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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCARu00ae and Lilly Diabetes announced today that Lilly is expanding its involvement in NASCAR with a multi-year official partnership with the sanctioning body. The new collaboration designates Lilly Diabetes as the "Official Diabetes Health Partner of NASCAR."
The partnership with Lilly Diabetes builds upon its primary sponsorship of the No. 16 Ford Mustang driven by Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Reed, who last weekend won his second career NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Additionally, as a part of this new partnership, Lilly Diabetes will work with NASCAR on multiple health and wellness initiatives, including launching an editorial series on NASCAR.com.
"As a leader in diabetes care for more than 90 years, we understand the daily challenges that millions of Americans face managing this disease," said Mike Mason, vice president, U.S., Lilly Diabetes. "Our partnership with NASCAR, along with our continued relationship with Ryan, emphasizes the critical role of ongoing discussions with your doctor about how to best manage the disease."
As the Official Diabetes Health Partner of NASCAR, Lilly Diabetes — part of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) — will expand its presence in the sport by introducing initiatives that educate fans about the disease. Lilly encourages fans to stay determined and take action to better manage their diabetes by talking to their doctor and making lifestyle changes like exercising and eating healthy. Approximately 30 million Americans have diabetes, and if current trends continue, 1 in 3 U.S. adults will develop diabetes by 2050
"The goal of Lilly Diabetes – driving awareness and education – is critical to NASCAR as many of our fans are affected by the disease," said Lou Garate, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. "The rate of Americans developing diabetes continues to rise, and we hope this partnership can help make a positive change in people’s lives."
Lilly Diabetes has played a significant role in the NASCAR community since 2013, when it first sponsored Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed and his No. 16 Lilly Diabetes Ford Mustang in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Ryan has Type 1 diabetes and, through his work with Lilly, travels the NASCAR circuit raising awareness about the disease and encouraging fans to take action to better manage their diabetes.
"Our program with Lilly Diabetes is one that touches my life in a significant way, being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 17," said Reed. "I have seen the positive effect our partnership with Lilly Diabetes has had on those impacted by this disease, and I can’t wait to see what NASCAR and Lilly can accomplish together."
Everyone’s journey with diabetes is different, requiring ongoing, rigorous management that can often be a burden for people with the disease. Through the sponsorship of Reed, and now the partnership with NASCAR, Lilly Diabetes wants to help fans see how small changes can add up to big wins in diabetes management, both on and off the track. Visit www.LillyDiabetes.com/drive today to learn more about Lilly Diabetes and find helpful resources.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series season will continue with the Rinnai 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 4 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
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MORE: Suarez: It’s going to be a great year | Edwards gives Atlanta advice
HAMPTON, Ga. — Carl Edwards flew to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday morning in his personal Cessna plane, presumably packing light. Though he stepped away from NASCAR competition in January, Edwards still made sure that his driver’s suit and helmet were part of his cargo.
Just in case.
Ever the racer, Edwards was back in his element at Atlanta, enjoying seeing the people and surroundings at a venue that catapulted him to NASCAR’s elite with a breakthrough victory nearly 12 years. His role Friday was as teacher and consultant, sharing lunch and working with rookie Daniel Suarez, his successor in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota.
Though his safety gear was in tow, Edwards reiterated that he was sticking with the decision he made in the offseason. And he also made it clear — despite rumors, hearsay and conspiracy theories to the contrary about his reasons for leaving — that Suarez had earned his place in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
"I think very quickly I’ll be out of the picture because it’s his team. He’s proven himself," said Edwards, dressed in a crisp black shirt with the logo of team sponsor Arris. "He doesn’t have to have me here. I’m only an addition to what he’s already got, and it’s only because he wants me here.
"I definitely don’t want to get in the way. I’m not a hanger-on type of guy. If they don’t want me here, I won’t be here."
MORE: Edwards goes to Phoenix to help Suarez
Edwards, who was unsure the length of his stay in the Peach State, tackled a wide range of topics in his informal afternoon gaggle with reporters behind the No. 19 hauler: His insistence that it’s not a "retirement," his chances for a return to the cockpit, his peace with the January decision, his potential political aspirations, Suarez’s development, and those pesky rumors that haven’t caused him to lose his sense of humor.
"Man, I should’ve started this a lot different. I could’ve messed with you guys somehow with all the rumors and stuff," Edwards said with a grin. "(Suarez benefactor) Carlos (Slim) pays me $1 million a race to come and hang out. Penske wants me to spy on the Toyotas."
Edwards was joking, but the act of stowing Nomex into his luggage did plenty to stir the intrigue. Even with his career resume, the 37-year-old veteran would have to complete certain compulsory tasks to turn laps.
He would have to have a current 2017 NASCAR competitor’s license (he doesn’t, NASCAR officials said), pass a drug test and receive approval from both the track and NASCAR’s competition department. As of Friday afternoon, Edwards said he was unsure about his status and indicated he’d filled out no paperwork.
"I snuck into a lot of race tracks and driven stuff, so I’m not above doing that," Edwards quipped. "I don’t know. I haven’t filled out any paperwork. I did tell (series director) Richard Buck this morning that I’m pretty sure that I’d pass the drug test, so that’d be good."
Edwards continued to shy away from the word "retirement," but with the roar of XFINITY Series cars practicing in the background, it was clear he missed the challenge of Atlanta’s worn asphalt. "This place, I love this place. I miss driving while I’m standing here."
Full-time driving remains out of the question for now, Edwards says, but even the lure of a partial schedule in any of NASCAR’s national series would be a tough sell.
"I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to come here and it’s hard to be kind of half-in, half-out," Edwards said, "so I’m going to try really hard to stick to my plan, step away, make sure I get my perspective right and if decide I want to drive something, I’m going to do it 100 percent, but I don’t know what I’m going to … right now, I don’t know … I’m certain that I wouldn’t agree to something full-time right now."
Edwards also touched on the possibility of a political run, something he broached in his January 11 announcement. The Missouri native reaffirmed his offseason stance, indicating that he had no concrete intent to campaign for office.
"I haven’t decided on the political stuff," Edwards said. "Like I talked about at the press conference, I really believe in individual freedom and liberty and what the United States is based upon. I think, like anybody, I’ve been paying attention and it’s a little scary what’s going on as a whole in our country and in the world. So if I can help with that down the line, great, but I don’t have any firm plans right now."
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HAMPTON, Ga. – For Jimmie Johnson, it’s all about trust. Trust in his immense talent, trust in the other competitors he races against on a weekly basis and trust in his crew chief and team to give him a car that is capable of getting to Victory Lane.
It’s not exactly a work in progress for the 41-year-old Johnson.
Last year’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship was his seventh, a plateau reached by only two others in the history of NASCAR – Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. His 80 career victories are seventh on the all-time list, and tops among current competitors.
Those marks didn’t come without trust in himself and his team, led by crew chief Chad Knaus.
Sunday, Johnson will be going after career win No. 81 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR). The worn-out, abrasive and fast 1.54-mile track has been the site of five wins for the driver of the No 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet — including the last two in Atlanta.
As impressive as his win total here might seem, it’s not even top five for Johnson, who has won more often at Dover (10), Martinsville (9), Charlotte (8), Auto Club (6) and Texas (6). (Auto Club and Atlanta are once-around-the-circuit stops nowadays, so multiple wins might be a bit more notable at those two stops.)
During Friday’s opening practice at AMS, Johnson’s best lap was very unlike a five-time winner at the track. He was 21st-fastest among the 39 drivers.
"We are eternally optimistic and always think that we have a shot at the pole," Johnson said during his media availability.
But he did admit that his opening practice runs didn’t inspire optimism and conceded that a pole might be stretch.
"But as a driver and with Chad Knaus as your crew chief, you’ve got to let that stuff roll off your shoulders and climb in the car and pull them tight and think you can hit it," he said.
"That is one thing that I have learned through experience. … Sure, you might be off in a session, but you let your team make adjustments and work on things. And then call on your teammates and the other notes that you can learn from.”
Stuff happens, he noted, citing his 35th career pole won last year at New Hampshire.
"We were nowhere near the pole in practice," he said, "and ended up getting the pole. It can happen. The odds are low, but I’m going to get in there hoping that I nail the perfect lap."
While he did advance out of the first round of qualifying, Johnson was unable to crack the top 12 and earn a shot at the pole. As a result, he will start 18th in Sunday’s race.
"To be honest, this is a lot better than we qualified the last two years and we won the races the last two years," Johnson said. His 2015 win came from the 37th-starting position and he qualified 19th last year.
"Of course, we want to qualify well here, those stage points are important but not necessarily in the cards for us in the first stage, it looks like," he said. "And now we’ll go to work and do what we need to do to get ready for the race."
Hendrick drivers have won the last three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Atlanta – teammate Kasey Kahne won here in 2014 – and the organization has won here 14 times overall.
"It’s been a great track for me, really, when I look back over my career," Johnson said, "and when I think of Hendrick-related race cars and success from (Jerry) Nadeau running well here; Jeff (Gordon) has obviously always been amazing here; (Kasey) Kahne; it has been a good track for (Dale Earnhardt) Junior over the years. It is a good track for all of us."
So a slow Friday isn’t necessarily a sign of a troublesome weekend.
"I can say the last two races we have won here we didn’t really get our stuff situated until late in the going and (were) able to come out on top," he said. "Just because you might have a slow Friday or a slow start to the race I don’t think you can count anybody out.
"We have a lot of chances to work on the car and can make stuff happen here, which is really neat."
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RELATED: Starting lineup
HAMPTON, Ga. – Kevin Harvick saved his best lap for the best possible moment on Friday afternoon, putting his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford on the pole for Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX).
In the third and final round of knockout qualifying for the second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, Harvick toured the 1.54-mile track in 29.118 seconds (190.398 mph) to post the fastest lap of the entire qualifying session.
In winning his second pole at Atlanta and the 18th of his career, Harvick edged Ryan Newman (189.870 mph) by .081 seconds.
"In the last run there, I was able to carry more speed and do some things with the car that I wasn’t able to do in the first two runs," Harvick said. "At that point I just didn’t want to screw it up, because I felt like I’d gotten to the green, which I didn’t do in the second round.
"I got to the green good, I got through (Turns) 1 and 2 good. I just needed to hit the bottom and get that left front on the line so that it would hook and get up off the corner. That was by far the best of the three laps, and we saved it perfectly for the end."
Newman, who hasn’t won a pole since the fall race at New Hampshire in 2013, failed to add to his career total of 51 and failed to break his tie with the late Buddy Baker for most poles at Atlanta (seven). Newman’s No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was second fastest behind Kyle Busch’s No. 18 Toyota in the opening round of the time trial and fastest in the second round.
"We were so close," Newman said. "I really wanted to beat my old buddy Buddy Baker’s record there. Been tied with him for a while, so that was kind of rough. But I’m just proud of the guys and proud of the effort. It is the litmus test for us for a lot of the rest of the season. It was a good start for sure."
Busch qualified third at 189.850 mph, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Team Penske teammates Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Five cars failed to make qualifying attempts, and thus, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Michael McDowell, Cole Whitt, Derrike Cope and Cody Ware will start from the final five positions in the 39-car field.
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HAMPTON, Ga. — Inspection issues put a crimp in qualifying for a number of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with nearly half the field not on the grid when the opening session got underway at 5:45 p.m. ET.
Only five teams were unable to clear inspection and make it to the grid. Many, however, arrived on pit road after the session already had begun.
Michael McDowell, Cole Whitt, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Derrike Cope and Cody Ware were the five drivers who failed to post an official lap when the 20-minute clock expired, ending the first of three qualifying rounds. Their position in the starting field was determined based on 2016 championship owner points.
"The teams asked for this," Elton Sawyer, a former driver and now vice president, officiating and technical inspection for the sanctioning body, said. "In the offseason we worked with them, we told them what we were going to do, they’ve asked us to stay consistent and that’s exactly what we’ve done. At 5 o’clock today we had every car through the inspection process one time so we feel good about that."
Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is the season’s first race utilizing the 2017 lower downforce aero package and not surprisingly, Sawyer said the template inspection station was where most teams had issues.
RELATED: What to know about the rules package
"I know they’re pushing it," he said. "This is the first downforce race so we understand that. But again, the thing that’s really encouraging is the garage has asked us to stay consistent, stay the course and they’ll get it fixed so that’s what we’re going to do.
"We had everybody through at 5 o’clock. So if they had presented their car in compliance with the rule book, they would be out there now."
Two teams among those making it out with just enough time to get on the track were the Team Penske No. 22 Ford of Joey Logano and the No. 14 Ford of Stewart-Haas Racing with driver Clint Bowyer.
Mike Bugarewicz, crew chief for Bowyer, said the team had template issues on its first go-around, "and that’s us trying to get everything we can as a team."
"The next time was on us, our own fault, just an oversight," he said. "We need to work on that as a team."
Bowyer barely missed advancing out of the first round and will start 25th.
Bugarewicz said the rush to get through inspection and the driver not knowing when or if the car would make it to pit road resulted in a difficult set of circumstances.
"We were just trying to rush, get the driver in the car and then he doesn’t have a clear state of mind, so I think our … Ford was going to be a lot better," he said. "I think if we had another shot at calming down and sitting there thinking about it for a minute, we’d have had a lot better second round."
In spite of the rush to get to pit road, Logano advanced through the first two rounds and ended the day qualified in the No. 6 position.
Crew chief Todd Gordon chalked the delay up to new procedures and said, "It wasn’t that bad for us."
"We missed a couple things in templates and needed to rub on them, and then when we came back, we missed wedge by just a little bit," Gordon said. "It was fine, it’s just kind of what we’ve got and I’m good with them sticking to what they’re saying they’re going to do, and we all have to figure out how to work within it."
The expectation is that the process will work itself out in the coming weeks, much as it did under similar circumstances two years ago when the initial low downforce package rolled out.
"I definitely think it will," Gordon said. "Any time there’s a change, teams need to understand what it is and how to work with it. I don’t see it as an issue.
"It was a little exciting for us there as we rolled, but didn’t plan on having an issue to have to go around another time and we did."
Sawyer said NASCAR officials did not consider delaying the start of qualifying to allow every team time to make it to the grid.
"I think in the past, I’ve been on the team side before and you’re going to try and get everything you can," he said. "Again, I can’t emphasize this enough, they’ve asked for this, they’ve asked us to clean it up so it’s going to be a little painful but we’ll get there."
Zack Albert contributed to this story.
According to a report from the Las Vegas Review Journal, Las Vegas Motor Speedway could add a second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race as early as 2018.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors is slated to meet Wednesday to discuss the matter, the newspaper reported.
The 1.5-mile Las Vegas facility hosted its first Monster Energy Series race in 1998. Its 20th consecutive event, the Kobalt 400, is scheduled for March 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
"We are constantly working with promoters to discuss and develop NASCAR schedules," NASCAR Senior Vice President for Racing Operations Jim Cassidy said in a statement. "We have not finalized any schedules for 2018 or beyond, but will announce them as they become final."
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Check out the full field for Atlanta; get complete team rosters
2018 DAYTONA 500 VIP Ticket Packages are now available from PrimeSport! As the Official Ticket Exchange of Daytona International Speedway, PrimeSport has your access to all the action at the World Center of Racing! Receive $50 off per reservation when you book your 2018 DAYTONA package by Saturday March 4th. Use code DAYTONA18 at checkout. Coupon code DAYTONA18 is active now through Saturday March, 4th. | GO HERE
RELATED: Read more Inside Groove
One of the many misconceptions about social media, aside from the one that we care that you can’t believe your kid is in first grade already, is that hashtags are simple to come up with.
They aren’t.
They’re their own little language, like Sanskrit, Latin, or whatever it is Ward Burton just said.
There’s a lot to consider — character count, which letter is best replaced seamlessly with a car number, etc. Such was the case with Jimmie Johnson, when he posted this tweet. It was a look into the creative process that led to his 2017 hashtag, #Chasing8.
/ A little behind-the-scenes of Seven Time’s creative process – found Jimmie’s notes that show the path to #chasing8 –@LyleOwerko pic.twitter.com/LdoRJKwt2T
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) February 26, 2017
We have it on good authority that this document was doctored, so as to leave out all the possibilities that were thrown out. Below is the ACTUAL document, with feedback.
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Recap the top NASCAR moments at Atlanta
2018 DAYTONA 500 VIP Ticket Packages are now available from PrimeSport! As the Official Ticket Exchange of Daytona International Speedway, PrimeSport has your access to all the action at the World Center of Racing! Receive $50 off per reservation when you book your 2018 DAYTONA package by Saturday March 4th. Use code DAYTONA18 at checkout. Coupon code DAYTONA18 is active now through Saturday March, 4th. | GO HERE
