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RELATED: Recapping 2017 Media Tour


CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The lines of communication between Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske are open, but it’s yet to be determined how each organization will benefit in the coming season.

"There are definitely a lot of different avenues where we can work together," Team Penske driver Joey Logano said during Wednesday’s NASCAR Media Tour presented by Charlotte Motor Speedway. "It is always an interesting relationship because we still have to race each other but we want to see how we can both grow and make Ford a powerhouse manufacturer … get them a manufacturer’s championship and have both our organizations win more races. That’s the ultimate goal."

Team Penske, which joined the Ford camp in 2013, fields two full-time entries in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for Logano and 2012 series champion Brad Keselowski.

Stewart-Haas Racing made the switch from Chevrolet to Ford after the completion of the 2016 season. It’s driver lineup consists of 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, 2004 champ Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer and Danica Patrick.

Logano and Keselowski have won 25 times under the Ford banner since the start of ’14; SHR drivers have 17 wins over that same period.

"Teaming with SHR is a smart move and an impressive move by Ford," Logano said. "It shows their commitment to what they are trying to do and their investment in our sport."

RELATED: Ford expects to come out firing with SHR in mix

Roush Fenway Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports are among the organizations that also field Fords in NASCAR’s premier series.

Ford officials say that technical information gleaned by the manufacturer is provided to all its teams. Individual organizations, however, maintain a certain level of secrecy in the interest of competition.

"I think it depends on which facet of racing we’re talking about," Raj Nair, Executive Vice President for Global Product Development and Chief Technical Officer, Ford Motor Co., said recently. "Certainly under the hood with Roush Yates Engines we’re providing that continuity and sharing of information across all of our teams.

"On the aero work that we’re doing on the body, the same level of information is provided to all of the teams. Ford also provides access to a variety of chassis simulation tools, which teams may or may not choose to use.


"We’re trying to find a little bit of that balance of the things the teams are good at doing themselves, providing them that freedom and flexibility to do that on their own and to some extent compete against each other and see which way is better," Nair said. "But the things where you want to leverage a lot of commonality, the big tools that Ford Motor Company brings, the big investment … try to use that across all our teams."

Logano said Ford officials "want us all to work together as much as we can, but we still have to race each other so there is that line there for trading out assets."

"There has already been communication and some things are already underway," he said. "It will be interesting to see how that relationship grows over the next few years and how it works out. So far so good."

A Ford driver has not won the championship since 2004, although Logano has qualified for the Championship 4 twice in the last three years — 2014 and 2016.

The automaker last won the manufacturer championship in 2002.

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The No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet is getting a new paint scheme for 2017, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. helped unveil it Tuesday morning along with local artist Sam Bass.


Calling it perhaps one of his favorite paint schemes ever, Earnhardt pulled back the car cover to reveal a bold yellow-dominant scheme. Watch the video below to see it.



Axalta announced in 2015 it would serve as primary sponsor of the No. 88 for 13 races per season through the 2018 season. Junior, naturally, was super excited about the schematics. He saw a sneak peek earlier Tuesday morning and posted a video to Twitter about it (also revealing his helmet).


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RELATED: Race format creates playoff-point incentives | Drivers react


NASCAR announced Monday competition format enhancements in all three of its national series — the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. 


NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France and NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell delivered the news via press conference alongside drivers Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin.


With the new format, there will be three stages per race, providing emphasis on aggressive racing and strategy. The winner of the first two stages of each race will receive one playoff point, and the race winner will receive five playoff points. Each playoff point will be added to a driver’s reset total following the 26th race, if that competitor makes the playoffs.


MORE: Fast facts about the new format


Following the announcement, racing professionals and fans alike had much to talk about.


See what NASCAR writers and broadcasters had to say about the sport’s next phase:


Tom Jensen, FOX Sports: "The reasoning behind NASCAR’s new stage-based race format is pretty basic: Improving competition is a bigger priority than simplifying the math is. … Last year, if a driver won the Daytona 500, all they had to do for the next 25 races was stay in the top 30 in points and they were all but guaranteed to make the playoffs, so some of them cruised during the summer. With playoff points awarded in every stage of every race now, there will be considerable incentive to race hard all the time." | Read more


Bob Pockrass, ESPN: "Among the biggest impacts will be the importance of qualifying, since that first stage will be approximately the first quarter of the race." | Read more


