Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Front Row Motorsports announced Monday the team would expand operations to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series in 2020 through an alliance with DGR-Crosley. Nineteen-year-old Todd Gilliland is set to drive the team’s No. 38 Ford F-150 in a full-time effort.

Gilliland, a third-generation NASCAR driver, will look to deliver a successful debut season for the team as he takes on his third full-time year in the Gander Truck Series. In 48 combined starts, he has one win, 12 top-five, and 26 top-10 finishes. In his teenage years, Gilliland spent time developing in NASCAR’s regional series, where he achieved many accomplishments in a short amount of time. After winning in his debut NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race as a 15-year-old, the North Carolina native went on to win back-to-back championships and has collected 20 K&N Pro Series wins in 53 races. Gilliland also has two ARCA Menards Series wins in only nine attempts.

RELATED: All of the changes to know for 2020

“I’m really looking forward to racing an F-150 in the (Gander) Truck Series this year with Front Row Motorsports as part of the Ford family,” Gilliland said. “I’ve been around (team owner) Bob Jenkins and the whole Front Row crew for a long time growing up with my dad racing for them. The talent that they’ve brought in for my program is really exciting. I know or have worked with almost every person that’s on my team this year at some point in my career. That helps tremendously in building relationships and trust with each other.”

The No. 38 Ford that Gilliland will pilot has significant meaning to his family. Gilliland spent most of his childhood watching his father, David Gilliland, race that number in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series driving for FRM and Ford Performance, but the story doesn’t end there. David’s father, Butch Gilliland, also raced the No. 38 winning a championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 1997; three years before Todd Gilliland was born.

“Car numbers are important to a driver because they are essentially your identity when you’re on track,” Gilliland said. “It’s cool to think about a Gilliland being back in the No. 38, and I’m really proud to be able to drive the same number that my dad and grandpa did.”

RELATED: McDowell, Nemechek at Front Row for ’20

Said Jenkins: “We’re all very excited for this expansion. I’ve watched Todd grow up in this sport and have seen the talent he brings firsthand. Not only does he come from a racing family, but he’s got the natural ability of a winning driver. I’m confident that having him drive in our debut season will be a great success.”

Gilliland will have former NASCAR Cup Series engineer Jon Leonard as his crew chief throughout the duration of the 2020 season. Leonard brings significant knowledge and experience to the newly formed team. He served as an interim crew chief for Leavine Family Racing for several months before moving back into an engineering role at Richard Childress Racing last season. Gilliland will have veteran NASCAR Cup Series spotter Coleman Pressley guiding him from the spotter stand.

The 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will kick off its 23-race season at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m., ET.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

Feeling cold this winter? Well, let the annual Chili Bowl Nationals warm you up.

This week, some of the best drivers dirt racing has to offer have flocked to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the 34th running of the annual indoor midget car event held on a 1/5-mile dirt oval at the River Spirit Expo Center. As of Jan. 13, more than 340 drivers and teams were featured on the entry list as five qualifying nights lie ahead leading up to Saturday night’s A-Main event. The champion gets the coveted Golden Driller, a replica of the 76-foot statue located outside the venue.

NASCAR Cup Series rookie Christopher Bell will be vying for his fourth straight Chili Bowl Nationals title. Last year, Bell muscled his way past NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson on the final lap to take home his fourth Golden Driller.

If Bell is able to accomplish the feat, he’ll be just the third driver to win four or more and the second driver to win four straight events, tying four-time winner Kevin Swindell (2010-13). Dirt racing legend Sammy Swindell is the all-time winner of the Chili Bowl with five victories (1989, ’92, ’96, ’98, 2009).

MRN: Inside Bell and Larson’s friendly rivalry

The Chili Bowl has become grounds for a civil but fierce rivalry between the two competitors as Bell has beat Larson after going toe-to-toe with him in the final circuits the past three occasions.

“That was probably the most exciting win of my career, I’ve never had a last-lap pass on a big stage like that,” Bell said of last year’s bout with Larson on Episode 28 of MRN’s Rip the Fence podcast.

MORE: Bell edges Larson to win 2019 Chili Bowl

While losing always hurts for every driver worth his mettle, Bell knows the mutual respect between the two of them runs deep.

“I don’t know if you guys see a different face of Kyle every time, I see him we are on great terms,” Bell said. “He’s beaten me plenty, and it’s not fun.”

“When I beat him last year the press conference was tough. I felt bad for beating him, but I was heartbroken for him, because I do care about Kyle and that’s his number one race he wants to win, and he had it till the last lap.”

For Larson, the mistake made on the final lap last year stuck in his craw for a while, but there came a time where he had to get over it and focus forward.

“It definitely kept me up at night following some of the losses, but the pain goes away,” Larson said on Episode 71 of MRN’s Rip the Fence podcast.

Both Bell and Larson enter new territory this year by leaving Keith Kunz Motorsports under good terms. For Larson, it was the chance to try something different as the Chili Bowl still eludes him, racing in his own equipment with the No. 01 Kyle Larson midget. Bell has also made the significant move by joining forces with Tucker-Boat Motorsports and team owner Chad Boat to race the 84x midget, a partnership that came to fruition in 2019.

“Our car has been really good ever since I got my own midget,” Larson told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Thursday. “I’ve only lost one time in it, so it’s been good. It seems like since Bell’s gone to Chad Boat’s team, he’s struggled a little bit but their stuff is always really good in that building.”

“Christopher is obviously an amazing driver, too. You can never count them out. I think it’s going to be a little bit tougher this year than years past, but we’ve just got to wait and see.”

Monday kicked off a week of action-packed racing, including practice rounds that began at 9 a.m. local time, followed by the first night of preliminary racing. The entry list is divided into sections for each qualifying night, which includes a series of heat races and qualifiers, followed by a 25-lap feature event. The top-two finishers in each qualifying night feature event lock themselves into the 24-car A-Feature event on Saturday night.

Current and former NASCAR drivers competing:

  • Rico Abreu
  • Justin Allgaier
  • Christopher Bell
  • Alex Bowman
  • Chase Briscoe
  • Cale Conley
  • Ryan Ellis
  • Kyle Larson
  • Ryan Newman
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
  • JJ Yeley

Below is when each driver will compete in their respective qualifying nights:

Monday, Jan. 13: Cummins Qualifying Night

  • Chase Briscoe
  • Ryan Ellis

Tuesday, Jan. 14: Warren CAT Qualifying Night:

  • Alex Bowman
  • Kyle Larson

Wednesday, Jan. 15: Hard Rock Casino Qualifying Night:

  • J.J. Yeley
  • Ryan Newman
  • Rico Abreu

Thursday, Jan. 16: John Christner Trucking Qualifying Night:

  • Christopher Bell
  • Cale Conley

Friday, Jan. 17: Vacuworx Global Qualifying night:

  • Justin Allgaier
  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Posted on by George Winkler

NASCAR’s Silly Season has finally wound down, with most driver-team pairings settled on national series rosters. Quite a bit of shuffling has already shaken up the natural order of things, and new faces are getting accustomed to new cars, new numbers and new organizations.

All of these fresh pairings enter the 2020 season with a sense of optimism, but which new combinations have the best chance for success? NASCAR.com’s Zack Albert and George Winkler offer their picks for drivers expected to thrive in their new surroundings.

RELATED: Drivers on the move

Albert: Daniel Hemric. Though he’s dropping down a rung on the NASCAR national series ladder, Hemric has a grand opportunity to rejuvenate his career by running the majority of the Xfinity Series slate in 2020. He won’t even have to change his car number — No. 8 — in his shift from Cup Series duty with Richard Childress Racing to a new ride with JR Motorsports.

Jeb Burton is slated for 11 races in the No. 8, and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has indicated he’s in for one event this season, but Hemric will have the lion’s share of starts in a car that logged top-10 finishes in 23 of 33 races last year. He’ll also add continuity for a team with a rotating cast of nine drivers last season.

Hemric stood on the brink of winning during his most recent Xfinity Series campaign in 2018. Here’s betting he breaks down that wall this season.

Winkler: Matt DiBenedetto. “Family style” will continue to work for DiBenedetto, who moves from Leavine Family Racing to Wood Brothers Racing and a technical alliance with Team Penske. During the second half of last season, DiBenedetto built momentum with six top-10 finishes, including a memorable second-place run in the Bristol Night Race.

As a result, DiBenedetto had his best season statistically in the NASCAR Cup Series with career highs in top fives, top 10s and laps led. Look for that momentum to continue in 2020 with Wood Brothers Racing, where the five-year veteran driver will pair with crew chief Greg Erwin, who has five victories in Cup (all with Greg Biffle).

Based on average finish, DiBenedetto has had his best success on road courses, but his best finishes in 2019 came on a variety of tracks, showing that he can be a threat on any given weekend. Couple that with Team Penske’s reputation as a strong outfit on superspeedways, and there’s a good chance this will be the year that DiBenedetto finally breaks into the win column.

Posted on by Staff Report

Erik Jones is scheduled to drive the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen car in its third on-track test Wednesday and Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The Next Gen car is set to make its competition debut in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. This week’s test is the first at a 1.5-mile track.

Select grandstands will be open for viewing purposes to fans who have purchased a ticket to the Dixie Vodka 400, Miami’s 2020 event on March 22. Testing will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, with a lunch break splitting up the morning and afternoon sessions. Weather will dictate the specific schedule.

MORE: Buy tickets for Miami race

A test vehicle first hit the track in 2019. Austin Dillon piloted the prototype built by Richard Childress Racing in collaboration with NASCAR back in October at Richmond Raceway. Joey Logano then had a run with it in December at Phoenix Raceway, home of the 2020 season finale.

“I really enjoyed driving the car,” Dillon said after his test. “I like the way that it looks, you can see the finished product down the road. The OEMs can make the body look really good, like a street car that you see on the road today. When it comes together and they all get their cars on the track, we’re going to have something to work with that also looks really good.”

In his 2019 “State of the Sport” address, NASCAR president Steve Phelps said a big point of Next Gen is to “put the ‘stock’ back in stock car,” meaning the new car should better resemble its highway-going counterparts. Of course, it’s also meant to improve competition.

“When the car gets loose with this Next Gen car, it doesn’t come back until the driver steers the car back — it doesn’t fix itself. And that puts it more in the driver’s hands. And I like that piece,” Logano said. “It’s going to be challenging, but I think you’ll see more mistakes on the race track, which makes, in my opinion, better racing and more passing opportunities.”

PHOTOS: Check out the Next Gen car on track

Posted on by Team Release

LEXINGTON, N.C. — Defending Coke Zero Sugar 400 winner Justin Haley will pilot the No. 16 Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E.) Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in Kaulig Racing’s NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) debut.

Kaulig Racing, which recently announced the team will be fielding three entries in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season opener at Daytona International Speedway with Justin Haley, Ross Chastain, and AJ Allmendinger, is thrilled to have the opportunity to attempt the Daytona 500 at the World Center of Racing.

RELATED: Daytona Speedweeks schedule

“I am super excited to attempt not only our first NASCAR Cup Series race, but our first Daytona 500!” exclaimed team owner, Matt Kaulig. “To be competing at the World Center of Racing on the main stage is incredible, especially for our team that began just four years ago. I have all the confidence in the world that Justin Haley will make everyone at Kaulig Racing proud and truly let everyone know that Kaulig Racing is here to compete.”

In the series’ most recent visit to Daytona Beach last July, Haley shocked the racing world by winning the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 in a race that will go down in the record books as one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history.

“I am eager to try and qualify for the Daytona 500,” said Haley. “It is an honor for me to compete for a starting spot in Kaulig Racing’s first NASCAR Cup Series race. The F.O.E. has been with me since 2016. The Eagles were on my car when I won in July at Daytona, so it’s a great fit for them to be back on my car as we try to lock ourselves into the Daytona 500.”

The Fraternal Order of Eagles, an international non-profit organization, is a family of nearly 700,000 members throughout North America, dedicated to raising money for charity through a variety of social events. Unlike other nonprofit organizations, 100 percent of the $10 million raised by Eagles each year goes directly to the individuals and communities who need it most.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with Justin and Kaulig Racing in their Daytona 500 effort,” said F.O.E. Grand Worthy President Ron Malz. “Last year’s win at Daytona was the highlight of our 15-plus years in NASCAR and our members are excited for a chance to replicate that feat in the sport’s signature race.”

During his 2019 NXS rookie season, Haley recorded 20 top 10s and four top fives, including a runner-up finish last July at Daytona. The season also marked the team’s best overall effort since its inception in 2016.

“Kaulig Racing has made continuous strides to be competitive in the Xfinity Series in the past few years,” said team President, Chris Rice. “In 2018, we fielded two cars at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Then in 2019, we not only fielded two cars for multiple races, but we added a third entry at Daytona in July and got our first win with Ross Chastain. As we continue to grow, I feel it is time to go to Daytona and compete in the Cup Series.”

The 62nd running of the Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 PM EST on FOX. Preceding the Daytona 500, Haley will compete in the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 with teammates Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger on Saturday, February 15 at 2:30 PM EST on FS1.

Posted on by Staff Report

We’re certainly going to miss having former Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 crew chief Cole Pearn at the track in 2020, but there might be a silver lining to all of this: our favorite Canadian hero spending more time on Twitter.

Pearn announced just more than a month ago that he would be stepping away from NASCAR and moving back up north to his native country, a popular destination these days.

RELATED: Cole Pearn to step away from NASCAR

Earlier this week,  British royal family members Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, respectively, announced they’d be stepping back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family with speculation the couple would be spending more time in Canada.

