Posted on by RJ Kraft

A list of full-time drivers and their rides in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the 2019 season (This will be updated as drivers are announced for 2019):

*-indicates a change from the 2018 season

RELATED: Keep track of all the movement for 2019 | 2019 series schedule 

Car No. Driver Team Notable
00 Landon Cassill StarCom Racing Social media darling returns for second season at StarCom.
1 Kurt Busch* Chip Ganassi Racing Veteran carries six straight playoff trips into Ganassi move.
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske His 26 wins in last eight years are fourth-most in series.
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing With new crew chief, AD eyes fourth straight playoff trip.
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing “Happy” reached Champ 4 for fourth time in five years.
6 Ryan Newman* Roush Fenway Racing Veteran takes over for Bayne/Kenseth combo at Roush.
8* Daniel Hemric* Richard Childress Racing Renumbered car, Sunoco rookie battle on tap for Hemric.
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports Breakout three wins in 2018; much more to come in 2019?
10 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing Upstart driver reached Round of 8 in first year at SHR.
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Can new crew chief snap Hamlin’s 47-race win drought?
12 Ryan Blaney Team Penske Led seventh-most laps; knocking on door of multi-win year.
13 Ty Dillon Germain Racing Third-year man looks to rebound from 27th in standings.
14 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing With two wins, Bowyer looks to build off best year since ’12.
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Avg. start (14.8) was career-best in ’18, but missed playoffs.
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Four straight Champ 4 appearances, coming off best season.
19 Martin Truex Jr.* Joe Gibbs Racing ’17 champ moves to JGR with Cole Pearn in tow as well.
20 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing Scored first Cup win at Daytona, primed for a breakout year.
21 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing Tallied most top 10s (7) since ’14 in first year with Woods.
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Reigning champ aims to be first since Johnson to repeat.
24 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports Paired with Chad Knaus, much is expected of this youngster.
32 Corey LaJoie* Go Fas Racing Looks to carry momentum of DiBenedetto’s two-year stint.
34 Michael McDowell Front Row Motorsports Matched career-best standings finish — 26th — in ’18.
36* Matt Tifft* Front Row Motorsports* Rookie joins up with expanded three-car team.
37 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing Texas native becomes experienced hand of JTG stable.
38 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ragan’s avg. finish of 22.9 marks his best since 2011.
41 Daniel Suarez* Stewart-Haas Racing After two years at JGR, he slides into Kurt Busch’s old seat.
42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing A repeat of last year’s winless season would be stunning.
43 Bubba Wallace Richard Petty Motorsports Sophomore season in iconic car should see gains for Bubba.
47 Ryan Preece* JTG Daugherty Racing Part-time bet on self pays off with a Cup ride, rookie battle.
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Seven-time champ starts anew with CC Kevin Meendering.
88 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports More top 10s, top fives on his agenda after playoff berth.
95 Matt DiBenedetto* Leavine Family Racing Alliance with JGR brings Matty D back to beginnings.

 

Posted on by Steve Luvender

eNASCAR Heat Pro League Qualifications End

Thousands of eSports racers competed for 100 spots after a grueling 36-day qualification period, hopeful to catch the eye of a NASCAR race team. The top 100 players from the eNASCAR Heat Pro League qualifications will move on to the Showcase races — special races designated for drivers to impress real NASCAR teams looking to select their drivers — ultimately leading up to a live draft in March.

Racers put it all on the line.

With qualifications in the rearview mirror, the statistical top drivers — 50 from each console — will be vetted and interviewed in the coming weeks leading up to the Showcase races. Much like real racing, teams will judge drivers based on concepts beyond numbers alone, like social media presence and “intangibles.”

Beyond the Showcase races, NASCAR teams participating in the eNASCAR Heat Pro League will use driver performance data, results and observations from Showcase races, and their own independent research to identify which gamers to draft to represent their teams.

The latest episode of eNASCAR Heat Pro League’s web video series showcased some of the top competitors and expectations for their paths to a ride in the series.

704 Games staff recently met with NASCAR teams to explain the draft process and what to look for in their drivers.

Starting Them Young

At four years old, it’s a little tough for Cash Bowyer to reach the pedals on a race car (or a virtual car) — but that’s OK. Clint Bowyer’s classic ingenuity to the rescue!

It probably won’t be long until Cash is turning laps with Dad’s teammates Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer.

 

New Teams Join eNASCAR PEAK iRacing Series

On the PC gaming side, iRacing announced new plans ahead of the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series — official NASCAR teams and high-profile eSports teams will join the series in 2019.

Among the new teams are JR Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, and Clint Bowyer Racing, along with eSports outfits Williams Esports, Richmond Raceway Esports, G2 Esports, FlipSid3 Tactics, and Team Renegades.

New to the series, a live draft of eligible drivers will take place on January 30. The 2019 season — the 10th of the series — also features an expanded prize pool of $100,000 and the appointment of NASCAR’s Jusan Hamilton as Series Director.

 

iRacing Paint Schemes of the Week

With Jimmie Johnson’s new paint scheme unveiled this week, iRacing painter Dustin Winegardner wasted no time creating the virtual version of the No. 48’s new colors.

Jordan Ashelin created a throwback design of Joe Nemechek’s car from the late ‘90s, which looks sharp on a modern-day Camaro ZL1.

 

NASCAR Heat 3 Clip of the Week

It doesn’t get much closer than this. While there was certainly some luck involved in threading the needle, we’ve got to give some credit to the driver to make it through unscathed.

 

iRacing Video of the Week

Marcos Ambrose — yes, that Marcos Ambrose — has started offering iRacing driving advice in a new video series.

It’s impressive to listen to the two-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race winner explain in great technical depth how the car behaves at an oval, and just how much that information translates to iRacing.

 

Posted on by Team Release

STATESVILLE, N.C. – GMS Racing announced today that Fire Alarm Services, Inc., (FAS), a provider in a superior fire, life safety, and security services, will serve as primary sponsor for John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 23 GMS Racing team in 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races in 2019. Since 2016, FAS has been a supporter of Nemechek. The Colorado-based company served as a primary sponsor in multiple NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) races for Nemechek, as well as 11 NXS races in 2018. FAS has been apart of many of Nemechek’s career-first accomplishments, including his first NGOTS pole award at Iowa Speedway in 2016, his first NXS win at Kansas Speedway and his first NXS pole award at ISM Raceway, both took place in 2018.

RELATED: Nemechek lands full ride at GMS | Drivers on the move for 2019

“Fire Alarm Services has been a supporter of my career since 2016 in the Truck Series starting at my family-owned team,” said Nemechek. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this relationship with them in 2019. I am super thankful and blessed that Shannon and Connie Smith, owners of Fire Alarm Services, Inc., believe in me and my career. They have been a staple in various first accomplishments for me, and I hope we can add an Xfinity Series Championship on to that list of firsts.”

FAS will sponsor the following races for Nemechek in 2019, Daytona International Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, ISM Raceway (spring and fall), Auto Club Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway (spring and fall), Darlington Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The No. 23 Fire Alarm Services Inc., Chevrolet Camaro will sport a new red and black paint scheme beginning at the 2019 season-opening race, the Daytona 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

RELATED: Full Xfinity Series schedule

Posted on by Team Release

Mooresville, N.C. —Young’s Motorsports has signed Tyler Dippel to its lineup for the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) season. Dippel will pilot the team’s No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado, joining teammates Spencer Boyd and Gus Dean.

With this news, Young’s Motorsports expands its fleet to three full-time Chevrolet Silverados, following the previous season’s two-team effort. It will be the first full-time season for Dippel in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series. The Wallkill, N.Y. native will contend for the 2019 Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

RELATED: Dean joins up with Young’s | Boyd to drive in Truck Series

“I am really excited to join Young’s Motorsports,” Dippel said. “It is an organization that keeps growing and building on its foundation.  Young’s Motorsports brings fast Chevrolet Silverados to the track each week, and I’m beyond excited to climb behind the wheel for the team.

“I think it is going to be a good year. Our primary goal is to run well – week in and week out. I believe aiming for the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Playoffs is a realistic goal for our No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado team. That is what we will shoot for first, and we can make it happen because of the great group of guys I have on the team.”

A dirt racer by trade, Dippel made his NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut on July 18, 2018 at Eldora Speedway, the high-banked, half-mile oval located in Rossburg, Ohio. Dippel collected four top-15 finishes across five starts in 2018 – with 782 of 784 laps completed.

Dippel has capitalized on his three NASCAR K&N Pro Series East seasons, where he collected two victories (Mobile International Speedway, Langley Speedway), nine top-five finishes, and 21 top-10 finishes. In addition to his successful NASCAR K&N Pro Series East campaign, Dippel was named to the 2016-2017 NASCAR Next class.

MORE: Drivers on the move for the 2019 season

The 18-year-old has eight starts in the ARCA Racing Series with two top-five finishes, and three top-ten finishes.

“I am working with Chad Kendrick, who is a well-known and established crew chief,” Dippel said. “From spending time at the shop, everyone seems to gel well together. Everyone gets along together, and everyone’s spirits are high, which will result in a good start to the season.”

While this marks crew chief Chad Kendrick’s first season with Dippel, it will mark his third season atop the pit box for the organization, returning to the No. 02 team. He has previously manned the helm for drivers Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, Daniel Hemric, Brad Keselowski, and Joey Logano. As a NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series crew chief, Kendrick is credited with six victories.

Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young believes Dippel’s ascension to the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series is proof of his talent.

“We are really looking forward to having Tyler Dippel this year,” Young said. “He has really done a good job in the past, and has taken care of his equipment with proven consistency on track.

“Tyler has risen through the ranks the right way with his progression. With a racing career starting at seven years old, he has been around the sport a long time. His NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series experience will help when we get to Daytona (International Speedway), and, obviously, the following weekend at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. I expect him to fire-off and be really fast right off the bat.”

The partnership kicks off with the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at the Daytona on Friday, Feb. 15. The NextEra Energy Resources 250 will be broadcast live on FS1 on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

SCHEDULE: Get the full slate of Truck Series action

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR Hall of Famer Glen Wood, who helped build the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team, died Friday at 93. Here are some of the reactions and remembrances throughout the NASCAR community:

“In every way, Glen Wood was an original,” said Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and CEO. “In building the famed Wood Brothers Racing at the very beginnings of our sport, Glen laid a foundation for NASCAR excellence that remains to this day. As both a driver and a team owner, he was, and always will be, the gold standard. But personally, even more significant than his exemplary on-track record, he was a true gentleman and a close confidant to my father, mother and brother. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I send my condolences to the entire Wood family for the loss of a NASCAR giant.” …

“This is a difficult day for all of us at Ford Motor Company,” said Edsel B. Ford II, member of the board of directors at Ford Motor Company. “Glen Wood was the founding patriarch of the oldest continuously operating NASCAR Cup Series team and we consider Wood Brothers Racing a part of our family, the Ford Family. The Wood Brothers race team, by any measure, has been one of the most successful racing operations in the history of NASCAR.

“Glen was an innovator who, along with his family, changed the sport itself. But, more importantly, he was a true Southern gentleman who was quick with a smile and a handshake and he was a man of his word. …

“It’s a sad day for all of us involved in the Ford racing program,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director Ford Performance Motorsports. “Glen Wood isn’t just a pioneer in the sport of NASCAR because of his team’s winning legacy. His vision and determination to help take Wood Brothers Racing from a small, family effort out of Virginia to one of the most storied teams in the sport’s history is an American success story. They did it with grit and innovation and hard work, and they changed the sport for the better along the way.”

NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director Winston Kelley extended condolences in a statement, listing the many accomplishments of the Wood Brothers through the years.

“With all that success, perhaps what Glen will most be remembered for is his grace, humility and character,” Kelley said. “The word that best describes Glen to me is gentleman. I’ve often said if you looked up the term ‘Southern Gentleman’ in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Glen Wood and likely all of the Wood Brothers. While we have lost one of NASCAR’s true pioneers, icons and legends, Glen’s legacy and memory will continue through Wood Brothers Racing and will be forever remembered, preserved, celebrated and cherished here at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, at the Wood Brothers Museum in Stuart, Virginia, and in our hearts and minds.” …

“With the passing of Glen Wood, we have truly lost one of the most iconic figures in NASCAR,” said Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway president. “What he and his family have done in this sport, and the impact he personally leaves, is remarkable and cannot be understated. With Mr. Wood living in Stuart, so close to Martinsville Speedway, my memories of him go back to my childhood. Glen would often call up my grandfather H. Clay Earles and ask if they could come down and run a few laps. My grandfather would tell them ‘yeah, just close the gate and lock it up when you’re done.’ Seeing his cars in my youth is the reason that candy apple red became my favorite color and I’ll never forget his number 21 modified.

“My thoughts are with Leonard, Eddie, Len, Kim and the entire Wood family, particularly Mrs. Wood. Glen will be missed, but his legacy in NASCAR and in our community will live on forever.”

PHOTOS: Wood Brothers through the years

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Christopher Bell made it look easy on Thursday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, taking the preliminary feature victory during the fourth qualifying round at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

After starting in the fourth position, the Norman, Oklahoma native quickly drove the No. 71W Keith Kunz Motorsports dirt midget to the top spot to take victory in his respective eight-lap heat race. With an opportunity to collect more passing points for a higher starting position in the A feature event, Bell started sixth in the first 10-lap qualifier race and finished third.

RELATED: Larson one step closer to prestigious win | NASCAR guide to the Chili Bowl

The mixture of a heat-race win and his qualifier finish set Bell up for a third-place starting spot in the A feature. A problem at the start of the race saw pole-sitter Danny Stratton penalized for an aborted start, which gave Bell the pole for the second attempt at the green flag.

Bell had to hold off the likes of Stratton, Jerry Coons Jr., Shane Golobic and C.J. Leary throughout the 25-lapper, an A feature that saw a total of 10 caution periods.

“I pretty much suck on restarts,” Bell told the crowd during an interview after the race. “I do better when I get into a rhythm.”

Bell’s victory locks him into Saturday night’s championship feature, along with second-place finisher Golobic. Leary, driving an entry owned by Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman, came up just short of automatically advancing with a third-place result.

Fellow NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Justin Allgaier also competed Thursday night, finishing third in the second heat race of the night after starting fifth. Allgaier finished second in the first qualifier after starting on pole, one position ahead of Bell.

The A feature didn’t go as smoothly, though, as Allgaier started 11th and finished 13th. He’ll have to rely on the Saturday’s last-chance races to make the championship feature field.

Karsyn Elledge, niece of NBC Sports race analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the ninth heat of the evening after starting second. Elledge started fourth in her respective qualifier race, but a crash forced her to the B-Main event.

In a last-ditch effort to make it into the A-Main, Elledge started the B-Main in the eighth position, but finished with an 11th-place result after getting caught up in a pileup at the start. The 18-year-old driver will have one more shot to make it into the championship feature finale.

Posted on by Zack Albert

Glen Wood, a pioneering driver and co-founder of stock-car racing’s longest-running team, died Friday morning. He was 93.

Wood’s passing was announced by Wood Brothers Racing. Until his death, Wood was the oldest living member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, inducted into its third class in 2012.

From humble beginnings in southwest Virginia, Glen Wood and his brother, Leonard, built a legendary racing operation that still competes in what is now known as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The Wood Brothers Racing organization has 99 victories in more than 1,500 starts in NASCAR’s top division, fielding cars for an illustrious list of legendary drivers. Four of those wins belong to Wood, the team’s primary driver in its earliest years.

“We started racing in 1950 with a car we bought for $50,” Wood told the Associated Press as the team readied for its 1,000th start in 2000. “We put No. 50 on the side of the car because it just seemed like the right thing to do. Now here we are 50 years later.” Wood Brothers Racing eventually changed those numbers on the doors, later making the No. 21 one of the most iconic car numbers in the sport’s history.

PHOTOS: Wood Brothers through the years

In 1998, Wood was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers. Of the stars on that all-time list, 20 of the 50 — including Glen himself — once drove for Wood Brothers Racing, according to the team.

Wood scored all four of his triumphs in NASCAR’s top series at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His success at the tricky quarter-mile track helped to earn him the title of “Master of the Madhouse,” a nickname that also acknowledged his dominance there in the featured Modified Division.

Glen Wood died at age 93

Glen Wood’s path to auto racing came after an early career as a sawmiller. That experience gave him another early nickname — “The Woodchopper” — to adorn his uniquely engineered entries at Bowman Gray. Those cars also had his first name listed as “Glenn.” According to lore, he dropped the second “N” to assist his speed in signing autographs.

Those early Modified cars came with an engine moved further back on the chassis by Leonard Wood to optimize weight distribution. The extreme modification, plus a long steering wheel shaft, placed driver Glen in the car’s back seat. “When I first got in it after Leonard fixed it up, I thought, ‘If I can drive that, I can fly an airplane,’ ” Glen Wood said.

The racing bug bit for Glen Wood early on as he made his first trip to Daytona Beach, Florida, to watch events on the old beach-road course in 1947. Wood’s pilgrimages to Daytona became an annual tradition that lasted for 71 years, a remarkable streak that ended in 2018.

Wood’s driving days ended in 1964 as the sport continued to grow away from his favored short tracks to larger speedways. But he remained, with his younger brother, a savvy team owner, employing several drivers — David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Curtis Turner and A.J. Foyt among them — who would become legends in their own right.

Glen Wood died at age 93
RacingOne

The Wood Brothers team also became legends with their part in modernizing the art of the pit stop, introducing a well-choreographed process for servicing their cars. The speed of their family effort over the wall led to Ford Motor Company asking the Woods to staff the pit stops for the Lotus-Ford team and driver Jim Clark at the 1965 Indianapolis 500.

Their innovations reduced the time of the typical IndyCar pit stop of the day nearly in half, becoming a benchmark for how motorsports approached pit-road strategy. Clark won easily, leading 190 of the 200 laps, and the Wood Brothers joined the Lotus-Ford team in the Brickyard’s Victory Lane.

“We think that fast, thorough pit stops are as important as running swiftly on the track,” Glen Wood told legendary writer Benny Phillips in March 1966. “A few seconds saved in the pits is that much time gained in the race.”

RELATED: NASCAR community pays tribute

Wood’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame came with a dose of uncertainty as voters considered the prospects of electing one brother without the other. Glen’s enshrinement came in 2012, one year before Leonard’s, with one of their former drivers stumping to consider the two pioneers on an individual basis.

“I made a case for separation, because I think they are two different people,” Kyle Petty told the Associated Press. “I think Leonard is the smartest man I ever met that works on a race car, bumper to bumper. There are some guys out there that are good strategists and good mechanics, but he is the total package and always has been.

“But Glen owned the thing. He owned the team. You have to make that separation. To put them in and judge them as a single entity against some other people was not right.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Martin Truex Jr. has offered up a first look at his new No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

The 2017 champion will compete in his first season officially under the Joe Gibbs Racing banner, joining Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Erik Jones at the organization.

RELATED: Bass Pro Shops continues partnership with Truex |  Kyle Busch or Truex Jr. for the ’19 title?

Take a look at the black-and-orange Bass Pro Shops-sponsored paint scheme.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

Bedford, MA – In its 10th season, the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series will see several exciting changes to the only officially sanctioned NASCAR eSports series. For the first time, official teams – both motorsport organizations and professional eSports teams – will join the series in its upcoming season.

Several high-profile teams have already committed to the series including JR Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Wood Brothers Racing, Clint Bowyer Racing, Williams Esports, Richmond Raceway Esports, G2 Esports, FlipSid3 Tactics, and Team Renegades, with more expected to join in the coming days.

The teams will participate in a driver’s draft on January 30th, where they select drivers to represent them in the 2019 season. All of these organizations have shown a genuine interest and commitment to eSports and are excited about the upcoming season.

RELATED: 2018 eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series results

“The 2019 season is a watershed moment for the series with the addition of these new teams as well as the significant increase in the prize pool to $100,000,” said Tony Gardner, president, iRacing.com. “To have teams made up of both motorsport and eSports team competing in the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series has been a longtime goal of ours. Sim racing has a unique place in the eSports world. It is the only eSport that has a direct correlation to the skills needed in the motor racing world, but without the traditional barriers, so it only makes sense to have teams involved.”

From a modest initial broadcast of the first race in 2009, which Dale Earnhardt Jr. won, to well over 12 million impressions in 2018, the series has come a long way since its inception. The addition of PEAK Antifreeze as the title sponsor in 2013 helped position the series as the premier NASCAR eSports series and the addition of the official teams can only help elevate the series. This upcoming season will also include multi-channel broadcasting on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and NASCAR.com, as well as cash prizes for each race along with the championship and the appointment of a NASCAR race director.

“I have been sim racing for more than 20 years now, so it goes without saying that I am excited to see NASCAR and iRacing working to further legitimize sim racing as a true eSport,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr, co-owner of JR Motorsports. “Expanding the eNASCAR Peak Antifreeze iRacing Series to include teams like ours is a huge step forward. JRM has worked behind the scenes with iRacing for years on the technical side of the product as well as having an unofficial entry in the series going back to its inception in 2009. We are looking forward to JR Motorsports’ continued collaboration with iRacing to help promote the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series in 2019 and beyond.”

“To be invited to join eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series shows the progress we have made since launching our eSports program last season,” said Claire Williams, Williams Racing deputy team principal. “Our Formula One team has enjoyed great success in North America and we’re eager to replicate that success by now expanding our sim racing team to the United States. Williams, working together with NASCAR and iRacing, has huge potential in content and audience engagement for sim racers and motorsport fans alike, so we can’t wait to get started.”

Teams that join the series after the pre-season draft will be allowed to select previously un-drafted drivers. Interested teams should contact Steve Myers at [email protected].

“Renegades are excited to be participating with NASCAR in the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series”, said Jonas Jerebko, NBA player for Golden State Warriors and owner of Team Renegades. “The top racing teams in the world use iRacing as a training tool, and it is the most competitive eSports title in motorsports. NASCAR’s involvement in the PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series continues to professionalize eSports and is just the beginning of what can happen in the future.”

The series kicks off on February 12 at Daytona International Speedway. Drivers will race on virtual replicas of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars and precise digital facsimiles of the most iconic NASCAR tracks raced in the real-world series. Races are Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. ET. All 18 rounds of the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series will be broadcast live on the iRacing eSports Network (www.youtube.com/iracing-esports-network) as well as on www.iRacing.com and www.nascar.com.

Series Schedule: 

Round 1:        Daytona International Speedway                          February 12

Round 2:        Las Vegas Motor Speedway                                  February 26

Round 3:        Auto Club Speedway                                               March 12

Round 4:        Texas Motor Speedway                                          March 26

Round 5:        Richmond Raceway                                                April 9

Round 6:        Talladega Superspeedway                                     April 23

Round 7:        Kansas Speedway                                                   May 7

Round 8:        Charlotte Motor Speedway                                     May 21

Round 9:        Sonoma Raceway                                                   June 11

Round 10:     Chicagoland Speedway                                          June 25

Round 11:     Kentucky Speedway                                                July 9

Round 12:     Pocono Raceway                                                     July 23

Round 13:     Michigan International Speedway                         August 6

Round 14:     Bristol Motor Speedway                                          August 20

Playoffs:

Round 15:     Darlington Raceway                                                August 27

Round 16:     Indianapolis Motor Speedway                               September 10

Round 17:     Charlotte Motor Speedway – Roval                      September 24

Round 18:     Homestead-Miami                                                   October 8

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

As the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series heads into its 29th season, teams are putting the final pieces in place with Silly Season wrapping up as Daytona approaches.

One of the top story lines involves 2018 champion Brett Moffitt, who moves to GMS Racing’s No. 24 entry after scoring his first title with Hattori Racing Enterprises. As Austin Hill moves to the No. 16 championship-winning truck, Moffitt is forced with the task of defending his crown with a whole new team. It’s also worth noting that only Matt Crafton has won consecutive championships after his triumphs in 2013-14.

So will Moffitt become only the second driver in Truck Series history to win back-to-back titles? NASCAR.com’s Zack Albert and Chase Wilhelm debate whether or not the 26-year-old driver can accomplish the feat in 2019.

RELATED: Moffitt lands GMS Racing ride | Hill to Hattori Racing’s No. 16 entry

WILHELM: Last season, Moffitt drove an under-funded Hattori Racing No. 16 Toyota Tundra to six wins, leading the way for his first career Truck Series championship. The remarkable feat showcased two things: Moffitt’s driving prowess and what can be accomplished when you have a great team surrounding you. Mix those key ingredients and it’s a recipe for ultimate success.

In 2018, Moffitt played the underdog role to the fullest, capturing a title with his back against the wall. This year, Moffitt is the favorite as he heads to GMS Racing to take over the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado. Now with one of the top teams in the series, he has all the tools for success at his disposal. There’s no reason why Moffitt won’t be able to mirror what he was able to accomplish last season, and, who knows, maybe even surpass it.

Between Moffitt’s experience and skill, the strength of his new team and what he was able to achieve with a smaller organization, it would almost be a disappointment if he wasn’t hoisting the big trophy at Homestead once again.

MORE: On the move: Keeping up with the 2019 changes

ALBERT: Can Moffitt repeat? The opportunity certainly exists. But doing so will involve surmounting steep odds in a series that’s as unpredictable as any in NASCAR’s national ranks.

Moffitt’s title defense will need a dose of quick-acting chemistry with his new team, GMS Racing. Moffitt’s bid will also need sustained success through a fickle postseason format and amid a changing field of new faces and budding talent on the series roster.

The quest to repeat will also need to buck history’s trends. Crafton’s lightning-in-a-bottle repeat is the series’ only instance of back-to-back crowns. Even legendary Truck Series heavyweights Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Jack Sprague were unable to win championships in consecutive seasons.

Moffitt has pushed daunting obstacles aside over the course of his career. Finding back-to-back trophies in one of NASCAR’s most competitive tours may be the toughest yet.