Ilmor NT1 engine powers Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Team Release

PLYMOUTH, MI (February 7, 2020) — When Jordan Anderson began driving in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series in 2014, the teams he raced for didn’t have the budget to lease a top-of-the-line engine. So they started each race with 25 to 30 horsepower less than the competitors who were going for a victory. Then, when NASCAR allowed the Ilmor NT1 engine into the series in 2018, Anderson knew his dream of owning a NASCAR truck team could be achieved.

“It was always a goal of mine – my dream – to start my own team,” said Anderson. “When NASCAR announced the new engine program [allowing the teams to purchase the NT1 engines], that was the biggest deciding factor for me to jump in feet-first as a team owner. For a small team like mine, it was huge step forward. It finally made sense financially and we could also be more competitive. It makes me excited for the future of the series and my team.”

The NT1, which is an updated version of the 396 cubic-inch engine that has appeared in the ARCA Series since 2015, was brought in by NASCAR to help curb expenses for the race teams. As fewer teams could afford expensive engine lease programs, starting fields had been dwindling and the disparity between the haves and have-nots continued to grow. While there are some upfront costs to the teams to mount the NT1, the team owns the engine outright, and sends it to Ilmor for rebuilds every 1,500 miles. This vastly reduced the overall budgets for teams.

“Before the Ilmor engine, we would always finish three to five laps down,” said Anderson, who is entering his third full season as owner/driver. “Now, we’re looking for top-fives. We even battled for the lead at Michigan [International Speedway] in 2019. It represents a huge step forward for us and one less worry for a small team. We’re racers, and now we can concentrate on other things to make our trucks better.”

Record-Setting Results

According to NASCAR statistics, the engine has made a big difference in the competition. There were a record numbers of lead changes during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The truck series also had a record number of race leaders and an all-time number of green-flag passes throughout the field.

“We had 10 different winners in 2019,” said Brad Moran, managing director of the NASCAR Truck Series. “Some of those wins were by new teams that are helping the series thrive. By making a reliable and powerful engine, the NT1 has allowed the series to get stronger and more competitive. It’s an absolute positive for the fans: they see more winners and much more balanced and competitive fields.”

Ilmor Engineering has been designing and building championship-winning engines in Formula One and IndyCar since its creation in 1983 by engineers Mario Illien and Paul Morgan. Going into the 2020 season, Ilmor-designed or built engines have powered 21 Indianapolis 500 wins and 334 overall victories in the IndyCar series.

Using their expertise from decades of racing across the globe, Ilmor’s NT1 engines produce equal power and have been very reliable. In 2018, teams had engine-related issues which resulted in a DNF (did not finish) in only one percent of the race starts. That number was 1.2 percent in 2019, while covering more than 156,000 miles on-track.

When Bad Things Happen to Good Engines

In the Las Vegas race in September of last year, four competitors suffered engine failures due to extreme heat. Ilmor reacted immediately by going to the shops of the two teams impacted, ThorSport and Young Motorsports, to diagnose what had happened. All issues were corrected at Ilmor’s expense. Young Motorsports and driver Spencer Boyd won the following race at Talladega Superspeedway with Ilmor power.

“It’s stressful when something like that happens,” described Ilmor’s Andrew Richards, Program Manager for the NT1. “But Ilmor has been built on strong relationships and we did everything we could do to make sure each team was taken care of on an individual basis. We stand by our product and always do our best to do the right thing.”

“Racing engines take a lot of abuse,” said NASCAR’s Moran. “But Ilmor resolved the issue swiftly and transparently. I think all of the teams felt good about things by the next race.”

The 23-race NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season kicks-off on Friday evening, February 14 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Jonathan Merryman

The 1997 season was the final year of the Busch-branded Clash at Daytona International Speedway before the official beer of NASCAR jumped back onboard for the 2020 season. That ’97 season would pan out to be one of the best of NASCAR young gun Jeff Gordon’s Hall of Fame career.

