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RELATED: See Junior’s Darlington paint scheme | BUY TICKETS: Kansas

SHOP: No. 88 gear

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Axalta/Carstar Chevrolet has a fresh look for GoBowling 400 on May 7 at Kansas Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). 

The Hendrick Motorsports team revealed the paint scheme Thursday, a day after pulling the cover back on Junior’s thowback paint scheme honoring the “Gray Ghost” for Labor Day weekend’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (Sept. 4, 6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

In addition to the Kansas reveal, Dale Jr. took a lap around Uptown Charlotte in the car.

 

MORE: See all the Darlington looks

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RELATED: Buy Darlington tickets | ’16 throwback schemes 

SHOP: Harvick gear 

Stewart-Haas Racing unveiled Kevin Harvick‘s retro paint scheme on Thursday for Darlington Raceway‘s annual Bojangles’ Southern 500 (Sunday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).


Aligning with the Southern 500’s 1975-1984 era throwback theme, the No. 4 Busch Beer Chevrolet SS pays homage to NASCAR champion and Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough’s 1979 Daytona 500 car. This particular “Great American Race” was also significant because it marked the first 500-mile event NASCAR broadcast entirely on television.

Yarborough, a three-time champion in NASCAR’s premier series, drove the No. 11 Busch Beer ride from 1979 through 1980, earning 10 wins, 38 top-fives and 15 poles during the two-season stretch. He also won five Southern 500 races during his decorated career — 1968, 1973, 1974, 1978 and 1982.

Harvick’s scheme is one of several throwback schemes to be unveiled this week. Stewart-Haas Racing also recently revealed Danica Patrick‘s retro No. 10 scheme via the team’s Twitter account Wednesday.

RELATED: SHR unveils Danica’s Darlington look

Posted on by RJ Kraft

RELATED: Learn more about Dash 4 Cash

 

The heats are on, literally. When the NASCAR XFINITY Series descends upon Bristol Motor Speedway for its first short-track race of 2016, it will also mark the first race under the revamped Dash 4 Cash format.



This year, the four drivers eligible for the Dash 4 Cash prize will be determined by two heat races ahead of the main race. The top two XFINITY Series points-earning drivers in each heat will make up the Dash 4 Cash field in the main race. The highest finisher in the main among the four eligible drivers wins the Dash 4 Cash prize of $100,000.

 

RELATED: Explaining the new Dash 4 Cash format

 

“(This is) a great opportunity for me to look at what happens, what do the fans think of this concept and really looking at it going forward and how does it change some of the race strategies as well,” Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “The Morning Drive” earlier this week.

XFINITY Series managing director Wayne Auton indicated that the new format gave an equal chance to the whole garage.

“This is a great opportunity for the back half of the garage as much as it is the front half,” Auton said. “This gives them an opportunity to really go for some good money and they feel like they got a shot at it.”

There are some rules wrinkles with the new format as well. 



“You have to start the heat on the tires you qualified on and you have to start the heat on the fuel (from qualifying),” Auton said. “No one should run out of fuel with the amount of laps we’re running.”



The heat races will go their scheduled distance and there will be no overtimes. Following the heat races, teams can change tires and add fuel with the normal final adjustments ahead of the main race. In addition, if a driver wrecks in a heat, teams can only work on the car until the checkered flag flies in their particular heat. That suggestion in particular, Auton said, came from the garage area. A team’s tire count starts with the heat race.

The possibility of a driver wrecking in a heat race and missing the main is not lost on JR Motorsports’ Elliott Sadler.


”It’s kind of nerve-racking knowing that you can wreck your car in the heat race and can’t even race in the Feature, so that’s kind of a tough concept,” Sadler told NASCAR.com at Texas Motor Speedway. 

”Of all the places to put it at, to put it at Bristol was a good idea on XFINITY‘s and NASCAR’s part.”

NASCAR wanted to keep the heat races and main event the same distance as the previous year’s races. Only Richmond will be a slightly shorter distance. Last year’s race there was 250 laps; this year’s heats and main will total 210 laps.



