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  • Ross Chastain Signs Contract Extension with Trackhouse Racing

    Press Release | TRACKHOUSE RACING Daytona Beach, Fla. – Trackhouse Racing and NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain announced a multiyear driver agreement today that will keep the 30-year-old Alva, Florida native behind the wheel of the Justin Marks’-owned Chevrolet team. “It’s taken a lot of years, a lot of hard work and sacrifice plus a lot of help from a lot of people, but I can safely say I have found a home at Trackhouse Racing,” said Chastain who won two races and finished second in the 2022 Cup Series Championship. “There is nowhere in the world I would rather be and nothing I would rather do than race the No. 1 Chevrolet in NASCAR for Justin and the people at Trackhouse Racing.” The eighth-generation watermelon farmer also posted 15 top-five and 21 top-10 finishes in 2022 and earned the National Motorsports Press Association’s Driver of the Year award. Marks said after years of toiling in the sport, the motorsports world saw Chastain’s talent rise to the surface in 2022 and believes even greater success is on the horizon. “Ross Chastain is the type of driver and type of person we want representing Trackhouse Racing, our employees and our corporate partners,” Marks said. “You saw what Ross did with us in just our first year together and we think the future is even brighter. He brings a determination, dedication and commitment to his job on and off the track that uplifts everyone in our shop. I’m proud he is part of our organization.” Trackhouse announced a multiyear extension for Chastain’s teammate Daniel Suárez on Wednesday. Chastain earned the “Melon Man” nickname for his family’s history in the watermelon farming business where Chastain continues to work when his schedule allows. Chastain’s signature move after a race win is to spike a watermelon at the finish line and eat the biggest piece left. He did that after winning a scintillating three-wide battle at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on March 27, and again at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2022 after prevailing in a multicar, last lap melee on April 24. His wall-riding move on the final two corners at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October saw him pass two cars and claim the final spot in NASCAR’s Championship 4 playoffs and will forever be part of the NASCAR greatest moments. The move, nicknamed the “Hail Melon,” drew global praise and recognition as the video eclipsed more than 225 million views and the event garnered 1.2B impressions. Chastain begins his third full season of Cup racing in 2023 at the season-opening Daytona 500 race on Feb. 19, but success hasn’t come easy for Chastain. Chastain joined Trackhouse Racing full-time in 2022 after Trackhouse purchased the NASCAR assets of Chip Ganassi Racing where he was racing in 2021. During his brief Cup career of 101 races, Chastain had driven for Premium Motorsports, Spire Motorsports, and Roush Fenway Racing before he was signed to a full-time ride driving the No. 42 Camaro with Ganassi in 2021. Before his Cup Series career, Chastain scored two career victories in the Xfinity series (Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2018 and Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in 2019) and four wins in the Craftsman Truck series. Chastain began his racing career at the age of 12 at Punta Gorda Speedway in his home state of Florida, racing in the Fastkid division. At 14, he began racing adults in the Fastruck Series and raced Crate Late Models at age 16. During his short-track racing career he scored over 50 wins in feature events, including the 2011 World Series of Asphalt Limited Late Model class at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway, winning three of eight events in the series. His success mirrors his Trackhouse Racing team that was founded in 2020 by Marks, who established the company’s headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. In October of 2020, Trackhouse announced it would field the No. 99 in the NASCAR Cup Series with Daniel Suárez. Trackhouse Racing formed an operational alliance with legendary Richard Childress Racing and the team operated out of Welcome, North Carolina. In January of 2021, Trackhouse announced Armando Christian Perez (a.k.a. Pitbull) as a partner and transcendent ambassador. After purchasing the assets of Ganassi, the team moved its race shop to Concord, North Carolina and competed as a multicar team for the first time in 2022. Chastain and Suárez combined to win three races and post 21 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes. Both drivers logged top-10 finishes in the season standings – both career bests.

  • BLUEGREEN VACATIONS EXTENDS NASCAR® AGREEMENT

    (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/ WDUNRacing ) Press Release | NASCAR BOCA RATON, Florida – February 15, 2023 — Bluegreen Vacations Holding Corporation (NYSE: BVH) (OTCQX: BVHBB) (“Bluegreen Vacations,” “Bluegreen,” or the “Company”), a vacation ownership company, has extended its multi-year agreement with NASCAR®. Under the extended agreement, Bluegreen will remain the Official Vacation Ownership Provider of NASCAR® for another six years. Bluegreen also extended its sponsorship of NASCAR’s season-opening qualifier races, the Duel at DAYTONA, and will remain title sponsors of the event through 2024. “We are thrilled to continue our relationship with NASCAR® and Daytona International Speedway,” said Ray Lopez, Bluegreen’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. “We’re seeing an increasing demand for unique experiences among Bluegreen owners and this agreement with NASCAR® allows us to offer an opportunity to experience NASCAR® in the heart of the action,” he added. Bluegreen Vacations was first designated the Official Vacation Ownership Provider of NASCAR® in 2018. Since then, over 1,800 Bluegreen vacation owners and guests have participated in Bluegreen’s exclusive NASCAR® race weekend events. “During our NASCAR® Bash events at select races, Bluegreen owners participating in a Bluegreen vacation are treated to a private welcome party and receive behind-the-scenes access at the tracks, have an opportunity to meet drivers, may experience pace car rides and enjoy VIP suite access to watch the races,” commented Nancy Samson, Vice President of Owner and Member Marketing for Bluegreen Vacations. Since being named the Official Vacation Ownership Provider of NASCAR®, the Company has sponsored the Bluegreen Vacations 500 at Phoenix Raceway and has been a three-time sponsor of the Duel at DAYTONA. “The DAYTONA 500 and the Bluegreen Vacations Duel, as well as other leading NASCAR® events, are bucket list affairs for fans,” said Michelle Byron, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Partnership Marketing. “Through this continued partnership, Bluegreen’s owners have the opportunity to take advantage of some of the most premium and exclusive experiences at NASCAR® events across the country.”

  • WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair Named Honorary Race Official for the 65th Running of the DAYTONA 500

    (Photo Credit: Twitter.com/ MsCharlotteWWE ) Press Release | DAYTONA 500 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2023) – Sunday’s race is set for a SmackDown special feature as Daytona International Speedway announced today that WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair will serve as an honorary race official for the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500. Additionally, the track announced the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats band will amp up the energy before the NASCAR Cup Series season opener on Sunday, Feb. 19. Flair will serve as an honorary race official for the pre-race ceremonies ahead of The Great American Race while the Marching Wildcats will take part in a new tradition as NASCAR kicks off its 75th Anniversary season. The full band – more than 230 strong – will perform for 20 minutes on the ballfield during pre-race festivities. Additionally, members of the Marching Wildcats will provide the pomp and circumstance by leading the field of 40 drivers from the drivers meeting and through the UNOH Fanzone to the grid before the race. “We’re thrilled to have Charlotte Flair as our honorary race official, adding her signature Smackdown style to the excitement of the DAYTONA 500 pre-race ceremonies,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “We are also so proud to welcome amazing performers from our own backyard, the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats, to fire up the crowd as all 40 drivers walk to the grid moments before climbing into their cars.” Flair has built a Hall of Fame caliber career in the WWE ring. The WWE Superstar is the current SmackDown Women’s Champion, holding the title for a record-setting seventh time. Daughter of 16-time World Champion Ric Flair, Charlotte Flair is a second-generation Superstar and one of the first women to headline a WWE Premium Live Event. Flair is a force in the world of WWE. As a 14-time world champion, she is one of the most dominant Superstars in history and is currently gearing up for the biggest WrestleMania of all time this April. Nicknamed “The Queen,” she went undefeated over the course of 16 Premium Live Events and now adds honorary race official for the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500 to her impressive resume. Daytona Beach’s own Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats will join the pre-race festivities from only two miles down the road. Known as “The PRIDE” of B-CU, the performers are known for putting on some of the most impressive half-time performances in college football and were featured in the Netflix series “Marching Orders.” Fans will have an amazing opportunity to be a part of DAYTONA 500 history as the full field will parade through the UNOH Fanzone on Sunday afternoon prior to pre-race ceremonies. The processional will begin at the conclusion of the drivers meeting, and will be headed up by members of “The PRIDE” of B-CU. The band will lead the field in a high-energy, fan-focused walk to the grid, where the drivers will then take part in driver introductions on the stage in front of the sold-out grandstands. Flair and the B-CU Marching Wildcats add even more star power to the already-impressive list of performances set to precede the DAYTONA 500. Grammy-nominated artist Dierks Bentley will perform the pre-race concert, while PLATINUM artist-songwriter BRELAND will sing the National Anthem. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will then perform their signature “Delta” formation for their 13th consecutive DAYTONA 500 flyover. The action during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth continues on Thursday, Feb. 16, it’s high stakes on the high banks in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel, as drivers such as Jimmie Johnson and Travis Pastrana battle it out for the chance to race on Sunday.   Friday sees the return of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the Next Era Energy 250. Then, the racing continues with a double header on Saturday, Feb. 18, with the ARCA Menards Series Race, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300.   Then, on Sunday, the drivers of the NASCAR Cup Series will make their 2023 season debut in the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500.   Fans are encouraged to reserve their place in history during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth by logging onto DAYTONA500.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Additionally, fans can buy or sell reserved seats for the DAYTONA 500 by visiting SeatGeek , the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR.   Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway via daytonainternationalspeedway.com , on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram , as well as the NASCAR Tracks App , for the latest speedway news.

  • Loganity: Kevin Harvick Should Be Mentioned In The Same Breath As The All-Time Greats.

