Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR issued three lug-nut penalties in the Xfinity Series and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series following races at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend.

In the Xfinity Series, the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was found with one lug nut not safely secured in a post-race check after Brandon Jones drove the car to an eighth-place finish in the EchoPark 250. The No. 19 crew chief, Jeff Meendering, was fined $5,000 per Sections 10.9.10.4: Tires and Wheels of the NASCAR rule book.

RELATED: Xfinity Series race results | Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race results

In the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, both the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota driven by Christian Eckes to a third-place finish and the No. 56 Hill Motorsports Chevrolet driven by Timmy Hill to a 22nd-place finish were each found to have one lug nut not safely secured in post-race check after the Vet Tix Camping World 200. Both crew chiefs, Ryan Fugle (No. 18) and Greg Ely (No. 56), have been fined $2,500 per Sections 10.9.10.4: Tires and Wheels of the NASCAR rule book.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 9, 2020) — NASCAR today announced its plan to reintroduce guests at select NASCAR Cup Series races beginning with the Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (June 14 on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (June 21 on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR’s modified event procedures, protocols and number of attendees have been finalized with guidance from public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal officials. All guests in attendance will be screened before entering, required to wear face coverings, mandated to social distance at 6 feet, and will not have access to the infield, among other revised operational protocols. NASCAR will continue to adapt and improve its procedures to ensure they are effective and can be scaled to support an increased number of fans in the future.

“We have tremendous respect and appreciation for the responsibility that comes with integrating guests back into our events,” said Daryl Wolfe, Executive Vice President, Chief Operations and Sales Officer, NASCAR. “We believe implementing this methodical process is an important step forward for the sport and the future of live sporting events. The passion and unwavering support of our industry and fans is the reason we race each weekend and we look forward to slowly and responsibly welcoming them back at select events.”

NASCAR will continue its long history of honoring military members by welcoming them as the first guests allowed entrance to a NASCAR Cup Series event since March 8. Homestead-Miami Speedway will invite up to 1,000 South Florida service members as honorary guests for the Dixie Vodka 400, representing the Homestead Air Reserve Base and U.S. Southern Command in Doral.

Talladega Superspeedway will allow up to 5,000 guests in the frontstretch grandstands/towers for the GEICO 500. In addition, there will be limited motorhome/5th-wheel camping spots available outside the track high atop the Alabama Gang Superstretch. Tickets are open exclusively on a first come, first served basis to fans who purchased tickets or reserved camping for the originally scheduled GEICO 500 (April 26) and live within a designated proximity to the track.

Additional protocols and procedures for guests planning to attend can be found at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

Posted on by Team Release

STATESVILLE, N.C. — GMS Racing announced the addition of Chase Purdy to the driver lineup for five races in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series in 2020. The NASCAR Next alum will make his season debut June 27 in the No. 24 Bama Buggies Silverado at Pocono Raceway.

In addition to Pocono, Purdy will pilot the No. 24 for GMS Racing at Kentucky Speedway, both Kansas Speedway events, as well as Talladega Superspeedway.

“I know I’m definitely going to need to get acclimated again. I think I’m a bit out of practice with everything that goes into a full race weekend, especially in the truck series,” Purdy said. “My main goal is to refresh everything, watch a lot of film and stay in touch with my teammates leading up to the races. I would like to take a practice session to get warmed up and everything, if we’re allowed. If we just line up and race, I just want to settle in at first and make real adjustments as we go. My goal initially would be to keep the truck in one piece and finish in the top 10.”

Purdy last competed full time in 2018 in the ARCA Racing Series for MDM Motorsports alongside GMS Racing drivers Sheldon Creed and Zane Smith. Purdy amassed 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes en route to a fourth-place finish in the championship standings. That year also marked Purdy’s Gander Trucks debut, competing at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway with current GMS Racing crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz atop the pit box.

The Pocono Organics 150 to benefit Farm Aid will take place June 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET and will air live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Staff Report

As part of Pride month, NASCAR will participate in the inaugural You Can Play Pride Auction, contributing a signed helmet and two tickets along with a VIP experience to a 2021 NASCAR Cup Series race for the winning bidder. The auction runs June 15-30, so set your calendars and bookmark this link to start your bidding bright and early next week: https://youcanplaypride.givesmart.com.

You Can Play is an organization dedicated to ensuring equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Its programs are designed to support the LGBTQ+ community by building a network around them. It is in that spirit You Can Play launched its inaugural Pride Auction, supporting virtual education curricula and online networking programs.

