Ben Rhodes Returns To ThorSport Racing In 2017

SANDUSKY, OHIO (January 31, 2017) – ThorSport Racing announced today that 19-year-old Louisville, KY native, Ben Rhodes, will return to the Sandusky, Ohio-based team for the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season. Rhodes, who competed in the series during his rookie campaign in 2016, will pilot the No. 27 Toyota Tundra as he makes a bid for the series championship in 2017.

“This is an amazing opportunity to be partnered with Toyota and ThorSport Racing again for the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season,” said Ben Rhodes, driver of the No. 27 Toyota Tundra. “The 2016 season had a lot of ups and downs, but we have put all that in the rearview mirror and we’re focused on the year ahead. We have a new team, a new number, and great support from Toyota. With the NASCAR changes to the race and point structure, the No. 27 team will be up front contending for segment wins and race victories to get us into the playoffs and contend for the championship.”

Rhodes, the 2014 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion, Rookie of the Year, and Most Popular Driver, joined ThorSport Racing and the NCWTS in 2016, following a part-time, 10 race schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015. In his first full-time season in the series, Rhodes earned his series first 21 Means 21 Pole Award at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (April) and led 55 laps en route to two top-five and five top-10 finishes, finishing 14th in the series championship point standings.

Alpha Energy Solutions, a commercial and industrial mechanical self-performing service provider, will continue their support of Rhodes in his sophomore campaign in 2017. The Louisville, Ky. based company will adorn the No. 27 Tundra at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta (July), and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (August). Additional sponsorship for the No. 27 Toyota Tundra will be announced at a later date.

Rhodes’ 2017 campaign will be led by crew chief Eddie Troconis. Troconis, who called the shots for Cameron Hayley in 2016 at ThorSport Racing, enters his second full-time season in the series atop the pit box. In his first full-time season, the Mexico native was credited with six top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.

The 2017 NCWTS season kicks off with the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 24. All the action will be televised live on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR channel 90 at 7:30pm ET.

Phoenix Raceway unveils details for $178 million modernization project

Phoenix Raceway, together with its parent company, International Speedway Corporation ("ISC"), announced today the details of a $178 million modernization of the race track with a variety of enhanced amenities for fans, teams, sponsors and other stakeholders.

“This is a great day for ISC and Phoenix Raceway, but more importantly, for racing fans in the state of Arizona and around the world,” ISC Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy said. “A project of this magnitude is monumental for our company as we get to work enhancing the experience of the great fans who love to watch our races in Phoenix and enjoy this beautiful area. Having Phoenix Raceway within our prestigious stable of venues always has been a tremendous asset and source of pride for us. We are thrilled to create a best-in-class facility in Phoenix, and we’re confident it will grow the fan base here and further serve as a destination track for motorsports fans everywhere.”

Among the many highlights of the modernization project is a completely redesigned infield featuring a first-of-its-kind Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Garage Fan Zone, placing fans face-to-face with the superstars of the sport. Phoenix Raceway’s start/finish line will be repositioned in Turn 2 just before the track’s well-known dog leg. Other new highlights include a new pedestrian tunnel connecting the infield to the new seating areas featuring in-seat Wi-Fi connectivity.

DC Solar, entitlement partner of Phoenix Raceway’s spring NASCAR XFINITY Series race, the DC Solar 200, will serve as the title sponsor for the modernization project (Phoenix Raceway Project Powered by DC Solar) as well as a multi-year sponsor of the redesigned Midway.

“When our project is completed, we will have a venue that delivers amazing fan experiences to go along with our reputation for great racing action,” said Phoenix Raceway President Bryan R. Sperber. “By shifting the start/finish line to Phoenix Raceway’s famed dog leg, fans will be perfectly positioned to watch one of the most exciting turns in motorsports. We are confident The Phoenix Raceway Project powered by DC Solar will put racing in Arizona in a whole new and exciting light.”

The repositioned start/finish line will enhance the competition near one of the most challenging areas of the track while adding to the excitement during key race moments such as restarts and the closing laps.

“It’s great to see Phoenix Raceway make such a big investment to improve the experience for the fans,” said Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’S Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. “I’m from the West Coast and Phoenix is one of those places that always feels like home to me. Moving the start/finish line is a big change for all the racers that have been used to racing at Phoenix in the past; I’m looking forward to seeing how those changes might affect the racing and how the end of the races play out.”

The modernization project also includes the installation of new/upgraded seating and hospitality areas near the current Turn 2 location. A new grandstand will be built alongside upgraded seats in the existing Bobby Allison Grandstand (both featuring individual chair back stadium seats with armrests), complete with modern amenities such as several new escalators and elevators, additional restrooms and concessions and a redesigned Midway conveniently located near the seating areas.

No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing team wins 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona

The No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac of Jeff Gordon, Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor and Max Angelelli have won the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.

Taylor was battling with the Mustang Sampling Racing car being driven by Filipe Albuquerque at thr time of the end of the race. Taylor accide tally spun Albuquerque near the end of the race in Turn 1, but IMSA said there would be no pelantu to the No. 10 team.

Overall, the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing team of Albuquerque, Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa finished second in the 24-hour event.

The No. 90 VisitFlorida Racing team of Marc Gossens, Renger Van Der Zande and Rene Rast finished third overall, while the No. 2 Tequila Patron ESM team of Scott Sharp, Ryan Dalziel and Luis Felipe Derani finished fourth overall.

Finishing fifth overall was the No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team of Dirk Mueller, Joey Hand and Sebastian Bourdais.

Gordon now joins AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jamie McMurray as the only drivers to win the Daytona 500 & the 24 Hours of Daytona.

NASCAR reducing practice time for Cup, XFINITY, Truck teams

via Dustin Long/NBCSports.com.

Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

NASCAR confirmed Thursday that teams in its top three series will have less practice time this season.

Weekend schedules for upcoming races at Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Auto Club Speedway show that Cup teams will have at least an hour less practice time at each track compared to last year. Cup teams also will have one less day to practice at Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the Daytona 500.

While the schedules are listed as tentative, NASCAR does not expect any major changes to them before those events.

Among the reasons given for the reduction of practice is that teams stated they did not need as much on-track time. The changes also are being done to make the weekend more efficient.

Most weekends are expected to have less practice time. There will be a few exceptions. NASCAR is expected to give teams additional practice in July at Kentucky (additional layer of asphalt added to track) and Texas in April (repave).

At Daytona, there will be nine total Cup practice sessions compared to 10 last year. However, each Cup team will able to take part in eight sessions (each qualifying race will have its own practice session). Last year, Cup teams had 10 hours, 35 minutes of practice time at Daytona. This year, teams will have a maximum of 7 hours, 20 minutes.

Elsewhere, Cup teams will have one less hour of practice at Atlanta, 1 hour, 25 minutes less practice at Las Vegas and 1 hour, 30 minutes less practice at Auto Club Speedway.

Those are the only weekend schedules that have been released by NASCAR at this point. Cup teams will have 1 hour, 45 minutes of practice (divided by two sessions) at each of those tracks this year

Xfinity teams will have 1 hour, 25 minutes less practice time at Daytona and 30 minutes less practice at Atlanta, Las Vegas and Auto Club.

