Posted on by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s finally here.

Ten days from now, on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2:30 p.m. ET, the green flag will fly over a 47-car field in the 57th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. It marks both the start of the IMSA 50th Anniversary Celebration and the beginning of an exciting new era for the sanctioning body and its flagship IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The field will include 47 cars spread across four classes of competition: Daytona Prototype international (DPi) – for factory-supported prototype sports cars, teams and drivers; Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) – a prototype class for Pro-Am driver lineups; GT Le Mans (GTLM) – the most competitive form of GT racing in the world with factory teams, drivers and race cars; and GT Daytona (GTD) – ultra-fast GT cars built to international GT3 technical specifications fielded by professional teams with Pro-Am driver lineups.

In those cars will be many of the world’s best sports car racers whose names have been etched on everything from the Bishop-France Trophy to the back of Rolex 24 At Daytona winners’ watches, and in record books from Le Mans to Sebring. Joining them will be Formula 1 World Champions, NASCAR race winners, Indy 500 winners, champions from various other forms of motorsport, and uber-successful business people.

It will be the first WeatherTech Championship race with the entire field riding on new Michelin tires as part of a new multi-year partnership between IMSA and the global tire brand, which also includes exclusive-supplier status for what now is known as the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA Prototype Challenge. It also kicks off the four-race IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, encompassing the four endurance races on the WeatherTech Championship schedule.

RELATED: Kurt Busch visits CGR pit | Daytona track record unofficially broken

Live race coverage will be provided for the first time by NBC Sports, which kicks off its multi-year partnership with 18 hours of coverage on NBCSN starting at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 26 and seven more live hours on the NBC Sports App. IMSA Radio continues its longtime coverage throughout race week on IMSA.com, RadioLeMans.com and SiriusXM Radio.

Here’s a closer look at the 47-car field on the entry list.

· There are a total of 11 DPi cars, four LMP2 entries, nine GTLM entries and 23 entered in GTD. The field includes cars from 13 different manufacturers led by Cadillac (6 DPi) and Porsche (2 GTLM and 4 GTD) with six entries each. Lamborghini has five GTD entries, Acura (2 DPi, 2 GTD) and Ferrari (1 GTLM, 3 GTD) and Audi (4 GTD) have four entries each, with three BMWs (2 GTLM, 1 GTD) and two each from Mazda (2 DPi), Chevrolet (2 GTLM), Ford (2 GTLM), Lexus (2 GTD) and Mercedes-AMG (2 GTD). Nissan has one DPi entry.

· No. 44 Magnus Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 driver Andy Lally has the most Rolex 24 At Daytona wins of any driver in the field with five (all class wins – SRPII 2001; GT – 2009, 2011, 2012; GTD – 2016). He is tied for second on the all-time Daytona winners list with three other drivers: Peter Gregg, Hurley Haywood and Bob Wollek. Scott Pruett, the 2019 Rolex 24 At Daytona grand marshal, is the winningest driver in the Rolex 24 with 10 class victories.

· Three drivers come into this year’s Rolex 24 with three career overall victories in the race: No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi-V.R co-drivers Joao Barbosa (2010, 2014, 2018) and Christian Fittipaldi (2004, 2014, 2018) and No. 6 Acura Team Penske Acura DPi driver Juan Pablo Montoya (2007, 2008, 2013). As participants in the DPi class, all three have an opportunity to pick up their fourth and move to within one of the record of five overall wins shared by Pruett and Haywood.

· There are a total of 51 previous Rolex 24 winners on the entry list. Twenty-seven of the 47 cars have at least one former winner in its driver lineup, including 10 of the 11 DPi entries. Only the No. 50 Juncos Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R does not have a previous winner among co-drivers Will Owen, Rene Binder, Agustin Canapino and Kyle Kaiser. Owen is the team’s only driver with a previous Rolex 24 start, which came in 2018.

· Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has the most Rolex 24 wins in the field with eight, including each of the past two years in the GTLM class. The team’s other six – all overall victories – came in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2015. There are a total of 14 teams in the field with at least one Rolex 24 victory.

RELATED: Zanardi inspires with infectious personality, will to win

· Porsche is far and away the winningest manufacturer in Rolex 24 history, with a total of 69 victories (22 overall, 47 class) since the race’s inception in 1962. Mazda is second on the list with 22 victories, all of them class victories. A Mazda overall victory in 2019 would be the manufacturer’s first overall win in the race.

