Schedules set for Dash 4 Cash, Triple Truck Challenge in 2021

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Staff Report

NASCAR officials announced Thursday that two incentive programs would return next season, establishing the dates and tracks for the Xfinity Series’ Dash 4 Cash and the Camping World Truck Series’ Triple Truck Challenge in 2021.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Both initiatives offer bonus paydays to series regulars during the course of the regular season. Officials indicated that the formats, eligibility requirements and bonus purse information would be announced at a later date.

2021 SCHEDULES: Xfinity | Camping World Truck

The schedules:

NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash schedule

April 9: Martinsville Speedway
April 24: Talladega Superspeedway
May 8: Darlington Raceway
May 15: Dover International Speedway

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Triple Truck Challenge schedule

May 7: Darlington Raceway
May 22: Circuit of The Americas
May 28: Charlotte Motor Speedway

Only one track — Talladega — carries over from last season’s Dash 4 Cash schedule. All three tracks in the Triple Truck Challenge — nicknamed “The Trip” — are new for 2021.

Darlington is the only track that will host both bonus programs, with Dash 4 Cash and The Trip set for its annual NASCAR Throwback Weekend in May.

The schedule and venues for both bonus programs were shuffled last season because of the COVID-19 outbreak, with Dash 4 Cash pushed to June and The Trip moved to August. The 2021 season will mark the 13th year for the Dash 4 Cash program and the third edition of the Triple Truck Challenge.

Posted on December 17, 2020December 19, 2020 by Zack Albert

The well-aged expression of “hanging out your shingle” has a parallel for Corey LaJoie in his new role as a full-time driver for Spire Motorsports. No, he’s not striking out on his own, as the saying implies, but instead of a shingle, he’s building a full-fledged sign for the race shop.

There may be no better tangible indicator of the roots that the 29-year-old journeyman is establishing with Spire, which will expand to a two-car fleet next season in the NASCAR Cup Series. LaJoie’s debut in Spire’s No. 7 Chevrolet will kick off the first year of a multiyear agreement with the start-up organization, co-founded by owners Jeff Dickerson and T.J. Puchyr in 2019.

LaJoie makes the transition with veteran names in key support roles — some faces are familiar, others less so. But there’s also newfound optimism for LaJoie, who has scratched out a career in NASCAR’s top series, bouncing among three teams during the last four seasons.

“I mean, this is probably the most excited I’ve been leading up to any year in my NASCAR career at least, just because I know how much we’re going to over-exceed expectations for what people have become used to a Spire Motorsports entry being on track,” LaJoie said in a Tuesday video teleconference with reporters. “I’m going over to the shop here this afternoon and I probably go over there every other three days or so, and there’s somebody new, somebody from a different team, somebody that’s excited to come build and be part of the culture that we’re trying to build for the future. We’re getting some good cars, some good engines, and it’ll be the most solid deal that I’ve ever had.”

LaJoie toiled in some of the final starts for BK Racing (2017) and TriStar Motorsports (2018) before moving to Go Fas Racing and the Archie St. Hilaire-owned No. 32 Ford. LaJoie says the last two seasons there gave him an opportunity to learn and to become fully acclimated to the 36-race routine.

The new situation, LaJoie says, gives him “a little bit of job security.” Spire got its start by purchasing the team charter of Furniture Row Racing upon its closure, and the No. 7 charter for next season comes from the former Leavine Family Racing group.

Spire does have one victory in its Cup Series infancy — Justin Haley’s rain-shortened Daytona upset in the summer of 2019 — but its final rankings of 36th then 34th in the team owner standings have trailed most of the pack. Eight drivers rotated through its No. 77 Chevy entry in the organization’s first season; nine did in 2020. LaJoie represents Spire’s first full-time driver.

While Spire’s week-in, week-out performance hasn’t quite rattled the sheet metal of its better-funded rivals, LaJoie is betting on stronger results to accompany the growth.

