, and we’ve been able to do some cool throwbacks the last two years honoring Terry Labonte and past No. 5 paint schemes. This year we’re throwing it back to Terry’s last win in 2003 which occurred at Darlington (Raceway). It was great catching up with him last week when we unveiled this car. A shoutout to HENDRICKCARS.COM – they did an amazing job with this scheme.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on Darlington Raceway: “To me, Darlington really kind of defines what you would think NASCAR is and should be in my eyes. I think from a driver’s perspective, it’s so difficult. It’s just such a tough place to navigate and drive, particularly for the fall race, being another 100 miles. I’ve always enjoyed going there. I hope one day, it enjoys having me more than it has … hopefully we can make a good gain (this) weekend. We’ve put a lot of work into it already.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on Darlington Raceway and the season thus far: “I’m excited to get to Darlington this weekend. I’m actually excited about the next few tracks. They’re usually pretty good ones for us. We’ve had a great start to the season, even though last weekend was tough, it happens. I’m not worried and know we’ll rebound.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on Darlington Raceway: “Darlington is a really difficult track and always a challenge. We were really good there back in 2020 and finished second but besides that we haven’t had much luck. Hopefully we can turn that luck around and have a good finish this weekend.”

Leonard Wood has often mentioned that the notoriety and attention given to the Wood Brothers following their work on pit road for Team Lotus in the 1965 Indianapolis 500 far exceeded any other accomplishment, given the amount of time and effort required. Jim Clark, who drove a Ford-powered Lotus pitted by the Wood Brothers to victory in the sport’s premier race, spent just 41.9 seconds on pit road for the entire 500-mile run.

In a interview, Leonard said, “We were recognized and respected, not just from a NASCAR audience, but an audience around the world after we pitted that car. For no more than a day’s work, a handful of seconds, we left there knowing we had accomplished something big. Something that would have meaning.”

That winning effort will be recognized once again as Josh Berry’s No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Dark Horse will carry a paint scheme based on Clark’s winning Lotus in this weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. It’s fitting that the recognition will come at Darlington. It was there that Ford racing executive John Cowley first approached team owner Glenn Wood about pairing his crew, which at that point had no open-wheel-racing experience, with Clark and the Ford/Lotus team. Wood accepted, and the rest as they say, is history.

Since he joined the Wood Brothers, Berry has heard first-hand accounts from that winning effort at Indy.

“It was really cool to hear the stories from Leonard about how much it meant to him,” Berry told reporters at Martinsville. “You think somebody that’s been in NASCAR for 75 years and accomplished all of these amazing things, for him to say that moment was one of the most memorable that he’s had in his entire life really puts into perspective how big of a moment it was.

“There was a lot of ingenuity that the Wood Brothers brought to that team to speed up the pit stops, and Len and Eddie, they’ve got all of that down to the seconds that they saved. They know the story way better than me, but it’s really just a cool deal. It was Ford’s first win in the Indy 500, so there were a lot of cool moments. We’re excited for it.”

Based on Berry’s performance this year – and his runs at Darlington before he joined the Woods – Berry and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are hoping they can give the throwback-themed Mustang a run it deserves.

“Darlington is always a tough one,” Berry said. “If you have a good car, you look like a hero. If you have a bad car, you don’t. It’s that kind of thing. Last year, I had two really good cars there and ran really well. We didn’t get the finish we wanted in the Southern 500 with an accident there at the end, but I feel good about it. We ran third in the spring. If we can translate some of what I learned last year and apply it to the 21 car, hopefully we can have a good day.”

Practice for the Goodyear 400 is set for Saturday at 12:35 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 1:40. Amazon Prime will carry the TV coverage. Sunday’s 400.2-mile, 293-lap race is set to get the green flag just after 3 p.m., with TV coverage on FS1. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 90 and 185.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.

About Ford Performance
Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.

Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Beef-a-Roo Ford Team
Darlington Raceway Competition Notes
Goodyear 400

Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Event: Race 9 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Darlington Raceway (1.3-miles)
#of Laps: 293
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

It’s throwback weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series as Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team head to the Darlington Raceway for a 293-lap shootout at the historic track.

