Posted on by Team Release

Gaffney, SC – JD Motorsports with Gary Keller is proud to announce the start of a new, iconic partnership. TikTok, the fastest growing social-media platform of the decade, will partner with Ryan Vargas for the remainder of the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Vargas has competed for JDM in three NXS races this season with starts at Pocono Raceway, Kansas Speedway and Darlington Raceway. In 2019, he also made three starts with the team, including his debut at Iowa Speedway with others coming at Road America and Phoenix Raceway.

The newly turned 20-year-old out of La Mirada, California, has captured the hearts of many fans through social-media engagement. As a member of the 2018-19 NASCAR Next class, Vargas learned valuable skills on the business side of the sport, including relationship building and partnership acquisition.

Vargas is an alumnus of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program and won the prestigious Wendell Scott Trailblazer award, presented to an outstanding minority or female driver who displays exceptional on-track performance, sportsmanship and community service.

“TikTok has provided me with an incredible outlet to reach new fans and demographics through fun and creative content, and I’ve seen the highest growth in followers on TikTok over my other social channels,” Vargas said. “The opportunity to run the No. 6 TikTok Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the rest of the season is an absolute dream come true. Johnny Davis Motorsports took a chance on me last year and I’m excited to bring this amazing TikTok partnership their way. I wouldn’t want to make this partnership a reality anywhere else.”

TikTok will be supporting Vargas for the final six races of 2020, starting with Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 3 and through the season finale at Phoenix on Nov. 7.

The social-media giant has gained a massive following with millennials and young adults through viral videos. Vargas has found great success on the platform as a content creator, so when the partnership opportunity presented itself, there was a natural fit.

“Creators of all sizes and backgrounds show up to TikTok with their genuine, authentic selves,” said Nick Tran, TikTok’s head of global marketing . “Partnering with an iconic brand like NASCAR to sponsor Ryan Vargas on his racing journey is a way for us to continue to support, celebrate and elevate the diverse creators that make our TikTok community what it is today. Ryan is an incredible athlete, and we’re looking forward to cheering him on alongside the rest of the TikTok community.”

To keep up with Vargas, follow his official TikTok channel, @RyanVargas_23. For all things JDM, follow along its social-media pages, @JDMotorsports01.

Posted on by Terrin Waack

Names are made in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and in 2019, three drivers emerged from the up-and-coming ranks.

Champion Tyler Reddick, runner-up Cole Custer and third-place Christopher Bell – known as the “Big 3” last year – all moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2020 season. The rookies have shown they’re able to run within the top five, top 10 among the sport’s best. Custer even won at Kentucky Speedway and qualified for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, two new stars started to shine in the Xfinity Series: Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric. They finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in last season’s final standings.

RELATED: Xfinity Series standings | Las Vegas schedule | Silly Season updates

“For me, that’s encouraging to see whenever you just raced against that guy last year and you know you can run with them, and they’re running with the Cup guys,” Briscoe said Tuesday during the 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Media Day. “I think it definitely was a learning experience last year for me to be at a lesser experience-wise than them and still be able to run with them. It’s a huge deal, and you get to learn from them, kind of see how they ran in the playoffs and the kind of mentality that they took.”

Briscoe and Cindric are now the top seeds with 50 bonus points apiece as the Xfinity Series embarks on its 2020 playoffs. Briscoe boasts a series-best seven wins, while Cindric follows with five victories.

Chatter about their futures has picked up, especially after Ross Chastain’s news became public. Chastain, the winless eighth playoff seed, will take over Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 Chevrolet for the 2021 Cup Series season.

“For me, I feel like timing-wise a move to the Cup Series would probably be the best thing for my development as a driver, understanding what it takes to position yourself longer in these races,” Cindric said. “Obviously, those cars are a lot more sensitive aero-wise, damage-wise, so I feel like I’m at the right time in my career to learn those lessons and apply them.”

Cindric is in his third full-time Xfinity Series season with seven series wins. He ran one full schedule in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series beforehand in 2017, notching a single victory.

Briscoe is in his second full-time Xfinity Series ride with nine career wins, one of which came during his first part-time season in 2018. He also spent one full-time season in the Gander Truck ranks in 2017 and won one race that year. His second Gander Truck win came in his sole 2018 start.