Lee Spencer, Motorsport.com: "Although the new format was a collaboration among the sport’s shareholders, clearly, NASCAR considered the fans’ sentiments when incorporating some of the hot button topics into the new format. … And for fans that appreciate the influence of pit crew performance, having the field set for segments two and three by pit stops will place more emphasis on the men going over the wall." | Read more


Brant James, USA Today: "NASCAR as an industry, after half a year of consultation with drivers, its fan council and social media’s temperament, implored its fan base to just give it a taste Monday, unveiling a system that it claims will give incentive for more dogged racing throughout the regular season. … This was a risk worth taking." | Read more 

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RELATED: Read more Inside Groove | Hooters joins Elliott for ’17


Hendrick Motorsports announced Monday that casual dining chain Hooters would sponsor No. 24 Chevrolet driver Chase Elliott beginning in 2017, which is kind of a best-case-scenario sponsor for the 21-year-old.


Elliott was asked about the new deal right away in his NASCAR Media Tour session on Tuesday, and he expanded upon what it was like to take the promo photographs with the Hooters girls and the behind-the-scenes vibe.


"It’s definitely (a sponsor) I wasn’t going to turn down, that’s for sure," Elliott, heading into his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, said. "I had a lot of fun with it and they’re certainly a fun group of people. Not just the brand, but the group of people that they have to work with behind the scenes. Easy to work with; great to work with. Had a lot of fun. Got to stare, I didn’t get to eat, but got to stare at a lot of chicken wings yesterday. It’s probably good that I didn’t eat ’em. I need to get back in the gym."


Nice save.


Elliott then explained how important the sponsor is to his family, as his father, Bill, and Alan Kulwicki had one of NASCAR’s most storied championship battles in 1992 while Kulwicki ran the Hooters paint scheme.


"It was a lot of fun. I’m excited to have them on board. I know their history with Alan (Kulwicki) is long and him and my dad had obviously a great championship battle in 1992. That’s obviously kind of ironic to see that," said Elliott. "My dad had a lot of respect for Alan and what he did; both my parents do. It’s pretty neat to carry the Hooters colors this year and I’m looking forward to that. Definitely something different."

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RELATED: Full Media Tour schedule | Elliott through the years

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If Chase Elliott has his way, the Dawsonville Pool Room will be making plenty of noise in 2017.

The Dawsonville, Georgia, establishment in Elliott’s hometown is known for its ear-splitting howl emitted from a siren on the roof. The practice is the same as when his dad, NASCAR Hall of Famer and 1988 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, Bill Elliott won races. The siren notably went off for Chase’s back-to-back NASCAR XFINITY Series wins in 2014 — his first two at that level.

"It would be incredible," Elliott told NASCAR.com of scoring his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup win. "I hope the siren still works there at Dawsonville — that thing hasn’t gone off in a long time. Hopefully, we can test it out before too long."

MORE: Elliott’s storied history with Pool Room

If the siren does ring, Elliott may be close enough to hear it. An avid flyer with a pilot’s license — Elliott says if he wasn’t a driver he’d be a pilot — the 21-year-old flies back and forth from the Charlotte area to his home in Georgia during the season. Elliott says "it’s good to do your own thing in some ways."

"Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) has been supportive and our whole group has," Elliott said of his flying in and out. "As long as you’re willing to put in the work to make it work, I’m going to try and make it work."

 

There were a couple of times last year when it looked like Elliott would drive into Victory Lane in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie campaign and prompt the siren to go off, but that was not the case.

Still, the 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the sport’s top series notched 10 top fives, 17 top 10s, 358 laps led and two runner-up finishes at Michigan International Speedway, in addition to qualifying for the playoffs — the first rookie along with Chris Buescher to do so since Denny Hamlin in 2006.

Having continuity coming into the 2017 season is something not lost on Elliott. In his two years in the XFINITY ranks, he had a different crew chief each season. Gustafson returns to lead Elliott and the No. 24 team for his sophomore season at the top level.

"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 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."

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RELATED: ‘Seven-Time’ through the years

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The mountains in and around Aspen, Colorado., have been a retreat for NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and his family in recent years.

But the pull of racing always brought the seven-time NASCAR champion back to Charlotte and back to "headquarters" at the Hendrick Motorsports campus.

Until this past season.

Johnson, wife Chandra and daughters Genevieve and Lydia have "relocated" to the resort area, but Johnson says it’s not a move entirely away from his Charlotte home.

"We’re not there full-time," Johnson said Tuesday during the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour. "We’re there for the winter.

"With the West Coast races it works to be out there."

The family also has a home in New York City as well as Charlotte.

Johnson will begin defense of his championship and the quest for a record-breaking eight title when NASCAR kicks off the 2017 Feb. 26 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Team owner Rick Hendrick and crew chief Chad Knaus "are both very much in favor of me living life and trying to find that balance of being in a place I really enjoy in the mountains," Johnson said. "It’s great for me and my family."

Johnson and his family have spent plenty of time on the ski slopes — he has twice participated in the Audi Ajax Cup, a fund-raising ski race that provides support to the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club.

Following stops at Daytona and Atlanta, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series begins the West Coast Swing, with races at Las Vegas, Phoenix and Auto Club Speedway (Fontana, California)

"I’ll be (in Aspen) for the start of the season," he said, "but be back in Charlotte, back to the normal grind … I guess early spring, late winter."

Returning to Charlotte after the racing season gets underway isn’t the only thing that will bring the family back east. Chani is the owner of Southern Comfort (SOCO) Gallery in Charlotte, an art gallery that opened in 2015.

 

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Will there be road course racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series? AJ Allmendinger isn’t sure but he enjoyed taking some swings at the turns in an informal test.


A road course expert, Allmendinger joked Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway‘s Media Tour that he would enjoy the whole series being comprised of road courses. But in all seriousness, the California native said he enjoyed the course in an "information gathering" session Friday.


Allmendinger’s sole premier series win came at Watkins Glen International, a New York road course, winning by a 1.160-second margin of victory. 


"Change can be good; it’s a little scary," Allmendinger said, regarding rumors that either the All-Star Race or the fall Charlotte race could be run on the speedway’s road course. "It’s just like the new format, cahnge can be good. But could it be successful? I think it could be a fantastic race."

The 35-year-old road course maven returns with JTG Daugherty Racing — a team he’s been with since 2013 — for the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, joined by new teammate Chris Buescher. 

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RELATED: Full NASCAR Media Tour schedule


CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The surprising "retirement" of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Carl Edwards created more than just a driver opening for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 team.


It also resulted in the shuffling of spotters Chris "Crazy" Osborne and Jason Hedlesky.


Osborne served as spotter for JGR driver Matt Kenseth from 2013-16. He also worked as the spotter for driver Daniel Suarez in the XFINITY Series this past season.


Hedlesky has worked for more than a dozen years as Edwards’ spotter.


When JGR officials named Suarez to take over Edwards’ spot, team officials thought it best to allow the XFINITY Series champion to continue working with Osborne for his rookie effort.


That opened the door to pair Kenseth with Hedlesky.


"With Carl’s unexpected departure and putting Daniel in there, you know ‘Crazy’ has worked with Daniel the whole time through the XFINITY Series, the Truck Series," Kenseth said Tuesday during the first day of this year’s NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway.


"He and ‘Crazy’ had that really good relationship and with Carl not being there and Jason being over (at the No. 19) I think everybody over there just decided to make the swap for the good of the company."


Hedlesky has also spotted for ThorSport Racing driver Matt Crafton in the Camping World Truck Series for several years.


"Jason has always done a great job," Kenseth said. "There’s always some pause, I guess, because you kind of learn each other, and that takes a little bit (of time) to do that. But I think it will be fine."


In addition to Kenseth and Suarez, JGR also fields entries in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for defending Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and 2015 series champion Kyle Busch.


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RELATED: Full list of 2017 full-time rides

RICHMOND, V.A. (January 24, 2017) — BK Racing is excited to announce that 18 year-old Gray Gaulding will pilot the No. 23 Toyota Camry in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The team made the announcement today at Richmond International Raceway, home track to BK Racing and Gaulding.


Gaulding has been competing in some form of racing since the age of three. Gaulding’s rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series in 2013 started with a bang with a 2nd place finish in the inaugural Battle at the Beach on the Daytona International Speedway‘s back straightaway. Gaulding’s impressive three year stint in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West included 13 top-five finishes, 25 top-tens, and three pole awards.


His first pole award was here at RIR in 2013, making Gaulding the youngest driver to do so at 15 years, 2 months, and 15 days. That same year, Gaulding picked up a win at Phoenix International Raceway making him the youngest driver to win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at 15 years, 8 months, and 30 days.


Gaulding was named as a member of the 2013-2014 NASCAR Next Class, an overachieving industry initiative to help spotlight NASCAR’s rising stars and bolster fan recognition around talent that will grow into Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series mainstays. He was in the same class as fellow stand-out drivers Chase Elliott and Daniel Suárez.


In 2014-2015, Gaulding moved up to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he made 13 starts with one top-five and two top ten finishes. In 2016, Gaulding furthered his career by making starts in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series.


"When I first walked into the BK Racing shop I felt at home, it has the perfect mixture of corporate America and the old-school race shop feeling," said Gaulding. "Everyone was elbows deep preparing for Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas and the entire season. Ron Devine has invested a lot of time, effort, and equity into BK Racing and it shows as you walk the shop floor. To be back with Toyota is great, I’ve kept a great relationship with them and they’re a great technical partner. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and represent everyone at BK Racing and our partners that allow us to be at the track."


"I got involved with NASCAR and in ownership the middle of last year because of the opportunity to be a part of the life of a gifted young man, Gray Gaulding," said Steve Lynn, CEO of GGR Enterprises. "I am honored and pleased that he and we are now partnering with BK Racing. Ron Devine and his BK Racing team are an outstanding place for Gray to grow and learn, as he continues his rise in this wonderful sport."


"Over the years, BK Racing has given many talented young drivers the chance to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and make a name for themselves," said Ron Devine, owner of BK Racing. "We see Gray Gaulding as a potential superstar in our sport."


Gaulding’s first race in the No. 23 will be the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 5, 2017. The team will announce sponsorship for Gaulding at a later date.

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RELATED: NASCAR reveals new race format for 2017

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson grinned and took the high road you’d expect of a seven-time NASCAR champion when asked about the newest evolution of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship format. The path to the sport’s most coveted trophy changed this week, but Johnson said he is again up for the challenge.

Three times (2006, 2010, 2016) the course to a championship has been modified immediately after Johnson won a championship. It’s never stopped him from hoisting a trophy and perhaps only made the accomplishment more impressive.

"Our team has always been very good at adapting and winning championships in the various formats we’ve had; we take a little pride in that and certainly look forward to the new challenge that’s ahead," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. "I’m excited for the changes that are taking place in our sport.

"There’s been a lot of collaboration among the key stakeholders in our sport to really find something that works for everyone. For our sport to evolve and keep up with the times, we needed to put some serious thought into it, and that’s taken place. I think as the season gets started we’ll understand and see how this will change how teams approach a race, approach a weekend."

It was a familiar refrain during the opening day of the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR Media Tour. Drivers seemed genuinely pleased, even re-energized by the possibilities a new playoff format presents.

Beginning this season, races in all three of NASCAR’s premier series will be broken up into three stages with points awarded to the top 10 drivers running at the conclusion of the first two stages in addition to the final checkered flag.

RELATED: Where does Jimmie call home?

"I watch these races, I live them in the seat and I’ve thought for a long time we needed something to break them up," said Clint Bowyer, who takes over the No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford for just-retired Tony Stewart. "So I really appreciate them not just doing that but really putting a lot of effort, a lot of resources and time and thought into creating these stages, because I think they took care of a lot of other things as well.

"It’s going to protect that problem we’ve had, the one flaw I thought the Chase had. You can have a dominant team that dominated the whole season including the Chase and have one flat tire, one motor blow up completely out of their control and it wipes them out of the championship at the end of the year."

Drivers seemed to be in agreement throughout the opening day of press conferences.

And the reigning champ Johnson was not only completely open to the rule enhancements but also seemed genuinely impressed with the effort and thought that went into it. The idea that the sport continues to evolve and engage is something he — and his fellow drivers — appreciate.

For Johnson, winning a historic eighth trophy under a fourth different format is as much a badge of honor as another obstacle to overcome. Having to do it in yet another format only makes the challenge more intriguing.

"I’m so excited about the years to come and shooting for eight," Johnson said. "I can’t believe where I’m at. It’s so hard to get to this position. And at the same time, I’m playing with house money now.

"I’m really going to enjoy the years I have left in my career. I know I can win races, I know I should be a threat for more championships. And I really feel in my heart I can win eight. I’d like to do it with a smile on my face and have a good time."


"We take pride in winning through all these different formats and would take pride in winning this one."

MORE: Johnson on landing Snoop Dogg for party