MotorTrend Group, NASCAR join forces for all-new sports docuseries

Posted on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

(Los Angeles and Charlotte) – MotorTrend Group, a Discovery company, and NASCAR announced today a new partnership to create NASCAR ALL IN: BATTLE FOR DAYTONA, a bold new sports documentary series chronicling the commitment, struggles and sacrifices of drivers, their teams and families in the chase for greatness at the biggest race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series™ season, the DAYTONA 500^®. The all-new, limited series produced by NASCAR Productions will world premiere every Monday beginning Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, on the MotorTrend App, the only subscription streaming service dedicated entirely to the motoring world.

Viewers will receive exclusive, inside access to NASCAR Cup Series drivers’ preparation for the DAYTONA 500 from the vantage point of the athletes, their race teams and families with one goal in mind — taking the checkered flag at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. Beginning Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 on the MotorTrend App, NASCAR ALL IN: BATTLE FOR DAYTONA will go off the track in near real-time for an emotional, behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows of real-life NASCAR racing for drivers including: Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick of Richard Childress Racing and Corey LaJoie of Go Fas Racing.

“MotorTrend is pushing the boundaries of storytelling,” said Alex Wellen, global president and general manager, MotorTrend Group. “Our first sports documentary series is an intimate look at the ‘humans under the helmet’ as they push the limits professionally and sacrifice personally for a victory at this year’s DAYTONA 500. Working with NASCAR, this series will give our fans a never-before-seen look at the Great American Race.”

“Together with MotorTrend, NASCAR is thrilled to showcase the biggest spectacle in racing – the DAYTONA 500 – through the unique lens of the drivers and their race teams,” said Tim Clark, chief digital officer, NASCAR. “The journey leading up to the DAYTONA 500 is one filled with emotion, drama and intensity, all to be captured by NASCAR Productions and delivered straight to race fans on the MotorTrend app.”

The MotorTrend App offers nearly 8,000 episodes and roughly 4,000 hours of world-leading automotive series and specials including the most complete collection of classic TOP GEAR (200+ episodes and specials spanning seasons one thru 25), the upcoming all-new TOP GEAR AMERICA and every season of WHEELER DEALERS, ROADKILL, FAST N’ LOUD, OVERHAULIN’, BITCHIN’ RIDES, the upcoming reality competition spin-off series BITCHIN’ BOOT CAMP and many more. The MotorTrend App is available for Prime Video customers in the U.S. on Prime Video Channels and on Amazon FireTV in addition to other media players and streaming devices including Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast and on the web, as well as across iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices.

NASCAR ALL IN: BATTLE FOR DAYTONA is produced for MotorTrend Group by NASCAR Productions. Tim Clark, Tally Hair and Matt Summers are the executive producers for NASCAR. For MotorTrend Group, David Lee is executive producer and Mike Suggett is head of programming and development. Alex Wellen is global president and general manager for MotorTrend Group.

Posted on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 by Jonathan Merryman

The 2003 Daytona 500 was the perfect storm for driver Michael Waltrip.

With 95 laps to go in the 200-lap event at Daytona International Speedway, Jimmie Johnson took the green flag as the leader with Waltrip just behind him. Waltrip, however, had a secret weapon — his teammate and superspeedway ace, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

At the time Earnhardt Jr. was a lap down in 38th place, nowhere close to being in a spot to contend for a win. With some help from a mid-race caution after Mike Skinner’s tire went down, though, the game changed.

At that time, lead-lap cars restarted single file in the outside lane and lapped cars lined up at the bottom of the track. Earnhardt Jr. was the first car on the inside row, and once the green dropped, Waltrip followed his Dale Earnhardt Incorporated teammate to the bottom and made the pass on Johnson for the lead.

Later that lap, the defending Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton wrecked coming off of Turn 4 forcing NASCAR to throw the yellow flag. On Lap 109 the rain came, resulting in Michael Waltrip’s second career victory in The Great American Race.

WATCH: Ward Burton takes advantage of Marlin’s penalty for 2002 Daytona 500 win

Relive Waltrip’s win in the rain-shorted Daytona 500 from 2003 in this week’s NASCAR Full Race Replay.

