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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, one of the most successful and popular charity rides in the country, today announced the route for its 23rd annual motorcycle trek. For the first time in almost a decade, the Ride led by former NASCAR driver and NBC Sports racing analyst Kyle Petty, will travel across the Pacific Northwest.

With Manheim, North America’s leading provider of used vehicle services, as returning presenting sponsor, the Ride will leave Portland, Oregon, on May 13 and arrive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 19, covering eight states in seven days. Petty will lead 200 bikers on the weeklong, 2,400-mile route to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction – a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.


What started out as Petty and a small group of friends riding together for fun in 1995, has grown into one of the most successful and popular charity rides in the country. This year, more than 20 first-time riders will join the dedicated team of men and women riding for the cause, along with new sponsors and a continued sense of passion. 

"It’s pretty straightforward: every single mile we ride is for one cause, and that is to send chronically ill children to camp at Victory Junction at no cost to their families," said Petty. "The Ride is an enriching experience for everyone involved, and this year we’ll be riding through some spectacular parts of the country like Mount Rushmore, and for the very first time the Columbia River Gorge."


The Ride will see many of our country’s historic landmarks including Yellowstone and Badlands National Parks; Bighorn National Forest; and the iconic Harley-Davidson Museum, the birthplace of the all-American motorcycle manufacturing company. Emblematic of the American open road, riders will also take in roadside attractions, including the world’s largest ball of twine rolled by one man in Darwin, Minnesota.


Fans are encouraged to come support the cause and greet riders at one of the Ride’s seven overnight stops or daily pit stops. Spectators along the route may also purchase memorabilia or contribute to the Ride’s "Small Change. Big Impact." program, which accepts donations at each stop.


23rd Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Schedule:

(Information about scheduled pit stops can be found on the Ride’s Facebook page.)

  • Day 1, Saturday, May 13 – Portland, Oregon to Walla Walla, Washington
  • Day 2, Sunday, May 14 – Walla Walla, Washington to Missoula, Montana
  • Day 3, Monday, May 15 – Missoula, Montana to Cody, Wyoming
  • Day 4, Tuesday, May 16 – Cody, Wyoming to Deadwood, South Dakota
  • Day 5, Wednesday, May 17 – Deadwood, South Dakota to Mitchell, South Dakota
  • Day 6, Thursday, May 18 – Mitchell, South Dakota to Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Day 7, Friday, May 19 – Minneapolis, Minnesota to Milwaukee, Wisconsin


As a result of the Ride, 7,985 children have attended Victory Junction at no cost to their families. Last year alone, the Ride raised more than $1 million, sending 100 children to camp. Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam.


This year’s Ride will feature several celebrity riders, including:

  • NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time champion Richard Petty
  • NASCAR legends Harry Gant, Hershel McGriff and Donnie Allison
  • Former NFL great and ESPN’s 2016 Coaches Poll greatest college football player of all time, Herschel Walker
  • Heisman Trophy winner (1980) and Super Bowl champion (XXII) George Rogers
  • NBC Sports NASCAR personalities Rick Allen and Rutledge Wood
  • Harley-Davidson Museum president, Bill Davidson, who comes from a long list of Harley-Davidson greats starting with his great grandfather who founded the company.


"As we travel to new parts of our country – or ones we haven’t seen in a while – the Ride brings with it a passion for sharing the great work of Victory Junction and a comradery that can’t be matched. That’s what makes it one of the most popular motorcycle rides in the country," said Kyle’s father Richard Petty.


The 2017 Ride is made possible by presenting sponsor Manheim, as well as Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, FCA Fleet, Racing Electronics, WinCraft Racing, FLUIDYNE Racing Products, Petty Family Foundation, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Headbands of Hope, Piedmont Moving Systems, ArticBlu, Select-A-Vision and Goody’s.


"Giving back to the community is a core value of Manheim, so we’re thrilled once again to be supporting Victory Junction and the children who camp there," said Janet Barnard, president, Cox Automotive Inventory Solutions. "Our teams are excited to welcome the Ride at two of our operating locations, Manheim Portland and Manheim Minneapolis, and offering their local support to this worthwhile cause."


To keep up with Petty and the riders live, follow along on social media:


For more information about the 23rd Annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America or to make a donation, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.

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RELATED: Suarez’s rise to NASCAR stardom


SUWANEE, Ga. —  ARRIS International today announced that it has renewed its multi-year sponsorship agreement with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR).


Under the agreement, ARRIS will extend its primary sponsorship of Daniel Suárez to 22 races (up from 17 last year) in this season’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, following Carl Edwards‘ decision to step away from racing in January. Following his momentous win as the first foreign-born driver to win a NASCAR championship, Suárez will move up as the driver of the No. 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry to compete in NASCAR’s highest series.


From the start, ARRIS Racing has shared a passion for developing young talent in racing, alongside Carlos "Slim" Domit and Escudería. Today, ARRIS also announced that it is continuing its support of young Latin American drivers — renewing its sponsorship of Abraham Calderón, who last season won the Freightliner Truck Series in Mexico, and sponsoring 21-year-old Mexican driver Fabián Welter, who is currently Driver 1 in the Telmex Driver Development Program.


"ARRIS is a strategic and dedicated partner on and off the track," said Joe Gibbs, founder and owner of JGR. "Their commitment to advancing the sport — from a sponsorship and technology perspective — makes them a genuine leader that our fans have recognized and embraced. We look forward to years of rewarding collaboration and to many more trips to Victory Lane."


"Our partnership with JGR and our involvement with NASCAR has been instrumental in introducing the ARRIS brand to millions of NASCAR fans. We had a great run with the legendary Carl Edwards, and now we’re proud to continue our work with JGR by extending our race-day sponsorship to 22 events in support of Daniel Suárez’s history-making trajectory," said Ron Coppock, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and Customer Operations at ARRIS. "Daniel represents the future of racing, and we’re looking forward to joining him on the podium in his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.


"ARRIS Racing is also proud to play an important role in the development of young Latin American racing talent," continued Coppock. "Fabián and Abraham are two drivers who, like a young Daniel Suárez, show great potential on the Mexican racing scene. We are excited to contribute to their growth as drivers and as the next generation of this sport."


"It’s a dream to be competing for the first time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series," said Daniel Suárez, JGR driver. "With the full support of ARRIS and JGR, I know the whole team will be able to make the most of this coming season and give us every chance of success."


ARRIS joined the NASCAR family in 2014 with its primary sponsorship of JGR drivers Carl Edwards and Daniel Suárez. In 2016, the company installed the most comprehensive Wi-Fi deployment in NASCAR history at Daytona International Speedway, which serves tens of thousands of fans on race days. The company also powers the communications between NASCAR drivers and their teams through its SURFboard SB6183 modem, E6000 CER, and integration and support from its Global Services team.

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RELATED: Stage lengths revealed for 2017 races

NASCAR competition officials issued an updated deterrence system Thursday for its three national series, shifting toward an officiating process that penalizes pre-race infractions within a given race weekend. The updated system is months in the making, with the sanctioning body and teams working concurrently on the new procedures.

The move was one of several fundamental changes made to the penalty structure ahead of on-track activity this week at Daytona International Speedway.

The new system replaces the P1-through-P6 penalty classification which had been in effect since the start of the 2014 season. The new structure grades significant penalties into Levels 1 and 2, both of which involve points deductions and crew chief or team member suspensions that increase with a given violation’s severity.

Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Vice President of Officiating and Technical Inspection, said that in the event that less severe infractions are found before a race, teams or crew members would be disciplined from a menu of penalty options available to NASCAR’s three series directors. Those range from the loss of practice time to loss of lap(s) at the start of a race.

“Our goal was to be able to, more like football or basketball or any sporting event to where we could officiate and police within the event,” Sawyer told NASCAR.com. “I think the real message is that we want to get these infractions, the smaller infractions, we want to get them corrected at the race track.

“It’s very similar to a 15-yard penalty. If you can get three 15-yard penalties and you can still win the game or drive down and score a touchdown, then good for you. If we can issue these penalties and you lose pit selection or you start at the back or a drive-through (penalty), and you can still come back and win the race, well then we feel like what that infraction was, the penalty fits the crime.”

A chief reasoning behind the updated policy is to mete out potential penalties more closely to the time – and at the event – in which they occur.

“The Tuesday penalties, they wouldn’t necessarily go away,” Sawyer told NASCAR.com. “We’re hoping that we don’t have to write those penalties. That’s not what we look forward to. We want all the positive storylines to be around the excitement of the race, and as the stewards of the sport — or the umpires, if you will — we want to kind of be in the background. But we have a role and responsibility in this as well to make sure it’s a level playing field for all.”

RELATED: Tire limits among ’17 rules updates | Learn about the rules package

The updates also detail the schematics of a new pre-race inspection protocol, which requires that vehicles must proceed through all four inspection stations, regardless of whether issues are found in any stage in the process. Fixes must now be made in each team’s garage stall, rather than off to the side of any given station, and then vehicles must proceed through all four inspection sites again.

Sawyer said that the additional time it takes to make a full inspection pass serves as a deterrent for teams, which could miss portions of practice or qualifying in the event of an issue. Eliminating repairs made off to the side of inspection stations also tightens up any gray areas on the fringes of the garage.

“I think it’s fair to say that if we make them go back to the garage, then that’s a central location for all cars to be fixed,” Sawyer told NASCAR.com. “They know they have to come back through every station again, so it does put the deterrent back on the teams and puts the responsibility back on the teams to present their vehicles in compliance with the rule book.”

RELATED: New participation guidelines put limits in place for 2017

Among the other highlights from Thursday’s updates to the rule book:

• The penalty structure for violations that rise to the L1 or L2 level were unveiled, subject to enforcement at the following event(s):

L1 penalties concern areas of minimum heights and weights, the Laser Inspection Station (LIS), gear ratios, and flagrant lug nut violations where 17 or fewer are properly secured. L2 penalties involve more egregious infractions concerning tampering with the three “no man’s land” technical areas of tires, engine and fuel. Major safety violations, the use of telemetry or traction control, plus breaches of the testing policy also fall under the L2 designation.

Penalty options for all three NASCAR national series call for the deduction of 10 to 40 points for L1 violations and 75 points for L2 infractions. In the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, L1 penalties call for crew chief or team member suspensions for 1 to 3 races, plus a $25,000 to $75,000 fine. L2 penalties in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series come with a six-race suspension and fines ranging from $100,000 to $200,000.

The disciplinary action is scaled back in the other two national series. In the NASCAR XFINITY Series, L1 penalties will result in the same one- to three-race suspension range, but with fines from $10,000-$40,000. L2 violations in XFINITY events also come with a six-race suspension guideline, but a $50,000-$100,000 range for fines.

In the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, L1 penalties carry a one- or two-race suspension with fines from $5,000 to $20,000. L2 infractions will result in a four-race suspension with monetary penalties of $25,000 to $50,000.

• Specific penalties were outlined for lug-nut and LIS violations in the Monster Energy Series.

LIS infractions discovered after Coors Light Pole Qualifying will result in a team’s time being disallowed. Post-race, the violation falls under an L1 heading with a three-race crew chief suspension, a $65,000 fine and the loss of 35 championship points.

Teams with one improperly attached or missing lug nut post-race are subject to a $10,000 fine. That fine doubles and includes a one-race suspension for the crew chief if two lug nuts are improperly attached or missing. If three or more lug nuts are in violation of the rules, the penalty rises to the L1 level with three-race suspension for the crew chief, a $65,000 fine and the deduction of 35 championship points.

• “Encumbered” finishes — a rules concept introduced before the Monster Energy Series’ playoffs last year — will remain in effect this season for post-race L1 and L2 violations. The rules allow a victory to stand in the event of an infraction, but a winning team will be stripped of the benefits associated with the win.

• The list of pre-race penalties within a race weekend at the series directors’ disposal, in order of increasing severity: Loss of annual “hard card” credential, loss of practice time, loss of pit selection position, tail of the field penalty, a green-flag pass-through on pit road after the initial start, a green-flag stop-and-go in the pits after the start, and lap(s) penalty.

• Sawyer said that NASCAR competition officials will continue the practice of taking select cars back to the R&D center for further inspection after a race weekend.

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Chase Elliott can’t make fans forget the legacy of the No. 24 car, but by all indications, he’s ready to make his own distinctive mark in that vaunted ride.

 

The history of the No. 24 car is monumental, and Elliott inherited that ride last year from the driver who made it famous.

 

The No. 24 has won 93 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races in 1,414 starts since the number debuted in 1950. All 93 victories belong to Jeff Gordon, who retired from full-time racing at NASCAR’s highest level at the end of the 2015 season.

 

When Gordon made his first premier series start in the 1992 season finale, he took over the number from Butch Gilliland, who had driven a family-owned No. 24 Pontiac at Phoenix two weeks earlier. The No. 24 made only two appearances in 1992, with Gilliland behind the wheel, before Gordon ran the number at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

As he made his debut in the Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Gordon did so with no weight of history on his shoulders.

 

The same can’t be said of Elliott, who followed a four-time champion who is third on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory list.

 

But Elliott has adjusted. By all measures, he exceeded expectations in a 2016 season that saw him claim Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Elliott was a couple of blown restarts away from becoming the only driver other than Gordon to win in the No. 24 car, and he’s ready to build on his strong performance this season.

 

Sophomore jinx? Forget it.

 

"You hope you can continue forward and not look at it as ‘Year 2’ or look at it from that perspective," Elliott said. "You have to go about it as a new season, as boring an answer as that is. You have to see the challenges as they come. One thing I’m excited about, which I haven’t had in the last few years, is having the same crew chief two years in a row. I haven’t had that.

 

"I really enjoyed working with Alan (Gustafson) last year. I think he’s one of the best. Everyone says that about their crew chiefs, but I’m pretty confident saying that. He does a great job and is underrated in what he does and how hard he works in trying to make a race team go. For us, it’s about starting another year, improving in areas that we wanted to get better in and also improving some of the areas we succeeded in and try to keep it as simple as that."

 

It also helps that Elliott has a different primary sponsor (NAPA) from the ones that dominated the hood of Gordon’s car. Elliott’s souvenir sales have been robust, and his fans are easily identifiable.

 

"I want to be me and try to keep things as straightforward as I can," Elliott said. "I try not to be a very complicated person and try to keep things as simple as possible. I certainly appreciate the support we’ve had. It was incredible to see some of that last year.

 

"Darlington stands out in my mind. We went there and saw a bunch of new 24 gear, which goes a long way. It doesn’t go unnoticed and it means a lot. I certainly appreciate that support, but you want people to support you for who you are and no other reason. I hope that’s the way it is for me. I’m trying to be myself."

 

The transition from Gordon to Elliott, in the fan base as well as in the car, is emblematic of the youth movement that’s evolved in the past few years from a groundswell into a full-fledged tsunami. The 2017 season brings three full-time newcomers to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Ty Dillon.

 

They follow by a year the talented trio of Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher. Before that, Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson joined the series.

 

Elliott recalled once again his experience at Darlington, where, as he sat in his car waiting to leave the track, he noticed a large group of fans wearing No. 24 NAPA gear.

 

"I happened to see a big group of people," Elliott explained. "That’s why it stood out in my mind. As the year went on, I guess you did see a little more of the newer 24 stuff, which I thought was cool.

 

"But I’m perfectly cool with seeing Jeff Gordon gear, too. Jeff’s been good to me and has a great fan base who still enjoy going to the races. New or old 24 gear, I’m happy with it."

 

Just as Elliott’s growing cadre of fans will continue to coexist with the long-time backers of Gordon, so will their two legacies.

 

And as the 2017 season begins to unfold, Elliott appears ready to add considerable substance to his.

 

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The 59th annual Daytona 500 is just around the corner, so we sifted through the numbers on Racing Reference to find some interesting tidbits for you to chew on while you wait for the Feb. 26 (2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) running of The Great American Race.

10
Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads active drivers with 10 victories on restrictor-plate tracks. That’s double the amount for the next-closest competitors, Brad Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson, who have five apiece. Two of Junior’s 10 restrictor-plate wins have come in the Daytona 500, his last being in 2014.

9
Dale Earnhardt Jr. also leads active drivers with nine second-place finishes in restrictor-plate races. Tony Stewart had eight, followed by Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett and Jimmie Johnson all tied at six apiece. So in 19 of Junior’s 67 restrictor-plate races, he has finished either in first or second place.

RELATED: More restrictor-plate stats

1967
The last time the Daytona 500 was run on Feb. 26 was 1967, and the winner was Mario Andretti. It was Andretti’s only win in 14 NASCAR premier series starts. He drove for Holman-Moody and beat Fred Lorenzen in a race that ended under caution. Andretti, of course, was better known for his open-wheel career.

No. 11
When Andretti won the Daytona 500 he was driving the No. 11 car. That number has been on the Daytona 500-winning car just two other times: In 1977, eventual NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough drove it to Victory Lane. Last year, Denny Hamlin won in the race’s closest finish ever (.010 seconds over Martin Truex Jr.).

RELATED: Stats by car number

22
The number of DNFs for Michael Waltrip in his restrictor-plate racing career, tying him with Bobby Labonte for third-most all-time. However, Waltrip has the most starts in restrictor-plate races at Daytona and Talladega with 108 and has won four times, including twice in the Daytona 500 (2001 and ’03). Waltrip will be making the final start of his career in this year’s Daytona 500.

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RELATED: Read more Inside Groove


ITEM 1: Richard Petty autographed photo w/ Rick Wilson at the zoo


It’s what you’ve dreamt of for the past 25 years — an autographed photo of Richard Petty. And Rick Wilson. AT THE ZOO.


Alternative: Men’s NASCAR Classics light blue Richard Petty 80th birthday shirt

While the photo would look great at your desk at the office instead of that picture of your family, a T-Shirt featuring The King might do a better job out in public.


ITEM 2: NASCAR sheet metal No. 4 Kevin Harvick Jimmy John’s quarter-panel


A piece of sheet metal from Kevin Harvick‘s Jimmy John’s car that just reads "Freaky." Give the guests stopping by your racing cave the wrong idea.


Alternative: Unsigned Kevin Harvick Fanatics authentic display case with race-used sheet metal

Protect yourself from sharp metal edges with a display-case protected piece of Happy’s car.

ITEM 3: 2003 Wheels High Gear No. 69 Greg Biffle rookie racing card

A Greg Biffle rookie card — No. 69, of course.


Alternative: Greg Biffle pit row cornhole game set


Greg Biffle cornhole. I think he would have wanted it this way.


ITEM 4: Ryan Newman action figure



An action figure of Ryan Newman spilling a bottle of sports drink. Butter fingers!


Alternative: Men’s Ryan Newman New Era black team relation knit beanie

Protect your head from rogue sports drink spray.


ITEM 5: Dale Jr. NASCAR 3M Hard Charger Award


A novelty check for $25,000. If you successfully cash it, you’ve got a pretty decent return on investment.


Alternative: NASCAR Superstore $25 Gift Card

Why have $25,000 in novelty dollars when you can have 25 real dollars’ worth of NASCAR merchandise?


ITEM 6: Ron Hornaday No. 2 pit board sign


Does Ron Hornaday live in your neighborhood? Wave this sign out front of your house and find out — he’ll surely stop!

Alternative: WinCraft NASCAR street sign


You might get a little more buy-in from your cohabitants with the alternative.


ITEM 7: Mike Bliss Advair race-used fire suit



Was your Mike Bliss Halloween costume feeling incomplete? No longer.


Alternative: Men’s Kyle Busch orange M&M’s Halloween t-shirt


Of course there’s no true alternative to a complete Mike Bliss driver suit and helmet.

ITEM 8: Dale Jarrett No. 88 race-used tire side wall picture


Finally! The answer to your longtime question: "Where can I find a photo of Dale Jarrett to put inside the sidewall of my tire?"


Alternative: Dale Jarrett collectible lot of 15 trading cards

You might be able to assemble all these trading cards on a piece of poster board, and enjoy 15 pictures of Dale Jarrett instead of just one.


ITEM 9: Mike Wallace No. 91 Spam Racing denim jacket


Want to show your love of Mike Wallace‘s tenure in Joe Falk’s No. 91 Spam Racing machine from the late ’90s? What better way than with a 20-year-old denim jacket?


Alternative: Rusty Wallace black vintage car t-shirt


While Mike Wallace merchandise is hard to come by in this decade, you can always count on brother Rusty to come through with vintage shirts.


ITEM 10: Dale Jr. wakeboard



You’ve often asked yourself: "How can I combine my love of NASCAR and passion for wakeboarding?" Look no further than this Dale Earnhardt Jr.-from-the-early-2000s-themed wakeboard.


Alternative: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2017 wall calendar

Of course, there’s no substitute for a wakeboard — but this calendar can help you remember when it’s time to hit the … waves? (Or whatever it is that wakeboarders say).

ITEM 11: Dale Sr. knife set in metal tin car


What do we have here? If you guessed "a car resembling the late Dale Earnhardt’s that’s been stretched out in Microsoft Paint and has wheels that don’t touch the ground," you’re right!


Alternative: Dale Earnhardt checkered flag black name and number bandana


How about a nice bandana instead?

ITEM 12: Race-used Cougar hood


It’s a hood. With a cougar.


Alternative: Fanatics authentic Daytona generic chair with black track bottom


It’s hard to beat actual seats from Daytona International Speedway.

ITEM 13: Kyle Busch ID holder 


Holy heck! A genuine "Kyle Bush" ID holder! And you’d better believe it’s emblazoned with that famous No. 18 (well, a No. 18 that doesn’t really resemble the real thing).


Alternative: WinCraft NASCAR color frost key ring


How about something a little more official?


(And speaking of … )


ITEM 14: NASCAR race official race-used fire suit



There’s no telling what you could do when you show up to the race in an Official’s uniform.


Alternative: Men’s Fanatics branded black NASCAR t-shirt


It’s probably a safer bet to show your love of NASCAR with a simple t-shirt than impersonating a race official. Trust me on that one.

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CONCORD, N.C. — Fans will roar and the red, white and blue will wave before the green flag on May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Iconic rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd will salute America with the ultimate Memorial Day Weekend mix of rock and racing in front of a captivated audience in the Coca-Cola 600 Concert presented by Speed Perks.

The 2006 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will perform hits including world-renowned, Southern rock anthems "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" for Coca-Cola 600 ticket holders on the Pit Party stage on pit road.

"We can’t wait to get to rocking with all the race fans," lead singer Johnny Van Zant said. "This is going to be one of the coolest concerts we’ll play all year. It’s not often that you get the chance to perform before something as true-blue American as the Coca-Cola 600. Everybody had better be ready because it’s going to get wild."

The Lynyrd Skynyrd concert is part of the 10 Days of NASCAR Thunder at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which also includes the May 20 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race. Platinum-selling entertainer Justin Moore will perform a free pre-All-Star Race concert presented by Rayovac Batteries and Kwikset.

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Defending Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin showed up Wednesday night to attend an Orlando Magic NBA game and help promote the upcoming Daytona Speedweeks, conceding there remains a lot of positive feedback about a special and sentimental move he made a day earlier for one of the sport’s favorite sons.

 

On Tuesday, Hamlin revealed on social media that he will carry his car owner J.D. Gibbs’ first name above the driver door on his No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry. Like Gibbs, Hamlin’s initials are J.D. — James Dennis. Gibbs’ initials J.D. stand for Jason Dean.

 

RELATED: Hamlin unveils tribute on No. 11 ride

 

Gibbs, a popular and well-liked personality has been sidelined from his once-busy role running the Joe Gibbs Racing team because of health reasons. He has been treated for symptoms affecting his brain function and his welfare is always on the mind of team members.

 

So for Hamlin, this was actually an easy way to send a strong message of support.

 

And the positive response to the gesture has been immediate and strong.

 

"It’s very tough to figure out what is the right thing to do to pay tribute to J.D.," Hamlin said Wednesday while visiting the local Florida media.

 

"That car is number 11 for a reason. Although people always think it’s that number because it always has been throughout my career, that was J.D.’s number — his college number — when he played football (at the College of William and Mary)."

 

Hamlin reminded that it was actually J.D. that persuaded his famous father, Joe Gibbs, to hire Hamlin and give him a chance in the big leagues.

 

The result has been 29 wins and a championship runner-up finish (2010) in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings.

 

"It’s a very special thing for him and it’s always been his car,” Hamlin said. "He was there that very first time and made the call to sign me to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing so I tried to do the best I could to pay tribute to him as well and his family.

 

"We’re going to leave it on for the year. I think it’s important to do that.”

 

After one more official off day (Thursday) before the 2017 season begins, Hamlin will arrive at Daytona International Speedway for the season kickoff non-points race, the Advance Auto Parts Clash on Saturday night.

 

Front row qualifying for the Feb. 26 Daytona 500 will be Sunday.

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HAMPTON, Ga. — Acclaimed television personality and designer Ty Pennington has been named grand marshal for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday, March 5, 2017.

 

An Atlanta native and alumnus of The Art Institute of Atlanta, Pennington will return to his home state to visit with race fans, attend the pre-race drivers’ meeting and give the command as part of his grand marshal duties.

 

"I am very excited to be coming home to Atlanta to work with Atlanta Motor Speedway," said Pennington of the opportunity. "The fans at their events are always filled with energy and love to have a good time. I can’t wait."

 

Pennington first won national attention as the quirky and creative carpenter on the groundbreaking home-improvement series Trading Spaces. Later, as host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Pennington helped transform the lives of thousands while inspiring millions more around the world to volunteer their time to help others.

 

Pennington recently was the host of Food Network’s American Diner Revival, a hit show that showcases both design and food in an emotionally charged format. Ty travels the country breathing new life into the heart and soul of many communities and local diners.

 

Ty also worked with the legendary Chef Emeril Lagasse in the TBS show On The Menu. The Mark Burnett-produced show is "the first cooking competition show to give viewers at home the chance to taste the dishes they see on screen."

 

NASCAR racing returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway March 3-5, 2017, featuring the Rinnai 250 XFINITY Series and Active Pest Control 200 Camping World Truck Series doubleheader on Saturday, March 4 and the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, March 5.

 

For more information or to purchase tickets today, contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.