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RFK Advance | Daytona 500

By
Official Release
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Daytona 500 Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Feb. 16
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Format: 200 Laps, Stages: 65-65-70
TV: FOX
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Wednesday: 10:05 a.m. ET, Practice (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Wednesday: 8:15 p.m. ET, D500 Qualifying (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Thursday: 7 p.m. ET, Duels (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Friday: 5:35 p.m. ET, Practice (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 3:05 p.m. ET, Practice (FS2, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2:30 p.m. ET, Daytona 500 (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The 2025 NASCAR season officially kicks off this week at ‘The World Center of Racing’ for the 67th running of ‘The Great American Race.’
  • Jack Roush has 12 wins all-time at Daytona across NASCAR, including eight in the Cup Series.
  • Coverage from Daytona kicks off Wednesday with practice and single-car qualifying to determine the front row for the Daytona 500. The Duels Thursday night will determine the remaining starting lineup for Sunday’s 500-mile race.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: Kroger

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

60 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

RFK Historically in The Duels
Overall Wins: 3 (Matt Kenseth, 2012; Brad Keselowski, 2022; Chris Buescher, 2022)

  • Three years ago, in 2022, RFK went into Daytona and swept both duel races as Keselowski won the opening duel race, and Buescher followed up with a win in the second qualifying race.
  • Prior to 2022, Matt Kenseth had Jack Roush’s lone win in the Duels as he went on to win the 2012 Great American Race.
  • Keselowski earned a seventh-place finish in last year’s qualifying event, while Buescher took home 10th place. Preece, while racing for Stewart-Haas Racing, finished 13th.
  • Keselowski historically has 16 starts in the Duels with the one win and seven top-10s.
  • Buescher will be making his 10th start in the Duels on Thursday. He’s finished top-10 in the Duels in seven-straight outings and has finished inside the top-10 in all but one Duels race that he’s been in since 2016.
  • Preece has run in five Duels and has three top-10s, with a best finish of fifth back in 2021.

Keselowski at Daytona International Speedway
Starts: 31
Wins: 1 (July 2016)
Top-10s: 8
Poles: —

  • Keselowski makes his 32nd overall start at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway this weekend, and 16th start in the Daytona 500. In 15 D500 starts, Keselowski has two top-10s and a best finish of third (2014).
  • Most recently, Keselowski was caught up in a late-race crash in the 2024 rendition of the ‘Great American Race,’ and went on to finish 33rd. Last summer, Keselowski earned the most points of any driver in the field and led the charge with an eighth-place finish.
  • Overall, Keselowski has eight top-10s at DIS, four of which were inside the top five.
  • Overall Keselowski has 11 starts inside the top-10 at Daytona with four starts in third. Last season he started 16th in the 500.
  • Keselowski’s new crew chief, Jeremy Bullins, has two career wins at Daytona, including the most recent race in August 2024 as Harrison Burton’s crew chief. He also won the Daytona 500 in 2022 with Austin Cindric.
  • In Xfinity Series action, Keselowski made 15 starts at Daytona with seven top-10s and a best finish of second (twice – 2012, 2014). He also made three Truck Series starts with a seventh-place run in 2005.

Buescher at Daytona International Speedway
Starts: 18
Wins: 1 (August 2023)
Top-10s: 8
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 19th start at Daytona this weekend, and 10th in the ‘Great American Race.’
  • In 18 starts he has eight top-10s and five top fives. He won the 2023 race at Daytona as Keselowski pushed him to the win.
  • His best Daytona 500 finish came four years ago when he finished third. Last season, Buescher ran 18th in the 500.
  • Buescher has an 18.1 average qualifying effort, and started top-10 in three-straight races from 2022-23. He started 19th in last season’s 500.
  • He also made three Xfinity Series starts at DIS with a best finish of second in the 2015 season-opening event.

Preece at Daytona International Speedway
Starts: 10
Wins: 0
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

  • Preece makes his 11th overall start at DIS, and sixth in the Daytona 500. In 10 starts overall, he has three top-10 finishes.
  • His best Daytona 500 finish came in 2021 when he ran sixth in the No. 37 car for JTG-Daughtery Racing. In his last start in the D500, Preece finished 23rd.
  • In 2021, Preece finished in the top-10 in both Daytona races, one of two drivers to do so that season.

RFK Historically in the Daytona 500
Wins: 2 (Matt Kenseth, 2009 & 2012)

  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth was the first to drive a Jack Roush owned Ford into victory lane for the Daytona 500, earning the victory in 2009. He led just seven laps – the final seven – after starting from the 39th position en route to his first of two Daytona 500 victories over a span of four seasons.
  • Jack Roush has won two poles in the Daytona 500, one coming from Greg Biffle in 2004 and the other in 2012 with Carl Edwards. Biffle earned the 2004 pole after a speed of 188.387 and went on to finish 12th. Edwards had a pole speed of 194.738 and finished eighth in the 2012 Daytona 500.

