Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Latest updates, timeline of Dale Jr.’s recovery

BRISTOL, Tenn. — The first time he met Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon never imagined that he would one day drive in relief for his Hendrick Motorsports teammate.

Yet here Saturday night, Gordon will do just that, suiting up for the fourth consecutive race to drive the organization’s No. 88 Chevrolet in place of Earnhardt in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Earnhardt has been sidelined since mid-July due to concussion-like symptoms and the timing of his return has yet to be determined.

Their first meeting came in the mid 1990s at North Wilkesboro Speedway when Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardt Jr.’s father, were at the top of their game. The elder Earnhardt was already a legendary figure in the sport; Gordon was on his way to becoming one.

The cheering and jeering of the Earnhardt and Gordon fans was a weekly occurrence at tracks across the country. That the two would go on to become both friends and business associates seemed unfathomable to those in the grandstands.

“I remember sitting there on pit road and Dale Sr. and he came walking by … it was the first time I ever met (Junior),” Gordon told NASCAR.com recently. “They were getting ready to qualify; I don’t remember if he was driving a Late Model maybe … I don’t exactly remember but I knew he’d been doing some racing and was building some momentum.

“I remember that he was very respectful. It was cool to meet him and then shortly after that see him rise as quick as he did.”

Gordon “retired” from competition at the end of 2015, with four series titles and 93 career victories. The last time he visited Bristol, he was working in the television booth, just two months into his new role as a FOX NASCAR analyst.

RELATED: Remembering some of the top moments at Bristol

Now, he’s back behind the wheel at a track where he notched five wins and five of 81 career poles.

Hendrick officials announced July 14 that doctors had not cleared Earnhardt Jr. to compete the following weekend at New Hampshire. Alex Bowman stepped in and finished 26th in his only start with the team.

Gordon took over the driving duties for races at Indianapolis (13th), Pocono (27th) and most recently Watkins Glen (14th).

Getting back in the car, and the No. 88 in particular, was an unusual feeling for Gordon although the 45-year-old certainly garnered his share of the spotlight throughout his career.

“I knew it was a big story,” he said of the return, “but still until you’re living it and the reality of it is there, you don’t know how your heart’s going to beat, how your hands are going to sweat. That first time on track at Indy, I was sweating. And not just because of the heat.

“It would be different if I had been out for one week or two weeks. But I’d been out for eight months. I hadn’t really driven this package. There’s added pressure because of the situation, it being Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car. To me the pressure was more about the performance.”

Earnhardt, who also missed two races in 2012 after suffering a concussion, is a two-time champion in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series and has 26 Sprint Cup victories. His absence from competition has seen him fall from 13th to 21st in the points standings.

His move to the XFINITY Series (then Busch Grand National) is one Gordon hasn’t forgotten either. Earnhardt made one start in the series ’96 and eight in ’97 before going full-time the following season.

“I went to see Dale Sr. about some business and he said ‘Hey come check out Dale Jr.’s car for Watkins Glen,” Gordon said. “… I looked at the car and remember it wasn’t fancy, wasn’t some super premium piece of equipment. The shifter on it was so long. Total old school. At that point we had been making really nice transmissions, road course cars, short shifters and all those things.”

Gordon said he took the opportunity for a bit of friendly ribbing.

“I gave Senior a hard time,” he said. “I was like ‘What’s this? You’re going to make him go to Watkins Glen in this? That shifter is just wrong. This car is not at all what he deserves.'”

Earnhardt wasn’t swayed by the comments, according to Gordon.

“He goes, ‘Oh no. I’m going to make him work for it. He’s not going to have it easy; he’s going to work on it himself. I’m not going give him the best equipment. He’s not going to learn anything being in the best equipment. He’s going to have to drive some mediocre equipment so he can learn.’

“And I thought that was pretty cool.”

Posted on by Holly Cain

Whether racing toy cars or speeding down a slide, 1-year old Owen Larson has shown himself a natural in front of the camera in much the same way his father Kyle has proven to be ready-made for competing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series ranks.

