Posted on by Staff Report

Austin Cindric’s plans to graduate to the NASCAR Cup Series received a dose of Wednesday morning clarity, with Team Penske announcing a fourth Daytona 500 entry reserved for the reigning Xfinity Series champion.

Cindric is set to drive Penske’s No. 33 Ford in an attempt to qualify for The Great American Race (Feb. 14, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM). Should he make the field, it would mark the 22-year-old driver’s Cup Series debut, the first step toward a full-time ride with Wood Brothers Racing in 2022.

RELATED: Changes to know for 2021

Miles Stanley, who has served as a race engineer on Penske’s efforts for Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, will hold crew-chief duties for the No. 33 entry this season. Team Penske officials indicated other select events on Cindric’s part-time Cup Series schedule this year would be announced at a later date.

“There is a lot to be excited about heading into Daytona,” Cindric said in a team release. “It doesn’t really even need to be said that the Daytona 500 is the biggest crown jewel race in NASCAR and one of the biggest races in the world, so to have a shot to be in the show while driving for Roger Penske is a big opportunity. Qualifying our way into the race as an ‘open’ car will be a big challenge. I look forward to working with Miles and all of the guys on the No. 33 team, while also continuing my focus on winning back-to-back Xfinity Series championships.”

Cindric drove to six victories in the Xfinity Series last season, including a title-clinching win in the Phoenix Raceway finale in his 100th career start. He’ll return to Team Penske’s No. 22 ride this year for his fourth full season on the Xfinity circuit.

When not atop the No. 33 pit box, Stanley will continue in his role as a race engineer for Team Penske’s No. 12 outfit for driver Ryan Blaney.

“Ever since I joined Team Penske in 2013, I’ve been able to grow as an engineer and learn from some of the best in the business,” Stanley said. “Now I get the chance to become a Cup Series crew chief with one of the formidable organizations in the sport, which is an amazing opportunity. To get to do it with Austin at Daytona International Speedway is a perfect recipe for success. I look forward to working with him and hitting the ground running with the No. 33 Ford team in Daytona and the other Cup Series races that Austin runs in 2021.”

The No. 33 was last used in the Cup Series in the 2017 season finale, with Jeffrey Earnhardt driving a Chevrolet owned by Joe Falk.

Posted on by Staff Report

Hendrick Motorsports unveiled the 2021 version of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet for the NASCAR Cup Series on Tuesday. The NAPA colors will be the primary look for defending series champion Chase Elliott for 26 races this year, including the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway.

RELATED: No. 9 NAPA scheme from all angles

Last season, Elliott’s No. 9 featured NAPA Auto Parts as the primary sponsor for 25 points-paying races, including at Phoenix Raceway when Elliott won his first Cup championship. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native enters 2021 with 11 Cup Series victories, including a season-high five last year.

Posted on by Track Release

LEBANON, Tenn. (Jan. 19, 2021) –  Ally Financial will make history in June as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, track and company officials said Tuesday.

Ally, a leading digital financial-services company and the primary sponsor of Alex Bowman and the iconic Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet, will be a NASCAR race sponsor for the first time with the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 20 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, #Ally400 on social media), capping a spectacular Father’s Day weekend at Middle Tennessee’s home for racing and entertainment. Tickets for the entire June 18-20, 2021 NASCAR tripleheader weekend are available to the general public starting Tuesday.

RELATED: 2021 Cup Series schedule | NASCAR’s history in Nashville

The multi-year agreement links Ally and Nashville Superspeedway for future NASCAR Cup Series races as well as upcoming community and NASCAR fan events.

“We plan to make the Ally 400 a premiere event for NASCAR fans and the Nashville community this summer with great racing and some other fun surprises we’ll announce soon,” said Andrea Brimmer, chief marketing and public relations officer, Ally. “It wouldn’t be an Ally event if we didn’t ‘Do It Right’ by making a lasting impact through donations to support first responders — like those who saved so many lives in December’s bombing — and to an organization that has long provided necessary assistance to this community.”

Initial highlights of the new relationship include:

  • Ally will donate $25,000 to Box 55 Association, which provides support for first responders, and $25,000 to the Urban League of Middle Tennessee, a civil rights and urban advocacy organization providing direct services that impact thousands of people in underserved communities across the state.
  • Fans can enter the Ultimate Ally 400 Sweepstakes, with a grand prize of a VIP package for two for the entire June 18-20 race weekend! Visit nashvillesuperspeedway.com/ally400sweepstakes/ for details.
  • Fans will have a chance to help choose Alex Bowman’s No. 48 Chevrolet paint scheme for the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. Follow @allyracing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more details to come.
  • Look for details on more Ally-Nashville Superspeedway events in the coming months leading up to NASCAR’s return to the Nashville area.

