Posted on by Staff Report

Messages for drivers on the start-finish line are a special part of NASCAR fans’ pre-race rituals, especially for the Daytona 500. However, given the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not yet safe enough to have fans back on the track before the race to participate in the tradition.

The tradition will still live on, though, for this year’s 63rd annual running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX). In the absence of fans on the track to sign the start-finish line, NASCAR and Twitter will partner to paint select fan tweets directly onto the track.

RELATED: Full Daytona Speedweeks schedule

Starting at noon ET on Feb. 8, tweet us a message to your favorite driver using the #DAYTONA500 hashtag and your tweet may end up being painted on the start-finish line for The Great American Race. Eighty-five tweets will be selected for the honor.

Tweets printed will be photographed and sent back to the user, ensuring they know they were “there.” It’s part of Twitter’s goal to help fill the void of full stadiums and encourage users to engage in meaningful conversations during one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

The final tweets will be selected Feb. 10, so don’t delay on sending us your submissions. On Feb. 13, the tweets will be painted on the track in advance of the Daytona 500.

 

Posted on by Steve Luvender

The eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series kicks off its 2021 season Feb. 8 with a trip to the virtual Daytona International Speedway. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is this?

Now in its 12th season, the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series features 40 of the world’s best sim racers competing head-to-head using the iRacing simulation platform, racing virtual replicas of NASCAR Cup Series cars on digital versions of real NASCAR tracks.

Who’s racing?

The Coca-Cola iRacing Series is comprised of 40 esports pros who qualified through iRacing’s ladder system. The top 20 drivers from last year’s Coca-Cola iRacing Series return, plus a new crop of talent graduating from the winter iRacing Pro Series.

No NASCAR Cup Series drivers are competing in the field — at least this year. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Timmy Hill have competed — and qualified just like everybody else — in seasons past. (If you’re looking for NASCAR stars competing on iRacing, you might want to check out the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, which returns for 2021.)

The 40 Coca-Cola iRacing Series drivers teamed up over the winter with 20 real-world NASCAR teams and pro esports organizations to form this year’s lineup:

No. 1: Garrett Manes (R), Elliott Sadler eSports
No. 2: Ashton Crowder, Elliott Sadler eSports
No. 3: Corey Vincent, Team Dillon eSports
No. 4: Ryan Michael Luza, XSET
No. 6: Nathan Lyon, Roush Fenway Racing
No. 8: Michael Conti, JR Motorsports
No. 9: Michael Guest, Jim Beaver eSports
No. 10: Graham A. Bowlin, Stewart-Haas eSports
No. 11: Malik Ray, Spacestation Gaming
No. 14: Blade Whitt (R), Clint Bowyer Racing
No. 15: Caine Cook, Jim Beaver eSports
No. 16: John Gorlinsky, Wood Brothers Racing
No. 17: Steven Wilson (R), Roush Fenway Racing
No. 18: Femi Olat (R), Gibbs Gaming
No. 21: Garrett Lowe, Wood Brothers Racing
No. 23: Mitchell deJong (R), 23XI Racing
No. 24: Jake Nichols, Mode Motorsports
No. 25: Nick Ottinger, William Byron eSports
No. 29: Zack Nichols (R), Williams Esports
No. 32: Keegan Leahy, 23XI Racing
No. 33: Taylor Hurst, Team Dillon eSports
No. 36: Chris Shearburn, Letarte Esports
No. 37: Derek Justis (R), JTG Daugherty Racing
No. 38: Casey Kirwan, XSET
No. 41: Dylan Duval, Stewart-Haas eSports
No. 44: Isaac Gann (R), Kligerman Sport
No. 46: Jimmy Mullis, Richmond Raceway eSports
No. 47: Brian Schoenburg, JTG Daugherty Racing
No. 51: Ray Alfalla, Gibbs Gaming
No. 52: Jake Matheson (R), Williams Esports
No. 55: Vicente Salas (R), Spacestation Gaming
No. 66: Blake Reynolds, McLaren Shadow
No. 67: Allen Boes, McLaren Shadow
No. 75: Matt Bussa, Mode Motorsports
No. 77: Bob Bryant, Kligerman Sport
No. 79: Ryan Doucette (R), Clint Bowyer Racing
No. 83: Bobby Zalenski, Letarte Esports
No. 88: Brad Davies, JR Motorsports
No. 90: Zack Novak, Richmond Raceway eSports
No. 97: Logan Clampitt, William Byron eSports

What’s at stake?

