Posted on by Staff Report

MORE HARVICK: First look at No. 4 Ford

 

Kevin Harvick is scheduled to join FOX Sports’ broadcasting team as an analyst for eight races this season, lending his expertise as a former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion to the TV booth and perhaps preparing him for the next step once his driving days are finished.

 

Harvick, 41, is also scheduled to join the network’s “NASCAR Race Hub” news program, joining other drivers and crew chiefs as regular contributors this year. His race coverage stint is set to begin with the NASCAR XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.

 

“I really enjoy calling races,” Harvick said in a release provided by FOX Sports. “I enjoy the perspective of sitting up there and trying to figure out what’s going on. I also want to be a part of watching these young guys come up through the NASCAR Camping World Truck and XFINITY Series and have the experience of having been in the booth when they raced because, ultimately, it’s something I want to do down the road when I’m done driving.”

 

Harvick joined a host of current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the FOX Sports booth for XFINITY events the last two years, adding commentary for the 2015 and 2016 openers at Daytona. He received largely positive reviews in both traditional and social media for his candor and fresh perspectives, and the experiences drove Harvick to seek more opportunities this season.

 

“One wasn’t enough, and I think we’ll do several NASCAR Race Hub shows this year,” Harvick added, “so it will be fun to express my opinion from the booth and from the studio.”

 

Harvick will work alongside lead broadcaster Adam Alexander and fellow analyst Michael Waltrip for the third straight season at Daytona. The other XFINITY Series events on Harvick’s slate are scheduled at Phoenix, Bristol, Talladega and Pocono. He’ll also contribute to live race coverage for Camping World Truck Series events at Kansas, Eldora and Talladega.

 

FOX Sports indicated that more announcements regarding its guest analyst lineup are forthcoming. The network began the program in 2015, with Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Brad Keselowski, Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer in the booth rotation. Gordon, a four-time series champion, graduated to a full-time analyst with FOX in 2016.

 

The roster of FOX Sports guest analysts from the premier series grew last year to include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano alongside the original five.

Posted on by Staff Report

Around this time of year, people who decide to go back to the gym in January to get a jump start on their New Year’s resolutions tend to irk those who remember that their fitness centers exist the other 11 months of the year.


You’ve likely seen a Facebook status or two bemoaning these "resolutioners."


Well, WWE legend and 67-year-old Ric Flair is here to tell you that actions speak louder than words.


That’s 405 POUNDS.


Flair, who showed up last season on the helmet of John Hunter Nemechek at Daytona — well before Nemechek decided to go full Flair at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park — then tweeted out one of his signature catch phrases.

He may owe some royalties to certain former driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet for stealing his catch phrase in that first tweet, however. WOOOOO!

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Driver Tracker for 2017 | New season, new looks

Breakthrough victories in NASCAR’s top division are often career-altering, a boost that helps aspiring drivers shed the "contender" label by advancing to the "winner" echelon. Last season, two drivers — Chris Buescher and Kyle Larson — filled their void in the win column in a fanciful August stretch that saw both visit Victory Lane.

With the 2016 calendar out the window, the prospects for a new driver reaching the ranks of the first-timers are promising. As New Year’s resolutions still fresh on their minds, NASCAR.com’s George Winkler and Zack Albert size up their top candidates for new winners in 2017.

Winkler: Chase Elliott was close to winning on a number of occasions last season, as evidenced by 10 top-five finishes, including two second-place showings at Michigan. In the second of those Michigan races, he fell behind Larson on a late restart that led to the aforementioned breakthrough win for the Chip Ganassi Racing driver.

But Elliott is a hard worker and will learn from his close calls and eventually will get a breakthrough win of his own. The Hendrick Motorsports driver had top-10 finishes in 17 of 36 races last year, and out of those top 10s, five came on tracks two miles or longer like Michigan, five came on short tracks and seven were on intermediate tracks. That says he can get it done almost anywhere, and to have that kind of talent at 21 years old is impressive.

Plus, Elliott proved to be a worthy replacement in the No. 24 Chevrolet for legend Jeff Gordon, so although expectations will remain high, at least he he has that first year under his belt. And with the combination of Elliott’s talent and Hendrick’s top-notch personnel and equipment, it’s just a matter of time before he’s in Victory Lane.

Albert: Won’t disagree with a Chase Elliott pick at all. In many regards, it’s surprising he didn’t reach Victory Lane in his rookie year last season. Ditto Ryan Blaney and the Wood Brothers. But there’s one other driver new to the rookie ranks who bears watching.

Erik Jones may just have three Cup Series starts (and one long relief stint — see: Denny Hamlin, Bristol, April 2015) to his credit, but he’s stepping into a prime position for his Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign this year. Jones will join Furniture Row Racing‘s just-born No. 77 Toyota team in 2017, drawing on the Joe Gibbs Racing resources that have aided his accelerated climb up the NASCAR ladder.

