Jimmie Johnson speaks publicly for the first time since revealing that 2020 will be the seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s final season of racing. Watch it live on NASCAR.com starting at 4 p.m. ET from Hendrick Motorsports.
Bookmark this page and check back later to hear from Johnson and stay tuned to NASCAR.com throughout the day for coverage of Johnson and his historic decision.
On Wednesday, Jimmie Johnson announced the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season will be his last behind the wheel as a full-timer. The driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet — better known as “Seven-Time” for his series-high-tying seven titles — will go down as one of the most decorated champions in stock-car racing. For that reason, a number of people in the NASCAR community and elsewhere took their reactions to Twitter.
RELATED: Johnson’s news | Johnson through the years
This story will be updated with any further posts.
A class act & true champion on & off the track. It's been a pleasure to compete with you over the years and call you a friend throughout it all. Congrats on a phenomenal career. Best of luck #Chasing8 one last time! https://t.co/jj6Co0Sku5
— Jeff Gordon (@JeffGordonWeb) November 20, 2019
This man did it right from start to finish. Won everything and never changed who he was. I can’t wait to spend next year observing the weekly celebrations of one of the greatest to ever do it. https://t.co/ENMbctDABt
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) November 20, 2019
Awesome to be able to race with the GOAT. Looking forward to one more year with you while you cap of your incredible career https://t.co/bJa2KimFRM
— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (@StenhouseJr) November 20, 2019
Legendary 🤘🏼 https://t.co/RTZIM6VcfP
— Alex Bowman (@Alex_Bowman) November 20, 2019
Probably the guy I respect the most in the garage area. Not only the 🐐, but also one of the most down to earth guys in all of Nascar. Congrats @JimmieJohnson on an incredible career and one more fun year👍🏻 https://t.co/sINZ4bmGSC
— Matt Tifft (@matt_tifft) November 20, 2019
The first time we met, he had never driven a cup car.. He treated me like someone he had known forever.. 7 championships, 83 wins, 364 top tens, 36 poles and he still treats me exactly the same. Just as he does everyone.. He has never changed.. #chasing8 https://t.co/JgAZREY0AY
— Rodney Childers (@RodneyChilders4) November 20, 2019
Wow, cheers to @JimmieJohnson 🍺 make it one that makes a 💥 https://t.co/vc6Wp8w64M
— Ryan Preece (@RyanPreece_) November 20, 2019
Man, what a ride you have had @JimmieJohnson! I can’t begin to tell you how humbled/thankful I am to have had a chance to race with one of the best to ever do it! Always been a guy I looked up to growing up while chasing the dream, proud to call you a hero of mine! Cheers bud 🍻 https://t.co/XoL0rk3CZ3
— Daniel Hemric (@DanielHemric) November 20, 2019
From calling him a teammate to covering him from the booth JJ has always set the standard high. Wishing him a great final season. Hats off to you champ. https://t.co/BcMjO4Di76
— Steve Letarte (@SteveLetarte) November 20, 2019
I’ll put together my 2nd car for ya @JimmieJohnson!
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) November 20, 2019
One of the greatest champions in sports and the epitome of class. Let’s make more history together in 2020! #chasing8 https://t.co/8mYGxfRYD1
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) November 20, 2019
Sure, Jimmie has been a great champ & piled up a boatload of stats, but the coolest thing about him to me is how he always patiently tries to genuinely answer even bad, tough or silly questions (or ones that already been asked a bunch). A chat with him is always a good experience https://t.co/osJnO4Wwfq
— Woody Cain (@WYcain) November 20, 2019
It's hard to imagine a NASCAR Cup Series race without @JimmieJohnson in it. He changed the sport in so many ways – all for the better – and was a towering presence both on and off the track. He deserves every tribute he will receive in the next 12 months, and there will be many.
— Dave Moody (@DGodfatherMoody) November 20, 2019
@JimmieJohnson is aGREAT race car driver but is an even better person. He has made history and has done it the right way. Next year is going to be fun watching he and his team #chasing8 https://t.co/8sVLLQ8jaA
— Jeff Burton (@JeffBurton) November 20, 2019
Congrats man!
