Posted on by Pat DeCola

Editor’s note: NASCAR.com continues its countdown of team previews for the Monster Energy Series season, ranked in order of best finish in last year’s owner standings. Today’s feature: Joe Gibbs Racing and drivers Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin Erik Jones and Martin Truex Jr.

Joe Gibbs Racing

Manufacturer: Toyota

Engine: Toyota Racing Development

Drivers: Kyle Busch, No. 18; Denny Hamlin, No. 11; Martin Truex Jr., No. 19; Erik Jones, No. 20

Crew chiefs: No. 11: Chris Gabehart; No. 18: Adam Stevens; No. 19 Cole Pearn; No. 20. Chris Gayle

2018 standings: Martin Truex Jr. nearly won his second straight championship, finishing second in the No. 78 Toyota for now-defunct Furniture Row Racing. Kyle Busch was close behind as a fellow Championship 4 contender, wrapping up the season fourth in the No. 18. Denny Hamlin placed 11th in the No. 11, with Erik Jones finishing 15th after a NASCAR Playoffs berth. Daniel Suarez piloted the No. 19 that Truex will inherit, falling shy of playoff contention in 21st.

What’s new: Joe Gibbs Racing landed arguably the best free agent on the market in years in Martin Truex Jr., forming a formidable twosome at the top of the roster in he and Kyle Busch. The pair combined for 12 race wins in 2018 alone, and mark two of the past four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champions. Denny Hamlin will also work with a new crew chief in Chris Gabehart after his former pit boss and friend Mike Wheeler departed to work with Matt DiBenedetto at Leavine Family Racing. Speaking of LFR — it is now the beneficiary of the technical alliance with JGR previously held by Furniture Row Racing. That partnership resulted in the 2017 title for FRR, but time will tell how it will fare for the current alliance.

Outlook: JGR enters the 2019 Monster Energy Series season as one of three clear favorites to start the year along with Stewart-Haas Racing and defending champion Team Penske. Until we see what kind of speed each of these outlets brings to the track the first few weeks of the season it’ll be a tossup, but there’s an extremely likely chance the long-standing organization could place two drivers in the Championship 4.

DRIVER

Kyle Busch, No. 18 M&Ms Toyota: I’m expecting Busch to come out of the gates like a man on a mission in 2019. He’s raced for the title in each of the past four seasons, winning just one of them (2015). If you know anything about “Rowdy,” you know that’s not enough to satisfy the ultra-driven driver.Kyle

Busch is in the absolute prime of his career and only appears to be getting better. Since his 2015 title, he’s picked up 17 wins and clocked in a career-best average finish of 8.3 last year — more than two full spots better than his previous low of 10.8 in his title season.

With another close-but-no-cigar at Miami motivating him, a new championship-caliber teammate in Truex to push him to new heights and another year of working with mad genius Adam Stevens, there’s little reason to think Busch won’t make another Championship 4 appearance. A second Cup title wouldn’t be a surprise at all, either.

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 FedEx Toyota: Hamlin started the 2018 season off well with a pair of top fours and was firmly inside the top 10 in points the entire regular season … but a lackluster NASCAR Playoffs sunk his season and he never found the top 10 in points from post-Indy on. It was just the first time he had done that in a full 36-race season since 2007.

DennyCombine that with the fact that he had his first-career winless full-time season and least top 10s since 2013 and there might be some cause for concern.

The 31-time Monster Energy Series winner certainly wants to shed his “arguably best driver to never win a title” moniker by, you know, winning a title, but it’s hard to see that happening coming off the season he had last year. It’s definitely not impossible, though, as he’s still in the right place to do it (JGR) and you never know what magic could spark when there’s a new crew chief/driver pairing.

Hamlin has a great shot to get back to Victory Lane, but has some work to do to make it to the Championship 4 in Miami once again, as he did in 2014.

Erik Jones, No. 20 GameStop Toyota: Jones took a solid step forward in his sophomore campaign — and first at the Cup level with Joe Gibbs Racing — winning his first race and improving on his top fives, top 10s, average start and average finish. He tossed in a playoff berth to boot. Erik

Jones should only continue that trend in 2019, with multiple wins and a deeper postseason run on the table. He seemed to really take to intermediate track racing last year, being a constant presence in the top 10 at nearly all of the races. If he turns some of those top 10s into top fives and top fives into wins, Jones could be looking at a true breakout campaign a la 2017 Kyle Larson.