Camping World Truck Series teams will have 30 minutes less practice at Daytona and Atlanta.

Below are the tentative schedules for the first four weekends in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Season (Daytona [Speedweeks], Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Auto Club).

FAQ for NASCAR's 2017 race format enhancements

NASCAR.com Staff Report.

NASCAR's race enhancements announced Monday detailed how and why races will be run in stages in 2017. Below are answers to some of the potential questions.

How many stages are in a race?
Three -- Stage 1, Stage 2 and the Final Stage. Stage 1 and Stage 2 will reward drivers who are leading, or in the top 10, at the conclusion of each stage. The Final Stage will determine the race winner.

What is Stage 1?
The green flag begins the race, and therefore Stage 1. Its length is approximately 25-30 percent of the event's total length -- it is different for each race, dependent on track size and race length -- with the ending marked via a stage checkered flag (the stage can end under caution, if necessary).

Who benefits most?
Drivers who are running first through 10th at the conclusion of Stage 1 will receive stage bonus points, starting with 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, down to one point for 10th place. Additionally, the driver who finishes Stage 1 first will receive one playoff point to carry into the postseason, should that driver qualify. Those can add up quickly over the course of a season.

What about Stage 2?
At the conclusion of Stage 1, there is a caution period for drivers to come down pit road (innovative strategies will be crucial under these enhancements.) Stage 2 will then begin with a drop of the green flag for the restart. Its length is approximately 25-30 percent of the event's total length -- it is different for each race, dependent on track size and race length -- with the ending marked via a stage checkered flag (the stage can end under caution, if necessary).

What about Stage 2 bonus points?
Same as Stage 1: Drivers who are running first through 10th at the conclusion of Stage 2 will receive stage bonus points, starting with 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, down to one point for 10th place. Additionally, the driver who finishes Stage 2 first will receive one playoff point to carry into the postseason.

What about the final stage?
Following another caution period, which gives fans another natural break in the action, the final stage begins with another green flag drop and restart. Drivers then race for the event win ... and the five bonus points that come with it.

How are points distributed?
The final stage produces the race results, so the end of the final stage is the end of the race. Whoever crosses the start/finish line first at the checkered flag is the race winner. Race points are then awarded to the entire field based on finishing order. The winner receives 40 points. Second place receives 35 points, third place receives 34 points, fourth place receives 33 points ... down to one point for drivers who finish 36th-40th. The maximum points a driver can earn in a race is 60 (40 for the race win plus 20 points for winning both stages).

There no longer will be a bonus point for leading a lap, or a bonus point for leading the most laps.

And the winner?
The race winner receives five bonus points toward the postseason (this is up from three last year under the new enhancements), plus postseason eligibility. If a driver leads at the end of both Stage 1 and Stage 2, and then wins the race, then he or she would receive seven bonus points to carry into the postseason.

For which series were these enhancements designed?
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will all use this enhanced format.

By rewarding hard racing through the duration of the season, will there be an official regular-season champion?
Yes, there formally will be a regular-season champion. That driver will earn 15 additional playoff points to carry into the postseason.

Any more bonus points for points standings at the end of the regular season?
Yes. In addition to the regular-season champion, drivers who finish in the top 10 of the regular season all receive some measure of playoff points to take into the postseason. Here's the breakdown:

First place in regular season points earns a driver 15 playoff bonus points in addition to the points earned with race or stage wins; second place earns 10 playoff points; third place, 8; fourth place, 7; fifth place, 6; sixth place, 5; seventh place, 4; eighth place, 3; ninth place, 2; 10th place, 1.

In this enhanced format, when is a race official?
At the conclusion of Stage 2.

How does the postseason work?
Once the postseason begins, points will be reset to 2,000 for the opening round, with each driver's accrued bonus points tacked onto that total. Four drivers still will be eliminated in each round of the postseason, setting up a final four in Miami for all three national series.

What is the tweak for playoff points?
Playoff points earned for race wins or for leading at the end of Stage 1 or Stage 2 now will carry over round-by-round if a driver continues advancing. It's not just for the first round any more. Additionally, drivers can build off and add to those bonus points.

So if a driver has 70 playoff points heading into the postseason, and then wins the playoff opener (five-point bonus), he or she would advance to the next round and carry 75 additional points -- or more, depending on his or her results over the next two races in the round.

Does winning a race in the postseason still automatically qualify that driver for the next round, regardless of points?
Yes. Winning trumps all.

Will bonus points still carry over to Miami?
No. Miami is the exception. All four drivers competing for the championship will start with the same amount of points. There will be no bonus points for this race for those final four drivers. First to the line wins the title.

DAYTONA International Speedway: The World Center of Racing

via IMSA.

Daytona International Speedway (DIS) is where it all begins for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and it plays host to the biggest event of the year, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge also kicks off its new season at Daytona with the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge.

“We have a lot of events here, but we also have some iconic premiere events like the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” said Track President Chip Wile. “This event continues to grow year after year and our partnership with IMSA is one that we truly value. We all want to see sports car racing continue to excel in North America and what better place to do that than at Daytona International Speedway?”

The 55th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona has all the ingredients to be an experience unlike any other- new machines, famous faces and 24 straight hours of action-packed racing. On Saturday, 55 cars will take the green flag, broadcasting live on FOX at 2 p.m. ET.

DIS, coming off a three-year renovation project known as DAYTONA Rising, estimated at $400 million, has worked to enhance the infield fan experience for the full 24 hours of the race. Racegoers can enjoy carnival rides, including the tallest Ferris wheel on the East Coast, a wine and cheese party, karaoke at midnight, and much more, all while the cars click off laps in fierce competition around them.

“The great thing about the Rolex 24 is that it’s a 24-hour event,” Wile explained. “Not only do you get to see all the fantastic on-track action, but you also get to experience all the other programmed content the track provides. You look at all the things we’ve added for our fans as they come to enjoy first class racing. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that we’re very proud of.”

HISTORY

Bill France Sr. signed a contract with the city of Daytona in 1954 to construct Daytona International Speedway, with the idea in mind for it to be the “World Center of Racing.” The inaugural Daytona Continental race, which would later be known as the Rolex 24 At Daytona, was held in 1962. The contest lasted three hours and first-place went to Dan Gurney in a Lotus-Climax 19.

Two years later, the Daytona Continental was lengthened to 2,000 kilometers and completed in 12 hours, 40 minutes, making it the longest endurance race in the United States. Ferrari drivers Pedro Rodriguez and Phil Hill claimed the victory.

The Daytona Continental then changed to a twice-around-the-clock endurance race in 1966 and has been run every year with the exception of 1973 due to the international energy crisis that most other racetracks suffered from as well.

In all, Hurley Haywood and Scott Pruett are tied with the most overall Rolex 24 victories at five, although Pruett also has an additional five class victories to give him 10 in total. Porsche has a record 22 wins at the event, 15 more than Ford in second place.

Fans have seen Daytona International Raceway change only three times throughout the course of its history. The track’s surface has been repaved only twice, in 1978 and 2010, while the rest of the complex was radically updated starting in 2013 and reaching its completion in January 2016. The Rolex 24 was the first event to be held at the newly renovated stadium.

The renovations included the addition of over 101,000 new, wider seats in the grandstands, as well as new concession areas, escalators, elevators and Wi-Fi access points, all to improve the fan experience and become the “First Motorsports Stadium.”

“I think the only thing that really stayed the same was the racetrack,” Wile explained. “It was a three year, $400 million project that basically reimagined and reinvented our beloved speedway. There are just amazing touches the team here thought of that continue to drive value in buying a ticket to Daytona and really differentiating us from any other facility in the world.”

DRIVER PERSPECTIVE

Ryan Dalziel, Orlando-based driver of the No. 2 Tequila Patron ESM Nissan DPi: “Daytona for me is pretty special. I moved from the UK to Orlando so it’s been home for me since 2006, the same year as my first Rolex 24. It’s cool to come here every year, but I think seeing the transformation of speedway, in the past two years in particular, and coming up here often, driving past it, I think they took one of the best facilities in the world and turned it into the absolute best. For me, it’s also nice also in 2017 to see the DPis and I’d say a revamped Prototype field. I think everybody’s been waiting for that and for sure on the Patron side of the world, we were high and tight until we saw this marriage and we’re happy with what we’ve got so far.”

TRACK PERSPECTIVE

• Turn 3, International Horseshoe: A tight right-hand hairpin that competitors are able to carry a surprisingly quick pace through, the International Horseshoe kicks off Daytona’s wide open infield where spectating opportunities are plentiful.   
• Turn 4, The Kink: Drivers will argue left and right whether or not there is space to go side by side through “The Kink.” Regardless of whether anyone attempts as much, Turn 4 always provides excitement as fans look on to see who will keep their foot in it and who will lift.
• Turn 7, Bus Stop: Cars tearing down the backstretch are suddenly interrupted by a tricky left-right-left chicane. Corner workers prefer this corner above any other on the course due to the frequency of off-track excursions or spins occurring at the Bus Stop.
• Speedway Turns 1 – 4, The High Banks: Daytona’s signature, these four turns define the journey around the World Center of Racing. Whether watching from afar or peering out the top left of the windshield from the driver’s seat, the banking provides a unique experience in the world of road racing, and builds the foundation for this fantastic roval.

Fifty Years after Daytona Sweep, Ferrari 488s Target GT Class Victory in 24 Hours

IMSA

This year’s Rolex 24 At Daytona marks fifty years since one of the race’s most famous finishes.

Ferrari arrived at the 1967 Rolex 24 At Daytona with four cars targeting the overall victory, including the two examples of the new 330 P4. After twenty-four hours, the 330 P4 of Chris Amon and Lorenzo Bandini had done just that. The image of the three red Ferraris, led by Amon and Bandini’s No. 23 Ferrari 330 P4, became one of the most famous images in the race’s history.

Fifty years later, three Ferrari 488s will look to add to the company’s legacy as Ferrari celebrates its 70^th anniversary.

Edwin Fenech, President and CEO of Ferrari North America is excited to return to Daytona, “After hosting an epic Ferrari World Finals in December at the Daytona International Speedway, we are looking forward to returning to the track for the start of the GT season where three Ferrari 488s will battle on the high banks to open the next chapter in GT racing here in America .  The historic Ferrari win at Daytona 50 years ago certainly serves as great inspiration for us and the teams.”

Risi Competizione will represent Ferrari in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class. The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE scored a dominant victory in last year’s IMSA finale, the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. The winning driver lineup from that race of Ferrari factory drivers James Calado, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander will return with Risi Competizione, each seeking their first victory at Daytona International Speedway. Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi said, “As a Ferrari dealer [Ferrari of Houston], over the years we have raced the same model Ferraris that we have on the showroom floor and continue to do so with the Ferrari 488 GTLM.  We’re proud of the successes we have had on the race track and hope it shows our customers the proud tradition of the Ferrari name.”
Scuderia Corsa and Spirit of Race will represent Ferrari in the GT Daytona (GTD) class. This will be the first 24 Hours of Daytona race for the Ferrari 488 GT3.

Scuderia Corsa returns with defending IMSA and North American Endurance Cup GT-Daytona champions Alessandro Balzan and Christina Nielsen, who will be joined in Daytona by Ferrari factory driver Sam Bird and Matteo Cressoni in the no. 63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3.  Team owner Giacomo Mattioli commented, “2017 marks the 70^th anniversary for Ferrari and the debut of the 488GT3 in Daytona.  There would not be a better way to celebrate than a success for Scuderia Corsa at the race track, where it all began.”

In the No. 51 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GT3 will be Peter Mann, Rino Mastronardi, Maurizio Mediani, former 24 Hours of Daytona winner Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Ferrari factory driver Davide Rigon.

                           *Photos courtesy of Ferrari North America

IMSA season kicks off this weekend at Daytona with unprecedented manufacturer participation

With the eyes of the racing world focused on the 55th Rolex 24 At Daytona this weekend, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) prepares for a weekend highlighting an unprecedented amount of official automotive partners.

Between the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, IMSA now has 17 official automotive partners, including five that are new for 2017: Acura, Cadillac, Lexus, McLaren and Mercedes-AMG. The complete list is as follows:

• Acura
• Aston Martin
• Audi
• BMW
• Cadillac
• Chevrolet
• Ferrari
• Ford
• Honda
• Lamborghini
• Lexus
• Mazda
• McLaren
• Mercedes
• MINI
• Nissan
• Porsche

“As we have built IMSA into the premier sports car racing organization in North America, our racing platforms have proven to be relevant and attractive to a remarkable number of automotive manufacturers,” said IMSA President Scott Atherton. “Every one of these manufacturers have gone well beyond merely putting cars on the racetrack and have partnered with us to move the sport forward. The marketing activation we are seeing from them on and off the track will benefit all involved. Of course, we are grateful to all of our longtime partners who have been with us for years and are continuing and enthusiastically welcome the newcomers this season. There’s never been a better time to go sports car racing with IMSA.”

Each manufacturer continues to be fan focused in unique ways. At Daytona, the experience starts outside of the stadium grandstands, where fans can sign up for manufacturer-specific car corrals, special parking areas where car owners can show pride for their chosen brand while simultaneously accessing premium parking and hospitality. Additionally, fans parking in a car corral get to experience the track in the closest way possible – parade laps around the track with their peers in their own cars.

Also on the outskirts of the facility, several manufacturers provide free “Ride and Drive” programs, where fans can experience the result of motorsport development and technology transfer from race car to road car firsthand by riding in or getting behind the wheel of multiple street cars on a closed course.
The Midway, located in the Daytona International Speedway infield features no less than 12 different manufacturer displays. Each are impressive and interactive and are designed to entertain and educate attendees of the race. These displays offer amenities such as driving simulators, prize giveaways, demonstration vehicles, owner hospitality, informational kits and more.

“The Midway at Daytona very strongly resembles an outdoor international auto show,” Atherton said. “What’s interesting about the infield displays is that it appears the manufacturers are not only competing against each other on the racetrack, but also in trying to construct the most impressive and attractive display.”