“I’m grateful to Beef-a-Roo for letting me run this cool throwback and pay tribute to both Dale Jr. and Kelley,” said Gragson. “The design comes from Dale Jr.’s 1996 Busch Grand National debut at Myrtle Beach and the Mom ‘N’ Pop’s scheme pairs perfectly with Beef-a-Roo’s original 1967 logo. Dale and Kelley gave me my first full-time Xfinity ride at JR Motorsports in 2019, and I owe a lot of my growth as a driver to them.” Gragson drove for JRM for four seasons, earning 13 wins, 60 top-five, and 93 top-10 finishes before moving up to the Cup Series.

Beef-a-Roo is excited for Gragson to showcase Buckaroo on this week’s throwback car at Darlington as they launch Kids Eat Free Sundays on April 6, 2025—where kids 12 & under receive a free Buckaroo Meal with the purchase of an adult combo meal at regular price (Sundays only).

In his three NASCAR Cup Series starts at the 1.3-mile South Carolina track, Gragson has a career best finish of 14th, earning that finish with Drew Blickensderfer and the No. 10 Stewart-Haas team in 2024’s throwback weekend. Gragson’s history at the Darlington Raceway is strong, having only one finish outside the top-10 in his eight starts at the track, finishing 15th in the 2024 August race. In total, Gragson has two wins, five top-five, and seven top-10 finishes in the feeder series at the track.

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Joey Forgette
Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman
Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett
Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger
Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw
Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller
Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Nick Del Campo
Hometown: Blauvelt, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Nate “Cookie” Eller
Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher
Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Will Cooper
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama

Jackman: Nate McBride
Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez
Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT BEEF-A-ROO

Beef-a-Roo is a fast casual restaurant chain known for fresh, made-to-order American faire such as juicy burgers, famous cheddar fries, slow-roasted beef sandwiches, and a variety of hand-made milkshake flavors. Founded in 1967, Beef-a-Roo has 58 years of famously delicious flavor and success. The legacy began in Rockford, Illinois, with 7 locations and has grown to 18 company-owned restaurants and three franchise locations spanning eight states. For a complete menu and to find the location nearest to you please visit: https://beefaroo.com/. Follow Beef-a-Roo on social media: Instagram at @beefaroousa and Facebook at facebook.com/beefaroousa.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Darlington Raceway
April 5-6, 2025

The celebration of Darlington Raceway’s 75th anniversary season will get underway this weekend with the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series partaking in the sport’s annual ‘Throwback Weekend’.

The 1.366-mile oval famously known as ‘The Lady in Black’ will play host to NASCAR for two events yet again this season, with NASCAR’s premier series and the Craftsman Truck Series returning to the venue in August to begin their respective playoffs. Part one of the doubleheader weekend will see the Xfinity Series hit the track in Saturday’s Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200, with the series’ reigning champion, Justin Allgaier, returning as the defending winner of the track’s spring event. The Cup Series will take its turn in tackling the track ‘Too Tough to Tame’ on Sunday with the Goodyear 400, with the Bowtie brand looking to add to its already leading legacy at the historic venue.

Leading at ‘The Lady in Black’

Chevrolet is the all-wins leader in both of NASCAR’s top two divisions at Darlington Raceway, heading into the weekend with 44 Cup Series wins and 23 Xfinity Series wins at the track.

Chevrolet’s first trip to victory lane at Darlington Raceway came in the 1955 Southern 500 with Hall of Famer Herb Thomas – the sixth running of the sport’s crown jewel event. Fast forward to 2025, the 1.366-mile South Carolina oval has since hosted 127 events for NASCAR’s top division. Throughout NASCAR’s tenure at the ‘Track to Tough to Tame’, the longest win streak by a single manufacturer has been four-straight, which is a feat that Chevrolet has been able to accomplish on four separate occasions (Apr. 1979 – Sept. 1980; Apr. 1986 – Sept. 1987; Sept. 1989 – Apr. 1991; Mar. 1995 – Sept. 1996). The Bowtie brand owns half of the wins in the Next Gen era at the track, including two Southern 500 victories (Erik Jones – Sept. 2022; Kyle Larson – Sept. 2023) and the 2023 spring event with William Byron.