The format for the Busch Clash that year was two 10-lap segments for a prize purse worth $370,000. The field consisted of 14 cars, all pole winners from the previous year, entered with one goal: lead Lap 20.

The race was dominated by Gordon and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Terry Labonte, but the end result saw Gordon come out on top. Speedweeks would turn out to be great for Gordon and the No. 24 team. One week after the Busch Clash victory, Gordon went on to win his first of three Daytona 500 trophies, and later that year, he brought home his second of four NASCAR Cup Series championships.

Relive Gordon’s hot start to 1997 Daytona Speedweeks in this NASCAR Full Race Replay of the ’97 Busch Clash.

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Zack Albert

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Hailie Deegan continues to inch toward her superspeedway debut in the ARCA Menards Series, but she’s kept her aspirations mostly in check. But even a measured, moderate approach has its limits.

“If you’re any type of driver, you want to win — end of story,” Deegan said just before opening practice for Saturday’s season opener at Daytona International Speedway. “That’s my goal. That’s everyone else’s goal, but I think we have to have realistic expectations, kind of see where we balance out in practice before we get ahead of ourselves, see where our single-run speed is, where we run in the draft.”

Deegan’s No. 4 DGR-Crosley Ford wound up on top of the speed chart in first practice for Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire (4:30 p.m. ET, FS1), the first race of her rookie ARCA Menards Series campaign. While mentioning a potential win in one breath, the 18-year-old driver also expressed her hopes for a clean race and steering clear of the chaos that often follows the series on its biggest tracks.

RELATED: Daytona Speedweeks schedule

While she still has to wait out the outcome of Saturday afternoon qualifying (12:30 p.m. ET), her No. 4 Ford already has proven credentials. Todd Gilliland drove the same DGR-Crosley chassis — skinned last year as a Toyota — to second place in the Daytona event last season and a victory at sister track Talladega Superspeedway in 2019.

Besides the change in manufacturers, the car has a different look from the moment it was unveiled at the Ford Performance Center to signal her jump to the Dearborn automaker. An aggressive set of teeth around the grille were borrowed — with sponsor Monster Energy’s sign-off — from the rally car graphics formerly used by her father, X Games standout Brian Deegan.

“I was like, we need to spice this up a little bit,” she said, “and plus my spotter couldn’t tell which car was mine.”

Deegan’s competition come Saturday should be stout, including teammates Tanner Gray and Thad Moffitt in two more Fords from veteran David Gilliland’s organization.

Deegan is actually one of three women scheduled to start Saturday’s 200-miler. Dominique Van Wieringen, who topped preseason testing last month, will pilot the Rette Jones Racing No. 30 Ford; Natalie Decker, the ARCA Daytona pole winner in 2018, is set to drive Ken Schrader’s No. 52 Ford.

MORE: ARCA Menards Series news

Michael Self, last year’s ARCA Menards Series runner-up, will vie for his second Daytona victory in the last three years in a return to Venturini Motorsports. He’ll team with Drew Dollar and Ryan Repko, two drivers with four ARCA starts between them.

Riley Herbst — like Deegan, a former NASCAR Next class member — will bring a Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota to the fray. He’s finished 10th in the ARCA opener the last two seasons.

Posted on February 7, 2020February 11, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2020) – NASCAR^® and Penn Interactive, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc. (PENN: NASDAQ) (“Penn National” or the “Company”), announced today a new multi-year partnership that will make Penn National an authorized gaming operator of NASCAR in the United States. The partnership is Penn National’s first with a professional sports league and will center around a brand new, free-to-play, mobile game named NASCAR Finish Line, which offers users the chance to win a $50,000 jackpot every race.

In addition, NASCAR and Penn National have extended their long-standing race title sponsorship for the “Hollywood Casino 400” at Kansas Speedway through 2026, deepening the connection between the two entertainment companies. The partnership furthers Hollywood Casino’s position as the Official Casino Partner of Kansas Speedway and the race title sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series^TM race that is scheduled for October 18, 2020.

MORE: Download the app now!