Posted on February 4, 2020February 9, 2020 by Pat DeCola

Editor’s note: Today’s Chip Ganassi Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the NASCAR Cup Series season, ranked in order of best finish in last year’s owner standings.

MORE: Changes to know for the 2020 season

CHIP GANASSI RACING
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Engines
Drivers: Kurt Busch (No. 1), Kyle Larson (No. 42)
Crew chiefs: Matt McCall (No. 1), Chad Johnston (No. 42)

What’s new: CGR is one of what seems like just a few Cup Series teams that kept its driver-crew chief lineups in place for all of its cars. Looking to build off a strong 2019, that consistency should continue to pay off. What is new, however, is a bit of leadership change with 74-year-old Felix Sabates retiring from the sport. The longtime motorsports owner and visionary had been a partner at CGR since 2001, and it’ll be interesting to see if anything changes after such a longtime stalwart of the organization steps aside.

Team strength: The pure talent of its drivers. One could argue top-to-bottom CGR has the best natural wheelmen — admittedly a title that is a little easier to attain with a two-car stable — in the sport. As long as Busch and Larson have equipment that can allow them to be competitive with the top tier teams, the combination has the ability to muscle out wins on any track, any time.

Racing Insights Number to Know: Last year was the first season both CGR cars won since 2010 and marked a rebound season after going winless in 2018. Busch hopes to extend both his six-season streak with at least one win and his six-season streak of making the playoffs. Both drivers ended winless streaks of 30 or more races (Busch 30 races, Larson 75 races) in 2019. Larson hopes to extend his four-season streak of making the playoffs.

The Action Network Best Bet: Kyle Larson excels at high tire-wear intermediates and concrete surfaces, and the revamped 2020 Cup Series schedule offers Auto Club Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway all within the first eight races. Larson should be priced among the favorites in those races, but is still worth a wager if his odds are longer than the big three of Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. – PJ Walsh

KURT BUSCH
2019 Stats: 1 win, 6 top fives, 18 top 10s, 13.1 average finish and 212 laps led
2020 Championship Odds: 40-1
Fantasy Live Five: Bristol, Sonoma, Kentucky, Atlanta, Texas

Outlook: Busch surprised a lot of people in 2019. After inheriting a ride Jamie McMurray failed to put in the playoffs on a consistent basis, Busch entered the season thought of as a fringe playoff contender. At certain points throughout 2019, however, the 2004 series champion appeared revitalized and in the mix for his second career title. It didn’t pan out, but it does offer much more optimism for 2020 — and beyond, as the 41-year-old signed a multi-year extension in November.

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

KYLE LARSON
2019 Stats: 1 win, 8 top fives, 17 top 10s, 15.1 average finish and 529 laps led.
2020 Championship Odds: 10-1
Fantasy Live Five: Miami, Dover, Bristol, Darlington, Chicagoland

Outlook: Larson truly is an enigma. The talent is there, it’s evident and yet sometimes fleeting. With just one win through his first three years in the Cup Series, it appeared the phenom was breaking out in 2017, amassing four wins and a Round of 8 appearance. He followed that with a winless 2018 before getting hot late last season and starting to showcase his talent a little more. With things on the rise as a whole at CGR and a double-down on performance overall for Chevrolet after a couple of lacking seasons, Larson looks destined to start the prime of his career in 2020. We could very well be looking at the decade of “Yung Money” upon us.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

NASCAR.com 2020 team previews schedule

Jan. 20: Teams outside the top 30
Jan. 21: Go Fas Racing
Jan. 22: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 23: Richard Petty Motorsports
Jan. 24: Germain Racing
Jan. 27: Leavine Family Racing
Jan. 28: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 29: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 30: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 31: Roush Fenway Racing
Feb. 3: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 4: Chip Ganassi Racing
Feb. 5: Team Penske
Feb. 6: Stewart-Haas Racing
Feb. 7: Joe Gibbs Racing

Posted on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

STAMFORD, Conn. and DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR®, ARCA, and NBC Sports announced broadcast coverage for select 2020 grassroots racing events across TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and NBCSN, including events in the ARCA Menards Series™ East and West (formerly the K&N Pro Series), NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™ and the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, which kicks off this Friday at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway.