Ah, the big question. Glad you asked. This year, a record $330,000 is up for grabs over the 18-race season. 2020 champ Nick Ottinger walked away with $100,000 last year — not to mention a couple of other perks.

2020 Sept22 Iracing Main Image
iRacing

What’s new for this year?

• The prize pool expands to $330,000.

• The 18-race schedule adds two new tracks, Circuit of the Americas and Road America.

• The season wraps up at Texas Motor Speedway for the first time ever.

• The playoff field expands from eight drivers to 10 drivers.

• A win-and-in format will be used to determine playoff drivers (assuming they’re ranked in the top 20 when the playoffs begin). Previously, drivers had to rank in the top eight to make the playoffs, regardless of win status.

• Four new teams have joined the series: McLaren Shadow, Elliott Sadler eSports, Spacestation Gaming and XSET. (And Denny Hamlin Racing will take over the 23XI Racing name.)

• Eleven rookies will make their debuts: Mitchell deJong, Ryan Doucette, Isaac Gann, Derek Justis, Garrett Manes, Jake Matheson, Zack Nichols, Femi Olat, Vicente Salas, Blade Whitt, and Steven Wilson.

What are the storylines?

The big prize. Everybody wants a piece of that $330,000. A new season means a fresh start, and that often means the opener at Daytona can set the tone for the season — take last year, for example, where the top three finishers all ended up racing their way into the playoffs (including eventual champ Nick Ottinger, who finished second by a nose).

A seat for next year. Priorities in the Coca-Cola iRacing Series are straightforward. If you can’t win the championship, make the playoffs. If you can’t make the playoffs, finish top 20 in points — and for good reason. The top 20 drivers are guaranteed a spot in the following year’s field. Sure, it’s a little early to start thinking about 2022, but expect to see drivers complete every lap of every race in order to dodge relegation. Finishing in the bottom half of the points standings means a driver will have to claw his or her way back up to the Coca-Cola iRacing Series over the winter, mixed in with up-and-coming talent in the iRacing Pro Series.

New teams. With Elliott Sadler Esports, McLaren Shadow, Spacestation Gaming and XSET throwing their hats (headsets?) into the ring, they’re going to expect success, even against the heavy hitters of the Coca-Cola iRacing Series. Like any racing series, there are sponsors to keep happy and there are names to be made.

A crowded rookie field. Over a quarter of the field will take the green flag for the first time at the top level Monday — an insanely full crop of rookies. Unproven talent mixed with plenty of series veterans makes for an interesting mix; it’s tough to predict which drivers will stand out and who will struggle. The 2020 Coca-Cola iRacing Series typically featured below-average caution counts — will inexperience, combined with the already-high stakes, create chaos?

Win-and-in playoffs. Unlike previous seasons, a win in the regular season will mean a driver nabs a spot in the 10-driver playoffs (assuming they finish top 20 in points). Previously, a driver had to put together a consistent season and finish the regular season top eight in points — regardless of win status. Consistency is still important, but a win from a driver who’s exceptionally good at superspeedways (draft-wizard Malik Ray comes to mind) could start the season off on the right note by making the playoffs right out of the gate with a Daytona win.

How do I watch?

The season opener at Daytona airs Monday, Feb. 8, at 9 p.m. ET.

Catch all the racing action streamed live at eNASCAR.com/live.

Posted on by Jason Christley

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A year to the day after earning his first World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Super Late Model victory at New Smyrna Speedway, Sammy Smith scored his second.

Smith was the class of the field Sunday night as he wheeled the No. 22 entry fielded by Donnie Wilson to his first victory during the 55th edition of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing over Justin Mondeik.

“The last two nights we were just OK, we needed to work on a couple things,” Smith said from Victory Lane. “Bond Suss and the whole Donnie Wilson team got it good tonight and here we are.”

Ryan Moore, who opened the World Series with a victory on Friday, started from the pole after an invert of eight after qualifying and quickly took the lead at the start of the race.