It’ll be fun to be a part of your last season. Wishing you and the family a bright future together. 😊👍🏻 https://t.co/kVKdzbuLR3
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) November 20, 2019
The Goat. Its been an absolute honor to live in the Jimmie Johnson era and share a track with him occasionally. I can't wait to see if he can go out on top next year. https://t.co/WparYxRmnc
— Parker Kligerman (@pkligerman) November 20, 2019
Right by your side and couldn’t be prouder of the legendary career you have had… let’s go get 8 Jimmie @JimmieJohnson @allyracing https://t.co/0VMl02LZ13
— Andrea Brimmer (@AndreaBrimmer) November 20, 2019
We are honored to support Jimmie as he continues #chasing8 in 2020, and are so proud that he will finish his remarkable NASCAR career driving the Ally 48. https://t.co/19GtrGwzj0
— Ally Racing (@allyracing) November 20, 2019
From one of the “best to never” to one of the “best ever”, THANK YOU https://t.co/sa5xryNYfF
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) November 20, 2019
One more year to appreciate greatness in our time. @JimmieJohnson will run one final full-time @NASCAR season in 2020. #Chasing8 https://t.co/xntPq9aqFU
— Eddie Gossage ™️ (@eddiegossage) November 20, 2019
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) November 20, 2019
Caught me right in the feels. Been a pleasure Champ. Looking forward to it one last time. https://t.co/s0TJMLzmh9
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) November 20, 2019
Nobody I enjoy battling with more on the race track than 7 time. The greatest driver of my generation. Look forward to 38 more races with you! https://t.co/SmpAQz26Cz
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) November 20, 2019
Damn. All I can say is it was a privilege to be able to watch greatness as it was happening. Hell even got to be on the track as it happened. Got out on top 🐐
— Brett Moffitt (@Brett_Moffitt) November 20, 2019
Jimmie Johnson, one of the most decorated champions in stock-car racing, announced the endpoint of his full-time driving career Wednesday, indicating 2020 will mark his final season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Johnson has spent his entire career with the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet operation, which he has called home since his premier series debut in 2001. He announced the news with a heartfelt video on Twitter and is expected to address the media Thursday afternoon.
#Chasing8 one final time pic.twitter.com/ZoldabKy9M
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) November 20, 2019
“I’m so thankful for 18 incredible years of racing in NASCAR,” Johnson says. “The sport has been good to me. It has allowed me to do something I truly love. I showed up chasing a dream and achieved more than I ever thought possible. I’m looking forward to next season and celebrating what will be my last year as a full-time NASCAR Cup driver. I know what this team is capable of, and I hope 2020 is one of the best yet.”
RELATED: Drivers react to news | Jimmie through the years
Johnson has won seven titles in NASCAR’s top division, tied for the all-time most with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty — both members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. The 44-year-old driver ranks in a tie for sixth on NASCAR’s all-time win list, his 83 victories equaling the total of Cale Yarborough.
“NASCAR history will always hold Jimmie Johnson in the highest regard, for his hard-charging success on the racetrack and the way he conducted himself as a champion off the track,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France said in a statement. “This remarkable seven-time champion – through his competitive spirit, immense talent and sportsmanship – has made NASCAR a better sport. On behalf of my family and the entire NASCAR community, I thank Jimmie for his dedication to NASCAR and, along with his legions of fans, wish him all the best in his final season. I look forward to watching him race for wins and an eighth NASCAR Cup Championship in 2020.”
Johnson is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500, prevailing in The Great American Race in 2006 and 2013. He also won four times each in the Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400, adding two Southern 500 crowns along the way, but his most distinctive achievement came in the form of an unprecedented streak.
Johnson won his first five championships consecutively from 2006-2010, adding titles in 2013 and ’16. That stretch of success surpassed the previous mark held by Yarborough, who won three straight titles from 1976-78.
The California native last won in June 2017, prevailing on friendly turf at Dover International Speedway, and the drought prompted two high-profile crew chief changes within the span of a year.
MORE: Every Cup Series victory
“I get to say when I’m done,” Johnson told reporters ahead of the 2019 season, noting his detractors who hinted he should place his driving gloves on the shelf. “It did weigh on me and I can’t wait to win and win often. I think that would be something really nice to say back to all those people that suggested that I was washed up and done.”
Johnson emerged from the world of motorcycle racing and off-road trucks, moving to asphalt — first in the American Speed Association (ASA) circuit and eventually to a brief stint in what is now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Once there, he caught the attention of four-time champion Jeff Gordon, thanks to a fortunate seating arrangement at a drivers’ meeting in 2000.
“I went in looking for advice and I walked out with the opportunity of a lifetime,” Johnson recalled to the Associated Press in 2001.
Before their conversation, Gordon had already planted Johnson’s name as a possible prospect with Hendrick, who had designs on expanding his organization from three cars to four.
That newly created No. 48 team, which paired Johnson with budding crew chief talent Chad Knaus, became one of the most productive in stock-car racing history.
Johnson’s statistical prowess secures his spot among the all-time greats, but he also broke new ground in his approach to physical fitness. Johnson remains an avid cyclist and runner; in April, he ran his first Boston Marathon just two days after competing in a 400-lap race at Richmond Raceway.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Following a national search for top diverse driver talent, NASCAR and Rev Racing today announced the six ethnically diverse and female drivers selected to the 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program.
The program‘s newest class features five drivers who will make their return to Rev Racing next season, including Chase Cabre, Nicholas Sanchez, Gracie Trotter, Rajah Caruth and Isabella Robusto. Late model driver Perry Patino will make his debut with NASCAR Drive for Diversity in 2020.
Caruth and Robusto competed in the 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program and raced Legends cars for Rev Racing at this year‘s Bojangles‘ Summer Shootout in Charlotte, N.C. They also ran five other races with Rev Racing as part of the youth program.
“We are very enthusiastic about the progress we continue to make with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program, and the 2020 class exemplifies the evolution of the program,” said Jusan Hamilton, Director, Racing Operations and Event Management at NASCAR. “We were extremely impressed with the confidence, competitive drive and raw talent of the drivers that competed at this year‘s combine, which made the selection process challenging for us. Our partners at Rev Racing work hard every year to develop the best diverse drivers around the world. To see familiar faces in this class that have grown and advanced through the youth ranks of the program bolsters our belief that we will see some of these same drivers at the top levels of NASCAR in the future.”
The six drivers were selected from a group of invitees that competed in the two-day NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Combine in October at Daytona International Speedway and New Smyrna Speedway.
The combine included fitness assessments and evaluations of each driver‘s marketing and media skills. The on-track portion tested the drivers‘ abilities behind the wheel and proficiencies in late model stock cars. Representatives from NASCAR and Rev Racing were on-hand to evaluate the talent and determine the 2020 team.
“We have seen great success this past year with our drivers having multiple wins in every series we participated in this season,” said Max Siegel, Owner of Rev Racing. “Our returning drivers have certainly set the bar high. We are all excited to welcome the new members of this year‘s class to the Rev Racing family and continue the momentum moving into the 2020 season.”
Caruth, Patino, Robusto and Trotter will compete in a NASCAR Late Model, while Cabre and Sanchez will compete in the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Showdown Series in 2020.
RELATED: ARCA Menards Series East schedule set for 2020
Competing in a late model stock car will be a first for drivers like Caruth, whose background is in iRacing, and Robusto, who has experience racing Legends cars.
Caruth will become the first driver with an iRacing background to be selected for the program. He is a product of the eNASCAR IGNITE Series — a first-of-its kind esports competition created to identify young talent by providing a low barrier of entry to the sport.
NASCAR Drive for Diversity provides opportunities for women and minorities to pursue career opportunities in NASCAR in the driver‘s seat and on pit crews through the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Program and off the track through the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.
The 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development team includes:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 20, 2019) — Following a national search for top diverse driver talent, NASCAR and Rev Racing today announced the six ethnically diverse and female drivers selected to the 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program.
The program’s newest class features five drivers who will make their return to Rev Racing next season, including Chase Cabre, Nicholas Sanchez, Gracie Trotter, Rajah Caruth and Isabella Robusto. Late model driver Perry Patino will make his debut with NASCAR Drive for Diversity in 2020.
Caruth and Robusto competed in the 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program and raced Legends cars for Rev Racing at this year’s Bojangles’ Summer Shootout in Charlotte, N.C. They also ran five other races with Rev Racing as part of the youth program.
“We are very enthusiastic about the progress we continue to make with the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program, and the 2020 class exemplifies the evolution of the program,” said Jusan Hamilton, Director, Racing Operations and Event Management at NASCAR. “We were extremely impressed with the confidence, competitive drive and raw talent of the drivers that competed at this year’s combine, which made the selection process challenging for us. Our partners at Rev Racing work hard every year to develop the best diverse drivers around the world. To see familiar faces in this class that have grown and advanced through the youth ranks of the program bolsters our belief that we will see some of these same drivers at the top levels of NASCAR in the future.”
