Posted on by Team Release

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO–RANDOLPH, Texas – 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 NASCAR’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 RCR’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 Newman’s replacement Sept. 28 — 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 NASCAR’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.

 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.

 RELATED: Ankrum knows history of K&N East champs

 “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.”

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

 “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 NASCAR’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 O’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 you’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)

• 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)

• Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman 

Former Daytona 500 Busch Pole Award Winners (2)

• Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson

2018 Playoff Drivers (3)

• Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Brad Keselowski

Posted on by RJ Kraft

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The sting of a disappointing fourth-place finish in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series standings still sticks with Johnny Sauter and is etched in his comments weeks after the end of the season.

“Honestly, it was the hardest couple of weeks I’ve had after a season like that,” Sauter said Saturday night at the Xfinity and Truck Series Awards at the Charlotte Convention Center. “I felt really good about what we were doing going there (Miami) and then to have it unfold like that, it was very, very tough.

“Week, two weeks after that … it just sucks. You have a season like that, you want to capitalize on it and we didn’t. All in all, it was a great year but without the championship, it kind of leaves a little void.”

The 2018 campaign was a career-best for the 2016 series champion. Sauter set career-high numbers in wins (six) and laps led (585). He also was the series’ Regular Season Champion. A dominating win in the Round of 6 opener at Martinsville locked him into the Championship 4.

From there though, Sauter had one top 10 in the season’s final three races and finished 12th — lowest among the Championship 4 in the season-ending, title-deciding Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

RELATED: Champions honored in Charlotte | See every Truck Series champion

“Statistically, it was a great year,” Sauter said. “The wins and all that — and again there are numerous guys that would love to have the opportunity to win six races, so I’m not going to hang our head on that.

“It’s one thing to get beat for a championship but I felt like we really struggled at Homestead and that’s the toughest part. It’s one thing like last year you go down and finish third. ‘Oh well, it wasn’t your night.’ This year, it was tough to have the season that we did and ultimately struggle like we did.”

Sauter will have a new teammate in Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender and 2018 ARCA Racing Series champion Sheldon Creed in 2019, with Justin Haley moving up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. The organization also has a technical alliance with Halmar Friesen Racing and driver Stewart Friesen.

“I’ve been in position at GMS as kind of the old guy and I get to work with the rookies, so it’s cool,” Sauter said. “Sheldon (Creed) has shown speed early so I look for him to have a pretty good year obviously. Friesen is coming back and obviously he’s been with us for a year and half now, so it’s going to be fun.

“I feel like all three of us are capable guys and I look for us to be competing against each other for wins not only against the competition but amongst ourselves at GMS.”

Posted on by Brad Norman

Championship 4 driver Justin Haley was left with the bitter taste of unfinished business after finishing third in the final NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series standings in 2018, even amid three wins and 18 top-10 finishes.

Looking forward to 2019, Haley was glowing at the awards banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina. Haley will climb into the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro, the team announced Dec. 1.

“I really wasn’t looking at the time,” Haley said about his initial talks with Kaulig Racing. “But it’s really fallen into place and I’m really happy with Kaulig. I’m excited to be in another Chevrolet; it’s what I’ve done my whole life. Hopefully we can jump in where Ryan (Truex) left off and have a really good season.”

RELATED: Drivers on the move in 2019 | Awards red carpet photos 

Haley said he did have an offer from GMS Racing to move to the team’s No. 23 car in Xfinity after piloting the No. 24 Truck Series Chevrolet for two seasons, but the 19-year-old driver already had signed a multi-year Xfinity Series deal with Kaulig Racing and honored that. It was announced last week that John Hunter Nemechek will drive the No. 23 for GMS in the Xfinity ranks.

The 2018 season was Haley’s second full-time Truck Series season when his first win came at Gateway Motorsports Park in June. He added a second victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park to open the playoffs and his third came at Texas Motor Speedway during the playoffs.

Haley is excited about competing with a stout Xfinity rookie class in 2019 that includes Nemechek and fellow Championship 4 driver Noah Gragson, who is moving up with JR Motorsports. Haley says competing in Xfinity cars actually suits his driving style a little better.

“I have to unlearn some bad habits from trucks,” Haley said with a laugh. “They have such amazing grip that you can just kind of bully them and put them where you want.

“I ran really well in my ARCA days, and obviously they’re very similar to the Xfinity cars. The starts I had in the Xfinity Series this year went pretty well. I think I’m going to perform in that series a lot better and hopefully will progress better.”

Kaulig’s driver in 2018, Ryan Truex, scored one top five and 11 top 10s in the No. 11 Camaro in 2018. Kaulig Racing has yet to score its first victory in three years in the Xfinity Series; Blake Koch drove for the team for two years before Truex.

“They were a new team just two years ago,” Haley said, noting 2019 is a growth opportunity both for himself and Kaulig. “I like the direction they’re heading and there’s no reason we can’t win next season.”

Posted on by Staff Report

FOX Sports officials confirmed Wednesday that Jamie McMurray has joined its NASCAR broadcast team as an analyst for the 2019 season.

McMurray, 42, will make the transition to the studio for the network’s “NASCAR RaceDay” pre-race coverage and the “NASCAR Race Hub” midweek news show. The move was first reported by SportsBusiness Journal.

McMurray was replaced Dec. 4 as the driver of the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 Chevrolet. He has seven victories in 16-plus seasons competing in NASCAR’s top division, including a win in the 2010 Daytona 500.

Kurt Busch will pilot the No. 1 in 2019.

MORE: Silly Season breakdown  | Ganassi envisions new role in McMurray’s future

McMurray dabbled in broadcasting this fall with appearances on Race Hub in late October and early November. He also provided guest analysis in the booth for a pair of Xfinity Series events for FOX Sports the last two seasons.

Jamie Mcmurray Fox Sports 2 2
FOX Sports

“As my driving career got closer to the end, I thought about doing TV but wasn’t sure until I did a couple of NASCAR Race Hub shows at the end of this year,” McMurray said in a release provided by the network. “I really enjoyed it more than I expected. It’s a whole new world, but that’s what I am most excited about – the new challenge and discomfort that comes with doing something completely out of my element.”

In the news release, the network described the transition to broadcasting as McMurray’s “next full-time ride.” Still left to be determined is McMurray’s future role with team owner Chip Ganassi’s organization.

During a Dec. 4 teleconference, Ganassi indicated he hoped McMurray would remain with his team and that his plans would be firmed up in the coming weeks. According to a September report by The Associated Press, Ganassi has offered McMurray a final Monster Energy Series start in the 2019 Daytona 500 and a potential managerial position at CGR.

“There’s a good possibility that I could be in the Daytona 500 for most likely my last race of my career, or at least the foreseeable future,” McMurray said Wednesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “As of right now, it’s not done yet. But I think there’s a really good chance you’ll see that happen.”

FOX Sports indicated in the news release that an announcement for the full lineup for its 2019 NASCAR broadcasting team is forthcoming. The network announced in October that new, state-of-the-art technology will bring a new dimension to its studio set in Charlotte, North Carolina. The innovations are set to debut in February.

Posted on by Team Release

DETROIT, Mich. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will find himself in a very familiar place at the 2019 Daytona 500: at the front of the pack.

Earnhardt Jr., a two-time Daytona 500 winner, will drive the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pace truck to lead the field to green for the 61st running of the ‘Great American Race.’ This is the first time the Daytona 500 will be paced by a pickup truck.

“I’ve had a lot of fun and a lot of success at Daytona over the years, and now I can’t wait to get out on that track in a Silverado,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Away from the track I’ve driven Chevy trucks all my life, and I’m excited to have this unique experience of pacing the Daytona 500 with the Silverado.”

RELATED: See 2019 race start times

In addition to winning the ‘Great American Race’ in 2004 and 2014, Earnhardt Jr. was a two-time winner of the July race at Daytona, overall scoring four wins, 13 top five and 19 top 10s in 36 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career starts at Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Earnhardt Jr. was voted the sport’s Most Popular Driver for 15 consecutive years.

A rendering of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado Daytona 500 pace truck.
Chevrolet

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the perfect choice to pace the race because of his enthusiasm for the sport, his long history with Chevrolet and his love of trucks,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “It’ll be exciting to have Dale lead the field to green in the strongest, most-advanced Silverado ever.”

The Silverado pace truck is powered by a production 6.2L V-8 engine that is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It delivers 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.

Chevrolet has paced the Daytona 500 field 12 times, seven with Camaro and five with Corvette.