    (Cover Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images) By Logan Morris When the checkered flag falls on the 2023 NASCAR season it will also fall on Kevin Harvick’s Cup career. Harvick has always done it his way and this season promises to be no different. He’s almost more known for his blunt assessments of the sport than he is for his on-track performance; perhaps at times it even overshadowed his accomplishments to a degree. When you take a look at his numbers, I think it’s fair to wonder why he isn’t more appreciated by a lot of the NASCAR fan base in terms of just how great he’s been. When fans talk about current drivers that could be in discussion for the greatest of all time, that answer is almost universally Kyle Busch. Make no mistake, Kyle Busch’s resume is incredible. His run has been nothing short of amazing. But it feels like people forget that the successes of Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch have been very similar, particularly at the Cup level. As we enter the 2023 season this Sunday with the 65th annual Daytona 500, the numbers might be closer than you realize. They’re both tied at 60 Cup wins. Harvick currently has the edge in Top Tens at 430 to Busch’s 355. Before going further it is worth noting that Kyle Busch began his full-time Cup Series career in 2005. Harvick’s began in 2001. Busch has the championship advantage at two to Harvick’s one. Both men are subjected to the question “What if they didn’t race in the same era as Jimmie Johnson?” It’s impossible to say but it’s a question worth mentioning. Frankly, I think it makes both drivers look all the more impressive. If you’re looking beyond the Cup Series, most would argue this is where Kyle Busch widens the gap. Busch is the Xfinity series all-time winningest driver with 102 wins, so far. It was recently announced Busch would be returning to the Xfinity Series this season with Kaulig Racing after not competing in the series in 2022. Harvick retired from the Xfinity series with 47 wins. Busch is also the all-time winningest driver in the Truck Series with an astounding 62 wins. But, as is often the case with stats in NASCAR, those numbers could use a little context. In no way am I trying to diminish Busch’s accomplishments, but it is at least worth noting that these wins in the lower series, especially in the Truck Series, were typically in a field of much younger and inexperienced drivers and oftentimes Busch had far more funding than much of the field. None of this is to take away from the wins or the much-needed attention it brings to the lower series and experience it gives to the next generation of drivers. However, the talent and funding difference must be noted. Harvick meanwhile has 14 career wins in the Truck Series. Perhaps when you read these numbers you think the debate of Kevin Harvick vs Kyle Busch isn’t all that close, and more power to you. But when you focus on both drivers' similar Cup Series careers the debate comes into clear view. Let's delve into a few more numbers that will show you it’s closer than you think. Entering 2023 both Harvick and Busch are tied with five Championship Four appearances. In an era that doesn’t bode well for multiple championships, Final Four appearances must be taken into account. The consistency it takes to go into the season finale with a shot at the championship that many times is remarkable. (Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) The one big accomplishment that Harvick has over Busch is a Daytona 500 win, which he accomplished in 2007. As great as Kyle Busch is, he's still looking for that elusive first Daytona 500 victory. Quite simply, no resume is complete without it. You can bet your bottom dollar that Kyle Busch knows that all too well as he prepares for the Daytona 500 this Sunday. The one topic I haven’t touched on that must be acknowledged is that Kyle Busch appears to have several more seasons ahead of him while Harvick is entering his final full-time season. There are those that will say that Busch will end any debate as the years go on and perhaps he will. However, it must be said that those are assumptions. Busch turns 38 in May so I can understand that it’s easy to dismiss any comparisons between the two. But there are no guarantees in regards to the kind of success Busch will have going forward. We’ve seen greats suddenly lose their touch before. Jeff Gordon was never quite the same after winning his fourth and final championship in 2001. He had a great season, don’t get me wrong, but the kind of dominance he had become known for was a thing of the past. He ended his 2001 season with a whopping 58 of his 93 career wins. More often than not, Gordon’s championship dreams were dashed by his teammate Jimmie Johnson. Speaking of Johnson, he’s a driver who saw a quick and steep decline. After winning his record-tying 7th championship in 2016 the decline happened suddenly. He would win three times in 2017 and then go winless for the final three years of his full-time Cup career, something that few saw coming at the time. Until Busch fully separates himself from Harvick with more Cup success, it would be unwise to assume it’s going to happen. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) To put Harvick’s astounding numbers in even greater perspective, consider this, he nearly doubles Martin Truex Jr in Cup Series wins. He has 12 more wins than Denny Hamlin, and 11 more than his boss, Tony Stewart. He has five more wins than Rusty Wallace. He’s ahead of Mark Martin and Bill Eliott. If we look strictly from the Modern Era on (1972-present) Harvick is currently tied with “The King,” Richard Petty at 60 wins. It must be said that it’s impossible to properly compare eras of any sport. I think It’s fair to say NASCAR is even tougher to compare than most other major sports. There’s been such a vast change in NASCAR from its first sanctioned event in 1949. It’s impossible to say for sure that one driver is better than another when we’re discussing different eras. That of course, won’t stop all of us from trying for years to come. Kevin Harvick’s numbers are worthy of being in these discussions. And yet, so often he feels overlooked when we mention the all-time greats of this sport. (Photo Credit: Robert Leberge/Allsport) The way Harvick’s Cup Series career began should also be mentioned for context. He was thrown into the proverbial fire after the tragic 2001 Daytona 500 where we lost Dale Earnhardt Sr. Imagine having to step in after that kind of horrific moment. Imagine having to try and fill the seat of arguably the greatest of all time? Talk about doing the impossible. Harvick had great success during unbelievably difficult circumstances. He famously won in just his third career Cup Start at Atlanta in 2001, and he would go on to win 23 races for Richard Childress Racing, a remarkable accomplishment in its own right given the circumstances of the time. When the curtain falls on Kevin Harvick’s Cup career this season he should be remembered for doing it his way. He spoke his mind, and he wasn’t afraid of the consequences. But, he should also be remembered for historic achievements that are on par with the true icons of this sport and better than most. The three seven-time champions have their own unique place in NASCAR history and rightfully so. Beyond that, however, Kevin Harvick should be mentioned on the same breath as Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and anyone else who has ascended to that truly elite level in NASCAR lore. Kevin Harvick is one of the all-time greats and compared to most people it’s probably a lot closer than most realize. Give “The Closer” his “flowers” while he’s still an active driver. He’s earned that, and so much more.