· The 2019 Rolex 24 field includes 40 drivers with one or more top-level IMSA championships, 33 drivers with at least one victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, five IndyCar/Champ Car Champions, four Indianapolis 500 winners, three drivers with Formula 1 Grand Prix race victories, two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race winners and one Formula 1 World Champion.

2018 Rolex 24 winners
Christian Fittipaldi, Joao Barbosa and Felipe Albuquerque celebrate with Rolex watches in Victory Lane after winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona IMSA WeatherTech Series race at Daytona International Speedway in 2018. (Brian Cleary | Getty Images)

Previous Rolex 24 At Daytona Winners in 2019 Rolex 24 Field (51)
Andy Lally (5) – SRPII – 2001; GT – 2009, 2011, 2012; GTD – 2016
Joao Barbosa (4) – P/Overall – 2018, 2014; DP/Overall – 2010; GTS – 2003
Christian Fittipaldi (3) – P/Overall – 2018, 2014; DP/Overall – 2004
Scott Dixon (3) – DP/Overall – 2006; P/Overall – 2015; GTLM – 2018
Juan Pablo Montoya (3) – DP/Overall – 2007, 2008, 2013
Bill Auberlen (2) – GTS-3 – 1997; GT3 – 1998
Dirk Mueller (2) – GT1 – 1998; GTLM – 2017
Timo Bernhard (2) – GT/Overall – 2003; GT – 2002
Dominik Farnbacher (2) – GT – 2005; GTD – 2015
Spencer Pumpelly (2) – GT – 2006, 2011
Antonio Garcia (2) – DP/Overall – 2009; GTLM – 2015
Joey Hand (2) – DP/Overall – 2011; GTLM – 2017
Filipe Albuquerque (2) – P/Overall – 2018; GT – 2013
Rene Rast (2) – GT – 2012; GTD – 2016
John Potter (2) – GT – 2012; GTD – 2016
Sebastien Bourdais (2) – P/Overall – 2014; GTLM – 2017
Ryan Briscoe (2) – GTLM – 2015, 2018
Fabio Babini (1) – GTU – 2000
Patrick Long (1) – GT – 2009
Justin Marks (1) – GT – 2009
Mike Rockenfeller (1) – DP/Overall – 2010
Ryan Dalziel (1) – DP/Overall – 2010
Jonathan Bomarito (1) – GT – 2010
AJ Allmendinger (1) – DP/Overall – 2012
Oliver Jarvis (1) – GT – 2013
Jon Bennett (1) – PC – 2014
Colin Braun (1) – PC – 2014
Patrick Pilet (1) – GTLM – 2014
Nick Tandy (1) – GTLM – 2014
Alessandro Pier Guidi (1) – GTD – 2014
Townsend Bell (1) – GTD – 2014
Jeff Segal (1) – GTD – 2014
Jan Magnussen (1) – GTLM – 2015
Ben Keating (1) – GTD – 2015
Pipo Derani (1) – P/Overall – 2016
Stephen Simpson (1) – PC – 2016
Chris Miller (1) – PC – 2016
Misha Goikhberg (1) – PC – 2016
Oliver Gavin (1) – GTLM – 2016
Tommy Milner (1) – GTLM – 2016
Marcel Fassler (1) – GTLM – 2016
Marco Seefried (1) – GTD – 2016
Ricky Taylor (1) – P/Overall – 2017
Jordan Taylor (1) – P/Overall – 2017
Kyle Masson (1) – PC – 2017
Nicholas Boulle (1) – PC – 2017
Daniel Morad (1) – GTD – 2017
Richard Westbrook (1) – GTLM – 2018
Rolf Ineichen (1) – GTD – 2018
Mirko Bortolotti (1) – GTD – 2018
Rik Breukers (1) – GTD – 2018

IMSA Champions in 2019 Rolex 24 Field (40)
Oliver Gavin (7) – American Le Mans Series GT1 – 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009; American Le Mans Series GT – 2012; WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2016; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2016
Joao Barbosa (6) – WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2014, 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Christian Fittipaldi (6) – WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2014, 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Jan Magnussen (5) – American Le Mans Series GT1 – 2008; American Le Mans Series GT – 2013; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2015; WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2017, 2018
Andy Lally (4) – GRAND-AM SRPII – 2001; GRAND-AM SGS – 2004; GRAND-AM GT – 2006; GRAND-AM North American Endurance Cup GT – 2012
Patrick Long (4) – American Le Mans Series GT2 – 2005, 2009; American Le Mans Series GT – 2010; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2014
Jeroen Bleekemolen (4) – American Le Mans Series GTC – 2010, 2013; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2017, 2018
Antonio Garcia (4) – American Le Mans Series GT – 2013; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2015; WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2017, 2018
Bill Auberlen (3) – IMSA GTS-3 – 1997; GRAND-AM GT – 2002, 2004
Dirk Mueller (3) – American Le Mans Series GT – 2000, 2011; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2018
Timo Bernhard (3) – American Le Mans Series GT – 2004; American Le Mans Series P2 – 2007, 2008
Dirk Werner (3) – GRAND-AM GT – 2007, 2009; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2017
Tommy Milner (3) – American Le Mans Series GT – 2012; WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2016; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2016
Jon Bennett (3) – WeatherTech Championship PC – 2014, 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup PC – 2014
Colin Braun (3) – WeatherTech Championship PC – 2014, 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup PC – 2014
Eric Curran (3) – WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2016, 2018; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2018
Christina Nielsen (3) – WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2016, 2017; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2016
Romain Dumas (2) – American Le Mans Series P2 – 2007, 2008
Jeff Segal (2) – GRAND-AM GT – 2010, 2012
Timothy Pappas (2) – American Le Mans Series GTC – 2010, 2011
Joey Hand (2) – American Le Mans Series GT – 2011; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2018
Cooper MacNeil (2) – American Le Mans Series GTC – 2012, 2013
Jordan Taylor (2) – GRAND-AM DP – 2013; WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2017
Dane Cameron (2) – WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2014; WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2016
Townsend Bell (2) – IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2014; WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2015
Patrick Pilet (2) – WeatherTech Championship GTLM – 2015; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTLM – 2017
Ben Keating (2) – IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2017, 2018
Felipe Nasr (2) – WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2018; IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2018
Ian James (1) – American Le Mans Series P2
Andrew Davis (1) – GRAND-AM GT – 2011
John Edwards (1) – GRAND-AM North American Endurance Cup GT – 2013
Simon Pagenaud (1) – American Le Mans Series LMP – 2010
John Potter (1) – GRAND-AM North American Endurance Cup GT – 2012
Renger van der Zande (1) – WeatherTech Championship PC – 2016
Ricky Taylor (1) – WeatherTech Championship Prototype – 2017
Filipe Albuquerque (1) – IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Prototype – 2017
Kyle Masson (1) – IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup PC – 2017
Mario Farnbacher (1) – IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2017
Bryan Sellers (1) – WeatherTech Championship GTD – 2018
Luca Stolz (1) – IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD – 2018

Previous 24 Hours of Le Mans Winners in 2019 Rolex 24 Field (33)
Oliver Gavin (5) – GTE Pro – 2015; GT1 – 2006, 2005; GTS – 2004, 2002
Timo Bernhard (3) – LMP1/Overall – 2017, 2010; GT – 2002
Jan Magnussen (3) – GT1 – 2009, 2005; GTS – 2004
Marcel Fassler (3) – LMP1/Overall – 2014, 2012, 2011
Nicolas Lapierre (3) LMP2 – 2018, 2016, 2015
Dirk Mueller (2) – GTE Pro – 2016; GT – 2000
Patrick Long (2) – GT2 – 2007, GT1 – 2004
Mike Rockenfeller (2) – LMP1/Overall – 2010; GT2 – 2005
Romain Dumas (2) – LMP1/Overall – 2010, 2016
Tommy Milner (2) – GTE Pro – 2015, 2011
Toni Vilander (2) – GTE Pro – 2014, 2012
Earl Bamber (2) – LMP1/Overall – 2017, 2015
Fabio Babini (1) – GT – 2001
Jeroen Bleekemolen (1) – LMP2 – 2008
Antonio Garcia (1) – GTE Pro – 2011
Ryan Dalziel (1) – LMP2 – 2012
Pedro Lamy (1) – GTE Am – 2012
Loic Duval (1) – LMP1/Overall – 2013
Olivier Pla (1) – LMP2 – 2013
Harry Tincknell (1) – LMP2 – 2014
Nick Tandy (1) – LMP1/Overall – 2015
Jordan Taylor (1) – GTE Pro – 2015
Andrea Bertolini (1) – GTE Am – 2015
Joey Hand (1) – GTE Pro – 2016
Sebastien Bourdais (1) – GTE Pro – 2016
Townsend Bell (1) – GTE Am – 2016
Jeff Segal (1) – GTE Am – 2016
Oliver Jarvis (1) – LMP2 – 2017
Daniel Serra (1) – GTE Pro – 2017
Dries Vanthoor (1) – GTE Am – 2017
Fernando Alonso (1) – LMP1/Overall – 2018
Laurens Vanthoor (1) – GTE Pro – 2018
Matt Campbell (1) – GTE Am – 2018