Thanks to Target, everyone will get the opportunity to see Owen Larson’s perpetual grin and infectious laugh as he, along with his mom, Katelyn Sweet and dad star in upcoming commercials featuring the Huggies “Little Movers” diapers, which seem almost custom-made for Owen and a large assortment of toddler-age kiddos charming the NASCAR motor home lot each week.

“It fits all our lifestyles, everything we do,” Sweet said of the made-for-moving diapers the family is helping tout. “They make things a lot easier, that’s for sure.”

Added Kyle of Owen’s commercial debut, “It wasn’t much more than us playing with him. The videos turned out really neat and it will be nice to have them forever. Every parent loves to have pictures and videos of their kids but when they are professionally done like that, it’s pretty cool.

“He’s been around cameras enough already in his short life, we knew he would be a natural.”

Target, the longtime primary sponsor on Larson’s Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet, has partnered with the third-year Sprint Cup Series driver to help promote the Huggies brand of “active”-wear diapers favored by the youngest member of this high-speed family.

Larson’s No. 42 Chevrolet will sport the Huggies “Little Movers” paint scheme this week at Bristol Motor Speedway and the partnership couldn’t be more authentic.

You think the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year Larson is fast on wheels, you should see his son in diapers — especially after being well-rested after a long, hearty nap.

“We woke him up a little early,” Sweet said, of the commercial shoot. “He was a little camera shy at first, so we got the gummies out (to encourage him). I told them (the camera crew), ‘He’s going to warm up.’ And sure enough he did. That’s how he is with anybody.

“Anybody that he sees, he’s a little bit shy, but then you show him a race car or some attention and he’s your best friend. He made it really fun for us once he got to know everybody.”

That is evident in the video advertisements that show Owen playfully running from Larson and entertaining his mom.

“He was in a great mood all the time,” Larson said. “He had just woken up from a nap and whenever he does that he’s super energetic and happy.”

And it turned out filming the commercials at the Larson’s Charlotte area home was the easy part — Owen proving himself such a natural.

The toddler’s parents, however, found out when it came to filming a diaper changing contest, they had to work a little more.

Both Katelyn and Kyle said that they expected Katelyn to be faster on this version of a pit stop. But the ultra-competitive Larson proved to be surprisingly swift.

“I thought for sure she’d beat me by 10 seconds, and I beat her by a couple. It’s a huge victory,” Larson said, laughing.

The end result of the advertisements is an endearing glimpse into the kind of fast-paced, well-loved life the young family leads.

“Owen is busy and I’m busy, too, so put the two together and we’re super busy,” Sweet said. “He loves to be outside so as much as we can be outside, playing and running around, that’s what we do. We’re always on the move.”

Posted on by Staff Report

MORE: Race results | Standings | Chase Grid

 

Ben Kennedy, great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France and son of Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Corporation and Vice Chairperson of NASCAR, won his first career NASCAR national series race on Wednesday night, picking up the victory in the Camping World Truck Series UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

The GMS Racing driver received a flood of attention on Twitter, where NASCAR Nation was quick to congratulate him on the momentous occasion.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Live weather updates | Views from Wednesday at Bristol


The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ UNOH 200 (200 laps, 106.6 miles) is under delay following a burst of rain and thunderstorms that hit Bristol Motor Speedway and surrounding areas Wednesday. 


The event was scheduled for a 8:30 p.m. ET green flag, but NASCAR was unable to get the event underway on time as Air Titans continue to dry the .533-mile short track. 


Earlier, Tyler Reddick earned the 21 Means 21 Pole Award after posting the quickest lap during the three-round qualifying session. The No. 29 Brad Keselowski Racing wheelman will line up alongside Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Daniel Suarez.


Cameron Hayley, Ben Rhodes and Christopher Bell complete the starting top five while series points leader — and five-time 2016 winner — William Byron will start sixth. 

Posted on by Chris Knight

MORE: Race results | Standings | Chase Grid

 

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Ben Kennedy took the lead from William Byron with 20 laps to go in Wednesday night’s UNOH 200 and later withstood an intense six-lap shootout with Brett Moffitt to earn his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

With his triumph in his 63rd career series start, Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR Founder Bill France Sr. and son of Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Corporation and Vice Chairperson of NASCAR, became the first France family member to win a NASCAR national series race.

 

“I can’t put it into words,” Kennedy said. “Someone asked me earlier today what it’s like going to Bristol for your first time, and to win here is just so cool. I’m speechless. The guys gave me an awesome truck. Everyone at GMS Racing, Jacob Companies, the fans in the stands, everybody watching on TV, gosh this is just the coolest day of my life.”

 

With two laps to go, Moffitt, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra — the truck piloted earlier this season by Kennedy — gave the Daytona Beach, Florida, native a shot in the bumper, but Kennedy refused to be rattled and stretched his lead to 0.274 seconds at the checkered flag.

 

“I was just thinking, ‘Go as fast as possible on this last lap,’ ” Kennedy said. “I knew Brett was putting pressure on me from behind. I appreciate him racing me clean. This is just so cool.”

 

Moffitt, who earned a career-best second-place finish, didn’t have quite enough for Kennedy’s No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado when it counted most.

 

RELATED: First NCWTS win still a blur for Kennedy

“We had a good truck, a strong truck all day,” Moffitt said. “We ran top-five, top-10 most of it. He had just enough to get away from us on that last restart. After that, we got to him once but couldn’t get around.”

 

Although Bristol has been widely known for its bump-and-run racing, Moffitt, continuing to fill in for the recovering Matt Tifft, said he tried once, but couldn’t get to Kennedy to try again.

 

“I’m going to race people the way I want to be raced,” he said. “It is Bristol, so if you need to move someone, you got to move them. I just wasn’t quite good enough in the center to get to him. He slipped up a few times and I was able to get to his bumper once, but didn’t get to him hard enough. I was really waiting for him to make a mistake so I could shove my nose in there, but he executed when he needed to. He hit his marks and I just wasn’t able to get to him.”

 

With the victory, Kennedy virtually secures a spot in the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase with three races remaining in the regular season.

 

“We put this deal together (with GMS Racing) a couple months ago and I never imagined — I never would have imagined going into this race that we would be here today,” Kennedy said. “I thought we were a top-15 truck or a top-10 truck, but to actually be here in Victory Lane means the world to me.”

 

 

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 17, 2016) – NASCAR and Rev Racing today announced nine former college student-athletes selected to participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D) Crew Member Development Program. The new class of participants received invitations to train with Rev Racing following standout performances at the first national D4D pit crew combine in May. 


Multicultural athletes starring in football, basketball and softball at the college level will receive expert training as tire changers, carriers and jackmen, with the goal of gaining fulltime employment with NASCAR national series race teams. 


“We’ve assembled a very talented group of athletes who we believe has what it takes to excel on pit road in NASCAR,” said Jim Cassidy, senior vice president of racing operations. “Each D4D participant will benefit from Rev Racing’s best-in-class training program, and we look forward to watching them grow and develop over the next 12 months.”


This year NASCAR and Rev Racing revamped the crew member scouting process, hosting tryouts at six universities across the country. Eighteen men and women from 12 states and one U.S. territory were selected to compete in the national combine in Concord, N.C. Half earned invitations to join the D4D pit crew program.  


“We are very excited for the arrival of the new 2016 Drive for Diversity pit crew recruits,” said Max Siegel, owner and CEO of Rev Racing. “With the national combine and recruitment effort this past year, we were able to select the top level of athletic talent. We look forward to training these individuals and placing them along pit road in the national series. Our academy-style approach to training continues to show success year after year; this class will not fall short.”


Among the new D4D participants are three former football players from the University of Kansas, one of the schools to host tryouts. Appalachian State’s Jeremy Kimbrough, who spent time with the Washington Redskins, and Joshua Tate, an All-American at Clark Atlanta University, are also looking to transition from the gridiron to NASCAR. 


A pair of female athletes in former Norfolk State, basketball player Brehanna Daniels and former Alcorn State University softball player Breanna O’Leary, will train as tire changers under the tutelage of Phil Horton, Rev Racing’s director of human performance. 


There are 35 graduates of the D4D Crew Member Development Program currently working in NASCAR. Three alums – Raphael Diaz, Kevin Richardson and Richie Williams – celebrated in Victory Lane as members of Chris Buescher‘s pit crew after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver won his first premier series race at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 1. 


Last November, Diaz and Roush Fenway Racing teammate Mike Russell became the first D4D graduates to win a national series championship when Buescher clinched the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship. 

The new members of the D4D Crew Member Development Program include:  

First

Last

Hometown

University

Primary Sport

Brehanna 

Daniels 

Norfolk, Va.

Norfolk State University

Basketball

Kapil

Fletcher

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

University of Kansas                                                       

Football

Tedarian

Johnson

Jackson, Miss.

University of Kansas                                                       

Football

Jeremy

Kimbrough 

Decatur, Ga.

Appalachian State University

Football

Corey

King

Boca Raton, Fla.

University of Kansas                                                       

Football

Lamar

Neal         

Virginia Beach, Va.

Norfolk State University

Football

Breanna

O’Leary 

Amarillo, Texas

Alcorn State University

Softball

Jorden

Paige

Buffalo, N.Y.

Clark Atlanta University

Football

Joshua

Tate

Memphis, Tenn.

Clark Atlanta University

Football

The NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, under the leadership of Rev Racing, supports both crew member and driver development opportunities. Driver graduates include NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson, and NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Daniel Suarez and Darrell Wallace Jr. 


For more information on NASCAR Drive for Diversity, visit www.NASCARDiversity.com.

Posted on by Team Release

Sandusky, Ohio (August 17, 2016) – ThorSport Racing is honored to announce a partnership with Ride Television Network, Inc. (RIDE TV), a 24-hour, high-definition, television network, dedicated to providing quality entertainment to equestrian and agriculture enthusiasts. The Fort Worth, Texas network, which delivers programming to those that enjoy and care about anything and everything horse related, will be featured on the No. 13 Toyota Tundra driven by second-year NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) driver, Cameron Hayley, beginning at Bristol and for select races in 2016 and beyond.   

“ThorSport Racing is honored to partner with RIDE TV, the nation’s first equestrian lifestyle network,” said Matthew LaNeve, VP of Marketing at ThorSport Racing. “We will feature their brand, partners, and programs on TSR’s Toyota Tundra’s in 2016 and beyond. We are confident this partnership will help us equate ‘horsepower’ both on and off the race track to the millions of loyal NASCAR fans.” 

RIDE TV allows you to channel your passion for the horse lifestyle. The 24-hour network airs a mix of reality shows, equine event coverage, inspiring documentaries, cooking demonstrations, children’s programs, and more. Their unique programming features celebrities, champions, and the personalities at the heart of America’s horse culture. RIDE TV is covering all breeds, all disciplines, all the time.

“RIDE TV is very excited to partner with ThorSport Racing,” said RIDE TV President, Craig Morris. “We are the new leader in equine-related television content, so it only makes sense to hitch our wagon with other leaders in their respective industry. Having RIDE TV (branded on a NASCAR national series) plastered across the hood of a 200mph truck was not in our original plan, but it just goes to show you that you can find horse people everywhere, and everywhere is where we want to be!””

The equestrian lifestyle channel will make their debut onboard the No. 13 RIDE TV Toyota Tundra of Hayley in the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 17. The 200-lap race will be televised on FOX Sports 1, in addition to coverage on MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90 at 8:30pm ET. 

