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As Johnny Sauter returned to Florida this week it was a feel-good opportunity in the most literal terms.

He is the reigning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion and started that title campaign by winning the season opener at Daytona Beach, just down the highway from his visit to Orlando on Thursday under sunny skies and 70-degree temperatures.

“When I drove my kids to school this morning it was 3 degrees,” Sauter joked.

“For me personally, it’s nice to get away from the cold frigid temperatures of Wisconsin, it’s nice to get a little break. I look forward to kicking things off.”

Sauter, 38, was in Florida to drop the puck at the Orlando Solar Bears hockey game, show off his championship trophy … and to get fans thinking about the approaching Daytona Speedweeks.

For the first time in his career Sauter will start the season as a NASCAR champion, however he is emphatic that the title celebration is officially over now.

“I’ve been racing long enough to know I need to put last year behind us because quite frankly, it’s yesterday’s news,” Sauter said. “It’s cool and I’m proud of the accomplishments of a year ago, but we’re on the verge of a new season.”

Collecting a second consecutive trophy in 2017 would be trumping a historical rarity. Matt Crafton is the only driver to win back-to-back truck titles (2013-14) in the series history.

And Sauter’s title hopes are again a moving target with rule enhancements governing the series. Last year NASCAR instituted the popular playoff elimination in the series and for 2017, the sanctioning body has implemented a new — and well-received — format to enhance competition in all three national series. Points will awarded to the top 10 places following two early race segments then distributed again to the entire field based on the checkered flag standings.

“To be completely honest with you, I haven’t studied it a whole lot because at the end of the day, you still have to be there at the finish,” Sauter said. “Yeah, it’s going to be good to win segments, but ultimately if you win a segment and you crash in the third segment and it’s a DNF that’s not good either.

“It’s kind of like we’re in the position we were a year ago with learning the Chase format. No one really knew. Until you do it once you really don’t know what to expect.

“Change is good. Change is inevitable and I’m looking forward to it.”

Sauter’s eagerness to get back on track is easy to hear in his voice. He has won the Daytona season opener twice in the last four years (also in 2013). And while he acknowledges the frantic pace and pure intensity expected of the Feb. 24 NextEra Energy Resources 250 opener at Daytona, he also admits it is a perfect way to start the year.

“Exhilarating,” Sauter says of the experience. “From where I’m sitting that’s the word I would use. It’s only 100 laps of racing. But I promise you’re so focused on what’s going on around you that you find yourself in so many different scenarios, you forget half the things that happened to you until you go back and have a chance to watch a replay of the race. It’s a pretty crazy night.”

“And,” he added, “I have to be honest, I hear it a lot that that the Truck Series puts on the most exciting race and I do think that’s a product of a shorter race and putting the emphasis on getting where you’re going in a hurry.

“Having said that, it’s one of those places, I’ve crashed there before we’ve even completed a lap (2010) then the last couple years I’ve won it twice.


“Anything can happen at Daytona, that’s the tricky part about it and good part about it.”

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BUY TICKETS: See the Daytona 500 live!

In the game ‘Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,’ contestants attempt to link an actor or actress to Kevin Bacon in six movies or less. The game became a fad more than 20 years ago (seriously, it’s been 20 years?), but it’s still fun to play (perhaps with an updated actor such as Ryan Gosling instead).

However, whether you’re matching Bacon or Gosling, degrees of separation are fascinating, so when TriStar Motorsports decided to bring back the No. 72 for Cole Whitt for his attempt at running in this year’s Daytona 500, we just had to check out the history of such an intriguing number choice to see what the connections were.

So in order to do so, we went to Racing Reference (racing-reference.info) and to the bottom of their homepage, under miscellaneous, where you can find a treasure trove of stats categories to explore, including "Stats By Car Number."

Click there and then onto the No. 72, and this is where the meat of this story (and the smell of Bacon) begins:

— The last time the No. 72 was used in a NASCAR premier series race, it was 2006 in the fall race at Phoenix.

— The driver was Brandon Whitt, who is Cole Whitt‘s cousin. Brandon Whitt finished 37th in that race as the car went out after 123 laps because of a rear-end problem.

— Brandon Whitt was born in El Cajon, California, on Oct. 15, 1982.

— Jimmie Johnson was born in El Cajon, California, on Sept. 17, 1975.

— Johnson finished second to Kevin Harvick in the 2006 fall race at Phoenix and took home the first of his five consecutive NASCAR premier series championships.

— Kevin Harvick has the same first name as Kevin Bacon.

Winner, winner, BLT dinner! And just look at all the fun we had by wondering, ‘What’s in a number?’

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BUY TICKETS: See the Daytona 500 live!

Front Row Motorsports announced Friday afternoon that it has purchased a third charter for use in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ahead of a planned expansion for the 2018 season.


The Bob Jenkins-owned organization indicated that it has acquired the charter last used by BK Racing‘s No. 83 entry in the series in 2016. Front Row said it intends to lease the charter to TriStar Motorsports’ No. 72 team this year in advance of fielding three full-time entries the following season.


Front Row Motorsports currently has two chartered teams: The No. 34 Ford for driver Landon Cassill and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Ragan. The organization — based in Statesville, North Carolina — has fielded at least one full-time entry in NASCAR’s top division since 2009.


"I’m proud of the way this team has grown since we first joined the sport, and we’re here to stay," Jenkins said in a news release provided by the team. "Now we’re taking the next step that will strengthen our foundation as a team and help us build more meaningful, lasting relationships on all levels — driver, sponsor and manufacturer."


RELATED: What teams have charters? | Full list of full-time rides

Front Row has campaigned as a three-car team as recently as 2015. Last season, it completed primarily as a two-car effort, with David Gilliland in a third car at restrictor-plate tracks.


The move reduces BK Racing‘s number of chartered teams to one — the No. 23 Toyota which will be driven by Joey Gase in the Daytona 500 with rookie Gray Gaulding driving nearly the entire schedule. BK Racing owner Ron Devine indicated that its Nos. 83 and 93 will compete in multiple races as open teams.


"I believe operating with one charter will allow this team to focus our resources in a way that will make us more competitive on the race track," Devine said in a statement released by the team. "I have the utmost confidence that we will give both Joey Gase in the No. 23 and Corey LaJoie in the No. 83 the equipment they need to give us a strong run in Daytona, and I’m eager to see Gray Gaulding do great in the No. 23 starting in Atlanta.


"As previously announced, Corey LaJoie will run multiple races in the No. 83 this season. Like last year, you will likely see the No. 93 on track from time to time as well. We have excellent, young talent this year, and I plan for this to be BK Racing‘s most competitive year ever."


TriStar announced its return to NASCAR’s premier series Thursday, planning a full-time ride for driver Cole Whitt.


NASCAR introduced the charter system ahead of the 2016 season in an effort to provide a better business model for team owners. Of the 40 starting spots available in each Monster Energy Cup Series race, 36 are guaranteed to chartered teams.

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A list of full-time rides in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the 2017 season (This will be updated as drivers are announced for 2017):

*-indicates a change from the 2016 season

2017 full-time rides

Car No. Driver Team Comment
1 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing Has made Chase two years in a row.
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske Last 3 years: 11 wins, no Championship 4s.
3 Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing First Chase bid. Check. Is first win next?
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing Average finish of 9.9 topped series in ’16.
5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Average finish of 13.2 in last 12 races.
6 Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing Posted career bests in top fives, top 10s.
10 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Set career best in average finish at 22.0.
11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Led series with average start of 6.3.
13 Ty Dillon* Germain Racing Casey Mears, full-timer since ’11, replaced.
14 Clint Bowyer* Stewart-Haas Racing Bowyer steps in for Stewart, as planned.
15 TBD Premium Motorsports* Michael Waltrip will drive in Daytona 500, rest of team’s plans unknown
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Had career high in top fives.
18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Four-plus wins in six of 12 seasons.
19 Daniel Suarez* Joe Gibbs Racing XFINITY champ takes over for Edwards.
20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Eight top 10s in Chase but couldn’t finish.
21 Ryan Blaney Wood Brothers Racing Team is leasing charter from Go Fas Racing.
22 Joey Logano Team Penske Not his best year, but still was second.
23 Joey Gase*/Gray Gaulding* BK Racing Gase will drive at Daytona, Gaulding starts at Atlanta
24 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 17 top 10s matched Larson’s rookie total.
27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Team looks for boost with Matt Borland.
31 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing Narrowly missed Chase, signed extension.
32 Matt DiBenedetto* Go Fas Racing Team is leasing No. 44 charter from RPM.
33* Jeffrey Earnhardt*/TBD Circle Sport w/The Motorsports Group* Earnhardt to drive in Daytona 500, rest of schedule unknown
34 Landon Cassill* Front Row Motorsports He moves from the No. 38 for ’17.
37* Chris Buescher* JTG Daugherty Racing* JTG is leasing RFR’s charter.
38 David Ragan* Front Row Motorsports Returns to team after year with BK Racing.
41 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing Fifteen of his 21 top 10s came in first half.
42 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing Win at Michigan capped rebound season.
43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Recaptured restrictor-plate mojo at ‘Dega.
47 AJ Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing Posted his best average finish in five years.
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports On course for history after seventh title.
72* Cole Whitt* TriStar Motorsports* TriStar reboots its Cup effort around Whitt.
77* Erik Jones* Furniture Row Racing* FRR adds second car for rising star.
78 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing Had series-best 1,809 laps led.
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Signs point to healthy return at Daytona.
95 Michael McDowell Leavine Family Racing Career bests in top 10s, average finish.
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RELATED: XFINITY 2017 schedule


Matt Tifft is more than ready to carry the XFINITY Series banner for Joe Gibbs Racing.


Granted, it came unexpectedly. Just a month before the start of the season, Tifft thought he would be working with defending series champion Daniel Suarez, but Suarez was promoted to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series when Carl Edwards decided to step away from racing. 


Surprise aside, Tifft happily accepts the spotlight of being the only JGR driver chasing the XFINITY championship this season. 


"I’ve been waiting for a long time for it," he said with a smile.


Although he missed a majority of the races he was slated for in 2016 following surgery in July to remove a benign brain tumor, Tifft still believes last year prepared him well. In his 10 starts, Tifft earned five top-10 finishes, led 23 laps, and earned his first career pole in the spring at Talladega Superspeedway.


"I thought we started off really well," Tifft said of 2016. "I got through the beginning of the year and what happened happened in the summer, but then towards the end of the year I wanted to come back and prove that I could compete and be competitive, and now I have that chance."  


RELATED: Tifft has renewed driving passion after surgery


Matt Beckman will be Tifft’s crew chief. Tunity will return to the organization as a primary sponsor on the No. 19 car. Between being impressed with Beckman’s knowledge and the confidence that he’s sitting in the best equipment in the series, Tifft looks at 2017 as a year to grow himself. 


"I’ve never run a full season in anything since I got started racing," Tifft said. "I started when I was 12, so I started late. Our thing was always you get good enough to where you’re competitive and jump to the next level, so it’s cool for me to realize that I’m finally at a top level to where we can go and compete for a championship in the best situation possible."


Not having a teammate in the trenches with him each week doesn’t worry Tifft. Suarez, Kyle Busch, and others are still at his disposal. Erik Jones, who also moved to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, is someone who Tifft leans on often. Call it a comfort thing; the two are the same age. 


"That’s the neat thing about JGR, everyone wants to help," Tifft said. "It’s just you got to go out and get the help that you need, they’re not going to come to you. Except for on the XFINITY side when we have our teammates there, we’ll have our meetings, our competition meeting, and that’s where we’ll all help each other. 


"Now, I don’t know where that aspect will go anymore because I’ll be the only full-time driver, so it’ll be even more on me to get the help that I need, but that’s OK because I’ll get the experience I need from those guys."


Coming off a Suarez championship last year, expectations will remain high at Joe Gibbs Racing. Having watched as Suarez consistently improved throughout last year to where he eventually led the points and was able to capture three series wins while competing for the championship, Tifft’s expectations are to do the same. 


"That’s the main thing, and then go get some wins," Tifft said. "The comfort in it is that we can be on our own agenda. We don’t have to worry about anything else because our No. 19 team is in its own zone. We have a different focus than the other guys, so it’s a little bit more unique." 

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RELATED: Junior back at track | So is Edwards …

 

Thirteen Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams competed in a two-day Organizational Open Test at Phoenix Raceway on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

 

While it can be difficult to ascertain if one team has a leg up on another using the data from just a single test, there is reason to be excited if you’re a fan of Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. All four finished in the top five in all four sessions. The fastest lap over two days went to Earnhardt Jr., at 26.555 seconds in Wednesday’s morning session.

 

Here are the full results:

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RELATED: See Whitt’s ride for Daytona

STATESVILLE, N.C. — TriStar Motorsports announces it will return to competition in NASCAR’s premier series fielding one full-time entry in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series for the 2017 season.

 

Cole Whitt has secured the seat of the No. 72 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Whitt brings with him Florida Lottery to serve as the primary sponsor of the No. 72 for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Additionally, Whitt will continue partnerships with RTIC Coolers, Rinnai and Carolina Skiff throughout the 2017 season. Frank Kerr has been named Crew Chief for Whitt and will oversee competitive efforts for the No. 72.

 

Whitt’s NASCAR career includes six years on the circuit and races in which he has competed in NASCAR K&N Pro Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and the Monster Energy Cup Series.

 

"I’m looking forward to being back in the seat at TriStar Motorsports for the Monster Energy Cup Series for 2017," said Whitt. "We are glad to have Florida Lottery back with us for the season opener at Daytona and are fortunate to continue and expand our relationship with Rinnai, RTIC Coolers and Carolina Skiff throughout the year."


TriStar Motorsports first competed in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1989 for the Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway and lastly in 2013 at Watkins Glen International Raceway; completing a total of 197 races.

 

"We are taking a different approach and expanding our competitive platform for 2017," said Mark Smith, owner of TriStar Motorsports. "It is an opportunity we feel is the best direction for this season and we are pleased to have Cole and his partners involved in those efforts."

 

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RELATED: Meet the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class

 

There are several traditional routes to stock-car racing’s big leagues. Several stars have emerged from asphalt Late Model circles, others from the sprint cars ranks, either on pavement or dirt.


Alon Day has made a path where just five years ago, he says, none existed in his homeland of Israel.


“I grew up without any motorsports — nothing,” says Day, who fantasized about NASCAR and Formula One as a youth. “When I started racing, which was in 2012, actually motorsport was illegal in Israel.”


Day’s presence in NASCAR’s pipeline reaffirms the notion that there are no uniform directions to the national stage. The NASCAR Next driver’s roundabout journey has taken him from his home in Tel Aviv, to racing single-seaters and other vehicles in Europe, and stock-car sojourns to the United States more than once. It’s a journey, he says, that’s not nearly complete.


“That’s my main priority, for sure, being here in NASCAR, in Trucks or XFINITY or doesn’t matter — but be here, in the United States and not in Europe,” says Day, who has spent the last two years in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series. “For me, going back to Europe is probably going to be a step down because I feel ready enough to race here, but that’s life. It can be tough sometimes.”


The eagerness led to opportunities for the 25-year-old Day in two national series last year: Two road course events on the XFINITY tour with Carl Long‘s team, and a pair of Camping World Truck Series races on ovals for owner Carlos Contreras.


The road races played to Day’s wheelhouse and he capitalized on his expertise with a 13th-place finish in his XFINITY debut at Mid-Ohio. But his truck time — at New Hampshire and in the Homestead-Miami finale — provided a valuable training experience.


“It’s still a different kind of racing for me,” Day says. “I’m still learning as much as I can in ovals. I try to absorb as much information and more knowledge about oval racing, which is not easy. So definitely the two races I did in trucks were probably the most valuable races I’ve done.”


Besides his forays into racing in the USA, Day’s success in NASCAR’s European circuit — stacking up six victories in his first two seasons — has resonated back in his homeland. Early in January, he was recognized as Israel’s Athlete of the Year in a newly announced category for motorsports.


While he’s still working on making his dreams of racing in the states a reality, he’s also changing popular conceptions of what NASCAR means in his home country.


“In Israel, if I would be very honest, people always — until now — think that NASCAR is just people who turn left and that’s it. Sitting in the car and just turning left,” Day says. “And now when I actually get more success in NASCAR and especially winning the Athlete of the Year, people get more and more interest now. The NASCAR races are broadcast in Israel and I’m really glad.


“People really have the opportunity to understand it and realize that NASCAR is one of the toughest races in the world.”

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. will serve as a guest analyst during the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona on Feb. 18, FS1 announced on Race Hub Thursday. The Hendrick Motorsports driver will join full-time FOX analysts Darrell Waltrip, Mike Joy and former teammate Jeff Gordon in the broadcast booth.

This isn’t Earnhardt’s first time in the booth; he called the premier series events at Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway in the NBC booth in October. He also offered commentary during the XFINITY event at Michigan International Speedway on June 11, 2015, marking his television debut.

Several other Monster Energy NASCAR Cup drivers have joined the broadcast group for XFINITY races, including Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer.

Alex Bowman, who qualified for The Clash (Feb. 18, 8 p.m. ET, FS1) with a Phoenix pole last season while filling in for Earnhardt, was previously announced as the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for the 187.5-mile event under the lights. After missing the final 18 races of 2016 due to concussion-like symptoms, Earnhardt will make his return to racing in the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 26 (2 p.m. ET, FOX).

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NASCAR drivers make a big difference off the track and in communities across the country. Here’s a look at drivers’ charitable foundations, as well as the causes and initiatives supported by those organizations.

Clint Bowyer: The 79 Fund
The 79 Fund was established by NASCAR driver and Emporia, Kansas, native Clint Bowyer to benefit the children of Emporia. Clint’s desire to use the Emporia Community Foundation for his charity came from knowing the funds could be used in a variety of ways to help the children of Emporia. | Learn more here.

Kyle Busch: The Kyle Busch Foundation
The Kyle Busch Foundation is committed to empowering children, families and communities to overcome hardship by providing essential tools (financial, material and experiential) to allow them to live their best lives possible, while fostering a stable and inspiring environment to live, learn and challenge themselves, as well as ensuring their day-to-day needs are met. | Learn more here.

Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon: Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma
The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma’s mission is to discover and share the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. Events such as the Dillon brothers’ annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament help benefit the Childress Institute. | Learn more here

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The Dale Jr. Foundation
The Dale Jr. Foundation is a charity dedicated to giving underprivileged individuals with a focus on youth, the resources to improve their confidence and education, and the opportunity to achieve extraordinary goals. | Learn more here.

Denny Hamlin: The Denny Hamlin Foundation
The Denny Hamlin Foundation is committed to raising awareness and funds for the specific needs of children with cystic fibrosis. They partner with organizations that focus on cystic fibrosis research, treatment advances and overall quality of life care. The Foundation also supports children with other chronic diseases. | Learn more here.

Kevin Harvick: The Kevin Harvick Foundation
The mission of the Kevin Harvick Foundation is to support programs that positively enrich the lives of children throughout the United States. | Learn more here.

Jimmie Johnson: The Jimmie Johnson Foundation
The Jimmie Johnson Foundation currently focuses on funding K-12 public education, primarily through the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Champions Grant program, which have been awarded to school projects located in California, Oklahoma and North Carolina, where the Johnsons grew up and currently reside. In addition, each year the Foundation selects five charities that support K-12 public education to be featured on Johnson’s Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope. Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope charities receive a cash grant and national exposure on the helmet worn for a select Cup race. Finally, the Team Up For Technology program encourages individuals to nominate a K-12 public or charter school in the United States with the winning school selected to receive a $48,000 cash grant for a technology makeover. | Learn more here.

Kasey Kahne: The Kasey Kahne Foundation
The Kasey Kahne Foundation is committed to raising awareness and funds for charities supporting chronically ill children and their families. The Kasey Kahne Foundation strives to empower youth and inspire their future through education by donating to programs dedicated to fulfilling children’s needs for success. | Learn more here.

Brad Keselowski: Brad Keselowski‘s Checkered Flag Foundation
Brad Keselowski‘s Checkered Flag Foundation strives to support those who have sacrificed for our country, to include military members, veterans, first-responders among others. Since its inception, CFF has hosted or participated in events with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Armed Forces Foundation, The Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Detroit F.I.R.E. benefit team. | Learn more here.

Joey Logano: The Joey Logano Foundation
The mission of the Joey Logano Foundation is to inspire and assemble the NASCAR community to assist those across the nation who are in need of a second chance due to natural or human disaster. The Joey Logano Foundation partners with other organizations to provide comfort and relief to those in need after such unforeseen circumstances. | Learn more here.

Ryan Newman: Rescue Ranch
Formed in 2012 on 87 acres in Statesville, North Carolina, Rescue Ranch promotes humane education by focusing on rescuing on a fundamental level through hands-on learning and care for animals. Rescue Ranch promotes, through its education, respect for all animals, as well as, agricultural, environmental, and wildlife conservation, and facilitates rehabilitation, rescue and responsible pet ownership in order to enhance the human-animal bond. | Learn more here.

Elliott Sadler: The Hermie & Elliott Sadler Foundation
The Hermie and Elliott Sadler Charitable Foundation is dedicated to raising autism awareness and promoting research for a cure while also supporting initiatives that improve educational opportunities for children and their families. The Foundation provides support to projects that share the ideals and concerns of the Sadler family. | Learn more here.

Martin Truex Jr.: The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation
The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation raises awareness and funding for childhood and ovarian cancer initiatives. | Learn more here.