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang Dark Horse Team Daytona 500 Competition Notes

By
Official Release
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Daytona 500

Date: Sunday, February 16, 2025
Event: Race 2 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-miles)
#of Laps: 200
Time/TV/Radio: 2:30 PM ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland will make his fourth Daytona 500 showing this weekend and first in the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Gilliland has proven himself as a superspeedway racer, leading laps in the Daytona Duels and other superspeedways, as well as qualifying on the front row in last year’s August race at the Daytona International Speedway.

The Daytona 500 will be Gilliland’s first race with the Love’s Travel Stops brand. Love’s Travel Stops has been a cornerstone partner of Front Row Motorsports (FRM), going into their 12th season with FRM. Additionally, Gilliland’s dad, David, carried the Love’s Travel Stops colors during his time at FRM.

Gilliland will team up with his former NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) crew chief, Chris Lawson, for the 2025 season. Lawson led Gilliland to his first win in the Front Row Motorsports No. 38 Ford F-150 at the Circuit of The Americas in 2021. Additionally, the duo earned back-to-back K&N Pro Series West Championships in 2016 and 2017.

“I’m looking forward to Daytona,” said Gilliland. “Speedweeks is a fun time; the fans, media day, and just the anticipation of the race really makes for a fun week. I have a new team this year, but a talented one at that. Front Row Motorsports showed a lot of speed on the superspeedways last season, and I know this group can continue that momentum into this season and get the win.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland
Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson
Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra
Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo
Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen
Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke
Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John
Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Co-Driver: Christian Boller
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Joe Haresky
Hometown: Victorville, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jordan Goodine
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Jackman: Courtney Edmonds
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance
Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with more than 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 640 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

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 @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

ZZ TOP FRONT MAN BILLY GIBBONS ANNOUNCED AS AMBETTER HEALTH 400 GRAND MARSHAL

By
Official Release
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HAMPTON, Ga. (Feb. 10, 2025) – Atlanta Motor Speedway announced today ZZ Top lead singer and guitarist Billy F Gibbons will be the grand marshal for the upcoming Ambetter Health 400.

As part of his grand marshal duties, Gibbons will say the most famous words in motorsports, compelling the starting field to life when he says, “Drivers, start your engines.”

“Time to roll…fast and faster!” Billy F Gibbons will growl as motors rev.

With his signature beard and African headgear, Billy F Gibbons is instantly recognizable and best known as the centerpiece of ZZ Top. His iconic vocals and riffs played a major role in the band’s ascent to becoming one of the country’s top rock bands with renowned tracks like “La Grange”, “Tush”, and later “Give Me All Your Loving” and “Sharp Dressed Man”. Over the course of more than five decades more than 50 million ZZ Top albums have been sold as well as a significant number of Billy F Gibbons solo albums. Billy and his ZZ Top bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, his friend and admirer.

His solo releases include the Afro-Cuban flavored “Perfectamundo”, the bluesy, “The Big Bad Blues”, and the hard rockin, “Hardware” all of which are underscored by what he refers to as the “Three T’s”: Tone, Taste and Tenacity. More recently he’s released “Livin’ It Up Down In Texas” as heard on the soundtrack to the hit series Land Man. It was written by Gibbons also with Billy Bob Thornton, the series star, and Nashville singer/composer and Land Man actor Mark Collie.

Gibbons will kick off the Ambetter Health 400, the main event of Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend. The weekend features races across all three of the sanctioning body’s national touring series, including the Fr8 Racing 208 and Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250.

Tickets and camping accommodations for the Feb. 21-23 Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR weekend are available at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

About the Ambetter Health 400 weekend:

Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, with intense, superspeedway pack racing that challenges NASCAR’s best and dazzles fans.

The race weekend also features the 11th year of Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. The thrills of the Fr8 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race and the Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day.

More information on the Feb. 21-23, 2025, Ambetter Health 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.

Follow Atlanta Motor Speedway:

Keep track of all of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s events by following on Twitter, Instagram, and become a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Atlanta Motor Speedway mobile app.

Chase Elliott to make 10th Daytona 500 start in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

A week after achieving an exhibition victory in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Chase Elliott enters the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season with early momentum that he strives to utilize to contend for a second series’ championship at this season’s conclusion. As Elliott prepares to officially commence his 10th campaign as a Cup competitor in this year’s 67th running of the Daytona 500, he will do so with a milestone start in place for the latter event. By competing in the 500, the driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) Chevrolet entry will make his 10th career start in the Great American Race.

A second-generation racer from Dawsonville, Georgia, Elliott rose to early prominence prior to his Daytona 500 debut in 2016 when he claimed the pole position for the event. By then, he had replaced four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon to pilot the No. 24 HMS Chevrolet entry as Gordon had retired from full-time competition following the 2015 season. By notching his first Cup career pole in his first qualifying session driving the No. 24 car, Elliott became the youngest pole winner for the Daytona 500 in history at 20 years of age. He also became the first rookie candidate to achieve the pole for the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway since Austin Dillon made the previous accomplishment in 2014.

Despite leading the first three laps during his first Daytona 500 from pole position, Elliott’s event went south on the 19th lap when he got sideways and made contact with Carl Edwards entering the frontstretch. As Elliott proceeded to spin towards the frontstretch, he plowed the No. 24 Chevrolet through the tri-oval grass and damaged the front splitter. The damage was enough to knock Elliott out of contention as he settled in 37th place, 40 laps down.