“We’re thrilled to have Penn National on board as our first authorized gaming operator to strengthen our effort to increase fan engagement with a platform perfect for in-play experience,” said Craig Neeb, Executive Vice President, Innovation, NASCAR. “Coupled with our landmark deal with Genius Sports in 2019, this partnership also positions NASCAR to take advantage of the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting across the country.”

“We are very excited to enter this long-term, strategic partnership with NASCAR,” said Jennifer Weissman, Chief Marketing Officer for Penn National. “We look forward to the opportunity to provide NASCAR fans multiple outlets for their fandom, including online on a new free-to-play mobile game and at our destination casinos and sportsbooks.”

The free-to-play NASCAR Finish Line mobile game is available ahead of the DAYTONA 500 across iOS and Android phones and tablets and can be downloaded on the App Store and Google Play store. Players can win the $50,000 jackpot by accurately predicting the race winner and the highest finishers across six different groupings of six drivers.

RELATED: More on $50K jackpot

“I’m excited that we have extended our title race sponsorship agreement with Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway and as a company, that we are expanding our relationship with Penn National,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway has been able to entertain thousands of their customers, not only from the Kansas City area, but also from around the country during the ‘Hollywood Casino 400’ the last several years. I look forward to continuing to help them entertain and reward their patrons for the next few years.”

Penn National is the nation’s largest regional gaming operator with 41 facilities in 19 states, including the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway that overlooks Turn 2 of the Speedway, which opened in 2012. The partnership with NASCAR reflects the Company’s strategy to continue evolving its business, with a focus on becoming a best-in-class omni-channel provider of retail and online gaming and sports betting entertainment. As part of that strategy, Penn National recently announced an exclusive gaming partnership with Barstool Sports to utilize its brand for all of the Company’s online and retail sports betting and iCasino products, subject to the closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur within the First Quarter.

As an authorized gaming operator of NASCAR, Penn National will take an active role in promoting NASCAR across its properties and on its soon-to-launch sports betting app. Genius Sports, NASCAR’s exclusive provider of NASCAR data to licensed sportsbooks, rolled out several new in-race bet types in 2019 and is set to expand upon that with an additional eight in time for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Last year, NASCAR announced a series of partnerships to prepare the industry and its fans for the rapidly growing sports betting landscape in the U.S., including an integrity deal with Sportradar, an exclusive data distribution deal with Genius Sports, and content deals with Action Network and VSiN. Additionally, the sanctioning body granted all teams and tracks the ability to sell marketing sponsorships to sports betting companies and licensed sportsbooks.

Posted on February 7, 2020August 26, 2020 by Staff Report

NASCAR has announced the 2020 stage lengths for the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.

See the full list below.

NEWS: NASCAR Cup Series | Xfinity Series | Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series

(*)–indicates race is a playoff race

NASCAR Cup Series
RACE	STAGE 1	STAGE 2	FINAL STAGE
Daytona	65	130	200
Las Vegas	80	160	267
Auto Club	60	120	200
Phoenix	75	190	312
Darlington (NEW-1)	90	185	293
Darlington (NEW-2)	60	125	228
Charlotte	100	200 (Stage 3: 300)	400
Charlotte (NEW-3)	55	115	208
Bristol	125	250	500
Atlanta	105	210	325
Martinsville	130	260	500
Miami	80	160	267
Talladega	60	120	188
Pocono	25	77	130
Pocono-2	30	85	140
Indianapolis	50	100	160
Kentucky	80	160	267
Texas	105	210	334
Kansas	80	160	267
New Hampshire	75	185	301
Michigan	40	85	156
Michigan-2	40	85	156
Daytona Road Course (NEW-4)	15	30	65
Dover	70	185	311
Dover-2	70	185	311
Daytona-2	50	100	160
Darlington*	115	230	367
Richmond*	80	235	400
Bristol-2*	125	250	500
Las Vegas-2*	80	160	267
Talladega-2*	60	120	188
Charlotte Roval*	25	50	109
Kansas-2*	80	160	267
Texas-2*	105	210	334
Martinsville-2*	130	260	500
Phoenix-2*	75	190	312

NASCAR Xfinity Series
RACE	STAGE 1	STAGE 2	FINAL STAGE
Daytona	30	60	120
Las Vegas	45	90	200
Auto Club	35	70	150
Phoenix	45	90	200
Darlington (NEW-1)	45	90	147
Charlotte	45	90	200
Bristol	85	170	300
Atlanta	40	80	163
Miami	40	80	167
Miami (NEW-2)	40	80	167
Talladega	25	50	113
Pocono	20	40	90
Indianapolis Road	20	40	62
Kentucky (NEW-3)	30	60	134
Kentucky	45	90	200
Texas	45	90	200
Kansas (NEW-4)	40	80	167
Road America	14	29	45
Daytona Road Course (NEW-5)	15	30	52
Dover	45	90	200
Dover-2	45	90	200
Daytona-2	30	60	100
Darlington	45	90	147
Richmond	75	150	250
Richmond-2 (NEW-6)	75	150	250
Bristol-2	85	170	300
Las Vegas-2*	45	90	200
Talladega-2*(NEW-7)	25	50	113
Charlotte Roval*	20	40	67
Kansas-2*	45	90	200
Texas-2*	45	90	200
Martinsville*	70	140	250
Phoenix-2*	45	90	200

NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
RACE	STAGE 1	STAGE 2	FINAL STAGE
Daytona	20	40	100
Las Vegas	30	60	134
Charlotte	30	60	134
Atlanta	30	60	130
Miami	30	60	134
Pocono	15	30	60
Kentucky	35	70	150
Texas	40	80	167
Kansas	30	60	134
Kansas-2 (NEW)	30	60	134
Michigan	20	40	100
Daytona Road Course (NEW-2)	12	25	44
Dover	45	90	200
Gateway	55	110	160
Darlington (NEW-3)	45	90	147
Richmond	70	140	250
Bristol*	55	110	200
Las Vegas-2*	30	60	134
Talladega*	20	40	94
Kansas-3*(NEW-4)	30	60	134
Texas-2*	35	70	147
Martinsville*	50	100	200
Phoenix*	45	90	150

Posted on February 7, 2020February 9, 2020 by Zack Albert

Editor’s note: Today’s Joe Gibbs Racing preview concludes 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

JOE GIBBS RACING
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Toyota Racing Development
Drivers: Denny Hamlin (No. 11), Kyle Busch (No. 18), Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19), Erik Jones (No. 20)
Crew chiefs: Chris Gabehart (No. 11), Adam Stevens (No. 18), James Small (No. 19), Chris Gayle (No. 20)

What’s new: The lone major change for the organization is a switch at crew chief for the No. 19 team, with James Small moving from lead engineer to replace the departed Cole Pearn. The other primary driver-crew chief pairings stay intact in an effort to keep the winning combinations rolling. JGR’s affiliation with Leavine Family Racing’s No. 95 team continues, but the organization has promised a stronger technical alliance that coincides with the call-up of Christopher Bell to the big leagues for his rookie season.

Team strength: Short track, intermediate, superspeedway or road course, JGR won on all of them last season to corral 19 of the 36 points-paying victories — a single-season record. If there is a weak link (and it’s a minor one), it’s a slight lag in qualifying performance that had Joe Gibbs Racing chasing Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing in poles and starting position average.

The Action Network’s Best Bet: JGR drivers combined for 19 wins last season, including a Daytona 500 victory from Denny Hamlin and the season championship from Kyle Busch. In all honesty, this team is so fast everywhere it’s tough to pinpoint valuable betting opportunities at this point of the offseason, since it’s likely Busch and Martin Truex Jr. will be the favorites, or among them, at most races. With that said, Truex could be a solid fade candidate in Daytona 500 matchups considering his finishes of 35th, 20th, 22nd and 26th at the superspeedways last season. – PJ Walsh

Racing Insights’ Number to Know: 19. Won 19 races in 2019 — the most ever by a team during one season in the modern era (1972-2020). 2019 was the third time in the last five seasons JGR had all four drivers win at least one race. Joe Gibbs Racing did not go more than four races without a win in 2019. JGR won the most races in the 2010s, 99 of 360. Kyle Busch won 40 races in the last decade, the most of all drivers.

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

DENNY HAMLIN: No. 11 Toyota

2019 stats: Fourth in final standings; six wins (Daytona-1, Texas-1, Pocono-2, Bristol-2, Kansas-2, Phoenix-2), three poles, 19 top fives, 24 top 10s
2020 championship odds: 8-1
Fantasy Live picks: Richmond, Martinsville, Phoenix, Charlotte, Darlington

Outlook: Denny Hamlin cemented a career year in 2019 with a well-rounded campaign that yielded a half-dozen wins. It’s already a high ceiling for a driver who reached the Championship 4 last season, but the potential to replicate that level of performance is strong, especially as the chemistry builds for year two with Chris Gabehart as the No. 11 crew chief. Gabehart showed in last year’s final he’s not afraid to tape, er … take risks. Swinging for the fences has its rewards.

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

KYLE BUSCH: No. 18 Toyota

2019 stats: First in final standings; five wins (Phoenix-1, Auto Club, Bristol-1, Pocono-1, Homestead), one pole, 17 top fives, 27 top 10s
2020 championship odds: 6-1
Fantasy Live picks: Phoenix, Richmond, Martinsville, Auto Club, Kentucky

Outlook: Speaking of high ceilings, there’s nowhere to go but down for the defending Cup Series champ. But with a core that returns unchanged for a fifth consecutive year for Kyle Busch and Adam Stevens, the likelihood of another march through the regular season and playoffs is there. The Cup Series hasn’t had a back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson concluded his run of five straight titles in 2010. Busch might be the most powerful candidate in a decade for a repeat.

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

MARTIN TRUEX JR.: No. 19 Toyota

2019 stats: Second in final standings; seven wins (Richmond-1, Dover-1, Charlotte-1, Sonoma, Las Vegas-2, Richmond-2, Martinsville-2), 15 top fives, 24 top 10s
2020 championship odds: 6-1
Fantasy Live picks: Las Vegas, Dover, Charlotte, Sonoma, Watkins Glen

Outlook: Scrutiny will follow the elevation of James Small to crew chief, primarily to see if the No. 19 team skips a beat with the change atop the pit box. A seven-win season that came just one position short of clinching the title trophy is a tough feat to follow; so is 24 wins over the last five years with a driver-crew chief relationship that dripped with chemistry. Martin Truex Jr.’s new era starts with a shining spotlight.

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

ERIK JONES: No. 20 Toyota

2019 stats: 16th in final standings; one win (Darlington), 10 top fives, 17 top 10s
2020 championship odds: 20-1
Fantasy Live picks: Pocono, Watkins Glen, Texas, Kentucky, Darlington

Outlook: Erik Jones has one win in each of the last two seasons, and they’ve come at historic tracks — Daytona International Speedway and Darlington Raceway. The challenge for 2020 is finding the week-in, week-out potency his teammates possess, where winning isn’t a once-a-year phenomenon. Jones qualified for the playoffs last season, but a horrendous first round led to an early exit. Stockpiling wins and playoff points would help sustain his postseason cause and his career.

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 7, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2020) – NASCAR and K&N Engineering announced a multi-year extension, continuing the company’s designation as the “Official Performance Filter of NASCAR®.” The renewed agreement solidifies K&N Engineering’s activation across the sport while evolving the longstanding partnership.

K&N Engineering’s presence in NASCAR can be traced back to the 1970s when the company began providing filters to NASCAR Cup Series™ teams at California’s old Riverside Speedway. Since then, K&N Engineering has fueled NASCAR’s regional and touring series for more than a decade, previously serving as the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, now the ARCA Menards Series East and West™.

“Our renewed partnership with K&N Engineering is reflective of long-standing collaboration that has helped grow our regional and touring series,” said Michelle Byron, vice president, partnership marketing, NASCAR. “K&N Engineering remains a trusted product throughout the garage and this partnership will continue to validate K&N Engineering to our brand loyal fanbase.”

The company will maintain its contingency sponsorship and decal program within the NASCAR Cup Series through 2021 and will evolve its support of grassroots racing by becoming an Official Partner as well as a contingency sponsor within the ARCA Menards Series. K&N Engineering will continue to work with NASCAR teams to engineer the best performance filters in the industry. In addition, teams and tracks across the NASCAR Cup Series and ARCA Menards Series will have access to an exclusive industry preferred pricing program.

“K&N and NASCAR share the same core values driven by their combined passion for motorsports,” said JR Badian, CMO, K&N Engineering. “For K&N, we’ve had great success through our partnership with NASCAR, and look forward to continuing the relationship.”

K&N Engineering became an Official Partner in 2011, one year after it began sponsoring the K&N Pro Series. Since then, the leading filter company has utilized its platform in the sport to drive B2B opportunities and market products to consumers nationwide. In addition, K&N Engineering has helped crown notable champions such as William Byron (2016) and Kyle Larson (2012) during its time as a series entitlement sponsor in grassroots NASCAR.

For over 50 years, K&N Engineering has been an industry leader in automotive filtration and technology – offering products to increase performance, protection and longevity in thousands of vehicle applications for consumers worldwide.

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off with the 62nd annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Posted on February 6, 2020February 6, 2020 by NASCAR Foundation Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2020) – A stunning car and an innovative fundraising initiative were simultaneously unveiled Thursday by The NASCAR Foundation, in Victory Circle at the ONE DAYTONA lifestyle and entertainment destination across from Daytona International Speedway.

This is no ordinary fundraiser. A 2020 Toyota Camry TRD will be given away with proceeds benefiting The NASCAR Foundation. This “2019 Championship Edition” Camry celebrates the winning manufacturer’s NASCAR Cup Series Title. It is an extended celebration; the giveaway will last until the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race weekend on Aug. 27-29 at Daytona International Speedway.

The giveaway will run on NASCARfoundation.org/CarGiveaway, with a minimum $25 donation to enter. Prior to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, five finalists will be determined; they will attend the race as the foundation’s guests. The car will be on display throughout DAYTONA Speedweeks at The NASCAR Foundation hauler in front of the speedway, near the Toyota injector.

This is no ordinary Camry, either, evidenced by these features:

301 HP D-4S V-6 Engine
TRD piano-black front splitters, aero side skirts and rear diffuser with red pin striping
19-in. TRD matte-black alloy wheels
TRD cat-back dual exhaust with polished stainless steel tips
TRD track-tuned suspension
Larger 12.9-in. front brakes with red-painted front and rear calipers
TRD piano-black rear spoiler
Sport SofTex^®-trimmed seats with red seat belts, red stitching and fabric insert
Red-stitched custom NASCAR headrests
Custom graphics
WeatherTech floor mats with custom logos

The NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton and NASCAR Vice Chair Lesa France Kennedy assisted with the unveiling of the Toyota Camry today, prior to the NASCAR Hauler Parade at One DAYTONA.

“This fundraising concept was presented to us by foundation board member and area automobile dealer Randy Dye and we immediately knew it was a winner,” said Nichole Krieger, executive director of The NASCAR Foundation. “We want as many NASCAR fans as possible to enter and in the process, support our many programs that assist children in need in the Daytona Beach area and nationwide.”

About The NASCAR Foundation

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc. (NASCAR) established The NASCAR Foundation in January 2006 to support initiatives that positively affect the lives of children throughout the United States. The 501(c) (3) non-profit entity partners with medical experts and other charitable organizations to fund children’s health care programs. The NASCAR Foundation has cumulatively donated more than $36 million to reach more than 1.4 million children. For more information on The NASCAR Foundation, visit NASCARfoundation.org. Follow The NASCAR Foundation on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NASCARFoundation or on Twitter at @NASCAR_FDN.

Posted on February 6, 2020February 6, 2020 by Christi Walsh

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here.

It’s almost that time of year. Football is over and with that ending comes an impending sense of loss for me — not only from the perspective of an NFL fan, but also as a bettor.

While I can certainly get my gambling fix(es) from basketball (uhh), baseball (eww) or hockey (yikes), it’s just not the same as sitting down on a Sunday to sweat a full NFL slate, beer in hand.

But … I am here to tell you that there is another option: NASCAR.

Whether you’re a long-time NASCAR fan, just getting around to checking out the hype or have never watched a second of “cars driving around in circles,” this is the article for you.

Now, I am by no means a NASCAR expert, but I know a couple of people who are. In fact, I am married to one of those people. I grew up in a household that watched NASCAR, but I never fully understood its potential until I met and later married bettor/bad beat whiner, PJ Walsh.

So, let’s start at the beginning and consider this a NASCAR Betting 101, if you will. If you’re reading this article, it’s safe to assume that you have or are considering betting on NASCAR in the near future.

And the Daytona 500 — NASCAR’s Super Bowl — is the best place to start.

MORE: A NASCAR manufacturer edge

NASCAR Betting Tips: 2020 Daytona 500

In its most basic form, NASCAR has a handful of different track types, including superspeedways, intermediates and short tracks. Each category offers a different type of racing, which, in turn, provides additional much-needed information for bettors.

With a total track size of 1 mile or less, short tracks are known for constant bumping and banging, excessive spin-outs and smaller wrecks with lots of cautions. The reason is because the track is so small that all of the cars remain close to each other throughout the race.

If a short track race was a movie, it would be a drama — there is a seemingly endless amount of low-grade action at all times to keep your attention.

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

On the other end of the spectrum, you have superspeedways, which includes Daytona International Speedway. Daytona checks in at a whopping 2.5 miles in length and is synonymous with explosive, action-filled racing and a scattering of massive wrecks that can take out large portions of the field in an instant.

In order to keep speeds from getting out of control, the race package for Daytona results in “pack racing,” where you find groups of cars drafting together because that is the fastest way around the track.

This is one of the reasons that you get those large wrecks. It takes only one mistake, bobble or equipment failure from a single car to cause a massive wreck because others racing in close proximity have nowhere to go.

RELATED: Daytona 500 betting odds

In movie terms, the superspeedway is a thriller — you know something is going to happen, but you don’t know when. And boy, when it does, it’s usually big and scary as hell.

With the unpredictability and overall popularity of the Daytona 500, there are plenty of betting options. Below, I have put a list of some of my favorite ways to bet this race:

1. Make a bet on the manufacturer

Do you like Toyota, Ford or Chevrolet? I asked PJ for his thoughts on which manufacturer, if any, has an advantage in the Daytona 500 and this is what he said:

“In recent years, Fords have had an advantage because they have so many good cars in the race and all work together.”

In fact, he recently published an article on the manufacturer with the biggest edge to win the Daytona 500.

2. If all else fails, bet on chaos

This is my favorite angle. It’s the Daytona 500 and you never know what’s going to happen, so take a wild card and run with it. Wrecky (uhh, I mean Ricky) Stenhouse Jr. is a great example. If you want someone fun to watch who also has the potential to completely and utterly annihilate the field, look no further.

In fact, some books will offer an over/under cautions prop. If you’re rooting for a crazy, unpredictable race, bet the over.

And if you’re still feeling a little like Goldilocks with none of those bets fitting just right, I’ve come up with a fun way to determine your driver to bet and root for in the Daytona 500.

Just answer these four easy questions, then find which driver matches your responses and poof, you have your next sports obsession.

Daytona 500 Driver Betting Quiz

Which source do you prefer when getting your daily news/information?

Wall Street Journal
USA Today
Social Media
TMZ
Barstool Sports

What is your favorite game-day food?

Pizza
Burgers
Hot dogs/sausages
Nachos
Wings

What is your favorite game-day beverage?

Soft drinks (water, soda, etc.)
Hard liquor (neat or on the rocks)
Wine
Beer
Mixed drinks/shots

Which of the following all-time great athlete is your favorite?

Derek Jeter
Peyton Manning
LeBron James
Serena Williams
John Daly

Daytona 500 Betting Quiz Key

*Add up the total points for each of your answers above and match your score to the driver below who best suits your sports-betting personality. Odds via FanDuel.

4-5 Points: Chase Elliott (13-1)
6-7 Points: Martin Truex Jr. (16-1)
8-9 Points: Jimmie Johnson (22-1)
10-11 Points: Kyle Larson (25-1)
12-13 Points: Kevin Harvick (13-1)
14-15 Points: Joey Logano (10-1)
16-17 Points: Kyle Busch (13-1)
18-20 Points: Ryan Blaney (16-1)

Posted on February 6, 2020February 6, 2020 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 6, 2020) – NASCAR announced today several leadership promotions across the breadth of its business. Ben Kennedy has been promoted Vice President, Racing Development; John Martin has been promoted to Vice President, Media and Event Technology; Patrick Rogers has been promoted to Vice President, Marketing Services; and Chris Schwartz has been promoted to Vice President, Media Properties.

Kennedy oversees strategic racing development initiatives for each of NASCAR’s series, including development of future national series’ schedules and international expansion. Having competed in both the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as previously serving as General Manager of the Truck Series, Kennedy plays a key role in working with NASCAR senior leadership to develop long term racing development strategies. Kennedy will remain based in Concord and will continue to report into Steve O’Donnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer.

“Ben is a true racer at heart and has a tremendous understanding of what contributes to a strong race from a driver and a fan’s perspective,” said O’Donnell. “His love of motorsports and his commitment to delivering great racing for our fans comes through in everything he does. The sport is fortunate to have a rising leader like Ben and I look forward to his future leadership in this important area.”

Martin will oversee all technology related to the fan and industry at-track experience and across NASCAR’s media platforms and products. Martin has previously served in a variety of leadership roles across NASCAR Productions and NASCAR Digital and he was instrumental in the initial roll-out of NASCAR.com. Martin will remain based in Charlotte and will report into Craig Neeb, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer.

“John brings extensive experience and passion to this position,” said Neeb. “His spirit of innovation, coupled with his success working across the industry and driving collaboration and partnership, makes him an ideal fit to lead this group into the future.”

Rogers will oversee all marketing services across Teams, Drivers and Tracks, serving as the main point of leadership with industry stakeholders in implementing NASCAR’s integrated marketing strategy and maximizing the potential impact of all industry assets. Rogers has led the sanctioning body’s collaborative marketing work with race teams and drivers and will take that work to another level with his new, broader duties. Rogers will remain based in Charlotte and will continue to report into Pete Jung, Senior Vice President, Marketing.

“Patrick has developed strong relationships throughout the garage and has a track record of success in developing marketing opportunities for our drivers, teams and tracks that deliver for our fans,” said Jung. “His leadership in bringing the industry together cannot be overstated and I am excited about the impact he and his team will have as we seek new and innovative ways in bringing our fans closer to our drivers, teams and racetracks.”

In his elevated role, Schwartz will continue to lead MRN and Racing Electronics and work closely with NASCAR’s media functions to integrate that technology across NASCAR media platforms. His focus will be working with NASCAR’s media partners and senior leadership to build upon strategies to distribute live audio content and dynamic in-venue technology to race fans both at-home and at the track. Schwartz will be based in Charlotte and will report into Brian Herbst, Senior Vice President, Media and Productions.

“Chris is a seasoned industry executive that understands the opportunities that exist for our sport and our fans as we develop engaging media platforms and content across our industry,” said Herbst. “He has a proven track record in developing strong, innovative media partnerships with multiple stakeholders that will position our sport well as the media landscape evolves.”