Posted on by IMSA Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following last month’s announcement of the 47-car entry list for this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona, more than 150 drivers were unveiled in an updated entry list today to participate in this weekend’s annual three-day test session for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“The Roar” as it’s become known over the past several years, serves as the kickoff to the upcoming season. This year, it takes on added significance, as the IMSA 50th Anniversary Celebration that will take place throughout 2019 gets underway.

In addition, this weekend serves as the public unveiling for Michelin’s new relationship as the “Official Tire of IMSA.” All 47 WeatherTech Championship race cars will be riding on Michelin tires this weekend and throughout the 2019 season, in addition to 40 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge machines — 31 Grand Sport (GS) and nine Touring Car (TCR) — that also will participate in three days of testing.

RELATED: Rolex 24 ride for Kurt Busch in the future?

The 2019 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season opens with the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Jan. 25, the day before the green flag drops on the Rolex 24 At Daytona. On top of WeatherTech Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge testing, this weekend also features the first IMSA-sanctioned race of the season, with 19 IMSA Prototype Challenge LMP3 race cars — also riding on Michelin tires — ready for a three-hour race on the Daytona International Speedway’s high banks beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET Saturday.

Among the drivers on the WeatherTech Championship entry list this weekend are 18 with at least one series title under their belt since 2014. Ten of those drivers will participate in the flagship Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class, which has been separated into its own class for 2019, with LMP2 becoming its own, Pro-Am class.

On-track testing for WeatherTech Championship machines at the Roar begins at 11 a.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 5. The DPi, GTLM and LMP2 classes will have a total of seven practice sessions between Jan. 4 and Jan. 6, with five practice sessions set for the GTD class on Jan. 4-5.

As was the case for the first time in 2018, qualifying for garage allocations and pit lane assignments again will take place for all classes in 2019. The 15-minute GTD qualifying session starts Saturday, Jan. 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET. GTLM qualifying runs from 11:50 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 6, followed by DPi and LMP2 qualifying from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. ET.

In addition to WeatherTech Championship testing, the Roar also includes six test sessions for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge throughout the three days of on-track activity. Also, the IMSA Prototype Challenge opens its 2019 season with a three-hour race beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 5. The race will be streamed live on IMSA.tv.

All three days of the Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona are open to the public, with free admission for 2019 Rolex 24 At Daytona ticket holders. Tickets are available now at DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

Germain Racing announced Wednesday that it has relocated its operations to Welcome, North Carolina, a move that will bolster its technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.

The Bob Germain-owned organization fields the No. 13 Chevrolet for driver Ty Dillon in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The team indicated that it has been based in Mooresville, North Carolina, for the last decade.

RELATED: Tracking 2019’s changes

“We are committed to our technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing,” Germain said in a statement provided by the team. “As we prepare for this upcoming season of competition, it is logistically beneficial to be closer to their headquarters. We are looking forward to strengthening our relationships with our alliance teammates in order to advance our engineering strategies and improve on-track performance.

“This is an exciting move for our team and partners, and I know it will be a valuable one for our overall race program.”

Dillon has been with the Germain Racing organization since 2017, when he joined the Monster Energy Series full-time.

Richard Childress Racing will celebrate its 50th anniversary season in 2019, fielding Chevrolets for Ty Dillon’s brother, Austin, and Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Daniel Hemric.

PHOTOS: RCR’s special 50th anniversary paint schemes

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell gave the term “pass in the grass” a whole new meaning Saturday night in Auckland, New Zealand.

Using up the bottom of the race track — and even more — Bell made a move on New Zealand’s Michael Pickens to pick up the sprint-car feature win at Western Springs Speedway.

In the World 30-lap Midget Derby feature race earlier in the night, it was Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson who took victory on the dirt, edging out Bell and Pickens, who finished second and third, respectively.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBl9_-ht1r/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The action is all part of the United Truck Parts International Midget Series, an annual five-event international show that showcases dirt racing’s finest from the United States, Australia and New Zealand, competing on a world-class stage at Baypark Family Speedway, Huntly Speedway and Western Springs.

Bell, Larson and the rest of the competition will head to Huntly Speedway for the United Truck Parts 40 Lapper on New Year’s Day before heading back to Western Springs for the Kings of the Springs Bryan Clauson Tribute on Jan. 3 and the World 50 Lapper on Jan. 5.

Posted on by Staff Report

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

Note: All times are ET.

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

THURSDAY, Jan. 3
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Season Recap, FS1 (re-air)
10 p.m., Beyond the Wheel, FS2 (re-air)
11 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features: Part 1, FS2 (re-air)

On MRN
1 p.m., Throwback Thursday: 1993 Budweiser 500

FRIDAY, Jan. 4
Midnight, NASCAR Race Hub: Fans’ Choice Awards, FS2 (re-air)
1 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features: Part 2, FS2 (re-air)
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive, FS2 (re-air)
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Season Recap, FS2 (re-air)
10 a.m., Beyond the Wheel, FS2 (re-air)
11 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features: Part 1, FS2 (re-air)
Noon, NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive, FS2 (re-air)
1 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Season Recap, FS2 (re-air)
6 p.m., Beyond the Wheel, FS1 (re-air)

Posted on by Staff Report

Joey Logano’s highlights in 2018 are aplenty. There was a springtime win at Talladega to lock into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs and reassert both Logano, a member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, and Team Penske as masters at the superspeedways.

There was a summer stretch that showed plenty of speed, setting the No. 22 Ford camp up for an unforgettable fall.

Then it kicked into overdrive. A 100-lap led effort at Kansas in the postseason preceded one of Logano’s defining wins to date — a Martinsville conquest that saw the 28-year-old move Martin Truex Jr. out of the way coming out of Turn 4 in the final lap to clinch his spot in the Championship 4.

And if Martinsville was one of Logano’s most defining wins, the championship race in Miami was the race of his life, with a clutch late-race restart vaulting Logano to the win and series championship.

NASCAR Digital looks back at Logano’s season today, capping our December look-back for all 16 playoff drivers.

• Recapping his run to the title: Reviewing Logano’s 2018 season — from his win in April at Talladega to his championship triumph at Miami | More here | Watch the highlights

• Through the years: See pictures of Logano, from the start of his career up to the Miami championship and celebration in Las Vegas. | More here

• Martinsville moment: Perhaps the definitive moment of Logano’s season was when he knocked Martin Truex Jr. out of the way for the win at Martinsville. | Watch here

• Miami, nice: Relive the restart that led to Logano’s first Monster Energy Series championship. | Watch here

• Speech! Speech!: The season officially ended in Las Vegas, when Joey Logano made a heartfelt champion’s speech. | Watch here

Posted on by Steve Luvender

Setup Time, Majeski

The holiday season usually means plenty of time driving to visit friends and family, but this is likely a first: Ty Majeski pulled over on the highway and fired up his laptop to send an iRacing teammate some setup notes.

It’s a questionable way to trim time off the GPS calculation, but maybe his teammates picked up a few tenths with Majeski’s setup under the virtual hood.

Priorities, Spencer!

Xfinity Series driver Spencer Boyd spent Christmas Eve turning laps in an interesting combination on iRacing — Watkins Glen International in Gander Outdoors Truck Series-style trucks.

When did he have time to do his holiday shopping?

Like a Rock

Newly minted Gander Outdoors Truck Series Rookie of the Year Myatt Snider threw it back by running some practice races at Rockingham Speedway.

Those modified cars are wider than they appear.

Gettin’ Chili With It

iRacing recently released the Chili Bowl race track, site of one of the year’s most prestigious dirt races.

NASCAR drivers spent some of their offseason time turning some laps in a different discipline of racing from their day jobs.

Just remain on the lookout for Noah Gragson — er, Riley Herbst. (Sure, Noah. Sure.)

The PEAK Gets Higher

While it’s already quite prestigious to win the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series, the stakes just got a little — well, a lot — higher. In 2019, the series’ 10th season, the top 40 drivers in iRacing’s premier oval series will now compete for $100,000 in prize money. That’s a lot of dough.

iRacing Paint Schemes of the Week

The iRacing community wastes little time in recreating real-life cars. Ben Horton painted a virtual version of Daniel Hemric’s recently-announced No. 8 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 — complete with rookie stripes.

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And, in the spirit of the holidays, George Simmons designed a helmet that looks like it was designed with gift wrap and shiny gold ribbon.

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Video of the Week

Check out a replay of YouTube user Maratio expertly splitting the middle to win an iRacing Truck Series race at Talladega — not to mention a four-wide finish for second place.

Posted on by Staff Report

On the day after Christmas Kevin Harvick unwrapped a new black Mobil 1 scheme that will adorn the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford for nine Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races in 2019.

The sleek new look will make its debut on March 17 at Auto Club Speedway in Harvick’s home state of California for the Auto Club 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Harvick through the years

Harvick won eight times in 2018 en route to finishing third in the Monster Energy Series final standings. Two of those victories (Texas and Michigan) came in a Mobil 1 paint scheme.

Here’s a preview of the new scheme:

Kevin Harvick Mobil 1 scheme

Posted on by Staff Report

Christopher Bell shared some holiday joy through social media Friday, revealing his engagement to longtime girlfriend Morgan Kemenah.

Bell’s news comes five days after his 24th birthday. The NASCAR Xfinity Series regular indicated that he and Kemenah had dated for 4 1/2 years before his proposal.

Bell scored seven wins and five pole positions in the Xfinity Series last season for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Posted on by Staff Report

Fans got their first on-track look at the 2019 Ford Mustang in a video released by Ford Performance last week. Now, there’s a behind-the-scenes clip of the entire day to digest.

Ford Performance released that clip as well, showing the set up and execution of one of the more memorable “reveal” videos of the year.

PHOTOS: The day in pictures | First look: 2019 Ford Mustang

Ford officials had previously announced that the Mustang would make its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2019.

Watch below to see Team Penske driver and 2018 champion Joey Logano and drifting driver Vaughn Gittin Jr. behind the scenes.

Posted on by Zack Albert

It’s been a whirlwind holiday season so far for Corey LaJoie.

First, Go Fas Racing announced Thursday that LaJoie will drive the team’s No. 32 Ford full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next season. That professional news precedes a big event on the personal side: tying the knot with his fiancée, Kelly, in the coming week.

“This is the best holiday ever,” LaJoie said. “I’m really excited about it. Just, God’s got me in a really good point in my life right now.”

RELATED: On the Move: Tracking changes for 2019

LaJoie, 27, will replace Matt DiBenedetto, the team’s driver for the last two seasons. LaJoie was introduced at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where the Archie St. Hilaire-owned organization also unveiled a show car to highlight sponsorship from Keen Parts, Schluter Systems and ZAK Products.

LaJoie has 57 starts in NASCAR’s top series spread over three seasons. After a season at BK Racing, LaJoie shifted to TriStar Motorsports for the 2018 campaign, splitting time with Cole Whitt in the No. 72 Chevrolet.

Those roles with lesser-funded teams came after paying his dues with various odds-and-ends jobs to keep his hand in motorsports. In the last handful of years, LaJoie has served as a crew chief for driver David Mayhew in the K&N Pro Series, manufacturing racing seats for his father’s business, and was offered a position as a car chief by Chad Knaus within the Hendrick Motorsports pipeline. Ultimately, LaJoie still felt the itch to be behind the wheel.

“There were times where Sunday nights, I was just wondering what I was doing,” LaJoie said. “You know, if I should go back welding seats or go be a crew chief. Man, there was a lot of obstacles to get to being a full-time Cup driver. If I need to be careful, I might make a career out of this thing before long. I don’t think there’s been any other Cup guys that were flying out to K&N West Series, crew chiefing for any guys three years ago. To rewind now, it’s pretty crazy.”

PHOTOS: First look at 2019 Ford Mustang

Corey LaJoie to drive at Go Fas Racing
Zack Albert | NASCASR Digital Media

St. Hilaire said that his contract with LaJoie called for a one-year deal, a length of time that he said has been customary with his organization. The team owner said he’ll also receive some technical assistance from Ford and that he’ll have pit-crew service next season from Team Penske, a switch from Hendrick Motorsports in order to maintain manufacturer unity.

St. Hilaire added that he was open to expanding to a second Monster Energy Series team on a part-time basis, but that for now, his focus was on adapting to a new rules package in 2019 and building a relationship with LaJoie.

“We’re a blue-collar race team and Corey’s a blue-collar driver,” St. Hilaire said. “He can build a car, he can fix a car, and he can drive a car. I think that’s exciting.”

LaJoie has three ARCA Racing Series wins and six victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he was the series’ runner-up in 2012. He was selected for the NASCAR Next class of rising stock-car talent in 2011 and 2012, the program’s first two seasons.

MORE: DiBenedetto joins new-look LFR effort

DiBenedetto ended up 29th in the final Monster Energy Series standings last season, notching a best finish of seventh in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in July. He was announced in October as the full-time driver next year for Leavine Family Racing, replacing Kasey Kahne in the No. 95.

LaJoie and DiBenedetto both were chosen for the NASCAR Next roster in its first year, when the initiative was known as Next 9. Five of the nine drivers in that initial class are now Monster Energy Series regulars.