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

Tuesday, December 18
On MRN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Live

Thursday, December 20
On MRN
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday: 1986 Winston Western at Riverside Raceway

Tuesday, December 25
12 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features, Part 1, FS1
1 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Fans’ Choice Awards, FS1
2 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features, Part 2, FS1
3 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive, FS1
4 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Season Recap, FS1
5 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Daytona 500, FS1
8 p.m.: Beyond the Wheel 2018, FS1
9 p.m.: Beyond the Wheel, FS1

On MRN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Live

Wednesday, December 26
9 p.m.: Beyond the Wheel, FS2

Thursday, December 27
On MRN
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday: 1998 Kroger 300 at Lucas Oil Raceway

Friday, December 28
2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway (re-air), FS2

Posted on by Staff Report

Karsyn Elledge is about to do something that even her uncle Dale Earnhardt Jr. has yet to undertake — a bid at the Chili Bowl Nationals.

The 18-year-old daughter of JR Motorsports co-owner Kelley Earnhardt Miller, Junior’s sister, announced Saturday she will enter her first Chili Bowl this January.

Elledge made the announcement in a video on Twitter, filmed at the dirt track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She’ll be running for Tucker-Boat Motorsports.

She’ll be competing against JRM driver Justin Allgaier, Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman, former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne and more than 200 others in the premier dirt racing event.

Earlier this year, Elledge won a race at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina. She later played hooky.

The Chili Bowl gets underway Jan. 14 atĀ Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Posted on by Zack Albert

WELCOME, N.C. ā€” Richard Childress Racing’s unveiling of glitzy gold cars Friday at the team’s headquarters celebrated the company’s 50 years in NASCAR, but it also signaled a new era, with a new driver (Daniel Hemric) and a new car number (No. 8) to round out a day flush with announcements.

RCR at 50: See all angles of gold 50th anniversary schemes

But amid all the stories about Richard Childress’ humble upbringing and the sport’s “good ol’ days” was another history lesson, this one about the team owner’s recent association with the organization’s newest car number.

“When we originally got the 8, we got it for Ty Dillon,” Childress said, mentioning his grandson, a two-year veteran of the Monster Energy Series. “He was going to come here and run, and then he ended up driving for Germain Racing and GEICO, and we held it another couple of years after that. And so the opportunity came along. I wanted to come up with something brand-new for Daniel and tie the 3 and 8 together here at RCR.”

New meets old: Hemric in the No. 8Ā | Schemes, sponsors for No. 8

Dillon drove in both the Xfinity Series and Gander Outdoors Truck Series for Richard Childress Racing. But instead of following his brother Austin’s path to the Monster Energy Series with his grandfather’s team, Ty Dillon’s ascension to NASCAR’s top division came with an RCR affiliate in the Germain No. 13 Chevrolet.

Chalk the No. 8’s alignment with Hemric up to both timing and a hometown connection. RCR had a full three-car stable locked in with Austin Dillon, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard when Ty Dillon was ready to move up the ladder to the Cup Series for the 2017 season. That left the rights to the No. 8 in Childress’ hands for two more years. Bringing it back then made more sense with Hemric, who shares a Kannapolis, North Carolina hometown with the Earnhardt family, which has its own rich history with both RCR and the car number.

Ty Dillon will continue with the Germain No. 13 team in 2019. Though timing and other circumstances kept him from naturally progressing to RCR’s top tier, could Childress envision a home for the 26-year-old Dillon on the Cup Series roster?

“Who knows what the future will allow, but not today,” Childress said. “He’s got a great opportunity with Germain Racing. We’re going to work closer with them this coming year and see if we can add some more to their alliance. I think that Ty’s really, really happy working with Bob Germain and sometimes you look at the Pettys when Kyle didn’t race there and different family members race at other places — Davey, Bobby (Allison), all down the line.

“But I think, sure, I would’ve liked to have seen Ty start his career here, but he’s got his own path. He’s following his own path and he’s really, really happy with Germain, and I’m happy because he’s happy.”

Posted on by Zack Albert

WELCOME, N.C. ā€” Even as Richard Childress Racing celebrates its history with a 50th anniversary celebration, there’s plenty of new surrounding the team’s two-car fleet for the upcoming Monster Energy Series season, including a new driver in Daniel Hemric and a new car number — 8.