“Each step has been progressively better, so I’m trending the right way,”LaJoie said. “I do feel like I’m in with a group that ultimately have the same vision to get it there and are realistic with their expectations and have the connections to put some good cars and good tools in the hands of the guys they’re hiring to push this deal along. I’m just happy to be a small part of it.”

MORE: 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule

Among the hires is a familiar name atop the pit box in Ryan Sparks, his crew chief last season at Go Fas Racing. Another key addition is familiar to TV viewers but new to Spire — Steve Letarte, who will serve as a team consultant while maintaining his role as an analyst for NBC Sports’ NASCAR broadcasts. LaJoie said both personnel moves should help serve as handy connections for partner teams Hendrick Motorsports, which Spire will rely on for engines and drivetrains, and Chip Ganassi Racing, its car supplier.

Letarte represents a new colleague for LaJoie. In his career as a crew chief with Hendrick Motorsports, Letarte scored 15 wins during a 10-year stretch, working with Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. While the stats and resume were a known quantity, LaJoie says he’s gotten to know Letarte on a more personal level in conversations over coffee, which he said is an always-present Letarte accessory.

“That guy’s just an awesome personality, but I probably didn’t give him enough credit — and I was probably a bit young when he was crew chiefing for Jeff and crew chiefing for Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” LaJoie said. “That guy is one of the smartest guys that I’ve ever met, and he’s also infectious and he’s just a guy that gets you pepped up. …

“I think that in terms of Steve’s timing, everybody when they take a step away from the competitive side, whether for him to be going to the broadcast booth, he’s stepped away from that competitive day-to-day trying to figure out what areas you can do to make yourself and your team better. Eventually for everybody, that fire starts burning again and I think Jeff and T.J. offered Steve the opportunity to have his hand to kind of quench that fire, if you will. He’s the perfect guy to fit into the culture we’re trying to build.”

LaJoie said that Spire is keeping its expectations realistic for next season, hoping to inch closer to the top 20 threshold and to match or surpass the performance of JTG Daugherty Racing, Front Row Motorsports among others. Longer-term, LaJoie didn’t shy away from the idea of the organization contending for a playoff spot within a few years.

“Right now, you’d like to think so, and that’s why we’re doing it,” LaJoie said. “That’s why we jumped into the boat and we’re rowing that sucker.”

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Team Release

CONCORD, NC., Dec. 16, 2020 – One month after helping more than 250 families in need in Detroit with turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner, NASCAR driver Hailie Deegan and her Ford F-150 are back on the road again.

This time, however, Deegan has teamed up with fellow Ford driver and 2018 NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano to help families in need in North Carolina by delivering 350 hams for holiday dinner tables.

Working through the Joey Logano Foundation, “Hailie’s Holiday Haul” started in Statesville, North Carolina, at the Children’s Hope Alliance, where an enthusiastic crowd of supporters welcomed the two drivers with cheers and handmade signs. The duo dropped off 200 hams at the organization’s headquarters before getting in a 2021 Ford F-150 and driving the remaining 150 hams to Caterpillar Ministries and the Huntington Green neighborhood in Huntersville, N.C. In all, more than 3,300 pounds of ham were dropped off at the two locations.

“I think it’s so important to give back to the community, especially if you have great people like Ford behind you who are on the same path and have the same motives. I think if you can both work together, you can make some great things happen and put some smiles on people’s faces,” said Deegan, who will be running a full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2021 with DGR-Crosley. “There are a lot of families that don’t get to experience the holidays fully with the resources they have, so to be able to give them a chance to have the fullest potential of those holidays means a lot.”

MORE: 2021 NASCAR schedule

In addition to the hams, JLF also donated 5,000 Ford facemasks to Children’s Hope Alliance as part of a collaboration with the Ford Motor Company Fund and will eventually distribute a total of 27,000 face coverings in the weeks ahead. It’s all part of Ford and the Ford Fund’s 100 million mask donation to communities and nonprofits across the United States.

“When Hailie came to us and said she wanted to know where to go to give away some holiday hams it was a no-brainer,” Logano said. “We all kind of get stuck in our own little world, especially in times like this, but Christmas is a great time to show the need that is here. Unfortunately, this need is here every day, COVID or not, and the goal is to help these kids become a contributing member of society.”

Children’s Hope Alliance provides hope, health and healing for generations. The organization transforms the lives of children, youth and families by focusing on three main areas: a safe home through foster care and adoption programs, a healthy start through educational, prevention and developmental programs and then also healing the hurt for children and families who are troubled, abused or neglected through therapy and counseling.

Caterpillar Ministries was started in 2007 as a partner with the Huntington Green neighborhood in Huntersville, N.C. Caterpillar strives to support the well-being of families as well as nurture and strengthen homes. Programs for the neighborhood include fun for preschoolers, small groups for teens, along with ESL classes and job training for adults.

The weather didn’t stop us today from delivering Holiday Hams and @ford mask to a couple of my favorite local charities. Thank You @FordPerformance and @HailieDeegan for letting us help out with your generosity! https://t.co/mCbdNfBx8A

— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) December 16, 2020

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Zack Albert

NASCAR wrapped up a two-day test session for the Next Gen prototype Wednesday, giving the 2022 Cup Series model its first on-track appearance on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.

Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher drove the “P3” vehicle during the shakedown runs at the 2.5-mile Florida track. The second test day concluded early Wednesday afternoon because of approaching rain.

NASCAR competition officials had indicated that one of the top goals of the Next Gen vehicle’s first superspeedway test was establishing a baseline speed in single-car runs, finding the proper balance of horsepower and drag. Pole-winning qualifying speeds have consistently fit in the 194-195 mph range during the last three years. John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation, said that a target speed was quickly met.

“We did that early in day one,” Probst said. “Then spent the rest of the test trying some new things on steering and also doing some ride-height sweeps just to get some sensitivities in the car to ride height. Nothing surprising, and all good as far as the development of the car.”

Buescher, who is headed into his sixth full season in the Cup Series next year, took his first turn behind the wheel of the P3 car, the product of collaboration between Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR’s Research & Development Department. His experience not only helped to gather data on the car’s performance, but also provided a glimpse at some of the prototype’s new features.

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

“For starters, the speed, we went through a lot of different changes to try to dial in what we know and get closer on what we don’t know,” Buescher said. “To try to have a competitive race and still do it within a reasonable speed. Just worked through a couple little nuance things that are just a lot different, and honestly it’s a little bit of just mind over matter as far as shifting, trying to make sure you keep pulling backwards for the sequential stuff, which was really neat. I really enjoyed using it and got better as it went, learning what it can and can’t do there by the end. The brakes are terrific and I know this isn’t even a short-track set-up, but they stop extremely well. There’s not going to be any issues getting to pit road and not having the stopping power, just going to be a matter of not spinning out.

“Obviously Daytona single-car is not the most fun kind of testing, but a lot was learned. I’m glad I did it. Even if it’s as little as going back and looking at the car we have at Roush, that we’ve been working on and sitting in, and trying to figure out what we feel like is the right thing to do from my input where the pedals and stuff need to be. Definitely a good test for me. I’m glad I got to drive the thing before we start testing late next year, I’m glad I got the opportunity.”

Probst spelled out the next steps for the Next Gen car, which is scheduled to make its competition debut at Daytona in 2022 — a target date that was delayed a year because of the COVID-19 outbreak. He indicated that some of the learnings from the Tuesday-Wednesday Next Gen sessions at Daytona should apply to other types of speedways moving forward.