Tickets for the 55th Rolex 24 At Daytona are available now at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. FOX Sports will offer 23 hours of live programming from the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona, beginning with a three-hour FOX network telecast beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 28, followed by expanded coverage on FS1 and FS2.

Complete schedule for Rolex 24

The Rolex 24 is back at Daytona International Speedway for the 24-hour race. Check out the full schedule below. All times are ET.

THURSDAY, January 26
ON TRACK
— 9-10 a.m.: Practice 1-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
— 10:20-11:20 a.m.: Practice 1-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
— 11:40 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Practice 2-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
— 1:30-2 p.m.: Practice 2-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
— 2:20-2:50 p.m.: Practice 3-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
— 3:10-3:25 p.m.: Qualifying-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (GTD)
— 3:35-3:50 p.m.: Qualifying-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (GTLM)
— 4-4:15 p.m.: Qualifying-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (PC)
— 4:25-4:40 p.m.: Qualifying-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (P)
— 5-5:20 p.m.: Practice 4-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
— 5:30-5:45 p.m.: Qualifying-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (ST)
— 5:45-6 p.m.: Qualifying-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (GS)
— 7-8:30 p.m.: Practice 3-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship


FRIDAY, January 27
ON TRACK
— 9:20-9:40 a.m.: Practice 5-Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
— 10-11 a.m.: Practice 4-WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
— 12:15 p.m.: BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona (4 hours)


SATURDAY, January 28
ON TRACK
— 2:30-11:59 p.m.: 55th Rolex 24 at Daytona (Coverage: 2-5 p.m. on FOX;  5-10 p.m. on FS2; 10-11 p.m. on FOX Sports GO; 11 p.m.-Midnight on FS2)


SUNDAY, January 29
ON TRACK
— 12 a.m.-2:40 p.m.: 55th Rolex 24 at Daytona (Coverage: Midnight-1 p.m. on FS2; 1-3 p.m. on FS1)

- NASCAR

Road course maven 'Dinger talks Charlotte road course

Will there be road course racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series? AJ Allmendinger isn't sure but he enjoyed taking some swings at the turns in an informal test.

A road course expert, Allmendinger joked Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway's Media Tour that he would enjoy the whole series being comprised of road courses. But in all seriousness, the California native said he enjoyed the course in an "information gathering" session Friday.

Allmendinger's sole premier series win came at Watkins Glen International, a New York road course, winning by a 1.160-second margin of victory.

"Change can be good; it's a little scary," Allmendinger said, regarding rumors that either the All-Star Race or the fall Charlotte race could be run on the speedway's road course. "It's just like the new format, cahnge can be good. But could it be successful? I think it could be a fantastic race."

The 35-year-old road course maven returns with JTG Daugherty Racing -- a team he's been with since 2013 -- for the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, joined by new teammate Chris Buescher.

- NASCAR.com.

Kenseth expands on Joe Gibbs Racing spoytet shuffle

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The surprising "retirement" of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Carl Edwards created more than just a driver opening for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 team.

It also resulted in the shuffling of spotters Chris "Crazy" Osborne and Jason Hedlesky.

Osborne served as spotter for JGR driver Matt Kenseth from 2013-16. He also worked as the spotter for driver Daniel Suarez in the XFINITY Series this past season.

Hedlesky has worked for more than a dozen years as Edwards' spotter.

When JGR officials named Suarez to take over Edwards' spot, team officials thought it best to allow the XFINITY Series champion to continue working with Osborne for his rookie effort.

That opened the door to pair Kenseth with Hedlesky.

"With Carl's unexpected departure and putting Daniel in there, you know 'Crazy' has worked with Daniel the whole time through the XFINITY Series, the Truck Series," Kenseth said Tuesday during the first day of this year's NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"He and 'Crazy' had that really good relationship and with Carl not being there and Jason being over (at the No. 19) I think everybody over there just decided to make the swap for the good of the company."

Hedlesky has also spotted for ThorSport Racing driver Matt Crafton in the Camping World Truck Series for several years.

"Jason has always done a great job," Kenseth said. "There's always some pause, I guess, because you kind of learn each other, and that takes a little bit (of time) to do that. But I think it will be fine."

In addition to Kenseth and Suarez, JGR also fields entries in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for defending Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and 2015 series champion Kyle Busch.

Kenny Bruce/NASCAR.com.

Jimmie Johnson ready to attack new format in quest for No. 8

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jimmie Johnson grinned and took the high road you'd expect of a seven-time NASCAR champion when asked about the newest evolution of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship format. The path to the sport's most coveted trophy changed this week, but Johnson said he is again up for the challenge.

Three times (2006, 2010, 2016) the course to a championship has been modified immediately after Johnson won a championship. It's never stopped him from hoisting a trophy and perhaps only made the accomplishment more impressive.

"Our team has always been very good at adapting and winning championships in the various formats we've had; we take a little pride in that and certainly look forward to the new challenge that's ahead," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. "I'm excited for the changes that are taking place in our sport.

"There's been a lot of collaboration among the key stakeholders in our sport to really find something that works for everyone. For our sport to evolve and keep up with the times, we needed to put some serious thought into it, and that's taken place. I think as the season gets started we'll understand and see how this will change how teams approach a race, approach a weekend."

It was a familiar refrain during the opening day of the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour. Drivers seemed genuinely pleased, even re-energized by the possibilities a new playoff format presents.

Beginning this season, races in all three of NASCAR's premier series will be broken up into three stages with points awarded to the top 10 drivers running at the conclusion of the first two stages in addition to the final checkered flag.

RELATED: Where does Jimmie call home?

"I watch these races, I live them in the seat and I've thought for a long time we needed something to break them up," said Clint Bowyer, who takes over the No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford for just-retired Tony Stewart. "So I really appreciate them not just doing that but really putting a lot of effort, a lot of resources and time and thought into creating these stages, because I think they took care of a lot of other things as well.

"It's going to protect that problem we've had, the one flaw I thought the Chase had. You can have a dominant team that dominated the whole season including the Chase and have one flat tire, one motor blow up completely out of their control and it wipes them out of the championship at the end of the year."

Drivers seemed to be in agreement throughout the opening day of press conferences.

And the reigning champ Johnson was not only completely open to the rule enhancements but also seemed genuinely impressed with the effort and thought that went into it. The idea that the sport continues to evolve and engage is something he -- and his fellow drivers -- appreciate.

For Johnson, winning a historic eighth trophy under a fourth different format is as much a badge of honor as another obstacle to overcome. Having to do it in yet another format only makes the challenge more intriguing.

"I'm so excited about the years to come and shooting for eight," Johnson said. "I can't believe where I'm at. It's so hard to get to this position. And at the same time, I'm playing with house money now.

"I'm really going to enjoy the years I have left in my career. I know I can win races, I know I should be a threat for more championships. And I really feel in my heart I can win eight. I'd like to do it with a smile on my face and have a good time."

"We take pride in winning through all these different formats and would take pride in winning this one."

Holly Cain/NASCAR.com.

Johnson, family move to Aspen during off season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The mountains in and around Aspen, Colorado., have been a retreat for NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and his family in recent years.

But the pull of racing always brought the seven-time NASCAR champion back to Charlotte and back to "headquarters" at the Hendrick Motorsports campus.

Until this past season.

Johnson, wife Chandra and daughters Genevieve and Lydia have "relocated" to the resort area, but Johnson says it's not a move entirely away from his Charlotte home.

"We're not there full-time," Johnson said Tuesday during the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour. "We're there for the winter.

"With the West Coast races it works to be out there."

The family also has a home in New York City as well as Charlotte.

Johnson will begin defense of his championship and the quest for a record-breaking eight title when NASCAR kicks off the 2017 Feb. 26 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Team owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Chad Knaus "are both very much in favor of me living life and trying to find that balance of being in a place I really enjoy in the mountains," Johnson said. "It's great for me and my family."

Johnson and his family have spent plenty of time on the ski slopes -- he has twice participated in the Audi Ajax Cup, a fund-raising ski race that provides support to the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club.

Following stops at Daytona and Atlanta, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series begins the West Coast Swing, with races at Las Vegas, Phoenix and Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, California)

"I'll be (in Aspen) for the start of the season," he said, "but be back in Charlotte, back to the normal grind … I guess early spring, late winter."

Returning to Charlotte after the racing season gets underway isn't the only thing that will bring the family back east. Chani is the owner of Southern Comfort (SOCO) Gallery in Charlotte, an art gallery that opened in 2015.

Kenny Bruce/NASCAR.com.

Test Sparks More Road-Course Racing Talk

via Tyler Burnett, MRN.com.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - One of NASCAR’s experts in making right-hand turns, AJ Allmendinger, recently tested the 2.3-mile road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway, sparking speculation that more road-course races may be added to the schedule.

Allmendinger admitted Wednesday that he was biased to the discipline but shared his thoughts on NASCAR potentially adding the course for one of the track’s three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series events, specifically the May All-Star Race or the October playoff race.

"I don’t know what's going to happen, but it was a lot of fun." Allmendinger said. "It can bring something new to the schedule. I’m all for it."

Allmendinger understands that oval racing is the backbone of NASCAR’s roots. But with the sport’s new format enhancements designed to create better racing and more memorable moments, Allmendinger believes more road-course racing can help the cause.

"Change can be good," he said. "It can be a little scary, but could it be successful? It would be a fantastic race and something new the fans would enjoy."

Denny Hamlin, NASCAR’s most recent road-course winner at Watkins Glen International, disagrees with Allmendinger. He admits that the races are exciting but feels the sport should stick to what's made it successful.

"We have just the right amount of road courses on the schedule," Hamlin said. "Maybe we could add one, but road courses overtaking our sport? I’m not sure about that. Ovals are what our sport was founded on."

Charlotte has hosted events on its road course before including SCCA races and the IMSA Camel GT Series in the 1980s. But NASCAR racing has been held exclusively on its 1.5-mile oval since 1960. If NASCAR attempted to run the road course in "The Queen City" during the playoffs in October, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard would be all for it.

"Putting one (road race) in the playoffs is what the sport needs to shake things up," Menard said. "We have speedways, we have the intermediate tracks and we have short tracks. Throw a road course in there."

Menard has driven on multiple road-course/oval layouts built around current NASCAR tracks. He's won at Auto Club Speedway’s 1.2-mile road course and Phoenix International Raceway’s 1.5-mile layout in the Grand Am Series in 2002. Menard says tracks the sport visits twice a year could be the perfect opportunity to implement more road-course races.

"Tracks like Kansas, Charlotte and Daytona, that we go to twice a year that have road courses," he said. "I’ve driven on Daytona's road course. It’s a good mix of high speeds and slow corners. There's a lot of give-and-take on setup.

"Two road courses aren’t enough. Our cars aren’t built for road-course racing, which makes that really exciting to drive and gives our fans an exciting product to watch."

NASCAR Drive For Diversity Class of 2017 drivers announced

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2017) – After a season of milestones for NASCAR Drive for Diversity graduates competing across NASCAR national series, the industry's flagship development program for multicultural and female drivers has announced that six drivers will join its 2017 class. The drivers were selected after a competitive combine held last October at New Smyrna Speedway and will compete for Rev Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

The 2017 class features a former NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series champion, the granddaughter of one of the sport's female pioneers, and NASCAR Drive for Diversity's first sibling teammates. The drivers will attempt to follow in the footsteps of program graduates and current national series drivers Kyle Larson, Darrell Wallace Jr., and 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Daniel Suárez.

"Now more than ever, we're seeing the impact of NASCAR's development program in producing drivers who excel at the highest echelons of our sport," said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. "There's a great deal of talent and potential in this year's class. With the strong foundation that NASCAR Drive for Diversity provides, these drivers will have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to elevate their racing careers."

The 2017 class is led by four returning drivers, Collin Cabre, Jay Beasley, Madeline Crane and Rubén García Jr., who first competed in stock car racing in his native Mexico. Collin's younger brother, Chase Cabre, joins 16-year-old Macy Causey as this year's NASCAR Drive for Diversity newcomers. Causey's grandmother, Diane Teel, was the first woman to compete in a NASCAR XFINITY Series race in 1982.

Rev Racing, the operational arm of NASCAR Drive for Diversity, will field four teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and two in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.

The 2017 NASCAR Drive for Diversity roster features:

Collin Cabre: An impressive second year in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program was highlighted by four top-five and six top-10 finishes and a sixth-place finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship standings. After winning the 2015 season finale at Dover International Speedway, Cabre was named to the 2016-2017 NASCAR Next class. The 23-year-old from Tampa, Florida, will compete in his third season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with Rev Racing.

Chase Cabre: Cabre, 20, registered 12 race wins in 21 starts in a 600 Mini Sprint Car and is a two-time Fall Brawl Champion at Florida's Ocala Bullring. In 2016, he averaged a fourth-place finish in races at Hickory Motor Speedway and set two poles during the season. Chase will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in his rookie season with Rev Racing.

Rubén García Jr.: At age 20, the Mexico City native became the youngest NASCAR PEAK Mexico driver to win the series championship in 2015. García was also part of the NASCAR Next program in both 2015 and 2016. He returns to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East after finishing 10th in the series last season.

Jay Beasley: Beasley, 24, made history in 2013 by becoming the first African-American driver to win a Super Late Model race at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. In his first season with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in 2014, he earned two top-five and five top-10 finishes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He returns to the series for his third season with Rev Racing.

Macy Causey: Causey was honored with the NASCAR Young Racer Award in 2016. The year prior, she won the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Virginia Rookie of the Year Award and earned top rookie honors at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia, where in 1978 her grandmother became the first woman to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race at the track. Causey will compete for Rev Racing in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series.

Madeline Crane: The Georgia native began her career racing Bandoleros at Atlanta Motor Speedway at age 10. Crane, 19, moved into Legend cars, and by the time she was 14 had garnered 59 top-five finishes in 82 starts. Returning for a second season with NASCAR Drive for Diversity, she will compete in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series following two top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 2016.

NASCAR Drive for Diversity aligns drivers with a team of executives, athletic directors, crew chiefs and mentors tasked with helping them achieve career successes, and thus improving their goal of reaching one of the three NASCAR national series.

Since it began fielding NASCAR Drive for Diversity cars in 2010, Rev Racing has been one of the most consistent teams in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, registering 17 wins, 65 top-five and 124 top-10 finishes with drivers finishing in the top-10 in points each season.

"Each year the applicant pool and talent level rises and our program continues to evolve and create more opportunities for advancement," said Max Siegel, CEO and owner of Rev Racing. "NASCAR Drive for Diversity and Rev Racing are proud of the impact that we have had in the sport and we look forward to graduating the next generation of athletes to the national series."

The 2016 NASCAR season was a historic year for NASCAR Drive for Diversity alumni. Larson, who is Asian-American, became the first program graduate to win a race and reach the playoffs in the sport’s premier series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

With his NASCAR XFINITY Series victory at Michigan International Speedway, Suárez was the first Mexican-born driver to win a national series race, and last November he became the first foreign-born driver to win a national series championship. Suárez will make his debut in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017.

The 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season opener will take place on Feb. 19 at New Smyrna Speedway, where Rev Racing scored a win with Suárez in 2014.

Corey LaJoie signs with BK Racing, Dustless Blasting on board for the Daytona 500

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (January 25, 2017) – BK Racing announced today that Corey LaJoie will compete in the No. 83 Toyota Camry for multiple races in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. LaJoie will run his first career Daytona 500 February 26th with sponsorship from Dustless Blasting.

Corey LaJoie is a third generation racer and a very well-known name in the racing world. His father, Randy LaJoie, brought home Xfinity Series Championships in 1996 and 1997.

LaJoie already has an impressive racing career that includes six wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, three wins in the ARCA Series, and multiple starts in NASCAR’s top series. LaJoie was selected as a member of the 2012 NASCAR Next Class, an industry initiative to help spotlight NASCAR’s rising stars and bolster fan recognition around talent that will grow into Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series mainstays. He was in the same class as fellow stand-out drivers Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Ryan Blaney. Most recently, LaJoie competed in ten Xfinity Series races in 2016 and earned two top-ten finishes.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to have the chance to race on Sundays with BK Racing,” said Corey LaJoie. “For Ron Devine to take a chance on a hungry kid means the world. I’m going to work hard to be the best driver I can be and get the No. 83 Dustless Blasting Toyota a great finish at Daytona.”

“When I look at Corey LaJoie and his racing career, I see a young man with a bright future and a lot of talent,” said Ron Devine, owner of BK Racing. “I’m proud that we can give him a chance to run more Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. He has raced against a lot of these Cup drivers before and he’s had success, so I am excited to see what he can do in our No. 83 Toyota.”

BK Racing and Dustless Blasting announced that they will be extending their association into the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Dustless Blasting will once again be on board the No. 83 Toyota for multiple races, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 26th. This will mark the fourth consecutive year that Dustless Blasting has sponsored BK Racing.

Dustless Blasting has revolutionized the surface preparation industry. With the ability to strip all paint, primer, rust and body filler from the average car in only two hours without warping, Dustless Blasting is quickly becoming the new gold standard in surface preparation. Dustless Blasting’s anti-spark, anti-dust, and anti-static properties have also made it extremely useful in the refinery, oilfield, mining and other industries. MMLJ Inc., the parent company of Dustless Blasting, has been manufacturing top quality abrasive blasters for over 70 years, but they say Dustless Blasting is the greatest advancement in paint stripping technology since the original sand blaster all those years ago.

“We are excited to partner with BK Racing for a 4th year, and look forward to working with them in the 2017 season,” said Dustless Blasting Owner, Benny LeCompte. “We have been especially impressed with the team’s community support and outreach this past year, and we hope to further contribute to their efforts.  We are also ready to see Corey LaJoie tear it up around Daytona!”

- BK Racing

Full schedule for Daytona Speedweeks

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series will hit Daytona International Speedway in February for the season-opening Daytona Speedweeks. Check out the full schedule below.

Note: All times are ET

FRIDAY, FEB. 17:
ON TRACK
-- 5-5:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice for The Clash at Daytona
-- 6:30-7:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice for The Clash at Daytona

SATURDAY, FEB. 18:
ON TRACK
-- 12:30-1:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice 
-- 2:30-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice
-- 8 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona (75 laps, 187.5 miles), FS1

SUNDAY, FEB. 19:
ON TRACK
-- 3:10 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds)

THURSDAY, FEB. 23:
ON TRACK
-- Noon-12:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first duels practice
-- 1-1:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series second duels practice
-- 2-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series first practice
-- 4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice
-- 7 p.m.: First Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles), FS1
-- 9 p.m. (approx.): Second Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles), FS1

FRIDAY, FEB. 24:
ON TRACK
-- Noon-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series first practice
-- 1-1:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 practice
-- 2-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice
-- 3-3:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 practice
-- 4:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds)
-- 7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), FS1

SATURDAY, FEB. 25:
ON TRACK
-- 10:30 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds)
-- 1-1:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 final practice
-- 3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Powershares QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles), FS1

SUNDAY, FEB. 26:
ON TRACK
-- 2 p.m.: Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles), FOX

- NASCAR

Love’s Travel Stops Extends Front Row Motorsports Partnership

STATESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 24, 2017) – Love’s Travel Stops will extend its successful partnership with Front Row Motorsports into the 2017 season, joining Landon Cassill and the No. 34 team for 18 races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The familiar yellow and red colors of the Oklahoma City, Okla.-based company will return to the No. 34 Ford for a half-season schedule that includes the Daytona 500, both races at the company’s home track of Texas Motor Speedway, the spring race at Talladega Superspeedway and the Bristol Night Race.

The 2017 season will be the fifth straight season that Love’s has partnered with Front Row Motorsports. The company has progressively grown its NASCAR marketing program in partnership with the team over the past four seasons, incorporating its employees, customers and business partners into its success.

“2016 was a banner year for Love’s both on and off the track,” said Dave Frankenfield, vice president of marketing for Love’s Travel Stops. “We opened 47 new stores, more than 20 Truck Tire Care facilities and seven hotels across 20 states.

“We also had our best year in NASCAR with Front Row Motorsports earning a spot in The Chase. I am confident 2017 will bring more growth for Love’s and be another exciting year with Front Row putting Landon Cassill behind the wheel of the No. 34 Love’s Ford Fusion. We are also pleased with the series’ new title sponsor and will have our stores stocked with plenty of Monster Energy for race fans.”

Love’s Travel Stops is family-owned and operated with more than 400 locations in 40 states. During its 50-plus years of sharing the road with drivers, Love’s has grown to become one of America’s favorite travel stops offering clean, modern facilities stocked with fuel, food and supplies for travelers.

Cassill, a seven-year veteran in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and a popular social media figure, will expose the Love’s brand to an expanded audience of fans.

“I can’t wait to work with Love’s,” the 27-year-old Iowa native said. “They’ve been a great partner with Front Row over the years. I got to spend some time with them last year, so I already know they’re a great group. They use their program in a really smart way that’s good for their business, and I look forward to getting more involved with that. We’re going to have some fun.”

The Love’s Travel Stops Ford will make its first appearance of the year during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway next month. The No. 34 team will compete in the Can-Am Duels, the qualifying races for the Daytona 500, on Thursday, Feb. 23. The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. ET and will air on FOX.

Anthony Kumpen to race Daytona for Precision Performance Motorsports

CHINA GROVE, N.C. (January 24, 2017) – Reigning NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Champion Anthony Kumpen will make his fifth NASCAR XFINITY Series start and fourth with Precision Performance Motorsports in the PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 25th, 2017. Kumpen will be piloting the No. 46 LeasePlan Chevrolet Camaro.

Kumpen’s XFINITY Series start at Daytona International Speedway will be part of the Nexteer Road to Daytona program – the path designed by the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and Nexteer Automotive to bring European drivers to race in NASCAR in the US. Kumpen competed in three XFINITY Series races in 2015 with Precision Performance Motorsports in order to gain NASCAR approval to race at the famed superspeedway. The road course racer acquired valuable experience at each venue, exceeding expectations each week and besting many circle-track veterans. He debuted at Daytona in 2016, running as high as sixth before ultimately finishing the event in 26th.

“Daytona is the biggest event in NASCAR. I can’t wait to be back and I want to thank Leaseplan, all my partners, the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series and its Nexteer Road to Daytona program for making this happen,” said the Belgian, who joined the program built by NWES and Nexteer following his championship season in 2014. “Last year I had to learn a lot – especially about racing in the pack and drafting – in a very short time. This time we will build on the experience as a team and work to make the car faster and do better each and every lap. I would be really happy to finish in the top-15.”

“Anthony is a two-time European NASCAR Champion and definitely a very talented driver behind the wheel, but also outside the car. We are very proud to support him in his U.S. program and feel very lucky to have such a great ambassador for our series,” said Jerome Galpin, NWES President – CEO

Belgium-native Kumpen is a veteran of the American Le Mans Series, with starts in the NASCAR Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series, FIA GT, and Belcar Endurance Championship. Kumpen has won multiple championships across Europe, as well as a record six victories in the 24 Hours of Zolder.

Crew chief Mark Setzer will lead Kumpen’s XFINITY Series effort. This will mark Setzer’s fourth season leading the team from the pit box.

The PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway will be televised live February 25th, 2017 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1 and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SIRIUS XM Channel 90.

About NASCAR Whelen Euro Series:
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series was founded in 2008 and established the NASCAR official European Series in January 2012 thanks to a long-term partnership signed with NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), Team FJ, a Motorsports company located in Blois, France, and Whelen Engineering as title sponsor of the Series. The season is made up of 24 races, equally split among ELITE 1 and ELITE 2 divisions, on the best European tracks. Euro NASCAR introduced a stunning innovation on July 7-8, 2012 by organizing the first ever NASCAR race on an oval track in Europe on a half-mile speedway built in the downtown of Tours (France). With four races in two days, these 450 HP V8 monsters provide pure racing action and thrilling bumper-to-bumper battles as well as a lot of family fun around the track! In the pure NASCAR tradition, race fans can get closer to the action than ever and feel the unique in-Europe paddock atmosphere thanks to drivers, teams and cars always available for the spectators. The series attracts drivers from all over the world, all willing to fight on track for the win and take the first step towards becoming a NASCAR star in the U.S.

About Precision Performance Motorsports:
Owned by Rick and Kelly Gdovic, Precision Performance Motorsports (PPM) is a China Grove, North Carolina based auto racing team that fields entries in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. PPM provides a comprehensive driver development program, race car rentals, setup and pull down rig services, test consultation, and driver coaching. For more information, visit Precision Performance Motorsports on Facebook, @PrecisionPerf on Twitter, and visit the website at www.ppm646.com.

Sponsors announced for Truex, Jones, Cassill

Love's Travel Stops will primary sponsor Landon Cassill at Front Row Motorsports for 18 races in 2017, which was announced Tuesday.

Additionally, Wix Filters will be thr primary sponsor for Martin Truex Jr. at New Hampshire in July and associate for both Truex and Erik Jones this season.

NASCAR implements stage-based race format, playoff-point incentives

NASCAR, in collaboration with its industry stakeholders, announced yesterday competition format enhancements that will be implemented in all three of its national series -- the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

The new race format is designed to emphasize aggressive racing and strategy, with the goal of delivering more dramatic moments over the course of a race and season. Monday's announcement came with NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France and NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell sharing the stage with drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin, along with additional team and track representatives. All industry stakeholders collaborated on the format.

"Simply put, this will make our great racing even better," said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO. "I'm proud of the unprecedented collaboration from our industry stakeholders, each of whom had a common goal -- strengthening the sport for our fans. This is an enhancement fully rooted in teamwork, and the result will be an even better product every single week."

Under the new format, races will consist of three stages, with championship implications in each stage. The top-10 finishers in each stage will be awarded additional championship points. The winner of the first two stages of each race will receive one playoff point, and the race winner will receive five playoff points. Each playoff point will be added to a driver's reset total following the 26th race, if that competitor makes the playoffs.

The structure also ensures that competition will be dialed up throughout the duration of the 26-race regular season, as points for both stage winners and race winners will transfer into the postseason -- and an official regular-season champion will be crownded, and rewarded with 15 playoff points to the driver's playoff reset of 2,000. The stage format also gives fans a pair of natural breaks in the action.

All playoff points will carry through to the end of the third round of the postseason (Round of 8), with the Championship 4 racing straight-up at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the title.

Championship points following the first two stages of each race will be awarded on a descending scale, with the stage winner receiving 10 points, second earning nine points, and so on. The race winner following the final stage will receive 40 points, second-place will earn 35, third-place 34, fourth-place 33, and so on.

In addition, the top-10 drivers in regular-season points also will receive playoff points with second place earning 10 points, third place getting eight points, fourth place obtaining seven points, and so on.

"These are enhancements that the NASCAR fan has long sought, and the entire industry has worked hard to develop a better racing format for our fans," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "This format puts a premium on every victory and every in-race position over the course of the season. Each point can eventually result in winning or losing a championship."

Hooters to sponsor Chase Elliott beginning in 2017

CONCORD, N.C. -- Hooters has joined 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor of driver Chase Elliott and the No. 24 Chevrolet SS team beginning in 2017.

A casual dining establishment with a deep history in NASCAR, Hooters will be a two-race primary sponsor and full-season associate sponsor of the No. 24 team in both 2017 and 2018. The Hooters Chevrolet SS will debut May 7 at Talladega Superspeedway and appear again during the Chase for the NASCAR Cup Nov. 12 at Phoenix International Raceway.

Hooters has been a primary sponsor in more than 150 Cup-level races, notably as the full-season sponsor of 1992 premier series champion Alan Kulwicki. That year, Kulwicki won two races and narrowly edged Elliott’s father, 1989 Cup champion Bill Elliott, by 10 points to win the title.

“Twenty-five years after being part of one of the most memorable seasons in NASCAR history, Hooters is excited to support another amazing talent in Chase Elliott and the No. 24 team,” said Carl Sweat, chief marketing officer of Hooters of America LLC. “As the official headquarters of race day, we’re proud that so many NASCAR fans choose to watch the races at Hooters every week while enjoying their favorite wings, ice cold beer and one-of-a-kind Hooters Girl hospitality.”

As part of the new relationship, Hooters has launched a full year of promotions, exclusive content and commemorative merchandise for fans at www.hooters.com. Beginning today, fans can register for the chance to win a trip for two to meet Elliott and cheer on the No. 24 team from pit road at the Nov. 12 Phoenix race. Everyone who registers will receive a $5 off certificate toward their next visit to Hooters. For a limited time, the first fans to register can also purchase collectible limited-edition $24 Hooters gift cards commemorating Elliott and the new No. 24 Hooters Chevy.

“Hooters started with six people in 1983, and now they’re in 42 states and 28 countries,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “They’ve grown by focusing on the experience, earning the business of their customers and supporting terrific causes like cancer research and our men and women in uniform. NASCAR fans appreciate those things, and we have an opportunity to do some great work together.”

In 2016, Elliott earned Cup Series rookie of the year honors after posting 10 top-five finishes, 17 top-10s and two pole positions, including the season-opening Daytona 500. He is a second-generation NASCAR champion, having won the 2014 XFINITY Series title at just 18 years old. Now 21, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native has already earned six wins, 47 top-fives and 84 top-10s in NASCAR national series competition.

“Hooters is a place where I can let down my guard and have a good time,” Elliott said. “It means a lot to have them support the No. 24 team, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of their car. Being on the ground level of introducing a new partner to the Hendrick Motorsports family is going to be a lot of fun. Hooters has a historic place in this sport, and I’m glad they’re back. Our entire team is looking forward to making the program a success.”

Fans are encouraged to use the #Hooters24 hashtag throughout the year to share their excitement and engage via social media.

- Hendrick Motorsports.

Veteran crew chief Gene Nead to work with Matt DiBenedetto again in 2017.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Go Fas Racing is pleased to announce that Gene Nead will assume crew chief duties for the No. 32 Ford Fusion in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the 2017 season.

“I’m excited to be joining the Go Fas Racing team,” Nead said. “I’ve enjoyed working with Matt the last couple of seasons and I’m really looking forward to working with the rest of the guys on our No. 32 Ford team.”

Nead, a veteran crew chief, brings to GFR more than 20 years of crew chief experience in NASCAR’s top-three series’ and has accumulated 9 wins, 66 top-five finishes, and 11 poles. Last year, he served as crew chief of the No. 83 at BK Racing, where he worked with Matt DiBenedetto, and together they earned their best ever finish of sixth place at Bristol Motor Speedway.

"I am so fortunate to have Gene with me at Go Fas Racing. He has made me into a better all-around driver and his experience has taught me so much in the past year and a half. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be the driver I am without him," said driver Matt DiBenedetto for GFR. " We have a great relationship and we are both extremely competitive. Gene is going to make a big difference in our program at Go Fas Racing and we all appreciate him coming on board."

Bowyer gears up for 'best opportunity' with Stewart-Haas

via Zack Albert/NASCAR.com.

CONCORD, N.C. -- There's been plenty for Clint Bowyer to adjust to in the brief time that he's officially been a member of Stewart-Haas Racing's driver roster.

He's had to acclimate himself to the way that his new team operates. He's also had to become more familiar with the personnel on the No. 14 Ford that Bowyer will drive in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017. A helpful hand from his new crew chief, Mike Bugarewicz, has helped Bowyer adjust to both of those new concepts.

When Bowyer half-jokingly asked Bugarewicz if he had a team roster to keep him from addressing his crewmembers with, "Hey, buddy," or similar salutations, the second-year crew chief unexpectedly delivered.

"He's such a dedicated person and so prepared, he literally went and took pictures of all the guys and e-mailed me the names of them," Bowyer said Wednesday during a preseason media event at the sprawling Ford Performance Technical Center. "I'm like, 'Man, you didn't have to do that. I could've come down.' "

At which point Tony Stewart, his team owner and predecessor in the No. 14, interjected: "He says he didn't need that. He needed that, trust me."

Laughing aside, Bowyer continued to underscore his point. "That's the level of dedication that you have at Stewart-Haas," Bowyer said. "And it doesn't just end with Mike, it's all across the board. If you ask for something … you've got to be careful asking for something because it's just done."

The next adjustment that Bowyer may have to make is getting accustomed to relevance, something in short supply even before he was announced Sept. 30, 2015 as the successor to three-time series champion Stewart for the organization's flagship team. Bowyer drove in relative obscurity for Michael Waltrip Racing in its waning days, then languished through a throwaway season in 2016 with the former HScott Motorsports operation as he waited his turn to join SHR.

"If he could've clicked his heels three times and made it 2017, he'd have done it in a heartbeat," Stewart said. "But we were all just reminding him: 'Be patient. You've got a lot to look forward to.' And we were hoping that his season would turn around at some point, too, but it didn't work out that way and it wasn't for a lack of effort on their side.

"I think the nice thing, though, is -- as odd as this sounds -- I've seen him a lot calmer than I saw him all last year. I don't know that he's ever calm, but you can tell he's excited about what's coming up. He's genuinely excited about getting in the 14 car and that makes us happy, too."

Bowyer's authentic anticipation is attached to what he calls "the best opportunity I've ever had." Not only does the 37-year-old driver now have an avenue to potentially return to Victory Lane for the first time in more than four seasons, he also has the chance to place his name back among the sport's top tier.

Bowyer has always been known as one of the most animated and energetic figures in the NASCAR garage. But performance -- or a lack of it, in the case of Bowyer's most recent body of work -- has a way of shuffling even the most engaging figures to the shadows. Bowyer's return to a high-profile ride likely changes both the prevailing perceptions and his exposure level, but the results will need to follow suit.

"Here's what I hope -- I sure hope you're watching me," Bowyer said. "At the end of the day, relevancy in this sport is everything and I've lost that a little bit. Not a little bit, a lot. And I felt it and didn't like it. It's up to me to go out and become relevant again, have you watch me and talking about me.

"It makes everything better. This is a business. This is racing, but once you race at this level, it becomes a business and it trickles down to everything in your life. We're race car drivers but we do this for a business. From my dirt program, everything, my (car) dealership, it just really trickles down. Every business thing that's happened really feeds off of your success on that race track. I had a bad year and I want to become relevant again. You don't work as hard and you have a hell of a lot more fun."

Before he embarks on that goal, Bowyer has had fun getting better acquainted with his new surroundings, no doubt aided by Bugarewicz's handy chart. But the jollity has also extended to enjoying the luxuries of championship-level equipment for a change.

Bowyer marveled at the comfort and quality of his new carbon-fiber seat, remarking "I feel rich" with regards to the perfectly tailored fit. And in a further illustration of Stewart-Haas' attention to precise details, Bowyer was asked last weekend about his preference for a gearshift handle. When the newest SHR driver reacted with indifference in saying that any handle would do, he was presented with eight possible choices

"I think we have dialed in the right gearshift handle for myself and my success this year," Bowyer said with a wry smile. "If not, we have plenty of extras to go around."