There’s always a chance of regression, of course, but at 22 years old in some of the best equipment the series has to offer, the sky’s the limit for Jones in 2019.

Martin Truex Jr, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota: And then there’s this guy.

MartinThe question isn’t if Truex Jr. will win in 2019 and be successful in his first year at JGR, it’s how many wins will he have and will it be in double figures?

I’ll give it about a one percent chance that Truex goes through an adjustment period with his new team and starts the season a bit slow. It’s way, way more likely that he and crew chief Cole Pearn, who also made the leap from Furniture Row Racing, will hit the ground running now that they’ll be working out of the JGR shop and not from a satellite location half the country away with shared data.

Truex is as good of a preseason pick for 2019 champion as it gets, and I anticipate he’ll be leading the field for a good chunk of the season.

TEAM PREVIEWS
• Jan. 22: Assorted teams
• Jan. 23: Richard Petty Motorsports
• Jan. 24: Germain Racing
• Jan. 25: Leavine Family Racing
• Jan 28: Front Row Motorsports
• Jan. 29: JTG Daugherty Racing
• Jan. 30: Wood Brothers Racing
• Jan. 31: Roush Fenway Racing
• Feb. 1: Richard Childress Racing
• Feb. 4: Chip Ganasssi Racing
• Feb. 5: Hendrick Motorsports
• Feb. 6: Joe Gibbs Racing
• Feb. 7: Stewart-Haas Racing
• Feb. 8: Team Penske

Posted on by FOX Release

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Just hours after NASCAR RACE HUB debuted FOX NASCAR’s brand-new, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose virtual studio in Charlotte (Monday-Thursday at 6:00 PM ET on FS1), FOX Sports finalizes the lineup for its shows emanating from the innovative set with two new faces.

The latest additions to the FOX NASCAR roster are veteran TV hosts Lindsay Czarniak and Sara Walsh, who come aboard as studio hosts for NASCAR RACE HUB: WEEKEND EDITION and Thursday NASCAR RACE HUB shows. Czarniak and Walsh, who split weekend hosting duties for FOX NASCAR, have forged similar career paths on their journey to FOX Sports.

Czarniak’s on-air resume includes anchoring “NASCAR Now,” “SportsCenter” and a myriad of other roles while at ESPN. She also served as a pit reporter for NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage, in addition to her roles as a prerace host and pit reporter for Turner Sports’ NASCAR coverage.

Walsh, a four-time Emmy winner, joined the FOX Sports family for the 2018 NFL season, reporting from the sidelines for several games. She previously spent seven years as a “SportsCenter” anchor, in addition to her time hosting a variety of other sports programs.

RELATED: FOX NASCAR reveals on-air for Daytona and beyond

PRE-RACE BROADCASTERS:
Multi-sport broadcaster Shannon Spake continues to expand her on-air resume by hosting FOX NASCAR’s coverage of all Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series races. She also anchors NASCAR RACEDAY, FOX Sports’ prerace show for the Cup Series, and NASCAR RACEDAY-Xfinity, its prerace show for the Xfinity Series.

Joining Spake in the Charlotte virtual studio for the aforementioned programming are FOX NASCAR analysts Larry McReynolds, Jamie McMurray, Ricky Craven, Bobby Labonte, and on occasion, Michael Waltrip and Regan Smith. The group’s insight is integrated into FOX Sports’ live-race coverage from the track, with the on-site FOX NASCAR broadcast booth regularly tossing to McReynolds for in-race, instant 3D analysis of action and storylines unfolding during an event.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn Vincie steps up with a move from pit road to the prerace anchor chair, hosting NASCAR RACEDAY-NGOTS prior to each NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race, alongside Jeff Hammond and two-time series champion Todd Bodine.

NASCAR RACE HUB
Spake pairs with longtime FOX Sports co-host Adam Alexander to anchor the 11th season of NASCAR RACE HUB (Monday-Thursdays at 6:00 PM ET on FS1), the sport’s most-watched daily show. The 2019 season debut airs Monday, Feb. 4, at 6:00 PM ET on FS1. Offering analysis on the hour-long program are McMurray, McReynolds, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Smith and Labonte.