“I think some of the stuff we found in the car is very promising for some of the other tracks we’re going to take it to,” Probst said. “So if anything, we may try to get on a local track up in the Charlotte area for a couple hours to verify what we found here translates to some other track types. Right now we’re working with the OEMs and with the teams to establish what our testing schedule will look like next year. We will be working with Goodyear to do a couple more tests with the car, but it will be coming out of the development phase and we’ll be focusing primarily on the tires. We’ll probably do three or four tire tests in the first half of next year for Goodyear.”

Among the other impressions that Buescher noted was the jumble of wires, sensors and other equipment surrounding the driver’s seat — all necessary clutter for the competition team’s data-gathering operations.

“I’ve seen some of the comments on social media talking about how bad the wiring looks inside,” Buescher said. “Well, yes, it’s bad, but it’s because there’s so much in this car that is just for testing purposes. They’re gathering so much information.

“They’re just trying to get from my standpoint what feels right. What’s accurate. What we need feel-wise to back the data up and make it look at the targets going forward. Going through tires, and aero packages and what we think would draft well or be able to put on good racing in a large pack. Try to pick out the little tiny differences in what we do. It’s difficult because the nature of Daytona, you’re really splitting hairs here. I told them a couple times, I don’t know if you’re playing tricks on me or what, I don’t know if I’m getting used to this or if it’s actually gotten better.”

Posted on December 15, 2020December 16, 2020 by Terrin Waack

Talent knows talent.

So when Brad Keselowski formed his own Camping World Truck Series team, he was able to recruit drivers with the potential to be successful in the sport. Every young Brad Keselowski Racing full-timer climbed the NASCAR ladder and made it to the sport’s top rung in some manner. Three of the six have championship-contending rides for 2021; another is already set for 2022.

“They’re successful for their own reasons, it’s not just because of me,” Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion, said Tuesday on a Zoom teleconference. “But to know that I played a part in that along the way is pretty cool to me. It makes me feel like I was able to leave a mark on the sport that was greater than just driving and to really pay it back in a number of ways.”

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

BKR opened its doors in 2007 as it ran a handful of ARCA races before running Trucks in 2008 and closed them at the conclusion of the 2017 season for financial reasons. Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe were the last to pilot BKR trucks, and they finished third and sixth, respectively, in the standings that final year. Both tallied one win, with Briscoe actually winning the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway right before the shutdown.

Briscoe will fill Stewart-Haas Racing’s void in the Cup Series in 2021, making his debut among the sport’s best, while Cindric plans to move up the ranks in 2022 with Wood Brothers Racing. Cindric has one more season left in the Xfinity Series, steering the same Team Penske entry he won a title with in 2020.

“It’s been pretty incredible to see how many incredible drivers came from BKR and have success in all of the series,” Briscoe said. “Definitely has a good eye for talent. Glad to be one of the guys that got to drive for Brad because it’s certainly an impressive list.”

In addition to Briscoe and Cindric, the list of current Cup Series contenders includes Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and Richard Childress Racing sophomore Tyler Reddick. Daniel Hemric used to race in the Cup Series but will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2021. Parker Kligerman was full time in the Xfinity Series in 2013 and has had a host of part-time rides in the Cup and Truck ranks and also works as a pit road reporter for NBC Sports.

And then it’s also worth mentioning Ross Chastain, who worked in a 14-race, part-time role with BKR in 2013. He’ll be running his first full Cup Series schedule in 2021, joining Chip Ganassi Racing.

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

“You never forget those people who give you shots – out of nowhere,” Blaney said. “We were just running for a small team at the time. Brad was very generous enough to give us an opportunity, and we were just really fortunate it worked out. … I still look at him as a mentor and a teammate now – and a friend.”

Blaney handed BKR its first win in 2012 at Iowa Speedway. The organization ended up with 11 victories overall across six drivers (Blaney-4, Keselowski-1, Joey Logano-1, Reddick-3, Briscoe-1, Cindric-1). Its best standings finish was second, as Blaney and Reddick were back-to-back runner-ups in 2014 and 2015.

A championship was never quite accomplished at BKR. The idea of reviving his team, though, has crossed Keselowski’s mind.

“I know there will be a day when I can’t be a race-car driver anymore,” Keselowski said. “That’s the bittersweet day that’s in front of me. And when that day comes, I don’t want to just leave the sport behind. I would like to still be able to have a reason to come to a race track other than just to watch. What that will be in the future, I don’t know. I can’t sit here today and say that I have that answer.

“But I do have a love for the sport that started at an early age and don’t suspect will end when I’m done driving.”

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Team Release

GAFFNEY, S.C. — After another successful NASCAR Xfinity Series season, team owner Johnny Davis has announced that Colby Howard will compete full-time for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in 2021.

Howard, originally from Simpsonville, South Carolina, made 22 starts for JDM during the 2020 season. Entering the year, Colby had limited NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series starts, but he made his name on the short tracks throughout the Southeast in late model competition.

Colby’s NASCAR Xfinity Series debut was in March at Phoenix Raceway, the last race before the COVID-19 pause. The original game plan for Howard was to learn the larger intermediate tracks and become more accustomed to the faster speeds associated with the heavier cars than what he was used to. From there, the 19-year-old had to adapt quickly to the cars with no practice or qualifying at his remaining races.

Throughout the season, it became apparent Howard had what it took to compete at the Xfinity Series level. In August at Daytona, Howard quickly picked up the art of superspeedway racing, notching a career-best finish of 12th place. Howard amassed seven top-20 finishes over the course of the year, and more importantly, gained valuable experience on most types of tracks.

Entering 2021, Howard returns to the seat of the No. 15 Chevrolet Camaro. However, there will be a new crew chief atop the pit box in veteran Wayne Carroll. Colby will face new challenges this season, namely, road-course racing, which he has never experienced. Howard is more ready than ever to take on the task of running the full season.

“I cannot thank Johnny Davis and Gary Keller enough for the opportunity to run a full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next year,” Howard said. “What we were able to accomplish this season with limited track time was really impressive, and it just goes to show what this team is made of. I know that my crew has been working very hard since the season finale in Phoenix, and am confident that we will have a fun year. Wayne Carroll has put together some fast cars, and I will rely heavily on him as I make this jump in my career. There is a lot to look forward to heading into 2021, and I am excited to continue to learn and develop my abilities on the race track.”

The Project Hope Foundation, an organization aimed at assisting children with autism develop into society, will once again serve as the primary sponsor on the No. 15 Chevy. Project Hope calls South Carolina home as well, tying in a statewide connection with Colby and the entire JD Motorsports with Gary Keller team.

Further sponsorship announcements for Colby Howard will be made at a later date, along with more driver announcements to complete the JDM lineup.

The 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series season kicks off on Feb. 13 at Daytona International Speedway. To keep up with Colby Howard, follow his social media pages @ColbyHoward16, and visit his official website at www.ColbyHowardRacing.com. For all things JDM, follow along on our social media pages @JDMotorsports01, and visit the team’s official website at www.TeamJDMotorsports.com. #TeamJDM

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Today 23XI Racing announced DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance as its founding partners, joining Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 Toyota Camry for the 2021 season.

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. Wallace is the single car team’s driver. 23XI Racing’s No. 23 Toyota Camry will make its NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14, 2021, at Daytona International Speedway.

RELATED: 23XI Racing team page

Below are comments from Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and key executives from each partner.

Denny Hamlin

“Today is a big day for us at 23XI Racing. To be able to announce the addition of five founding partners who are willing to join us in our first year and who share in our beliefs and values is such a great feeling. We’ve certainly had to make things happen fast to build this new team, and I’m excited to welcome each one of these partners and to get to know them better. I’m fortunate that during my time at Joe Gibbs Racing I’ve been able to have a great mentor and see how Coach, as an owner, is able to service each partner. That’s new for me — learning the owner side while still on the driver side, but I’m in for the long haul and will continue this far beyond my driving years. I’m passionate about this sport and I’m excited to bring new partners to the table and bring back others who have been in our sport in the past.”

Bubba Wallace

“I’m pumped to get the season started. I wish Daytona was tomorrow. We’re heading in the right direction and we’ll be ready when we get to Daytona. As I’ve said before, this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me and there’s no more excuses. We want to go out and win and I know we’ll have everything we need each week to make that happen. To have great partners in DoorDash, McDonald’s, Columbia Sportswear, Dr Pepper and Root Insurance come on board and show their support of me and this team is really cool. I’m excited for what we can do on the track, but at the end of the day, these partnerships and relationships are so much more than that. It’s about how we use our platforms to be better humans and help create a positive change. It’s about what we do Monday through Friday outside of the fire suit and that’s a really special thing for me. Knowing I have their support and this team behind me makes me really excited for this season to see what we can accomplish together.”

DoorDash

“As a company that values diversity, openness, and empowering local communities, we are proud to partner with 23XI Racing to build upon our shared foundation of creating a more inclusive environment for NASCAR fans. This partnership enables us to further engage with the racing community through one of the most innovative teams in the sport, while expanding our previous partnership with Bubba Wallace and accelerating our commitment to creating real change for the underrepresented communities and restaurants we serve.”
— Kofi Amoo-Gottfried, VP, Marketing, DoorDash.

McDonald’s

“Two years ago, McDonald’s partnered with one of motorsport’s rising stars, Bubba Wallace, and we couldn’t be more proud to witness him succeed on and off the track, while breaking barriers and becoming one of the sport’s truest change agents. As a founding partner of 23XI Racing, we’re excited to continue our partnership with Bubba as he and the team advance the sport and make it more relevant to a larger audience.”
— Joe Erlinger, President, McDonald’s USA

Columbia Sportswear

“We are incredibly excited by the opportunity to partner with 23XI Racing and to bring the outdoors to NASCAR. Over the last year Bubba has continually inspired us not only by his passion for the outdoors, but also his commitment to building bridges on and off the track. His tireless efforts towards inclusivity perfectly align with Columbia’s corporate mission of unlocking the outdoors for everyone. We look forward to joining the 23XI Racing crew for what is sure to be an exciting NASCAR season.”
— Joe Boyle, President, Columbia Sportswear Brand

Dr Pepper

“We’re thrilled to be a founding sponsor of 23XI Racing and part of a team making a difference on and off the track. Keurig Dr Pepper knows that bringing the best together creates a winning formula. We’ve done that in all aspects of our business, and we’re doing it here with 23XI Racing.”
— Andrew Springate, Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Marketing and Concentrate Officer

Root Insurance

“Bubba has demonstrated his ability to lead and stand up for what is right. We are thrilled that Root Insurance will be there to continue to support him and 23XI Racing throughout the 2021 season as they continue to lead on and off the track.”
— Alex Timm, Root Insurance CEO

Posted on December 12, 2020December 12, 2020 by Staff Report

A champion was crowned in the dessert.

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs saw its Championship 4 drivers — Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin — battle it out at Phoenix Raceway for the ultimate title. They all claimed the top-four spots come checkered flag, but only one was awarded the Bill France Cup trophy in Victory Lane.

Episode 7 of MotorTrend’s docuseries, “NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure,” takes fans behind the scenes in Arizona. The latest edition, released Saturday, provides insight from the championship contenders themselves, among others within the NASCAR industry.

This is the final episode of “NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure,” which began Oct. 31 and aired weekly. The docuseries was designed to highlight NASCAR’s unprecedented, yet unforgettable 2020 season.

With a free trial to the MotorTrend app, viewers will also receive access to more than 3,600 hours of automotive entertainment, including shows from MotorTrend, Discovery Channel, live events and more. Subscribe now to start watching “NASCAR 2020: Under Pressure.”