One constant for RCR in 2019: the return of Luke Lambert, who is back with the organization for his ninth season as a crew chief. Lambert has presided atop the pit box for driver Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Chevrolet for the last five seasons. Newman will join Roush Fenway Racing next season, and RCR will change the team’s number from 31 to 8 to mark Hemric’s arrival.

RELATED: Hemric to pilot No. 8 Camaro | Schemes, sponsors for No. 8

Lambert has already gotten to know his new driver, as the two worked together in offseason testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Team owner Richard Childress said that Hemric and Lambert have quickly developed chemistry, something he hopes will continue in 2019.

“They’ve already done one test at Charlotte and they blended, both of them,” Childress said. “They’ve got a lot of respect for each other and they both want the same thing and that’s to win.”

Lambert has worked for RCR for more than a decade, starting with the company as a mechanical engineer. He rose to a crew chief position midway through the 2011 season with Jeff Burton, and served in that role on the Xfinity Series side for Elliott Sadler the following year, with the pair winning four races together and finishing second in the season standings.

In his second full year with the No. 31 (now No. 8) team in 2014, Lambert helped guide Newman’s underdog march to the Championship 4 field in the Homestead-Miami finale, where he finished as the runner-up. He also called the shots on Newman’s most recent major-league win, at ISM Raceway in Phoenix in March 2017.

“He’s been here for years and he’s won races for us,” Childress said, “so I’m proud to have him back.”

MORE: History of the iconic No. 8

Posted on by Team Release

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO–RANDOLPH, Texas ā€“ The Air Force and Richard Petty Motorsports announced today they will continue their 11th consecutive year of partnership together in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019. The Air Force will continue to be a two-race primary sponsor of the famed No. 43 with driver Bubba Wallace, as well as a major associate throughout the season.

Air Force Recruiting Service, charged with the mission to inspire, engage and recruit future Airmen, sees the continued association as an opportunity to build awareness about the Air Force. The Air Force has also witnessed the excitement that Wallace Jr. has brought to inspiring recruits in 2018 during his first year representing the Air Force.

“The Air Force continues to see benefits from our partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports and driver, Bubba Wallace,” said Maj. Ross McKnight, Chief, Air Force National Events Branch at Air Force Recruiting Service. “Wallace Jr. and his personality align well with our target audience’s interests and the Air Force’s commitment to teamwork and technology.”

As a partner of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team, the Air Force colors will again be featured during the two most patriotic race weekends of the year: July 4 weekend at Daytona (Florida) International Speedway and Veterans Day weekend at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The combination of Bubba Wallace and the iconic No. 43 provides a continuing sponsorship opportunity that reflects our Air Force core values of Integrity, Service and Excellence, as well as has a positive impact on generating public awareness about the U.S. Air Force, our people and our mission,” McKnight said. “Like NASCAR, much of our work is based on science, technology, engineering and math principles combined with teamwork and training. This sponsorship is a great way to highlight that connection.”

In his first year partnering with the Air Force, Wallace Jr. engaged with current Airmen and aspiring recruits. He visited four different U.S. Air Force bases, including Randolph in San Antonio, Texas, Seymour Johnson in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio, and Shaw in South Carolina. Wallace Jr. participated in different drills at each base and took flight in an F-16 with the 77th Fighter Squadron known as the “Gamblers” at Shaw AFB, SC. Wallace Jr. also spoke with high school students about reaching their goals.

“I was really impressed with all the different aspects of the Air Force, and the different opportunities they offer,” said Wallace Jr. “I was able to visit different bases and see the Airmen in action and actually participate myself. That gets me excited and then I’m able to talk to inspiring students who are looking at a career in the Air Force. I’m pretty humbled to represent the Air Force.”

In addition to various visits away from the track, Wallace Jr. and “The King” Richard Petty meet young men and women of the Air Force each weekend along with Air Force leadership.

“The U.S. Air Force have been loyal partners to us,” added Petty, co-owner, Richard Petty Motorsports. “It is special for us because we get to thank the men and women who protect our freedom each weekend. Bubba has really been able to connect with their recruits, too. We’re proud to continue to represent the Air Force on and off the track.”

Posted on by Zack Albert

WELCOME, N.C. — The No. 8 is coming back full time to NASCARā€™s top division. Fittingly, a native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, is giving it a ride.

Richard Childress Racing announced Friday that rookie Daniel Hemric will pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next season. The number shifts from the No. 31 that the organization had fielded full time since expanding to a two-car operation for the 1997 season.

“Growing up in Kannapolis, it was all about racing,” Hemric said in a RCR team release. “I always dreamed of having the opportunity to drive for RCR and for Richard himself. Now, two iconic numbers, the 3 and the 8, are going to be under one roof. I know it makes Richard happier than anybody, just understanding what that means for the sport of NASCAR and how our fans are going to be able to connect with that.”

The news broke Friday at a kickoff event ahead of RCRā€™s 50th anniversary season, with team owner Richard Childress leading the company’s 400-some employees in a champagne toast. The organization also unveiled two special gold car designs for Hemric’s No. 8 and teammate Austin Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

RELATED: Other drivers of No. 8

Childress announced Hemric as Ryan Newmanā€™s replacement Sept. 28 ā€” and confirmed Friday that Luke Lambert would stay on as crew chief. The 73-year-old team owner had previously indicated that he was open to changing the car number, saying in September that the team had held discussions about the topic.

The number has long been associated with the Earnhardt family, which has deep ties to the Kannapolis community that Hemric also calls home. Dale Earnhardt Jr. broke into NASCARā€™s top series with the No. 8, and his father and grandfather had used the number in several different racing series.

Hemric — who has competed full-time with RCR’s Xfinity program the last two seasons — brought back the No. 8 for his first two Monster Energy Series starts in 2018, using the number at Richmond Raceway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. That will continue into RCR’s golden anniversary campaign, with Childress indicating he wanted to kick Hemric’s premier-series career off with a brand-new look.

“It’s a perfect fitting,” Childress said. “Dale Jr. was his hero back in the day and for him to be able to drive an 8 that’s so iconic for the Kannapolis area, that says a lot. He’s excited, I can tell you.”

Before Hemric’s two-race stint last season, the No. 8 was last used by Aric Almirola at the beginning of the 2009 season, when Dale Earnhardt Inc. merged with Chip Ganassi Racing. Further back still, the number was used for years by the Stavola Brothers operation and before that by driver/owner Ed Negre. It was a Negre-owned No. 8 Dodge that famously gave Dale Earnhardt Sr. his first-ever Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1975.

Childress said he had held the rights to the number for a handful of recent years, asking Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, for their blessing. But Childress also revealed Friday that his initial plan was to hold the No. 8 for grandson Ty Dillon, Austin’s brother, upon his arrival in NASCAR’s top series.

Ty Dillon wound up graduating to the Monster Energy Series full time with Germain Racing, which has a technical alliance with RCR, in 2017. He drives car No. 13, the number that his grandfather campaigned in his first premier-series start in 1969.

Posted on by Pat DeCola

Jimmie Johnson endured the most challenging season of his career in 2018 — but the cherry on top came nearly a month after the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series finale in November.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver at least has a sense of humor about backing into the babysitter’s car, pinning the blame on his longtime spotter Earl Barban (who, of course, was likely not present).

MORE: All-time Jimmie wins

Luckily for Johnson, he has a few connections in the car insurance world.

2018 Dec 14 Junior Bowman

Posted on by Team Release

DGR-Crosley announced today that Tyler Ankrum will drive the team’s No. 17 Toyota Tundra next season in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Due to age restrictions, Ankrum will miss the first three races of the season before turning 18 on March 6. He will make his 2019 debut at Martinsville Speedway and is slated to run the remainder of the season as a contender for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

The 17-year-old San Bernardino, California, native made his Truck Series debut earlier this year with DGR-Crosley at Martinsville Speedway where he earned an 18th-place finish. Additionally, Ankrum raced at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, where he consistently ran inside the top five and scored a career-best sixth-place finish. In his two Truck Series starts, Ankrum completed every lap and averaged a 12th-place finish.

Ā In 2018, Ankrum competed full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East where he was crowned champion in his rookie season. He became only the sixth driver in the series history to win a Championship and Rookie of Year honors in the same year. During the 14-race season, Ankrum captured four wins, nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

Ā RELATED: Ankrum knows history of K&N East champs

Ā “I’m really happy that Tyler is continuing his career with us at DGR-Crosley,” said team co-owner David Gilliland. “We started working with him when he was racing Late Model Stock cars a few years ago, and obviously he had a phenomenal season with us this year in the K&N East with four wins and a championship. It’s really special to watch him grow and develop as a driver. Tyler has proven that he knows how to win, and we’re excited to take the next step with him.”

Ā Ankrum, who has found a home in DGR-Crosley, is looking forward to continuing the relationship going forward.

Ā “Honestly, this is a dream come true,” said Ankrum. “It’s crazy to think that something I’ve been a fan of for so long, I’m now going to be a part of it. It’s even more special that I get to stay at DGR-Crosley and progress within their organization. Everyone on our team collaborates really well together, and there’s not a single person there that I don’t enjoy being around and learning from. Being surrounded by a group of people that I’m comfortable with will help in the transition and learning curve of moving up to the Truck Series. I’m really thankful for this opportunity, thankful to David for believing in me and especially grateful for all those that have supported me throughout my entire career.”

Ankrum and the No. 17 team will have two returning partners in Modern Meat Co. and May’s Brands. Additionally, Fred’s and Vivo will jump on board to sponsor Ankrum in select races throughout the 2019 season.

Posted on by Staff Report

Ford Performance made a grand introduction of its 2019 Mustang with a drifting-themed video of the car getting a workout at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano helped to put the specially equipped Mustang through its paces. Vaughn Gittin Jr. from the drifting realm joined in the video shoot, too.

RELATED: Scenes from the Ford Mustang introduction

The infield portion of the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course was a perfect setting for the first full look of next year’s car in the Monster Energy Series. Watch the full video below.

The Mustang has a long history in racing. Its first race was in 1964, when it was a surprise winner of the Tour de France Automobile, a 10-day, 4,000-mile suffer fest. The Mustang has also competed in SCCA, Trans-Am, IMSA, NHRA, Formula Drift and NASCAR Xfinity (since 2011). But it has never competed at NASCARā€™s highest level. That will change next year when it debuts in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2019.

The Cup-level Mustang is the result of collaboration between NASCAR, Ford performance and design teams and NASCAR teams that field entries for the famed blue oval. Designers and engineers worked hard to create a car that will be both competitive and remain true to its heritage.

Posted on by Staff Report

A Daytona doubleheader looms again two months from now, and the drivers populating the second portion of the Feb. 10 on-track action — the 2019 Advance Auto Parts Clash preseason race — are now known.

Daytona and NASCAR officials announced Thursday the 20 eligible drivers for the annual event, and the manner in which they qualified. The Clash, a 75-lap race with a competition caution at Lap 25, is preceded by Busch Pole Award Qualifying for the 61st running of the Daytona 500.

“There’s no better way to start the season,” said Steve Oā€™Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The close, door-to-door action you see in the Advance Auto Parts Clash is a precursor to the intense competition youā€™ll see in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series throughout 2019.”

MORE: Buy tickets for Daytona

The Clash field is comprised of drivers who were 2018 Busch Pole Award winners, former Clash winners who competed full-time in 2018, former Daytona 500 winners who competed full-time in 2018, former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2018 and drivers who qualified for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

“It’s a tremendous day of racing for our fans,” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile in a track release. “Having Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger followed by the Advance Auto Parts Clash makes for a sweet first Sunday of Speedweeks and will have fans fully tuned up for the 61st running of the ‘Great American Race’ on Feb. 17.”

Eligible drivers for The Clash are:

2018 Busch Pole Award Winners (13)

ā€¢ Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Daniel Suarez and Martin Truex Jr.

Former Daytona 500 Champions (2)

ā€¢ Jamie McMurray, Ryan NewmanĀ 

Former Daytona 500 Busch Pole Award Winners (2)

ā€¢ Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson

2018 Playoff Drivers (3)

ā€¢ Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski