EA Sports (Former publisher of NASCAR video games from 98 to 2009) is finalizing a deal that would acquire longtime motorsports video game publisher Codemasters. Codemasters is a British video game publisher and long-time developer of the famed annual F1 release on current generation video game consoles. The current lineup of titles that would be transferred in this acquisition include Formula 1 , the Dirt Franchise, Grid, and OnRush, as well as the successful Project Cars property through Slightly Mad Studios. “We believe there is a deeply compelling opportunity in bringing together Codemasters and Electronic Arts to create amazing and innovative new racing games for fans. Our industry is growing, the racing category is growing, and together we will be positioned to lead in a new era of racing entertainment. We have admired Codemasters’ creative talent and high-quality games for many years. With the full leverage of EA’s technology, platform expertise, and global reach, this combination will allow us to grow our existing franchises and deliver more industry-defining racing experiences to a global fan base. We are pleased that both our Boards of Directors are recommending this transaction, and we look forward to welcoming such an exciting and talented team to the Electronic Arts family,” said Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts. The sale is estimated at $1.2 Billion USD and is the first significant investment into motorsports outside of their Need For Speed series in over a decade. Per Business Wire, the sale is expected to be completed in the first Quarter of 2021.

--Press Release-- 23XI Racing announced DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance as its founding partners, joining Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Toyota Camry for the 2021 season. Below are comments from Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and key executives from each partner. Denny Hamlin “Today is a big day for us at 23XI Racing. To be able to announce the addition of five founding partners who are willing to join us in our first year and who share in our beliefs and values is such a great feeling. We’ve certainly had to make things happen fast to build this new team, and I’m excited to welcome each one of these partners and to get to know them better. I’m fortunate that during my time at Joe Gibbs Racing I’ve been able to have a great mentor and see how Coach, as an owner, is able to service each partner. That’s new for me - learning the owner side while still on the driver side, but I’m in for the long haul and will continue this far beyond my driving years. I’m passionate about this sport and I’m excited to bring new partners to the table and bring back others who have been in our sport in the past.” Bubba Wallace “I’m pumped to get the season started. I wish Daytona was tomorrow. We’re heading in the right direction and we’ll be ready when we get to Daytona. As I’ve said before, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and there’s no more excuses. We want to go out and win and I know we’ll have everything we need each week to make that happen. To have great partners in DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance come on board and show their support of me and this team is really cool. I’m excited for what we can do on the track, but at the end of the day, these partnerships and relationships are so much more than that. It’s about how we use our platforms to be better humans and help create a positive change. It’s about what we do Monday through Friday outside of the firesuit and that’s a really special thing for me. Knowing I have their support and this team behind me makes me really excited for this season to see what we can accomplish together.” DoorDash “As a company that values diversity, openness, and empowering local communities, we are proud to partner with 23XI Racing to build upon our shared foundation of creating a more inclusive environment for NASCAR fans. This partnership enables us to further engage with the racing community through one of the most innovative teams in the sport, while expanding our previous partnership with Bubba Wallace, Jr. and accelerating our commitment to creating real change for the underrepresented communities and restaurants we serve.” - Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, VP, Marketing, DoorDash. McDonald’s “Two years ago, McDonald’s partnered with one of motorsport’s rising stars, Bubba Wallace, and we couldn’t be more proud to witness him succeed on and off the track, while breaking barriers and becoming one of the sport’s truest change agents. As a founding partner of 23XI Racing, we’re excited to continue our partnership with Bubba as he and the team advance the sport and make it more relevant to a larger audience.” - Joe Erlinger, President, McDonald’s USA Columbia Sportswear “We are incredibly excited by the opportunity to partner with 23XI Racing and to bring the outdoors to NASCAR. Over the last year Bubba has continually inspired us not only by his passion for the outdoors, but also his commitment to building bridges on and off the track. His tireless efforts towards inclusivity perfectly align with Columbia’s corporate mission of unlocking the outdoors for everyone. We look forward to joining the 23XI Racing crew for what is sure to be an exciting NASCAR season.” -Joe Boyle, President, Columbia Sportswear Brand Dr Pepper “We’re thrilled to be a founding sponsor of 23XI Racing and part of a team making a difference on and off the track. Keurig Dr Pepper knows that bringing the best together creates a winning formula. We’ve done that in all aspects of our business, and we’re doing it here with 23XI Racing.” - Andrew Springate, Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Marketing and Concentrate Officer Root Insurance “Bubba has demonstrated his ability to lead and stand up for what is right. We are thrilled that Root Insurance will be there to continue to support him and 23XI Racing throughout the 2021 season as they continue to lead on and off the track.” - Alex Timm, Root Insurance CEO

StatChat Presents: Countdown to Daytona: By the Numbers As any NASCAR fan knows, the worst part of the year comes right after the championship race, as we anxiously wait for racing to come back. 2020 has been the world’s longest year, and while we here at Racing Refresh can’t make February 2021 come any quicker, we can help you pass the time with a new StatChat feature! December 16th marks 60 days until the start of the Daytona 500, so StatChat proudly presents the “StatChat Countdown to Daytona: By the Numbers.” We’ll bring you a new article every 2 days, counting down the Top 30 from the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Season. Each article will have a variety of noteworthy numbers, statistical breakdown, and also some random fun facts to get you geared up for Daytona 2021. The Top 30 have been determined by their points finish in 2020, which means that 30th place driver Corey LaJoie will start us off on December 16th, and then every second day a new driver will be featured until we reach Chase Elliott, 2020 Cup Series Champ, 2 days before the Daytona 500 on February 14th, 2021. Make sure you come back and visit every two days to stay up-to-date on the “StatChat Countdown to Daytona: By the Numbers.” Schedule: Corey LaJoie December 16 Aric Almirola January 15 Ryan Preece December 18 William Byron January 17 Matt Kenseth December 20 Matt DiBenedetto January 19 John Hunter Nemechek December 22 Clint Bowyer January 21 Ty Dillon December 24 Austin Dillon January 23 Ryan Newman December 26 Kurt Busch January 25 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. December 28 Ryan Blaney January 27 Michael McDowell December 30 Kyle Busch January 29 Bubba Wallace January 1 Martin Truex Jr. January 31 Chris Buescher January 3 Alex Bowman February 2 Christopher Bell January 5 Kevin Harvick February 4 Tyler Reddick January 7 Denny Hamlin February 6 Jimmie Johnson January 9 Joey Logano February 8 Erik Jones January 11 Brad Keselowski February 10 Cole Custer January 13 Chase Elliott February 12

What will be the impact of the big changes at Hendrick Motorsports? A look at what we can expect to see from Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 and beyond. Rick Hendrick has never been afraid of change, but it’s hard to imagine an offseason when his race teams have gone through more changes than this offseason. Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time champion and certainly one of the greatest drivers of all time has retired, Chad Knaus, the only crew chief that’s never missed the NASCAR playoffs will no longer be on top of the pit box, and some dirt-track hotshot named Larson is climbing behind the wheel of the iconic No. 5 car in 2021. Oh, and let’s not forget that the guys at Hendrick will be expanding their trophy case in the offseason to make room Chase Elliott’s championship trophy. With everything going on, what can we expect from Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) in 2021 and beyond? Let’s start with the promotion of Chad Knaus. That’s right, his new role is considered a promotion. Instead of calling the shots for one of the four HMS teams, he will be influencing all of the teams at HMS in his new role as Vice President of Competition. Chad may not be making the calls for two tires or four tires, but his fingerprints will be all over the HMS cars, and he may ultimately have more impact at HMS now than when he was winning seven championships with Jimmie Johnson. In his new role, Chad will be overseeing technical development, engineering, fabrication and other aspects of the day-to-day operations at Hendrick. These responsibilities match up perfectly with Chad’s talents, and there may never be a better marriage of the “right person in the right job” than Chad Knaus and his new role at Hendrick. If you think about these new responsibilities, “technical development, engineering and fabrication” and then look at Chad’s history of, how shall I say this, “operating in the gray area of the rulebook”, it seems like the perfect recipe for fast cars, and headaches for the NASCAR inspectors. Chad Knaus is kind of the “mad scientist” of the NASCAR garage area, and putting him in this role is just giving the mad scientist a bigger and better laboratory to work in, so expect big, and innovative, things from the Hendrick stable this year. In addition to Chad’s new role, they have a championship to celebrate this offseason, thanks to Chase Elliott. HMS hasn’t had a chance to celebrate a championship since 2016. That may not seem like a long time, but the last time HMS had a drought that long, was in 2006, when Jimmie won his first championship. Don’t underestimate the confidence that comes with winning this year’s championship, not just for the Chase Elliott crew, but for the entire organization. HMS had to feel like they were slipping behind a little bit when Joe Gibbs Racing had won two of the last three championships, especially when the 2019 Championship Four included three entries from the Joe Gibbs stable. With the 2020 championship coming back to the Hendrick garage, the combination of talent, momentum and confidence could be deadly for the competition in 2021. As David Pearson once said “You can’t just throw a brick in the driver’s seat and expect to win races”, so let’s take a look at the drivers at HMS. This is a YOUNG group of drivers, and that’s one of the most overlooked aspects of HMS. Let’s compare the current HMS drivers and see how they stack up against Jimmie Johnson at the same age. People forget that Jimmie Johnson didn’t get his first win until he was 26 years old, and didn’t win his first championship until he was 31.Just how young are these guys? Well, Alex Bowman is the elder statesman among the HMS drivers, and he’s only 28 years old! This is a young group, whose talent level is off the charts, but don’t confuse their youth with lack of experience, even the youngster of the group, William Byron, has three full seasons of Cup experience under his belt. Byron has been criticized for his lack of wins, but it’s easily forgotten that he’s only 23 years old. Even Jeff Gordon, who was known as “Boy Wonder” when he burst on the scene in 1994, was only a couple of months shy of his 23 rd birthday when he got his first win, so Byron’s stats don’t look that much different than Gordon’s at the same point in their career. Then we have Chase Elliot, the reigning NASCAR champion. He comes from a NASCAR pedigree, being the son of NASCAR Champion, Bill Elliott. He practically grew up in the garage and behind the wheel. Still, despite his pedigree and obvious talent level, it took some experience and maturity for him to begin to show his full potential. Keep in mind that it was earlier this year that Chase was giving away victories through poor driving decisions. Remember the spring race at Bristol when he drove into a corner too hard, made contact with Joey Logano and cost himself a win? How about Darlington when he was protecting a lead late in the race and for some reason, decided to adjust his line and run the low line through turns three and four, which allowed Martin Truex, Jr. to close the gap on him, ultimately leading to contact between the two on the following lap, and another Chase Elliott victory slipped away. These kind of mistakes are typical of a young driver, but look for these to disappear as Chase seems to be gaining the experience and maturity to avoid such costly mistakes. Oh, and one more thing that works in Chase Elliott’s favor, as if being young, talented, and in top notch equipment isn’t enough, the NASCAR schedule highly favors him in 2021, with a total of 6 Road Courses on the schedule. Chase is the reigning road course king right now, and there’s really not anyone close to matching his prowess when drivers have to make the car turn both to the right and the left. Finally, this article would not be complete without discussing Kyle Larson. After being suspended by NASCAR and losing his ride at Chip Ganassi Racing for making an inappropriate comment into an open mic, Larson spent most of 2020 setting the dirt world on fire and establishing himself as one of the most talented drivers in any form of motorsports. Larson made a habit of winning, or at least being highly competitive, while driving what many consider to be second-tier equipment at Chip Ganasi racing. Larson is the proverbial guy that can drive anything with four tires and a steering wheel, and putting him in top notch equipment is going to give him the ultimate opportunity to showcase his talent. All in all, the future is very bright at Hendrick Motorsports. Look for big things from this group in 2021 and beyond, and don’t be surprised if the Championship Four next year looks a Hendrick company picnic with multiple drivers from the Hendrick camp making it to the Championship Round next year. About the author : Tom Willoughby is motorsports enthusiast and lifelong fan of NASCAR and dirt track racing. He also contributes to, and makes guest appearances on the Racing Refresh podcast.