All eight races of the ARCA Menards Series East will air live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold, beginning with the season-opening Skips Western Outfitters 175 on Monday, Feb. 10 at New Smyrna Speedway. NBCSN will provide tape-delayed coverage of entire ARCA Menards Series East season, with the Skips Western Outfitters 175 airing Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. ET.

SUBSCRIBE: TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold

The ARCA Menards Series East season opener is part of the 54th annual World Series of Asphalt from New Smyrna Speedway, which features nine consecutive nights of racing from Feb. 7-15. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold will provide live coverage of the entire World Series of Asphalt, which also includes NASCAR Weekly Racing Series highlighted by super late models, pro late model, and tour-type Modifieds.

TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold will also provide live coverage of the entire ARCA Menards Series West season, which kicks off Thursday, Feb. 20 with the Star Nursery 150 from the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. NBCSN will provide coverage on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. ET, along with coverage of the entire 10-race ARCA Menards Series West slate.

The full 17-race NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™ will also air live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold, with NBCSN providing coverage of 14 races. The 2020 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour begins Saturday, March 21 at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, with NBCSN coverage airing Monday, March 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

Fans can watch ARCA Menards Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and World Series of Asphalt coverage as part of the TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold NASCAR Roots package for $2.99/month or $19.99 annually. The TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold All-Access Pass, which includes NASCAR Roots plus IMSA and American Flat Track, for $4.99/month or $44.99/year.

TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold allows users to cast streamed content on a connected device via NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app, letting fans experience racing action on their preferred hardware, including big-screen environments. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold is available on desktop web browsers and via the NBC Sports app on iOS and Android phones and tablets, Apple TV (Gen 4), Roku, Amazon Fire TV, AndroidTV, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and Chromecast devices connected via HDMI.

2020 ARCA Menards Series East Schedule

Date	Location	TrackPass Coverage	NBCSN Coverage	Time
Mon, Feb. 10	New Smyrna Speedway	Live – 7:40 p.m.	Fri., Feb. 14	1:00 p.m.
Sat., March 14	Five Flags Speedway	Live – 8:00 p.m.	Mon., March 23	6:00 p.m.
Sat., April 4	Bristol Motor Speedway	Live – 4:00 p.m.	Thurs., April 9	4:00 p.m.
Sat., May 2	Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway	Live – 9:00 p.m.	Thurs., May 7	6:00 p.m.
Sat., May 16	Toledo Speedway	Live – 7:00 p.m.	Thurs., May 21	3:00 p.m.
Sat., July 25	Berlin Raceway	Live – 8;00 p.m.	Thurs., Aug. 13	6:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 21	Dover International Speedway	Live – 5:00 p.m.	Thurs., Aug. 27	1:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 12	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	Live – 2:30 p.m.	Thurs., Sept. 17	6:00 p.m.

2020 ARCA Menards Series West Schedule

Date	Location	TrackPass Coverage	NBCSN Coverage	Time
Thurs., Feb. 20	The Bullring at LVMS	Live – 11:00 p.m.	Tues., Feb. 25	6:00 p.m.
Sat., March 28	Irwindale Speedway	Live – 10:00 p.m.	Thurs., April 2	6:00 p.m.
Sat., May 16	Douglas County Speedway	Live – 10:55 p.m.	Thurs., May 21	4:00 p.m.
Sat., June 6	Colorado National Speedway	Live – 10:30 p.m.	Wed., June 10	6:00 p.m.
Sat., June 13	Sonoma Raceway	Live – 4:45 p.m.	Thurs., June 18	6:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8	Evergreen Speedway	Live – 9:30 p.m.	Thurs., Aug. 20	6:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 29	Meridian Speedway	Live – 10:30 p.m.	Sat., Sept. 5	12:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 10	All American Speedway	Live – 9:45 p.m.	Thurs., Oct. 15	7:00 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 24	Kern County Raceway Park	Live – 11:30 p.m.	Fri. Oct. 30	3:00 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 7	Phoenix Raceway	Live – 9:15 p.m.	Thurs., Nov. 12	6:00 p.m.

