Posted on by Track Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Three-time Grammy Award winner Darius Rucker will perform the DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show before the 62nd running of “The Great American Race” at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 16, the season-opening race for the NASCAR Cup Series (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Rucker, who first achieved multi-Platinum status as lead singer of the iconic pop-rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, has also earned chart-topping success as a solo artist. He has released five critically acclaimed country albums and notched nine No. 1 singles at country radio, also earning an induction into the famed Grand Ole Opry in 2012. Hootie & the Blowfish returned to the road in 2019 for their sold-out Group Therapy Tour and released Imperfect Circle, their first new album in nearly 15 years, last month.

RELATED: Buy tickets to the 2020 Daytona 500

“Darius Rucker’s appeal is massive, encompassing fans of both rock and country music, making him a perfect fit for fans attending ‘The Great American Race,’” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. “A talent like this is rare. Darius is a true American success story and we are proud to welcome him back once again.”

Fans who purchase UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race Access for the DAYTONA 500 will be able to view Rucker’s DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show — as well as driver introductions — from the grass tri-oval area. A limited number of DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show ticket packages, available starting at $213, have been designed around Rucker’s appearance. The package includes a DAYTONA 500 ticket, UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race Access and VIP area access to the performance. Race fans who have already purchased DAYTONA 500 tickets can add UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race Access and VIP area access for $114. All VIP ticket packages are on sale now at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/dariusrucker.

The 62nd annual DAYTONA 500 will be Rucker’s fourth appearance at Daytona International Speedway — and his third appearance as a solo artist. In 2002 and 2010, Rucker delivered solo performances before the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and in 2003, Hootie & The Blowfish took part in the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Concert.

Tickets for the 2020 DAYTONA 500 and all Daytona International Speedway events can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest speedway news.

Posted on by Staff Report

Days before being feted as the 2019 Monster Energy Series champion, Kyle Busch won a title of another kind Monday night.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, in Nashville for Champion’s Week, took in the sights and sounds of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” wrestling show and earned another title in the process.

Yes, Busch — with a helping hand (three times) from Michael Waltrip — won a WWE championship belt, the company’s “24/7” championship.

Busch and Waltrip had been shown earlier in the program as celebrity guests in the crowd, then later got involved in the action. Wrestler R-Truth, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was the 24/7 champion, approached Busch and Waltrip and brought them onto the floor outside the ring.

Waltrip slowly unzipped his pullover to reveal a referee shirt, allowing Busch to sneak behind R-Truth and pin him for the title with Waltrip making the three-count.

RELATED: Champion’s Week schedule

The 24/7 championship is the WWE title that can be defended 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any time, any place.

So, Busch is champion … for now.

Champion’s Week formally kicks off Tuesday in Music City, so “Rowdy” will have to be on high alert.

Editor’s note: According to the WWE Instagram account, Busch lost the championship back to R-Truth later Monday night following an R-Truth surprise pin in the dressing room area.

Posted on by Staff Report

Brad Keselowski and wife Paige have welcomed their second bundle of joy into the world, sharing a photo of their newborn daughter, Autumn, on Monday afternoon.

The couple’s first child, 4-year-old daughter Scarlett, is also seen taking in a special moment with her new baby sister.

Congratulations to the Keselowski family on their newest addition.

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR.com will live stream two events from Champion’s Week in Nashville, Tennessee, the first time the NASCAR Awards will be held in the country music capital. Be sure to bookmark this page and come back for an exciting glimpse into the gala as the sport gathers to celebrate NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch.

RELATED: Full Champion’s Week schedule | TV schedule

On Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. ET, join us for Burnouts on Broadway as playoff drivers take over the Music City’s main drag. Tune in to see who gives the best burnout in front of the crowd, or just come for the crowd — the people watching is bound to be good, as those who’ve been to Nashville know.

Then, on Thursday from 5:30-6:45 p.m. ET, NASCAR.com’s Jonathan Merryman and Alex Weaver will report live from the red carpet as NASCAR’s brightest stars file in for the NASCAR Awards Show later that evening (8 p.m. ET on NBCSN). See all the suits and fancy dresses as NASCAR’s best get ready to celebrate the 2019 season in style. You won’t want to miss it.

Posted on by Team Release

HARRISBURG, N.C. (December 2, 2019) – JTG Daugherty Racing announced today the official driver, car number and crew chief lineup for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will take over the No. 47 Chevrolet, adding crew chief Brian Pattie to the organization. Ryan Preece will be at the helm of the No. 37 Chevrolet with crew chief Trent Owens.

Pattie joins JTG Daugherty Racing from Roush Fenway Racing where he was the crew chief with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. the past three seasons. A crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series for 16 years, he has six wins with three drivers, two of which were with Stenhouse Jr.

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming Brian Pattie to JTG Daugherty Racing,” team owner Tad Geschickter said. “With Brian’s veteran experience and knowledge at NASCAR’s premier level, we know he is going to be a great asset to the organization and work well with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.”

RELATED: Key drivers in Silly Season

“I’m very grateful to have Brian join me at JTG Daugherty Racing next season,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “Working together the past several seasons, our relationship away from the track has really developed and I know that will speed up the process of getting familiar and plugged into the team as quick as possible. He knows what I’m looking for and I know what he expects from me. This team is a great fit for both of us, and we’re looking forward to contributing to the success JTG Daugherty Racing has been building.”

Owens enters his fourth year as the crew chief on the No. 37 car in 2020. He led the team to four top-10 finishes and 12 top-15 finishes in 2019, improving the team’s average finishing position from 21.0 to 17.8. Previously, he worked at Richard Petty Motorsports from 2014 through 2016, where he earned his first NASCAR Cup Series win with Aric Almirola at Daytona International Speedway in 2014.

“Trent is a veteran at our organization leading the charge on the No. 37 car for the past three seasons,” Geschickter said. “He elevated a young driver in his second year in the series to consistently running in the top 15, and we have high expectations that he will be a great fit with Ryan Preece next year in his sophomore season.”

MORE: Stenhouse Jr. joins team

“I’m really looking forward to working with Trent Owens this upcoming season,” Preece said. “Our teams worked closely together in 2019. It was impressive to see what he’s done with the No. 37 team the last three years. I really want to continue building on that and bringing both cars into the top 15 regularly next year.”

The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2:30 pm ET on FOX and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Posted on by NASCAR.com

Name: Brandon
Current City: Prestonsburg, KY
Member Since: 2017

Getting to KNOW Brandon:
​
Q. ​ How did you first become interested in NASCAR? 

“I first fell in love with NASCAR as a kid in the late 90s.  I don’t remember exactly where the first race was that I watched, but I remember seeing all these brightly colored cars roaring by with incredible engines and an overall sense of excitement from the crowd and the commentary. It only took that one day to make me addicted for life. That first sight of these beautiful stock cars racing side by side, the spectacle of the crashes, and the overall energy and excitement is something that once it gets in your system, you can’t get it out!”

Q: What is your favorite part about NASCAR?

“NASCAR racing offers a little bit of everything. You get action, drama, excitement, and even the occasional fight! Every week you don’t know what to expect, so you have to tune in or show up to see. Watching NASCAR on TV provides an enjoyable sport to take in, and it provides an opportunity for the family to gather around and watch together over the course of a weekend. Watching on TV, of course, is great, but actually going to the race track and seeing this LIVE is an experience like no other. The experience of walking around, catching a glimpse of your favorite car, or maybe even your favorite on-air personality or driver! Once you go to your first race, you are destined to be hooked. There’s just no other choice!”

Q: Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?

Driver: “Kyle Larson.”
Track: “Talladega.”
OEM: “Chevy.”

Q: What are some of your Raceday Traditions? 

“Pick up a pizza on my way home from church, get the TV tuned in to the right channel, use my NASCAR Mobile App to listen to pre-race radio chatter, and get hyped up for the excitement that is about to take place!”

Q: What are some of your Hobbies? 

“Play classic and current NASCAR video games, watch old NASCAR clips on YouTube, and play guitar.”

FROM ALL OF US AT NASCAR, WE THANK BRANDON FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM HIM IN 2020! Look for Brandon on the Official NASCAR Fan Council page on NASCAR.COM.

Posted on by Track Release

After more than four decades of service to the NASCAR industry, including the last 27 years at Atlanta Motor Speedway, facility President Ed Clark will retire following the 2020 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Speedway Motorsports officials announced Monday.

Clark joined Speedway Motorsports in 1981 as a member of the public relations department at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was quickly promoted to Director of Public Relations, and in 1987 was named the Vice President of Events at America’s Home for Racing. In 1992, Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman Bruton Smith tapped Clark to be the General Manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway. He added the title of AMS President in 1995. Clark, 64, is the second-longest tenured employee at Speedway Motorsports, trailing only Smith, the company founder.

RELATED: 2020 NASCAR schedule

“Ed has been a pillar in the motorsports industry for more than 40 years, and the full effect of his work at Atlanta Motor Speedway is impossible to measure,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “His tireless leadership and focus on creating unmatched fan experiences at each of his events sets him apart from his peers and has a direct impact on the success of Atlanta Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports.”

During his early career at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Clark was a member of the leadership team that created the first NASCAR All-Star Race and NASCAR Media Tour. At Atlanta Motor Speedway, Clark supervised the expansive growth and modernization of the facility with the addition of luxury suites, condominiums and Club One hospitality, as well as a rebuild of the complex after much of it was destroyed by a tornado in 2005.