  • Toyota Racing - NCS Post-Qualifying Report

    Press Release | TOYOTA RACING DAYTONA BEACH (February 15, 2023) – Single car time trials have been completed and the starting grids for tomorrow’s Duel races have been set. The time trial results for the Toyota Camry TRDs at Daytona International Speedway are below. Travis Pastrana has locked into the Daytona 500 field as the second fastest ‘open’ car (Jimmie Johnson was the quickest). Pastrana is now guaranteed to make his first Daytona 500 start regardless of his Duel finish. Toyota Racing Post-Qualifying Report NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Daytona International Speedway – February 15, 2023 TOYOTA STARTING POSITIONS 1st, Alex Bowman* 2nd, Kyle Larson* 3rd, William Bryon* 4th, Aric Almirola* 5th, Joey Logano* 11th, BUBBA WALLACE 19th, TY GIBBS 20th, TYLER REDDICK 21st, CHRISTOPHER BELL 22nd, MARTIN TRUEX JR 25th, TRAVIS PASTRANA 26th, DENNY HAMLIN *non-Toyota driver TOYOTA QUOTES BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 McDonalds Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing Qualifying Position: 11th How did you feel about your qualifying lap? “My engineer said the sim showed us running a 50-flat and we did so I have to trust him. I know with our manufacturer build, we have a little more drag than others. My team did a great job with the adjustments to get the most speed that we could. I’m excited and I’m happy. And Travis (Pastrana) made the field. I can only imagine his nerves right now. Now he’s locked in so now how does he play it in the Duels because you don’t want to tear up the car. Or you can use the learning for practice on Friday, but we’re not supposed to run too many laps so I don’t know. But he’s locked in. Hats off to everybody at 23XI, we got all three of us in the show.” TRAVIS PASTRANA, No. 67 Black Rifle Coffee Toyota Camry TRD, 23XI Racing Qualifying Position: 25th What does it mean to qualify for the Daytona 500? “I just can’t say enough about this 23XI team. I mean everyone from Kurt Busch to Denny Hamlin to Bubba (Wallace) and Tyler (Reddick), they all just helped me get there. And this TRD motor and being able to get on the sim, that was everything. Can’t give them enough credit for this opportunity.” You were worried about your launch to take the lap, how did that go? “The launch was good. I shifted a little bit early on two and didn’t lift enough shifting to fifth so I had to double let go and I thought I just blew it. I look at Bubba’s (Wallace) time and the car definitely had a little bit more. This team helped me to get there and like Kurt (Busch) just told me, now it’s time to learn. We’ll go to work tomorrow and then we’re in the 500, so cool.” Will there be a party tonight? “We’ll party Sunday night. But this is a huge weight off my shoulders. I begged, bartered and did everything but stealing from everyone to be here. So many great people with Black Rifle Coffee and Dixon Flannels. I knew we could make it and I knew we could do it with this team. Michael (Jordan) wants to win and Denny (Hamlin) wants to win.”

  • ENDEAVOR STREAMING AND THE NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION TEAM UP TO HOST NEW GLOBAL SERVICE

    Press Release | NHRA NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 15, 2023 – Endeavor Streaming and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) announced today a multi-year partnership, leading with the upgrade of NHRA’s OTT platform NHRA.tv. The new service is available for sign-ups. In addition to enhancing NHRA.tv, the company has enlisted Endeavor Streaming’s direct-to-consumer growth services division. Through close collaboration, Endeavor Streaming will help scale the NHRA business and grow their fan base and digital service revenues. The long-term partnership combines NHRA’s expertise in drag racing with Endeavor Streaming’s expertise across OTT focused marketing, analytics, and predictive modeling. “We are excited to have Endeavor Streaming’s support in launching our new and improved NHRA.tv,” said Glen Cromwell, NHRA President. “Further to the new service launch, we are excited for the content and fan engagement initiatives. The future for streaming our events is only going to get better for our audiences and our partners and we look forward to what’s ahead.” “The NHRA have been incredible partners in developing a streaming platform that delivers for their fans,” said Pete Bellamy, Chief Commercial Officer. “We are pleased to offer Endeavor Streaming’s end-to-end technology in supporting their engagement efforts. Beyond this, we are looking forward to integrating our D2C growth marketing specialists into the team to help achieve their goals.” Details and features of the upgraded NHRA.tv service include: · A multi-CDN delivery platform that encompasses localized delivery based on viewer location, providing viewers with a more responsive video, including near real-time scrubbing during live or recorded events · The ability for end users to bookmark content and resume watching on a different supported device · A user experience across supported devices enabling viewers to see the same content no matter where they are watching · Sign-in options that allow for hassle-free sign-in to AppleTV/Android TV and Roku devices. Since its founding in 1951, NHRA has been home to championship drag racing and some of the most exciting and intense action in motorsports. With competitors in the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car categories reaching speeds of more than 330 mph, NHRA is home to standout names in the sport, including world champions Brittany Force, Antron Brown, Ron Capps, John Force and Erica Enders. An annual season subscription is $149 for unlimited access to all 21 races between March and November. Additional details and subscription information for the new service can be found at NHRA.tv.

  • Josh Reaume Joins AM Racing for Daytona Truck Series Season Opener

    Press Release | AM RACING DAYTONA BEACH, Fla: AM Racing confirmed today that veteran NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series driver and fellow team owner Josh Reaume will drive the team’s No. 22 Ford F-150 in Friday night’s 2023 season-opening NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. A veteran of the Truck Series scene with 64-career starts, Reaume will drop the green flag on a busy weekend of racing for the Statesville, N.C.-based team who will also compete in Saturday afternoon’s ARCA season-opener with Christian Rose and follow later with their Xfinity Series debut with Brett Moffitt in the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300. “The stars aligned for Josh to pilot our truck at Daytona,” said AM Racing team principal Kevin Cywinski. “We were preparing to go to the race with another AM Racing driver and because of circumstances, we opted to move the race to another event this season. “Everyone knows the hardship that Josh and his team have experienced over the past several weeks and as a family-oriented team, we stepped in and asked Josh to race the truck in hopes it will strengthen our relationship both on and off the track this season with his team also competing under the Ford Performance umbrella. “We believe with the foundation that we have laid when it comes to our superspeedway program, Josh will be competitive and have an opportunity to challenge not only for a top-10 finish but hopefully a win. We are proud for him to represent our brand and partners.” Reaume has been appreciative of the AM Racing team led by crew chief Ryan “Pickle” London who will guide the No. 22 Ford F-150 as crew chief on Friday night. Daytona is the home of Reaume’s career-best finish in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series. In the 2019 NextEra Energy 250, he finished sixth after starting 32nd. “Certainly there have been a lot of emotions over the past couple of weeks but once I climb aboard the No. 22 Motorsports Safety Group | JAG Metals Ford F-150 on Friday night, all of that will subside for a few hours and I have the opportunity to compete for a team who has showcased over the years that they have a strong superspeedway program. “Hopefully, all the dots will connect where I’ll be able to work with our other Ford Performance trucks, including my Reaume Brothers Racing drivers Mason Massey and Jason White and we can all contend for strong finishes to get our year off with some success.” In addition to Motorsports Safety Group and JAG Metals, Colonial Countertops, Dozier Miller Law Group, Levrack, QCollar, RESource Material Handling and Vyper will all serve as associate marketing partners for the first of 23 races this season. For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing) or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR. The NextEra Energy 250 (100 laps | 250 miles) is the first of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2023 schedule. Practice begins on Thurs, Feb. 16 from 5:05 p.m. – 5:55 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Fri., Feb. 17 beginning at 3:00 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

  • Daniel Suárez Signs Extension With Trackhouse

    Press Release | TRACKHOUSE RACING Concord, N.C. – Trackhouse Racing announced today driver Daniel Suárez has signed a multiyear extension that will keep the 31-year-old Monterrey, Mexico native behind the wheel at the Justin Marks-owned team. “Obviously, everyone at Trackhouse Racing is pleased with the performance and professionalism of Daniel both on and off the track,” said Marks whose team begins its third year of competition Sunday in the 65th running of the Daytona 500. “Culture has been of prime importance since the idea of Trackhouse existed only on a whiteboard in an office. Daniel has fulfilled every expectation and we look forward to the future. The best is yet to come." Terms of the agreement will remain private. "Trackhouse is my home and I am very happy with this announcement," said Suárez who begins his third season with Trackhouse and seventh in the Cup Series. "We are building something special on the No. 99 team and at Trackhouse Racing. We can't wait to get the season started Sunday." Trackhouse Racing competed as a single car team with Suárez in 2021 with its cars housed at Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, North Carolina. In June of 2021, Trackhouse announced the acquisition of Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR assets, a move that secured two full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries and cleared the path for expansion. Trackhouse moved into its race shop in Concord, North Carolina and fielded the No. 99 for Suárez and the No. 1 Chevrolet with driver Ross Chastain in 2022. Suárez and Chastain combined for three wins, 21-top five and 34 top-10 finishes last year in Trackhouse’s first season as a multicar team. Chastain’s second and Suárez’s 10th-place finish in the season standings were each career bests. Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win a Cup race when he dominated the race at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June. He is the only Spanish-speaking driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Su á rez became the first Latin American, as well as the first NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduate, to win a NASCAR national series title when he won the 2016 Xfinity Series championship. In 2016, he became the first Mexican driver to win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, claiming three victories at Michigan, Dover and the championship finale at Homestead-Miami. He was the 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year - the first Mexican driver to win the award. In 2013, Su á rez finished third in the ARCA Menards Series East final championship standings, the highest finish for an international driver in series history.

  • ALLY EXTENDS FULL-SEASON SPONSORSHIP OF THE NO. 48 HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TEAM THROUGH 2028

    Press Release | HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2023) – Ally Financial and Hendrick Motorsports have reached a five-year extension through 2028 that will continue the digital financial services company’s full-season primary sponsorship of Alex Bowman and the No. 48 NASCAR Cup Series team. In addition, Hendrick Motorsports and Bowman have agreed to a new three-year contract that will keep the driver behind the wheel of the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 through at least 2026. Sunday’s DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX) will kick off Ally’s fifth season as the sole primary sponsor of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team. Since joining the 14-time Cup Series champions in 2019, the brand has been one of the most active in auto racing with a variety of marketing programs that include recently becoming an Official Partner of NASCAR . “We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Hendrick Motorsports, so extending our relationship for the next five years was a no-brainer,” said Andrea Brimmer, Ally’s chief marketing and public relations officer. “We’re one team, and Ally, together with Hendrick Motorsports and Alex, are a winning combination. Through this extension and our recently announced NASCAR sponsorship, we are fully committed to being an active part of the sport and deepening our engagement with fans.” “Alex is our guy, and a true ally. He’s an incredible driver who shares our passion for connecting to the community,” Brimmer added. “We’re proud to stand by him as his longest sponsor and expand on this true partnership.” As one of the most engaged sponsors in NASCAR, Ally helped bring racing back to the city of Nashville with the Ally 400 and has partnered with Bowman to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for rescue animals alongside Best Friends Animal Society. Ally has also worked with diverse creators, including its collaboration with artist Caroline Fogle to design the Ally 48 dual primary paint schemes for the 2023 season. Outside of NASCAR, Ally supports one of Bowman’s passion projects – his frequent dirt racing efforts across the country. “When Ally makes a commitment to something, they’re all in ,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s been extremely rewarding to see their passion for the No. 48 team and the unique ways they use the sponsorship to engage with our fans. Not only do these initiatives positively influence Ally’s business, they leave a lasting impact on the communities where we race. It’s a special partnership that’s just getting started. “We’re thrilled to extend with Alex, who is one of NASCAR’s most exciting young stars. In addition to being hugely talented, he has incredible passion and commitment that set him apart. He’s a proven winner, and I don’t know of anyone who has worked harder to reach this level. The opportunity to continue our relationships with Alex and everyone at Ally is a great way to kick off 2023. It’s a tremendous combination.” Bowman, 29, joined Hendrick Motorsports full-time in 2018 and has won five points-paying Cup races since moving to the No. 48 team in 2021 – tied for third among all drivers in that span. The Tucson, Arizona, native has earned a playoff berth in each of his five years with the organization. Entering DAYTONA 500 qualifying on Wednesday night (8:15 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1), he will seek to start from the front row of NASCAR’s biggest event for the sixth consecutive time. “It’s hard to put into words what this opportunity means to me,” said Bowman, who is paired with new crew chief Blake Harris for 2023. “Having support from a sponsor like Ally, a car owner like Mr. Hendrick and a team like Hendrick Motorsports is everything you could want as a race car driver. I’m pumped about what’s in store for the Ally 48 this season and love the direction we’re heading. We have a lot to accomplish, and it all starts this week in Daytona.”

  • StatChat Presents - Countdown to Daytona: By The Numbers

    By Adam Carabine The NASCAR Cup Series 2022 season ended a month ago, and already our Sundays are filled with dread and longing. Forced to spend time doing chores or getting together with extended family, NASCAR fans everywhere are desperate for more on-track action. We at Racing Refresh can’t bring racing back any sooner, but we can revisit a popular feature from our early days to help pass the time. Announcing the return of StatChat’s Countdown to Daytona: By the Numbers. This year, Countdown to Daytona will chronicle the ups and downs of the 36 charters in NASCAR’s most prestigious national series. Every two days, a new article will be released with a deep dive into each team, starting from the back of the pack and making our way forward. While these articles will certainly appease all of the #NumberHeads out there, they’re designed to be a fairly quick and easy read – and should be digestible for even those who may have flunked Math 10. Countdown to Daytona begins tomorrow, and will take you all the way to February 17th, 2023 - 2 days before The Great American Race, the Daytona 500. Here is the schedule: Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @StatChatRefresh Or you can email directly: acarabine@racingrefresh.com Get all your StatChat Merch from the Racing Refresh online store!

  • Countdown to Daytona - 4 Days

    (Cover Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images) By Adam Carabine In case you missed it, StatChat is counting down the days ‘til the 2023 Daytona 500. Every two days, we will have a new article featuring one of the 36 charters of 2022. 2nd Place – Ross Chastain – 5,034 pts TRACKHOUSE RACING – CHEVROLET 379 More Points in 2022 than the Year Prior – Does Ross Chastain take the title of biggest breakout driver in 2022? His stats from his 2021 season in the No. 42 for Chip Ganassi are all dwarfed by his Trackhouse numbers this past year. The most important of them all (without factoring in the extra points given each playoff round), Chastain earned 379 more points in 2022. All of the stats in the world can certainly paint a picture of the talent you possess behind the wheel of a race car, but the only numbers that count are the points you’re scoring – and Chastain did just that. 692 Laps Led in 2022 – Ross Chastain’s previous career-high laps led in a Cup Series season was 62. In fact, coming into 2022, his career total for laps led was just 75 laps. He wildly surpassed that, leading 692 laps in 2022, which also just so happened to rank 4th best of all Cup Series charters. It was an impressive year at the front of the pack for Chastain. 2,073 Quality Passes in 2022 – As has been previously discussed in this series, NASCAR measures not just passing stats, but something they call “Quality Passes,” which means a pass made under green flag while in the Top 15. The idea being that passing better competition near the front of the pack is harder than anywhere else. Ross Chastain accomplished 2,073 Quality Passes in 2022, 3rd highest of all Cup Series charters, showing that while a change in equipment may have been beneficial to him this year, he also knows how to get by tough competition. 237 Stage Points Earned in 2022 – Ranking 6th in 2022, Ross Chastain certainly capitalized on stage points to help propel him forward in the standings. While an early win at COTA (the first ever of his Cup Series career, I might add) locked him into the playoffs, he backed that up by finishing 4th in the standings at the end of the regular season. That put him in a good position through the playoffs to make it farther than he ever had before. 1.6M YouTube Views on the “Hail Melon” – You knew there had to be SOME mention of the Hail Melon in this article! Ross Chastain achieved world-wide fame after using the wall at Martinsville to help him into the Final Four. At the expense of Denny Hamlin, Chastain used a video game move to get around the final corner and lock in his spot in the championship race at Phoenix. While it seems like a long time ago, it really was only 3 months ago. There are countless videos of it on YouTube, but the one posted on the official NASCAR page already has 1.6 million views. Ross Chastain will return to the Trackhouse Racing No. 1 in 2023. There are rumblings that a contract extension is imminent, though nothing has been reported officially as of publishing. Coming up next in the Countdown to Daytona series – 2022 Champ Joey Logano! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @RacingRefresh Or you can email directly: acarabine@racingrefresh.com Follow us on Facebook: Racing Refresh Facebook Page Get all of your Racing Refresh Merch from our online store! Is there an error? Something missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

  • Countdown to Daytona - 5 Days

    (Cover Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images) By Adam Carabine In case you missed it, StatChat is counting down the days ‘til the 2023 Daytona 500. Every two days, we will have a new article featuring one of the 36 charters of 2022. 3rd Place – Christopher Bell – 5,027 pts JOE GIBBS RACING – TOYOTA +124 Pass Differential in 2022 – Christopher Bell’s Cup Series sample size may be small, but 2022 was a standout year for the youngster. Not only did he pass 124 more cars than passed him, he surpassed his 2021 total by a large margin. In ’21, Bell was in the negative, scoring a -45 Pass Differential. Fast forward just one year, and Bell is ranked 12th of all Cup Series charters in this category. 3 Wins in 2022 – His win at New Hampshire in July of 2022 locked him into the playoffs, but it was Christopher Bell’s clutch performances in the playoffs that earned him a spot in the Final Four. Bell won at both of the final two cut-off races, in positions where he was destined to be eliminated. Without winning at the Charlotte Roval, Bell should have been eliminated from the Round of 12, as he had only enough points to place 11th. However, he soldiered on, and repeated that same feat at Martinsville 3 races later. He should have been eliminated in the Round of 8, only having scored enough points to earn 7th place. What could have easily been a respectable 11th placed finish on the season saw him become a true Championship contender. 2.00 Better Average Running Position than in 2021 – In 2021, Christopher Bell’s first year with Joe Gibbs Racing after a year in the Leavine Family Racing No. 95, Bell scored a respectable average finish of 15.81. For a younger driver just getting dipping his toes into the Cup Series, that’s a number to be proud of. 2022 comes along, and Bell betters that number by an entire two positions (on average, per race). 13.81 in 2022 is fantastic – it’s the best of the four Joe Gibbs Racing drivers, and 5th overall. 573 Laps Led in 2022 – Christopher Bell led a lot of laps in 2022. His 573 laps led ranked him 9th out of Cup Series charters, though it was the worst of the Final Four. In 2021, Bell led just 100 laps, so this was a massive improvement for him and the No. 20 team. 35.00 Average Finish @ Daytona in 2022 – The most prestigious racetrack in all of NASCAR, and it is clearly not a friend to Christopher Bell. Over the two races at Daytona in 2022, Bell scored 34th at the 500, and then 36th at the regular season finale. Over his 6 career Cup Series races there, his Average Finish ranks in the Bottom 5 of current drivers. Being good at Daytona isn’t going to win or lose you a championship, but it is interesting that this year’s 3rd placed driver simultaneously performed so poorly out in Eastern Florida. Christopher Bell reportedly signed a long term deal with Joe Gibbs Racing, as reported around October 2022. JGR could be looking at a bit of a youthful rebirth as both Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. reach closer to retirement age. With Kyle Busch leaving and being replaced by Ty Gibbs, Bell may be part of their long-term plan for a while. Coming up next in the Countdown to Daytona series – Ross Chastain! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @RacingRefresh Or you can email directly: acarabine@racingrefresh.com Follow us on Facebook: Racing Refresh Facebook Page Get all of your Racing Refresh Merch from our online store! Is there an error? Something missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

  • NASCAR and WAX Blockchain Partner to Release Limited-Edition NFTs

    Press Release | NASCAR, WAX BLOCKCHAIN (Los Angeles, CA) – (February 14 , 2023) – Today, NASCAR, the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States, announced its newest set of limited-edition NFT drops during a series of NASCAR races in partnership with The Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX), the No. 1 metaverse blockchain for video games and NFTs. Building on the partnership’s previous success during the 2022 Daytona 500, NASCAR and WAX are growing the sport’s web3 presence and providing fans who attend select races an everlasting digital keepsake. NASCAR plans to mint a series of digital collectibles, in the form of NFTs. Each mint commemorates a prestigious race in the NASCAR 75th Anniversary Season calendar. Each drop of NFTs will have free mints on WAX that will be airdropped to wallet addresses redeemed via email to fans who bought race tickets. This will be a part of a larger initiative that rolls out throughout the year in the lead up to highly anticipated events. Each collection will commemorate the race, gifting fans with free and unique digital collectibles to capture the magic of a physical race. The digital collectibles serve as a way to further engage fans beyond the one-of-a-kind experience they receive by attending a NASCAR race. The first collectibles were made available to fans who bought tickets to the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum on Feb. 5 and will continue as a series of drops throughout the year. The next drops will be released during the DAYTONA 500 (Feb. 19 on FOX), the NASCAR Cup Series Chicago Street Course race (July 2 on NBC), and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 5 on NBC). As the metaverse and NFTs expand, NASCAR continues to seek more ways to bridge physical and digital experiences, becoming key drivers in the next digital frontier and engaging with its loyal fanbase. “NASCAR fans are the most passionate in sports and there’s no live event experience like going to a NASCAR race,” said Nick Rend, NASCAR managing director gaming and Esports. “We’re happy to partner with WAX to bring our fans an everlasting digital keepsake to add to the physical race experience.” “We’re pleased to see such a large and trusted motorsports brand such as NASCAR join WAX once again and embrace the culture of blockchain technology, connecting with consumers through live events, entertainment, and memorabilia,” said William Quigley, CEO and co-founder of WAX. “We believe this is the beginning of broader adoption in web3, driving brand experiences and engagement to another level of innovation.” NASCAR chose WAX Blockchain because the cloud wallet makes it easy to use. It also has no or limited gas fees, and is working towards building an interoperable and open blockchain ecosystem. WAX’s carbon neutral technology reaffirms NASCAR’s commitment to environmental sustainability. WAX made a huge play in the sports NFT space last year, transforming America’s favorite pastime, baseball, into NFTs with Major League Baseball NFT trading cards, and joining Blockchain Brawlers with iconic WWE wrestler, Ric Flair.

  • 23XI Racing and Bubba Wallace Announce GoLiveBetter Campaign with Walmart

    (Photo Credit:Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Press Release | 23XI RACING Mooresville, N.C. (Feb. 14, 2023) – 23XI Racing announced today that Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, will team up with Walmart to help implement and amplify the GoLiveBetter campaign. GoLiveBetter is an important initiative that aims to address healthcare disparities in the African American community. Wallace made his first appearance in support of the campaign on Feb. 10 at the “Health is Wealth” Summit in Nashville, Tenn. The summit highlighted health solutions and preventative measures to help build healthier communities, along with addressing health disparities that often exist in underserved communities. Throughout the first half of the NASCAR season, Walmart will also highlight the importance of taking care of your health with activations at local Walmart parking lots in several racing markets using Walmart’s mobile wellness clinic, where guests can access basic health care, such as blood pressure and diabetes testing, vaccinations and vision screenings, where allowed. While Walmart provides many of these services in their pharmacies and Vision Centers, these events will help expand access and convenience, bringing awareness to the need to “know your numbers” to help live a healthy life. Wallace will make appearances at each of the mobile wellness events to drive attention to the campaign. Locations and dates for the events will be announced in the near future. In addition to focusing on basic health care, the GoLiveBetter campaign will also emphasize mental health awareness. Wallace has been very open about his own mental health, and recently addressed his journey at the “Health is Wealth” Summit. “I’m really excited to be working with Walmart on this initiative,” said Wallace. “As a driver, health and fitness are important to me, but I realize that not everyone has access to basic health care services. GoLiveBetter is a great chance to be a part of something that can make a significant difference in people’s lives. I know I’ve probably helped people by being open about my mental health, and I hope these events provide people, particularly those in underserved communities, with access to the resources they need.” “Bubba and Walmart working together to help address health disparities provides a great opportunity for 23XI Racing to continue doing what we can to make a positive difference within the sport and the communities where we race,” said Steve Lauletta, team president. “As we continue to strengthen our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, these events will also help us look at various needs from a different perspective and think about ways in which 23XI can continue to be a positive influence off the racetrack.”

  • Community Can Climb for a Cause at Richmond Raceway on Sunday, April 2

    (Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Press Release | RICHMOND RACEWAY RICHMOND (Feb. 13, 2023) – NASCAR fans can climb for a cause on Sunday, April 2, honoring the life and legacy of a Virginia first responder. Today, Richmond Raceway announced the First Annual Lt. Brad Clark “Master the Mezz” Send It Challenge that will be held prior to the Toyota Owners 400. Participants will scale the steps to the top of the track’s towering Commonwealth Mezzanine before weaving their way through the grandstands. By the time they are finished, participants will take approximately 1,100 steps in honor of fallen Hanover County firefighter Lt. Brad Clark, who lost his life in the line of duty in 2018. “I can’t think of a better way to pay tribute to this Virginia hero” said Richmond Raceway President Lori Collier Waran. “Lt. Clark’s selfless sacrifice saved lives and reminded us of the dangers our first responders face in the field every day. This incredible event allows us to honor his sacrifice by raising funds for organizations making a difference in our communities.” Up to 500 participants can take the “Master the Mezz” Send It Challenge for a low registration fee of $65. That fee includes a $25 ticket to Toyota Owners 400 and a $40 donation to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and the Metro Richmond Flying Squad. An unlimited number of spectator passes are available, beginning at $25. An opening ceremony is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, April 2, with the climb beginning at 7:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., participants are invited to a Post-Challenge Party that includes live entertainment, food and beverage for purchase and free giveaways. For more information and to register for this event, please visit www.richmondraceway.com/events/masterthemezz/ .

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