Posted on by Team Release

CONCORD, N.C. (March 14, 2018) – The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champions No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team with driver Jimmie Johnson will have a new primary sponsor beginning next season. Lowe’s Companies Inc., which has been the No. 48 team’s only primary sponsor since 2001, will not return to Hendrick Motorsports in 2019.

“Working with Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie, Chad (Knaus) and the entire No. 48 team has been an incredible journey,” said Michael P. McDermott, Lowe’s chief customer officer. “Rick Hendrick and his organization have been exceptional partners, and we could not have asked for more from Jimmie – a consummate champion and an incredible representative for our brand and his sport.

“The No. 48 team is a valuable property and has been an integral part of building the Lowe’s brand, which makes today’s decision difficult as we now look to invest in other strategic initiatives. Although we are evolving our strategy, there’s no question that being a part of seven championships and many history-making moments has been valuable for Lowe’s.”

Since the No. 48 team’s debut in 2001, Lowe’s has experienced an unrivaled level of success with Johnson behind the wheel, winning seven Cup championships, 83 points-paying races and 35 pole positions along with 222 top-five finishes, 341 top-10s and more than 18,000 laps led.

“We are so appreciative of everyone at Lowe’s. They have been amazing partners,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “With seven championships, this program has delivered far beyond what anyone could have imagined. It goes without saying that we will fully support Lowe’s and our program together in 2018 as we pursue another championship. The success of the relationship has been unbelievable.”

Johnson and the No. 48 team have cemented themselves as one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. Their record-tying seven championships – a feat equaled only by legends Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt – include five consecutive titles from 2006-2010. In 2009, Johnson became the first race car driver ever to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year, joining the likes of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Michael Phelps.

“Jimmie is one of the greatest champions and ambassadors in all of sports and still at the top of his game,” Hendrick said. “This change opens up all kinds of possibilities, and we look forward to having conversations with potential new partners. It’s a special opportunity with an iconic athlete and team.”

Johnson, 42, last June signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports through 2020. The 2017 NASCAR Cup season marked his 16th year in a row with at least two race wins and his 14th consecutive playoff appearance. The El Cajon, California, native is the only driver to compete in NASCAR’s post-season each year since the format’s inception in 2004.

“I’ll always be grateful to Lowe’s for taking a chance on me and believing that I could win,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure where I’d be right now if they hadn’t committed to the No. 48 team. It’s hard to see them move on, but we’ve made history together and celebrated so much success on and off the track. There’s still a lot left to do in 2018.

“I have more to accomplish in this sport. I feel the best I’ve ever felt physically. I’m motivated. I’m focused on winning races and chasing more championships. Someone (a new sponsor) will be a big part of writing that story with us. I’m not going anywhere.”

Posted on by Jason Lofing

Keegan Leahy dominated the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series race at ISM Raceway in Phoenix, leading 140 of 156 laps after starting from the outside pole. A flurry of cautions near the end of the race led to a four-lap shootout with Leahy leading the field to the green. He easily held off Jimmy Mullis and captured his first win in the series.

Mullis was second while 2017 series champion Ryan Luza came from 38th to finish third. Darik Bourdeau finished fourth and Dylan Duval rounded out the top-five finishers.

RELATED: Full 2018 iRacing schedule

Even with the dominating car, pit strategy was pivotal in Leahy’s victory. A caution on Lap 142 brought most of the lead-lap cars down pit road with several, including Leahy, opting for two tires to gain or maintain track position. Leahy would restart third behind Brad Davies and Alex Bergeron, both of whom did not pit.

On the restart, both Davies and Bergeron spun their tires, stacking the pack up behind them. Then, Davies slid a bit wide in Turn 1, which allowed Leahy to stick his nose in and complete the pass with only slight contact. Davies’ slide up the track caused another stack-up and led to Bergeron getting turned off the bumper of Nick Ottinger. The wreck would collect several cars and hurt drivers like Michael Conti, who had taken four tires during the last stop.

Conti started on the pole and looked strong early, but his car faded a bit during the middle of the run, allowing Leahy to pass for the lead. As the run went on, Conti’s car came back to him and he found himself running second or third for much of the race. However, his four-tire pit call cost him track position, resulting in an eighth-place finish.

Eight cautions slowed the field for 32 laps, giving drivers plenty of chances to adjust their cars. Even with the cautions and subsequent restarts, passing proved difficult as drivers could run a higher, defensive line even in Turns 3 and 4.

Leahy’s win, combined with a top-five result at Daytona, makes him the early points leader with just two of 18 races complete. He holds a 10-point margin over Ottinger and Conti.

Ray Alfalla is another three points back, an impressive feat considering he had to make an extra pit stop under caution and restarted 33rd on Lap 116. Forty laps later, Alfalla found himself in sixth place at the checkers after slicing through most of the field and taking two tires on his final trip down pit road. Duval rounds out the top five in the standings.

Week 3 takes the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series to Auto Club Speedway, where drivers should find plenty of room to pass as opposed to the tight confines of Phoenix. Last season saw Ryan Luza grab the pole and win in what became a familiar sight in the 2017 season. Can anyone keep pace with Luza as the series visits the first downforce track of the season, or will Luza still be the one to beat? Find out in two weeks’ time on iRacing Live!

Posted on by Staff Report

National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss upheld an L1-level penalty Wednesday that NASCAR issued to the No. 41 ThorSport Racing team after the season-opening Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Moss’ ruling, which affirmed the original penalty, is final.

NASCAR had penalized the ThorSport entry for post-race height measurements being outside allowed tolerances after the Feb. 16 season opener.

Crew chief Eddie Troconis was fined $5,000 and suspended for one Camping World Truck Series championship points event. The team also was docked 10 points from driver Ben Rhodes’ tally in the drivers’ standings, and 10 points from team owners Duke and Rhonda Thorson in the owners’ standings.

On March 14, a three-member panel of Dixon Johnston, Bill Mullis (operator of Langley Speedway) and Cathy Rice (general manager of South Boston Speedway) denied ThorSport’s original appeal, saying in a statement that they found the Appellants violated the rules set forth in the penalty notice, and the original penalty was affirmed and upheld.

Rhodes currently ranks fourth in the Camping World Truck Series standings. The circuit’s next race is scheduled May 4 at Dover International Speedway.

Posted on by David Smith

This time last season Kevin Harvick didn’t have a top-five finish to his name. Was this just an unfortunate spell? Was he too old? Had he lost his touch?

Early returns in 2018 suggest Harvick’s sluggish start last season — his first race win came in late June at Sonoma — was a mere aberration. He now is the winner of the last three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, and four of the previous seven dating back to last season.

What changed? If performance equals behavior plus capability, his race cars are fulfilling their half of the equation.

When Stewart-Haas Racing switched from Chevrolet to Ford prior to last season, the four-car organization forfeited valuable proprietary intel that helped produce the fastest car in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series each year from 2014 through 2016, according to timing and scoring data supplied to NASCAR.com.

RELATED: Drivers with four consecutive wins

The timing of the transition was a risk; Harvick, entering his age-41 season, didn’t have many viable years of elite driving production left, so says history. Wasting what potentially could’ve been the final title-worthy season in a Hall-of-Fame career was a gamble Stewart-Haas thought necessary for the long term.

The organization spent the better part of 2017 experimenting and collecting notes on how to conjure transcendent speed out of Fords, finally hitting on the winning combination in the October race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, wherein the No. 4 led 149 laps and finished third while recording the fastest average green-flag speed in the event. It ranked the fastest in ensuing races at Talladega and Kansas before ranking second in speed at Texas, the site of Harvick’s first oval-track win of the season. In all, Harvick’s No. 4 ranked as the fastest car during the 2017 playoffs, a notion overshadowed by Martin Truex Jr.’s dominant title run.

Without the need for assimilation, Stewart-Haas entered 2018 with all the pertinent notes on how to go fast. Harvick’s Ford ranked as the fastest in Atlanta and Las Vegas and was second fastest at ISM Raceway near Phoenix, per MotorsportsAnalytics.com. Omitting Daytona, his machine is the fastest overall between the green and checkered flags and the fastest by a wide margin in the fourth, deciding quarter of races.

And Stewart-Haas’ speed isn’t exclusive to Harvick.

Kurt Busch’s No. 41 Ford ranks as the fastest in the series with Daytona included. Combined, Harvick and Busch have collected five of eight possible Stage 1 and Stage 2 wins this season, plus Harvick’s three wins. Minus Daytona, Stewart-Haas boasts three of the seven fastest cars in the series, including Busch (fifth) and Clint Bowyer (seventh), currently the only organization with multiple entries in that elite rank. Aric Almirola’s No. 10 Ford ranks 11th in overall speed, up from 25th last year.

This kind of speed is a boon to Harvick. His frequency of converting a race’s best speed to victory, 14 wins in 41 tries for a rate of 34.1 percent, falls below the 40.5 percent series average over the last 13 years; however, more chances with the fastest car signify more opportunities to win. Thus far in 2018, Harvick, with two wins in two races having the weekend’s speediest entry at his disposal, is punching above his weight class.

This output comes despite some poorer-than-usual restarting numbers across his seven-race run. Harvick, who ranked as a top-two restarter from the non-preferred groove in 2015 and 2016, was more than 10 percent worse than the series-wide average of retaining a position from the non-preferred groove dating back to the Texas race last November. Speed has a way of negating deficiencies. Even while slipping in a statistical category that has in the past rewarded him, Harvick appears impervious.

MORE: Stewart says SHR never been better

Stewart-Haas heads to Auto Club Speedway this weekend now with enviable speed on a track type that suited the organization well last season during the manufacturer transition. Bowyer’s No. 14 Ford ranked third in average green-flag speed at Auto Club and Michigan (2 miles), Pocono and Indianapolis (2.5 miles); Harvick’s ranked sixth. The kind of competitive speed the organization lacked last year is something it now has in spades, suggesting all four drivers should be circled as fantasy picks this Sunday in California. In the case of Harvick specifically, his roll is poised to continue for at least another week.

Harvick’s dominance might be the marquee story in NASCAR right now, but it’s simply a product of Stewart-Haas’ gambit made good. The organization on the whole is producing the fastest race cars, and having the fastest car is a zero-sum game.

David Smith is the Founder of MotorsportsAnalytics.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidSmithMA.

Posted on by Staff Report

Charles “Charlie” Strang, a former NASCAR national commissioner, died Sunday. He was 96.

Strang succeeded Semon E. “Bunky” Knudsen as NASCAR commissioner in 1998 and served in that position for 10 years. Before his time in stock-car racing, he served as the top engineer for Mercury Marine owner Carl Kiekhaefer, who promoted his outboard motor company through a successful racing team.

Strang, who later served as director of Outboard Marine Engineering, was credited with inventing the sterndrive engine. The boating technology stemmed from sketches he made as a student at MIT in 1948.

“Charles Strang joined NASCAR following a long tenure as an executive at Outboard Marine Corp., where he built a well-deserved reputation as a respected leader with a reasoned and measured voice,” NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said in a statement. “He used those skills expertly in our sport for many years, holding the post of NASCAR National Commissioner for more than a decade.

“Charlie was a valued friend and resource to both my father and I, and to many throughout NASCAR. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Charlie’s wife Barbara, his entire family and his many friends.”

Strang was also an influential leader in the world of boat racing. He was president of the UIM, an international governing body for powerboat racing, and also headed the American Power Boat Association.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

Do you think Kevin Harvick ever gets tired of winning so often? It’s only March and he’s hoisted three trophies this season — and he’s now tied with Mark Martin for 18th place on the all-time wins list. Here’s what earned our thumbs-up and thumbs-down in Phoenix.

Thumbs Up: A strategy gamble

Ryan Newman snapped a winless streak at ISM Raceway in 2017 after a gutsy strategy call near the end of the race helped him earn the checkered flag (and a trip to the playoffs, of course).

It almost happened again Sunday, one year later. Almost.

As the laps counted down, most lead-lap cars ducked to pit road for fresh tires to finish out the rest of the race. Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne, and a few others (including underdog Ross Chastain) stayed out on track for as long as possible, hoping to luck out on a caution and bank some track position.

While the caution never happened, Newman and the No. 31 team deserve a thumbs-up for giving it another shot. If you can’t win on raw speed alone, why not try something off-the-wall?

RELATED: Race results | Anheuser-Busch returns as sponsor of Busch Pole Award

Thumbs Up: Battling for the lead

In the final stage, the ever-speedy Kevin Harvick battled hard against teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin — for nearly 30 laps. The three swapped positions and put on an impressive show of clean racing. Harvick prevailed, as he tends to do as of late, and claimed his third victory of the season in four races.

Even armchair-driver fans at home enjoyed the battle.

But imagine your job success is measured on winning races — while also racing your teammates cleanly? Joe Gibbs Racing’s Busch and Hamlin were forced to face that balance in the closing laps. Must be tough to know any mistake that results in damage to your teammate’s car could cause trouble in the team’s post-race competition meeting Monday.

https://www.nascar.com/video/franchise/press-pass/kyle-busch-teammates-lot-harder-race/#1

Thumbs up for a thrilling battle for the lead. It’s always nice to see three cars on the TV screen racing for one spot.

Thumbs Down: Jimmie Johnson, ruiner of fantasy teams

Yes, last week, Hendrick Motorsports earned the dreaded thumbs-down following a struggle at Las Vegas.

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson, you’ve made the list again.

We like to joke about people counting out Jimmie Johnson when he gets into a tiny slump, because we know he’ll win in a few weeks anyway. But now it’s starting to get personal.

Since we know Johnson tends to suddenly end his winless streaks in spectacular fashion, I’ve started him in my Fantasy Live lineups, hoping competitors in the league would avoid picking him because of his lack of success. However, starting the No. 48 the past two races has netted precisely zero top-10 finishes.

For the record, Jimmie Johnson won’t be part of my Fantasy Live lineup at Auto Club Speedway (which, of course, probably means he’ll win the race).

Thumbs down for Jimmie Johnson’s shut-out so far in 2018.

Biggest Thumbs Up of the Week: Kevin Harvick, duh

Of course Kevin Harvick will claim racing’s highest honor: the biggest thumbs-up of the week.

“The Happy Cactus Closer” (yes, I’m combining his nicknames) only led 38 laps en route to his ninth win at ISM Raceway, the first time this year he’s won a race without leading the most laps.

But, here’s a trend even more interesting:

Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 won the Advance Auto Parts Clash in Daytona.

Austin Dillon’s No. 3 won the Daytona 500.

Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 won at Atlanta.

Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 won at Las Vegas.

Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 won at ISM Raceway.

Given the trend, you’d think car No. 5 would have won a race by now — but, for the first time in NASCAR history, there isn’t a No. 5 car expected to start a race since Hendrick Motorsports shuffled some numbers around.

Does this mean we’re stuck on the No. 4 car winning the rest of the races in 2018?

A Sonoran Desert-sized thumbs up for Kevin Harvick’s trend of butt-whooping.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and Anheuser-Busch announced today a multi-year agreement that welcomes the global brand back as an Official Partner and designates Busch Beer as the “Official Beer of NASCAR®.” The new partnership builds upon Busch’s industry-wide presence and includes sponsorship of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ Busch Pole Award, rewarding the driver with the fastest qualifying time each week.

“We are continuing to evolve our presence in NASCAR because we believe in the power and loyalty of NASCAR fans,” said Chelsea Phillips, Vice President, Value and Beyond Beer brands, Anheuser-Busch. “Returning as the Official Beer of NASCAR strengthens our deep-rooted history in the sport and will provide fans with even more opportunities to enjoy a crisp, cold Busch beer on race day.”

RELATED: Classic Busch paint schemes

Anheuser-Busch’s history in NASCAR dates back decades to 1978, when it sponsored the Busch Pole Award. Additionally, Busch was the “Official Beer of NASCAR” from 1988 through 1997. Beginning in 1998, Anheuser-Busch sponsored the Bud Pole Award through its Budweiser brand, which also became the “Official Beer of NASCAR” through 2007.

“The Busch Pole Award is one of the most recognized programs in NASCAR and partnering with a global marketer like Anheuser-Busch will further elevate the value of the program and our sport,” said Lou Garate, Vice President, Partnership, NASCAR. “Anheuser-Busch has a storied history in NASCAR dating back to the 1970s and we know our fans will celebrate and support Busch’s return as the ‘Official Beer of NASCAR.’ ”

MORE: All-time pole winners

The Anheuser-Busch sponsored Pole Awards were awarded to many of NASCAR’s most iconic drivers. Geoff Bodine won the last Busch Pole Award at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1997. In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won the last Anheuser-Busch sponsored Pole Award (Bud Pole Award) at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the same race he won his second championship.

Competitors can become eligible for the Busch Pole Award beginning this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. At the end of the season, drivers who accumulate the most Busch Pole Awards in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series are awarded the season-ending Busch Pole Award.

As part of the partnership, Anheuser-Busch joins the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council®, bringing together an exclusive group of more than 50 NASCAR Official Partners to buy and sell products and services from one another.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Auto Club Speedway with the Auto Club 400 on Sunday, March 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Busch Pole Award qualifying for the Auto Club 400 takes place Friday, March 16 at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

MORE: Busch back as Official Sponsor

Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One of the most recognizable partnerships in all of sports has returned with vigor as NASCAR and Anheuser-Busch announced Wednesday the return of the “Busch Pole Award” in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and that Busch will serve as the “Official Beer of NASCAR.”

“They talk about heritage and being true to their values as core tenets of their brand, and I think that fits very well with what NASCAR is and what it represents as well,’’ said Lou Garate, NASCAR vice president, partnership. “It’s a good fit. It’s a good win for everybody overall.”

It’s certainly a sentimental nod to NASCAR’s storied past and an exciting partnership to guide the sport’s future.

PHOTOS: Classic Busch paint schemes

Anheuser-Busch first sponsored the Pole Award 40 years ago in 1978 and was the sport’s “Official Beer” from 1988-1997.

Two of the brand’s last pole winners are iconic names in the sport. Retired driver Geoff Bodine won the last “Busch Pole Award” at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1997.  And seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson – who drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports – won the last pole sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, at Homestead in 2007.

The brand’s current driver, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick, will show up at his home state track Auto Club Speedway this weekend looking to win four consecutive races — a feat not seen in the Monster Energy Series since 2007.

“We’re really excited,’’ said Chelsea Phillips, Vice President, Value and Beyond Beer brands, Anheuser-Busch. “I think this is going to be a really fun time and Kevin Harvick has already started the season off with a pretty good roll.

“We’re excited to be further integrated into the sport. We see a lot of value in NASCAR and the loyalty of the fans and want to continue to become integrated and locked in a way, we have the team and the tracks and now we can talk about the league through the pole (award).

“It just gives us one more touch point to be able to interact with the fans in a way that’s important to us. We have a lot of history in the sport and are excited to be coming back to the pole.”

RELATED: Most all-time Busch Pole Awards

In addition to the grand roll out of the Busch Pole Award at Auto Club Speedway, the new partnership has the potential to recognize the four previous 2018 pole winners as “Busch Pole Award” winners should their team participate in the reward program.

“To have the younger generation come in and help us carry that (brand recognition) along — as well as those who have the memories from the past — it’s another piece of the story but one that happens to have that heritage and hearkens back to those really good times,” Phillips said.

“It’s just a perfect space to be able to engage in a two-way dialogue with fans. It’s something we’re passionate about as a brand and something they are passionate about as fans.”

MORE: Official press release

Posted on by Emily Bradley

HAMPTON, Ga. — Loud, clanking noises filled the air as various pit crews prepared for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rinnai 250. Students were able to see tires that appeared twice the size of average tires and cars without conventional windows. Towering pit crew members filled the area that looked like they could compete with Duke’s 6-foot-7, 285-pound star basketball player Zion Williamson.

Many words in the dictionary could be used to describe the day’s activities, however “ordinary” is certainly not one of them. For the first time in each of their lives, these Morehouse College journalism students had the opportunity to attend a NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This was something completely foreign to the group of 15 black students from professor Ron Thomas’ sports reporting class. The average person may be surprised to know that a group of students coming from a historically black college that is rich in black history and culture would willingly choose to attend a NASCAR event. However, the students had an experience that most considered to be unforgettable.

Students had the opportunity to speak with Caryn Grant, NASCAR multicultural development manager, who gave information about the organization’s diversity initiatives, including the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program. The program recruits students with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and offers positions in various areas such as finance, public relations and human resources. The most recent intern cohort consisted of 36 highly competitive students from various schools across the country.

Throughout the day, students appeared to become more comfortable and interested in their surroundings. While it was nothing like the diverse, ethnocentric campus environment they were accustomed to, students were pleasantly surprised to see more people that looked like them than they had previously expected.

“My thoughts on NASCAR in the past were that they weren’t trying to be inclusive, that they were more focused on maintaining their current customer base,” Morehouse student Parker Owens said.

Morehouse College student Parker Owens writes an article during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rinnai 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“My thoughts on NASCAR in the past were that they weren’t trying to be inclusive, that they were more focused on maintaining their current customer base.”

While the journalism students were experiencing many firsts throughout their day, they also got the chance to speak with a NASCAR veteran who has achieved various milestones in his career. Pit crew veteran and current Motor Racing Network host Dion Williams, a former Division I linebacker, was the first African-American crew member at Hendrick Motorsports as a part of Jeff Gordon’s pit crew. He also is the first African-American host for Motor Racing Network.

When discussing why he’s worked closely with NASCAR for the better part of 15 years, Williams pointed to his ability to attract and develop high-level athletes as members of the pit crew.

“This is a 10-15 year career that can allow high-level athletes the ability to make six figures within five years in the industry,” he said.

While the students from the Morehouse Journalism and Sports Program still may not consider themselves experts when it comes to NASCAR racing, one thing became clear by the end of the day. NASCAR has begun to make serious efforts to create a more diverse employee base representative of the vast melting pot we currently all reside in.

 

Kayden Molock is a junior political science major at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Posted on by Emily Bradley

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 12, 2018) – Twelve drivers from across the United States and abroad have been invited to try out for NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program, the top driver developmental program in motorsports, at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway and Bethune-Cookman University on Oct. 22-23.

The NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Combine invites promising ethnically diverse and female drivers to test their skills over a two-day period as NASCAR evaluates talent for the 2019 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development class.

In partnership with Rev Racing, NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program offers racing opportunities in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and U.S. Legend Cars International for one full season, providing selected drivers with equipment, mentoring, and competition experience. The goal is to provide top diverse talent with a path for development in order to improve participants’ chances of being identified as a prospect by NASCAR’s national series teams, sponsors and manufacturers.

Candidates for the 2019 class have competition experience throughout North America, Asia and Europe. All will vie for an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™ drivers Daniel Suárez, Bubba Wallace and Kyle Larson, the first NASCAR Drive for Diversity driver to qualify for the NASCAR Playoffs.

“The drivers invited to this year’s NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Combine represent a wide range of diverse backgrounds, both in terms of heritage and driving disciplines,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR senior manager of racing operations and event management.  “The combine has been tremendous in helping the NASCAR industry identify and develop top diverse talent and this year is no different.”

The combine, which will serve as a key element in the selection process for setting the driver lineup for Rev Racing in 2019, will evaluate participants on their driving skill and work ethic on and off the track, as well as their marketing and media skills. Each driver will also take part in a physical fitness assessment at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. Additionally, Rev Racing and NASCAR will work with B-CU communications students for additional training and evaluation of the combine participants that will include a mock press conference and one-on-one interviews.

Since the inception of NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program, Rev Racing has earned 19 wins, 88 top-5 finishes, and 186 top-10 finishes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program driver Rubén García Jr. won the K&N Pro Series East season finale at Dover International Speedway in early October, the Mexico native’s second win of the season. García Jr. is also the current Championship points leader in the NASCAR Peak Mexico Series.

“As we embark upon our 11th year managing the Drive for Diversity program in partnership with NASCAR, we couldn’t be more excited about the evolution of our driver development program,” said Max Siegel, CEO of Rev Racing. “Through selection process and training program we look forward to selecting and developing some of NASCAR’s brightest stars.”

In addition to Garcia Jr., drivers under consideration to return to the team in 2019 are Chase Cabre, Ernie Francis Jr., Nick Sanchez and Ryan Vargas. Vargas is a two-time NASCAR Wendell Scott Trailblazer Award winner and has won three NASCAR Late Model races. In 2018, Francis Jr. achieved four wins in the Trans-Am Championship presented by Pirelli and currently leads the series standings. He has won the series championship for four consecutive years.

This year’s participants also include Juan Manuel González, Loris Hezemans, Perry Patino, Brooke Storer, Ryu Taggart, Gracie Trotter and Britney Zamora. Storer is the 2016 Desoto Speedway Sportman Champion, while Zamora became the first female driver to win the Northwest Super Late Model Series Championship in 2017. In 2015, Taggart earned a third-place finish out of more than 7,000 drivers in the Red Bull Kart Fight in Japan.

Rev Racing also operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Youth Driver Development Program, which targets drivers 12 to 17 to compete in the U.S. Legend Cars International (USLCI) and serves as an entry point to the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. The deadline to apply for the youth program is Oct. 31, 2018.

2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Combine drivers:

DRIVER HOMETOWN 2018 RACING EXPERIENCE
Chase Cabre Tampa, Fla. NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
Ernie Francis Jr. Southwest Ranches, Fla. Trans Am TA Series & NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Rubén García Jr. Mexico City, Mexico NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & NASCAR Peak Mexico Series
Juan Manuel González Mexico City, Mexico NASCAR Mexico FedEx Challenge Series NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Loris Hezemans Amsterdam, Netherlands Blancpain GT Sprint Series & NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
Perry Patino Montgomery, Ala. Pro Late Model & Late Model Sportsman Series
Nick Sanchez Miami, Fla. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series & Bojangles Summer Shootout Pro Legend Car Class
Brooke Storer Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Wheelman Series Late Model/Sportsman Division
Ryu Taggart Jefferson City, Mo. Pro Late Model Division at Lebanon I-44 Speedway and USRRA A-mod on dirt
Gracie Trotter Denver, N.C. CARS Tour & PASS Series, USLCI Legend Cars & Bojangles Summer Shootout Semi Pro Division
Ryan Vargas La Mirada, Calif. NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & NASCAR Whelen All-American Series.
Brittney Zamora Kennewick, Wash. NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, Budweiser Crown Series & Northwest Super Late Model Series

 

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

About Rev Racing

Headquartered in Concord, NC, Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel operates the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which is the industry’s leading developmental program for ethnic minorities and women drivers and pit crew members. For more information about Rev Racing visit http://revracing.net or follow us on Twitter @RevRacin.