Amid an early exit during his first Daytona 500 campaign, Elliott responded back with vengeance in 2017 by capturing his second consecutive pole for the 59th running of the Great American Race. As a result, he became the first competitor to notch Daytona 500 poles in consecutive seasons since Ken Schrader made the previous accomplishment from 1988 to 1990. In addition, he delivered the third consecutive 500 pole for the No. 24 HMS team and for crew chief Alan Gustafson, the latter of whom became the first crew chief to achieve three consecutive Daytona 500 poles since Elliott’s uncle, Ernie, notched the previous feat from 1985 to 1987 with Elliott’s father, Bill.

Four days later, Elliott then won the first of two Daytona Duels after he led 25 laps and fended Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick and the field. As a result, Elliott, who achieved his first non-points victory in the Cup division, became the first competitor to win a Daytona 500 pole and a Daytona Duel event in the same season since his father, Bill, made the previous accomplishment in 1986, a year where the latter would proceed to win the main event. While trying to mirror his father’s accomplishment, Chase Elliott, who led 39 laps, was leading with three laps remaining when he ran out of fuel. As a result of both running out of fuel and losing the draft, he drifted back to 14th place in the final running order.

Compared to his first two Daytona 500 career starts, Elliott did not capture the pole position for the 60th running of the Great American Race in 2018. Nonetheless, he recorded a second consecutive Daytona Duel victory that enabled him to claim the fourth-starting spot for the main event. By then, he was sporting the No. 9 alongside his HMS Chevrolet entry. During the main event, however, Elliott, who led four laps, was racing in second place midway into the second stage period when contact from Brad Keselowski got the former sideways and hitting the Turn 3 outside wall head-on. The vicious accident strapped Elliott with a 33rd-place result in the final running order. The 2018 incident would mark the first of three consecutive Daytona 500 events where Elliott concluded the season-opening race with wrecked race cars despite finishing 17th during his latter two starts in 2019 and 2020.

After wrecking out in his previous three Daytona 500 starts, Elliott, who would claim his first Cup Series championship in 2020, notched a career-best runner-up result in the Great American Race during the 2021 season. His result occurred after he dodged a vicious final-lap multi-car wreck and was edged by Michael McDowell at the moment of caution. Since then, Elliott is coming off respective Daytona 500 results of 10th, 38th and 14th, the latter of which was made this past season.

Through nine previous starts in the Daytona 500, Elliott has achieved two poles, one top-five result, two top-10 results, 85 laps led and an average-finishing result of 20.2 as he continues his pursue for his first victory in the Great American Race. A victory by Elliott in 2025 would make him the 44th competitor overall to win the Great American Race and the first time a competitor named Elliott won the 500 since his father, Bill, made the last accomplishment in 1987. In addition, HMS would become the winningest team of the Daytona 500 at 10 and the Chevrolet nameplate would achieve its 27th 500 victory.

This week, Elliott, who finished in seventh place in the 2024 driver’s standings, will participate in a single-car qualifying session on Wednesday, February 12, and in one of two Duel events on Thursday, February 13, to determine his starting lineup for this year’s Daytona 500. The qualifying session on Wednesday will begin airing at 8:15 p.m. ET on FS1 while the Duels will begin airing at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

The 2025 Daytona 500 is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, February 16, with a starting broadcast time of 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Matt Crafton returns to ThorSport Racing for 25th Truck season in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Matt Crafton will campaign in his 25th consecutive season as a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor and continue to pilot the No. 88 Menards Ford F-150 entry for ThorSport Racing.

The news comes as the three-time champion from Tulare, California, is coming off his 24th consecutive Truck season, where he recorded a single top-five result, seven top-10 results, a single lap led and an average-finishing result of 16.1. After missing the Playoffs for the first time in his career, he finished in 14th place in the final driver’s standings.

Crafton, who grew up competing in go-karts before he worked his way up to compete in the Featherlite Southwest Series, made his Truck Series debut during the 2000 finale at Auto Club Speedway, where he drove the No. 88 entry for SealMaster Racing, ThorSport Racing’s former name, to a ninth-place result. Since the start of the 2001 season, he has campaigned as a full-time competitor in the series. Aside from competing at Kevin Harvick Inc. in 2004, he has competed at ThorSport Racing through 24 seasons and has piloted the No. 88 entry in all but one of his starts with the latter organization.

Through 567 consecutive starts as a Truck Series competitor, Crafton has notched three championships, 15 race victories, 16 poles, 135 top-five results, 328 top-10 results, 2,716 laps led and an average-finishing result of 11.6.

At 567 consecutive starts, Crafton has the most starts overall and the most consecutive starts in the Truck circuit to date. With three championships, he is tied with Jack Sprague for the second-most titles in the series. With 15 victories, Crafton is also ranked in 10th place on the series’ all-time wins list, with his latest race victory occurring at Kansas Speedway in July 2020.