The Ally 400 is the centerpiece of a full schedule of activities at Nashville Superspeedway on June 18-20, including a NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, June 19 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN) and a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, June 18 (8 p.m. ET, FS1).

“We’re honored to team up with Ally for our inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race,” said Erik Moses, Nashville Superspeedway’s president. “Ally has heavily invested in NASCAR in recent years and given so much back to race fans with innovative contests and events. As we prepare to welcome America’s best drivers back to Middle Tennessee, we’re looking forward to working with Ally to present the best experience possible for our fans.”

On-track and off-track schedules for all three of Nashville Superspeedway’s NASCAR events will be determined and shared at a later date.

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 19, 2021) – Gaunt Brothers Racing has named Ty Dillon as its driver for the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway.

The 28-year-old from Lewisville, North Carolina, will make his 163rd career NASCAR Cup Series start upon qualifying for The Great American Race. Dillon will drive the No. 96 Bass Pro Shops/Black Rifle Coffee Company Toyota Camry, marking his first points-paying start behind the wheel of a Toyota.

“Gaunt Brothers Racing has given me a great opportunity to compete in the Daytona 500 and I couldn’t be happier,” Dillon said. “I love superspeedway races and the Daytona 500 is the biggest of them all. Toyota has certainly proven itself in our sport and in the Daytona 500. I’m looking forward to racing with them and reuniting with Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company.”

RELATED: Changes to know for 2021

Gaunt Brothers Racing has put particular emphasis on its superspeedway program in 2021. The team will unload a brand-new Toyota Camry for Dillon at Daytona with an engine built by Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A. (TRD).

“The best way to get a good start to your season is to have a good finish in the Daytona 500,” said Marty Gaunt, president, Gaunt Brothers Racing. “We’ve got a talented driver in Ty Dillon with a strong TRD engine plugged into the best equipment available. Together with Toyota, Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company, we’re ready to compete and surprise some people.”

Bass Pro Shops is a longtime supporter of Dillon. North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company was with Dillon for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win in July 2014 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victories – August 2012 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, June 2013 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, and November 2013 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

“In addition to Ty’s competitive spirit and lifelong passion for racing, his love of fishing, hunting and the great outdoors makes him a great ambassador for Bass Pro Shops,” said noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. “We know Ty lives for moments like the Daytona 500 just like we do, and we couldn’t be more excited for him to represent Bass Pro Shops in the biggest race of the year.”

Black Rifle Coffee Company is a premium, roast-to-order, veteran-owned coffee company that gives back to veterans in every cup. Founded by Evan Hafer, a Green Beret who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Black Rifle Coffee Company has quickly established itself as a strong brand with a growing community of loyal fans thanks to its delicious coffee and commitment to supporting veterans, law enforcement and first responders. The 2021 season marks its second year as a sponsor in NASCAR.

Dillon is the 2011 ARCA Menards Series champion. He has 10 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona with three top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place drive in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400

The Daytona 500 starts at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb., 14 with live coverage on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Terrin Waack

Today’s Trackhouse Racing Team preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, starting with new chartered teams then ranked in reverse order of best finish in last year’s owner standings.

MORE: Changes to know for 2021 season

TRACKHOUSE RACING TEAM

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: ECR Engines
Driver-crew chief pairings: Daniel Suarez-Travis Mack (No. 99)

What’s new: The entire team. Trackhouse Entertainment Group founder and owner Justin Marks announced the formation of a NASCAR Cup Series team in October 2020 for the 2021 season and beyond. The organization has an embedded operational alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Right now, it’s a one-car operation.

RELATED: Pitbull joins Trackhouse as team partner | Trackhouse announces formation of Cup Series team

Team outlook: It’s a brand-new team, so the expectations need to be realistic. From what team owner Justin Marks has said since the formation announcement, the organization’s vision is more so on 2022 and the Next Gen car rather than immediate 2021 success. Everything that happens this season is to position Trackhouse in a strong spot for next season.

Racing Insights stats break: Driver Daniel Suarez moves to his third team in three seasons after running the No. 96 for Gaunt Brothers Racing in 2020 and the No. 41 in 2019. Suarez hopes to find the success he had before his stint in the No. 96 which included a career-best finish of second at Pocono in July 2018. Suarez is teamed up with crew chief Travis Mack, who has experience as both an Xfinity and Cup crew chief.