IndyCar/Champ Car Champions in 2019 Rolex 24 Field (5)
Scott Dixon (5) – 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018
Sebastien Bourdais (4) – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Alex Zanardi (2) – 1997, 1998
Juan Pablo Montoya (1) – 1999
Simon Pagenaud (1) 2016

Indianapolis 500 Winners in Rolex 24 Field (4)
Helio Castroneves (3) – 2001, 2002, 2009
Juan Pablo Montoya (2) – 2000, 2015
Scott Dixon (1) – 2008
Alexander Rossi (1) – 2016

Formula 1 Grand Prix Winners in 2019 Rolex 24 Field (3)

Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso at the 2018 Rolex 24. (Brian Cleary | Getty Images)

Fernando Alonso – 32
Rubens Barrichello – 11
Juan Pablo Montoya – 7

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race Winners in Rolex 24 Field (2)
Juan Pablo Montoya – 2
AJ Allmendinger – 1 

Formula 1 World Champions in 2019 Rolex 24 Field (1)
Fernando Alonso (2) – 2005, 2006

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson moved one step closer to earning his first career Chili Bowl Midget Nationals title after winning Tuesday night’s preliminary qualifying night feature in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

After starting second in the A-Main, Larson took over the lead on Lap 6 and never looked back, cruising to victory in the No. 01 McDonald’s Keith Kunz Motorsports dirt midget. Larson is now locked into Saturday night’s finale where a Golden Driller trophy and a chance to etch his name in history are on the line.

RELATED: Questions answered about the Chili Bowl | Can Christopher Bell three-peat?

“It’s always good when you get locked in,” Larson told NASCAR.com Wednesday. “I like racing early in the week so you can see how your mood is going to be for the rest the time here in Tulsa.

“Car was really good, and I feel like I ran a nice, smooth race and did what we needed to do to get locked in for Saturday.”

Last year, Larson won his respective qualifying night, but an expired engine while leading the A-Main finale with 10 laps remaining allowed NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell to earn his second straight Chili Bowl triumph.

RELATED: See Larson’s Credit One Bank paint scheme for 2019

With a win under his belt and confidence always running high when he’s on the 1/5-mile indoor clay oval, Larson is reluctant to get too anxious or excited based on previous experiences.

Kyle Larson's 2019 Chili Bowl car.
Credit: @KyleLarsonRacin

“I literally had bad luck for the past six years or seven years,” Larson said. “If it doesn’t happen on a prelim night, it seems to happen to me on a Saturday. I don’t know. Every year I come in hoping and praying this is the year I don’t have bad luck.

“Hopefully this year is a little different and we can get up front, lead the race and not have anything crazy happen to us,” he added. “We’ll just wait and see. I don’t get too worked up about it anymore or get too stressed out just because of all the bad luck I’ve had. It’s kind of humbled me where I’m just thankful to be out there racing.”

But in the meantime, Larson has plenty of time to prepare, relax and enjoy time with his fellow dirt-racing peers before it’s time to hop back into the car for Saturday night’s marquee event, cluing us into what he’ll be doing to pass the down time.

“It’s a fun week of racing and hanging out with your friends because you don’t get to see them much,” Larson said. “Just try to relax and get prepared at the same time for Saturday. I brought my golf clubs out here. Maybe do some golfing one day. It’s supposed to warm up even more throughout the week. We’ll just lay back and enjoy it.”

Posted on by Zack Albert

MBM Motorsports announced Wednesday that Joey Gase will be its driver for the full NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2019. The team added an extra dash of newness with its car reveal.

Gase, 25, joined team owner Carl Long at the NASCAR Hall of Fame to take the wraps off a No. 35 Toyota Supra, the automaker’s long-anticipated model of choice for the Xfinity Series. The car, sporting sponsorship from Eternal Fan, was believed to be the first Supra shown in NASCAR race trim since the manufacturer’s official unveiling last summer at Daytona International Speedway.

“First time I saw it in person was this past weekend. I think it looks really cool and really different, not quite like a traditional stock car, for sure,” Gase said. “But I think it’s going to be really fast and I think we have a really awesome looking Eternal Fan car.”

RELATED: On the move: 2019 changes

Besides the Xfinity Series duties, Gase is scheduled for multiple races — as much as 90 percent of the schedule, Long said — in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 66 MBM team. That partial schedule will start with MBM’s attempt to qualify for the season-opening Daytona 500 (Feb. 17, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“For the most part, I’m just happy to be on this side of it,” Long said, “and to have an experienced driver like Joey to get into this thing and start off the year running with performance, something that we feel like we’ve already achieved and we’re only going to get better.”

The organization also plans to field a No. 66 entry on the Xfinity side. Long indicated the crew chief hiring process was underway, with Gase’s involvement to help find the right fit.

Gase has made 30 Monster Energy Series starts over the past five seasons, running eight races last year for four different teams. He has been a full-time Xfinity Series competitor since 2014, driving last season for Go Green Racing and team owner Archie St. Hilaire.

Despite the switch, Gase will continue to fly the No. 35 he piloted last year — a car number that dates back to his days racing Late Models.

“The 35 number means a lot to Joey,” Long said. “The only thing I did was gave him a little design on the number, I thought. We’re all good.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Kyle Larson’s got a slightly new look for his No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

The Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s car will sport a little more blue on the hood and in front of the grille. Another subtle difference is a white streak on the side of the car leading to the number. The splitter is also white instead of blue as it was in 2018.

RELATED: How did Larson fare in his Credit One Bank scheme in 2018?

Kyle Larson 2018 Credit One Paint Scheme
Kyle Larson’s 2018 Credit One Bank paint scheme. (Robert Laberge | Getty Images)

Credit One is in the midst of a multi-year association with Larson and CGR. The company sponsored 17 races of Larson’s in 2018.

The 26-year-old is entering his sixth season in the sport’s top series. The 2018 campaign saw Larson make the NASCAR Playoffs for the third straight year and finish ninth in the standings. He tallied 12 top fives, 19 top 10s and three poles on the year.

MORE: Recap Larson’s 2018 season | Career highlights for Larson

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR has named industry veteran Jay Fabian as its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director.

A respected leader within the garage area, Fabian previously served as the managing director of technical integration at NASCAR, where he oversaw post-race technical inspection at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. A consistent presence in all three NASCAR national series garages, Fabian’s versatile career has included roles as an over-the-wall crew member, a crew chief and, now, the managing director of NASCAR’s premier series.

“With his vast experience across the industry, Jay Fabian is uniquely suited for this position,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “Jay’s steady leadership and depth of knowledge are tremendous assets that will greatly benefit the series and all of NASCAR.”

Prior to joining NASCAR in April 2016, the Everett, Penn., native worked at Michael Waltrip Racing. During his 10-year tenure, MWR teams qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

“This is a fast-paced sport that is constantly evolving, and I’m thankful for this opportunity and eager to take on the challenge,” Fabian said. “Racing has been my passion for as long as I can remember. There is growing anticipation for the 2019 season, and I’m looking forward to being a part of an outstanding team that will help build our sport.”

Fabian, with more than 25 years of motorsports experience, and NASCAR’s two other national series managing directors — Wayne Auton (NASCAR Xfinity Series) and Brad Moran (NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series) — will report directly to Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition.

Posted on by Team Release

Mooresville, N.C. – Ryan Truex will pilot the No. 71 Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet in an attempt to make a start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Taking after family history, Ryan Truex has ascended to the top of the motorsports ladder in just a few short years competing throughout the top tiers of the sport. Driving for several well-acclaimed teams such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Pastrana Waltrip Racing, BK Racing, Biagi DenBeste Racing and Hattori Racing Enterprises, Truex has made starts in all three top NASCAR series. This will mark Truex’s second attempt at qualifying for the Daytona 500.

MORE: On the Move: 2019 changes analyzed

“I am very thankful to TBR and Tommy Baldwin for this opportunity and can’t wait to get to Daytona and back in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car,” commented Ryan Truex. “The pressure is on to make it into the race, but Tommy is a true racer, and I know he will put everything into the car to give us a great shot.”

“I’m excited to have Ryan back in a Tommy Baldwin Racing car,” team owner Tommy Baldwin said. “We had success at Daytona in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the past. I’ve known the Truex family a very long time, and it’s special that we’ll be able to compete in the Daytona 500 together, and hopefully more races as the year goes on. We are still in search of a primary sponsor that we’re hoping to put together in time to give TBR a great run this year.”

Posted on by Jordan Bianchi

Mention the words “Chili Bowl” to a non-race fan and they’re likely to think you’re talking about what is on that day’s lunch menu. But for those within the racing community the Chili Bowl has nothing to do with food; instead it’s one of the most competitive races in all of motorsports. The event, which began Monday night and culminates with a 55-lap race on Saturday, brings together a diverse field featuring drivers across the motorsports spectrum — including some of NASCAR’s top talents — and represents a sort of “unofficial launch” of the 2019 racing season.

For those unfamiliar with the Chili Bowl, or for those seeking to better understand the buzz surrounding the annual event, here is a primer on what you need to know.

MORE: 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals preview

What exactly is the Chili Bowl?

The Chili Bowl Nationals is a multi-day event that sees drivers from around the world wheel Midget cars on a temporary quarter-mile dirt track constructed inside the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla.  This year, 360 drivers representing 33 states and five countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States) are entered.

How does the format work?

Because of the volume of entries, multiple preliminary races are held Monday through Friday where each night two drivers lock themselves into the 24-car main event held on Saturday. That is the straightforward answer, though the actual procedure of how the field is whittled down each night to determine who advances out of each heat is far more complicated. Even the most ardent fan can be confused by the “alphabet soup” format that not only includes a driver’s finishing position but also has an element that takes into account how many passes they made in a specific heat. Honestly, if you would like a detailed breakdown the best thing to do is read this step-by-step process click this link.

How did the Chili Bowl did it get its now well-known name?

A race coined the “Chili Bowl” would seemingly have an interesting backstory on how its name came to be. In actuality, however, there is a pretty straightforward reason for how the Chili Bowl got its moniker when it was conceived by co-founders Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards: Sponsorship. When the first event was held in 1987, Bob Berryhill came on board to serve as the primary backer through his family-owned food company, The Original Chili Bowl. Berryhill continued sponsoring the race for the next three years and by that time the name stuck. And 33 years after its inception, the race continues to be called the Chili Bowl.

What is the difference between a stock car and the Midget cars used in this event?

As opposed to a NASCAR stock car, which is heavier and bulkier, a midget car is quite nimble with a high power-to-weight ratio. Midget cars also have open wheels, a feature that often results in drivers banging wheels during races causing cars to flip. During Chili Bowl week the number of cars that tumble are tallied with an official “flip count.”

What is Tony Stewart’s role?

A common sight at the Chili Bowl is Tony Stewart, himself a two-time race-winner, meticulously inspecting the racing surface. Not because he trying to glean advantage in pursuit of a third victory, but because the three-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion is in charge of track preparation. It is a role the Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner takes quite seriously. Stewart begins grooming the track two weeks before the event, and during race week he devotes countless hours each day to maintaining the track with intent care.

What is the trophy that the winner receives?

The Golden Driller is a 76-foot tall statue of an oil worker stationed outside the River Spirit Expo Center, representing an industry synonymous with the Tulsa area. It is the sixth-tallest statue in the United States, and Oklahoma recognizes it as a state monument. Thus, when a trophy needed to be designed for the Chili Bowl it was natural that the winner receive a smaller version of The Golden Driller.

Who are some drivers entered with NASCAR connections?

There are several drivers with direct ties to NASCAR among the gaggle competing this week. Christopher Bell, who won a rookie-record seven Xfinity Series races in 2018, is the two-time defending champion and is a strong contender to score a third consecutive victory. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson is again entered and he has made it known how badly he wants to add a Chili Bowl win to his extensive résumé. Larson locked himself into Saturday’s main event with a dominant victory Tuesday night.

Other NASCAR drivers (past or present) entered include Rico Abreu, Justin Allgaier, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Landon Cassill, Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and JJ Yeley.

Who are some of the other prominent drivers entered?

No driver has won more Golden Drillers than Sammy Swindell, who is back to pursue a sixth title this year. Bell (2017-2018), Abreu (2015-2016), Tracy Hines (2005), who previously competed full-time in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, and Tim McCreadie (2006) are the other former winners entered.

Also worth noting is IndyCar driver Conor Daly; Karsyn Elledge, the niece of Dale Earnhardt Jr.; 2018 Knoxville Nationals winner Brad Sweet; and Toyota Racing Development prospect Logan Seavey, who’s drawn comparisons to Bell.

Posted on by Zack Albert

Front Row Motorsports revealed its crew chief lineup Wednesday for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, with two new faces added to its newly expanded three-team fleet.

Drew Blickensderfer will work with the No. 34 Ford team and driver Michael McDowell this season. Fellow veteran Mike Kelley joins the FRM fold atop the pit box for the No. 36 Ford and Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Matt Tifft. Seth Barbour returns to the No. 38 operation for a second season as crew chief for David Ragan.

RELATED: On the move: Tracking 2019’s changes

The team also announced that Derrick Finley has assumed the new role of technical director. Finley was McDowell’s crew chief last season with the No. 34 team and served in the same role for Ragan’s No. 38 in 2017. The team also indicated that Donnie Wingo will return to the Bob Jenkins-owned organization as competition director.

Blickensderfer previously worked with Richard Petty Motorsports, where he first teamed with Marcos Ambrose near the end of the 2012 season. He was paired with Bubba Wallace for his rookie season in RPM’s No. 43 last year. Blickensderfer has served as the crew chief for three wins in NASCAR’s top division: two with Matt Kenseth in 2009 and one with David Ragan during their time with Roush Fenway Racing in 2011.

RPM wished Blickensderfer well in a statement issued later Wednesday: “Drew Blickensderfer has been a great leader at Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) over the past six seasons, including leading Bubba Wallace in his history-making rookie season. We wish him the best in his future endeavors. We will announce a new crew chief at the appropriate time. Director of Competition, Philippe Lopez, will continue to lead the competition business as we prepare for the 2019 season.”

Kelley heads back to the Monster Energy Series after a long tenure with Roush Fenway. He has 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins as a crew chief and led Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to back-to-back titles on that circuit in 2011-12. He spent last season with Roush Fenway’s No. 60 Xfinity team.

Barbour returns to Front Row Motorsports with Ragan. Like Blickensderfer and Kelley, he also has ties to Roush Fenway Racing, serving as a crew chief in the Xfinity Series from 2013-17 and a team engineer before that term. Ragan ranked 25th in the Monster Energy Series final standings in 2018, Barbour’s first full year as a crew chief in NASCAR’s top division.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

‘Names are made here’ is the slogan of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and there are plenty of names looking to make their mark during the 2019 season. Tyler Reddick returns to defend his championship, albeit with a new team, while fellow Championship 4 participants Christopher Bell and Cole Custer return to their rides at Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, respectively.

There are also several returning players in the mix like Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet), Austin Cindric (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) and Brandon Jones (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota). Noah Gragson (No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet), John Hunter Nemechek (No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet) and Justin Haley (No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet) lead a host of fresh faces in full-time rides.

So just who is the favorite for the 2019 Xfinity Series crown? NASCAR.com’s Jessica Ruffin and RJ Kraft debate who will be the next driver to make their name in the Xfinity ranks.

RELATED: Drivers on the move for 2019 |  Xfinity Series schedule for 2019

RUFFIN: As a rookie in the Xfinity Series last season, Christopher Bell notched a series-best seven victories, including three in the playoffs. When he wasn’t visiting Victory Lane, Bell’s No. 20 Toyota was running consistently in the top pack; his season included 18 top-five results and 759 laps led, topping the series in both categories.

Beyond his finishes, though, Bell showed the ability to persevere when faced with a setback last season. He headed into the penultimate elimination race at ISM Raceway in a must-win situation and did just that, rallying from a 38th-place starting spot to clinch the victory and the Championship 4 spot. While the 24-year-old wasn’t able to clinch the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway — finishing fourth in the standings to champion Tyler Reddick — that’s only motivation for the sophomore driver, who won the 2017 Gander Outdoors Truck Series title. Couple his 2018 heartbreak with a full year of experience in the Xfinity Series and it just may pave the way for Bell to notch his second NASCAR championship.

KRAFT: Bell will be a factor and he certainly could put up the better overall season. For me, though, I am going with Cole Custer as the Xfinity Series title favorite in 2019. He showed significant growth in 2018 as he doubled his top fives (14 in ’18 after seven in ’17), tallied 26 top 10s in 33 races and racked up six pole positions. His 9.0 average finish is best among returning series regulars — Bell’s was 11.1 last year. While Custer only had one win in 2018, expect him to tack on a few more of those in 2019.

The real reason I like Custer as the title favorite: His runs at Miami — site of the Championship 4 race — over the past two years. The title comes down to a one-race shootout among four drivers and his stats there position him better than almost everyone at coming away with the championship. He won the race at the 1.5-mile track in 2017 as he led 182 of a possible 200 laps despite not being in the Championship 4. Last year, he led 95 laps and looked to be the dominant car before some questionable pit strategy left him scrambling to catch Reddick, the eventual winner and champion, and he finished second.

Posted on by Staff Report

JOHNSON, MONAHAN & BOURGEOIS ALSO HONORED

THOMPSON, Conn. — Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park honored four NASCAR Whelen All American Series champions in 2018.

As Thompson‘s Division I NASCAR champion, Keith Rocco leads the list as he celebrated another crown behind the wheel of the No. 57 Sunoco Modified driving for the Pane family. The title was Rocco‘s seventh NASCAR title on the Connecticut high-banks, and his 16th in the history of track titles in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series across the country.

In seven events, Rocco won four races, including the opening race of the season with the 30-lap Icebreaker. In the finale, Rocco was swept up in a wreck under caution, but luckily for him, he didn‘t need to finish towards the front in order to seal the crown. His consistency through the first six races, which included six finishes inside the top five, was enough to give him a 20-point lead in the final tally. Todd Owen finished second, while Kyle James, who had just three top-fives, was able to finish third.

In his first championship run, Rehoboth, Massachusetts, driver Nick Johnson took the Late Model division by surprise in 2017. Johnson didn‘t visit Victory Lane throughout the seven-race schedule, but worked consistently inside the top five and entered the Sunoco World Series in prime position to clinch. But, with four drivers in striking distance entering the race, Johnson had to drive the car to its limits in the final 25-lap feature of the season.

He finished fifth, which was just enough, as he bested Tom Carey III by three points, and Mark Jension, who won the finale, by just 13 points. William Wall finished fourth, back by 15. Johnson‘s career includes racing just across the boarder in Massachusetts as well, where he won his first Pro Stock race at Seekonk Speedway last September. Johnson was honored inside the Clubhouse as Thompson‘s Late Model top contender, joining William Wall as the two most recent champions of the division.

THOMPSON SPEEDWAY: Final 2018 Point Standings | 2019 Schedule

“Not at all,” Johnson said at the World Series when asked if he thought winning the title at the beginning of the season was possible. “My immediate thought was I just wanted to come and win. We didn‘t even think we were going to run a full-time schedule, but one thing leads to another.”

For the second straight year, Shawn Monahan captured the Limited Sportsman title as part of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series. Monahan reversed his 2017 effort, where he didn‘t visit Victory Lane, and won four races in 2018 driving the No. 55 in a competitive class where 39 drivers took at least one green flag.

His second straight crown came with a 49-point gap in the standings.

“I couldn‘t be more proud of the team and more blessed to be where I am today,” Monahan said after clinching the crown. “If you had asked me at the beginning of the season, I would‘ve said that it‘s impossible because of the talent this division has. The difference between myself and the rest of the competitors is simply that I have been in the right place, at the right time.”

And finally, in the Mini Stock division, a veteran proved that he was ready to hang up his helmet in style. East Haddam, Connecticut, driver Eric Bourgeois found himself with a 27-point advantage in the standings, besting the 2017 champion Wayne Burroughs Jr. for the title. Bourgeois, who introduced his son Evan to the Mini Stock division on the track over the last few years, is retiring from full-time racing to focus his time on wrenching through the No. 78 Mini Stock for his son.

In fine fashion, Eric celebrated another Mini Stock title as he career running for points officially comes to a close.

With the banquet now in the rear-view mirror, Thompson has officially turned the calendar to the 2019 season as racing is just three months away from taking the green flag. A revamped schedule, which includes 10 races, begins with the Icebreaker weekend from April 5-7, headlined by the third race of the season for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

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