Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Award-winning moonshine distillery Sugarlands Distilling Company, LLC. has entered the sport by signing agreements with both the sanctioning body and one of the most iconic tracks on the circuit, Talladega Superspeedway. The new partnerships designate Sugarlands Shine as the “Official Moonshine of NASCAR” and as the title partner of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Trucks Series fall race, the Sugarlands Shine 250.

Sugarlands Distilling Company, LLC., produces high-quality craft moonshine. Since opening its doors in 2014, Sugarlands Distilling Company has won more than 20 awards for superior taste and quality. The distillery in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a popular attraction with more than one million visitors each year. In its fourth year of business, Sugarlands saw a 50% annual growth in distribution sales and expanded its distribution area to 24 states. Sugarlands Distilling Company is one of America’s top-rated distillery experiences and the number one “thing to do” in Gatlinburg, according to Trip Advisor.

“Moonshine is deeply rooted in the history of racing, so partnering with NASCAR felt very natural for us,” said Edward Vickers, President of Sugarlands Distilling Company. “This partnership is our first venture into the sporting industry and we’re excited to extend our brand to NASCAR’s passionate and dedicated fan base.”

Graphic for NASCAR, Sugarlands

As a part of the five-year agreement with NASCAR, Sugarlands will gain rights to promote its moonshine at retail, on packaging and will host key customers and distributors at-track. Additionally, Sugarlands is kickstarting the partnership with a ‘Beyond the Checkered Flag’ sweepstakes. The grand prize winner will experience VIP access at a NASCAR race, entry to the Sugarlands hospitality tent, travel accommodations and more. Fans can visit www.Sugarlands.com to enter and learn more about the sweepstakes.

“Moonshine is one of the fastest growing spirit categories in the country and we are excited to help introduce Sugarlands’ award-winning product to our brand loyal and national fan base,” said Jon Tuck, Chief Revenue Officer, NASCAR. “There is an authentic connection between our two brands and we are confident our fans will embrace the historical association.”

The Sugarlands Shine 250 will be held on Oct. 12, 2019, and serve as a key playoff event during the battle for the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship. As part of the multi-year deal, Sugarlands will offer a specially licensed moonshine for Talladega Superspeedway and be named the “Official Moonshine of Talladega Superspeedway.”

“Sugarlands is a natural fit for Talladega Superspeedway and we are thrilled to have them join our team,” said speedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “There are many old-time tales here about the good ol’ days when running moonshine in and around Talladega was happening, and our partnership with Sugarlands and the Sugarlands Shine 250, those stories will come back to life. There isn’t another venue in motorsports that has fans as loyal as ours, and I know they will love Sugarlands.”

Sugarlands recently announced a partnership with country music’s rising star and NASCAR fan, Cole Swindell. Swindell will be releasing his own Sugarlands Shine flavors starting with a Peppermint Moonshine which hit the shelves in liquor stores across the country, online and in Sugarland’s distillery this month. Swindell is currently working with Sugarlands to create a new recipe to be released in the new year.

Sugarlands Distilling Company is also a proud partner to Discovery Channel’s ‘Moonshiners,’ bringing the show’s notorious stars’ moonshine recipes straight to consumers. Sugarlands’ ‘Moonshiners Legends’ products feature recipes from Mark Rogers, Mark Ramsey & Digger Manes, Steven Tickle, Jim Tom Hedrick and Patti Bryan, all stars of the popular television series.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

The Jimmie Johnson-Chad Knaus No. 48 team chapter of the Hendrick Motorsports book may come to a close at season’s end, but that doesn’t mean they won’t add more to the story.

Seven championships and 81 victories over the span of 17 years is an unbelievable run — a dynasty built by two masters of their craft. Johnson and Knaus will go down as two of the greatest legends this sport has ever seen — together and separately.

But now, Johnson will get the opportunity to compete for a record-breaking eighth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship with Kevin Meendering, who has established himself as one of the greatest minds in the NASCAR garage.

And if you need proof of Meendering’s worth, just check Johnson’s text messages.

RELATED: Knaus ‘geeked up’ about achieving longtime goal 

“The amount of respect everybody here at Hendrick Motorsports has for him, from Chad to Alan Gustafson, you name the crew chief, even throughout the industry … I’ve been receiving text messages from competitors saying ‘hey he’s a sharp guy and a great choice,’ ” Johnson said. “So, his reputation and the way people hold his work ethic and his value the way they look and think of him.”

For Knaus, he gets to live a longtime dream by becoming crew chief on the iconic No. 24 car with a young William Byron at the helm — all of which is eerily similar to the days when he worked in the shop with the “Rainbow Warriors” for 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Gordon and Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham.

There never is a perfect time to make a change of this capacity to a championship-winning team, but in a weird way, it’s the right time for Rick Hendrick and Co.

This shuffle is a reset for Johnson and Knaus, giving them both a fresh start toward a higher goal. The thinking is Johnson will be able to achieve success without Knaus, and vice versa. If that wasn’t the case, team owner Rick Hendrick wouldn’t have made this move.

Both are confident this has nothing but positive potential for all parties involved.

“That excitement, energy and the commitment involved, the learning, the communication that takes place to start a new opportunity there is some magic in that,” Johnson said. “When new things start up there is always some extra energy and excitement around it. So, with that in mind I think comes opportunity for both cars and both teams.”

Through all the “breaking up the band” banter, there’s one thing that should be kept in mind — all four teams are now under one roof following the restructuring of Hendrick Motorsports at the end of 2017. They are all working together, pulling the rope in the same direction for one common goal — winning.

MORE: Detailing the Hendrick Motorsports shake up for ’19

That means Johnson and Knaus will still be working together in some capacity, helping each other thrive for the good of the organization as a whole.

Knaus anticipates their relationship will even get stronger than ever before.

“Every time you leave out of battle you have an emotion a sense in you that you have to deplete before you are able to get back into that space,” Knaus said. “So, we have gone through that a lot. I talked to (Jeff) Gordon about it and he swears that he and Ray (Evernham) are better friends now than what they were when they were winning championships and winning races and I feel like we will be the same way.”

The two now have a chance to see what they can do without each other, but when it comes down to it, their legacy together lives forever.

“It’s not over and we’re lifers for this company,” Johnson said. “This is home for us. Our collaboration of working together is ending to the way that we’re all familiar with and we’re used to it, but it’s not over.”

Posted on by Team Release

WELCOME, N.C. — Liberty National Life Insurance Company has extended its partnership with Richard Childress Racing and the No. 31 team for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Liberty National will remain a primary sponsor for select races with Daniel Hemric and the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and will be an associate sponsor for select races on the No. 3 Chevrolet with driver Austin Dillon.

A leading provider of life and supplemental health insurance for middle-income Americans through in-home and workplace sales, Liberty National is looking to build upon its successful LNL Racing marketing campaign by expanding its engagement opportunities with its independent sales Agents, independent agency owners, and  policyholders throughout the United States.

“Liberty National is thrilled to continue our partnership with Richard Childress Racing in 2019,” said Steve DiChiaro, president and CEO of Liberty National. “This year, we’re proud to cheer on Daniel Hemric taking the wheel with the No. 31 Liberty National Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. This partnership with RCR enables us to give Agents, business partners, and customers VIP at-track experiences, and 2019 will be even better with bigger contests and incentives for those associated with Liberty National.”      

Liberty National Life Insurance Company, founded in 1900 and based in McKinney, Texas is an official benefits provider of RCR and is excited to help launch the Cup career of Liberty National’s newest policy holder, Daniel Hemric. The 2019 race program will continue to include at-track activation at a majority of the events on the NASCAR schedule as an invaluable way to engage with its independent agents and business-to-business customers. Liberty National will also use RCR to leverage digital and social media assets to showcase its brand as a leading provider of life and supplemental health insurance, while also identifying business-to-business opportunities, and recruiting new Agents and customers.

“Last night in Texas, Steve DiChiaro and Richard (Childress) announced our 2019 plans to Liberty National agency owners at their annual meeting. It was a great opportunity to give the agency owners a chance to meet Daniel in person. This partnership is evolving, and it is our goal to continue to help Liberty National recruit new Agents and customers. We’ve also exposed the Liberty National brand and products to millions of NASCAR fans,” said Torrey Galida, president of RCR. “We look forward growing its footprint and hosting their Agents and customers at the races and at RCR next season.”

Daniel Hemric is currently third in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship points standings and has made the Playoffs in both of his seasons with RCR, advancing to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway during his rookie season in 2017.   

Posted on by Staff Report

With one zany, wild-card race in the NASCAR Playoffs already in the books with the Charlotte road course’s debut, there’s barely time to catch your breath before the next: this weekend’s Monster Energy Series tilt at Talladega Superspeedway.

The Alabama speedplant has long been a scrambler for postseason standings, dreams and body panels. The same is expected for the series’ second Talladega visit this season for Sunday’s 1000Bulbs.com 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).

NASCAR.com staff writers Jessica Ruffin and Zack Albert will be trackside for this weekend’s activities. Before they head to the Yellowhammer State, here are three burning questions up for debate ahead of the fifth event in the 10-race playoffs.

RELATED: Full schedule for Talladega | Top fantasy plays, sleepers for Talladega

1. Team Penske has won five of the last six Talladega races. Can the organization do it again, and if so, who’s the favorite among their three-car stable?

JR: Joey Logano has won half of the last six races at Talladega Superspeedway and has led multiple laps in every race there since 2015. Logano also ranks fourth among active drivers with total laps led at Talladega (266), a number higher than both of his Team Penske teammates. His recent success there bodes well for him, too; in the series’ last trip to Talladega, Logano led a race-high 70 laps to notch the win. With a spot in the Round of 8 on the line, he’ll look to rekindle that Talladega magic again.

ZA: Talladega still ranks at or near the top of the list for unpredictability, but Brad Keselowski has made a habit of being a pre-race favorite. His five victories in 19 career Talladega starts makes for an admirable 26.3 winning percentage, and the combination of team (Penske), car (Ford), engine (Roush Yates) and spotter (Joey Meier) has been stellar on restrictor-plate tracks. And that’s not counting the driver, who has been among the most cunning at maneuvering through — and usually leading — the pack. There are no guarantees at Talladega, but Keselowski and Team Penske are as close as it gets.

2. Who is the playoff driver currently outside the cutoff line most likely to rebound from last weekend’s race at Dover?

JR: Team Penske may rule Talladega, but Clint Bowyer may be the next best — with two victories there, the No. 14 wheelman is the only non-Penske multi-time winner in the playoff field and has earned 12 top 10s in his 25 Talladega starts. Bowyer’s position outside the cutoff line should cause him to be more aggressive to make up points and go for the win. Teamwork also is crucial at Talladega and Bowyer has a strong stable at Stewart-Haas Racing with two champions among three other fast cars to draft with his No. 14 Ford.

ZA: Leave it to the driver backed furthest into the corner to fight his way out. That’s the weekend mission for Alex Bowman, who sits last among the 12 remaining championship-eligible drivers after opening the second round with a crash-related 28th-place finish. Bowman’s best chance at advancing to the Round of 8 comes this weekend at Talladega, where his No. 88 Chevrolet has historically run strong. Mixing a fast ride with the aggressive approach he’ll likely need to adopt could bring a positive result come Sunday.

RELATED: Playoff picture | Surprise winners at Talladega

3. Talladega has yielded several surprise visitors to Victory Lane. Who’s an underdog pick outside of the postseason picture who could spoil Sunday’s party?

JR: David Ragan is sneaky consistent at a place that’s not so consistent. Looking at the past three races at Talladega, he holds the third-best average finish (8.7), which is better than any other non-playoff driver during that period. It’s also stronger than any of the Big 3 or the Team Penske drivers. Both of Ragan’s wins in the Monster Energy Series have come at restrictor-plate tracks (his most recent at Talladega in 2013), proving he knows how to navigate the delicate draft of ‘Dega.

ZA: Digging further down the list of prospective Sunday Cinderellas, Michael McDowell carries some restrictor-plate momentum that could place him in the Talladega record books. The 33-year-old driver led a career-high 20 laps in a breakout showing at Daytona in July, running among the contenders until a late-stage crash thwarted his upset bid. His Front Row Motorsports team has some history with the Alabama track, with teammate David Ragan leading a 1-2 finish for the organization’s only victory in 2013.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

CONCORD, N.C. – Aside from the long list of accomplishments Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus have achieved together, there always has been one goal Knaus had left unchecked — until now.

Since first joining Hendrick Motorsports in 1993, Knaus has aspired to become crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet.

Following a storybook run of seven championships and 81 wins over the course of 17 years (Johnson had two wins with Darian Grubb filling in), Knaus now gets to live out another dream.

While meeting with a group of reporters Thursday afternoon at the Axalta Customer Experience Center on the Hendrick Motorsports campus a day after it was announced Knaus would move to the No. 24 team with driver William Byron in 2019, Knaus described how it invigorates him.

“You have no idea,” Knaus said. “I’m so geeked up by it I have goosebumps when I think about it.”

RELATED: Best driver-crew chief combos

From his first year with the organization through 1997, Knaus went from being a general fabricator to managing the chassis and body construction program for the No. 24 team under the leadership of then-crew chief Ray Evernham for driver Jeff Gordon. Knaus then jumped to Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1998, followed by Melling Racing in 1999-2001 before re-joining Hendrick to become Johnson’s crew chief.

Knaus recalled telling a team of about 14 full-time employees his future aspirations when he first arrived on the Hendrick scene.

“In 1993 when I walked in the door and I started working in that little shop up on the hill … I wanted to be crew chief on the 24 car,” Knaus said. “It’s only taken me 25 years and 17 years with this guy (pointing to Johnson) to get the opportunity to be able to do that. So, I’m really proud of that. I’m excited.”

Now Knaus will link back up with longtime Hendrick partner Axalta, which was formally DuPont when Gordon drove for the team in the beginning. Gordon was also 21 years old when Knaus worked on the team, as Byron will turn 21 next year.

Knaus is looking forward to working with Byron, comparing it to how he felt with Johnson at the beginning of what turned into a dynasty.

“This kid has talent, he has a boatload of talent,” Knaus said. “So, for me to get the opportunity to work for him is just like getting the opportunity to work with Jimmie back then. That excitement level is very, very similar.”

According to Byron, the personalities of he and Knaus line up more than one might think, which the 20-year-old sees as a huge opportunity to take his skill to the next level.

“Probably attention to detail,” Byron said while explaining what he has in common with Knaus. “Type A personality. I don’t like excuses, so that will fit well.

“The results speak for themselves, but in terms of my short racing career, I’ve worked with a couple people that have similar traits as him,” Byron added. “It makes me excited. It makes me look forward to it. I feel like I do well in that environment and it’s going to push me to do better. That’s what I need and I feel like going into my second year, I’ve learned the ropes of the Cup Series and I can go out and our goal is to win.”

MORE: Chad Knaus through the years

Despite the similarities, Knaus also is aware of the challenges he and Byron face next season.

“Jimmie and I were young and in a different place,” Knaus said. “William is young and I’m old. So, it’s going to be a different dynamic. I’m not 28 years old or however old we were when we started this thing.

“It’s going to be a little bit different, but there are good lessons learned,” he added. “I will definitely lean on Jimmie to find out from his perspective what he thinks I need to do and how I need to interact with William.”

As a new opportunity lies ahead next season and beyond, Knaus was hesitant to close the book while reflecting on his time with Johnson.

“I’m sad that this chapter … it’s not over,” Knaus said. “I mean, what people think is that your era is over. You can’t erase what we’ve done. It’s not over. It’s going to live forever.”

Posted on by Jordan Bianchi

Any race at Talladega Superspeedway is fraught with nerve-racking drama. But a playoff elimination race where a driver’s championship fortunes quickly and frequently turn course multiple times only amplifies the action and raises the stakes.

That is the daunting prospect drivers in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs face in Saturday’s Round of 8 elimination race (1 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Two drivers have clinched a spot in the Round of 6 already. Of the remaining six playoff drivers, two will be eliminated after Talladega.

Who absolutely needs a victory to avoid elimination?

Because of how tight the standings are between the driver provisionally on the bubble — Matt Crafton (+7 points) — and the two drivers below him on the outside of the cut line — Ben Rhodes (-7) and Stewart Friesen (-10) — there is no one in “must-win mode.” That can change Saturday after the accumulation of stage points and other factors, but at present both Rhodes and Friesen can realistically move forward without reaching Victory Lane.

RELATED: Full playoff picture

Who should be the most nervous entering the weekend?

With the exception of Justin Haley and Grant Enfinger, who have secured their spots in the next round via their wins in previous Round of 8 races, and current points leader Johnny Sauter, who has a comfortable 40-point margin above the cutoff line, the other five drivers all have reason to be apprehensive.

Noah Gragson gives a smile
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

This even includes second-place Noah Gragson, who with a poor finish could conceivably fail to advance. If that were to occur, it only would magnify his missteps in the past two playoff races that cost himself several points — a last-lap spin while running second at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and a pit-road penalty that curtailed a strong effort at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

How happy are Haley and Enfinger to come to Talladega and have a worry-free weekend?

Incredibly! Being in the playoffs is pressure packed, but that is magnified on NASCAR’s most foreboding track, where drivers often are at the mercy of things outside their control. But Haley and Enfinger don’t have to concern themselves with points or being swept into the “Big One.” This is a giant and well-earned relief.

Should anyone besides Haley, Enfinger and Sauter feel even remotely comfortable about their chances of advancing?

No. Absolutely not. This is Talladega, and as demonstrated numerous times since NASCAR went to an elimination-style playoff format, this is a race that can flip the points standings around and seemingly erase the biggest of deficits. There is no one else who should feel comfortable.

Are Rhodes and Friesen up to the challenge of racing their way out of the Round of 8 and avoiding playoff elimination?

Neither Rhodes nor Friesen have won a race on a restrictor-plate track — in fact, Friesen has never won a Truck Series race — but each is capable of finding a way to secure advancement to the next round. Rhodes and Friesen rank third and fifth, respectively, among series regulars in laps led this season and have consistently run near the front of the field. And depending on circumstances Saturday, neither may need a win to advance as accruing stage points with a solid finish may be enough.

What is one story line to watch for involving a non-playoff driver?

Having a good drafting partner is essential to success at Talladega, someone who will give you a push when you need it or not leave you out to dry in the middle of a pack. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a teammate, though it certainly helps. Working together, however, is something Kyle Busch Motorsports teammates Gragson and Todd Gilliland have had issues with this season, most notably when Gragson attempted an aggressive pass on Gilliland for the lead on the final lap at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, but failed and spun both out.

Both drivers have said they have moved on, but it is fair to wonder just how much Gilliland, who is not in the playoffs, will go out of his way to assist the championship-eligible Gragson on Saturday.

WATCH: Gragson, Gilliland wreck

Posted on by Zack Albert

When Toyota Racing Development and Joe Gibbs Racing began work on finding a new affiliate team to replace Furniture Row Racing next season, car owner Bob Leavine stepped forward, eager to help his organization gain a competitive boost. 

Leavine Family Racing announced the anticipated switch from Chevrolet to the Toyota Racing banner Wednesday, jointly presenting Matt DiBenedetto as the No. 95 team’s driver for 2019. The organization will share a tight technical alliance with JGR, Toyota’s flagship operation.

That partnership will fill the void that Furniture Row will create when it leaves the series at season’s end. The Colorado-based operation switched from Chevy to Toyota in 2016, winning the Monster Energy Series championship with Martin Truex Jr. the following year.

RELATED: Leavine Family Racing tabs DiBenedetto for No. 95 car in 2019

While LFR stands to improve from its current 25th-place perch in the series’ team owner standings, Leavine cautioned against heightened expectations that any performance upswing would fall on a similar arc to Furniture Row’s. Breaking into the 2019 playoff field, for instance, may be a heady goal.

“Sixteen is going to be really difficult,” Leavine said, noting the standings’ threshold number to qualify for the postseason field. “In fact, the number we looked at and did our pro forma for financial is 18, so top 20 because you beat a lot of good cars to get to there. We are going to a superior engine program with great bodies and chassis and all that, but we’ve still got to put it together with the people and the car, crew chief, engineers — it’s a changeover. … It’s progression.

“I know people are going to look, well, Furniture Row. We’re not Furniture Row. We haven’t been racing as long as Furniture Row did when they got their (first) win and got their championship. So we’ll take it, we want to get better, we want to progress. If we put unrealistic expectations on us, this ain’t going to have no fun. And it’s still got to be some fun. It’s tough, but it’s still got to be some fun.”

RELATED: DiBenedetto ‘at home’ with JGR-aligned LFR, Toyota

Indeed, Furniture Row had already started contending and winning by the time it entered into the agreement with Toyota, and team owner Barney Visser’s outfit had a six-year run of full-time competition before its manufacturer change. In contrast, Leavine Family Racing competed on a full-time basis for the first time just last season. 

Leavine said locking in its driver and manufacturer for 2019 was roughly a six-month process. LFR will remain a one-car operation next year in an effort to build a better foundation for the future, but the team owner indicated that the progress was ongoing, with decisions still to be made on key personnel. Helping those people click, all while tempering expectations, will be the next challenge. 

“They don’t have the same people that Furniture Row has, and that can’t be understated,” said David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development. “It’s one thing to have hardware, but in Furniture Row’s case, to have guys like (crew chief) Cole Pearn and (lead engineer) Jeff Curtis and those guys, that’s a big part of it. …

“No doubt, it is a taller hill to climb and we’re starting from lower, in the foothills. And again, we’ve had very candid, honest conversation with Bob and they realize that, but as I said, Bob had the vision and the courage to raise his hand and say, I want to put myself in a better position, I want to take the next step competitively.”

Posted on by

CHARLOTTE, NC — For Matt DiBenedetto, the opportunity to pilot the No. 95 with Joe Gibbs Racing-aligned Leavine Family Racing in 2019 is a return to his roots.

In 2009, 17-year-old DiBenedetto made his first start in the K&N Pro Series – and his car owner was JD Gibbs.

“I couldn’t possibly script my career or control it to know how it was going to turn out,” DiBenedetto said Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “You just never know what could happen. This is a perfect testament to it; I started my career with Joe Gibbs Racing, with Toyota and for it to all come around full circle and for me to develop such a good relationship with all those folks at Toyota; (Toyota Racing Development President) David Wilson, (Group Vice President, Technical Director for Toyota Racing) Andy Graves, all the guys at Toyota and then all the folks at Joe Gibbs Racing, to have developed those relationships many years.

“And then look nine years later for me to still have those relationships and for it to all come full circle where we’re going to be working together again is pretty unbelievable.”

MORE: LFR taps DiBenedetto for No. 95 in 2019

Joe Gibbs Racing gave DiBenedetto one of his first instrumental chances in racing; he won twice in seven starts in the No. 18 K&N ride, also making a lone start in the Xfinity Series (14th-place result) under the JGR umbrella that year. Both of the K&N wins came in Toyotas.

“They’re a very small group and they do nothing but the best,” DiBenedetto said of the manufacturer. “I think the transition is going to be very comfortable because I know … all the folks at LFR very well. I’m obviously really familiar with the Toyota family.

“It’s kind of in a lot of ways, being at home where I belong.”

RELATED: Key players in Silly Season 2018

But when DiBenedetto “bet on himself” on Sept. 8 by choosing to step away from Go Fas Racing without another ride in his pocket, he had no idea of his future homecoming — or anything.

With nothing lined up, he knew he could potentially end up jobless in 2019, a thought that ran across his mind during that period.

“I was a tough person to be around, I’m not going to lie,” he said.  “Just emotionally. It’s tough not to get down. I’ve been very persistent my whole career and I’ve had to overcome some things that made me who I am today. Goodness, just the thought of potentially having nothing, that even crossing my mind. I knew what I was getting into when I bet on myself but those thoughts cross your mind that ‘this could be it.’

“Everything I’ve worked for since I was seven years old and invested my whole life into could be over, would devastate me.”

His struggle made his triumph that much sweeter, though; when DiBenedetto received the phone call from Bob Leavine, asking him to come pilot the No. 95 Toyota in 2019, it made him “1000 times” more appreciative for the opportunity.

“I believe in my heart that everything happens for a reason and everything has happened for a reason to get me where I am today,” he said. “I think our paths were just meant to cross and for us to be together and that’s what’s meant to be.”

The announcement is also a homecoming for Toyota, who will put its emblem back on DiBenedetto’s fire suit after giving him one of his first opportunities nine years ago.

“This is a people business and we tend to focus on parts and pieces a lot but it boils down to people and Matt is just a good guy,” Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson said. “And we enjoyed working with him. As a fan, I’ve watched him progress through NASCAR and I’ve always wanted him to have better opportunities. So, you can see excitement.

“He realizes that this is a tremendous opportunity for him. … Just like when we reunited with Martin Truex and Furniture Row, this has a similar feel to it.”

RELATED: Smith will finish ’18 season as driver of No. 95

DiBenedetto doesn’t know if his time with Leavine Family Racing will have the same level of success as Truex Jr. did. But he does know that Leavine Family Racing “pours their heart and soul” into bettering the team. He knows firsthand how Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing operate.

And he’s wearing a smile Wednesday because of it all.

“Oh, man — it’s crazy to have (JGR Senior Vice President) Jimmy Makar here from Joe Gibbs Racing,” he said. “All those guys, everyone at Gibbs. JD Gibbs was a huge part of me getting the opportunity with them to start my career … It’s a big blast from the past and pretty special.

“It just makes me feel really lucky that I’ve been able to build these relationships and it makes me feel really lucky that they think enough of me that they put a word in for me and they thought I was the right man for the job.”

Posted on by Staff Report

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 10, 2018) – Comcast announced today the finalists for the 2018 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, an annual award created to recognize the philanthropic efforts of individuals within the NASCAR industry. Comcast‘s Xfinity brand has been the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2015.

The 2018 finalists are:

• Joey Logano, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and founder of the Joey Logano Foundation

• Ryan Newman, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and co-founder of Rescue Ranch

• Steve Page, President of Sonoma Raceway and board member of the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities

“One of Comcast’s most important pillars is re-investing in our local communities, and it has been incredible to see this come to life through our NASCAR partnership with the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award,” said Matt Lederer, Executive Director of Partnership Marketing at Comcast. “This annual award, now in its fourth year, has given us a platform to highlight members of the NASCAR family who truly embody a generous and benevolent spirit.”

The 2018 Comcast Community Champion will be selected by a panel comprised of Comcast and NASCAR executives, as well as the Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department, which won the award in 2017 and will be represented by pit crew coach Mike Metcalf. Comcast will award $60,000 to the winner’s affiliated charity, and $30,000 on behalf of the two remaining finalists’ selected charities. The 2018 award winner will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 15 at W South Beach Hotel in Miami as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend.

In the first three years of the award, Comcast has donated more than $350,000 to nine different NASCAR-affiliated charities, furthering the impact of philanthropic efforts from NASCAR industry members. The Chip Ganassi Racing Pit Crew Department has been able to continue their efforts with the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, a home-away-from-home for families with children in nearby hospitals. The Department is well-known for visiting the House to assist in cleaning and cooking meals for families, as well as hosting a bicycle drive during the holidays to provide bikes of all different sizes for children staying at the House.

“Our team has been incredibly honored to receive this kind of support from Comcast through this award,” said Metcalf. “Thanks to their $60,000 donation, we have been able to take our commitment to the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte to a new level. We are thrilled to be a part of the process of selecting the 2018 champion.”

Comcast has a long track record of community service, aiding in the advancement of local organizations, developing programs and partnerships, mobilizing resources to connect people and inspiring positive and substantive change. To learn more about the Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award, please visit ComcastCommunityChampion.com.

2018 Comcast Community Champion of the Year finalists:

Joey Logano (Charlotte, North Carolina) founded the Joey Logano Foundation in 2013 to support organizations across the United States that provide aid to children and young adults during times of crisis offering them a second chance. Since its inception, the Joey Logano Foundation has invested more than $2.7 million to hundreds of organizations through a multitude charitable programs. The Joey Logano Foundation created the JL Kids Crew to help provide opportunities for children with serious illnesses to spend time at the race track and be part of the No. 22 race team. Part of this special race package includes Logano gifting each JL Kids Crew recipient with their own matching fire suit and placing their names on his No. 22 Ford Fusion. Through JLF’s Grant Funding Program, the Foundation delivers grants to organizations dedicated to helping families that care for sick children, foster children and children of veterans. Over the course of the NASCAR season, the Joey Logano Foundation also has a program that brings Comfort Care Backpacks to multiple race markets. The Joey Logano Foundation has donated over 600 backpacks filled with essentials to underprivileged, foster and terminally ill children. The Joey Logano Foundation also uses its powerful platform during NASCAR’s Playoffs to aid 10 non-profit organizations in 10 different NASCAR markets, via their Chasing Second Chances program, an effort to help racing communities prosper.

Ryan Newman (Statesville, North Carolina) and wife Krissie founded Rescue Ranch, an 87-acre facility that works to promote respect for all animals, the earth and the environment through a wide variety of educational programs in the community, in 2012. The Ranch is home to more than 85 animals that receive around-the-clock care, and serves as host to various school curriculum-based field trips, Scout badge programs, summer camps and more.  In an effort to increase programs available to children and adults with special needs, Ryan and Krissie raised $500,000 for an inclusive playground where kids of all abilities can play together. The Ranch also incorporated additional Special Needs Summer Camp weeks to create more opportunities for children to have a successful camp experience. Most recently, Rescue Ranch provided Search and Rescue aid to animals affected by Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, and is continuing to gather and donate items needed for their care to the community. When he’s not on the track, Newman dedicates his time to maintaining the Rescue Ranch grounds to provide a safe environment for the animals, as well as a fun and educational atmosphere for the children who visit. Outside of Rescue Ranch, Newman plays an active role in supporting the NASCAR Green initiative, helping to plant trees with the Arbor Day Foundation in various regions across the country to honor fallen soldiers.

Steve Page (Sonoma, California), President of Sonoma Raceway, has shown long-standing commitment to the people of Northern California through his work with the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities, along with his efforts to assist in supporting and rebuilding areas affected by last October’s devastating wildfires. To help provide relief to those impacted by widespread fires, Page opened the gates of Sonoma Raceway to provide a refuge for those who were evacuated from their homes, hosting more than 100 campers and serving as a temporary evacuation center. Page, whose family was also evacuated, served meals and sorted donations to provide clothing and necessities to evacuees. He also helped mobilize the local community in thanking public safety personnel, spearheading a “Laps of Appreciation” fundraiser that generated more than $72,000 for the Sonoma County Resilience Fund and the Redwood Valley and Santa Rosa Community Recovery Fund. Throughout the raceway’s NASCAR race weekend in June, Page oversaw “Sonoma Rising,” an initiative designed to honor fire survivors, salute first responders, and lend support to the North Bay’s ongoing rebuilding efforts. As part of that effort, the raceway distributed more than 1,100 tickets to allow fire survivors to attend the 2018 race at no cost. Since 2001, Page and Speedway Children’s Charities have distributed more than $6 million to Sonoma County organizations that serve local youth. This year the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities established a ‘Fire Resilience Fund’ to distribute grants to youth-serving groups that have increased or created programs to support the amplified needs after the fires.