“The biggest thing for me is whatever I’m in – whether it’s Cup Series, Xfinity Series or Truck Series, whatever it is – I want to do it in something competitive,” Briscoe said. “I would rather win Xfinity races than go run a 25th-, 30th-place car in the Cup Series.”

Both drivers race for organizations that also have Cup Series entries. Briscoe is with Stewart-Haas Racing, which currently fields four teams, including Custer’s No. 41 Ford. Team Penske backs Cindric and owns three teams and an alliance with Wood Brothers Racing.

But Briscoe and Cindric have no connections with those teams right now at the top level. They have their own Xfinity Series crews to worry about. The No. 98 Ford of Briscoe and the No. 22 Ford of Cindric are title favorites as the playoffs begin Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with the Alsco 300 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN/NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Besides, more wins and a title would only help the two Xfinity Series drivers’ case for a Cup Series gig.

“You’ve got to remember that I’ve only been racing stock cars for a short amount of time, so to reach that level would be a huge accomplishment for me in itself,” Cindric said. “But overall, I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction right now. I’ve come to peace with what my situation is and where things may or may not line up for me.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Racing has always been about family for Cody Cambensy.

That‘s why he‘ll be stepping away from running full-time next year, so he can teach members of his own young family the ins of the sport.

Until then, though, Cambensy has unfinished business at his home track.

Cody Cambensy

Cambensy currently has a 15 point lead in the Thunder Trucks division at Tucson Speedway — a NASCAR-sanctioned 0.38-mile paved oval track in Tucson, Arizona. He‘s never won a track championship in three years racing at the track where he grew up going to races, and he‘d like to go out on top.

“It would be something huge for me,” Cambensy said. “I grew up racing at the kart track next door and every Saturday night we‘d come over and watch the races at Tucson Speedway. I always dreamt of being able to win a championship there and competing, but racing took me down a different path.”

Tucson Speedway | Facebook | Twitter

Cambensy ran sprint cars and dirt modifieds when he was younger before making the transition to pavement. In 2010, he ran a NASCAR West Series race at Phoenix Raceway and a NASCAR Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway, and moved to North Carolina to pursue racing before moving back home and getting back in a dirt car.

Three years ago, car owners Brad and JoAnn Corneliusen reached out and asked if Cambensy would be interested in racing pavement again for them in the truck series at Tucson. The group came up with a good deal that made sense for the driver and his young and growing family.

“For me the biggest thing was, with me racing sprint cars I didn‘t really have the time to travel as much as anymore,” Cambensy said. “Family meant a lot to me and what they were able to offer as far as me being able to keep racing and keep my family with me at all times pretty much made sense so that‘s why we decided to stick around Tucson and race for them.”

Cambensy‘s dad was a big race fan and “kind of a gear head,” he said. When Cambensy was four years old his dad put him in a go-kart for the first time.

Now with a 4-year-old son himself, Cambensy is again passing down the love of the sport. Easton Cambensy, who will turn 5 in December, has been practicing racing quarter midgets and will run a full season next year.

“He got stung by the racing bug. He loves everything about it,” Cambensy said.

Cambensy decided this would be his last full-time season racing so he can focus on helping Easton.

“It‘s a big dream come true for me,” he said. “The biggest thing for me is growing up I was always racing with my family. It was always a family deal and no matter what we would always stick together and travel together and race together, and then now that I‘m married and have my own family we kind of do the same thing.

“Knowing that my son loves it as much as I do and that he‘s going to start racing, it‘s got me more excited, honestly, to go help him than to actually be racing myself… Just seeing him get all excited when he goes fast and gets a good lap time, it makes it all worth it.”

Tucson Speedway Points Standings

Until he can go racing with his son, Cambensy has one more goal in mind for 2020. He has four wins and has finished in the top five in all six races at Tucson this season. With one race left in a tight points battle, he knows if he can finish where they‘ve been finishing all year they should have a shot at the track championship.

“We‘re going to do our homework over the next couple weeks to make sure we have everything we need to make it happen,” he said.

Even though he knows all he needs is a good finish to lock up the track title, his goal is of course to win the final race and leave no doubt.

A win would be a perfect way to go out on top.