NASCAR RACE HUB features a rotating cast of active drivers and crew chiefs that includes: 2018 NASCAR champion Joey Logano; 2014 champion Kevin Harvick; 2012 champion Brad Keselowski; seven-time champion crew chief Chad Knaus; Austin Dillon; Drew Blickensderfer; David Ragan; and Blake Koch. Craven and championship-winning crew chief Cole Pearn join the Hub stable this season.

Longtime Hub reporters Alan Cavanna and Vincie return with daily reports from NASCAR race shops. NASCAR RACE HUB debuted on FOX Sports’ SPEED in October 2009 and celebrated its 1,500th episode last May. Additionally, veteran motor sports journalist Bob Pockrassjoins FOX NASCAR in 2019 as an insider.

NASCAR RACE HUB WEEKEND EDITION, hosted by Czarniak and Walsh, continues as a Friday and Saturday fixture on FS1, delivering at-track updates and news as it breaks throughout the course of the race weekend.

Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – This Sunday afternoon’s Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway (3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) features a group of 20 drivers with vastly different experience levels in the 75-lap exhibition event – but all highly motivated to make this first race of Daytona Speedweeks a statement-maker leading into the Feb. 17 season-opening Daytona 500.

There are only two multi-time Clash winners in the field – three-time champs Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick. Only seven of the 20 have ever won the race before. Former Cup champion Brad Keselowski earned his first Clash win last year leading his Team Penske teammate – and the reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion — Joey Logano across the line in the thrilling traditional first taste of Cup racing action.

CLASH: Full entry list | FAQs

Hamlin is unique in that he took to this race quickly. And often. He remains the only driver to ever win the Clash (2006) as a rookie. He answered with victories in 2014 and 2016 and his 142 laps led total is most among anyone competing this weekend – proving Hamlin both a quick learner and a perennial favorite when it comes to this sprint race.

He’s certainly never been more motivated than this weekend.

Hamlin shows up in Daytona Beach paired with a new crew chief in Chris Gabehart and a new car chief in Eric Phillips – both moving up in-house from the Joe Gibbs Racing team’s Xfinity Series level.

As for Hamlin, he is eager to quickly regain his footing as a perennial Cup winner. He did not win in 2018 – the first season in his 13-year full-time career without a victory.

A win in the Clash is a solid season start for any driver. For Hamlin and his team, it’s a specific goal that may well supply the championship boost this longtime title contender is seeking to reclaim.

“Certainly it’s not up to the expectations of what I believe we’re capable of, but sometimes in sports you just have those seasons where things don’t go right or you just don’t get the job done at the level you expect to and you’ve got to reset and refocus from that,” Hamlin said of last year’s struggles.

The Clash provides a high-energy opportunity to do just that. And Hamlin – the 2016 Daytona 500 winner — certainly will be considered a favorite in any event at Daytona International Speedway during the next two weeks.

Its field is comprised of drivers who won a Busch Pole Award in 2018, are former Clash winners who also competed full time last season, former Daytona 500 winners who competed full time last season and all the drivers who qualified for the 2018 Monster Energy Series Playoffs.

It has certainly created a diversely experienced field  – with 10 drivers in Sunday afternoon’s race having five or fewer starts in the event. Four drivers – Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez – will be making only their second appearance in the race.

It was a good debut for Blaney last year, running competitively with his 1-2 finishing Team Penske teammates for much of the event and ultimately finishing fourth – best among the 2018 first-time “Clashers.” Jones was eighth. Bowman made his only start in 2017 finishing third and Suarez returns to the Clash field after an eighth-place finish in 2017.

Bowman’s third place effort in his only start technically gives him the best average finish in the field this weekend, but the defending winner Keselowski’s 7.8 average is best among those with at least five starts.

MORE: All-time Clash winners | Full Speedweeks schedule

Joining Hamlin, Harvick, Blaney, Keselowski, Logano, Jones and Suarez this weekend will be Aric Almirola, who is coming off a career-best fifth place in the 2018 championship standings. Clint Bowyer, a two-race winner in 2018, Kurt Busch and his younger brother, last year’s eight-time race winner Kyle Busch ,will also be on the grid. Defending Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon, the sport’s Most Popular Driver Chase Elliott — who picked up his first three career Cup wins last year — seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman, and 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. fill out the starting lineup.