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Chevrolet

Experience: Fifth full season in NASCAR Cup Series
2020 stats: 31st in final standings; 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s
2020 final Fantasy Live ranking: 31st
2021 championship odds: 1,000-1

Outlook: This is Daniel Suarez’s fourth team in as many years. The 29-year-old from Mexico is still searching for his first career win after four full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. Obviously a victory breakthrough would be ideal, but getting back up in the top five and 10 will suffice.

NASCAR.com 2021 team previews schedule

Jan. 18: 23XI Racing
Jan. 19: Trackhouse Racing Team
Jan. 20: Live Fast Motorsports
Jan. 21: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 22: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: Richard Petty Motorsports
Jan. 27: Roush Fenway Racing
Jan. 28: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 29: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 30: Non-chartered and teams outside the top 30
Feb. 1: Chip Ganassi Racing
Feb. 2: Stewart-Haas Racing
Feb. 3: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 4: Team Penske
Feb. 5: Hendrick Motorsports

Posted on by Track Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Multi-platinum, ACM, CMA, CMT and Billboard Music Award-winning artist Luke Combs will perform the DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show before the 63rd running of The Great American Race on Sunday, Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Combs, an Asheville, North Carolina native, is a longtime NASCAR fan and is looking forward to performing at the World Center of Racing to help ignite the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season.

“I grew up watching the NASCAR race every Sunday with my granddad; that was our thing,” said Combs. “I never could have imagined back then that I’d be playing the Daytona 500 one day, so this is super awesome and is something I’m really looking forward to.”

RELATED: NASCAR 2021 schedule | Offseason moves to know

Combs will take to the stage before the start of DAYTONA 500 in front of a limited number of fans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, while millions will watch from home on FOX. The race will see Denny Hamlin go for a record third consecutive victory in NASCAR’s biggest race.

“The tradition of the Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show has been an incredibly popular hit with race fans,” Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile said. “Luke has been one of the most influential country music stars over the last few years and his fan appeal is incredible. It’s a bonus, too, that he loves our sport. He will help get another thrilling DAYTONA 500, as well as a new NASCAR season, off to an exciting start.”

Combs’ new deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, is out now on River House Artists/Columbia Nashville and debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart as well as Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. It also set the new weekly streaming record for a country album with 102.26 million on-demand streams, breaking Combs’ own record, which he set last November (2019) with the release of his platinum-certified, global No. 1 album, What You See Is What You Get.

The new deluxe album features all 18 tracks from What You See Is What You Get as well as five new songs including “Forever After All,” which debuted at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart — the highest entrance ever for a male country solo artist. With the release, Combs also reached No. 1 on Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Albums chart, Top 100 Songs chart and Artists 500 chart — the first country artist ever to lead all three charts in the same week and first to top the Artists 500.

Adding to a series of groundbreaking and historic years, Combs recently won two awards at the 55th ACM Awards, three awards at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards and two awards at the 54th CMA Awards. He also recently made history as the first artist ever to have their first two studio albums spend 25 weeks or more at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart — breaking Taylor Swift’s previously held record at 24 weeks.

Continuing his triumphant run at country radio, Combs’ single, “Lovin’ On You,” spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on both the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart and the Billboard Country Airplay chart. This is Combs’ ninth-consecutive No. 1 single — a first on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart—as well as his eighth single to spend multiple weeks at No. 1. Additionally, Combs’ current single, “Better Together,” is currently top 3 at country radio and rising.

Fans can follow Luke across a variety of platforms, including LukeCombs.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

For information on the 2021 DAYTONA 500 and all Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, which kicks off on Tuesday, Feb. 9 with the 43rd Annual Busch Clash on the DAYTONA Road Course under the lights, fans can visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or call 1-800-PITSHOP.

All Speedweeks events will be conducted in accordance with enhanced safety protocols and procedures to provide a safe environment for guests, NASCAR competitors, employees and the local community. All guests will be screened before entering the facility and will be required to wear face coverings while maintaining six feet social distancing throughout their visit.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest speedway news.

Posted on by Staff Report

Spire Motorsports announced Tuesday that Jamie McMurray will return to NASCAR Cup Series competition next month, driving the No. 77 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500.

McMurray last competed in NASCAR’s top division in 2019, also in a one-off start with Spire in The Great American Race. McMurray — who joined FOX Sports as a NASCAR analyst after his full-time driving days — has seven Cup Series victories, including a triumph in the 2010 Daytona 500.

RELATED: Corey LaJoie bullish on Spire’s growth | Changes to know for 2021

Sponsorship for the No. 77 effort will be provided by AdventHealth, which was a primary backer for Spire in two races last year and is a current team partner with Chip Ganassi Racing.

