ANTHONY ALFREDO
Daytona Speedweek
Pole Qualifying | Duel | Daytona 500
No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet Camaro

Event Overview

Wednesday, Feb. 12: Daytona 500 qualifying (single-lap qualifying to determine pole for the Daytona 500)

● Time/TV/Radio: 8 p.m. ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Thursday, Feb. 13: The Duel at Daytona (twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500)

● Time/TV/Radio: 7 p.m. ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Sunday, Feb. 16: 67th annual Daytona 500 (first of 36 points-paying NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025)

● Time/TV/Radio: 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Let the Games Begin. Beard Motorsports kicks off its ninth year of NASCAR Cup Series competition when its No. 62 Chevrolet hits the high-banked, 2.5-mile Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway oval in hopes of locking in a starting spot for Sunday’s 67th running of the Daytona 500. The family-owned team based in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, has competed in 30 Cup Series events since debuting in 2017, including 13 apiece at Daytona and its sister track, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. This will be the team’s ninth attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 and if successful, will be its seventh start in the Great American Race. Best among its previous appearances in the Daytona 500 was its seventh-place finish at the hands of veteran driver Brendan Gaughan in 2020.

● Alfredo Returns. Back behind the wheel for his fourth event in the No. 62 Chevrolet will be Anthony Alfredo, the 25-year-old from Ridgefield, Connecticut. Alfredo’s debut with the team at last year’s Daytona 500 got off to an impressive start as the NASCAR NEXT alumnus laid down the fastest lap among the six “open” (non-chartered) teams in Wednesday-night’s single-car qualifying session, securing a spot on the Daytona 500 grid regardless of his finishing position during Thursday night’s twin Duel qualifying races. From his 39th starting position, Alfredo drove to a 27th-place finish in the Daytona 500.

●Following It Up in Style. In his very next outing in the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet in the April race at Talladega, Alfredo posted the team’s best-ever finish of sixth at the 2.66-mile superspeedway. It was also his best Cup Series finish in 41 career starts. He concluded last year’s three-race Beard Motorsports run with a 24th-place finish in the October race at Talladega. He’ll be attempting to qualify for his 42nd career Cup Series race this week, the previous 41 including the full 2021 season driving for Front Row Motorsports. He’s made 118 career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, including fulltime seasons in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with five top-fives and 22 top-10s. Alfredo’s NASCAR career began with a 13-race Craftsman Truck Series campaign in 2019.

● Building On a Budding Relationship. Adorning the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet for the second race in a row is Fortify Building Solutions. The brand, which made its first appearance with the team at Talladega last October, is part of Cornerstone Building Brands and offers North America’s most extensive selection of high-quality metal roofing, wall panels, and building solutions. Tailored for local builders, contractors, and homeowners, the brand’s 20-plus branches supply professionals and homeowners with hometown service and support, backed by a nationwide manufacturing and distribution network.

● Building on Daytona Momentum. When last seen on the Daytona oval for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in August, the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet recorded its second consecutive top-10 finish when 21-year-old Parker Retzlaff took the checkered flag seventh. It was the team’s fifth top-10 at Daytona, best of which was the fifth-place result by driver Noah Gragson in the 2022 Coke Zero Sugar 400. Gaughan drove the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet to seventh-place finishes in the 2017 Coke Zero 400 and the 2020 Daytona 500, and to an eighth-place finish in the 2020 Coke Zero Sugar 400.

● It’s All in the Family. The 2025 NASCAR season is Beard Motorsports’ ninth competing in the Cup Series. What started out as a passion project for the late Mark Beard Sr., has become a tribute to the family’s patriarch. Linda Beard, along with her children, Amie Beard-Deja and Mark Beard Jr., have remained committed to the vision laid out by Mark Beard Sr., and have done so with notable success. Today, the No. 62 NASCAR Cup Series team is just one of their family-owned entities. Beard Oil Distributing is the foundation of the Beard family-owned business portfolio and is recognized as a women-owned certified organization through the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

● A Peak Under the Hood. Since making their debut in the 2017 Daytona 500, the No. 62 Beard Motorsports team has been powered by an ECR-built engine and the team has leveraged the power of those engines to post solid finishes. During its eight seasons of racing, Beard Motorsports has participated in 30 Cup Series events, scoring two top-five finishes and seven top-10s.