Currently, Crafton holds the record for the most Playoff appearances in the Truck Series at eight (2016-23) and has finished in the top-10 mark in the final driver’s standings 19 times. To date, he is also the only competitor to notch back-to-back Truck titles between 2013 and 2014 and the only competitor to claim a title amid a winless season in 2019.

A key component that is new for Crafton entering the 2025 season is his crew chief as Josh Hankish will work atop the No. 88 pit box to guide the three-time series champion for his 25th consecutive campaign. Hankish made his debut as a Truck Series crew chief this past season, where he worked for ThorSport’s No. 66 Ford team that competed in 19 events and was split between Luke Fenhaus, Conner Jones, Johnny Sauter and Cam Waters. Jeriod Prince, who was Crafton’s crew chief in 2024, has been assigned to ThorSport’s No. 13 Ford team that will be piloted by Jake Garcia for a second consecutive season.

With his plans for the upcoming season set, Matt Crafton’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season is scheduled to commence next Friday, February 14, at Daytona International Speedway for the Fresh From Florida 250. The event’s broadcast time is slated to commence at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Rush Truck Centers Ford Mustang Dark Horse Team Daytona 500 Competition Notes

By
Official Release
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Daytona 500

Date: Sunday, February 16, 2025
Event: Race 2 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-miles)
#of Laps: 200
Time/TV/Radio: 2:30 PM ET on FOX/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

  • This year’s Daytona 500 will be Gragson’s fourth overall and first with Front Row Motorsports (FRM). In the “Great American Race”, Gragson has a career best finish of 9th, earning the finish in 2024 with Stewart-Haas Racing and crew chief Drew Blickensderfer.
  • Gragson is no stranger to success at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, averaging a 15.3 finishing position in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and even capturing the checkered flag in 2020 with JR Motorsports.
  • Rush Truck Centers will join Gragson and the No. 4 team for the prestigious event. Joining Gragson at FRM, the 2025 season will mark Rush Truck Center’s 16th year of NASCAR partnership. “Rush Truck Centers is proud to continue our active involvement in NASCAR with this move to FRM as the primary sponsor of Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team,” said W.M. “Rusty” Rush, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Rush Enterprises. “We’ve been involved in racing since 2010 and have a passion for winning – in business and on the track. We see that same passion in Noah and the entire FRM team, so we are excited to be part of the storied history of the No. 4 car as we begin this new chapter in our NASCAR story,” Rush continued. Rush Truck Centers is the official truck dealer and service center for Noah Gragson and Front Row Motorsports.
  • Cummins joins Rush Truck Centers this weekend at Daytona. Cummins Inc., a global power solutions leader, is comprised of five business segments – Components, Engine, Distribution, Power Systems and Accelera by Cummins – supported by our global manufacturing and extensive service and support network, skilled workforce and vast technological expertise. From buses that transport kids to and from school to the trucks that carry essentials, to construction, mining equipment, trains and ships, and critical backup power for places like data centers and hospitals, Cummins powers the future through innovations that make people’s lives better. Cummins is committed to its Destination Zero strategy – the company’s commitment to sustainability and helping its customers successfully navigate the energy transition with its broad portfolio of products. Learn more at cummins.com.

“I’m fired up to be back at Daytona,” said Gragson. “Finishing top 10 last year has our team motivated to push for an even better finish this season. The Clash showed us a few areas where we can improve, and as a team, we feel confident and ready to get the season started strong.”

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson
Hometown: Las Vegas

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 RUSH TRUCK CENTERS

More than a dealer network, Rush Truck Centers is the premier solutions provider for the commercial vehicle industry. With more than 150 Rush Truck Centers dealerships across the U.S. and Ontario, Canada, no one can match our network reach and scale. We provide our customers an integrated, one-stop approach to the service and sales of new and used trucks and commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts, service and collision repair capabilities, alternative fuel systems, vehicle technology solutions, and a range of financial services including financing, insurance, and leasing and rental options. Since 1965, we’ve earned our reputation for excellence, fairness, positive attitude and solutions that exceed customer expectations. That’s why we can say with confidence; when it comes to trucking, no one offers you more. Visit rushtruckcenters.com or follow us on social media: X @rushtruckcenters, Instagram @rush_truck_centers and facebook.com/rushtruckcenters

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 @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Set to Pace DAYTONA 500

By
Official Release
-

DETROIT – The 2025 Blazer EV SS – the quickest SS model Chevrolet has ever produced – will pace the 67th DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

The Blazer EV SS, set to go on sale later this quarter, is equipped with Wide Open Watts (WOW), which propels the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, and produces 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft torque. The pace car set for the DAYTONA 500 is a production vehicle with no performance upgrades and features custom graphics and embedded strobe lighting.

“Chevrolet has a long history with racing – it’s in our DNA – and the Blazer EV SS is a testament to that,” said Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet. “We’re excited for customers to watch the Blazer EV SS — the quickest SS we’ve ever produced — pace such an iconic race this weekend.”

The Blazer EV SS also features front Brembo brakes, a sport-tuned chassis, a best-in-class 17.7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen4, standard Super Cruise driver assistance technology and offers an EPA-estimated 303 miles of range.