The six drivers were selected from a group of invitees that competed in the two-day NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Combine in October at Daytona International Speedway and New Smyrna Speedway.
The combine included fitness assessments and evaluations of each driver’s marketing and media skills. The on-track portion tested the drivers’ abilities behind the wheel and proficiencies in late model stock cars. Representatives from NASCAR and Rev Racing were on-hand to evaluate the talent and determine the 2020 team.
“We have seen great success this past year with our drivers having multiple wins in every series we participated in this season,” said Max Siegel, Owner of Rev Racing. “Our returning drivers have certainly set the bar high. We are all excited to welcome the new members of this year’s class to the Rev Racing family and continue the momentum moving into the 2020 season.”
Caruth, Patino, Robusto and Trotter will compete in a NASCAR Late Model, while Cabre and Sanchez will compete in the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Showdown Series in 2020.
RELATED: ARCA Menards Series East schedule set for 2020
Competing in a late model stock car will be a first for drivers like Caruth, whose background is in iRacing, and Robusto, who has experience racing Legends cars.
Caruth will become the first driver with an iRacing background to be selected for the program. He is a product of the eNASCAR IGNITE Series — a first-of-its kind esports competition created to identify young talent by providing a low barrier of entry to the sport.
NASCAR Drive for Diversity provides opportunities for women and minorities to pursue career opportunities in NASCAR in the driver’s seat and on pit crews through the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Development Program and off the track through the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program.
The 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development team includes:
The 2019 NASCAR season is officially in the books, and we’re clocking out early. Instead of us writing an article to sum up our thoughts on the year, it’s up to you, reader, to write your own end-of-the season recap while the rest of us get a head start on Googling the best way to make Thanksgiving dinner. Simply fill in the blanks and you’re on your way.
It’s hard to believe the 2019 NASCAR season is already in the books! Time has surely flown by since
.
In the end, there was quite a Championship 4:
and
.
In the end, I feel so
Kyle Busch won it all.
This season gave us some new faces in Victory Lane, like
.
I can’t wait for the next first-time winner, who will probably be
.
I think the best comeback of 2019 was
.
Seeing that really made me feel
.
Can you believe
?
Maybe next year
,
the
,
will do the same thing.
When the checkered flag flew in Miami, we said goodbye to
,
which made me feel
beyond words. It was a good run.
Hands down, the best finish of the year was
because it was so
.
To say the least,
to see that one unfold!
My championship pick for 2020 is
based on 2019’s performance, that was, to say the least,
.
What excites me most about 2020 is
.
That’ll make me happier than
.
(Note: Today is the second installment of a four-part series on the four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s Ninth Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Today, Angela Hamby of Locust, North Carolina is featured.)
Twelve years into her role as head nurse at Camp Horizon and Angela Hamby is looking ahead, to a future of further volunteerism on the behalf of young people with Down syndrome.
Did Camp Horizon, part of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte (DSAGC) organization, find Hamby? Or was it the other way around? It’s a moot point, now, because Hamby’s bond with the association – and the mission to enhance the quality of life for all people with Down syndrome – has become permanent.
When Hamby first experienced Camp Horizon, her working knowledge of Down syndrome children was minimal. Immediately, though, she felt like she had found something special.
VIDEO: Meet Angela Hamby
“It only took me about five minutes; the children are so inspiring,” Hamby said. “My time working with the DSAGC and kids at camp has genuinely made me a better person and nurse. … When you see the excitement on the sweet little faces, when they arrive at camp, your heart just swells.”
Hamby, from Locust, North Carolina, is one of four 2019 finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s Ninth Annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman, honors NASCAR fans who are accomplished volunteers working for children’s causes in their communities throughout the United States.
The winner of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award will be determined via an online fan vote that is ongoing through Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. ET at NASCARfoundation.org/Award. The winner will be announced Dec. 5 during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. The NASCAR Foundation will donate $100,000 to the charity represented by the award winner, with $25,000 donations awarded to the other finalists.
Hamby, like all of this year’s award finalists, is a dedicated NASCAR fan. She has her father and uncles to thank, along with a 40-year family tradition of watching races together on weekends.
“NASCAR has always signified home, family and close friends to me,” Hamby said.
The DSAGC offers many programs for individuals with Down syndrome. Camp Horizon is one of those programs. The $100,000 award winner’s donation would help expand the association’s camp program to new areas in the Charlotte region.
“I have so many wonderful and amazing memories of camp,” said Hamby, who wants to add to those memories, as much as she possibly can. |
Other nominee profiles: Joe Vaughn | Todd Smith | Bob Behounek
The winding down of the racing calendar also means recognizing memorable performances and the crowning of champions. Here’s a season in review and lookaheads for multiple NASCAR, ARCA and touring series, plus a taste of the titles handed out in eNASCAR.
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MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
2019 champion: Kyle Busch.
Season review: The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 driver emerged from a stout Championship 4 field to claim his second premier-series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch, who also captured the regular-season crown, prevailed five times including a title-clinching victory in the finale. The 34-year-old driver became just the second active driver with multiple championships, joining seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson in that category. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Tyler Reddick.
Season review: Reddick emerged from a heated battle with Cole Custer to net his second consecutive series title, becoming the first driver since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2011-12) to do so. The distinction for Reddick is accomplishing the double with two different teams, first with JR Motorsports and next with Richard Childress Racing. He’ll join the Cup Series with RCR in 2020, fresh from a successful six-win season in the Xfinity Series. (Recap)
***
2019 champion: Matt Crafton.
Season review: The 43-year-old veteran driver accepted the underdog’s role and ran with it, outrunning the competition at Homestead-Miami Speedway to grab his third Gander Trucks championship. Crafton now sits only one title behind series great and NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr., who joined Crafton on the championship stage. Crafton’s other titles came consecutively in 2013-14, and all have come during his long tenure with ThorSport Racing. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Sam Mayer.
Season review: Mayer won four of the K&N East Series’ 12 races in 2019, cruising in the season finale at Dover International Speedway to best Chase Cabre by 39 points in the final standings. In taking his first title, Mayer became NASCAR’s youngest champion at 16 years, 3 months and 8 days. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Derek Kraus
Season review: Kraus notched five victories and led all major statistical categories to secure his first NASCAR K&N West crown by a 49-point margin over Rookie of the Year Jagger Jones. The 18-year-old Wisconsin native, who also made four Gander Trucks starts in 2019, has 10 K&N West wins overall and has finished in the top five in points the last three years. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Andrew Ranger
Season review: Ranger won four times and held off Kevin Lacroix by just 11 points to secure the championship in the Canada-based circuit. Ranger finished among the top 10 in all 13 races, capping his third Pinty’s Series title and his first in 10 years. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Doug Coby
Season review: Coby won four times in 2019 and won his sixth modified championship in the past eight seasons, finishing above Justin Bonsignore by eight points. Justin Bonsignore won the series finale at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park (Connecticut) to give himself a chance, but Coby’s seventh-place run allowed him to clinch the crown. Coby now only trails Mike Stefanik (seven) for the most Whelen Modified Tour titles in the modern era. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Christian Eckes
Season review: Eckes drove from the rear of the field in the finale at Kansas Speedway, winning the race and clinching the title in the process. It was the first series championship for the 18-year-old, who had to rally from missing a race earlier in the season due to an illness to make up lost points. He finished the year with four wins, 13 top fives and 17 top 10s in 19 starts. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Loris Hezemans
Season review: Hezemans won four times late in the season to put the Elite 1 Division title race out of reach. The 22-year-old Dutch driver, who made his Xfinity Series debut at Road America in 2019, secured his first Euro Series championship by 49 points over Belgian ace Longin Stienes. (Recap)
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2019 champion: Ruben Garcia Jr.