Anthony Alfredo, Driver of the No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet Camaro:

“You’re back with Beard Motorsports for your second straight Daytona Speedweek and the fourth time overall. What have been your observations as to why the team has been able to consistently show speed at the superspeedways?

“Well, the impressive thing is they do take a lot of pride in the efforts they’ve put forth, and they should because it’s not easy to run a partial schedule, especially in NASCAR’s premier series. So to bring Chevrolets as fast as they bring to the track, which have a legitimate shot to win, is a huge testament to the efforts of everyone who’s part of the team. Obviously, Darren Shaw, the crew chief, is the only fulltime employee, but they get plenty of help on race weekend. And with Amie and Linda Beard carrying on Mark’s legacy with this race team that he started quite a few years ago, now, it’s important to them and they don’t want to just go to the track to show up and be a part of the race. They want to win the race, and that’s what has stood out to me. When I had the opportunity to drive for them last year, it wasn’t just to run a few Cup races and have fun and say I got to do it or was a part of the show, these are races that I feel like we can literally go and win. So that’s the expectation we have and the Daytona 500’s obviously a little unique in the sense that you have to qualify in because there’s usually more than a full field of cars there compared to a lot of the other tracks. And this year is a really stout group of open cars, so we’re going to have to be on our A game. If we’re as fast as we were last year, we shouldn’t have a problem timing in again and having a stress-free Thursday-night Duel.”

Do you feel working with the team at Daytona and its sister track Talladega thus far has had an impact on your racecraft when it comes to the superspeedways?

“I certainly think I’ve grown to like superspeedway racing because, especially driving for smaller teams, I’ve prioritized those races and always circled them on the calendar because it’s the best opportunity for us to not only run well and finish up front, but legitimately contend for a win. I’ve had a little bit of better luck at Talladega as far as actually finishing up front, but I feel like I’ve had equal shots to win at both places and certainly look forward to going back to Daytona. I’ve just run well at the superspeedways and I’ve learned a lot each year, and especially returning to Beard Motorsports now for a second year, there’s a lot of chemistry and things we’ve built up as a team that are going to allow us to perform at a high level and execute the way we need to.”

You locked the No. 62 Chevrolet into last year’s Daytona 500 by being one of the two fastest open teams in Wednesday night’s single-car qualifying session. Obviously, the goal is to do the same this year, but if not, talk about your mindset as you try to race your way into Sunday’s race by outrunning all of your fellow open entries in your respective Duel qualifying race Thursday.

“I think last year was a huge learning curve. It was my first time doing that and it was certainly very stressful and nerve wracking, but we had a really fast car and it gave me a lot of confidence going into the race itself. And this year, we do have a practice session before qualifying, so we’ll have a better gauge as to where we’re going to be, speed-wise, although I’m not sure if that’s better or worse. I think it’s good to get a baseline on your car and have an idea of where you’re going to be. But the challenging part of it is the fact that everybody else has the opportunity to make their cars faster, too, during that practice session. But I’m confident in the speed we’re going to have off the truck and I doubt we’re going to make many adjustments, and hopefully on Wednesday we just lock ourselves into the show on speed like we did last year. But if it comes down to a Duel, it’s the same thing as the race – it’s got to be well executed. It’s going to be more difficult than last year was because, instead of just racing one or two other guys in your Duel, it’s going to be four or five. I think it’s going to be a very exciting race, so our goal will be to execute well, get on and off pit road if there is a green-flag stop, and position ourselves well for the end of the Duel. One of them is always crazy, so hopefully we’re not in that one. But I’m confident in the speed we have, especially after last year, and I think if we return with that kind of pace, we should be able to lock into the show on Wednesday night.”

Even though you’re currently not a fulltime Cup Series competitor, can you go into The Duel and, ultimately the Daytona 500, with a plan of who you can draft with?