“Knowing that this will probably be my last full-time season racing and contending for a championship, to go out with one and finally get one, it would mean the world to me,” he said.

Racing will return to Tucson Speedway on October 3 with Super Late Models, Pro Stocks, Outlaw Late Models, Legends, Bandolero Bandits, Bandolero Outlaws. The Thunder Trucks will return to Tucson Speedway on October 17.

Tucson Speedway schedule

Posted on by Staff Report

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld a behavior penalty to NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Mike Wallace for violating its member conduct guidelines.

NASCAR issued an indefinite suspension to Wallace on Sept. 10 for a social media post that the 61-year-old driver made.

According to the original penalty report, Wallace violated NASCAR Rule Book Sections 12.1, 12.8 and 12.8.1.e (Member Conduct Guidelines), the last of which states:

“Member actions that could result in a fine and/or indefinite suspension, or termination:

“Public statement and/or communication that criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition.”

Wallace was ordered to do sensitivity training in order to be eligible for reinstatement.

The panel consisted of the following three individuals:

— Mr. Dixon Johnston
— Mr. Bill Lester
— Mr. Kevin Whitaker

The appellant has the right to appeal the decision of the National Motorsports Appeal Panel to the National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer in accordance with Section 15 of the NASCAR Rule Book.

Wallace has driven the No. 0 Chevrolet for owner Johnny Davis in three NASCAR Xfinity Series events this season and has four wins in 497 Xfinity starts as part of his national series career.

Posted on by Sean Montgomery

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the “Entertainment Capital of the World” for the Round of 12 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET (NCBSN/NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Before this weekend’s Sin City showcase, check out a few important things to know.

RELATED: Full Las Vegas schedule | Paint Scheme Preview

TRACK DETAILS

Las Vegas Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile oval located in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. First opened in 1996, the track is relatively new compared to many on the current circuit, but it still has its share of electric history. Adopted by NASCAR’s premier series in 1998, Mark Martin powered his way to the first ever victory at the track — and in its 25-race history, no one has more wins than Jimmie Johnson (four).

Las Vegas boasts an asphalt racing surface with 20-degree banking in the turns and 9- to 12-degree baking in the straights.

STAGE LENGTHS

Stage 1 will end at Lap 80, Stage 2 at Lap 160 and the Final Stage at Lap 267.

STARTING LINEUP

Playoff points leader Kevin Harvick will wheel the No. 4 Steward-Haas Ford out in front of the field Sunday, earning his fifth Busch Pole Award of the season and second of the playoffs. Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola and Joey Logano complete the top five.

The lineup was determined by four performance metrics from the Cup Series’ previous race: 15% based on fastest lap time position, 25% of the driver’s final race finish position, 25% of the owner’s final race position and 35% of the owner points position.

RELATED: Full starting lineup | Pit-stall assignments

RULES PACKAGE

Cup Series cars will feature the same 1.5-mile racing package used in 2019 and the 2020 spring Vegas race, with aero ducts and a tapered-spacer engine generating a targeted 550 horsepower.

GOODYEAR TIRES

Each Cup team will have nine sets of Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials for the race.

With limited on-track practice time and testing, Goodyear Racing has relied even more heavily on feedback from the drivers and their teams to develop an effective compound at each track. After receiving this feedback at the conclusion of the first half of the season, changes were made to the right-side compound for a series of tracks, starting this weekend at Las Vegas. Increased grip at tracks with lower tire wear will be an increased focus with the new compound to allow optimum performance.

“Key to making the optimum tire recommendation is the review of all the data that is generated, whether it be from practices throughout a weekend, testing, or as is the only opportunity right now, from the actual races,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “What we’ve seen and heard at several of the low-wear tracks, is the Cup cars could stand to have a little more grip, so we have made a step in that direction for Las Vegas, as well as Kansas and Texas. Vegas and Texas shared the same tire set-up at their earlier races, and we brought that same right-side to Kansas as well, so they have been basically aligned all season.  They remain so with this new right side as we enhance the grip level at all three.”

PLAYOFF STATS TO KNOW

— Kevin Harvick holds the longest active streak of NASCAR Playoffs victories with nine consecutive seasons featuring at least one trip to Victory Lane. Jimmie Johnson is the all-time record holder at 13 in a row.

— Ford dominated the Round of 16, winning each of the three races: Kevin Harvick winning twice (Darlington Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway) and Brad Keselowski once (Richmond Raceway).

— Only two of the 163 NASCAR Playoffs races were won by drivers getting their first win: Clint Bowyer in 2007 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Brian Vickers in 2006 at Talladega Superspeedway.

— Nine of the remaining playoff drivers have wins at tracks in the Round of 12, but only six of them have ever made it to the Championship 4.

Source: Racing Insights

INTERACTIVE COVERAGE

For a more interactive experience, head over to NASCAR.com or the NASCAR app to check out an enhanced Race Center, live Lap-by-Lap coverage, the customizable live leaderboard with Scanner (which is FREE for both races) and the return of Drive (featuring in-car cameras).

Be sure to set your lineup in Fantasy Live and make your picks in the NASCAR Finish Line App.

2019 RACE WINNER

Martin Truex Jr. sped away from Kevin Harvick in last year’s playoff opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Truex and the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team put forth an exceptional effort all afternoon, charging forward from a 24th starting position and leading 32 laps to secure their fifth checkered flag of the season.

RELATED: Vegas odds, lines

ACTIVE LAS VEGAS WINNERS

Jimmie Johnson (four wins); Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski (three each); Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano (two each); Kyle Busch (one).

 

Posted on by Pat DeCola

For the past handful of years, The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation has auctioned off race-used, autographed steering wheels as a fundraising program to generate awareness and funding for childhood and ovarian cancers.

Like with many things in 2020, COVID-19 had other plans.

“We planned on doing that again and keeping that going but with COVID it was turning into a big problem to get the steering wheels because they’re made in Italy,” Truex Jr. told NASCAR.com.

The brains at the MTJF got together and devised an audible, working with The NASCAR Foundation to implement the Honor A Cancer Hero program, an online auction to put the names of cancer victims, survivors, medical personnel and caregivers on the signature panel of cars in this weekend’s races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. September is childhood and ovarian cancer awareness month, and those nominated will get the chance to “ride” with their favorite drivers.

MORE: MTJ Foundation, The NASCAR Foundation team up

In total, the joint effort netted more than $90,000 after seeing more than 50 drivers across all three national series donate their signature panel above their driver and passenger side windows – where their name typically lies.

“Kind of had to shift gears there and come up with another idea and the people at the Foundation came up with this. It’s a great idea and it’s worked well and just really thankful for everybody that participated and for NASCAR getting involved.

“From the teams, the sponsors, the drivers, everybody that allowed us to do this, it’s really special. Obviously, it’s been a tough year to raise money for the Foundation and this is a way to hopefully try to make up for some of that.”

The NASCAR garage is a tight one, and it’s not uncommon to see the collective join together for the greater good. The drivers, the crews, the teams … they’re all competitors. Causes like this, however, transcend sport.

MORE: See the cancer heroes being honored

“I think we’ve seen it time and time again, you know? It doesn’t matter, if somebody is up against something or somebody is going through a bad time or trying to raise money to help other people, I feel like as an industry we always get together and help each other any way we can,” Truex said. “We’ve seen it in the past and as a person who helps run the Foundation, I’m just really thankful for everybody that participates.

“Not surprised at all, but very thankful as always.”

Posted on by Track Release

PHOENIX — Beginning Saturday, August 1, the Arizona Lottery introduced the first-ever NASCAR Championship Weekend Fast Play ticket and an all-new Players Club promotion. Only $2 to play, every ticket, both winning and non-winning, may be entered to win monthly cash prizes and VIP NASCAR experiences at Phoenix Raceway.

The ticket features a starting progressive jackpot of $3,000 and includes over $2 million in total prizes. Players can also enter other eligible $1, $2 and $5 Fast Play tickets for more entries into the promotion, receiving five entries for each $5 ticket, two entries for each $2 ticket, and one entry for each $1 ticket (up to 20 tickets daily). However, the $2 NASCAR Championship Weekend Fast Play ticket is worth five times the entries.

“This is an extremely unique promotional opportunity for Phoenix Raceway and for our sport,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “The Arizona Lottery is an amazing partner and we’re honored to have our own Fast Play ticket hit the market throughout Arizona. Not only can fans play for the chance to win amazing cash prizes and priceless VIP fan experiences here at Phoenix Raceway, but they’re also supporting Arizona Lottery’s important mission in giving back to our communities through a variety of charitable programs.”

In the Players Club promotion, 10 lucky players will win $5,000 cash and a VIP experience during NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway. At the end of the promotion, one winner will take home $10,000. Players can enter on the Players Club app or at AZPlayersClub.com.

“Hosting NASCAR Championship Weekend is an amazing opportunity to showcase Arizona to the racing world and the pulse-pounding Arizona Lottery 100 will again highlight some of the best young talent in NASCAR,” said Arizona Lottery Executive Director Gregg Edgar. “What better way could there be to bring our players along for this wild ride than with an exciting new NASCAR Championship Weekend themed Fast Play ticket and second chance promotion. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Phoenix Raceway that has helped fuel more than a dozen vital Arizona programs for years, from higher education to supporting foster children. It’s a win-win for everyone!”

For more information on the Arizona Lottery and the new NASCAR Championship Weekend Fast Play ticket, visit ArizonaLottery.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

Kevin Harvick won the Busch Pole Award for Sunday’s South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (7 p.m. ET on NBCSN/NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The lineup was determined using NASCAR’s competition-based formula, which is a total number based on the previous event: 15% of a fastest lap time position, 25% of the driver’s final race finish position, 25% of the owner’s final race position and 35% of the Owner Points position.

RELATED: Learn more about the new lineup formula | ADVANCING through the playoffs

The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford driver will be joined by Kyle Busch on the front row in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

In the majority of national series events since NASCAR’s May return, starting lineups have been set by random draws. The new structure draws on performance from both individual races and season-long results, rather than leaving a range of starting spots up to chance.

See the full starting lineup for Sunday’s race below.

Starting spot Driver Car # Team
1 Kevin Harvick (P) 4 Stewart-Haas Racing
2 Kyle Busch (P) 18 Joe Gibbs Racing
3 Chase Elliott (P) 9 Hendrick Motorsports
4 Aric Almirola (P) 10 Stewart-Haas Racing
5 Joey Logano (P) 22 Team Penske
6 Clint Bowyer (P) 14 Stewart-Haas Racing
7 Austin Dillon (P) 3 Richard Childress Racing
8 Alex Bowman (P) 88 Hendrick Motorsports
9 Kurt Busch (P) 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
10 Denny Hamlin (P) 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
11 Martin Truex Jr. (P) 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
12 Brad Keselowski (P) 2 Team Penske
13 Erik Jones 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
14 Tyler Reddick 8 Richard Childress Racing
15 Ryan Blaney 12 Team Penske
16 Chris Buescher 17 Roush Fenway Racing
17 Michael McDowell 34 Front Row Motorsports
18 Jimmie Johnson 48 Hendrick Motorsports
19 Matt DiBenedetto 21 Wood Brothers Racing
20 Matt Kenseth 42 Chip Ganassi Racing
21 Ryan Preece 37 JTG Daugherty Racing
22 Cole Custer 41 Stewart-Haas Racing
23 Bubba Wallace 43 Richard Petty Motorsports
24 Ty Dillon 13 Germain Racing
25 John Hunter Nemechek 38 Front Row Motorsports
26 Christopher Bell 95 Leavine Family Racing
27 Ryan Newman 6 Roush Fenway Racing
28 William Byron 24 Hendrick Motorsports
29 Daniel Suarez 96 Gaunt Brothers Racing
30 Gray Gaulding 27 Rick Ware Racing
31 Corey LaJoie 32 Go Fas Racing
32 Quin Houff 00 StarCom Racing
33 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing
34 Joey Gase 51 Petty Ware Racing
35 Brennan Poole 15 Premium Motorsports
36 Timmy Hill 66 Motorsports Business Management
37 JJ Yeley 77 Spire Motorsports
38 Josh Bilicki 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing
39 Chad Finchum 49 Motorsports Business Management
Posted on by Staff Report

Reaction to the entrance of Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin into the ranks of NASCAR team ownership with Bubba Wallace as their driver for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series was wide-ranging after Monday night’s blockbuster news.

The single-car team won’t hit the track until next year, but the reaction through social media was already overwhelmingly positive. A sampling: