Posted on by Brad Norman

A man of his word? A man of his word.

Ryan Blaney made good on his promise to fans out in the Lone Star State that he would hangout with them for a pizza party hosted by track president Eddie Gossage during Wednesday’s testing at Texas Motor Speedway … ‘stache and all.

The newest (and youngest) driver of the Team Penske family is already feeling right at home among teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Part of his initiation will take part this Friday, when Blaney is set to cut his flowing locks and facial hair … a fan favorite around the sport. He will sport a fancy look on the track in 2018, too — a No. 12 Ford with a bright yellow paint scheme that will be hard to miss turnin’ left.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: Meet the Class of 2018

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – An exciting weekend is in store for NASCAR fans beginning on Friday, Jan. 19 in Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring the stars of today and the legends of yesteryear.

The weekend will be filled with activities starting on Friday evening with the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Induction Ceremony. The star-studded event will be followed by NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Jan. 20 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and will include a one-of-a-kind experience for fans.

On Friday, Jan. 19 (8 p.m. ET on NBCSN and MRN), NASCAR icons Red Byron, Ray Evernham, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ken Squier and Robert Yates will be honored and inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as the Class of 2018. As part of the Induction Ceremony, Jim France will receive the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR and Norma Brandel will receive the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.

As in previous years, NASCAR legends and current drivers will be in attendance as the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2018 is inducted. Scheduled to make an appearance are reigning 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Dale Jarrett, Ben Kennedy and Brad Keselowski. For tickets to the Induction Ceremony, visit nascarhall.com.

As part of NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Jan. 20, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will offer free admission to the venue.  NASCAR drivers past and present will participate in Q&A and autograph sessions throughout the day. Admission to the Hall of Fame and to the Q&A sessions will be free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis during NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day. Admission to driver autograph sessions is free but will require a ticket for participation. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and the Hall of Fame will close at 5 p.m.

Tickets to the autograph sessions below, featuring stars from all three NASCAR national series, must be secured in advance. Tickets will be available free of charge on nascarhall.com starting at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 13. Each fan can secure up to two tickets for only one of the seven autograph sessions (one ticket for an individual or two tickets for an individual and their guest). NASCAR Next driver autograph sessions do not require tickets.  For more information on Fan Appreciation Day please visit nascarhall.com.

Q&A / Autograph Session
(High Octane Theater/Pre-Function Space Outside Crown Ballroom)		 NASCAR Drivers
(Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series)
Session 1 (9 a.m. Q&A / 9:30-10:30 a.m. Autograph Session) Paul Menard, Cole Custer and Justin Haley
Session 2 (10 a.m. Q&A / 10:30-11:30 a.m. Autograph Session) Kyle Larson, Matt Tifft and Noah Gragson
Session 3 (11 a.m. Q&A / 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Autograph Session) William Byron, Elliott Sadler and Michael Annett
Session 4 (12 p.m. Q&A / 12:30-1:30 p.m. Autograph Session) Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Spencer Gallagher and Cody Coughlin
Session 5 (1:30 p.m. Q&A / 2-3 p.m. Autograph Session) Ryan Blaney, Ryan Reed and John Hunter Nemechek
Session 6 (2:30 p.m. Q&A / 3-4 p.m. Autograph Session) Alex Bowman and Dalton Sargeant
Session 7 (3:30 p.m. Q&A / 4-5 p.m. Autograph Session) Tyler Reddick and Joey Gase

 

Q&A / Autograph Session

(High Octane Theater/Great Hall)

 NASCAR Next Drivers
Session 1 (10:20 a.m. Q&A / 11-11:40 a.m. Autograph Session) NASCAR Next drivers Harrison Burton, Hailie Deegan, Chase Purdy and Zane Smith
Session 2 (11:20 a.m. Q&A / 11:50 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Autograph Session) NASCAR Next drivers Chase Cabre, Todd Gilliland, Riley Herbst, Cayden Lapcevich and Ty Majeski

 

Q&A / Autograph Session

(High Octane Theater/ Pre-Function Space Outside Crown Ballroom)

 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Inductees
10:40 a.m. Q&A / 9-10 a.m. Autograph Session* Ray Evernham, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Ken Squier

 *Note: The Class of 2018 autograph session will be open to NASCAR Hall of Fame members only.

Times for Q&A sessions with all of the above drivers are noted and will begin prior to their autograph session. Q&A sessions are open to all guests and media. Please note that the schedule is subject to change.

Driver Q&A sessions will take place at the High Octane Theater in the Hall of Fame (access from Level 1 & 2) and will each last approximately 20 minutes. Autograph Sessions will take place in the pre-function space outside of the Crown Ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Center (connected to the Hall of Fame and accessible from Level 3). Note the NASCAR Next driver autograph sessions will take place in the Great Hall of the Hall of Fame.

Also, NASCAR tracks and official partners will be in attendance and will have various displays set up at the Hall of Fame for fans to visit, participate in and win prizes. As part of the festivities, Mack Trucks, the “Official Hauler of NASCAR,” will debut its new Mack Anthem, which includes several design features inspired by race cars. Following a ceremonial moment turning the Mack Anthem keys over to NASCAR, fans will have a chance to take a spin in the truck, which will haul NASCAR’s equipment and technology essential for facilitating the best racing in the world.

Posted on by Staff Report

Ryan Blaney may be moving to Team Penske with a new car there, the No. 12, but a lot remains familiar.

Starting with crew chief Jeremy Bullins, who helped Blaney reach his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in 2017 with Wood Brothers Racing, many of the team members also remain the same.

“We’ve mostly kept the same core group, which was good,” Blaney said during Tuesday’s test at Texas Motor Speedway. “A couple of them have already been a part of Team Penske, and we’ve moved them up from the Xfinity side or they were working in the shop and they came or we have one mechanic that has come from another team. I think they’re all working well together on our first test.”

RELATED: Driver and team changes for 2018

As part of the alliance between Team Penske and Wood Brothers, Blaney says he already worked well at the track with Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski.

“That’s what has given us some of our success and helped us learn a lot, that’s for sure,” Blaney said of working with the other Penske teams.

Adding a fourth team to the mix as he moves to the No. 12 Team Penske Ford and Paul Menard takes over piloting the Wood Brother’s No. 21 should be fairly seamless with benefit to all, Blaney says.

“The Wood Brothers group, Paul, all of them, is going to be the same as it was last year; just one more group and I think that’s going to make us stronger,” Blaney said. “Just a lot more opinions about things, so for me it’s not going to change much for me and my team. It’s really the same thing for meeting or information that we get, it was all already all there, which is great and it’s still going to be there.”

MORE: Ryan Blaney 2017 season recap

Menard has 11 years of full time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series experience, the last seven with Richard Childress Racing, where he accumulated one race win and 17 top fives.

Blaney is building on a breakout sophomore season that extended to the playoffs and a ninth-place finish in the 2017 Monster Energy Series standings.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: How many wins for Chase Elliott in 2018?

Chase Elliott’s new car number may not make him go faster, but it does mean a lot to him to carry his father Bill Elliott’s No. 9 on his Hendrick Motorsports Camaro.

He likes the look of the Camaro and the No. 9 on it. And that has always been his favorite number. But while the change means a lot to him, Elliott does not expect it to change his performance.

“I’m very lucky and honored to carry the number that I’ve carried for a number of years before this year, so it’s like getting back home to me from that sense,” Elliott said during a break in the test session Tuesday at Texas Motor Speedway. “But no, I don’t think it’s going to make me go any faster or slower. I wish it did make us go faster. I would love that, but unfortunately numbers don’t.”

RELATED: Elliott debuts new Chevy in test at Texas

But maybe he doesn’t need that much of a boost anyway. In his second season at Hendrick and paired with crew chief Alan Gustafson, Elliott’s top-five finishes, top-10 finishes, laps led, average starting position and average finish all improved.

Elliott qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs, and really put on a show in the postseason, piling up four runner-up finishes, and finishing in the top 10 in seven of the 10 races. Just missing a spot in the Championship 4, Elliott finished fifth in the final 2017 standings.

MORE: Elliott’s 2017 season recap

“I was very proud of our team and the way we ran in the final 10 weeks last year,” Elliott said. “I know it didn’t end like we wanted it to. We had the pace to be there and to have a shot at Homestead and we didn’t, but we had the pace to do it throughout those 10 weeks and I think that is something to be proud of.

“We had the pit stops to do it, we had the race strategy calls to do it. I think I can do it and excited to give it another shot this year.”

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Kahne, Allgaier return to dirt in Chili Bowl

Kyle Larson wasted no time qualifying for Saturday night’s A-Feature at the Chili Bowl as he picked up his fourth preliminary victory to match the late Bryan Clauson for third on the all-time preliminary night win list.

The win automatically transfer the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star into the A-Feature, which is the big event to culminate the dirt racing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from Jan. 9-13.

Joining Larson in qualifying for the A-Feature was Brad Sweet and Tyler Courtney as they finished second and third, respectively. Sweet, who is the brother of Larson’s fiance, Katelyn, has 54 NASCAR national series starts to his name.

The 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Christopher Bell kicked off last year by winning the Chili Bowl, and on Thursday he transferred to the A-Feature by winning qualifying night. Bell will get to defend his title and try to match former NASCAR Monster Energy Series champion Tony Stewart as a two-time Chili Bowl champ.

Bell, Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Justin Allgaier are among the NASCAR national series drivers looking to capture the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

Former full-time Camping World Truck Series driver Rico Abreu also qualified for the A-Feature via his win in Wednesday night’s Hard Rock Casino Qualifying Night A-Feature. Abreu has won the Chili Bowl twice (2015, 2016) in his career.

Posted on by Daytona International Speedway

Buy Tickets:  Daytona 500 | VIP packages

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Superstar vocal group Rascal Flatts will perform the pre-race show at the 60th annual DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM Radio), the opening race of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Rascal Flatts recently released their 10th studio album (Big Machine Records), as well as back-to-back chart topping singles “Yours If You Want It” and “I Like The Sound Of That.”  Known as one of the hottest-selling touring acts in any genre with over 10 million tickets sold and as the best-selling country vocal group of the past decade, Rascal Flatts has sold over 23.4 million albums, over 34.3 million digital downloads worldwide, as well as earning over 40 trophies from the ACA, ACM, AMA, CMA, People’s Choice and more, also making them the most awarded country group of the past decade.

“Rascal Flatts has been around for nearly two decades, establishing itself as one of America’s most popular musical acts – in any genre,” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. “We are proud to have this outstanding trio on hand for our milestone 60th annual DAYTONA 500. We will have a great concert to precede the “Great American Race,” producing an extraordinary entertainment doubleheader for our fans.”

All race fans who purchase a UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race pass for the DAYTONA 500 will be able to view Rascal Flatts’ DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show – as well as driver introductions – from the grass tri-oval area. A limited number of DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Show ticket packages, available starting at $240, have been designed around Rascal Flatts’ appearance. The package includes a DAYTONA 500 ticket, UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race access and VIP area access to the performance. Race fans who have already purchased DAYTONA 500 tickets can add UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race access and VIP area access for $115. All VIP ticket packages are on sale now.

Those wishing to attend the 60th annual DAYTONA 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race will need to act quickly. Fans should also note:

• Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visiting www.DAYTONA500.com.
• Hospitality and premium seat packages, including the Trioval Club, the Rolex 24 Lounge, Harley J’s and UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race are also available.
• For all other Speedweeks events, children 12 and under are $10 in reserved grandstands and free in general admission areas and in the UNOH Fanzone.
• Fans can also visit PrimeSport.com, the new official ticket exchange and travel package provider of Daytona International Speedway. Offering multiple options for tickets, lodging and hospitality, https://www.primesport.com/d/daytona-500-tickets is ideal for fans looking for the ultimate racing experience.

Posted on by Holly Cain

MORE: Hall of Fame 2018 preview

Robert “Red” Byron was a true NASCAR original — the sport’s first crowned champion (NASCAR Modified Series) and first Strictly Stock Series (the current-day Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series) title winner — and now he will join the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a nod to his historic achievements and the exciting foundation he helped establish for the sport.

Byron’s racing career will be formally honored as he is inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame during its Friday, January 19 ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina, joining a fittingly accomplished class that also includes the late engine builder/team owner Robert Yates, Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., championship crew chief Ray Evernham and pioneering broadcaster Ken Squier.

Byron, who passed away in 1960 at the age of 45, was the sport’s first champion, and bona fide head-turner. He answered his 1948 Modified Series title in 1948 with that historical Strictly Stock crown a year later winning two of the eight Strictly Stock races that season en route to that championship in a car owned by another NASCAR Hall of Famer, Raymond Parks.

MORE: Meet the rest of the 2018 HOF Inductees 

Like many others of his era, Byron’s story and his contributions to the sport are even more incredible considering his service to his country long before he thought about a checkered flag. 

He served in the United States Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II. Assigned to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, Byron suffered a severe injury to his left leg while flying in a combat mission during the war and later had to wear a specially created steel leg brace while racing. A version of the brace, which had to be attached to the clutch pedal of his race cars, is mounted in one of his cars displayed in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

It hardly slowed Byron down. The Virginia native-turned Anniston, Alabama resident had nine top-10 finishes in 15 starts, winning a pair of races and a pair of pole positions in three years of Strictly Stock competition.

 He won on the Daytona Beach, Florida road course in 1948 – earning one of the most iconic checkered flags in NASCAR history – and he answered the victory at another of the sport’s most storied facilities, Martinsville Speedway months later.

He was recognized in 1998 as one of NASCAR’s all-time Top 50 drivers for his historic efforts.

“In so many ways he was the perfect first champion,” the late NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr. once said of Byron. “A guy who loved racing so much, he refused to give it up. And he loved his country so much he gave it all he had.”

Following his stock car career, the former flight engineer turned his focus to developing a sports car to race in the famed 24 Hours of LeMans in France, however Byron died of a heart attack while finalizing details for the effort.

 

Posted on by Brad Norman

Chase Elliott is due for a win after 12 top-10 finishes in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, including five runner-up finishes.

The Hendrick Motorsports rising star will pilot the No. 9 this year, switching to his father’s old number from the No. 24 that Jeff Gordon made legendary. And he will be in new equipment as Chevrolet moves from the SS to the ZL1 Camaro in Monster Energy Series competition this season.

What remains the same is his pairing with veteran crew chief Alan Gustafson, who has led Kyle Busch, Mark Martin and Gordon to Victory Lane in the past.

Will Elliott break through for a victory in 2018? We wouldn’t bet against it. But will he reach three wins in his third full season at NASCAR’s top level? Kathy Sheldon and Allie Davison go head-to-head, laying down their cards.

RELATED: Chase Elliott’s 2017 season recap | Elliott testing new Camaro

Sheldon: I’m taking the under. No question Chase Elliott has the tools and the talent. But that first victory doesn’t mean the dam will break wide open, and moving to a new car usually requires some shakedown time — just look at Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. Busch worked in a new Camry in 2017, and his first of five wins didn’t come until July 30 at Pocono, almost two-thirds of the way through the season. Harvick didn’t hit on a winning combination of speed and setup until almost halfway through 2017 in a Ford as Stewart-Haas Racing switched manufacturers. Each of them already had a championship under his belt. Plus other young drivers have found that second win is elusive as well: Ryan Blaney and Austin Dillon had single wins in 2017, and Kyle Larson only took the checkered flag once in 2016 before breaking out last season with four. Elliott could roll off three wins in 2018, but it’s a long shot.

Davison: If you’re not first … you’re last. At least that’s how the saying goes, and Chase Elliott knows exactly what it’s like to JUST miss crossing the start/finish line first. His five second-place finishes (three in the playoffs) throughout the 2017 season raised several eyebrows — and the spotlight has never been brighter for the rising star. Elliott has the foundation for a long, successful career. The Martinsville showdown with veteran Denny Hamlin gave Elliott a spark, which is why I’m on #TeamChaseWinsALot in 2018. The reasoning? It’s time. He debuts the new No. 9 Camaro this season. He has another full-time season under his belt. Most importantly he understands what second place feels like … and it isn’t fun. Once you hear ‘Elliott is the winner…’ expect to have that memorized, because it’ll be on repeat.

Posted on by @nascarcasm

NASCAR is BACK!

Well, there’s a tire test going on at Texas Motor Speedway. But for the racing-starved masses enduring a winter more brutal than Twitter after you make contact with Chase Elliott, the sight of cars on track is enough to provide solace.

There will be a lot of changes in 2018. So many. A lot. Tons of them. One of which is the number swap between Chase Elliott and William Byron. Chase will be running the No. 9 car, while William Byron will be running the No. 24, AKA his age in 10 years. But as evidenced by this tweet from Texas Motor Speedway, these changes will take some getting used to.

There’s no shame here. This is a relatable moment. This is basically the same as:

  • Trying to re-purpose that ill-begotten tattoo of your girlfriend’s name after she dumps you even though you only went on one Tinder date and she looked at her phone the whole time.

 

  • Still writing “2017” on probably the one check you write every year. WASSUP, VENMO.

 

  • Trying to change the “F” you received on your math test to an “A,” by adding a single line to the right side of the “F,” because everyone in the world, especially teachers, writes the letter “A” using sharp right angles.

 

  • Placing the new shipping label over the old one when reusing one of the 567 Amazon Prime boxes you received over the holiday season.

 

  • Autographing a piece of racing memorabilia RIGHT over the signature of the driver you don’t like because you are ruled by spite.

Rest assured that by the time we get to Daytona, Chase and William will have the appropriate pit boards. However, the area above the window net of the No. 88 car might still read “DALEX.”

Posted on by

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Planning and preparation for the 2018 season reached an important milestone this week as track services professionals from the U.S., Canada and Mexico participated in the 18th annual NASCAR Safety and Operations Summit presented by American Medical Response.

The three-day conference, held at the Concord (North Carolina) Convention Center, featured numerous presentations and small-group seminars that addressed best practices in the safety, track services, medical and security functional areas.

“The Summit is a key part of our commitment to providing world-class support to our fans and competitors,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president, racing operations. “It also serves as an opportunity to recognize the dedicated professionals behind the scenes who contribute to the success of our sport.”

This year’s keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Ed Racht, chief medical officer for AMR and associate chief medical officer of Evolution Health, who has served for more than 20 years in the medical field.

Amid the training sessions, NASCAR also presented awards to individuals and tracks for outstanding performance during the 2017 season. The 2017 honorees included:

Track Services

  • Mission Award: Tim Arfons
  • Teamwork Award: Darlington Raceway
  • Innovation Award: Jay Donnay and Jason Payne
  • Excellence in Track Services Award: Ignatius Kosier, Atlanta Motor Speedway
  • Norrie Baird NASCAR Track Services Training Award: Andrew Brandl, Road America

Medical

  • Above and Beyond Award: Chuck Willard, Chicagoland Speedway
  • Medical Director Award: Douglas Swanson, Dr. William Liang
  • Nursing Director Award: Connie Tompkins, Kerry Lane
  • Teamwork Award: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Security

  • Security Award: Chief Gary J. Gacek, Concord NC Police Department, Doug Cremer and Tom Vesey, Charlotte Motor Speedway; Alan Watson and Andy McWilliams, Talladega Superspeedway; Greg Scott and Darren Cook, Kansas Speedway; Matt Brannock, Martinsville Speedway; Bill Hindman and Brett Adams, ISM Raceway; Jay Fraioli and Al Garcia, Homestead Miami Speedway

The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will kick off the 2018 season with the Advance Auto Parts Clash on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Daytona International Speedway. The 60th running of The Great American Race, the Daytona 500, is scheduled for Sunday, February 18. Both races will be broadcast live on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.