“Well, the good news is there are a lot of other Chevrolets on track, so it’s usually easy to link up with one of them. We don’t have any true teammates or housemates, being a single car team, but we’ve got ECR power under the hood, so I’ll be looking for those cars. I know they’ll be fast like us and hopefully we can work together to benefit each other. It’s difficult not being a fulltime guy because you want to be respectful of those who are fighting for a shot at the playoffs in their respective points positions. But, believe it or not, I feel like out of all the races we run, the Daytona 500 is the least stressful on that note, just because it’s the first race of the season. Obviously the further through the year you get, guys are in more difficult point situations and things can get complicated. But for us, I think we’ll be in a good position to kind of work with some fellow Chevrolets. And for me, I think a lot of people have kind of come to know me. I’m still a young driver, but I have quite a bit of experience, especially in the Xfinity Series, and the few races I did last year with Beard Motorsports, we showed that we were fast, that I was smart, that I could take a push or give a push, lead laps. We’ve run up front, finished up front, checked all the boxes that I think the competitors look for to be comfortable racing around you and even working with you. So I’m hoping that gives us the opportunity to be a part of other strategies and work with other cars so that we’re not that kind of lone wolf, and that’ll ultimately give us a better shot at winning the race because it really comes down to some teamwork and cars being paired up together.”

You’ve had strong runs in Xfinity Series competition at Daytona and Talladega in recent years, most notably your third-place finish at Talladega in April, which came the day before you finished sixth there in the Cup Series race in the Beard Chevrolet. How do the two types of cars compare when it comes to superspeedway racing?

“The NextGen car is a lot different than the Xfinity car. I’m one to drive from 20th to the lead in one lap in an Xfinity car on a superspeedway, but it’s a lot harder to do in the Cup car. I feel like I’m pretty smart at managing the draft and blocking lanes and generating runs and working my way forward. But the races with this NextGen car have become more of a track-position race, which is kind of weird to say on a superspeedway. There is not as much shuffling in the field as you used to see, so I think it’s definitely positioning yourself for that final, green-flag pit stop, getting through all of those stops cleanly, and finishing all the stages. In that final stage, you want to be in a good spot coming to that last green-flag stop and then ultimately having that track position for that final run to the checkered flag because usually that’s when things get chaotic, too. The best place to be then is at the front, so you’re ahead of it.”

Back for your second race in a row in the Beard Chevrolet is Fortify Building Solutions, which you helped introduce in October at Talladega. Talk about this budding partnership.

“Fortify Building Solutions is a new sponsor for us that we brought on at the end of last year. And it was really exciting because we were able to kind of get their feet wet in the sport at Talladega, and we had another fast Chevrolet and learned a lot that weekend and were able to build that into an opportunity this year to tackle the Daytona 500 together. I’m really looking forward to that because they’re a great brand, they’ve got really awesome people that come to the track to support us, and we’re hoping to build that longterm and do a lot more together, so this is really just the tip of the iceberg with them. But to have the opportunity to run the Daytona 500 again with Beard Motorsports is all thanks to Fortify Building Solutions coming on board.”

No. 62 Beard Motorsports Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Anthony Alfredo

Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Darren Shaw

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Car Chief: Travis Owens

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee

Spotter: Rick Carelli

Hometown: Arvada, Colorado

President: Linda Beard

Hometown: Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Caison Dillon

Hometown: Welcome, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Matthew Ketchie

Hometown: Mt. Ulla, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Evan Clay

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Jack Man: Garrett Crall

Hometown: Hicksville, Ohio

Fuel Man: Alan Heister

Hometown: North Carolina

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Jack Gagnon

Hometown: Quebec, Canada

Front End Mechanic: Mark Sanders

Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Tire Technician: Mike Harrold

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Engine Tuner: Jason Watkins

Hometown: Ridgeway, Virginia

Interior Specialist: Nic Hill

Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida

Engineer: Peter Ensor

Hometown: Westminster, Maryland

Transporter Driver: Roger Lankford

Hometown: Lexington, North Carolina

Ryan Preece eying breakthrough season amidst RFK’s expansion

CONCORD, NC (Feb. 11, 2025) — Full throttle, triple threat — Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing (RFK) heads to Daytona this week, for the first time since 2016, with three full-time teams. Wheeling the No. 60 Build Submarines.com Ford is Ryan Preece, who joins Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher in the RFK stable.