Behind Moore, Smith was on the move. After starting third Smith quickly dispatched Justin Mondeik for second before the first caution flag of the race waved with five laps complete when Bubba Pollard spun in turn four after contact with Jett Noland.

Moore opted to restart on the outside when the race resumed, a move that ended up backfiring as Smith was able to work the bottom to perfection to take the lead by the time the field exited turn four.

Two more caution flags would follow in short succession, with the biggest of the two coming with 11 laps complete. Noland, driving a car borrowed from Justin Dutilly after the engine in Noland’s primary car went sour, slammed the Turn 1 wall when a part failed in the car.

Noland walked away from the crash unhurt, but the car sustained significant damage.

Smith remained at the front of the field when the green flag waved again and he was never seriously challenged for the remainder of the race, driving to a comfortable victory ahead of Mondeik and Moore.

“It felt like the restarts really played to my favor,” Smith said. “The 74 (Moore), he was tight. He bottomed out when he’d get into the corner. I feel like that really came to my advantage.”

Jacob Goede finished fourth, with Stephen Nasse earning his best finish of the week so far in fifth.

Young gun Conner Jones held off a determined challenge from Hunter Wright to earn his first World Series victory in the Pro Late Model class. Wright got alongside Jones on the final lap, but Jones was able to beat him to the checkered flag by a few feet to earn the victory.

Travis Eddy’s winning streak in the Florida Modified class came to an end when Eddy crashed during the initial start of the 35-lap feature. Tim Moore took advantage and earned his first victory of the week.

The 602 Modified division made its World Series debut to close out the evening, with Carsten DiGiantomasso holding off Anthony Bello in a photo finish after Bello tried to nudge DiGiantomasso out of the way in turn four on the final lap.

Super Late Model (35 laps)

1. Sammy Smith, 2. Justin Mondeik, 3. Ryan Moore, 4. Jacob Goede, 5. Stephen Nasse, 6. Jesse Love, 7. Jake Garcia, 8. Daniel Dye, 9. Derek Griffith, 10. Dan Fredrickson

11. Kelly Moore, 12. Connor Mosack, 13. Kris Wright, 14. Michael Hinde, 15. Jake Finch, 16. Doug Elliott, 17. Bubba Pollard, 18. Steve Weaver, 19. Patrick Thomas, 20. Jett Noland

21. Brad May, 22. Jaden Cretacci, 23. R.J. Braun.

Posted on by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find NBCSN | Get the NBC Sports App | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App

Monday, February 8
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
7 p.m., Speedweeks 2001: A Week that Changed NASCAR

Tuesday, February 9
1 p.m., NASCAR Preview (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay Daytona, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash, FS1

On MRN
6 p.m., Busch Clash at Daytona

Wednesday, February 10
1 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FS1
4 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FS2
10 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FS2
12 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 first practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN 1)
1 p.m., IMSA Auto Racing: Rolex 24 at Daytona Pilot Challenge (re-air), NBCSN
3 p.m., IMSA Auto Racing Special Prototype Challenge: Daytona, NBCSN
4 p.m., IMSA Auto Racing Special Mazda MX-5 Cup: Daytona, NBCSN
4 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FS2
5 p.m., Dale Jr. Download: Larry McReynolds, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying, FS1 (session starts at 7:30) (Canada: TSN 1)

On MRN
10 a.m., MRN Crew Call: Chris Gabehart
12:05 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 first practice
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying

Thursday, February 11
12:30 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying (re-air), FS1
2:30 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FS1
4:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1
5 a.m., Refuse to Lose: Jeff Gordon and the 1997 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1
6 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying (re-air), FS2
8 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FS2
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FS1
6:30 p.m. NASCAR RaceDay Daytona, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona, FS1 (Canada: TSN 4)
10 p.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder, FS1

On MRN
6 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona

Friday, February 12
1 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona (re-air), FS1
4 a.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (re-air), FS1
8 a.m., NASCAR Preview (re-air), NBCSN
11 a.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (re-air), FS2
12 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona (re-air), FS2
3 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN App)
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay Daytona, FS1
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy 250, FS1

On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy 250

Saturday, February 13
12 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 (re-air), FS1
2 a.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (re-air), FS1
3 a.m., Refuse to Lose: Jeff Gordon and the 1997 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1
4 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice (re-air), FS1
5 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona (re-air), FS1
8:30 a.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (re-air), FS2
9:30 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 second practice, FS2 (Canada: TSN 5)
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, FS2 (moves to FS1 at 11 a.m.) (Canada: TSN 3)
11 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, FS1 (Canada: TSN 3)
12 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN 5)
1 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
1:30 p.m., ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire, FS1
4 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Xfinity Daytona, FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300, FS1 (Canada: TSN 1)
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Post-Race Show, FS1
10 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300 (re-air), FS2

On MRN
9:30 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 second practice
12:05 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 final practice
1:30 p.m., ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300

Sunday, February 14
12 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300 (re-air), FS1
2 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy 250 (re-air), FS1
4 a.m., ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire (re-air), FS1
6 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner 300 (re-air), FS1
8 a.m., ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire (re-air), FS2
10 a.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (re-air), FS2
11 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series 63rd annual Daytona 500, FOX (Canada: TSN 1, 4) RESUMES AT 9 P.M. ET
5 p.m., The Golden Hour: Making of Days of Thunder (re-air), FOX
6 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash (re-air), FOX

On MRN
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series 63rd annual Daytona 500

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Derek Griffith finished on the podium during Friday’s David Rogers Super Late Model feature that opened the 55th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, but that simply wasn’t enough for the driver from New Hampshire.

Fast forward to Saturday and Griffith, the defending World Series champion in the David Rogers Super Late Model division, was in his own zip code as he roared to his first victory of the week and third of his career during the World Series.

“It just feels good, especially after last night,” Griffith said in Victory Lane. “I know we finished podium, but we got tore up and had all sorts of issues. To come out and kind of prove ourselves as someone who kind of belongs here, it feels good.”

With a band of storms washing out qualifying, the field for Saturday’s 35-lap feature was set based on the finishing order of Friday’s race. The top-six were then inverted, placing Justin Mondeik on the pole alongside Connor Mosack.

Mosack drove into the lead entering turn one from the top, with fourth-starting Griffith advancing to second by the completion of the first lap.

Griffith took several looks to the inside of Mosack in the first few laps before finally making his move on lap eight. They raced side-by-side for two laps before Griffith completed the pass entering turn one on the 10th circuit.

It was effectively game, set, match from there as Griffith drove away from the field en route to the victory.

“We’re just a small, family-owned team,” said Griffith, who is also scheduled to compete in the ARCA Menards Series opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13 for Venturini Motorsports. “It’s so cool to come down here and run with these guys and compete.”

Mosack finished more than a second behind Griffith in second, followed by Mondeik in third. Jacob Goede took fourth after holding off a fierce challenge from Jett Noland in the final laps of the race.

Bryan Kruczek initially won the 50-lap Sportsman feature after an intense battle with Friday’s feature winner Matthew Green, but both were later disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct after their respective crews shared harsh words with each other. That eventually led to a physical altercation in technical inspection, leading to the disqualifications.

As a result, third-place finisher Wayne Smith inherited the victory.

Noland doubled his fun in the Pro Late Model class as he outran Kody Swanson for the second-straight night. Travis Eddy also earned his second victory in as many days in the Florida Modified division.

Lastly, Matt Jarrett was initially declared the winner of the E-Mod feature, but he and runner-up Michael Mark were disqualified due to left-side weight violations. Tim Walters inherited the win..

Super Late Model (35 laps)

1. Derek Griffith, 2. Connor Mosack, 3. Justin Mondeik, 4. Jacob Goede, 5. Jett Noland, 6. Ryan Moore, 7. Sammy Smith, 8. Brad May, 9. Jake Garcia, 10. Dan Fredrickson

11. R.J. Braun, 12. Kris Wright, 12. Stephen Nasse, 14. Jesse Love, 15. Kelly Moore, 16. Daniel Dye, 17. Michael Hinde, 18. Jake Finch, 19. Nick Panitzke, 20. Kody Swanson

21. Bubba Pollard, 22. Jaden Cretacci, 23. Steve Weaver, 24. Patrick Thomas, 25. Travis Wilson.

20210206224734 D24a0294
Derek Griffith in Victory Lane after winning the Super Late Model feature at Florida’s New Smyrna Saturday on Night 2 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. (Jim Dupont/NASCAR)
Posted on by Jason Christley

TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. – Coming off a 10th-place finish in a sports car at Daytona International Speedway, Chad McCumbee switched to a stock car and held off defending NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion, Josh Berry to win the IceBreaker at Florence Motor Speedway on Saturday.

McCumbee ran in the Grand Sport class during the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway last week, before heading north to take part in Florence’s return to NASCAR as part of its Late Model Stock Car showcase event.

McCumbee started on the outside pole alongside of his teammate, Matt Cox. He ran inside of the top three for the majority of the race, but coming around to complete lap 78, he took over the lead for the second time of the afternoon as he passed Ryan Millington In Turn 4. McCumbee went on to lead the remaining laps of the 125-lap race, but he had to outrun Berry on two final restarts.

“I’m very proud of our effort,” McCumbee said. “I’m not going to be able to run a full season of Late Models this year, but this is one race that I had on the calendar that I wanted to do. I certainly got the season started off right.”

On lap 120, Justin Johnson spun Bob Saville in Turn 4, and McCumbee had to dive down low to avoid the accident. McCumbee chose the outside lane on the restart, and he cleared Berry once back to green; however, a lap later, the caution flew again for a multi-car accident heading into Turn 1.

“I was sick to see that caution with four laps to go, because I felt that my strategy had worked out really well,” McCumbee said. “Luckily, we still had enough, so that told me that we had made some gains.”

With just four laps to go, McCumbee once again chose the outside lane on the final restart of the afternoon. He cleared Berry again and went on to capture his first win at Florence Motor Speedway.

“Those guys are so strong,” McCumbee said about the field of drivers on Saturday. “Late Model Stock racing in general for the last year, the competition level was just out of control. The talent and the depth throughout the field. We got beat in November, and we came back with a lot of different stuff trying to get better, and we certainly are better.”

Berry finished second after starting the race in the fifth position. Early in the race, Berry fell back and rode just within the top-10. As the laps ticked away, the JR Motorsports driver began to make his way through the field. Berry had a hard time getting around Bobby McCarty late in the race, but the cautions in the final laps gave him an opportunity to battle McCumbee for the win; however, McCumbee was just so strong on the high lane on the restarts, that Berry wasn’t able to hang with him after the field made its way around Turns 1 and 2.

“That was tough,” Berry said. “I don’t know, we were good. We were good again and just lacked a little bit there. The top was a lot better than the last race here, and it just got really hard to pass. I don’t know. I just needed a little bit longer run there. I think to fire off, Chad fired off a little bit better than us, and he was able to get out enough and hold us off.”

McCarty finished third after battling Berry hard in the closing laps of the race. The side-by-side racing between the two drivers got physical, but McCarty was thrilled to bring his car home with a solid finish.

“It was good, clean racing,” McCarty said about battling Berry. “I enjoyed it. I would have liked it better if my car was better, but it was good, hard racing, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Matt Cox finished fourth, and Kaden Honeycutt rounded out the top five. Completing the top

Img 6901
Chad McCumbee in Victory Lane after winning the IceBreaker Late Model Stock Car feature at South Carolina’s Florence Motor Speedway. (Florence Motor Speedway)

10 was Millington, Austin Somero, Jonathan Shafer, Justin Johnson and Ryan Glenski.

 

Posted on by Jason Christley

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Ryan Moore knows how to win at New Smyrna Speedway and on Friday evening during the opening night of the 55th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, he reminded everyone he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Moore, the 2013 World Series Super Late Model champion, started from the pole and held off a late challenge from fast qualifier Jett Noland to win the opening 35-lap David Rogers Super Late Model feature of the World Series.

While the stat book will show Moore lead most of the 35-lap event at the half-mile asphalt oval, the reality is he had his work cut out for him. A stacked field of 25 cars started the feature and Moore first had to contend with a challenge from Jake Finch, the son of former NASCAR Cup Series team owner James Finch, during the initial start.