Watch RIDE TV on DISH Network Channel 248, or find out how to watch RIDE TV on your local cable operator by visiting www.RIDETV.com. You can also follow RIDE TV on Facebook at Facebook.com/ridetvnetwork or on Twitter @RideTV.

About Ride Television Network, Inc.

Ride Television Network, Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company was formed in 2011 for the purpose of launching a 24-hour, high definition, television network. RIDE TV launched on October 1, 2014 in the United States and is now available internationally. The network features high-quality television programming showcasing both English and Western disciplines and lifestyles and includes live events, reality shows, talk shows, children’s programming, documentaries and more. For more information about RIDE TV, please visit www.ridetv.com

About ThorSport Racing:

ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers’ champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 RIDE TV Toyota Tundra driven by Cameron Hayley, the No. 41 Alpha Energy Solutions Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 Safelite/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Rico Abreu in 2016. For more information visit www.ThorSport.com 

Posted on by Kathy Sheldon

RELATED: See all the schemes from 2016 | VOTE: Favorite Darlington scheme

BUY TICKETS: Darlington

When five drivers and an owner of the caliber of Ricky Craven, Ricky Rudd, Darrell Waltrip, Matt Kenseth and Joe Gibbs get in one room, race fans can’t help just hoping they won’t stop telling stories.

Thank Tide and Darlington Raceway‘s throwback weekend for bringing together this entertaining and endearing group of racing royalty.

Kenseth’s throwback scheme for Labor Day Weekend’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (Sept. 4, 6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) allows the orange, yellow and white Tide car to ride — and contend for a win — again.

The Joe Gibbs Racing quartet, consisting of Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards, has racked up 10 wins in the 2016 season’s first 22 races — the most successful organization, thus far, in 2016.

The iconic scheme brings back memories of victories for Craven, Rudd and Waltrip.

“Matt’s the only one who hasn’t won in the Tide car,” Craven pointed out.

“No pressure, Matt,” the other racers chimed in.

Kenseth, however, isn’t feeling too much pressure on the track yet with two wins in 2016 — at Dover and Loudon — and his Chase berth secured. But the 2003 Sprint Cup Series champion did feel the gravitas of the racing greats gathered Tuesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the unveiling of the No. 20 Tide Pods Toyota.

“On a serious note, I really want to thank the three guys behind me, all legends in the sport,” Kenseth said. “I’ve gotten to race with all three of them.

“I’m a little concerned about Darlington, though. Not because of the track, but because of these guys. Ricky Rudd doesn’t look like he’s aged a day since he got out of the car. I know he can fit right in my seat and go drive the thing. So I’m a little worried about him at Darlington. Might have to bring security with me.”

“Does that mean we’re just old?” Ricky Craven asked, referring to himself and Waltrip after Kenseth eliminated them as threats to steal his ride for the Southern 500.

“I know Waltrip can’t fit,” Kenseth joked.

Waltrip joined in the jostling but also got very sentimental. He recalled his victory in the Tide ride at Martinsville Speedway on Sept. 27, 1987, the day his daughter, Jessica, was born — and the rose in a vase someone left in his car seat with a note that said, “Win for me, daddy.”

Gibbs joked that he’s the perfect person to represent the sponsor because, “When I was 5 years old, Tide became a reality. You do the math.” Tide is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

The three retired racers worked the Tide brand representatives on hand, too, pushing hard to see the Tide car back on track full-time as a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsor.

Gibbs said for now it’s a one-race deal, but JGR is honored to work with the brand that has been a part of racing for decades — including being the detergent that goes in the Air Titans when they wash the tracks.

Bringing back memories is the key to fans and race teams alike embracing the Darlington throwback weekends. The JGR and Tide team hopes the No. 20 will lead the pack in nostalgia as well as horsepower.

“That orange car is going to make a splash at Darlington,” Waltrip said.

MORE: Reaction to paint scheme from the legends