--Press Release From Michael Shank Racing-- Multi-time Rolex 24 winner set for run IMSA Endurance Cup with MSR Pataskala, Ohio (2 December 2020) – Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) has finalized its 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship lineup and is pleased to announce that Juan Pablo Montoya has signed with the team to compete in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds in the No. 60 MSR Acura ARX-05 Prototype. Montoya joins full-season drivers Olivier Pla and Dane Cameron with 2012 Rolex 24 winner AJ Allmendinger returning to the team for his 15th Rolex 24 with MSR. Having been part of the development of the Acura ARX-05 prior to its 2018 debut, Montoya brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Prototype platform to MSR. “I’m really excited to be joining Meyer Shank Racing next year,” said Montoya. “I’ve always seen Mike (Shank) around the track and we had a really simple, straight forward conversation to get this deal put together for next year.” In addition to his speed and experience, Montoya also brings some added chemistry to the team as he rejoins his former co-driver, Cameron, onboard the Acura ARX-05. Having raced the last three races seasons together, Montoya and Cameron have collected three victories and nine podium finishes. The strong effort saw the pair claim the 2019 IMSA Team, Driver and Manufacturer championships. “Dane and I have a really great relationship that has also turned into a friendship,” continued Montoya. “We both really understand each other and know what we need from each other to be competitive. I’m looking forward to continuing the relationship with him. I’m also looking forward to driving with Olivier and AJ. I know AJ from back when I ran NASCAR and we banged wheels more than once!” With the Rolex 24 At Daytona set for January 30-31, Montoya is hoping to help MSR capture its second overall Rolex 24 victory. “I’ve won at Daytona several times, but we have yet to score a victory with the Acura,” said Montoya. “It would be great to get that first victory and I know that with the lineup that Mike has put together we’re capable of doing that.” from News – Meyer Shank Racing https://ift.tt/3obzt24 via IFTTT

One of NASCAR's remaining free agents now has a ride. Third generation driver Corey LaJoie and Spire Motorsports announced yesterday that the 29 year old would be behind the wheel of their newly announced #7 team for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Spire had already been expected to announce a full-time driver for their #77 Chevrolet team. No announcement has been made in regards to the future of that car. LaJoie has raced in NASCAR's Cup Series since 2014 and has earned 3 top 10 finishes in 129 career starts. All of those came in the #32 Ford for Go Fas Racing, which shut down full-time operation at the end of the 2020 season for a smaller, part-time schedule. Spire states that their goal is to compete, but development on their 2022 efforts are specifically focused on the next-gen car. Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports tweeted that Spire will purchase vehicles from both Chip Ganassi Racing and Hendrick Motorsports to ensure they have a fleet large enough to support the addition of a second team. Spire also announced the purchase of Leavine Family Racing's assets earlier in the year and confirmed the sale was complete as of November 30th. Spire's operations will be relocated to the same shop where 1992 Alan Kulwicki's team built his championship winning cars that season, racing the same car number. "I’ve been an Alan Kulwicki fan my entire life," stated LaJoie. "To compete with the No. 7 on the roof and door is an honor for any driver at any level, but to have it here on our car in the NASCAR Cup Series is taken very seriously." "We’re thrilled to pay tribute to Alan Kulwicki and Geoff Bodine by running the No. 7 and racing out of that shop," added Puchyr. "Alan had a unique way about him and took a very unconventional route to winning a championship. Everyone knows the story. He didn’t have a ton of money and did more with so much less than many of the most well-heeled teams of that day. We see a lot of parallels between Spire Motorsports and Alan’s approach. At the same time, I grew up in the northeast and the No. 7 was synonymous with the Baldwin family so, it’s a proud moment to tie all that history together and compliment the No. 77 we’ve run the last two years."

-- Press Release : The American Legion -- INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today a multi-year agreement with the nation's largest veterans service organization, The American Legion, as a sponsor of the No. 48 Honda in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES represented by a combination of Seven-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson (street and road courses) and former Indianapolis 500 Winner and Series Champion Tony Kanaan (ovals). "We're excited about this new relationship with The American Legion as it allows us to further the sponsorship program on the No. 48 team with Jimmie and Tony, while also representing a very important relationship with an organization dedicated to supporting veterans," said Chip Ganassi, team owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. "Jimmie in particular has a long-standing appreciation for the service of veterans, so it was just another reason why partnering with The American Legion on his debut in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES made sense." The American Legion will be featured prominently on Johnson's No. 48 Honda during every race in the 2021 and 2022 NTT INDYCAR SERIES. The organization will also be the primary paint scheme for two races in 2021, including, "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend. Kanaan, winner of the 2013 Indianapolis 500, will be behind the wheel for those races. "This is truly a win-win for all involved," said James W. "Bill" Oxford, national commander of The American Legion. "Teaming up with Chip Ganassi Racing allows The American Legion to showcase how it strengthens America every day through its programs, advocacy and support of veterans and their families. We're looking forward to bringing that message and our mission to race fans across the country." The announcement comes on #GivingTuesday, a day of global giving designed to help change communities and the world. As a result, Johnson, who has family members that have served in the military, will be making a $10,000 donation to The American Legion. Johnson hopes his donation will motivate fans and the public to support our veterans by donating $48 to The American Legion. The $48 pays homage to the number 48 car that he and Kanaan will drive. Donors can visit legion.org/48 to make a gift and help celebrate this new relationship and veterans across the country. "Our family knows firsthand how important it is to recognize our veterans," said Johnson, who's grandfathers and brother-in-law served in the military. "It's exciting to be partnering with The American Legion to be able to show our appreciation to veterans and to continue to raise public awareness and support for this special organization. Giving Tuesday is a great day to announce this partnership and a way for fans to show their appreciation for our veterans." About The American Legion The American Legion is the largest veterans service organization with nearly 2 million members in more than 12,000 posts across the nation. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security and continued devotion to servicemembers and veterans. About Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 30 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four cars in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, two cars in the NASCAR Cup Series, and one car in both the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Extreme E. Overall, his teams have 20 championships and over 225 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400, eight Rolex 24 At Daytonas, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh. For more information log onto www.chipganassiracing.com Contact: John Raughter Contact: Kelby Krauss Email: jraughter@legion.org Email: kkrauss@ganassi.com Phone: (317) 630 1350 Phone: (317) 802-0000 SOURCE The American Legion

-- Press Release : Chip Ganassi Racing -- Longtime Partner NTT DATA and Bryant Join No. 48 Entry with former Indianapolis 500 Winner and Series Champion Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced today an agreement with Indianapolis 500 Winner, NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and 17-time race winner Tony Kanaan to a multi-year deal to pilot the No. 48 Honda entry for the four ovals on the calendar, complementing the 13 road and street course events being contested by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson. Kanaan will re-join CGR (2014-2017) alongside Johnson, former teammate, six-time and reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and Indianapolis 500 Winner Scott Dixon, Marcus Ericsson and CGR newcomer Alex Palou. Longtime CGR and Kanaan partner NTT DATA along with Bryant, also a longtime sponsor of Kanaan and former sponsor of CGR, return to CGR, and will both have primary paint schemes as well as associate-level relationships on the No. 48 Honda and other CGR entries that will soon be announced. NOTES OF INTEREST: • NTT DATA, TK and CGR: NTT DATA began its relationship with CGR in 2013 at the Indianapolis 500 partnering on the No. 8 NTT DATA entry. Kanaan first competed with CGR in 2013 in an NTT DATA-backed Daytona Prototype fielded in the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he drove to a second-place finish. NTT DATA maintained an associate partnership with CGR on the No. 83 Indy car, became a primary partner on the No. 8 entry for the 2014 season, and then on the No. 10 entry, driven by Kanaan, in 2015 and has been on that car ever since. NTT DATA is also the official IT services partner to CGR. • About Bryant: Bryant has a rich tradition in auto racing and is the longest-standing non-automotive sponsor at the Indianapolis 500. Legends like Eddie Sachs, Roger Ward, Cale Yarborough, Scott Brayton, Chip Ganassi, Stan Fox and Janet Guthrie have all driven under the Bryant Racing banner, earning a total of 16 previous race victories on other tracks. The 2021 season will mark the 14th of 15 NTT INDYCAR SERIES seasons during which Bryant has worked with Kanaan. • By the Numbers: In 23 seasons of Indy car racing, Brazilian Tony Kanaan has 383 starts, 17 wins, 15 poles, 78 podiums and over 4,000 laps led. He began his career in 1998 and was the 2004 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and 2013 Indianapolis 500 Winner. He remains the all-time leader in consecutive starts with 318 consecutive Indy car starts, having started every race since Portland in 2001 through the first race of the 2020 season in Texas. Kanaan has been a fan favorite for decades in the series and always maintains one of the largest followings on social media in the series. QUOTEBOARD: • David Croxville, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, NTT DATA Services: “We are thrilled to welcome back Tony to Chip Ganassi Racing and for NTT DATA to have the opportunity to reunite with him. Tony has been an outstanding ambassador for NTT DATA over the years and remains an integral part of our company’s legacy in the sport, including driving the NTT DATA car at Ganassi from 2015-17. All NTT DATA Racing fans will look forward to having one of the sport’s most popular drivers represent us again.” • Justin Keppy, President, North America Residential & Light Commercial, Bryant: “We’re excited to extend our relationship with Tony for the 2021 season. Bryant has been a long-time supporter of Tony, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 and we’re pleased that it will continue. Tony embodies all of the qualities that the Bryant brand stands for, including our mantra of always doing Whatever it Takes® in order to get the job done. Our racing sponsorship is something that our distributors and dealers really enjoy and we’re looking forward to sharing it with them next year.” • Tony Kannan, Driver, No. 48 Honda: “It’s hard to express in words how excited I am about this announcement. When Chip and I first started to talk about the opportunity to drive the ovals and share the No. 48 with Jimmie Johnson I couldn’t imagine that we would reach an agreement this fast. Chip Ganassi Racing is at the pinnacle of motorsports in North America and being able to be part of the program once again with such great drivers in their lineup is a dream come true. I've also been very fortunate to enjoy great relationships with my sponsors throughout my career and having companies like Bryant and NTT DATA supporting me once again is a testament to that. Both Bryant and NTT DATA have been with me through different teams, wins and even life events. Being able to continue to represent these companies is truly an honor.” • Chip Ganassi, Team Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing: “As the Indy car driver market trends younger and younger, experience is something that cannot be taught – especially at the Indianapolis 500. There is no one more experienced in the paddock than Tony, and when we needed the right fit for rounding out our oval program, it was clear he was the right choice. We are very familiar with NTT DATA and Bryant over the years and are excited to have both companies back with this program. Tony also knows our team, he knows our system and he knows our drivers. We expect the combination of him and Jimmie to give us the one-two punch we’re looking for in the No. 48.”