RFK Racing announced this fall it was expanding in 2025, intensifying its competitive drive. In just a matter of months, with the season’s most prestigious race looming, a new team was formed. Roster additions include Preece and six new crew members. Derrick Finley, who joined RFK as Director of Operations in 2022, leads the team into the season as Crew Chief. In a short period of time this group has built strong chemistry, as well as a full fleet of cars; eagerly anticipating Daytona.

Preece made his RFK debut in the Clash at Bowman Gray on Feb. 2, where he showcased his short track talents; qualifying for NASCAR’s pre-season all-star exhibition and posting an 11th- place finish. Preece lays claim to a decorated resume that includes 82 Modified Tour wins, along with victories in both the Craftsman Truck and Xfinity series. Now the Berlin, CT driver is determined to build on that resume as he relentlessly pursues Cup Series success.

“The goal is to win,” said Preece. “I didn’t move down here (to Charlotte), make these sacrifices, and put my family through what we’ve done, to come down here and just be part of the show. That’s not who I am as a racer.”

Finley, a seasoned leader brings over 20 years of experience, holding roles including Technical Director, Competition Director and Crew Chief. Recently, he led the No. 60 team in a part time effort – three races – in 2024 with David Ragan (Daytona), Cam Waters (Sonoma), and Joey Hand (Chicago). Finley, who holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Mexico, is undaunted by the challenge of leading this new team into the season.

“We have the infrastructure behind us. We have two teams that we can draw from,” said Finley, pointing to the success of RFK. The organization has posted six wins and three playoff appearances since 2022; the season Brad Keselowski became a team co-owner partnering with Hall of Fame owner Jack Roush and the Fenway Sports Group.

Keselowski vows his complete support to the 60-team and noting the addition is the natural next step for the organization.

“The goal is to become more competitive as an organization and this does that,” Keselowski said. “It gives us a chance to win more races and fiercely compete for the championship.”

Keselowski explains that adding a third team creates more financial efficiency, allows the organization to capture more data and elevates the team’s overall level of experience.

“Ryan and Derrick both bring a wealth of knowledge to the organization,” added Keselowski. “Ryan and Derrick have already brought fresh ideas to the organization and from that I’m confident we’ll make performance gains.”

Preece and Finley have gelled quickly, displaying immediate chemistry at Bowman Gray. Now the attention turns towards Daytona and the upcoming season.

“We have an RFK standard and that’s what we strive to achieve,” said Finley. “If we can do that will be fine.”

Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse and Trevor Bayne made up the most recent full-time RFK driver trio, when the organization fielded three cars in 2016. The team has fielded as many as five-full time Cup entries; at one point placing all-five in a 10-team NASCAR playoff.

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

The restaurant brand is putting a spotlight on its world-famous margarita with full-length music video, paint scheme and head turning firesuit

DALLAS – Feb. 11, 2025 – Chili’s® Grill & Bar is shifting into high gear for the 2025 NASCAR season with the launch of its new ‘Ride the Dente’™ campaign. The campaign is part of a multi-race partnership extension with Spire Motorsports, celebrating Chili’s freshly rebranded Presidente Margarita®, which will be showcased across Chili’s owned social channels and on FOX during the race in Daytona this week.

The Presidente, or ‘Dente’, has been a menu staple since 1994, featuring reposado tequila, brandy, orange liqueur and a head-turning presentation. Chili’s team members walk through the restaurant, shaking the margarita loudly by hand, before pouring it into a handblown, blue-rimmed glass reserved only for the Presidente. It’s served alongside a blue shaker, that now features a refreshed logo, giving guests the opportunity to pour seemingly endless margaritas.

But the ‘Dente isn’t just a deliciously flashy margarita; it’s the answer to any occasion. Night out with friends? Ride the ‘Dente. Hard day at the office? Ride the ‘Dente. Chili’s returning to Daytona? Ride the ‘Dente. This philosophy, along with the iconic blue shaker and all the non-stop fun it stands for, comes to life in Chili’s new ‘Ride the ‘Dente’ country song and music video.

Ride the ‘Dente Country Song and Music Video

The full-length country song and music video – featuring the Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevy – spotlights a charismatic race-car-driver-turned country star, taking viewers on a wild ride from the racetrack to a larger-than-life celebration at Chili’s. Fans can watch the video on Chili’s YouTube channel, social media, and during race broadcasts throughout the NASCAR season.

“Our partnership with Spire Motorsports started as a way to bring Chili’s to the track and connect with NASCAR fans over what we do best – serving up our famous Presidente Margaritas,” said George Felix, Chili’s Chief Marketing Officer. “This year, we’re cranking it up a notch. We wanted to take our relationship with NASCAR fans to the next level, and what better way than breaking into country music to tell the story of the ‘Dente? ‘Ride the ‘Dente’ will be the newest Chili’s earworm – and hopefully the new shorthand for grabbing a marg at Chili’s. And this is just the beginning of what we have planned this season.”

Spire Motorsport Partnership Renewal

Chili’s multi-race partner extension with Spire Motorsports kicks off with Daytona-winning racer Justin Haley and championship-winning crew chief Rodney Childers making their points racing debut together in the No. 7 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet ZL1 throughout Daytona Speedweeks. It culminates with the 67th annual Daytona 500 Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

“We are beyond grateful to have Chili’s on this journey with us again in 2025,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “We expect big things from Justin, Rodney and that whole No. 7 group this year, but we learn something every day from everyone at Chili’s and love how they push the envelope with their activations and promotions. The car looks great, the firesuits stand out and every time we’ve sat down at the table with Chili’s, they always come up with something new and creative. It’s inspiring and it’s obviously working when you see the growth that they’ve experienced. There is so much that our organization can learn from Chili’s, and I ask our team to match that energy every day.”

On the track, Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevy’s design ties western flourishes with a custom Ride the ‘Dente logo on the hood. Justin Haley will sport a showstopping firesuit featuring a personalized Texas-sized belt buckle detail, faux denim jeans and a western, button-down motif. A close look at the Chili’s pepper logos on the doors reveals the names of all 1,105 general managers at corporate-owned Chili’s restaurants – honoring the hardworking teams that bring the Chili’s experience to life every day.

“I’m pumped to have Chili’s back on board the No. 7, especially in the Daytona 500,” said Haley. “It’s one of my favorite tracks and the Daytona 500 is a race I’ve been looking forward to since my return to Spire. We had a lot of fun last year and I’m excited to see what we get into this year. There’s no better way for fans to gear up for the Great American Race than to pour a couple of ‘Dentes and settle in for 500 miles of chaos at Daytona. We’ll do our best to put the No. 7 Chevy up front and Ride the ‘Dente all the way to Victory Lane.”

Race fans in the Daytona area have a chance to meet Haley and fellow Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar and see the No. 7 Ride the ‘Dente Chevy at Chili’s Ormond Beach this Friday, Feb. 14 at noon. The drivers will be signing autographs, taking part in a Q&A session with Barstool Sports’ Rubbin’ is Racing podcast hosts Spider and Large, and shaking Presidente Margaritas of their own.

Chili’s will also hit the track on Saturday, Feb. 15 for the Chili’s ‘Ride the ‘Dente’ 200 at Daytona International Speedway, the season-opening event for the ARCA Menards Series. Marking Chili’s first as an official entitlement partner, the green flag drops at noon ET.

For Chili’s guests who aren’t in Daytona, the opportunity to Ride the ‘Dente always exists on the menu at their local Chili’s, including on one of Chili’s favorite days of the year, National Margarita Day. On Saturday, Feb. 22, guests can stop by their local Chili’s to enjoy the margarita that delights millions each year and Ride the ‘Dente themselves.

About Chili’s® Grill & Bar
Hi, welcome to Chili’s! We are a leader in the casual dining industry and the flagship brand of Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT). We are known for our Big Mouth Burgers ®, Chicken Crispers®, full-on sizzling fajitas, and hand-shaken margaritas. We take our food seriously – but not ourselves – because dining out should feel like a celebration even if there is nothing to celebrate. Our passion is making everyone feel special, and every day, our ChiliHeads make it their job to spread #ChilisLove across almost 1,600 restaurants in 27 countries and 2 territories. And Chili’s cares. We host local Give Back Events to support kids, education, and hunger and have raised more than $110 million benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through generous guest donations. Find more information about us at chilis.com, follow us on X or Instagram, like us on Facebook, or join us on TikTok.

About Spire Motorsports
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.