The 20-year-old driver already has plenty of prep at the XFINITY Series level, with six victories in his two full seasons. While growing pains for Jones and his newly expanding team are to be expected, a first-time triumph wouldn’t register as a total shock, either. Expect Elliott to break through, but leave room for Jones on the list, too.

Posted on by Staff Report

More new looks for the New Year are coming out of Stewart-Haas Racing in Kannapolis, North Carolina, where they rolled out a 360-degree video simulation of Kevin Harvick‘s No. 4 Busch Beer Ford.

That’s right we said Ford, not Chevrolet, which will take some getting used to as the team switches manufacturers for the 2017 season. Take a peek below at the new No. 4, and it sounds like we’ll get to see some more of the team’s fleet in the near future.

Posted on by Staff Report

HAMPTON, Ga. — Twenty years after it was last resurfaced, Atlanta Motor Speedway‘s historic racing surface is scheduled to be repaved this spring, following the March 3-5 NASCAR Weekend tripleheader. Work is scheduled to begin in late March with an expected completion in mid-April.

 

The current asphalt at AMS is the second-oldest racing surface on the entire circuit, and officials credit its longevity to a combination of the mild Georgia winters and a meticulous maintenance program over its entire two-decade lifetime.

 

Since its last repave in 1997, the track has hosted 31 premier NASCAR series races, 19 NASCAR XFINITY Series races, 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, eight ARCA Racing Series races, four IndyCar Series races and countless U.S. Legends and Bandolero car races on its quarter-mile "Thunder Ring."

 

Despite the wear and tear of aging in recent years, the track has been a favorite of many competitors who have raved about the challenging nature of the track. Its aged surface, slick driving conditions and multiple racing grooves have produced not only exciting races and close finishes for fans in attendance, but a technical challenge for drivers who have battled slick corners, fast straightaways and ample opportunity for passing.

 

Some of the most notable NASCAR races have taken place on the current surface, including Dale Earnhardt’s 0.010-second margin of victory over Bobby Labonte in 2000, Kevin Harvick‘s emotional and record-setting 0.006-second margin of victory over Jeff Gordon in Earnhardt’s Richard Childress Racing car the following year, Carl Edwards’ first Cup Series victory in 2005 and subsequent season sweep of both Atlanta races that year and the first-ever Atlanta night race in 2009.

 

Geoff Bodine’s amazing AMS qualifying record was set at the very first race on the current surface in 1997, when he blazed around the track in 28.074 seconds at an average speed of 197.478 mph. And currently, Bobby Labonte and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson are tied at five for the most Cup Series victories on the surface. Johnson can break the tie in the final race on the surface at the 2017 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 as he attempts his third consecutive victory at Atlanta.

 

"Many of NASCAR’s greatest moments have occurred on this racing surface, and I have no doubt the world’s best drivers will give it a proper final event before the new surface comes to life," said AMS president Ed Clark. "Whichever driver can take home the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 trophy in 2017 will mark the end of one era of great racing in AMS history and the beginning of another."

 

The repaving project calls for a brand-new asphalt surface to be lain over top of the current surface. AMS’s quad-oval layout and 24-degree banking in the turns will remain unchanged.

 

While a smoother surface and blended seams will accompany the new repave, the high speeds and multiple racing grooves unique to Atlanta Motor Speedway are expected to endure and produce the same, thrilling racing experience for both fans and drivers for many years to come.

 

Drivers who have enjoyed the unique quality of the existing AMS racing surface will have one more opportunity to etch their name in the track record books when NASCAR returns March 3-5.

 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying will kick off the weekend on Friday, March 3 before the only same-day doubleheader will take to the track on Saturday, March 4 with the back-to-back Rinnai 250 XFINITY Series and Active Pest Control 200 Camping World Truck Series races. The Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Cup Series race will round out the weekend on Sunday, March 5 with a scheduled 2:30 p.m. green flag.

 

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

Posted on by Staff Report

Name: Kevin
Current City: Sioux Falls, S.D.
Member since: 2011

Getting to know Kevin:

Q. Why did you join the Official NASCAR Fan Council?

"I viewed it as a tremendous opportunity to provide input and feedback to NASCAR for the sport that so many of us enjoy every week. I value that NASCAR takes input from the fans and Fan Council and does a wonderful job making the sport truly enjoyable whether fans are able to go to a race in person or watch on TV."

Q. How did you first become interested in NASCAR?

"I was 11 years old and flipping through the channels and I saw this car race on. I stopped flipping the channels and decided to watch because it caught my attention and looked cool. I watched the race until the end and have been hooked on NASCAR ever since. I have always loved cars and racing and things that go fast and wanted to see what this sport was all about."

Q. What makes NASCAR special for you?

"It is an amazing sport, first of all. NASCAR and the racing community as a whole is a family. We’re just one big family and I feel like I am part of that family. When I go to a race I always meet the most amazing people who are just like me. They love this sport and are hardworking people. It is our passion and enjoyment. The fans are the most amazing people you will ever meet. NASCAR is such a fan-friendly sport, more than any other sport out there and that’s so amazing. NASCAR does so much for their fans, the military and the community and you won’t find that with any other sport."