With the new format comes uncertainty, excitement and an air of suspense before it is run. But drivers are intrigued to see how it plays out.



“I’m most curious about how people are going to race, knowing that you can’t go to a backup car before the feature or the main,” Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Erik Jones said. “So I’m interested to see how people kind of handle that fact.”

Richard Childress Racing‘s Brendan Gaughan thinks that the move is a litmus test that could lead to something more.


“To me, I think this is NASCAR’s volley,” Gaughan said. “They want to see if this will stick. Why not? You’ve got the XFINITY Series. You’ve got a sponsor. You’ve got people that want to see something exciting. Maybe try something different because fans are always clamoring about something different. Throw something on the wall and see what sticks.”

Gaughan added that his opinion of the format will be based on one main factor: whether he takes home the prize.

“I’m excited to try it,” he said. “I don’t know if it will be good or bad. I don’t care if it’s good or bad. Let’s get there and see what it does. If I win $100,000 at Bristol, I’m going to say ‘I love it.’ If I don’t, I’m going to say, ‘Eh, let’s go to next week and see how it goes.’ I think that’s a very cool thing.”

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Tuesday evening, after learning about the untimely death of Michael Glenn Mastalez — a “big 2 fan” — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski recounted with his Twitter followers a special moment he spent with the 21-year-old one week earlier.

 

Mastalez and four others died in a sightseeing helicopter crash last Monday in Tennessee.

 

And then Mastalez’s best friend jumped into the conservation, letting Keselowski know that his friend was “on cloud nine” after meeting the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion. 

 

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Last week, we saw more loose wheels at Texas than any other race this season.

Next on the schedule is Bristol, where there were plenty of loose wheels last year.

So, it raises the question: What will pit crews’ strategy be this weekend?

Teams that are willing to gamble will reap the rewards as long as tires stay tight. Hitting four lug nuts over five is much faster, and spots can definitely be made up on pit road.

However, the risk-versus-reward scenario at Bristol is much higher than at other tracks. The reward is a fast pit stop, but a loose wheel can put you multiple laps down at a short track.

At a 1.5-mile track, teams can recover from a loose wheel — but not at Bristol. So, don’t expect many crews to gamble on four lug nuts when Bristol presented so many problems last year.

For more pit crew news, visit PitTalks.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

Giving back. It’s something the five finalists for Crown Royal’s annual “Your Hero’s Name Here” program have all done without question or hesitancy, whether it’s protecting classmates from gunfire, serving in the armed forces or founding a service-dog centered charity to help wounded veterans.

 

They gave back and served as heroes do. And because they gave back, Crown Royal will put a name in lights. One grand prize winner from among the deserving, heroic five finalists will be etched in history with naming rights to the 23rd annual Brickyard 400, which takes place July 24 at famed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

This race will mark the 10th time Crown Royal has awarded race-naming rights to an adult fan.

 

The program focuses on all of the unsung heroes who make a difference in their communities, from firefighters and police officers to first responders and local volunteers. Every year five heroic finalists are nominated and through fan voting, and one winner is chosen to have their name cemented in sports history.
 
Beginning this week, adult consumers can go to CrownRoyalHeroes.com to vote for the hero they think is most deserving of naming rights to the race. Voting runs through June 9 and the grand prize winner will be announced that month. See below for their names and bios.
 
All five finalists will be flown to Indianapolis to attend the race, and the grand prize winner will be provided with a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which will include delivering the trophy bearing his or her moniker to the race winner in Victory Lane.

 

The Brickyard 400 is one of the landmark NASCAR races every season. Since 1994, the group of big-name race winners includes the likes of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson.

 

Previous Crown Royal grand prize winners who had the race named after them are: Curtiss Shaver (2012), Samuel Deeds (2013), John Wayne Walding (2014) and Jeff Kyle (2015)

Chris Mintz – Former Army Infantryman and Community Hero

 

Chris Mintz, 30, of Roseburg, Oregon, is a former Army infantryman and community hero. On Oct. 1, 2015, a gunman entered Umpqua Community College and fatally shot an assistant professor and eight students. Mintz, a student at the community college, responded to screams and gun shots coming from an adjacent classroom, using his body to block the connecting door and allowing his class to escape.  He then alerted other students when he was shot five times by the gunman. When medical assistance arrived, Mintz was rushed to Mercy Medical Center where he was told he would have to learn to walk again. The only thought running through Mintz’s mind was his son, who was turning 6 that day. Today, Chris continues to receive medical treatment and physical therapy for his wounds, but he is back in school at UCC to study marketing and is continuing to work and take care of his son. Driven by his desire to inspire others to always rise to the call of heroism, Mintz intends to use his marketing degree to become a motivational speaker and personal trainer. Mintz continues to train in mixed martial arts in hopes of overcoming his disabilities and instilling his motivation to overcome in others. “I’m just a normal guy who was doing what anyone should,” said Mintz. As a longtime NASCAR lover who hails from Richard Petty’s hometown, Mintz is looking forward to cheering for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400.

Jason Redman – Retired Navy SEAL and Founder of Combat Wounded Coalition

 

Jason Redman, 40, of Chesapeake, Virginia, is a retired Navy SEAL, motivational speaker, author of “The Trident” and founder of Combat Wounded Coalition. Redman enlisted in the Navy following high school and served 10 years as an enlisted SEAL before enrolling at Old Dominion University. After graduation, Redman was commissioned as a Naval SEAL Officer. Over his career he served five deployments total including two combat deployments. In 2007, while on an operation in Iraq to capture a member of Al Qaeda, Redman’s team came under heavy machine gun fire, and he was wounded with shots to the face and left arm. While recovering from his 37 surgeries at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Redman wrote and hung a sign on his door, which became a statement and symbol for wounded warriors everywhere. The original sign on the door now hangs in the Wounded Ward at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda.  Redman was honored with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medals and two Combat Action Ribbons. Following his recovery, Redman founded the non-profit Combat Wounded Coalition and Wounded Wear to help combat wounded warriors overcome the wounds of war.  In 2013, Redman founded his speaking company, SOF Spoken sharing his message of leadership, teamwork. Although the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 will be his first NASCAR race, Redman had the privilege of speaking at a NASCAR conference in 2013.

Leigh Ann Hester Active Army National Guard Sergeant First Class and Police Officer

 

Leigh Ann Hester, 34, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a United States Army National Guard Sergeant First Class and Police Officer in Franklin, Tennessee. Since her enlistment in 2001, Hester has been deployed three times — twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. During a deployment in Iraq, Hester and her squad were ambushed by enemy forces. Hester incapacitated the group of insurgents and successfully maneuvered her squad to safety without any casualties. Her courageous actions make Hester the first female since World War II to receive a Silver Star. Hester has also received a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation medal for her military service. Hester has demonstrated her strong commitment to serving this country as an active National Guard Sergeant, but she has also been a police officer with the Franklin Police Department for the last 10 years. As an officer, Hester has a direct impact on her community by keeping it safe and crime-free. Her integral role helps protect the citizens of Franklin and her military experience is an asset to the law enforcement team she works so closely with on a daily basis. Hester has grown up watching NASCAR and, although she has never attended a race before, is looking forward to making the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 an unforgettable experience.

Michael Gallardo – Retired Army Sergeant

 

Michael Gallardo, 31, of San Antonio, Texas, joined the Army in November of 2004 and was deployed in 2006 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom when his life changed forever. Serving with a reconnaissance unit on Death Row Route, named after countless IED-led ambushes, Gallardo’s unit purposely ran over an IED to protect the members of his mission.  After the blast Gallardo noticed his truck commander stuck in the vehicle and tried to free him, severing his Achilles tendon in the process, and causing him to later lose his left leg after more than surgeries. After this tragic event, Gallardo’s life came to a halt. He decided to use his passion for physical fitness as a driver to begin training for marathons, triathlons, and an Ironman. When veterans’ organization Guardian For Heroes stepped in to pay for Gallardo’s gym membership, his love for CrossFit was born. From being told he may never walk properly again to becoming one of the fittest men in the CrossFit world, Gallardo’s determination is that of a true warrior. At a young age, Gallardo’s mother and personal hero taught him to always help people without asking for anything in return in which he lives by this notion every day to honor her memory. Today, Gallardo works with veterans providing counseling and training advice and is active in many veteran organizations and within the CrossFit community. When Gallardo found out he was one of the finalists in the “Your Hero’s Name Here” program he was grinning ear to ear. “I’m honored to show fellow veterans if I can do it, they can do it too.”