“We’re honored to have Chevrolet as a founding partner of Daytona International Speedway, and that the iconic brand chose to feature the all-new Blazer EV SS at the DAYTONA 500,” said DIS track president Frank Kelleher. “The Blazer EV SS is surely going to set the pace for another exciting race.”

This marks the first time a Blazer has paced “The Great American Race,” the first time an EV has paced the race and the 16th time Chevrolet has led the DAYTONA 500 field to green.

Another Electrifying Surprise Planned for Daytona

Chevrolet will also debut its Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype ahead of the DAYTONA 500. The prototype represents a joint effort between NASCAR and OEM partners, with the intent of exploring new and emerging automotive technologies.

“Our Chevrolet V8 engines continue to be an important part of NASCAR. Racing has always been an important platform for Chevrolet to test, learn and explore new technologies,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president – GM Performance & Motorsports.

Chevrolet will also pace the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck races at DIS that weekend.

  • Corvette Stingray will be the pace car for the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 on Saturday, February 15.
  • Chevrolet Silverado RST will be the pace vehicle for the Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 on Friday, February 14.

“Chevrolet is extremely proud to be a part of NASCAR’s season openers by pacing all of the events this year at the famed World Center of Racing,” said Campbell. “We are privileged to continue our relationship with Daytona International Speedway again in 2025.”

Race fans can get a close-up look at all four models – Blazer EV SS, Blazer EV.R, Corvette Stingray and Silverado RST – at various Chevrolet display properties at DIS. Chevrolet swept all three NASCAR Manufacturers’ Championships in 2024 for the second year in a row. Across the three NASCAR series, Chevrolet has 102 wins at Daytona International Speedway including winning the DAYTONA 500 26 times – more than any other manufacturer.

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, is the defending DAYTONA 500 champion.

 
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.

On a closed course only. Based on initial vehicle movement. With Wide Open Watts mode(TM). Feature only available on SS model.

On a closed course only. Based on initial vehicle movement.

Based on latest competitive intel. Excludes other GM models.

Functionality varies by model. Full functionality requires compatible Bluetooth and smartphone, and USB connectivity for some devices.

Always pay attention while driving and when using Super Cruise. Do not use a handheld device. Requires active Super Cruise plan or trial. Terms apply. Visit chevroletsupercruise.com for compatible roads and full details.

On a full charge. Actual range may vary based on several factors, including ambient temperature, terrain, battery age and condition, loading, and how you use and maintain your vehicle.

TRD U.S.A. unveils 2025 Driver Development program lineup

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 10, 2025) – After another stellar season full of wins and championships, TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) is pleased to officially unveil its 2025 Toyota Driver Development (TD2) lineup.

“Everyone at Toyota and TRD continues to see the value in investing in young drivers and helping them have incredible opportunities to showcase their talent with our partner teams across many different racing disciplines,” said Trent Rodriguez, Manager, Driver Development, TRD. “We are exceptionally proud of the current group of drivers we are supporting through the TD2 program and are very confident they will continue to deliver on track this season.”

The accomplished program continues to spotlight up-and-coming talented drivers. Last year, graduate Christopher Bell finished in the top five of the NASCAR Cup Series point standings for the third straight season. Corey Heim delivered his second straight Championship 4 performance in the Truck Series, while also scoring impressive performances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. On the dirt track, Cannon McIntosh became the second driver in midget racing history to claim two national midget titles – POWRi and XTREME Midget – while coming up just short of the USAC title as well.

This season’s talented TD2 lineup is focused across three motorsports disciplines. Drivers representing Toyota include Jade Avedisian, Brent Crews, Jacob Denney, Tyler Gonzalez, Taylor Gray, Corey Heim, Buddy Kofoid, Cannon McIntosh, Kiko Porto, Isabella Robusto, Gio Ruggiero, William Sawalich, Gresham Wagner and Westin Workman.

Stock Car

Gray, 19, will compete for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). The New Mexico native made 13 starts for the team in 2024, with several strong performances including a third place run in his debut at Richmond Raceway and an additional top five at Pocono Raceway in July. Gray also competed full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series with TRICON Garage (TRICON). In his first full-time season, Gray qualified for the Playoffs and closed the season with four consecutive top 10 finishes, including a runner-up result at Talladega Superspeedway.

Sawalich, 18, earned his second straight ARCA Menards Series East championship last season with a clutch performance at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. The Minnesota native won his first Truck Series pole at Talladega in October and picked up his first Xfinity Series pole one month later at the season finale in Phoenix. Sawalich will have a busy 2025 as he competes for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JGR, while running in select Truck Series races with TRICON and several ARCA Menards Series starts with JGR.

Crews, 16, continued to excel on the track with victories in ARCA, CARS Tour, Super Late Model and Trans Am in 2024. The youngest TA2 champion in series history will continue to have a busy schedule in 2025. Crews joins JGR for a part-time run in the ARCA Menards Series, while also making his Truck Series debut for TRICON. He will also pursue a TA Class championship in Trans Am competition for Nitro Motorsports.