“It doesn’t get any better than the Daytona 500, and I am so excited to have the opportunity, thanks to AdventHealth, to run this race one more time. I have enjoyed my time out of the car as an analyst covering NASCAR, but nothing can replace the feeling of actually racing,” McMurray said in a release announcing the news.

McMurray will be teammates with Corey LaJoie, who joins the organization for a full-season schedule this year in Spire’s No. 7 Chevy. The team expands to a two-car effort for 2021.

Posted on by Staff Report

After a three-year partnership, ThorSport Racing will part ways with Ford Performance ahead of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, the organization announced Monday.

RELATED: Changes for the 2021 season

In three years with Ford, the team based in Sandusky, Ohio earned one drivers’ championship with Matt Crafton and the regular season championship with Grant Enfinger in 2019. The stretch also included 10 wins, 83 top-five and 163 top-10 finishes.

Prior to joining Ford, ThorSport Racing competed under the Toyota brand. Crafton won consecutive championship with Toyota in 2013-14, serving as the first two drivers’ titles for the organization.

A complete driver and manufacturer lineup will be revealed at a later date. ThorSport Racing’s 2020 driver lineup included Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger, Johnny Sauter and Ben Rhodes.

Posted on by Staff Report

About a month out from the start of the 2021 NASCAR season, Camping World Truck Series driver Jordan Anderson has some big news.

The South Carolina native got engaged over the weekend to Kendall McReynolds, daughter of two-time Daytona 500 winning-crew chief and NASCAR on FOX analyst Larry McReynolds.

Anderson is entering his eighth season in the Truck Series. His best finish came in the 2020 season opener at Daytona — a runner-up finish, which was also his first top five in the series.

Posted on by Zack Albert

Today’s 23XI Racing preview starts NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, starting with new chartered teams then ranked in reverse order of best finish in last year’s owner standings.

MORE: Changes to know for 2021 season

23XI RACING

Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Toyota Racing Development
Driver-crew chief pairings: Bubba Wallace-Mike Wheeler (No. 23)

What’s new: All of it. This brand-spanking-new team for the 2021 season is the result of collaboration between NBA legend Michael Jordan and longtime friend Denny Hamlin, who explores team ownership for the first time in his long NASCAR career. Bubba Wallace has been tapped as the driver of the No. 23 Toyota, with veteran Mike Wheeler — a former crew chief for Hamlin — atop the pit box. Primary sponsorships — some from existing backers and others from newly forged partnerships — have been sold for the entire schedule.

RELATED: 23XI team name, number revealed | Sponsor inventory sold out

Team outlook: Ever since the team’s Cup Series plans were officially announced Sept. 21, the race has been on to prepare for next month’s debut at Daytona International Speedway. Some degree of first-year jitters should be expected, but 23XI won’t lack support. The full fleet of sponsorship — for the team’s on- and off-track impact — is a positive bellwether, and an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing should help establish the team’s footing on the technical side. Time will tell just how strong that JGR affiliation will be.

Racing Insights stats break: Bubba Wallace comes off a career year after finishing 22nd in points thanks to five top-10 finishes (had only four in his career before) and enters 2021 with a streak of three straight seasons with a top-five finish. Wallace has veteran crew chief Mike Wheeler, who has five wins, including a 2016 Daytona 500 victory with Denny Hamlin. Wallace’s best Cup finish is second in the 2018 Daytona 500.

Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota

Experience: Fourth full season in NASCAR Cup Series
2020 stats: 22nd in final standings; 0 wins, 1 top five, 5 top 10s.
2020 final Fantasy Live ranking: 22nd
2021 championship odds: 50-1

Outlook: Without ever turning a lap, 23XI pegged the star-power wattage meter at the moment of inception, with Michael Jordan’s international renown sparking a flurry of headlines and coverage. The spotlight’s glow may be even brighter on Wallace this season, on the heels of an eventful 2020 when he became a more vocal advocate for racial equality. On the track, Wallace’s performance will likely be predicated on how quickly the newborn organization can find its place among more established competition. He has won multiple times over in the Camping World Truck Series ranks but is still aiming for the consistency needed to make that leap in the Cup Series.

NASCAR.com 2021 team previews schedule

Jan. 18: 23XI Racing
Jan. 19: Trackhouse Racing Team
Jan. 20: Live Fast Motorsports
Jan. 21: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 22: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: Richard Petty Motorsports
Jan. 27: Roush Fenway Racing
Jan. 28: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 29: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 30: Non-chartered and teams outside the top 30
Feb. 1: Chip Ganassi Racing
Feb. 2: Stewart-Haas Racing
Feb. 3: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 4: Team Penske
Feb. 5: Hendrick Motorsports