Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

Editor’s note: Today, Jan. 15, is the final day to attempt to qualify for the draft! Learn more here.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2018) – NASCAR, Race Team Alliance and 704Games announced today a collaboration that will create the first-ever NASCAR esports league on consoles, eNASCAR Heat Pro League. The newly formed esports league will feature up to 16 race teams and 32 drivers, each owned and operated by prominent NASCAR race teams.

Beginning today, fans across the nation owning NASCAR Heat 3 can begin to qualify for the first-ever eNASCAR Heat Pro League Draft, scheduled to take place early next year. Following the Draft, the esports league will feature a 16-race season beginning in spring 2019 and culminating during the 2019 NASCAR Playoffs. All eNASCAR Heat Pro League races will be live streamed online at NASCAR.com and Motorsport.com.

“We look forward to taking this first step with our teams to introduce NASCAR-style racing to the massive esports audience on consoles,” said Craig Neeb, Executive Vice President, Innovation and Development, NASCAR. “Our partners at 704Games have delivered an incredible product and we are enthusiastic about engaging gamers to create new fans and grow our sport.”

Many of NASCAR’s most successful teams are participating in the new esports venture, including: Chip Ganassi Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske. Each of the participating teams will field two drivers, one competing on Xbox One and the other on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

“This is an exciting moment in NASCAR history,” stated Jonathan S. Marshall, Executive Director of the Race Team Alliance. “The race teams are taking this new league very seriously and will be looking for the best competitors in the nation to represent their respective teams. We expect the competition level will be high and we challenge these new esports drivers to become the best of the best.”

704Games, NASCAR’s exclusive esports partner for simulation-style video games, released NASCAR Heat 3 in September 2018. Shortly after, 704Games launched a NASCAR esports tournament on consoles that culminated at Homestead-Miami Speedway. With the eNASCAR Heat Pro League, 704Games, aided by an investment from international media and technology company Motorsport Network, whose platforms represent the largest audience of motorsport and auto enthusiasts in the world, looks to expand NASCAR’s presence in the growing popularity of esports.

“This partnership creates a once in a lifetime opportunity for NASCAR Heat 3 players to work with a NASCAR race team and represent their team on a global esports platform” said Paul Brooks, CEO of 704Games. “We’re excited to bring competitive online console racing to NASCAR and promote a greater engagement between fans and gamers with the eNASCAR Heat Pro League.”

For more information and to register for the eNASCAR Heat Pro League Draft, players can visit eNASCARHeatProLeague.com. Additional details about the eNASCAR Heat Pro League including sponsors, broadcast partners, and league rules will be announced in early 2019.

Posted on by Staff Report

Jimmie Johnson enters 2019 with a lot of “news.”

New sponsor, new paint scheme and, perhaps most importantly, a new crew chief in Kevin Meendering.

Looking to get back to Victory Lane after failing to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in a full-time season for the first time in his career, Johnson will have a new voice coming over his radio after nearly two decades with Chad Knaus.

MORE: Hendrick shakes up crew chief lineup

The 37-year-old Meendering, who called the shots for the JR Motorsports No. 1 Chevrolet of Elliott Sadler the last three Xfinity Series seasons, checked in with Sirius XM NASCAR Radio on Thursday afternoon to chat about his upcoming venture with one of NASCAR’s most successful drivers.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” said Meendering. “The good part about it is we have so many resources and a lot of great people to support you over here (at Hendrick Motorsports) and that really helps with the pressure side of it. …

“ … I couldn’t be in a better situation or work with a better driver than Jimmie. He has the most experience and has had so much success. I think the biggest thing is, he knows what he needs, the feeling he’s looking for in the race car and we just gotta work hard to get that to him. I think being a young crew chief, first year in the series, I think having a veteran with that kind of experience to bounce ideas off of is just an incredible situation for me and I’m looking forward to it.”

RELATED: Recap Johnson’s 2018 season 

Meendering will be making a return to Hendrick Motorsports after previously having a 16-year association with the outlet, starting as a high school intern with the organization’s chassis shop. He eventually grew into the role of lead engineer for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Chevrolet in 2011.

His first task? Figure out what went wrong in a 2018 season that ranks as the seven-time champion’s worst in an illustrious career — and find a way to ring that famous “Victory Bell” at the Hendrick shop once more.

Building a solid rapport with his new driver can’t hurt, either.

“What do we need to build in our cars and how are they going to race on track is what we’ve working on and on top of that, just spending as much time as I can with Jimmie and working on that communication,” Meendering said. “Hopefully we can work through all those bugs and issues and be ready for Daytona.”

After spending three years away from the HMS shop — albeit at the Hendrick-associated JRM headquarters in Moorseville, North Carolina — Meendering noticed right away how well all four Hendrick teams are collaborating to relocate the speed the longtime Chevrolet powerhouse had long held.

And when it comes to the No. 48 team, specifically, he’s getting a helping hand from a man with a pretty strong familiarity.

“I talk to (Chad Knaus) more now than the 17 years I was here prior. We always had a great relationship and I think we work well together,” he said. “All four of us (crew chiefs) are working well together this year to try and get what we need to go faster. I think that’s probably the biggest difference in the organization from when I was here before, is just how well the teams have bonded and how close they work together, which is great.

“It takes everybody to get the job done. It takes everybody’s input. You’ve got to surround yourself with smart people, intelligent people that know what it takes to get the job done. It’s not one person that’s going to win races. I think building those relationships with the people back here at the shop, the engineers and guys on the team, that’s a big part of it and that’s important for the offseason. … That’s what we’re here for, to win races.”

Posted on by Staff Report

GMS Racing announced Thursday that John Hunter Nemechek will drive the team’s No. 23 Chevrolet for the full NASCAR Xfinity Series season in 2019.

Nemechek will take over the ride that was primarily held by Spencer Gallagher last season. Gallagher announced his retirement from driving last October, saying he would take a managerial role for the organization owned by his father, Maury.

Nemechek competed in 18 Xfinity races last season for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 team in his first taste of the series. The 21-year-old driver netted one pole position and six top-five finishes, including his first Xfinity Series win — Oct. 20 at Kansas Speedway.

RELATED: Drivers on the move for 2019 

“I am very grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Gallagher and the entire GMS Racing organization has presented to me to be able to run full time in 2019,” Nemechek said in a team release. “The results that GMS Racing showed last year in their NASCAR Xfinity Series program were impressive. Their goal is to create a championship-caliber team, like their Truck Series program, and I believe that we can achieve that goal in the 2019 season.”

Nemechek earned his way up the stock-car ladder through the Late Model ranks, scoring prestigious wins in the Snowball Derby and the All American 400 as part of a productive 2014 campaign. Those successes came as Nemechek made the transition to a part-time tenure in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving for family-owned NEMCO Motorsports with his father, Joe, at the helm.

After breaking through with a 2015 victory at Chicagoland Speedway, Nemechek has won at least one Truck Series event in each of the last four seasons. His most recent triumph — at Martinsville Speedway in March — pushed his career total to six Truck Series wins.

The GMS No. 23 team competed in all 33 Xfinity Series races last season, with a total of eight drivers splitting the seat time. Gallagher made the most starts (19), scoring his only Xfinity win at Talladega Superspeedway in April.

“John Hunter (Nemechek) is a wheelman,” said Mike Beam, president of GMS Racing. “We are excited to have him on board for the 2019 season. With how much progress we showed last year in our NASCAR Xfinity Series program, I know that John Hunter will take us to the next level.”

Monster Energy Series regular Chase Elliott drove the No. 23 for seven races, and the car was also home to a one-race comeback from his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, last summer. Johnny Sauter made two starts in the GMS No. 23, while AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Justin Haley and Casey Roderick also took the wheel for one start each.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: Nemechek on his move to Xfinity in 2018

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — NASCAR Next member Anthony Alfredo will join DGR-Crosley next season, the team announced Thursday. Alfredo will compete part-time in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series with support from his partners Ceco Building Systems, Meccanic Shop North and Oxford Energy Group.

The 19-year-old Ridgefield, Connecticut native most recently competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) where he finished fifth in overall point standings in his rookie season. Alfredo ended the 2018 NKNPSE season with a win at South Boston Speedway, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes throughout the 14-race season. Before moving to the NKNPSE, Alfredo raced late model stock cars in the CARS Tour where he collected two wins and finished second in overall point standings. He is also a member of the prestigious NASCAR Next program which highlights emerging up-and-coming drivers.

NASCAR Next: See full class

“Going to DGR-Crosley next season is a huge opportunity for me,” said Alfredo. “To be able to work with David (Gilliland), who’s not only the owner but also someone who has a lot of racing experience, is going to be very beneficial. They have a great group of hardworking, knowledgeable people in their shop which is going to make the transition to trucks a lot smoother for me. They’ve had a lot of success at every level they’ve competed in, and it’s a dream come true to be able to race for them at the national level. Making it to the Cup Series is the end goal, and I feel like I’m one step closer to where I want to be. I can’t thank everyone who has made this possible and supported me throughout my career enough, especially my family and sponsors who continually believe in me.”

Team co-owner David Gilliland is excited about the newest addition to DGR-Crosley’s 2019 driver lineup.

RELATED: Alfredo quickly finding his way in racing

“I’m excited to have Anthony on board next season,” said Gilliland. “I watched him all year in the K&N Series and he did a great job. He’s a talented racer and has shown that he has the drive to keep getting better. He’s a great fit for our program at DGR-Crosley and going to do a very good job for us next season in the Truck Series.”

Alfredo is expected to make his NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway. A full schedule will be released at a later date.

MORE: Decker joins DGR-Crosley, to race across three series

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR announced six drivers Thursday for the Drive for Diversity Class of 2019, unveiling a group that blends talented newcomers with returning veterans.

Chase Cabre, Ernie Francis Jr., Rubén García Jr. and Nick Sanchez return to the driver development program next season. They’ll be joined by first-time participants Brooke Storer and Gracie Trotter.

The six were chosen from the 12 invitees to the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Combine last October at New Smyrna Speedway and Bethune-Cookman University. The group will compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and Whelen All-American Series next year for Rev Racing.

RELATED: Scenes from the D4D Combine

“This year’s class features six highly talented drivers who each possess an impressive blend of skill and experience,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR senior manager of racing operations and event management. “We’re thrilled to see these drivers develop throughout the 2019 season and enjoy success both on and off the race track.”

The 2019 campaign will mark the 10th season that Max Siegel’s Rev Racing organization has fielded cars for the Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. The team has amassed 19 wins in the K&N Pro Series and counts current Monster Energy Series drivers Kyle Larson, Daniel Suárez and Bubba Wallace among its distinguished alumni.

RELATED: Siegel applauds Wallace’s rise to NASCAR’s big stage

A glance at the six participants in the 2019 program:

• Chase Cabre: The 21-year-old Florida native returns for his third season with Rev Racing. He’ll compete again in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he wound up seventh in the 2018 standings.

• Ernie Francis Jr.: Francis rolled to his fifth consecutive Trans-Am Series championship in 2018, prevailing in five of the season’s 11 races. He also won the pole last year in his K&N East debut, in June at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Francis, 20, will compete in a mix of Late Model and K&N Series races in 2019.

• Rubén García Jr.: García secured the NASCAR Peak Mexico Series title for a second time last season and finished third in the K&N Pro Series East final standings. The 23-year-old driver will return to the K&N East tour, where he won twice last season.

• Nick Sanchez: The 17-year-old Floridian participated as an All-American Series rookie last season, mixing in a summer schedule of Legends Car events. Sanchez will be back in a Late Model car for Rev Racing in 2019.

• Brooke Storer: The 20-year-old driver claimed the Sportsman Division championship at Auburndale (Fla.) Speedway. Storer will wheel an All-American Series Late Model next season.

• Gracie Trotter: Trotter split time last season in the CARS Tour, PASS Super Late Model series and Legends Car events. The 17-year-old North Carolinian will take part in the Whelen All-American Series for Rev Racing next season.

Posted on by Team Release

Statesville N.C. – GMS Racing officials announced today that the Statesville, N.C., based organization would expand competition into the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, as well as in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Series in 2019.  Sam Mayer, a Franklin, Wis., native will drive the No. 21 entry for the team in both series. Mayer is also scheduled to participate in four NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series events beginning in August at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“GMS Racing has had tons of success over the past couple years, especially this past year,” said Mayer. “Knowing that a great team is behind me going into next season gives me a lot of confidence that we will have success, too.”

RELATED: Full coverage of K&N Pro Series at Home Tracks

In 2018, Mayer competed in six K&N East races with his highest finish being fourth-place at Dover International Speedway. The 15-year-old also competed in the ARCA Racing Series three times, making his series debut at Iowa Speedway finishing 10th and later topped that finish at Lucas Oil Raceway where he finished seventh.

“We are excited to add K&N, as well as ARCA to our organization in 2019,” said Mike Beam, President of GMS Racing. “Mayer is very talented at such a young age, and I see a big future for him in motorsports. I’m glad that he chose us to pursue his career in racing. Our goal has always been to build championship caliber teams no matter what series we participate in. With Mayer behind the wheel and Mardy Lindley leading the team, I do not doubt in my mind they will be successful in 2019.”

Mayer and the No. 21 team’s first race will be in the K&N Pro Series East event at Smyrna Speedway on February 10, 2019.

MORE: NASCAR welcomes ARCA to the family | Competition framework outlined

Posted on by Zack Albert

Left unsettled amid Tuesday’s fanfare that anointed Kurt Busch as the new driver of Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet was the organization’s plan for Jamie McMurray, who has held the seat for the last nine seasons.

Team owner Chip Ganassi says he anticipates that McMurray will stay, hinting at the potential for a new capacity with the team’s management.

“Well, first of all, I do expect Jamie to stick around, yes,” Ganassi said Tuesday in a joint teleconference with Busch. “And as we talked about, we are going to have some announcements forthcoming on that subject.”

McMurray, 42, brought team owner Chip Ganassi some of his biggest NASCAR triumphs, including wins in the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 in a stellar 2010 season. But McMurray had gone winless since a 2013 victory at Talladega, and he missed the Monster Energy Series playoffs this season.

RELATED: On the move: Tracking changes for 2019

The Associated Press reported in September that Ganassi had offered McMurray a final ride in the 2019 Daytona 500 before he moves to a potential managerial role with the organization. A handful of former drivers have made such a shift for Ganassi, including NASCAR vet Josh Wise, now an athletic trainer, and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti, who serves as a driver consultant.

“I think anytime you have guys that are current in the sport, it’s an opportunity,” Ganassi said. “That is what guys like Josh or Dario or Jamie can bring. They are the most current guys that are maybe not driving for one reason or another and that is something that is invaluable in a team organization. You are constantly building this book of information and you are constantly tapping this book of knowledge or building it. You have another head in the room. It doesn’t have to be much, just one little piece of advice or one little tidbit of information can be invaluable on a race weekend.”

MORE: Kurt Busch shifts to Ganassi’s No. 1

McMurray drove for Ganassi from 2002-05 and — after a four-year stint at Roush Fenway Racing — from 2010-2018. Five of his seven wins came with Ganassi, including a surprising breakthrough victory in just his second premier-series start as a substitute for the injured Sterling Marlin.

That first win set McMurray on his way as a hot commodity and helped establish his legacy with the team owner. As Ganassi suggests, it’s a legacy that he hopes will continue inside the walls of the team’s Concord, North Carolina shop.

“I think, when you have an entrance into the sport like that, put that down as your foundation,” Ganassi said, “and then building upon that with obviously two or three wins leading up to 2010 there where he won the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard in that sort of storybook year that the entire organization had, Jamie has got a nose for the front of the pack. He is the type of driver that wakes up when you can get him to the front.

“So, I think, as I’ve said before, I want him to continue on with our organization and I think in the coming weeks you will find that out. I think he is somebody that can take a lot of stock in any of the success that this team has or happens in the future. Jamie can take a lot of stock in that in helping bring a level of maturity to the organization when it was badly needed.”

Posted on by Sponsored Content

Congratulations to the inaugural Ford Hall of Fans Winners Chester Maszczenski Jr. and Darin Kent on emerging victorious from four different challenges among six finalists during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway!

Edsel Ford II poses with Ford Hall of Fans winners Darin Kent (left) and Chester Maszczenski
Edsel Ford II with Ford Hall of Fans winners Darin Kent (left) and Chester Maszczenski

Both put on their best performances competing in a Pit Stop Challenge, RC Challenge, Fanify Challenge and Trivia Challenge, testing their NASCAR prowess, creativity, originality and NASCAR knowledge.

Not only did Chester and Darin each win a custom Ford Hall of Fans varsity jacket, they each also won a new Ford Vehicle of their choice! Darin is leaning towards a family vehicle, while Chester is leaving the decision up to his wife. Each wins a trip to Charlotte in early 2019 to attend the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

As Chester and Darin are inducted into the Ford Hall of Fans, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will also be inducting Jeff Gordon, Jack Roush, Roger Penske, Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki on Feb. 1.

Our two new Ford Hall of Fans Winners beat out more than 8,000 entrants in a contest that narrowed down the field in a fan vote then sent the six finalists to compete in Miami. Check out the six finalists’ journey at Ford Championship Weekend at www.NASCAR.com/Ford.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

2018: What a year! It feels like just yesterday

. This year, we saw the emergence of the Big 3:


and

. This trio won over half the races in 2018.

2018 also brought us new first-time race winners. My favorite was

. The most memorable part of the season was the race at

, where

. No one saw that coming!

Can you believe

? Maybe next year

, the

, will follow suit.

The end of the season also meant we bid farewell to

, which makes me feel so

. The only thing I may miss even more is

, to be honest.

I know William Byron won Rookie of the Year, technically, but I would have given

the award instead. My favorite finish of 2018 was

. I was

with the result.

The Championship 4 came down to the Big 3 and

in the end. While I expected

to win the championship, I’m totally

Joey Logano winning it.

If I had to guess, next year is

’s season, mostly because we almost witnessed

in 2018. Next year, though, I’m mostly looking forward to

and most importantly, the revenge of

. Bring on 2019!

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

The opportunities appear to be endless for Kurt Busch following his official move to Chip Ganassi Racing’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series program.

After five years with Stewart-Haas Racing, Busch will drive the No. 1 Chevrolet, bringing sponsorship from Monster Energy with him to the organization for the one-year deal.

But the fresh start could bring chances to run in other forms of racing with Chip Ganassi also owning teams that compete in both IndyCar and IMSA.

RELATED: Detailing Busch’s move to Ganassi | Busch’s Ganassi unveil was a monster

“I think in my conversations with Kurt, all that stuff is available,” Ganassi said. “All of our cars are available to all of our drivers. So, I think it’s a matter of if the opportunity presents itself.”

Both Ganassi and Busch treaded lightly while discussing what the future holds beyond 2019, whether it’s a contract extension in NASCAR, other racing endeavors, or both.

“It’s more than just me saying, ‘Hey, let’s do it’ and him saying, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’ ” Ganassi added. “The important point is those things are available for conversation.”

What could certainly help Busch’s cause to drive another Indianapolis 500 or Rolex 24 at Daytona under the Ganassi banner is his previous experience.

Busch participated in the Rolex 24 in 2005 and ’08, finishing third in the latter event. In 2014, the now 40-year-old competed in the Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport, finishing sixth in his maiden IndyCar Series voyage after starting 12th.

“It’s not often you have a guy that has the experience to do that, like at Indy and in an IndyCar,” Ganassi said. “It’s certainly on the table, if need be.”

While seeing Busch in a sports car at Daytona or an open-wheel car at Indy seems more like a potential reality than a farfetched fantasy, right now he’s focused on putting the No. 1 Camaro back in Victory Lane and bringing home a second career championship.

“Anytime you get an opportunity like this … you don’t know what’s around the next corner as far as motivation and challenges,” Busch said. “So, for right now, I see it all in and we’ll see how it goes from there.”