RALEIGH, N.C. – Advance Auto Parts, a leading automotive aftermarket parts retailer and the Official Auto Parts Retailer of NASCAR, and Team Penske today announced a unique activation around the No. 12 Ford Mustang driven by Ryan Blaney in the NASCAR Cup Series.
During the 2021 season, Advance will use its associate sponsorship of the No. 12 Ford to showcase NASCAR-sanctioned local short tracks across the United States and Canada that are part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series. Each week, up to two different Weekly Series tracks will be featured on Blaney’s car, alongside Advance’s iconic checkered-flag logo. The activation begins this week, as New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., will ride shotgun on Blaney’s No. 12 at the Daytona International Speedway.
Additionally, for every Ryan Blaney victory, the NASCAR Weekly Series track(s) featured on his car will each receive $1,200 to be used for track operations, local track driver winnings, or supporting a charity of the track’s choosing.
Advance will continue its sponsorship of Team Penske’s No. 12 Ford in four races this season: at the Bristol Motor Speedway dirt race on March 28, Darlington Raceway on May 9, Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 11 and the night race at Richmond on September 11. The company is entering the second season of a multi-year agreement with Team Penske.
“We are delighted to partner with Team Penske to advance local racing through this activation,” said Jason McDonell, Advance’s chief marketing officer. “We believe this program will create a sense of pride with each of NASCAR’s local tracks while drawing more attention to the vital role these tracks play in their communities. We proudly support Ryan and Team Penske and look forward to celebrating in victory lane with Ryan this season.”
“Every driver in the Cup Series garage got their start racing locally on short tracks, so it’s meaningful for me to carry the flag with Advance Auto Parts to represent NASCAR’s local tracks on my No. 12 Ford,” said Blaney. “I look forward to being part of this program, winning races and benefiting a lot of short tracks in the process.”
Blaney will kick off the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season at the Daytona 500, held at the Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 14 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX).
A NASCAR race team works best when all the cogs in the engine, so to speak, are working seamlessly together, forming a cohesive bond for the good of the whole to get the job done.
Fictional or not, the Bobby Spencer Racing team crew, comprised of a diverse cast of characters portrayed by a multi-faceted group of actors in Netflix’s The Crew (debuts Feb. 15) learned just that – and so much more about NASCAR.
The Crew stars Kevin Jamesas a NASCAR crew chief for the once-prominent Bobby Spencer Racing team. As the series begins, the organization finds itself in one of the valleys of the up-and-down nature of running a NASCAR Cup Series organization, mired in a mid-pack malaise as it strives to regain its footing. The owner sparks change by stepping down to pass the team off to his daughter Catherine (Jillian Mueller), who attempts to modernize the No. 74 Fake Steak-sponsored car by replacing the team’s driver Jake Martin (Freddie Stroma) with an up-and-coming female driver in Jessie (Paris Berelc).
Through working together as a unit, however, the pieces begin to fall into place and the start of something special happens.
The cast of The Crew carries that spirit, effusing that cohesion and using their divergent backgrounds in comedy and theater to put something on film they feel has that certain something to be significant.
“I think it’s a great show, and it sounds cheesy-like, but there’s something in it for everyone,” Mueller told NASCAR.com. “Truly, with the NASCAR angle, we had (Senior Vice President & Chief Digital Officer) Tim Clark and (Managing Director, Entertainment Marketing and Content Development) Matt Summers who are NASCAR producers. They work for NASCAR, working on our show. They tried to be true and really keep it in the world of NASCAR so that way NASCAR fans are proud of it and happy with the show. And obviously we have the real drivers do cameos on the show, and they were amazing.
Courtesy: Netflix
“So we have that for the NASCAR fans but then also for somebody that might not have been paying attention to NASCAR but enjoys Netflix like we all do; watching it, it’s not like they’re going to be lost. It’s not something you need to have prior knowledge of to watch the show. If anything, it’ll just make you more interested. It’s definitely something that will bring new fans, that’s for sure.”
The entire cast doted on the authenticity of the true-to-NASCAR aspects of the show, despite its comedic nature as a Kevin James vehicular (no pun intended) sitcom. It’s something NASCAR fans will notice and appreciate, but something that new fans can use as an entry point for the sport.
“That NASCAR name and just the product, there’s legitimacy to the whole thing,” said Gary Anthony Williams (TMNT, Malcolm in the Middle), who plays Chuck. “From the racers to the look of it to us even having our own (stock car) in the show, there’s that legitimacy. It’s fun on so many levels and it’s just funny. It’s kind of the relief that the world needs right now. Just to be able to sit back and laugh and actually learn, too.”
The series’ appreciation for the ins and outs of the sport also got a thumbs-up from those who are closest to the action.
“The racers and the commentators that would come on set would be like whoa, this is legit. This looks real,” said Dan Ahdoot (Cobra Kai, Bajillion Dollar Propertie$), who plays Amir. “It was so great to know that, because there’s nothing worse than when you’re watching a show and it’s like … a lot of my friends are doctors and we’d watch a show together and they’d be like ‘that’s not real, he’s not really dead, he wouldn’t be doing that’ and it’s so annoying. So the fact that people will get to appreciate the details about this is pretty awesome.”
Cup stars Ryan Blaney, Cole Custer and former Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon all make cameo appearances in the show.
The cast, which displayed genuine rapport over a Zoom interview — no easy feat — during two panels with NASCAR.com, repeatedly pointed to the fact that despite the heavy NASCAR-influence and context of the show, it truly is a comedy for everyone.
Think of it this way: How many people are passionate about the paper industry? Definitely not as many as people who fell in love with The Office.
Courtesy: Netflix
“You don’t have to know about NASCAR to totally love and enjoy the show. It’s a workplace comedy,” said Sarah Stiles (Broadway, Off-Broadway), who plays Beth. “There’s great characters, great relationships and it’s about changing the old and updating it and new technology coming in, and we can all relate to that.”
The Crew is another example of NASCAR itself continuing to propel itself into the future with more widespread cultural appeal and outreach to all demographics.
“I’ve been really impressed with NASCAR over the last year, banning the confederate flag and things. I think they’re moving into the future in a good way,” said Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter, Bridgerton), who plays Jake. “And that’s why I hope that this show can be part of those good decisions that NASCAR’s been making recently and hopefully, I really want the NASCAR fans to enjoy the show.”
As NASCAR makes its maiden voyage into the deep sea of TV sitcoms, it’s clear that the future of stock car auto racing is unfolding now, and not some nebulous time further down the line. The Crew is one of just many ways the sport is advancing itself and creating progress, taking the green flag on the next era of NASCAR.
“It’s just very cool to suddenly be a part of this world and be a part of history,” said Ahdoot, “to be the first show that’s done based on NASCAR.”
Jeff Lowell (The Ranch, Two and a Half Men, Spin City) will serve as writer, showrunner and executive producer. Andy Fickman (Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, Playing With Fire) directed all episodes and serves as an executive producer. James, Jeff Sussman (The King of Queens, Paul Blart) and Todd Garner (Tag, Isn’t It Romantic, Mortal Kombat) will also serve as executive producers. Clark and Summers will executive produce for NASCAR.
Cool without trying. Effortlessly charming and charismatic. Rolls out of bed already devilishly handsome and just an absolute natural on set when the director calls, “Action!”
No, we’re not referring to one of the stars of Netflix’s The Crew (debuts Feb. 15) in Freddie Stroma — though it probably applies to him, too — we’re talking about Ryan Blaney.
Courtesy: Netflix
“Ryan Blaney needs to just stick to his driving, you can’t be good at everything, OK?” Stroma told NASCAR.com. “He’s already cool, he’s good-looking, he drives in NASCAR and then he comes onto our domain and he’s just whipping out zingers like cool as a cucumber, and it’s like OK, no one likes a showoff.”
The No. 12 Team Penske driver is one of a handful of drivers to make a cameo in the new series all about the world of NASCAR. He also made a lasting impression on the cast, which was in awe of his out-of-the-car talents.
“I know all the other drivers are going to hate us, but Ryan Blaney is an amazing actor. Like, he is seriously funny,” said Gary Anthony Williams, who plays Chuck. “He is at ease and he’s charismatic. The dude is fantastic. I suggest he quit racing tomorrow and start acting. He’s good, but he’s proven himself (on the race track) and may as well just quit there.”
Courtesy: Netflix
Not only was the cast impressed with the lines laid down by Blaney (and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer and Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon), they were equally awestruck by how, well, regular they were … despite what they do on Sundays.
“Having the guys come on, having Blaney and Cole Custer and Austin Dillon and just talking to them and being like OK these are normal human beings,” said Stroma. “And then you go watch a NASCAR race and you go ‘Oh, they’re insane, how are you doing that?’ It’s a terrifying but very, very cool sport.”
If there’s one thing Hollywood-types know all-too-well, it’s big egos. That didn’t come across with NASCAR’s new sitcom stars.