Interestingly, the Clash winner has gone on to win the Daytona 500 the following week only six times. Hamlin was the last to do it in 2016 and is the only active driver with that distinction.

The competition, however, lies in wait. Just returning to the track is a big deal for most of the field – many who did not have the chance to test during the recent offseason.

“For me, I haven’t been back in the car since Homestead,” said Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, whose best showing in two previous Clash races is seventh (2017).

“It will be nice to get in a race and make sure everything looks right and feels right and those cars are really similar to one another usually from the Clash to the 500. So yeah, I’m sure there’s things to learn.

“Obviously the distance is much shorter in the Clash but car-wise it will be a good start, good look at things.”

With so many different variables coming into the 2019 season, Hamlin is optimistic his enviable track record at Daytona can provide exactly the kind of positive launching point for the season as a whole.

“I think this year with there being so many different changes within the cars themselves, it’s going to be pretty much a reset for everyone,” Hamlin said. “That allows us to get back to square one. I’m working with a new crew chief who’s coming from the Xfinity side, so he’s got more of a clean slate to kind of work from now.

“He doesn’t have to look at too many old notes because of the drastic change in the cars, so it allows us all to just come in here like a new race team, like a lot of our teams will be this year, to come in there refocused and get ready to hopefully win the first race of the season.”

Posted on by Team Release

Bob Germain, team owner of Germain Racing, has announced that he will field a second car in the 2019 Daytona 500 alongside his No. 13 GEICO Camaro ZL1. Veteran NASCAR driver Casey Mears is set to drive the No. 27 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, built and staffed in collaboration with Jay Robinson, owner of Premium Motorsports. Pat Tryson will lead the team as crew chief.

This season will mark Germain Racing’s 11th year of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing.

“I have considered running a second car in the Daytona 500 for years,” said Germain. “My immediate focus is still on our No. 13 team and the full season that Ty Dillon will run. However, when the chance to field a second car with Casey Mears came together this year with Jay Robinson building the car and providing the at-track crew, I wanted to jump on it. The Daytona 500 is a race that our team, sponsors and fans are all passionate about, and I am too. In a race where anything can happen, having a second entry is an exciting opportunity. Casey has been a part of our Germain Racing family for years, and I’m grateful that he’s willing to get behind the wheel for me again in this one race.”

Posted on by Steve Luvender

eNASCAR.com Launches

Last week, eNASCAR.com launched as a destination for all things eSports in NASCAR, from news and information on NASCAR’s three official eSports series to streaming video broadcasts of eSports events. Give it a bookmark if you’re a fan of eSports or you want to get involved.

Check out eNASCAR.com


Real Drivers’ iRacing Ratings

Plenty of pro drivers partake in virtual racing for fun. We explored and ranked some notable racers by their iRating, iRacing’s ranking system.

NASCAR Drivers and their iRacing Rankings

Yes, please.

 

PEAK iRacing Series Draft Results

The eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series held its first-ever draft between 24 pro iRacers and 12 teams — some real-world NASCAR teams, including Wood Brothers Racing, JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. In addition to joining these organizations, each drafted driver earned an additional $500 bonus on top of the $100,000 of prizes that will be awarded throughout the 2019 season.

Full PEAK iRacing Series Draft Results

 

Drivers, Teams React to PEAK iRacing Series Draft

Both teams and drivers expressed their excitement over the results of the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series draft.

 

eNASCAR Heat Pro League Showcase Races

With the 100 finalists named, it’s time for NASCAR Heat 3 racers to show their stuff. The next leg of the eNASCAR Heat Pro League process is the Showcase Race series — a platform for racers to prove they’ve got the on-track savvy to back up their numbers.

The first Showcase race takes place Thursday at the virtual Daytona International Speedway.

https://twitter.com/ChrisMorseJr1/status/1092547691375140865

 

iRacing Paint Schemes of the Week

With the Daytona 500 right around the corner, Mike Holloway painted a modern version of Derrike Cope’s 1990 Great American Race-winning paint scheme for the modern-day Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Iracing Cope Camaro

Oh, and Mike Wood created the same paint scheme for iRacing’s Super Late Model for those who’d like to rock that 1990 style on short tracks — mustache not included.

Iracing Cope Slm


iRacing Video of the Week

You never know what’s going to happen at Daytona when the Big One strikes. Except, somehow, the driver whose sixth sense helped safely weave through this major incident.

 

NASCAR Heat 3 Video of the Week

Ninth to first? Now this is a serious start.

Posted on by Staff Report

Matt DiBenedetto likes his chances of winning the Daytona 500 (Feb. 17, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), but the Las Vegas betting odds for him aren’t so confident.

The new driver of the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota took to Twitter to voice his opinion on his 200/1 odds of hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy in the 61st running of “The Great American Race” later this month.

RELATED: Drivers on the move for 2019 | Team preview: Leavine Family Racing

This season, DiBenedetto teams up with LFR and Toyota Racing Development, forming a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing after spending the past two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series seasons with a smaller Go Fas Racing team.

There are also some statistics to back up DiBenedetto’s claim. Last year in the Daytona 500, DiBenedetto was running in the top five with two laps remaining before a crash in front of him took him out of contention for victory and led to a NASCAR Overtime finish. In addition, the 27-year-old driver finished seventh in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona last July and ninth in the 2017 running of the 500.

With those numbers in mind, if you’re looking to open up your pocketbook to place some bets, DiBenedetto might be the move to potentially secure a decent showing at the pay window.

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILE, N.C. — Front Row Motorsports (FRM) today announced a new season-long partnership with SelectBlinds.com, the leading online retailer of custom window coverings, that will begin on NASCAR’s biggest stage, the Daytona 500.

SelectBlinds.com will be the primary sponsor of David Ragan and the No. 38 Ford Mustang beginning this weekend in Daytona Beach and will be Ragan’s primary sponsor during the “TicketGuardian 500” at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, the prestigious “Coca-Cola 600” at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the “South Point 400” at Las Vegas Motor Speedway later this year. The company will be an associate sponsor all season.

The partnership with SelectBlinds.com began after Rick Steele, co-founder and CMO, recently purchased a No. 38 Shriners Hospitals for Children Ford from Ragan and the team at the Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, to support the children’s hospital. Steele has since begun a relationship with Ragan, leading to the sponsorship that will introduce SelectBlinds.com to the millions of NASCAR fans.

SelectBlinds.com is the online home for all your window covering needs. The company offers child-safe cordless blinds to prevent injury along with a wide variety of blinds and shades for your home or business. Their online home makes it easy, affordable and secure for fans to purchase new window coverings. They are excited to enter the sport and introduce their products.

David Ragan paint scheme

“You really can’t find more passionate and dedicated people than NASCAR race fans,” said Steele. “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Front Row Motorsports and David Ragan to introduce our products to them. Meeting David, his values align with ours. He puts family first and thinks of others, too. This is going to be a great partnership and we can’t wait to start at Daytona.”

Ragan is ready to return to Daytona where he has one win and three top-five finishes. He is thankful for SelectBlinds.com for coming on board and has enjoyed getting to know their team.

“Rick and the team at SelectBlinds.com have been great to work with,” said Ragan. “They have really stepped up in a big way to support our race team and they’ll make a big impact at the Daytona 500. It makes me excited to get to Daytona, kick off our season, and have a great run with them. I’m looking forward to it.”

The No. 38 SelectBlinds.com Ford Mustang will make its race debut at the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 17. The race will be televised live on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET and broadcasted on the Motor Racing Network and SIRIUS/XM NASCAR radio.

Posted on by Team Release

WELCOME, N.C. — Richard Petty Motorsports today announced that AfterShokz, the bone conduction headphone brand known for its unique open-ear listening experience, will be the primary partner of Bubba Wallace in his return to the Daytona 500. The company will support Wallace after he finished runner-up in a historical run during his rookie year. AfterShokz, which also has a personal agreement with Wallace Jr., now steps up to support the famed No. 43 on the sport’s biggest stage.

AfterShokz was introduced to Wallace Jr. last year when they began a personal services agreement together. Wallace Jr. was attracted to the company after wearing their open-ear headphones and quickly became a spokesperson for the brand. AfterShokz watched Wallace Jr. make history last season in his rookie campaign and are thrilled for the opportunity to support RPM in the Daytona 500, as well as bring a fresh sponsorship to the sport.

RELATED: Full schedule for Daytona Speedweeks | New crew chief named for Bubba

“Bubba Wallace made a historical impact on the sport last year and specifically in his first Daytona 500,” said Bill Kimball, Chief Operating Officer, AfterShokz. “This is an amazing opportunity for us to join Richard Petty Motorsports and continue our journey with Bubba. We are looking forward to our first Daytona 500 and we hope it’s just as memorable as last year, with a finish one spot better.”

The announcement comes the day prior to a scheduled appearance by Wallace, Jr. on the TODAY Show on NBC. Facebook documented Wallace Jr. and his Daytona 500 run and features on ESPN, FOX and others made Wallace Jr. the most-watched driver before and after the Daytona 500. The exposure made it easy for AfterShokz to commit with Wallace Jr. returning to Daytona.

“After last year, we know we can win the Daytona 500,” said Wallace Jr. “Our team at Richard Petty Motorsports knows how to put together a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 that is capable of giving me the handling and speed I need. We raced up front last year at Daytona, both in the 500 and in July, so I expect us to do it that again. That’s going to make a great day for AfterShokz, too. I’m thrilled they are joining us in the journey this year. They have become friends of mine and we’re going to Daytona together to win it.”

Richard Petty Motorsports and the Petty brand have a long, winning history in the Daytona 500. Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500 and Richard Petty has won the race a record seven times. Petty Enterprises holds the record for the most wins of the race with nine. “The King” Richard Petty is now ready to see Wallace Jr. compete again for the win.

“Last year, I was really proud of Bubba and what he did at Daytona,” said Petty, co-owner, Richard Petty Motorsports. “He had the most pressure and people watching him, but he did a great job behind the wheel. We now have the support we need from AfterShokz and Bubba has the opportunity to focus on the race and do what we know he can.”

The Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, February 17. The race will be televised live on FOX at 2:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on Motor Racing Network and SIRIUS/XM NASCAR radio.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Editor’s note: NASCAR.com continues its countdown of team previews for the Monster Energy Series season, ranked in order of best finish in last year’s owner standings. Today’s feature: Hendrick Motorsports and drivers Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Jimmie Johnson.

Hendrick Motorsports

Manufacturer: Chevrolet

Engine: Hendrick Engines

Drivers: Chase Elliott, No. 9; William Byron, No. 24; Jimmie Johnson, No. 48; Alex Bowman, No. 88

Crew chiefs: Alan Gustafson (Elliott), Chad Knaus (Byron), Kevin Meendering (Johnson), Greg Ives (Bowman)

2018 standings: Elliott, 6th in final standings (eliminated in Round of 8); Johnson, 14th in final standings (eliminated in Round of 16); Bowman, 16th in final standings (eliminated in Round of 12); Byron, 23rd in final standings

What’s new: The big change at Hendrick Motorsports is the organization’s crew chief shakeup that was announced last October. The seven-time championship pairing of Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus has been split apart after 17 years with each tackling new challenges. There is sure to be a friendly competition between both sides to see who can reach Victory Lane first without the other by his side.

Johnson will be paired with Kevin Meendering, who comes over to Hendrick from JR Motorsports. Meendering has plenty of experience in the organization as an assistant engineer and engineer from 2008 to 2015. This will be Meendering’s first season atop the box at the Cup level following three years with Elliott Sadler.

“I think he has been rejuvenated,” Meendering said of Johnson. “After the struggles he had last year I think he wants to win. That is his mentality. He is going to do whatever it takes. He is going to push himself past the limit. We will be back in Victory Lane this year.”

Knaus moves over to guide rising talent William Byron in his second full-time season at the sport’s top level. The move to the No. 24 is a homecoming of sorts for Knaus as well, as he was a member of the “Rainbow Warriors” crew under Ray Evernham in the mid-1990s that was instrumental in leading NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon to multiple championships.

“You guys don’t understand my passion for the 24 team; it just goes so deep,” Knaus said. “It’s in my blood. Even when we were winning championships for the 48, I’m still paying attention to what the 24 was doing. So, to be back on the 24 car is really a dream come true. When I came to Hendrick Motorsports, my goal was to be crew chief on the 24 car.”

Outlook: Last year was a time of transition for Hendrick Motorsports as it consolidated all four teams into one shop, had a new Chevrolet model in the Camaro to take to the track and two new full-time drivers (Byron and Bowman) to break into the fold. With all that, the organization still got three of its four cars into the playoffs and William Byron took home Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Still though, much more is expected from this organization, especially when NMPA Most Popular Driver winner Chase Elliott was the only driver to reach Victory Lane for the four-car stable. The company is coming off its lowest win total as an organization since Jeff Gordon’s rookie season of 1993 when the then-three-car outfit won one race.

The crew chief shakeups for Johnson and Byron should provide some added juice. The seven-time champion gets a fresh start coming off his only winless full season of his career, while the second-year man Byron gets a steady, championship hand to guide his path in the iconic No. 24.  In his second full year in the No. 88, Alex Bowman should build off a solid 2018 campaign that saw him reach the second round of the playoffs. Elliott is a certified title contender, who really hit his stride after reaching Victory Lane for the first time at Watkins Glen.

“For us as a company, I’m going to use a phrase that Mr. Hendrick pointed to at the start of the year. ‘Whatever it takes’ is our mentality going into the year,” Jeff Andrews, Hendrick’s vice president of competition told NASCAR.com. “We have got to get a car to Homestead at the end of the season, 2019, and anything short of that would be a disappointment for us as a company.”

DRIVERS
Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet: After two-and-a-half seasons of near-misses in reaching Victory Lane, Elliott got there in 2018. “I underestimated how it was wearing on him and how personal he was taking not winning races,” crew chief Alan Gustafson said. “And once he won, I realized, wow, it was something he was taking very personal and something that was weighing on him.” After nabbing the win at Watkins Glen, Elliott didn’t stop – adding playoff victories at Dover and Kansas in the Round of 12. The 23-year-old capped off his year with his first NMPA Most Popular Driver Award – inheriting the mantle from 15-time winner and former teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Entering 2019, Elliott is looking to build off his strong second half with Gustafson and continue his rise to title contention in the Monster Energy Series. The two enter their fourth year together – the longest current tenure among the Hendrick pairings.

“It’s nice to have won a couple races,” Elliott said. “I’m not sure how much of that you can really ride into the next year. It’s kind of a fresh start in a lot of ways. … But we’ll try our best and try to get rolling.”

William Byron
(Sean Gardner | Getty Images)

William Byron, No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet: Byron made quick splashes in one-year stints in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (seven wins) in 2016 and the NASCAR Xfinity Series (four wins and a championship) in 2017. His maiden Monster Energy Series voyage saw the young driver struggle a bit with just four top 10s and 13 lead-lap finishes. While he did not qualify for the postseason, he did take home the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award for the third straight year in a national series. The expectations have been ratcheted up with the move to put Chad Knaus, a seven-time championship-winning crew chief, atop the pit box for the 21-year-old.

“This year working with Chad is going to be exciting,” Byron said. “I feel like we’ve started that process already, just doing things together as a team. I feel like it is growing, and I feel like by the time we get to Daytona, we should be up and rolling.”

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet: The 2018 season was a trying one for Johnson as he posted a career-low in top fives (two), top 10s (11), laps led (40) and final standings position (14th). He also went winless for the first time to date in his 17-season, full-time career and brings a 59-race winless drought – the longest of his career – into 2019. All that added up to some changes for the seven-time champion. Most notable among them is a new crew chief, Kevin Meendering. There is also a change for Johnson on the sponsor side with longtime sponsor Lowe’s departing the racing side, while Ally slides in on a two-year deal to sponsor the team. Despite last year’s down season, the fire still burns strong for the elder statesman of the Hendrick stable.

“It’s honestly never been higher,” Johnson said of his fire to win a record eighth championship. “The past is great and I’ve won seven championships and 83 races, but that’s then and this is now and I’m still as hungry and focused and dedicated as ever. And, having a year like I did last year also ramps-up the intensity some, so I’m just ready to get going.” Johnson also indicated in the preseason that his role with the team is “changing and increasing and being more of a leader for the team.”

Alex Bowman
(Streeter Lecka | Getty Images)

Alex Bowman, No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet: In his first full season behind the wheel of the ride previously driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick, Bowman qualified for the playoffs and reached the Round of 12. Bowman came out of the gate strong winning the pole position for the 2018 Daytona 500. The 25-year-old Arizona native notched his first top fives in the sport’s top series (three in 2018) and set career bests for top 10s (11), standings finish (16th) and average finish (17.0). That season – his first full time run since 2015 — set up some solid ground work for Bowman, crew chief Greg Ives and the No. 88 team to build off in 2019.

“I felt like last year, from a Hendrick Motorsports standpoint, you always looked at Alex like, ‘Oh that 88’s doing well,’ kind of leading that charge, that banner,” Ives told NASCAR.com. “I know Chase came up and was able to get those three wins. That’s what I am kind of looking at Alex to make that next step. Grow with the other drivers whether its Chase, William or Jimmie. Grow into a healthy competition with them to be able to lean and rely on them to not only make himself better but make our cars better.”

TEAM PREVIEWS
• Jan. 22: Assorted teams
• Jan. 23: Richard Petty Motorsports
• Jan. 24: Germain Racing
• Jan. 25: Leavine Family Racing
• Jan 28: Front Row Motorsports
• Jan. 29: JTG Daugherty Racing
• Jan. 30: Wood Brothers Racing
• Jan. 31: Roush Fenway Racing
• Feb. 1: Richard Childress Racing
• Feb. 4: Chip Ganasssi Racing
• Feb. 5: Hendrick Motorsports
• Feb. 6: Joe Gibbs Racing
• Feb. 7: Stewart-Haas Racing
• Feb. 8: Team Penske

Posted on by Track Release

LOUDON, N.H. — New Hampshire Motor Speedway‘s Full Throttle Fall Weekend is back by popular demand on September 20-21, featuring two days of heart-pounding short track racing. Whelen Engineering Company, longtime speedway partner and leader in the emergency warning industry, has added its name to the main event‘s marquee. The two-day event will be headlined by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour who will take center stage for the longest mileage and richest purse race on the Tour — the Musket 250 presented by Whelen on Saturday, September 21.

“We are thrilled to build on our already longstanding partnership with a company as innovative as Whelen,” said David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “Our Operations and Maintenance teams rely on Whelen products every day to ensure the safety of our staff, guests, drivers and fans, and what better way than to add their name to the most intense race on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.”

Whelen has been a longtime partner of New Hampshire Motor Speedway dating back to when the facility opened in 1990 and served as the entitlement sponsor for the Whelen Modified All-Star Shootout in 2014 and 2017. All of the speedway‘s safety equipment, such as cleanup trucks, jet driers and sweepers, are outfitted with a variety of Whelen lights. Additionally, the green, yellow and red warning lights used to keep the drivers safe on the race track as well as other portable lights used around the NHMS grounds are all from Whelen.

“We are very excited to continue our relationship with New Hampshire Motor Speedway,” said Peter Tiezzi III, motorsports general manager at Whelen Engineering Company. “Full Throttle Fall Weekend will continue to deliver exciting racing for everyone in attendance.”

For more than 25 years, Whelen has supported NASCAR and its grassroots racing series. A privately-owned company that began in 1952, Whelen is in its 15th year as the title sponsor of the Whelen Modified Tour, the longest-running series in NASCAR. With New England-based factories in Charlestown, N.H. and Chester, Conn., Whelen is recognized as the only United States manufacturer of emergency warning equipment to still fabricate its products entirely in the U.S.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Musket 250 presented by Whelen serves as the main event in a tripleheader weekend of racing that also features the NASCAR Pinty‘s Series in only their second appearance in the United States and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East racing in the Apple Barrel 125.

For ticket information for events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, including the June 8-16 Motorcycle Week at NHMS, the July 19-21 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 race weekend and the September 20-21 Full Throttle Fall Weekend, visit the speedway website at NHMS.com or call Fan Relations at (603) 783-4931.

Musket 250 Presented By Whelen 2019 1500x942