-- Roush Fenway Racing Press Release -- NASCAR ALL-IN: THE SEASON, Now Streaming on MotorTrend App CONCORD, N.C., (Nov. 24, 2020) – Ryan Newman’s post-Daytona 500 crash has been well documented, and his story is once again featured in national headlines as he is featured in NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure, a multi-part documentary that tells the story of the 2020 NASCAR season. Newman’s episode, Now or Never, debuted on Nov. 14, exclusively on the MotorTrend app . The episode picks up after a whirlwind summer when NASCAR returned to ‘The World Center of Racing’ for its final race in the regular season. As part of the episode, Newman returns to the site of his horrific crash in which he was mere feet away from his second Daytona 500 trophy, and picks up Newman’s life and outlook in the weeks and months following. Produced for the MotorTrend Group by NASCAR Productions, NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure has something for everyone, from huge NASCAR fans who will appreciate the behind-the-scenes access, to documentary buffs who should find the mix of action and stress of navigating the unparalleled nature of this season highly entertaining. As documented in the show, Newman went on to make a miraculous return, walking out of a Florida hospital just two days following the crash. When COVID-19 halted NASCAR – and much of the world’s schedule – the time off was a silver lining for Newman, as he was able to return to the track in May as part of the sport’s return, having missed just the three West Coast races immediately following the incident. Plans for NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure to air on broadcast television will be announced at a later date. Additional episodes will continue to air until Dec. 12. With your free trial to the MotorTrend App you will also get access to over 3,600 hours of automotive entertainment, including shows from MotorTrend, Discovery Channel, live events and more. Start watching Under Pressure today. About Roush Fenway Racing Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. Set to begin its 34th season in 2021, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

-- Press Release — Morgan Shepherd Racing Ventures — After Decades Of On Track Battles, Morgan Shepherd Faces New Challenge ​As we come to a close of 2020, it truly has been a challenging year to many, and for Morgan Shepherd, it is no different. For the first time in 52 consecutive years, Morgan did not participate in any of NASCAR's three Series. Morgan was in a battle of a different sorts in the challenging 2020 year. After a long year of health issues, Morgan has been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson's Disease. However, in true Shepherd fashion, he is determined to look into 2021 and make plans for another year of NASCAR racing, as a Car Owner. We all have had challenges to overcome and Morgan has always wanted to be an encourager, defying his age in physical and mental ability. Morgan's charity work with the physically challenged has inspired him in the toughest times and currently continues in his diagnosis. Donations Needed For 34th Annual Morgan Shepherd Charity Trip on 12/14 ​The Morgan Shepherd Charitable fund has been made possible for 33 years due to the kind and generous support received from friends, family, and fans. We are currently preparing for the 34th year of the Morgan Shepherd Charity trip. On December 14, 2020 we are planning to visit our friends at the PARC Workshop in Stuart, VA. We are excited to be returning to Stuart with a day of fun activities and giving of gifts. Due to covid 19, our trip may only have a few traveling to Stuart to distribute gifts and monetary donations. As the date grows closer a decision will be made in regards to this matter. As you prepare for the holiday season, I ask that you prayerfully consider giving to the Morgan Shepherd Charitable Fund. We are a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation-Tax ID number 31-1480630. Through your donation, you can help bring the love of Christ to those less fortunate.

PRESS RELEASE FROM LIVE FAST MOTORSPORTS For Immediate Release: Matt Tifft and B.J. McLeod are thrilled to announce the formation of Live Fast Motorsports . The #78 Ford Mustang will compete on a full-time basis in the 2021 season and beyond. B.J. McLeod will pilot the #78 Mustang under the charter that Tifft and McLeod obtained in 2020, alongside Joe Falk. Live Fast Motorsports has entered a strategic partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing to assist the team in competition and navigating the difficulties of developing a successful NASCAR Cup team. Live Fast Motorsports is excited to be joining an incredible group of owners, as well as the new teams and ownership coming into the sport. NASCAR’S Next Gen car and model for teams will provide opportunities for new teams to compete at a higher level. Live Fast Motorsports and its partners are ready to take on the challenge to grow and develop as a team. See you in Daytona! Matt Tifft and BJ McLeod will be available at 12:00 p.m. ET via Zoom to speak to media. Details can be found at NASCARMedia.com . @teamlivefast Teamlivefast.com

In conjunction with recent advisories from Governor DeWine and Mayor Ginther, the 2020 Appeal 500 will be postponed until a later time. We greatly appreciate everyone's interest in this annual gathering of fans and personalities from the show, and want to specifically recognize Chris Bowen of GPK Indoor Entertainment for his consistent support of our program. More details on time and location for this event will be made at a later time.

--Press Release From Michael Shank Racing-- Two championships and seven victories collected since 2017 Pataskala, Ohio (20 November 2020) – Racing to the championship at the same track where the team first tested the car some 48 months before, Meyer Shank Racing closed out a spectacular four year run with the Acura NSX GT3 by securing its second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech Championship at Sebring International Raceway last weekend. The team will now move its focus to the IMSA Prototype class at it makes the switch to the Acura ARX-05 DPi starting in 2021. Selected by Acura as the factory GTD team to debut the all new Acura NSX GT3 in 2017, Meyer Shank Racing was integral in the development of the Acura NSX’s first year competing in North America. It didn’t take long to lock down the pace as MSR secured the first ever North American win for the Acura NSX GT3 in Detroit in 2017. The Ohio-based team went on to score six additional victories and 24 total podium finishes in the following four years running the platform. The team and its core of drivers worked hand in hand with Honda Performance Development (HPD) and a team of engineers to develop and deploy an “Evo” update for the Acura NSX in 2019, which allowed the effort to find yet more success—bringing MSR to two IMSA GTD class championships in 2019 and 2020 as well as giving Acura its first GTD manufacturer championship title in 2020. 2017: The Developmental Year No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 – Andy Lally & Katherine Legge No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 – Ozz Negri & Jeff Segal With just a handful of test days prior to the debut of the Acura NSX GT3 in Daytona, Meyer Shank Racing entered the season not knowing what was to come. MSR featured a two-car lineup for the 2017 season with Andy Lally and Katherine Legge in the No. 93 Acura while MSR veteran, Ozz Negri would pair with Jeff Segal in the No. 86 Acura. While the rainy conditions at the Rolex 24 At Daytona allowed the car to shine, the season started slowly from a results point of view, with just one appearance inside the top ten in Long Beach. But a quick turn around on the streets of Belle Isle saw Legge qualify on the front row and go on to bring home the first North American victory with for the Acura NSX GT3 with Andy Lally in June. That momentum continued to the next round at Watkins Glen which saw the pair storm to victory after starting on pole and securing a second win onboard the NSX. A second place finish in the following round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and another second place finish at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca saw the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 claim sixth in its debut IMSA GTD Championship. 2018: Fighting for the Championship No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 – Katherine Legge & Alvaro Parente No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 – Lawson Aschenbach & Justin Marks With 6,978 laps of competition under its belt, MSR entered the 2018 season looking to improve on its debut IMSA results for the 2018 season. The Rolex 24 At Daytona was a strong opening round for the No. 86 Acura which saw Legge, Parente, Trent Hindman and AJ Allmendinger make a run to second place in the 24 hour event and win the opening round of the Michelin Endurance Cup. Legge and Parente went on to score one more podium finish (2nd) at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course just two races later. Entering the Detroit weekend as reigning race winners, Legge was joined by Mario Farnbacher to fill in for Parente. The pair once again showed the strength of the Acura NSX GT3 on the tough street course, bringing home a second victory in Detroit. The race weekend also saw the No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 of Aschenbach and Marks finish second – which marked MSR’s first-ever 1-2 finish in IMSA competition. With two additional podium finishes at Watkins Glen and Road America, championship hopes rapidly developed for the No. 86 Acura. Traveling west for the penultimate round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Legge not only scored her first ever IMSA pole position but also posted the fastest lap record for GTD (1:24.456-seconds) which still holds today. Legge and Parente raced to a flag-to-flag victory. With just one race left at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, The No. 86 Acura entered the weekend second in the GTD championship standings and just six points behind the leaders. Despite a big P2 finish in the 10 hour finale event, the No. 86 Acura was just one-point shy of the claiming the GTD championship. 2019: Championship Hopes Become Reality No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 – Trent Hindman & Mario Farnbacher No. 57 Acura NSX GT3 – Katherine Legge & Christina Nielsen After coming so close to the championship title in 2018, Meyer Shank Racing returned in 2019 ready for redemption. Both previously running as endurance drivers for MSR, Hindman and Farnbacher were promoted to full-season teammates for the 2019 season. The season also saw the first-ever all-female lineup which saw rotating drivers, Legge, Nielsen, Bia Figueiredo, Alice Powell and Simona De Silvestro in the No. 57 Acura NSX GT3. Not only a new lineup of drivers entered the season with MSR, but an all-new Acura NSX was also brought into the picture with the upgraded ‘Evo.’ A completely upgraded aero package saw changes in the splitter, rear bumper and diffuser which boasted more cooling but limited drag, thus increasing the powerful platform’s top speed. The run to Meyer Shank Racing’s first-ever IMSA GTD championship wasn’t easy, but Hindman and Farnbacher made it look that way. Four podium finishes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Lime Rock Park and Virginia International Raceway were all factors towards the championship. But it was a second career win for MSR at Watkins Glen that put Hindman and Farnbacher on the map to claim the championship. The final Motul Petit Le Mans saw Farnbacher and Hindman come into the race with a substantial 32 point lead in the points standings. In order to claim the GTD Team championship the No. 86 Acura just needed to take the green flag. And for the Driver championship to be secured, both Hindman and Farnbacher needed to complete the minimum drive time of two hours and 30-minutes. Despite sustaining damage and retiring early, Farnbacher and Hindman were able to capture both the Team and Driver championships for Meyer Shank Racing. The championship title was also the first for the Acura NSX GT3. 2020: Closing Out Four Year Run with Second Championship Title No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 – Mario Farnbacher & Matt McMurry No. 93 Acura NSX GT3 – Misha Goikhberg & Alvaro Parente A crazy 2020 season saw a pandemic sideline teams and drivers before returning to racing mid-summer. A ten race season stood between Meyer Shank Racing and a second consecutive GTD championship title. Claiming four podium finishes and two victories in the 2020 season, Farnbacher and McMurry made an incredible drive to secure the IMSA Team, Driver and Manufacturer titles in 2020. But that feat wasn’t easy as the rough and tumble nature of IMSA racing saw the pair go from leading the championship, and leading the race, at Mid-Ohio to suffering contact in three consecutive races which took the pair our of contention and put them as low as fourth in the championship standings. Fighting back tooth and nail, Farnbacher and McMurry once again raced to lead the GTD championship following a standout victory at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Claiming his first-ever IMSA GTD pole position, McMurry started from the front row and never looked backed. The victory was backed up by the team’s sister car finishing third. Heading into the final IMSA round at Sebring International Raceway, Farnbacher and McMurry held just a seven point advantage in the championship. To secure another championship title, Farnbacher and McMurry needed to finish fourth or higher, irrespective of where the second and third place championship cars finished. A grueling race that tests both driver and car, closed out with the No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 finishing on the podium in third, and once again claiming the Team and Driver championships. The result also gave Acura its first-ever GTD Manufacturer championship title.

NASCAR Awarded Jimmie Johnson

There seems to be a trend when it comes to most popular driver in regards to the most popular form of motorsports. NASCAR's newest champion Chase Elliott won his third consecutive fan-focused recognition and was awarded it during the virtual season awards banquet on Wednesday night. The recognition came with no surprise to many in the media. Since 1991, the most popular driver award has been only awarded to members of the Earnhardt and Elliott families. Chase's father Bill Elliott won the award a total of 16 times. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was awarded it posthumously in 2001, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won it the final 15 years of his hall of fame career. While Chase Elliott appears to be starting a dynasty in regards to this award himself, there is an increase in fan voting and popularity of young drivers such as Darrell Wallace Jr. , Ryan Blaney, and Matt DiBenedetto that could lead to more competition in future years. Chase also won most popular honors in NASCAR's Xfinity Series in 2014 and 2015.