Season review: Ruben Garcia Jr. wrapped up his second consecutive championship, his third in four years, in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series for the Canel’s Racing team. Garcia — a member of the NASCAR Next youth initiative in 2014 and 2015, kicked off his title-winning season with a victory in Monterrey, then clinched the series crown with a sixth-place finish in the season finale at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez behind race winner Salvador De Alba Jr. (Recap)
***
2019 champion: Jacob Goede
Season review: Goede locked up his sixth straight championship at home track Elko Speedway in his native Minnesota, but his performance was enough to snare an even larger prize — the Whelen All-American Series Division I national title. Goede won 10 times at Elko and also prevailed at two tracks in neighboring Wisconsin to claim his first national crown. (Recap)
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eNASCAR PEAK ANTIFREEZE iRACING SERIES
2019 champion: Zack Novak
Season review: Novak won his first PEAK iRacing Series championship in spectacular fashion, passing Keegan Leahy with seven laps to go at virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway, then holding off the more experienced Leahy over a frenetic final laps to earn the win. Novak, 17, won the inaugural eNASCAR IGNITE Series championship (a series for drivers aged 13-16) in 2018. He was drafted by Roush Fenway Racing prior to this season, and rewarded them by advancing to the Championship 4 and winning the title. Novak won a series-high four races in the 18-event schedule. (Recap)
***
2019 champion: Stewart-Haas Gaming
Season review: Stewart-Haas Gaming took the inaugural eNASCAR Heat Pro League championship by besting Leavine Family Racing on a tiebreaker of laps led. Brandyn Gritton (SHG_HotRod_14p, Stewart-Haas Gaming) dominated the PlayStation 4 race, leading 58 of the 70 laps. In the Xbox event, Josh Shoemaker (SHG Slick 14x, Stewart-Haas Gaming) was second. Leavine Family Racing’s duo of Josh Harbin (ThAbEaR_95, Leavine Family Gaming) took second in the PS4 race, while a last-lap lead change saw Nick Vroman (HDM Motorsports95, Leavine Family Gaming) take the checkered flag in Xbox race. (Recap)
NASCAR will formally honor its newest NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champions Friday at the year-end banquet at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Richard Childress Racing driver Tyler Reddick, 23, earned his second consecutive Xfinity Series title Saturday evening in the Homestead-Miami Speedway season finale after a thrilling battle for the lead between him and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Cole Custer. With the victory, Reddick becomes the first driver to win consecutive Xfinity Series championships since Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2011-12, and the Californian is the first to do so with different teams (last year he drove for JR Motorsports).
ThorSport Racing driver Matt Crafton, 43, won his third career Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Austin Hill, who had been eliminated from title contention, won the race, and Crafton finished second – best among the four drivers vying for the title. It follows historic back-to-back title runs in 2013-14, making the Californian one of only three drivers in series history to earn three championships.
RELATED: Champs celebrate at Homestead
Reddick will take a pre-celebration trip to Florida’s Universal Studios on Wednesday, joking he may have to find someone to ride the roller coasters with him because his longtime girlfriend, Alexa De Leon, is about to deliver the couple’s first child. Reddick announced the baby boy’s name will be “Beau.” The couple decided if he won the title, he would get to pick the name.
Reddick and two of his championship challengers – Custer and Christopher Bell – will be moving up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2020.
Crafton heads into the banquet on the cusp on some significant historical possibility. Crafton’s efforts tie him with Jack Sprague (1997, 1999 and 2001) for second place on the list of championships. Only NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday has won more titles (1996, 1998, 2007 and 2009).
The Sunoco Rookie of the Year Awards will also be formally celebrated. Stewart-Haas Racing driver Chase Briscoe, 24, took home the rookie honors in the Xfinity Series, earning his second career win at Iowa Speedway this season. The Indiana native finished with 26 top-10 finishes in the 33 races and fifth in the championship – best among those who didn’t qualify for the Championship 4.
Tyler Ankrum won top rookie honors in the Gander Trucks. Even after missing the first three races of the season because he had not turned 18 yet, Ankrum rallied to earn a playoff position. The California native won his first career series race in the DGR-Crosley Toyota at Kentucky Speedway in the summer to earn a championship opportunity. He ultimately finished eighth in the standings.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards Banquet will make its Nashville debut Dec. 5, when Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch will be feted for his second Cup Series championship.
NASCAR issued an array of penalties for lug-nut infractions Tuesday after the season-ending race weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
RELATED: 2020 NASCAR schedules
In the Monster Energy Series, officials penalized the Leavine Family Racing No. 95 Toyota team for one lug nut not securely fastened in a post-race check. Crew chief Michael Wheeler was fined $10,000. Matt DiBenedetto drove the car to a 20th-place finish Sunday in the Ford EcoBoost 400.
The Stewart-Haas Racing No. 00 Ford of championship contender Cole Custer was also found with one lug nut not safe and secure after Saturday’s Xfinity Series finale. Crew chief Mike Shiplett was fined $5,000.
In the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, the On Point Motorsports No. 30 Toyota of Danny Bohn was found with two lug nuts not safely secured after Friday’s season-ending race. Crew chief Steven Lane was fined $5,000 and suspended for the next points-paying race in the series.
Also in the Gander Trucks ranks, the Halmar-Friesen No. 52 Chevrolet of title contender Stewart Friesen was found with just one lug nut missing or not properly fastened. That infraction resulted in a $2,500 fine for crew chief Trip Bruce III.