Heim, 22, will return full time to TRICON after back-to-back Championship 4 runs. The Georgia native led the Truck series in wins with six and set the record for the youngest driver in series history with 10 victories. Heim was also impressive in multiple starts for Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, matching the team’s best-ever finish of third at Iowa, while also setting the team’s best-ever starting position and single race laps led. He will be back behind the wheel of the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, with additional starts in other NASCAR divisions to be announced at a later date.

Ruggiero, 18, was impressive in his starts across many divisions last season. He picked up a victory at Five Flags Speedway in ARCA East competition, while finishing second on three different occasions in the national ARCA tour. He also had several wins in Super Late Model competition. For 2025, the Massachusetts native is making the jump to full-time competition in the NASCAR Truck Series for TRICON as he looks to claim Rookie of the Year honors.

Robusto, 20, will look to make history as she competes full-time for Venturini Motorsports (VMS) for the 20-race national ARCA Menards Series schedule. Last year, the South Carolina native tied the all-time best finish for a female on the national tour with a runner-up result at Illinois State Fairgrounds before adding a pole at Kansas Speedway in September.

Avedisian, 18, the first female national dirt midget champion, will continue her transition to pavement racing as she competes in the late model ranks for Wilson Motorsports (WMS). In just her second late model start last season, she captured a victory on the final feature night at Hickory Motor Speedway. The California native will also compete in several TA2 races throughout the season as she continues to gain experience on road courses.

Grassroots Dirt

Kofoid, 23, returns to Roth Motorsports for a second consecutive full-time run in World of Outlaws. Powered by Toyota’s 410 engine, Kofoid had one of the most impressive runs for a rookie in series history as he captured seven wins, 27 podiums and 53 top-10s on his way to a fourth-place finish in the final point standings.

McIntosh, 22, had an incredibly impressive season becoming the second driver to win two national midget titles – POWRI and XTREME Midget – in the same season. McIntosh nearly won all three as he finished second in the final USAC standings, on the strength of three victories, including his first BC39 win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For 2025, McIntosh returns to Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) for national midget competition.

Denney, 20, will be McIntosh’s full-time teammate at KKM after achieving a notable victory at Port City Raceway last October with the team on a select schedule. The new Toyota Development Driver is a three-time winner on the national USAC tour and earned his best points finish – fifth – last season.

Sports Car

Gonzalez, 20, who won the inaugural Toyota GR Cup Series title in 2023, followed that with an impressive run of victories in 2024, including a GT4 win at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. For 2025, he joins RAFA Racing Club (RAFA) competing in the GR Supra GT4 in SRO competition in the GT4 class.

Wagner, 27, joins the TD2 program after clinching his first Toyota GR Cup title in 2024 with Copeland Motorsports after an impressive ten-win season. Wagner will be Gonzalez’s co-driver in SRO GT4 competition with RAFA in 2025.

Porto, 21, also is a new member to TD2 and will compete in GT4 action in the IMSA series for RAFA this season. Porto, who is a native of Brazil, has previous experience in Formula 4, INDY NXT and the USF Pro 2000 Championship.

Workman, 20, continues with Toyota for the second consecutive season as he will represent TRD partner Endava in the GR Cup for BSI Racing. The North Carolina native finished third in his rookie season of competition on the strength of several podium finishes. Workman is also featured in the new Toyota commercial – You Can’t Stop My Drive – which hit airwaves last month.

TRD takes an active role in each TD2 driver’s development to help them achieve their goals of long-term success in motorsport with support of partners such as ExxonMobil, JBL, Safelite AutoGlass, SoundGear and Yahoo. The mutual long-term commitment allows TRD to provide additional opportunities on-and-off the track to encourage and support their personal development. TD2 drivers, along with drivers who compete for Toyota-supported race teams, also have access to the celebrated Toyota Performance Center (TPC), which provides support with physical fitness, sports psychology, recovery and nutrition.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Go Bowling Partners with McDowell, Spire Motorsports for Great American Race

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Official Release
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Partnership to Include Daytona Truck Race, Watkins Glen International

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 10, 2025) – In bowling circles, a turkey accounts for three strikes in a row.

Today, Spire Motorsports and Go Bowling combined for a collective turkey of their own when both organizations revealed that Go Bowling will serve as Michael McDowell’s primary sponsor in a trio of races in 2025, beginning with a pair of events at the World Center of Racing.

Go Bowling will serve as the primary sponsor for the 2021 Daytona 500 winner in the 67th running of the Great American Race.

Additionally, Go Bowling will be showcased as the primary partner for McDowell and the No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado in Friday night’s season-opening Fresh from Florida 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race. Later this season, Go Bowling will return to McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1 for the NASCAR Cup Series annual visit to Watkins Glen International at the August 10 Go Bowling at Glen.

Bowling is the No. 1 participatory sport in America with more than 60 million people taking to the lanes and bowling centers all over America each year.

“It’s awesome to have a new partnership at Spire Motorsports with Go Bowling and it’s a program that fits me very well,” said McDowell. “Bowling is a family-friendly activity and one my whole family really enjoys. My wife and I just took our kids bowling last week and I can promise you, we had a ball. Bowling is something that we love to do as a family but we’re also looking forward to getting on the racetrack in Daytona and later this year at Watkins Glen. We’re looking forward to three exciting races where we think we have a shot to win each time out and we are very thankful to have Go Bowling as a partner.”

McDowell, a native of Glendale, Ariz., is a veteran of 501 NCS starts and a two-time race winner. He made his NCS debut in 2008 and has since recorded six pole positions, 11 top-five and 44 top-10 finishes in NASCAR’s premier division.

In 13 Daytona 500 starts, McDowell has earned one win, two top-five and five top-10 finishes. In 27 total starts on the famed 2.5-mile high-banked tri-oval, he has secured three top fives, eight top 10s and paced the field for 58 laps.

The father of five spent the previous five seasons driving the No. 34 entry where he was the team’s leader in wins, starts, and top-five finishes. In addition to his victory in the 2021 Great American Race, McDowell proved his versatility with a road-course win in the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He also earned NASCAR Cup Series Playoff berths in 2021 and 2023.

While McDowell’s Cup Series resume documents over 500 starts, Friday night’s Fresh from Florida 250 will mark just his third time mixing it up in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

“We’re excited to fire up this partnership with Michael McDowell and the Spire Motorsports team,” said John Harbuck, President of Strike Ten Entertainment and Go Bowling. “Bowling and NASCAR align perfectly. Both sports have passionate and loyal fan bases. We’re looking forward to seeing Michael competing out on the track in the No. 71 Go Bowling Chevrolet ZL1 and the No. 07 Go Bowling Chevy Silverado at Daytona. After that we’ll gear up for the road course at Watkins Glen and bowling lanes at our Go Bowling at The Glen race in August.”

The Fresh from Florida 250 from Daytona International Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Friday, February 14, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The 67th running of the Daytona 500 will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, Feb. 16 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The first of 36 races on the 2025 Cup Series schedule will be broadcast live on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Go Bowling and Strike Ten Entertainment…
GoBowling.com is the destination for bowling consumers and enthusiasts seeking news and information about one of America’s favorite pastimes and the nation’s number one participatory sport. Consumers visit GoBowling.com every day to find bowling centers in their communities, learn new tips and techniques to improve their game, and to access bowling promotions available at more than 1,700+ family-friendly bowling centers across the country.

Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, Strike Ten Entertainment is the centralized sponsor-activation and casual bowling marketing arm of the International Bowling Campus (IBC) which includes the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America (BPAA). Strike Ten Entertainment serves the entire IBC by coordinating the sponsorship activation and casual bowling marketing initiatives. For additional information please visit www.GoBowling.com or call Reese Lipe at 1-817-385-8245.

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.

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2025 Daytona 500 Advance

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Official Release
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DAYTONA

Friday, February 14 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, February 15 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 5 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, February 16 — NASCAR Cup Series, 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

The NASCAR season officially gets started this weekend as Daytona International Speedway hosts all three national series. The 67th running of the Daytona 500 highlights the action on Sunday afternoon, but before that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series kicks things off Friday night with the NASCAR Xfinity Series hitting the track on Saturday.

FORD AND THE 500

Ford has won the Daytona 500 a total of 17 times with the last being three years ago when Austin Cindric captured the race in 2022 in just his second attempt. Tiny Lund registered Ford’s first win in ‘The Great American Race’ when he subbed for Marvin Panch and drove the Wood Brothers to their first 500 win in 1963. Bill Elliott, Dale Jarrett and Matt Kenseth are the only drivers to win the event more than once with Ford, but that could grow by one if either Joey Logano or Cindric find Victory Lane on Sunday.

TEAM PENSKE STARTING CUP TITLE DEFENSE

One of the storylines people will be watching this season is whether Team Penske and Ford can capture a fourth straight NASCAR Cup Series championship. Joey Logano comes into 2025 having won the title twice in the last three years (2022 and 2024) while teammate Ryan Blaney sandwiched his first championship in between in 2023. Overall, Team Penske has won four championships with Ford and five overall.

OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES

There are a few drivers who have changed places during the offseason with some of those being beneficiaries of expansion. Front Row Motorsports and Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing have both gone from two to three teams in 2025, which has resulted in Noah Gragson and Zane Smith going to FRM and Ryan Preece to RFK. Josh Berry will take over behind the wheel for the Wood Brothers, who are beginning their 75th anniversary season, while Cole Custer returns for his second stint in the Cup Series with the newly-branded Haas Factory Team. Another driver making his return to full-time duty is Cody Ware, who is driving the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing.

STARTING NEW DUEL STREAK

Ford had won at least one of the Duel qualifying races for six straight years before that streak was broken last season. Ford has registered three sweeps (2023, 2022 and 2019) in recent years with Joey Logano leading all active Ford drivers with three victories in that stretch. Brad Keselowski (2022), Chris Buescher (2022) and Ryan Blaney (2018) have one apiece.