Other participating organizations include the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, the NHL’s Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and the National Women’s Hockey League.

NASCAR and You Can Play are both members of the Diversity & Inclusion Sports Consortium, a partnership among diversity and inclusion practitioners from the largest sports organizations in the United States. NASCAR hosted the Sports Diversity and Inclusion Symposium, an annual forum among DISC members, at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

Editor’s Note: NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Day is June 9. The announcement of the Class of 2021 will be made on Tuesday, June 16 on NBCSN’s NASCAR America at 5 p.m. ET. 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 7, 2020) — NASCAR today announced the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021, introducing the Modern Era and Pioneer Ballots for the first time.

The list includes five first-time NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees – three on the Modern Era Ballot and two on the Pioneer Ballot.

Jeff Burton (21-time Cup Series winner), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15-time Most Popular Driver) and Carl Edwards (28-time Cup winner) join seven previous nominees on the Modern Era Ballot. Three-time Cup champion crew chief Jake Elder and renowned car builder Banjo Matthews join three previous nominees on the Pioneer Ballot, designed to honor those whose careers began more than 60 years ago (prior to 1961 for the Class of 2021).

The NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will consist of two inductees from the list of Modern Era nominees and one from the list of Pioneer nominees – for a total of three new inductees in 2021.

RELATED: Learn more about the new nominees | Photos of the nominees

Janet Guthrie returns as a Landmark Award nominee, rejoining Alvin Hawkins, Mike Helton, Dr. Joseph Mattioli and Ralph Seagraves. Potential Landmark Award recipients include competitors or those working in the sport as a member of a racing organization, track facility, race team, sponsor, media partner or being a general ambassador for the sport through a professional or non-professional role. Award winners remain eligible for NHOF enshrinement.

The Modern Era Ballot and Landmark Award nominees were selected by the Nomination Committee, which consists of representatives from NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks. The new Honors Committee, largely comprised of all living Hall of Famers, Landmark Award winners and Squier-Hall Award winners, selected the Pioneer Ballot. Both committees’ votes were tabulated by accounting firm EY.

Following are the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021 nominees and Landmark Award nominees:

Modern Era Ballot

Neil Bonnett, won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series, including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories 

Jeff Burton, won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series, including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s

Dale Earnhardt Jr., 15-time NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver and two-time Xfinity Series champion

Carl Edwards, winner of 28 NASCAR Cup Series races and 2007 Xfinity Series champion

Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern 500 victories

Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief

Larry Phillips, first five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion

Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR Cup Series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400

Kirk Shelmerdine, four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief

Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships

Pioneer Ballot

Jake Elder, three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief

Red Farmer, three-time NASCAR Late Model Sportsman champion; 1956 Modified champion

Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series races and three championships

Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR West Series champion 

Ralph Moody, two-time NASCAR Cup Series owner champion as mechanical genius of Holman-Moody

Landmark Award

Janet Guthrie, the first female driver to compete in a NASCAR Cup Series superspeedway race

Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.

Mike Helton, named third president of NASCAR in 2000; career included track operator roles at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway 

Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway

Ralph Seagraves, formed groundbreaking Winston-NASCAR partnership as executive with R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

MORE: Photos of current Hall of Fame members

Posted on by Staff Report

The starting lineup for Wednesday’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway (7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has been set.

Ryan Blaney will start from the pole position, with Aric Almirola joining him on the front row to lead the field to green for the 500-lap, 263-mile race.

The lineup for the race was determined by a random draw, with results airing on FS1’s “Race Hub.” The parameters for the draw were as follows:

  • Positions 1-12 determined by a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points
  • Positions 13-24: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 25-36: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 37-40 will be filled out by open, non-chartered teams in order of owner points

Here is a look at the full lineup:

Starting spot Driver Car # Team
1 Ryan Blaney 12 Team Penske
2 Aric Almirola 10 Stewart-Haas Racing
3 Joey Logano 22 Team Penske
4 Clint Bowyer 14 Stewart-Haas Racing
5 Martin Truex Jr. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
6 Brad Keselowski 2 Team Penske
7 Kyle Busch 18 Joe Gibbs Racing
8 Alex Bowman 88 Hendrick Motorsports
9 Kurt Busch 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
10 Kevin Harvick 4 Stewart-Haas Racing
11 Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports
12 Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
13 Erik Jones 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
14 Tyler Reddick 8 Richard Childress Racing
15 William Byron 24 Hendrick Motorsports
16 Ryan Newman 6 Roush Fenway Racing
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing
18 John Hunter Nemechek 38 Front Row Motorsports
19 Matt DiBenedetto 21 Wood Brothers Racing
20 Matt Kenseth 42 Chip Ganassi Racing
21 Jimmie Johnson 48 Hendrick Motorsports
22 Austin Dillon 3 Richard Childress Racing
23 Bubba Wallace 43 Richard Petty Motorsports
24 Chris Buescher 17 Roush Fenway Racing
25 Corey LaJoie 32 Go Fas Racing
26 JJ Yeley 27 Rick Ware Racing
27 Cole Custer 41 Stewart-Haas Racing
28 Ryan Preece 37 JTG Daugherty Racing
29 Michael McDowell 34 Front Row Motorsports
30 Ty Dillon 13 Germain Racing
31 Brennan Poole 15 Premium Motorsports
32 Christopher Bell 95 Leavine Family Racing
33 David Starr 53 Rick Ware Racing
34 Quin Houff 00 StarCom Racing
35 Garrett Smithley 77 Spire Motorsports
36 Joey Gase 51 Petty Ware Racing
37 Daniel Suarez 96 Gaunt Brothers Racing
38 Timmy Hill 66 Motorsports Business Management
39 Reed Sorenson 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Mack Trucks partnered with Martinsville Speedway to pay tribute to healthcare workers in the area before Wednesday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the .526-mile Virginia short track.

A fleet of Mack Trucks, including the NASCAR Cup Series hauler, took off from Charlotte, North Carolina, at 10:30 a.m. ET on Monday and made a pit stop at Mack headquarters in Greensboro, North Carolina, to pick up donated items as gifts for frontline workers at Sovah Health Hospital in Martinsville.

The stop also launched Mack’s “Thank a Trucker” campaign to promote optimism in the trucking and logistics industry during this unprecedented time.

The fleet then headed to Martinsville where it made a loop around Sovah Health Hospital to salute healthcare workers for their tireless efforts during the COVID-19 global pandemic. NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace, a Blue-Emu spokesperson, led the parade in a Ford Shelby Mustang that will pace the field in Wednesday night’s Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 (7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio).

Wallace, Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell and the CEO of Sovah Health Hospital were on hand to speak with members of the media, while Blue-Emu donated Blue-Emu Pain Relief Cream to the hospital and served healthcare workers dinner as another thank-you for their hard work.

Posted on by Data Skrive

Tanner Gray finished 11th in the Vet Tix Camping World 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Gray’s result added 26 points to his season total.

Gray started in 21st position. The second-year driver has one top-10 finish in his career.

The Mooresville, North Carolina native began the race four spots behind his career mark of 16.7, but finished seven places ahead of his career average of 17.5.

Gray’s 11th-place finish was against 40 other drivers. The race endured six cautions and 28 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 14 lead changes.

Grant Enfinger earned the victory in the race, and Austin Hill took second. Christian Eckes placed third, Todd Gilliland brought home fourth, and Zane Smith finished off the top five.

Kyle Busch got off to a strong start in the race, winning Stages 1 and 2, but couldn’t hold on to end up in Victory Lane.

Tanner Gray Driver Page | Get Gray Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Brett Moffitt finished eighth in the Vet Tix Camping World 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.

The top 10 finish for Moffitt added 34 points to his season total.

Moffitt started in third position. The sixth-year driver has piled up 11 career victories, with 30 top-five finishes and 37 results inside the top 10.

Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway is a familiar place for Moffitt, who has one career win at the track. He has also compiled two top-five finishes at Atlanta and his eighth-place result marks the second top 10.

The Grimes, Iowa native’s starting and finishing positions compared favorably to his career averages, starting eight spots higher than his career mark of 11 and completing the race three places ahead of his 11.2 career average finish.

Moffitt competed with 40 other drivers on the way to his eighth-place finish. The race endured six cautions and 28 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes.

Grant Enfinger brought home the win in the race, and Austin Hill took second. Christian Eckes crossed the finish line third, Todd Gilliland brought home fourth, and Zane Smith closed out the top five.

Kyle Busch got off to a great start in the race, winning the first two stages, but couldn’t hang on to secure the race victory.

Brett Moffitt Driver Page | Get Moffitt Gear | Race Center