“Number one, they’re the most humble world-class athletes I’ve ever met in my life. They are just like super nice, super humble,” said Dan Ahdoot, who plays Amir. “And they are great actors, which pisses me off. It’s like, you cant have it all, buddy, but apparently they can.”
The Crew follows the story of the fictional Bobby Spencer Racing team as it attempts to regain the Cup Series prominence it once enjoyed. It’s a familiar path for many NASCAR organizations, one of the many intricacies of the sport that the actors came to learn.
For much of the cast it was among their first experiences with the sport, but after meeting the drivers, working with them and soaking everything that NASCAR has to offer, they’re stock-car converts.
“I am so in awe of people that do this,” said Sarah Stiles, who plays Beth. “I personally am terrified of driving cars in general. I live in New York City. I don’t drive one. So the fact that people get in these cars and drive like a million miles an hour, like, right next to each other is bananapants.
“I think it’s very brave and courageous and now I’m watching.”
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Ryan Preece had a very good day Wednesday in the Sunshine State.
First he locked himself into the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 with a strong qualifying run at Daytona International Speedway in his No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet. He followed that up by going from last to first to win the John Blewett III Memorial 76 Tour-Type Modified race at New Smyrna Speedway.
“I’ve got to thank my team for working here today and getting this thing prepared and just letting me come and drive,” Preece said from victory lane.
Qualify for DAYTONA 500 ✅
Win John Blewett III Memorial 76 ✅
Preece was forced to miss qualifying at New Smyrna Speedway due to Daytona 500 qualifying, forcing him to start at the back of the Tour-Type Modified field in his No. 6 machine.
As soon as the race began Preece began picking up spots, racing into the top-20 in short order. By the time a caution flag waved with 24 laps left he’d made his way into the top-10 and was looking for more.
He first had to dispatch Jon McKennedy, who had expressed his displeasure with Preece for an incident a few nights prior during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. The two traded blows for a few laps before Preece was able to make his way past McKennedy with 17 laps left.
A caution would wave moments later, setting up another restart. Mayhem started before the field made it to turn one, with Ron Silk and Tommy Catalano coming together on the frontstretch and collecting several other cars in the process.
Preece, somehow, dove to the bottom and missed everything and emerged from turn two in third position behind leaders Eric Goodale and Tyler Rypkema. With 14 to go Preece took advantage of contact between the leaders to slip by Rypkema for second.
That just left Goodale ahead of Preece and in turn three with seven laps left Preece made his move, diving deep into the turn to steal the lead away from Goodale. The caution flag would wave several more times the race was complete, with veteran modified ace Matt Hirschman using the cautions to make a late run at Preece.
Despite one final caution and subsequent restart with two laps left that gave Hirschman a shot at Preece, Hirschman had nothing for the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion as he held on to top the 76-lap main event.
The win was particularly special for Preece as the event honored late modified driver John Blewett III, who passed away in 2007 following a racing accident.
“I remember the day John died. He was a racer, man. A lot of modified guys are racers, but John Blewett was a racer,” Preece said. “I’ve had a ton of respect for Jimmy Blewett and John Blewett, so to be able to win this race…it’s been awhile since I’ve won here. It’s pretty cool.”
Wait Worth It For Dan Fredrickson
Eighteen years. That’s how long it had been since Minnesota’s Dan Fredrickson last won a race during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway.
That drought ended when Fredrickson bested defending World Series Super Late Model champion Derek Griffith during a late restart.
“It’s awesome. It’s just great. We’ve been through a lot. We’re a privateer team, just doing this with our money and a couple great sponsors,” Fredrickson said. “It’s just me and a couple of other guys down here.”
Griffith initially appeared on his way to a comfortable victory until the first caution of the 35-lap race waved with 10 laps left. The first attempt at a restart immediately resulted in another caution when Sammy Smith slowed to a stop in turn four.
The second restart attempt was more successful, especially for Fredrickson. Restart on the inside of Griffith, Fredrickson got a great start and was able to ahead of Griffith entering turn three.
Griffith pulled the crossover on Fredrickson and the two raced side-by-side, with the two making contact coming out of turn four with nine laps left. Both cars briefly slid sideways, but Fredrickson and Griffith were both able to recover and continue.
Fredrickson would lead the remainder of the race while Griffith slipped through the field to fourth at the checkered flag.
Connor Mosack finished second behind Fredrickson, followed by reigning ARCA Menards Series West champion Jesse Love, Griffith and Daniel Dye.
Other winners on Wednesday evening at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing included Nick Panitzke in the Pro Late Model class and Ricky Moxley in the Florida Modified division.
Tour-Type Modified (76 laps)
1. Ryan Preece, 2. Matt Hirschman, 3. Patrick Emerling, 4. Jon McKennedy, 5. Ron Silk, 6. Matt Galko, 7. Chuck Hossfeld, 8. Eddie McCarthy, 9. Bobby Measmer Jr., 10. Dave Sapienza
11. Amy Catalano, 12. Eric Goodale, 13. J.R. Bertuccio, 14. Craig Lutz, 15. Buddy Charette, 17. Chris Finocchario, 18. Tyler Rypkema, 19. Stephen Kopcik, 20. Chris Jensen
21. Burt Myers, 22. Anthony Nocella, 23. Ronnie Williams, 24. Jeremy Gerstner, 25. Tommy Catalano, 26. Jimmy Blewett, 27. Danny Knoll Jr., 28. Marcello Rufrano, 29. Tom Martino Jr., 30. Tyler Truex
31. Bobby Jones, 32. Chris Ridsdale, 33. Jonathan Laureigh, 34. Paul Hartwig Jr., 35. Randall Richard, 36. Jim Gavek, 37. Brian Robie, 38. Ron Mullen.
Super Late Model (35 laps)
1. Dan Fredrickson, 2. Connor Mosack, 3. Jesse Love, 4. Derek Griffith, 5. Daniel Dye, 6. Stephen Nasse, 7. Jett Noland, 8. Jacob Goede, 9. Bubba Pollard, 10. Ryan Moore
11, Brad May, 12. Justin Mondeik, 13. R.J. Braun, 14. Jake Garcia, 15. Kody Swanson, 16. Kelly Moore, 17. Kris Wright, 18. Patrick Thomas, 19. Sammy Smith, 20. Jake Finch
21. Gus Dean, 22. Steve Weaver, 23. Michael Hinde, 24. Travis Wilson.
Dan Fredrickson won the Super Late Model feature at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway Wednesday. (Jim Dupont/NASCAR)
See where your favorite driver will pit Thursday night for the two Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona International Speedway (start at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The cars on the Daytona 500 entry list are split into two fields — one for each race. The pit stall assignments for Duel 1 are above and are below for Duel 2.
Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacation Duel at Daytona International Speedway (7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will set the field and lineup for the 2021 Daytona 500 (Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
*indicates Open team that is not locked into the Daytona 500 (only two of those will race into Sunday’s event — Ryan Preece and David Ragan made the field based on their qualifying speed Wednesday night as the top two Open teams on the speed chart)
Alex Bowman swapped car numbers for the 2021 season – from 88 to 48 – but has certainly retained his Daytona magic, earning the pole position for Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), giving the Hendrick Motorsports driver a record fourth consecutive front row start in the NASCAR Cup Series season-opener.
Bowman, 27, went out late in the qualifying order (38th of 44 drivers) Wednesday night – the first night-time pole qualifying session in race history – but his Chevrolet handily set the pace with a lap of 191.261 mph (47.056 secs.), taking the top-spot from Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron by more than a quarter-second.
“It was fast,” Byron said, smiling about Bowman’s pole-winning lap.
The Hendrick teammates also started alongside one another in 2019, when Byron edged Bowman for the pole position. Bowman earned his first Daytona 500 pole in 2018 and started second last year. Hendrick Motorsports now has 14 Daytona 500 pole positions.
“It doesn’t really have a whole lot to do with me, right,” Bowman said on pit road after qualifying. “It’s a testament to these guys and everybody back in the shop at Hendrick Motorsports. They work so hard on these superspeedway cars. They are beautiful when they get to the race track. Our Ally Camaro has been really fast since we unloaded and they focused a lot on trying to get the pole for the Daytona 500.
“It means a lot to us and we were able to achieve that.”
And, he added, “It’s more about the people that make it happen. I floored it, but I’m pretty sure everyone else did too. I’m just appreciative my race car is fast.”
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola was third fastest in the No. 10 Ford followed on the speed chart by Bubba Wallace, who earned rave reviews in his debut driving the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, which is co-owned by three-time and defending Daytona 500 winning driver Denny Hamlin and NBA Hall of Famer, Michael Jordan. Wallace’s lap was good enough for the top spot only to be taken by Byron three cars later.
Wallace was fastest in an hour-long practice Wednesday afternoon – his first official laps with the new organization and he was clearly feeling optimistic about the week. He finished runner-up in his very first Daytona 500 in 2018.
“Everything’s shaping up to be a great ending for us, we just have to get through it,” Wallace said. “It’s kind of the same feeling I had in 2018, my first 500. The speed was there, we qualified decent and had a really good Duel and finished second in the 500.
“I think the way things are going, we just have to keep it going, keep the positive momentum going. Everything’s kind of going well in the car. I’m confident. Still getting things worked out but all in all it comes pretty natural when you have a great team behind you.”
Wallace said he got a “very positive” text from Jordan after qualifying and said the basketball superstar arrives in Daytona on Thursday in time for the Bluegreen Vacation Duel (7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) that will ultimately set the starting lineup for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
Hamlin, the three-time defending Daytona 500 winner was 12th fastest in qualifying. The two joked about Wallace being faster.
“I’m aware,” Hamlin said with a smile, adding, “It’s actually a pretty solid qualifying effort certainly for our FedEx team, just barely out of the top 10 there so that’s a good starting spot for us and we’re excited about it.
“Obviously that was a great run by the 23 team. They just barely missed it there by a tenth or so to get that locked in spot (on the front row). But now they get to go out there and race and get the experience they need to get a good finish on Sunday.”
Speed wise, last year’s polesitter Ricky Stenhouse Jr. proved fast again – fifth quickest in the JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet. Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford), Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota), Ryan Preece (No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet), 2018 Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) and Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) rounded out the top 10.
Preece and 13th-place qualifier David Ragan were quickest among Open car teams needing to qualify based upon time. The rest of the Open car team drivers – Austin Cindric, Kaz Grala, Timmy Hill, Noah Gragson, Ty Dillon and Garrett Smithley – will have to battle it out in the Duel races with the highest finisher among them in each Duel earning a spot in the Daytona 500.
Gragson failed pre-qualifying inspection three times and lost the lap in his No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet as a result. A crew member from the No. 62 has also been ejected as a result of the pre-qualifying inspection failures.
Bluegreen Vacation Duel 1 is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start Thursday, while Bluegreen Vacation Duel 2 is set for 9 p.m. ET right afterward. Both will air live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
In a recent interview with Graham Bensinger during his show “In Depth,” two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch explained why he and former crew chief Adam Stevens parted ways.
Going into the offseason after the 2020 season, Busch asked Stevens to make some “personnel” changes on the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team. Stevens did not see eye to eye with Busch’s requests.
“I asked Adam for a couple changes to be made over the offseason, and he didn’t agree with my philosophy on those changes,” Busch told Bensinger. “So he said you know what, I’m going to do something different and let you do something different and we’ll see what happens.'”
Stevens now works with Joe Gibbs Racing newcomer Christopher Bell on the No. 20 Toyota team, while Busch has new chief chief Ben Beshore at the helm for the 2021 season.
Busch said he was “shocked” when Stevens told him that he wanted to end their relationship.
“I was like, well, essentially you just told me you quit on me,” Busch said. “So … uh, OK. See you later. Now I have to go find somebody else on who’s going to be the next guy to step in and take over the reins to be crew chief for the 18 M&Ms team.
“I flat-out told him in the beginning of the conversation that I believe in you. I trust in you. I want you. You’re my guy. We’ve done this already for six years. We’ve won two championships. Like, there’s chemistry here and we have a working relationship where we understand one another.”
For more comments from Busch, the full segment of the episode with Busch can be found here.
Bubba Wallace topped the leaderboard in Wednesday afternoon’s first NASCAR Cup Series practice for the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
Wallace turned his first laps in the new No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, posting a fastest time of 45.057 seconds at 199.747 mph. Toyota linked up early to practice drafting in the 50-minute session to take the top-five fastest positions between 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.
Martin Truex Jr. finished second in the first practice session of 2021 with a time of 45.069 seconds at 199.694 mph in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, followed by 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin with a time of 45.07 seconds at 199.689 mph in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Tuesday night’s Busch Clash winner, Kyle Busch, ended the session in fourth (199.627 mph), while teammate and new No. 20 Toyota driver Christopher Bell finished fifth (199.623 mph).
Spire Motorsports drivers Jamie McMurray and Corey LaJoie were the fastest Chevrolets in the practice session, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
Michael McDowell led the Ford Performance brigade with the eighth-fastest time, followed by Ryan Newman and Cole Custer to round out the top 10.
Next up for the NASCAR Cup Series is Daytona 500 qualifying at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