Most recently, Clark has spearheaded efforts to add more major events like the Imagine Music Festival, Georgia State Fair and U.S. Legend Car racing to the speedway’s annual calendar, increasing Atlanta Motor Speedway’s track rental business, brand awareness and regional economic impact.

“Growing up on a tobacco farm in Virginia, I never dreamed as a boy that I’d have the opportunity to work in this sport for 44 seasons,” said Clark. “I have been privileged to work with and for many amazing people and I will be forever grateful for how they allowed me to follow and live my dream. It’s been a true blessing and a wonderful journey.”

“We are beyond grateful for Ed’s service to our company and to the entire NASCAR community,” added Marcus Smith. “We’re also blessed that Ed will continue to lead Atlanta Motor Speedway through the March 15 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, so that the fans, drivers and sponsors can join us to say ‘thank you’ to a man whose countless contributions and dedication to our sport will be remembered for years to come.”

In addition to his work at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Clark serves on the board of directors of Speedway Children’s Charities and the Flint River Scout Council.

Outside of racing, Clark’s interests include fishing and horticulture. He and his wife, Teresa, reside in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Posted on by Staff Report

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

Note: All times are ET.

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

Monday, December 2
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Fans Choice Awards, FS1/FOX Sports App

Tuesday, December 3
1 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Fans Choice Awards (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Live 

Wednesday, December 4
6 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 1988 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
11:30 p.m., NASCAR Burnout on Broadway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Thursday, December 5
6 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 1998 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
7 p.m., NASCAR Burnout on Broadway (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
8 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Award Show, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
10:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Award Show (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App 

On MRN
7 p.m., NASCAR Awards Banquet

Posted on by Staff Report

The Hemric family had an extra reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving as both Daniel and wife Kenzie took to social media to reveal that the couple are expecting their first baby in May of 2020.

The 2019 Sunoco Rookie of the Year drove for Richard Childress Racing this past season in the Cup Series. In 2020, he will run 21 races in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports.

RELATED: Hemric wins Sunoco Rookie honors | Hemric set to drive for JRM

Posted on by Zack Albert

NASCAR competition officials issued significant penalties Wednesday to Premium Motorsports, Rick Ware Racing and Spire Motorsports for manipulating the results of the season-ending Monster Energy Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

MORE: 2020 NASCAR schedule

Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, said that four teams were docked 50 points from the 2019 team owner standings for their role in altering the finishing order of the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Nov. 17. Suspensions and fines were also included in the punishment.

“Following a thorough review of race data and driver/team communication from the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, as well as interviews with several competitors, NASCAR has determined that the Nos. 15, 27, 52 and 77 teams have violated Sections 12.8.g and 12.8.1 of the NASCAR rule book, which addresses manipulating the outcome of a race,” Miller said in a statement. “As a result, those teams in violation of the rule book have been penalized as listed in the penalty report.”

The report lists indefinite suspensions for Scott Eggleston, competition director for Premium Motorsports, and Kenneth Evans, who holds the same role with Rick Ware Racing. Both were fined $25,000.

Team owners Rick Ware, Jay Robinson of Premium, and T.J. Puchyr of Spire were all fined $50,000. All four teams had 50 points deducted from their totals in the final team owner standings.

RELATED: Updated 2019 standings

Premium Motorsports had been aiming to finish in the top spot among Open, non-chartered teams in the final team owner standings. The Premium No. 15 of Joe Nemechek, the Spire No. 77 of Reed Sorenson and the Rick Ware Racing No. 52 of Josh Bilicki all retired with mechanical troubles within a 15-lap span near the end of the race, securing a one-point margin in the standings for the Premium No. 27 driven to a 35th-place finish by Ross Chastain in the season finale.

The penalty elevates the No. 96 of Gaunt Brothers Racing to the top ranking among Open teams for the 2019 season.

Spire Motorsports co-owners Puchyr and Jeff Dickerson indicated in a statement later Wednesday the organization would not appeal the penalties.

“Following the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway, NASCAR assessed a penalty against Spire Motorsports for the actions of an individual who made a judgment call on behalf of our team,” the Spire statement read. “While the ultimate outcome of that decision can be interpreted from different perspectives, we regret any appearance of operating outside the spirit of the rule book. We accept the penalty and will not appeal. We’re proud of all we accomplished with this team in our first season and look forward to getting back to the business of racing at Daytona in February.”

The most recent high-profile instance of race manipulation came in September 2013, when NASCAR officials ruled that Michael Waltrip Racing had tampered with the results of the regular-season finale at Richmond Raceway. Waltrip’s organization was fined $300,000 and Martin Truex Jr., then its top driver, was removed from the playoff picture.