Piper Hill – Retired Army Captain and Founder of Healing4Heroes

 

Piper Hill, 45, of Atlanta, is a retired Army Captain and founder of the charity Healing4Heroes. Hill joined the Army Reserves in 1990 and was an active duty officer from 1995 until 2009, when she was officially retired from the Temporary Disabled Retirement List for injuries that incurred while on active duty. She suffered from PTSD and a brain injury that occurred while serving in the Army.  While recovering, Hill remembers one thing from those years — her dog Valentine, who stayed by her side every day. Hill trained Valentine to become a service dog, giving her the strength and endurance to become healthy again. Thus, Healing4Heroes began. The non-profit organization provides trained and free-of-charge service dogs for wounded service members, as well as to those with PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other cognitive issues or illnesses.  Hill has provided more than 220 veterans with service dogs nationwide and continues to help and provide for veterans every day. Through her initiatives, Hill has established herself as a helper, healer and heroine within the veteran community, changing many lives for the better. Hill is extremely excited and humbled to be a finalist for the “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400, and looks forward to bringing her sister to the big race.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Watch the live stream | See Dale Jr.’s throwback look for Darlington
Buy Tickets: Kansas

On Thursday, NASCAR.com will live stream the reveal of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet paint scheme that he’ll wheel at Kansas Speedway next month (May 6-7). The reveal will be streamed from 2:45-3 p.m. ET. In addition to the paint scheme reveal, Dale Jr. will take a lap around Uptown Charlotte in the car.

Tune in to the live stream here.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Full Texas results | Updated standings

 

NASCAR took 15 minutes of practice time away from the No. 2 Team Penske Ford of Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Trevor Bayne for inspection failures during the Duck Commander 500 weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

The No. 2 team failed pre-qualifying laser inspection three times, and the No. 6 team failed pre-race laser inspection three times.

The practice penalties will be served this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Opening practice begins Friday, April 15 at 11 a.m. ET.

 

Four other NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams received warnings but will not have to serve a practice penalty.

 

Those teams were the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet of Austin Dillon and the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet of Kyle Larson for failing pre-race inspection twice and the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Kyle Busch and the No. 23 BK Racing Toyota of David Ragan for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice. Busch won the Duck Commander 500 for his second straight win in the Sprint Cup Series.

 

The Nos. 01 (Ryan Preece), 5 (Chase Elliott) and 7 (Justin Allgaier) teams in the NASCAR XFINITY Series received written warnings for failing pre-race laser inspection twice.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Buy Darlington tickets | ’16 throwback schemes | SHOP: Danica gear

Danica Patrick‘s paint scheme for the throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway has been revealed by Stewart-Haas Racing‘s Twitter account.

See the look that Patrick will take to the track with her over Labor Day weekend for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 (Sunday, Sept. 4, 6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

Last year, Patrick sported a black and green scheme for then-sponsor GoDaddy at “The Lady in Black.”

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Buy Darlington tickets | ’16 throwback schemes | SHOP: Dale Jr. gear

On Wednesday, Nationwide revealed the paint scheme for the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr. for throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway.

As he has mentioned several times on social media, the scheme is a tribute to “Gray Ghost” look driven by Buddy Baker.

“It’s my favorite paint scheme of all time,” Earnhardt Jr. said at the unveiling.


RELATED: Dale Jr. drops throwback hints

On top of that, Nationwide revealed the fire suit that Earnhardt Jr. will wear at Darlington.

Earnhardt Jr. will sport these colors for events in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 (Sept. 4, 6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).