CINDRIC KICKS OFF ROOKIE SEASON IN STYLE

Austin Cindric started off his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series with Team Penske with a bang by winning the 2022 Daytona 500 in only his second attempt. Cindric got a push and then had to fend off his teammate, Ryan Blaney, coming to the checkered flag to become the first rookie to win the Great American Race. Blaney made contact with Cindric and hit the outside wall, sealing the No. 2 driver’s fate to claim his first career Cup Series victory. It was a stellar day for Ford overall, claiming four of the top-five and seven of the top-10 finishing positions. Chase Briscoe came home 3rd, Blaney 4th and Aric Almirola 5th to complete the top five.

LOGANO GIVES FORD FIRST SWEEP OF DAYTONA SPEEDWEEKS

Joey Logano survived an intense final 10 laps, including a green-white-checkered finish, to give Ford a sweep of Daytona Speedweeks by winning the 57th running of the Daytona 500 in 2015. The win came on the heels of Tyler Reddick winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Ryan Reed taking the checkered flag for the first time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series event. It also capped an undefeated month of racing at Daytona for Ford, which also won the season-opening Rolex 24 Hours.

TINY LUND COMES UP BIG FOR WOOD BROTHERS

Ford won the Daytona 500 for the first time on Feb. 24, 1963 when Tiny Lund took the Wood Brothers to Victory Lane and completed a script that would have made Hollywood envious. Lund didn’t have a ride for the 500, but was at the track watching Marvin Panch test a Maserati when the car went out of control, flipped upside-down and started on fire. Lund, along with four others, rushed to the scene and eventually pulled Panch to safety. Panch, who was the primary driver for the Wood Brothers, was unable to race in the 500 due to his injuries, so the team tabbed Lund as a substitute. Lund defied the odds by winning the race on one set of tires to give For and the Wood Brothers their first win in “The Great American Race.”

XFINITY SERIES MAKEOVER

Ford has undergone a bit of a makeover in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a pair of teams completely changing their driver lineups. The Haas Factory Team has signed Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed to drive their two Ford Mustang Dark Horses in its first year of operation while AM Racing inked Harrison Burton to be their full-time man near the end of the 2024 campaign.

MAJESKI AND THORSPORT LOOKING TO DEFEND

Just like Team Penske in the NASCAR Cup Series, ThorSport Racing finds themselves in the position of being a multi-year defending champion after Ty Majeski followed Ben Rhodes and won last year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title. Majeski matched his previous career total with three wins last season, including a dominating performance in the championship event that saw him lead 132-of-150 laps. ThorSport has now won back-to-back titles and six overall (three with Ford).

FRANKIE MUNIZ FULL-TIME NASCAR RACER

Frankie Muniz has traded in his acting skills for a helmet and pair of driving gloves as he makes the transition to full-time NASCAR driver in 2025. Muniz will be embarking on his first season in one of NASCAR’s top touring series as he gets behind the wheel of the No. 33 Reaume Brothers Ford F-150 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Muniz, who announced his deal late in the 2024 season, made his debut with owner Josh Reaume in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Overall, Muniz has four career series starts with all of those coming last season, but he’s still looking for his first top 20 finish. The star of TV’s Malcolm in the Middle competed at Daytona International Speedway last season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but was involved in an accident after 37 laps and didn’t finish. This weekend will mark his first NCTS start at DIS.

CHANDLER SMITH TEAMING UP WITH LAYNE RIGGS

Front Row Motorsports will be a multi-truck operation in 2025 as Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith will team up for owner Bob Jenkins. This will mark the second season for Riggs, who won consecutive races last year at the Milwaukee Mile and Bristol Motor Speedway and finished 11th in the point standings. Smith is returning to trucks after spending the last two seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he won three times. Smith, who comes into Daytona with 62 career Truck Series starts and five victories, had his best year in 2023 when he won three times and finished third overall.

FORD’S DAYTONA 500 WINNERS

1963 – Tiny Lund (Wood Brothers)

1965 – Fred Lorenzen (Holman-Moody)

1967 – Mario Andretti (Holman-Moody)

1969 – LeeRoy Yarbrough (Junior Johnson)

1978 – Bobby Allison (Bud Moore)

1985 – Bill Elliott (Harry Melling)

1987 – Bill Elliott (Harry Melling)

1992 – Davey Allison (Robert Yates)

1996 – Dale Jarrett (Robert Yates)

2000 – Dale Jarrett (Robert Yates)

2009 – Matt Kenseth (Jack Roush)

2011 – Trevor Bayne (Wood Brothers)

2012 – Matt Kenseth (Jack Roush)

2015 – Joey Logano (Roger Penske)

2017 – Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas)

2021 – Michael McDowell (Front Row)

2022 – Austin Cindric (Roger Penske)

FORD’S NASCAR Xfinity Series

DAYTONA WINNERS

1995 – Chad Little (1)

2004 – Mike Wallace (2)

2015 – Ryan Reed (1)

2016 – Aric Almirola (2)

2017 – Ryan Reed (1)

2021 – Austin Cindric (1)

FORD’S NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

DAYTONA WINNERS

2000 – Mike Wallace

2003 – Rick Crawford

2004 – Carl Edwards

2006 – Mark Martin

2015 – Tyler Reddick

2020 – Grant Enfinger

2022 – Zane Smith

2023 – Zane Smith

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