Posted on December 11, 2020December 15, 2020 by Zack Albert

NASCAR competition officials will conduct the first shakedown of the Cup Series’ Next Gen car on a superspeedway next week, with a two-day test scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway.

Officials indicated that Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher will drive the “P3” prototype at the 2.5-mile Florida track. The vehicle is scheduled for its competition debut there in the 2022 Daytona 500.

John Probst, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Innovation, said last month that the single-car test runs “will be important as we start to tune in the drag and power levels we’re going to need to run the speeds we want to run there.” Competition officials reduce the speeds at Daytona and the similar high banks of Talladega Superspeedway with a combination of engine restrictions and aerodynamic measures. Since 2018, pole-winning qualifying speeds at Daytona have been relatively level in the 194-195 mph range.

Next Gen prototypes were most recently on the track during a split session at Charlotte Motor Speedway — Nov. 16 on the 2.32-mile Roval layout and Nov. 18 on the 1.5-mile oval. Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. were the test drivers for both sessions, which marked the first time two prototypes were on track at the same time.

The selection of the Ford-affiliated Buescher as the latest Next Gen test driver fits the rotation pattern among NASCAR’s three manufacturers. Since the Next Gen model’s on-track debut in October 2019, NASCAR-sanctioned tests have chosen drivers based on a Chevrolet-Ford-Toyota cycle.

Probst said Nov. 18 that competition officials were developing a plan for tire testing with Goodyear, hinting at the likelihood of seven or eight tests next year. Probst also indicated that officials were targeting the start of Wheel Force Tranducer testing to collect data in March, after all three automakers complete their manufacturer-specific builds.

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — For 70 years, Wood Brothers Racing has excelled in — and transformed — the world of motorsports. As the longest tenured team in NASCAR history, the Wood Brothers have compiled a Hall of Fame resume both on and off the track. Beyond countless trophies and accolades, innovations including the modern pit stop continue to define the Wood’s legacy in racing series across the globe.

For its accomplishments across seven decades, Wood Brothers Racing has been named the 2020 recipient of the FIA Founding Members Club Heritage Cup. The award is presented to an individual, institution, entity or object in recognition of exceptional or outstanding achievement within or contribution to the historic vehicle world.

“It truly is an honor to win this award,” said Eddie Wood, Wood Brothers Racing president and co-owner and the son of team founder Glen Wood. “The fact that it’s a worldwide honor makes it even more special. We’re mainly known in American motorsports, but this is much bigger than that.”

Eddie was a child when the team helped Jim Clark win the 1965 Indianapolis 500 but recalls the attention it brought his father’s team.

“I was young when Indy was going on, but I remember him talking about the worldwide recognition they received,” Eddie said. “He was honored for people around the world to have heard of him and his brothers and what they were doing.”

Glen also lent his expertise to the Ford factory team at Le Mans in 1966 when the GT40 Mark II teams swept the top three finishing positions in the iconic 24-hour event. The team’s affiliation with Ford Motor Company continues to this day, 70 years strong.

In support of the organization’s nomination for the prestigious award, NASCAR chairman and CEO Jim France wrote, “Having worked with them for almost 60 years, I can personally attest to their great character and dedication to motorsports. I can think of no group more deserving of the FIA Founding Members Club Heritage Cup Award.”

Wood Brothers Racing has always had a knack for attracting the greatest racing talent in the world. Ten NASCAR Hall of Famers have taken the wheel for the team (Glen Wood, Curtis Turner, Junior Johnson, Joe Weatherly, Fred Lorenzen, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott) as well as some of the biggest names in open-wheel racing — A.J. Foyt, Dan Gurney and Parnelli Jones.

The team remains committed to the preservation of motorsports history. Its one-time shop has been converted into a museum that traces the Wood’s time in motorsports. It has also built replica cars for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.