2020 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Schedule

Date	Location	TrackPass Coverage	NBCSN Coverage	Time
Sat., March 21	South Boston Speedway	Live – 2:45 p.m.	Mon., March 30	6:00 p.m.
Sun., April 5	Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park	Live – 3:45 p.m.	Thurs., April 9	3:00 p.m.
Sun., April 26	Stafford Motor Speedway	Live – 3:30 p.m.	TrackPass Exclusive
Fri., May 8	Martinsville Speedway	Live – 8:30 p.m.	Tues., May 12	4:00 p.m.
Sat., May 23	Jennerstown Speedway	Live – 8 p.m.	Thurs., May 28	6:00 p.m.
Sat., June 6	Seekonk Speedway	Live – 8 p.m.	Thurs., June 11	6:00 p.m.
Sat., June 20	Riverhead Raceway	Live – 8 p.m.	TrackPass Exclusive
Sat., July 11	Wall Stadium Speedway	Live – 8:30 p.m.	Wed., July 15	6:00 p.m.
Sat., July 18	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	Live – 5:45 p.m.	Tues., Aug. 11	6:00 p.m.
Fri. July 31	Iowa Speedway	Live – 7:30 p.m.	Wed., Aug. 19	6:00 p.m.
Fri. Aug. 7	Stafford Motor Speedway	Live – 9:15 p.m.	TrackPass Exclusive
Wed., Aug. 19	Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park	Live – 8 p.m.	Wed., Aug. 26	6:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 5	Oswego Speedway	Live – 7 p.m.	Thurs., Sept. 10	6:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 12	New Hampshire Motor Speedway	Live – 12:05 p.m.	Wed., Sept. 16	6:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 19	Riverhead Raceway	Live – 8 p.m.	Wed., Sept. 23	6:00 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 27	Stafford Motor Speedway	Live – 3:15 p.m.	Thurs., Oct. 1	6:00 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 11	Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park	Live – TBA	Thurs., Oct. 15	6:00 p.m.

All Times Eastern

Posted on February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and Cometic Gasket, Inc. announced today an expansion of their multi-year official partnership, designating the company the sponsor of the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series™ pole award. The Cometic Gasket Pole Award will be awarded to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series driver with the fastest qualifying time each week, starting on Friday, Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway.

“For years, Cometic Gasket has been a committed partner and has supported all levels of NASCAR racing,” said Scott Miller, senior vice president, competition, NASCAR. “Their expanded relationship to sponsor the Cometic Gasket Pole Award will enhance the value of the program and elevate their brand in our sport.”

Cometic Gasket’s relationship with NASCAR dates back nearly a decade when it became the “Official Gasket of NASCAR®.” In addition, the global leader and innovator in the engine marketplace began sponsoring a contingency program in the ARCA Menards Series™, then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, as well as sponsoring billboards in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series™. Today, Cometic Gasket is the preferred engine gasket supplier for a significant majority of teams in NASCAR’s three national series.

“Assuming the role as pole award sponsor in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series is a natural progression of our partnership,” said Bob Gorman, CEO & founder, Cometic Gasket. “As a longtime partner, we’ve seen the value of NASCAR, its competitors and brand-loyal fanbase. We’re excited to further integrate ourselves into the sport and amplify our presence at the national series level.”

Competitors will be eligible for the Cometic Gasket Pole Award by displaying a decal on the front fenders of their trucks. At the culmination of the season, the driver who has accumulated the most Cometic Gasket Pole Awards in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will be awarded the season-ending Cometic Gasket Pole Award.

As a part of the expanded partnership, Cometic Gasket will continue to support grassroots racing, maintaining its designation as the “Official Gasket of the ARCA Menards Series®” as well as its billboard program in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series.

The 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season kicks off with the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM Radio.

Posted on February 3, 2020February 3, 2020 by Alex Weaver

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Premium Motorsports unveiled its Daytona 500 car and new sponsorship deal on Monday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame with Brennan Poole, driver of the No. 15 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Cup Series. Spartan Mosquito will serve as the primary sponsor for 17 races, including “The Great American Race.”

The Spartan Mosquito No. 15 will also display the R.E.D. (RememberEveryoneDeployed.org) organization. The R.E.D organization helps raise awareness of the hardships faced by troops that are currently deployed. R.E.D will use this sponsorship opportunity to expand its content and collaborate with Premium Motorsports and Poole throughout the season.

“The willingness to give back is the most important thing,” Poole said. “As a small team, every little bit of funding helps. But the special things throughout the season and bringing awareness to a great cause is what I’m most excited about.”

Premium and Poole will kick off the season by making their first attempt at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway. Poole’s custom R.E.D. Daytona 500 gloves will then be donated in a contest to benefit R.E.D.

Poole, 28, is excited to finally have his chance at a Daytona 500 run and knows the opportunity is one he will never forget.

“Being in the Daytona 500 is hard to put into words,” said Poole, a candidate for Sunoco Rookie of the Year in 2020. “It didn’t feel real until I saw the car for the first time. Now I have great partners to do it with. It’s my dream.”

Posted on February 3, 2020February 9, 2020 by Terrin Waack

Editor’s note: Today’s Hendrick Motorsports preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the NASCAR Cup Series season, ranked in order of best finish in last year’s owner standings. MORE: Changes to know for the 2020 season HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS Manufacturer: Chevrolet Engine: Hendrick Engines Drivers: Chase Elliott (No. 9), William Byron (No. 24), Jimmie Johnson (No. 48), Alex Bowman (No. 88) Crew chiefs: Alan Gustafson (No. 9), Chad Knaus (No. 24), Cliff Daniels (No. 48), Greg Ives (No. 88) What’s new: Nothing really, apart from the not-so minor detail the 2020 season will be Jimmie Johnson’s last as a full-time driver. That’ll surely motivate the No. 48 team at least. Also, there’s probably a fire lit within the organization as a whole considering not a single driver advanced into the Championship 4 last season. Can’t win a title if not in contention. Team strength: All but one Hendrick Motorsports driver (Jimmie Johnson) made the NASCAR Playoffs last season. HMS overall improved every major statistical category from 2018 to 2019, and its four wins extended the organization’s streak of at least three wins per season to 25 years straight. Ten poles also led all teams. The Action Network’s Best Bet: Most of the focus in 2020 will be Jimmie Johnson and his final full-time Cup Series season, but William Byron is the driver bettors should target. I expect to bet him early and often to start the year, especially if he’s priced similarly to last season. – PJ Walsh Racing Insights’ Number to Know: One. This is the one and only multi-car organization to have every driver/crew chief/spotter pairing return unchanged from 2019.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

CHASE ELLIOTT: No. 9 Chevrolet 2019 stats: 10th in final standings; three wins (Talladega-1, Watkins Glen, Roval), four poles, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s 2020 championship odds: 12-1 Fantasy Live picks: Watkins Glen, Michigan, Dover, Kansas, Martinsville Outlook: The Round of 8 really botched Chase Elliott’s championship hopes in 2019. He finished 36th at Martinsville Speedway, 32nd at Texas Motor Speedway and 39th at Phoenix Raceway to ultimately get booted from title competition. Elliott was one round – one win – away from making the Championship 4. If he can get back to the NASCAR Playoffs again in 2020, wouldn’t be crazy to see him make that last jump into the finale with a shot at the ultimate trophy. WILLIAM BYRON: No. 24 Chevrolet

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

2019 stats: 11th in final standings; five poles, five top fives, 13 top 10s 2020 championship odds: 20-1 Fantasy Live picks: Pocono, Texas, Dover, Watkins Glen, Chicagoland Outlook: William Byron’s first career win is bound to happen in 2020. The third-year driver had two runner-up finishes in 2019 (Daytona International Speedway in the summer and Martinsville Speedway in the postseason), on top of three other top-five runs and 233 laps led overall. He knows how to steer his way to the front of the pack; it’s just a matter of staying there come checkered flag. If not, Byron pointed his way into last season’s NASCAR Playoffs and made it to the Round of 12 anyway.

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

JIMMIE JOHNSON: No. 48 Chevrolet 2019 stats: 18th in final standings; one pole, three top fives, 12 top 10s 2020 championship odds: 40-1 Fantasy Live picks: Richmond, Charlotte, Dover, Chicagoland, Sonoma Outlook: Jimmie Johnson is ready for #OneFinalTime, as the seven-time champion will retire from full-time racing at the end of the 2020 season. As already noted, that’ll surely be a huge motivator to go out with a bang. Last year, though, ended in Johnson’s worst overall finish ever and marked the first time Johnson failed to make the NASCAR Playoffs in his career. He has to do at least better than that this year. Maybe a full season with Cliff Daniels, who replaced Kevin Meendering midway through last season, atop his pit box will help produce better results. ALEX BOWMAN: No. 88 Chevrolet

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

2019 stats: 12th in final standings; one win (Chicagoland), seven top fives, 12 top 10s 2020 championship odds: 40-1 Fantasy Live picks: Chicagoland, Dover, Charlotte, Michigan, Kansas Outlook: Last season at Chicagoland Speedway, Alex Bowman scored his first career win and locked himself in the NASCAR Playoffs. Once there, he truly became known as someone who’s willing to fight for his spot in the postseason – take Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval elimination race for example, he barely advanced into the Round of 12 after an eventful day. His playoff chances ended that next three-race stretch, like the season before, but he improved his final rank four spots from 2018 to 2019. Could do even better in 2020 if he continues to better his statistical marks.

NASCAR.com 2020 team previews schedule

Posted on February 2, 2020February 3, 2020 by Terrin Waack

Cliff Daniels’ first full-time season as crew chief of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team doubles as Jimmie Johnson’s last.

Naturally, pressure is there. Daniels admitted that much.

Or at least it should be.

“I haven’t really had time to sit back and think, ‘Oh, man. Is this intimidating or is this scary?’” Daniels said Thursday at the team’s complex in Concord, North Carolina. “I don’t know yet. I really don’t.”

Johnson announced back in late November, just days after the 2019 finale, he will retire at the conclusion of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. Already considered one of the sport’s greats, Johnson holds seven championships, making him the only active driver tied with Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for most titles. Johnson boasts 83 career wins in the premier series from 18 full seasons.

That’s who Daniels has to – gets to – command this year.

“One of the biggest things I’ve done this offseason is really drive the point home of the togetherness and the family dynamic of the team across the board,” Daniels said. “I grew up playing baseball, soccer, football, other sports. It’s so rare to see a team that truly every individual is pulling in the same direction. Obviously, we’re all unique with our identity, but together, the team is really, really strong.”

Daniels took over atop the pit box 22 races into last season, replacing Kevin Meendering, who was also new to the position in 2019. Chad Knaus was Johnson’s crew chief from 2002-18. All of Johnson’s championships and victories came during that time span.

Instead of being wary of yet another new leader, especially after a winless season without a NASCAR Playoffs berth, Johnson is confident in Daniels’ potential.

“Relationships are everything, and that driver-crew chief relationship is everything,” Johnson said. “When I reflect back on 17 years with Chad, the closer we were, the better that car ran. In some indirect way, there was a correlation. … That’s what makes things so easy with Cliff. We have so much in common.”

Knaus remained within the Hendrick Motorsports organization and now works with William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet.

“Shoot, I’ll be frank: I probably go to Cliff more for advice than he comes to me,” Knaus said. “Those guys are going to do good things this year. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Johnson-Daniels pairing had four top-10 finishes in limited time matched up in 2019. It was Daniels’ first crew-chief gig, though he has been a part of Hendrick Motorsports since 2014. He was actually Johnson’s race engineer during his 2016 title run.

Ever since Johnson set an end date, names have been swirling as to who will fill the No. 48 vacancy. No true candidates have been revealed by the team itself. Daniels, though, undoubtedly wants to retain his role and ideally help pick out the next driver.

“When the conversations need to happen, and I’m sure they’re going to happen soon, we’ll see how that goes,” Daniels said. “But right now, we’re really focused on the here and the now.”

Posted on February 2, 2020February 7, 2020 by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find NBCSN | Get the NBC Sports App | Get TrackPass today | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App

Monday, February 3
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Tuesday, February 4
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Live

Wednesday, February 5
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
1 p.m., NASCAR Coast to Coast

Thursday, February 6
1 p.m., IMSA Racing: Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Saturday, February 8
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash at Daytona final practice, FS1/FOX Sports App (Canada: TSN5)
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1/FOX Sports App
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying practice, FS1/FOX Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1/FOX Sports App
3 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying final practice, FS1/FOX Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
4 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1/FOX Sports App
4:30 p.m., ARCA Auto Racing: Lucas Oil 200, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
11:30 a.m., Busch Clash at Daytona final practice
1:30 p.m., Daytona 500 qualifying practice
3 p.m., Daytona 500 qualifying final practice

Sunday, February 9
7 a.m., ARCA Auto Racing: Lucas Oil 200 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
noon, NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying, FOX/Fox Sports App (Canada: TSN1, 3)
2 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Daytona, FS1/FOX Sports App
3 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Busch Clash at Daytona, FS1/FOX Sports App (Canada: TSN1)
10 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 qualifying (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
12:30 p.m., Daytona 500 pole qualifying
2 p.m., Busch Clash at Daytona

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Staff Report

We haven’t even run the Daytona 500 yet, but that did not stop the editors at NASCAR Digital Media from making their early Championship 4 and NASCAR Cup Series champion picks. Read on to see which editor is most in line with what you are thinking.

ZACK ALBERT

Championship 4 picks: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson.

Why them? Expect three of last year’s Championship 4 to keep their momentum for another run at the title. As for the fourth, Larson and his No. 42 team’s improvement as last season progressed have him poised for a breakout this year. The confidence from an offseason full of extracurricular wins can’t hurt.

Fifth wheel: Joey Logano. With apologies to Chase Elliott, Martin Truex Jr., and a host of other potential bracket-breakers, the No. 22 team holds a great chance to edge into the Phoenix finale if the new driver-crew chief pairing of Logano and Paul Wolfe clicks quickly.

Hoisting the hardware: Denny Hamlin.

PAT DECOLA

Championship 4 picks: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano.

Why them? It feels safe — and it’s a repeat of 2018’s ‘Big Three and Me’ with Logano filling out the quartet once again — but my gut tells me these are still the elite of the elite as the calendar turns to 2020 and the rules package looks similar to last season. The updated rules for short tracks and road courses likely only helps these four, as they’re already among the best at each type of layout.

Fifth wheel: Breaking the rules a bit here, but the fifth wheel will be whichever remaining driver among the remaining JGR/Penske groups in Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski. If I had to pick one? Keselowski.

Hoisting the hardware: Kevin Harvick.

RJ KRAFT

Championship 4 picks: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano.

Why them? I think Busch comes out of the gate strong on the heels of title No. 2 and the Harvick-Childers combo is too good to expect anything less than a Championship 4 appearance. Larson was one of the most consistent drivers in the second half last year and I expect that to carry over. The Logano-Paul Wolfe driver-crew chief combo should be one the best in the business and tough to top.

Fifth wheel: Ryan Blaney. The crew chief change to Todd Gordon is a boon for YRB and it’s easy to forget that performance wise, Blaney was the best of the Penske trio in the 2019 playoffs.

Hoisting the hardware: Joey Logano.

JONATHAN MERRYMAN

Championship 4 picks: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney.

Why them? Kyle Busch is the gold standard and Denny Hamlin is driving at his peak. Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers have had a full season plus the winter break to work out the bugs from 2019 and Ryan Blaney has the talent and a new crew chief who has run for and won a NASCAR Cup Series title.

Fifth wheel: William Byron. Year two with Chad Knaus plus a ton of confidence after a sophomore season that saw tremendous growth towards the back half of the year. This may be Willy B’s year to sneak up on championship regulars.

Hoisting the hardware: Denny Hamlin.

BRAD NORMAN

Championship 4 picks: Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson.

Why them? Kyle Busch seems to get here every year, and Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team could be even better in 2020 with a year of experience under the collective belts with crew chief Chris Gabehart. Kyle Larson has won practically everything this offseason, and he seems ripe to make the leap into the upper echelon. The Team Penske crew chief swaps will serve Blaney well.

Fifth wheel: William Byron. Pretty big expectations for a driver still searching for his first NASCAR Cup Series win. With Chad Knaus atop the pit box, a fast Chevrolet under his feet and a swelling internal confidence, Byron is the breakout star of 2020 and pushes for Championship 4 spot.

Hoisting the hardware: Denny Hamlin.

TERRIN WAACK

Championship 4 picks: Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin.

Why them? Hamlin hit his stride in 2019 but had a tape mishap in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, so he’ll be looking for redemption and (still) his first championship. Throwing Busch and Logano into the mix because they’re just talented drivers and the most recent champions. As for Elliott, had his Round of 8 not been beyond rough, he could have been in title contention last season.

Fifth wheel: Kyle Larson. Already expecting Larson to win more races overall in 2020, so to see him sneak into the Championship 4 after a trip to Victory Lane late in the postseason wouldn’t be surprising. The win in the NASCAR Playoffs last season showed he can finish out front when it matters most.

Hoisting the hardware: Denny Hamlin.

ALEX WEAVER

Championship 4 picks: Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick.

Why them? Denny Hamlin was the strongest crew last year, easily. I think even more so than last year, they are on a championship mission. Truex and Harvick dominate always. I’m sticking with my storybook ending I’ve predicted everywhere else on NASCAR.com and have Johnson making it to Phoenix to compete for a championship.

Fifth wheel: Kyle Busch. I don’t know if you can call Kyle Busch a sneak in. He is the reigning champion but I feel with the slump he went through last season, he may struggle more this year and not have enough to make it in the Championship 4. However, it is Kyle Busch and you never can count him out.

Hoisting the hardware: Jimmie Johnson.

CHASE WILHELM

Championship 4 picks: Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney

Why them?: I’m going to stick with three of the four NASCAR Cup Series drivers we saw in the Championship 4 in 2019 because they are poised to be the cream of the crop once again this season. But I’m going out on a limb with Blaney. The No. 12 Team Penske driver was only a couple positions away from winning at Phoenix Raceway last November to capture a title-contending spot. With new crew chief Todd Gordon calling the shots, I feel the team shakeup with the Penske brigade is exactly what Blaney will need to launch into the championship picture. Blaney said he’s a big fan of major overhauls and this will haul him right into the finale in the desert.

Fifth wheel: Martin Truex Jr. With the unknowns of a new crew chief in James Small after years of dominance with Cole Pearn, I feel the transition will be seamless. We are going to see the same strong No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team, but I think he’ll fall just short of competing for a title in Phoenix based on the strength of those I mentioned above.

Hoisting the hardware: Denny Hamlin.

GEORGE WINKLER

Championship 4 picks: Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick.

Why them? Busch and Harvick have each made it to the Championship 4 five times in the six seasons since NASCAR changed to the elimination format, and I can’t think of a reason why they can’t make it six-for-seven. Blaney’s stats are all headed in the right direction, and now he gets to work with champion crew chief Todd Gordon. If Elliott avoids the bad luck that plagued him last playoffs, he will bounce back with a vengeance and finally make a deeper run.

Fifth wheel: Martin Truex Jr. He was a tough first cut for sure, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he proved me wrong by making a fourth consecutive run to the Championship 4. But it can’t be underestimated what Cole Pearn meant to this team, so I think it’s reasonable to expect there will be an adjustment period.

Hoisting the hardware: Chase Elliott.