Q: Do you have any favorite NASCAR memories or traditions?

"The Iowa Race on Father’s Day weekend June 2016. My Dad has had "attend a NASCAR Race" on his "bucket list" for a number of years and I got to take him to the NASCAR Camping World Truck and NASCAR XFINITY Series races at Iowa Speedway for Father’s Day this year."

Q: Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?

Driver: "Dale Earnhardt Jr."

Track: "Talladega"

Memorabilia: "I have a number of Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. framed pictures, and I’ve been yelled at for getting another 88 Hauler for the display rack. At the March 2007 Bristol Race, I actually was able to get Rutledge Wood to sign my prized Dale Jr. baseball cap that is now a segment of "my favorite" collectibles."

Q: If you could go to any NASCAR race/track, where would you go?

"I have to go to Daytona."

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

"NASCAR, hunting, fishing — definitely in that order."

Q: Tell us about your family. Do you have children and/or pets?

"My wife is a Carl Edwards fan, my oldest daughter is a Kasey Kahne fan, my youngest daughter is a Jamie McMurray fan. (Yes — we covered the gamut of race car numbers when we attended races.)"

Q: What’s your dream car?

"1969 Camaro"

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world on a dream vacation, where would you want to go?

"Daytona 500, Talladega Race (either the Spring or Fall), or Bristol (Spring Race)."

From all of us at NASCAR, we thank Kevin for his continued support and look forward to hearing from him in 2017.

Posted on by Staff Report

Forbes Magazine has selected NASCAR Next driver Julia Landauer to this year’s Sports 30 Under 30, a list of the "brightest young entrepreneurs, innovators and game changers."


Forbes released its selections Tuesday, highlighting 600 outstanding figures under age 30 from 20 industries. The honorees were chosen by a panel of prominent reporters, legends in each field and former 30 Under 30 recipients.


Landauer, 25, completed her first full season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016. She finished fourth in the overall standings, sealing top-10 finishes in all but one of her 14 starts.


Landauer, a Stanford University graduate, has also excelled through professional speaking engagements, where she has shared her experiences in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math and their applications in her racing career. She was also a contestant on "Survivor: Caramoan," the 26th season of the reality TV show.



Landauer joins NFL standouts Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr., the NBA’s Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving and four-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles on the 30 Under 30 list of sports figures.


Posted on by Staff Report

What channel is the NASCAR race on this week? We answer that and provide all the weekly NASCAR television listings here.

 

RELATED: Find NBCSN in your area


All times ET


Tuesday, January 3
9 a.m., 1979 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1

Thursday, January 5
8:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Year (re-air), FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR Scan All 43: Championship Edition (re-air), NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Scan All 43: Best of Scan All (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., Stories of NASCAR: Champions of 2016 (re-air), NBCSN

Friday, January 6
8:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Year (re-air), FS1
5 p.m., Stories of NASCAR: Behind the Wheel (re-air), NBCSN
5:30 p.m., Stories of NASCAR — Legend: Tony Stewart (re-air), NBCSN

 

 

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Some of us raised glasses to toast the New Year, but those at Stewart-Haas Racing were also raising a new flag at their headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, to kick off the 2017 season.

SHR’s transition to a new manufacturer will be one of the key story lines for fans to watch this year. And as you’ll see below SHR seems excited about taking on that challenge.

MORE: Harvick bullish on SHR’s changes

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Driver Tracker for 2017

 

Trent Owens will serve as crew chief for JTG Daugherty Racing‘s new No. 37 Chevrolet team and driver Chris Buescher this year in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

 

A spokesperson for JTG Daugherty confirmed the news Monday afternoon. The personnel move was first reported by Motorsport.com.

 

Owens, who will celebrate his 42nd birthday on Wednesday, most recently oversaw Aric Almirola‘s efforts in the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford. That partnership netted the first premier series victory for both driver and crew chief at Daytona International Speedway in 2014, their first year together.

 

A decline in performance last season led to restructuring at RPM last fall, when Drew Blickensderfer replaced Owens as the No. 43 crew chief. The Richard Petty-owned organization will compete as a single-car team this season and indicated its intentions to return to a two-car operation in 2018.

 

Owens’ arrival shores up one of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ newest teams. JTG Daugherty announced its expansion to a two-car outfit on Nov. 29, adding Buescher as a teammate to AJ Allmendinger through an arrangement with Roush Fenway Racing.

 

Buescher, 24, was the only Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate to win a race last season, lifting Front Row Motorsports to an upset victory at Pocono Raceway in a fog-shortened race last August.

 

Owens has visited Victory Lane five times as a crew chief with five different drivers in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. One of those wins was with James Buescher — Chris’ cousin — in the 2012 season opener at Daytona. Owens has also shared XFINITY victory laurels with Dave Blaney, Mark Martin, Reed Sorenson and Nelson Piquet Jr.