Naturally, Pearn’s take was gold.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Martin Truex Jr.’s Bass Pro Shops paint scheme has a different look than last year for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry features more orange side panels, while also making the switch from an orange to black for the number on the door and roof.

Watch Truex hit the track throughout Daytona Speedweeks in the No. 19, beginning with Daytona 500 qualifying (12:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and the Busch Clash on Feb. 9 (3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Terrin Waack

New faces are joining the NASCAR Cup Series in 2020. Four rookies, specifically.

Last season’s “Big 3” in the Xfinity Series have all made the jump to NASCAR’s premier league after a season full of success. Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer and Christopher Bell finished atop the 2019 Xfinity Series standings in order and now face the challenge of climbing their way back up the ranks. John Hunter Nemechek, who closed out last year seventh, is also moving to the Cup Series with his fellow competitors.

Which highly touted rookie will have the earliest success in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season? NASCAR.com’s Terrin Waack and Alex Weaver debate who’s going to stand out most first.

RELATED: Drivers on the move for 2020

WAACK: It’s going to be Tyler Reddick, the two-time Xfinity Series champion. No doubt. Reddick is the only rookie entering the Cup Series with such a title, which means he knows how to survive and thrive under the current NASCAR Playoffs format.

Speaking of surviving, Reddick had the fewest DNFs in 2019 out of the incoming newcomers. Reddick had three. Cole Custer and Christopher Bell (with an additional disqualification) had four, while John Hunter Nemechek had five. Doesn’t matter the reasoning or how tight the margin is among them. When it comes to fresh meat in the Cup Series, the key is finishing races. Every one counts.

It also helps Reddick boasted the best average finish among his full-time competition with a 6.3 mark. Custer was further down the list with an average 9.0 finish, Bell had a 9.1, and Nemechek was a 12.5. Reddick had the most top fives (24) and top 10s (27), too.

Then, on top of all that, Reddick already has pulled off a top-10 run (Kansas Speedway in 2019) in the Cup Series. The others can’t say that. This could bring him the confidence he needs to feel comfortable in his new equipment early on.

Reddick is going to get the most he can out of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

WEAVER: I have my eye on Cole Custer to have the most success out of the rookies in the NASCAR Cup Series. Custer was a member of the “Big 3” for the Xfinity Series who, in my opinion, was overlooked in comparison to Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell. But the soon-to-be 22-year-old had seven wins in 2019, only one less than Bell and one more than Reddick. Last season, Custer won at Auto Club Speedway, Richmond Raceway, Pocono Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Dover International Speedway. He had six poles, 24 top-10 finishes and 17 top fives. He came into his own this last season, and now the pressure doesn’t seem to affect him on the track.

MORE DEBATES: Which driver will jump into the playoffs in 2020?

It also helps that Custer will take on his rookie season with Stewart-Haas Racing. He is entering the NASCAR Cup Series with some of the top equipment in the sport and the same crew chief and crew who propelled him to the Championship 4 for the Xfinity Series. Plus, with a mentor like Kevin Harvick, Mike Shiplett’s notebook joined with Rodney Childers and watching what the other veterans will do in that camp, will only improve Custer’s own driving ability.

SHR plans on using resources and effort to make Custer a winning driver in the sport’s top series. The young talent banner for that organization has Custer’s name in bold print. I have personally watched Custer become a different type of driver over the last few years: He is more aggressive, takes chances and will have a successful rookie season in that No. 41 machine.

Posted on by Staff Report

There’s maybe just one driver out there who can relate to the pressure and fanfare that comes along with the expectations being put on rising NASCAR superstar Hailie Deegan — and she had him on her podcast.

Retired driver-turned-broadcaster Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently joined Deegan on a podcast — The Deegans — she co-hosts with her father, Brian, for an in-depth interview on a variety of topics old and new.

Hailie’s upcoming 2020 season will be her biggest yet, after a move to Ford’s development program last month will lay the groundwork for her progression in her rise through the ranks of stock car racing.

MORE: Deegan moves to Ford development program, sets 2020 plans

Earnhardt will continue his broadcasting duties with NASCAR on NBC in 2020 but also return to the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet for a one-off stint in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway in March.

Listen to the full episode of The Deegans below, and follow along in a conversation that touches on:

  • Earnhardt’s background as a mechanic
  • How Dale Sr. didn’t support his racing career — at first
  • The growth of the sport and rise at the turn of the millennium
  • The current state of the sport and why it’s on the rise
  • How race car drivers are normal people
  • Dale Jr. reveals his favorite track
  • Why the NASCAR world is eager for a female champion

Posted on by Team Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With an AdventHealth show car on display in the Gatorade Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway Thursday, AdventHealth announced it is expanding its relationship with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) by teaming up with both Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain.

During the 2020 season, Kyle Larson will pilot the No. 42 AdventHealth Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for the Clash at Daytona, as well as the NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Kansas Speedway in the fall. In addition, Florida-native Ross Chastain will drive the No. 77 AdventHealth Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE, prepared by CGR, for starts at the DAYTONA 500 in Florida and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

“We’ve been a proud supporter of Chip Ganassi Racing since 2016, and I’m really excited to further expand our winning partnership by teaming up with both Kyle and Ross,” said David Banks, AdventHealth chief strategy officer. “This collaboration is something all of our employees across the nation can get excited about.”

As one of the country’s largest faith-based health systems, AdventHealth has nearly 50 hospitals in almost a dozen states. Iconic racetracks like Daytona International Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway, are all located in close proximity to an AdventHealth market.

AdventHealth has previously had a presence on the No. 1 car, racing in the 2019 Clash at Daytona with Jamie McMurray, and with Kurt Busch’s entry in the 2019 fall race at Kansas, in addition to sponsoring Larson’s All-Star Race winning ride.

RELATED: Kyle Larson 2019 season in review

“We had a great run with Kyle last year and are excited about the 2020 season,” Banks said. “In our first race on Kyle’s car, he not only raced his way into the NASCAR All-Star Race, but also went on to win it! We are looking forward to continuing that momentum and success together in 2020.”

“It’s great to have AdventHealth back with the No. 42 team for some races in 2020,” Larson said. “It was awesome to win with AdventHealth on our car at the All-Star Race, in their first race with the 42 team, and I hope we can have more exciting races with them this year. They have been a great partner, on and off the track, and I’m glad to see our relationship continue.”

AdventHealth will also support Chastain, who continues to be a CGR development driver, in a Spire Motorsports entry as he makes his second career DAYTONA 500 start, following a 10th place finish in last year’s race.

Chastain will run the No. 77 AdventHealth Chevrolet in Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, while juggling full-time duties in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020.

Nicknamed “Melon Man,” Chastain is an eighth-generation planter and fourth-generation watermelon farmer from Alva, Florida. Chastain made his NASCAR debut in 2011 at the age of 18, competing in five NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series events before transforming the opportunity into a full-time ride in 2012.

In 2019, Chastain earned a second Xfinity Series win while competing for championship honors in the Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series. By season’s end, Chastain led 591 laps, earned one pole, three wins, 10 top-five finishes and 19 top-10 finishes. When the checkered flag waved at Homestead Miami Speedway, signaling the end of the 2019 campaign, Chastain came home fourth, missing out on the title by a mere two points. The “Melon Man” was bestowed with the series Most Popular Driver Award in 2019, bringing his career full circle from once very humble beginnings.

“To have the opportunity to run the DAYTONA 500 is awesome, and it’s great to do it this year with AdventHealth on board my car. I’ve only had one start in the DAYTONA 500, and can’t wait to run that race again in what I know will be a competitive car,” Chastain said. “I’m also looking forward to racing the Coca-Cola 600. That’s another iconic race that all of us want to win.”

AdventHealth continues to support the Human Innovation and Development Lab (HIDL) at CGR. The HIDL features tools, technology and unique training to improve the performance of CGR’s pit crews and drivers and help them prepare for upcoming races both mentally and physically. Headed by Josh Wise, both Larson and Chastain utilize the resources made available in the HIDL.

Locally, AdventHealth has been a Founding Partner of Daytona International Speedway since 2014. As the Official Healthcare Partner of Daytona International Speedway, AdventHealth cares for more than 1,000 patients each year on-site. In the event of an emergency, there are 11 AdventHealth ambulances, two care centers and nine first aid stations standing ready to care for drivers and fans alike. The AdventHealth injector– or gate entrance – at the Daytona Beach, Florida, track is a 20,000-plus-square-foot oasis.

“With our injector at the Daytona International Speedway, we’ve been able to engage with the hundreds of thousands of race fans that attend Speedweeks, but are beyond thrilled to have an AdventHealth car racing in the DAYTONA 500 for the first time ever,” Banks said. “I can’t wait to watch Florida’s own ‘Melon Man’ race on the track this year in our watermelon-themed AdventHealth Chevy.”

“We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with AdventHealth for a fifth year,” said Doug Duchardt, CGR chief operating officer. “The partnership has generated some exciting moments on track, like Kyle’s All-Star win. Additionally, AdventHealth’s dedication to helping people feel whole has aided the growth of our drivers and pit crews off the track through the Human Innovation and Development Lab. We’re looking forward to another exciting year of the partnership.”