A quick caution with two laps complete stacked the field back up, but Finch spun in front of the field as everyone raced towards turn one. The resulting crash eliminated several contenders, including Finch, Dan Fredrickson and five-time USAC Silver Crown champion Kody Swanson.

Moore held serve at the front of the field during two more quick restarts, fending off a brief challenge from 2019 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion Jacob Goede before sailing off into the lead.

Noland was able to chase down and pass Goede for second halfway through the race and was closing in on Moore before the final caution waved with two laps left for a car spun in turn one. However, the restart went Moore’s way and he was able to pull away to his sixth career World Series super late model triumph.

“We’ve been down here a long time and we’ve been good, we’ve been bad, we’ve been all over the board,” said Moore. “We built a new car. There is nothing wrong with our old one by any means, just ready for a new challenge, and we got with Rowdy (Manufacturing) and built this car.

“Just a stellar performance. My best friend Jamie, him and I, we pour our heart and soul into these things. It’s good to get him a win. We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this week.”

Noland fended off a challenge from defending World Series Super Late Model champion Derek Griffith to finish second. Goede and Connor Mosack followed them home in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Moore’s father, 1995 ARCA Menards Series East champion Kelly Moore, was also in the field Friday. He finished 11th.

Noland didn’t leave New Smyrna Speedway empty handed on Friday as he was able to win the first Pro Late Model feature of the week after an intense battle with Swanson that saw Noland take the lead for the first time with two laps left. Other winners on the opening night of the 55th World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing included Matthew Green (Sportsman), Travis Eddy (Florida Modifieds) and Dustin Higdon (Bombers).

Super Late Model (35 laps)

1. Ryan Moore, 2. Jett Noland, 3. Derek Griffith, 4. Jacob Goede, 5. Connor Mosack, 6. Justin Mondeik, 7. Brad May, 8. Sammy Smith, 9. Jake Garcia, 10. R.J. Braun

11. Kelly Moore, 12. Kris Wright, 13. Michael Hinde, 14. Nick Panitzke, 15. Jade Cretacci, 16. Doug Elliott, 17. Mike Stacy, 18. Daniel Dye, 19. Jesse Love, 20. Patrick Thomas

21. Ruben Rovelo, 22. Jake Finch, 23. Dan Fredrickson, 24. Kody Swanson, 25. Bubba Pollard.

A general view at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on February 05, 2021. (James Gilbert/ARCA Racing)
A view at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on February 5, 2021. (James Gilbert/NASCAR)
Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

Martin Truex Jr. offered a brief update on Friday regarding his contract status, as the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season serves as the last year of his current deal with Joe Gibbs Racing.

While negotiations are ongoing, the 2017 champ continuing his driving duties in the No. 19 Toyota beyond this year appear to be trending in a positive direction.

RELATED: Previewing the 2021 season for JGR | Changes to know for 2021

“We have had talks and things have moved forward,” Truex Jr. said during his Daytona 500 Media Day availability.

On Feb. 1, the organization announced that Truex’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, signed a multi-year contract extension to remain at JGR. Hamlin’s longtime sponsor, FedEx, also agreed to a multi-year partnership with the No. 11 Toyota team.

In two seasons under the Joe Gibbs Racing banner, Truex has earned eight victories, 29 top-five and 47 top-10 finishes.

Posted on by Jason Christley

Jon McKennedy is one of the most accomplished Modified racers across the Northeast.

The success he’s had, however, hadn’t found its way to the Whelen Modified Tour heading into the 2020 season.

Sure, McKennedy has dominated other Modified series. He’s won the Modified Racing Series title four times and the Tri-Track Series title in 2014. It just hasn’t quite come on the Tour yet, where he has just one win, at Myrtle Beach in 2018.

For the first time, however, McKennedy took on the entire Tour schedule with car owner and crew chief Tommy Baldwin.

Baldwin and McKennedy have been working together on the Tour since the 2018 season, racing the series part-time. In their first race together, McKennedy picked up his first career win.

RELATED: Jon McKennedy Career Stats

But the results after that were somewhat sporadic. In 11 more races they ran in 2018, the No. 7 team failed to finish five of them. 2019 was better, but running only eight races of the 16 on the schedule kept the team from reaching its full potential.

The 2020 season was different, however. The No. 7 team made the decision in the offseason to run all the races on the schedule. Even after the pandemic hit, Baldwin and McKennedy were still able to complete the entire season.

“The more you get to race with the same group of guys, the more you get to learn how they race, their habits, good and bad,” McKennedy said. “Racing against the competitors makes a difference the longer you race against them.”

The improvements the pairing have worked on the last three years together were apparent immediately. Besides Justin Bonsignore, McKennedy was the only driver to finish inside the top-10 in all nine races in 2020, finishing second in points overall. He set career-highs for a single season in laps led, top-10s, poles, and average finish. The only boxes left unchecked were the points title itself and a race win.

“We didn’t get that win last year, but we certainly ran very well,” McKennedy said.

“This year, I think we’ve got a lot of momentum to build on from last year and a lot of good notes… We’re going to try to do one position better.”

The focus isn’t quite on the 2021 Whelen Modified Tour season just yet, however. Next week, McKennedy and Baldwin will be one of the 40-plus Modified teams to compete in the Tour Modified Division in the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna, just 10 miles from Daytona International Speedway. Of course, cars will be turning laps at Daytona as well, with the Daytona 500 coming up a week from Sunday. Baldwin went to victory lane there in the 2002 running of The Great American Race as Ward Burton’s crew chief.

RELATED: Getting Into Gear: Teams & Drivers Ready For 55th World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna | Schedule, Entry List and Information For The World Series at New Smyrna in 2021

To get back racing in a Modified for the first time since October has McKennedy, much like the rest of the garage, excited.

“Whenever you can win any type of Tour Modified event, it’s something to be proud of,” McKennedy said “It’s probably going to be one of the strongest fields of cars we’ve seen in a long, long time. If you can crack out a win or two down there, that’ll certainly be huge and be some pretty cool bragging rights for sure.

“We’ve got a ton of cars coming down, which is great. It’s going to bring out some of the best there is in Modifieds.”

The World Series of Asphalt may not just be about bragging rights for Jon McKennedy. It may be the catalyst for a Whelen Modified Tour championship run in 2021.

Jon McKennedy, driver of the #7 Ultra Wheel Chevrolet competes during the Thompson 150 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, Connecticut on September 3, 2020. (Billie Weiss/NASCAR)
Jon McKennedy, driver of the #7 Ultra Wheel Chevrolet, had two Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole Awards, four top fives and nine top 10s in nine races on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour last year. (Billie Weiss/NASCAR)
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 5, 2021) –  Once again supporting Anthony Alfredo, DUDE Products and its popular DUDE Wipes brand will be aligned with the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate in his first NASCAR Cup Series season. DUDE Wipes will be the primary partner of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports team for six races throughout the year.

38ncs Dudewipes Homestead 2d (006)
Courtesy: Front Row Motorsports

A leader in the wipes game, DUDE Products are sold throughout the country and continue to help NASCAR fans stay fresh. DUDE Wipes will be featured on Alfredo’s Mustang at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Feb. 28, the dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 28, Kansas Speedway on May 2, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Alfredo’s home track) on July 18, the night race at Bristol on Sep. 18 and on Halloween night, under the lights at the Martinsville Speedway on October 31.

“DUDE Wipes can guarantee that Anthony will be the ‘swaggiest’ and most fresh on the circuit this year,” said Ryan Meegan, DUDE Products’ co-founder. “We’re big fans of Anthony since meeting him last year. He’s a great guy, driver and we are proud to have his back during his rookie year.”

DUDE Products is more than just DUDE Wipes. Its full line includes a head-to-toe assortment of energizing face and body wipes, on-the-go shower wipes and menthol chill body powder. Alfredo will promote DUDE Wipes and all products throughout the season on social media and other digital media with the team. He’s looking forward to the partnership.

“It’s going to be a fun ride this year with DUDE Wipes and our team.” Alfredo said. “DUDE Wipes was quick to step up when I came to Front Row Motorsports and into the NASCAR Cup Series. I really want to thank them for that. They are a young and aggressive company that fits well into what we’re building on this season. I can’t wait to get started next week.”

For more information about DUDE Products, visit www.DUDEProducts.com.