For the past four Xfinity Series seasons, Chevrolet has been a frequent visitor to victory lane at Darlington Raceway, with the manufacturer tallying the triumph in five of the series’ past seven races at the track. Among those feats includes an active streak of four-straight wins in the track’s spring event including Justin Allgaier’s three career Darlington wins (2021, 2022, 2024), as well as Kyle Larson’s win with Kaulig Racing in May 2023. Only four active past Darlington winners are entered for Saturday’s 200-mile race, including Allgaier and a special appearance by the 2020 Cup Series Champion, Chase Elliott.

 DARLINGTON DOUBLE

There will be four drivers that will do the ‘Darlington Double’ this weekend, three of which come from the Chevrolet camp.

The Xfinity Series’ most recent winner, Austin Hill, will make his first of five starts in NASCAR’s top division this weekend – getting behind the wheel of a third entry for Richard Childress Racing. The 30-year-old Georgia native will have a familiar voice calling the shots from atop the pit box with the driver being reunited with Andy Street, who led Hill’s Xfinity Series team for the past three seasons. This weekend will mark Hill’s 11th career Cup Series start, with his best finish of 14th coming at Daytona International Speedway in Aug. 2023.

Team Chevy’s Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain are among the three Cup Series regulars that will face the Xfinity Series in Saturday’s event. Elliott will take his turn behind the wheel of the No. 17 Chevrolet for his lone appearance in Hendrick Motorsports’ part-time Xfinity Series entry this season. The 29-year-old Georgia native made his last Xfinity Series appearance at Darlington Raceway in Aug. 2024, where he earned a fourth-place finish. Elliott made a name for himself in the Xfinity Series early in his career when he became the first rookie to win a championship title in the NASCAR national ranks (2014). Elliott is a six-time winner in the series, one of which came in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway last season. Chastain will climb back into the driver’s seat of a fifth entry for JR Motorsports this weekend – marking his second of five starts with the No. 9 Chevrolet team. The 32-year-old Florida native already has one start until his belt with the team – earning an eighth-place finish at Circuit of The Americas. Chastain has one NASCAR national series win to his name at Darlington Raceway, which came in the Truck Series’ most recent appearance at the track in May 2024.

 SUPERIOR IN THE STANDINGS

With seven points-paying races complete, the Hendrick Motorsports quartet continues to be a dominating force in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. Despite an early pit road issue providing an uphill battle for the No. 24 team, William Byron was still able to maintain the points lead for the sixth-consecutive week. The 27-year-old North Carolina native heads to Darlington Raceway with a 16-point lead over second-place Kyle Larson and a 32-point lead over third-place Chase Elliott, who each drove their Chevrolet-powered machines to top-five results at Martinsville Speedway last weekend. Sitting just behind his teammates is Alex Bowman, who ties competitor Christopher Bell in the fourth position of the standings. Consistency has been key for Bowman and the No. 48 team this season, with the 31-year-old Arizona native being one of just two drivers who have earned a series-best five top-10 results thus far this year.

RCR HITS A MILESTONE

Austin Hill may have led only one lap in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway, but it was the one that mattered most. Taking the green-white-checkered from the seventh position, Hill was able to survive the closing lap mayhem to become the series’ second repeat winner of the 2025 season and ultimately deliver Richard Childress Racing its milestone 100th all-time Xfinity Series victory. Kevin Harvick carried the Chevrolet organization to its first Xfinity Series victory at World Wide Technology Raceway in Jul. 2000. Over the next 25 years, 20 different drivers have tallied triumphs to lead the organization to this milestone feat – all of which have been done in partnership with Chevrolet. The organization’s winningest Xfinity Series driver is Harvick, who earned 35 of his 47 career Xfinity Series victories behind the wheel of a Richard Childress Racing entry. Of the 20 different drivers who have scored a Xfinity Series victory with Richard Childress Racing, Hill is the only other driver with a double-digit win count – earning all 12 of his Xfinity Series wins in the No. 21 Chevrolet.

 CONTINUING TO COMMAND

Chevrolet continues to have a commanding start to the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Austin Hill’s victory at Martinsville Speedway last weekend marked the Bowtie brand’s third consecutive trip to victory lane in the series, and the manufacturer’s overall sixth win in seven races thus far this season. The 30-year-old Georgia native is just the series’ second repeat winner of 2025, with fellow Chevrolet driver and the series’ reigning champion, Justin Allgaier, being the first driver to accomplish the feat at Homestead-Miami Speedway the prior weekend. The Bowtie brand is the only manufacturer with drivers already locked into the series’ playoffs by virtue of a win, with youngsters Jesse Love and Connor Zilisch also earning one win a piece.

Chevrolet swept the weekend across all major statistical categories at Martinsville Speedway, with Zilisch driving his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to the pole win and a sweep of the stages – giving the Bowtie brand its fifth pole in seven races and now 12 wins in 14 stages. Chevrolet has accounted for at least half of the top-10 finishing positions in all but one race this season, including a season-best seven top-10 results on two different occasions (Atlanta Motor Speedway – earned by six different Chevrolet organizations; Homestead-Miami Speedway – earned by five different Chevrolet organizations).

HEMRIC CLOCKS IN

It hasn’t taken Daniel Hemric long to settle into his new home at McAnally Hilgemann Racing. In just the fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck race of 2025 at Martinsville Speedway, Hemric drove his No. 19 Chevrolet to the victory to deliver the Bowtie brand its series-leading third win of the season. The 34-year-old North Carolina native is just the series’ second full-time competitor to earn an early ticket into the 2025 playoffs, joining Toyota’s Corey Heim. The series will remain idle this weekend before reuniting with the Cup and Xfinity Series for a tripleheader weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway on Apr. 11-13.

Chevrolet’s season statistics with seven NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 2

Poles: 3

Laps Led: 472

Top-Fives: 15

Top-10s: 32

Stage Wins: 3

Chevrolet’s season statistics with seven NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:

Wins: 6

Poles: 5

Laps Led: 944

Top-Fives: 22

Top-10s: 42

Stage Wins: 12

Chevrolet’s season statistics with five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:

Wins: 3

Poles: 2

Laps Led: 292

Top-Fives: 11

Top-10s: 21

Stage Wins: 3

BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Darlington Raceway:

Kyle Larson – one win (2023 Southern 500)
William Byron – one win (May 2023)
Kyle Busch – one win (2008 Southern 500)

• In 127 NASCAR Cup Series races at Darlington Raceway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 44 victories. In six events in the series’ Next Gen era, Chevrolet has earned three victories – recorded in consecutive events by Erik Jones (Sept. 2022), William Byron (May 2023) and Kyle Larson (Sept. 2023).
• Chevrolet is the only manufacturer to accomplish a tripleheader sweep across all three NASCAR national divisions this season – earned at Homestead-Miami Speedway courtesy of victories by Kyle Larson (Cup and Truck Series) and Justin Allgaier (Xfinity Series).
• In 115 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 54 victories – a winning percentage of 47%.
• With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 868 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series
Goodyear 400
Sunday, April 6, at 3 p.m. ET
(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series
Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200
Saturday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. ET
(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Do you reflect on all of the sweat equity that you’ve put in to get to where you are today?

“My dad (Ralph) sent me photos recently of us at Martinsville with the 15 Cup car where it was just me, dad and Pat Tryson (crew chief) standing around the car at pre-race. It was a small group and no one was paying attention. We had all kinds of issues with brakes and things like that. We were talking about how dad went over with Pat after practice at Martinsville and Stewart-Haas took off their brakes after practice and were bolting on their race brakes. We got rotors off of one of their cars and put them on our car for the race. That was in the Cup Series just a few years ago, 2018, I think. It’s wild, I had forgotten about that. To run used brake rotors is just not something you do. We don’t change them anymore with Gen 7 but back then you needed new rotors to start the race. I had to take care of mine because I was already using used ones.”

How do you get yourself in the right mindset at Darlington to race how you need to race and not get caught up in the mid-race shenanigans and actually make it to the end?

“It’ll start with the Xfinity car. I’ll get on track with that first and get reacclimated with the track and then getting up to speed in the Cup car will be next. Just making it through 400 miles there is the important part. It’s tough and it’s famous for a reason. Darlington is such a special track for me. I love it so much and it would be a big deal to me personally to get a Cup win there.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

“Darlington Raceway is one of my favorite tracks and I love racing there. It’s a racer’s track, and the history there is so special. It’s one of the hardest races to win. I have finished second there in the past, so we want to improve on that. The track gets slick and wears tires quite a bit. The key to Darlington Raceway is trying to race the track and not the competition. It would be nice to knock another Crown Jewel off. I’ve got two of them and another one would be pretty special to take the No. 3 Chevrolet to Victory Lane Sunday night.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

“Darlington is one of my favorite tracks. I’m excited to get there this weekend and continue to make gains with the No. 7 team. We’ve shown a lot of speed and I think that will show again this weekend.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What do you remember about your first race at Darlington, how long did it take before you got your first stripe?

“I’m trying to remember if I hit the wall in my first race there. I remember that it was in the No. 87 Chevrolet. I don’t think I hit the wall in my first race there. I finished second. I don’t know if I ever hit the wall, because I ran the bottom of three and four the whole time. That was my money maker, so I didn’t have to run the wall. I was fast without it. My next race there, though, I was in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and I knocked it down. We were getting really loose on the long runs and I was kind of backing it into the corner like a dirt car, putting the right rear tail light up against the fence and the right rear tail light grabbed and slapped the front over, you know, so, don’t do that. It’s not a cushion, and this isn’t dirt car.”

Is there a particular race at Darlington that stands out to you as more difficult than another?

“Not really. I would say they’re all pretty tough, you know, but I think the long ones, the 500-mile races. But no, I can’t think of one that comes to mind.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“Darlington is probably my favorite racetrack on the circuit. I just have always felt a good connection with that place, and I love racing around there – the history, driving down to Darlington is always a fun time for me, and I’ve had success there. I feel like it’ just one of those places that I’ve got a good natural feel for and I’m looking forward to doing it with this No. 10 team and Kaulig Racing.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“Darlington is a racetrack that has been a struggle for me in the past. I felt like over the last couple years, I’m definitely getting more confident there. I feel like our program this year has been strong on bigger racetracks so I’m looking forward to going there and fighting for 400 miles to get some momentum back. Overall, this is the most confident I have felt going to Darlington and I know we will show up there and have speed like we have all year.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

With such an old racetrack like Darlington, it can be difficult to navigate a long race there. How do you approach each race at Darlington given its difficulty?

“You have to approach Darlington the same way every time. It’s been the same since forever. This is a place where you have to race the racetrack and keep your car clean, specifically keep it out of the fence. There’s a lot of areas where you can make mistakes at this racetrack. It’s about just keeping your car under the limit and figuring out what is too far. That’s the way you have to race Darlington. It’s been the same ever since they built it. This track is a battle and it’s tough, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

What are your thoughts about going to Darlington?

“Darlington has been a good track for us. I really enjoy Darlington. It’s so tough; it is everything that we promote it to be as far as the level of difficulty, and you’re just right up against the limit, right up against the wall, and tires still fall off, even with this NextGen era. It’s one of those races where you earn your money, and the driver has a lot of value for taking care of the tires, long run, pace, and all those things. I enjoy Darlington; it’s also one of those races that I need to add to the Crown Jewel victories because I got the 500, and I got the Brickyard. The Southern 500 is the one you need, right? 
I know it’s not the Southern 500, but a Darlington win would be enough to cover it. If I can check the box, I would love to.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

You had a great run at Darlington last September. How does that translate to the Spring race?

“I would say the day race is probably more difficult. It’s a shorter race and you don’t have a drastic change in the track from day to night. You can’t bank on those extra laps or the track getting tighter and allowing you to get caught up on the handling. Everyone wants to win the Southern 500, but a win at Darlington in either scenario is really special. We’ve improved a lot as team since that last race at Darlington where we qualified well, and I think we have a good chance to show speed in practice, qualify decent and have another good points day.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Seven races into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, what is the biggest difference in running full-time in the Cup series compared to full-time in the Supercars series?

“Good question (laughs). It’s a massive difference racing every week, rather than every two or three weeks. It’s been good to build a relationship with a whole bunch of different people, the No. 88 guys, a lot of new people at Trackhouse, but just learning everyone and getting into a rhythm is probably the biggest thing. It still feels fresh but there is 30-something more weekends to go. It’s a long season, but I’m enjoying the new challenge.”

You’ve mentioned Darlington is one of your favorite tracks on the NASCAR circuit. What are you looking forward to most about racing there this weekend?

“Yes, it’s one of my favorite tracks that we race. Darlington is such a massive challenge and it’s a track everyone wants to win at. The history of the racetrack brings a different feel when we get there and get out on track. It’s pretty neat. I ran well there in the Xfinity car last season and struggled a bit in the Cup car, but excited to see what my WeatherTech team can accomplish this weekend.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Are you ready for Darlington?

“Yes, we have been preparing very well. Every NASCAR driver respects Darlington and it’s a place where you must do a good job if you want to run well. It’s always a really big challenge. It’s a tough track, you have to race the track as much as you race the rest of the field. Darlington isn’t just a mental challenge but a physical challenge as well. If you win there you know you have done something special. We spend a lot of time training for races like Sunday.”

First Outing for Quaker State in 2025:

“I have told the story several times but Quaker State is one of Mexico’s most popular racing sponsors. I watched Adrian Fernandez race the Quaker State car when he was in IndyCar in my hometown of Monterrey, Mexico. I dreamed of driving the Quaker State car. Last year we got to honor Adrian in Darlington and that might have been one of my all-time favorite paint schemes. Everyone recognizes Quaker State in Mexico and America. I feel very honored to drive the Quaker State Chevrolet. We also benefit from their technical alliance with Trackhouse Racing. They are great partners.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

“Darlington has been around forever and the Southern 500 is one of the bigger races in NASCAR, one of the crown jewels. I’m excited to get my first race there. We have such a cool throwback paint scheme on our WeatherTech Chevrolet to honor Buddy Baker’s Crisco car. It means a lot to bring some history back to this race and run a throwback car to honor a guy like Buddy Baker who has such a rich history in NASCAR. It’s going to be such a cool weekend. Darlington is tough but I’m excited to go there for the first time. I’ve run a few laps in the SIM. It’s one of the tougher tracks we go to. I just want to get through the day cleanly, try not to hit the wall too many times and hopefully keep all four tires up the whole race. JR Motorsports always has good cars at Darlington so we should have a good shot. Justin (Allgaier) won there last year so I’m confident we’re going to have a fast WeatherTech Chevrolet. It’s going to be about me figuring it out as quickly as possible. That’s going to be a tough one, but I’m excited to learn about Darlington.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 43

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Most recent: 2024

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, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

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, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

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

2025 STATISTICS:

Wins: 2

Poles: 3

Laps Led: 472

Top-Fives: 15

Top-10s: 32

Stage Wins: 3

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 868 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 756

Laps led to date: 253,183

Top-fives to date: 4,384

Top-10s to date: 9,039

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,202

       Chevrolet: 868

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 841                                                                             

       Ford: 741

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 193

 

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Zane Smith and the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford Team
Darlington Raceway Competition Notes
Goodyear 400

Date: Sunday, April 6, 2025
Event: Race 9 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Darlington Raceway (1.3-miles)
#of Laps: 293
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team head to the “Lady in Black”, the Darlington Raceway, for NASCAR’s annual throwback weekend. This year, Smith and the No. 38 team will bring a vintage look to the fan-favorite Long John Silver’s scheme.

Finishing 16th at the Martinsville Speedway, Smith sits 23rd in the NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championship points standings. Smith and the No. 38 team look to continue the momentum at the South Carolina track with a strong run to put themselves within the top-20 points positions. In the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Smith has racked up two top-10’s and four top-20 finishes. In the Cup Series, Smith has one top-25 finish, finishing 23rd in September of 2024.

“Darlington is a challenging track,” said Smith. “You have to lay down near perfect laps or your day can end quickly. We are chipping away at the points gap, and I think we can make a big swing at the top-20 this weekend.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris
Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme
Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey
Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Keiston France
Hometown: Amelia, Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum
Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Kapil Fletcher
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fueler: Chris Webb
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

AOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

Long John Silver’s was founded in 1969 and is on a mission to create treasured moments through high-quality food and bell-ringing service. With restaurants from sea to mouth-watering sea, Long John Silver’s continues building on a belief that the unique seafood experience from the coasts should be accessible to all. Learn more at ljsilvers.com or join the conversation via social media on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.