Posted on by Holly Cain

A 2015 rewind and a 2016 preview for the top five finishers last season in the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. Today: Chris Buescher, the XFINITY Series championship driver.

Team: Roush Fenway Motorsports No. 60 Ford

Wins: 2 (Iowa and Dover, Del.)

Strides: Having earned an XFINITY Series championship trophy in only his second full-time NASCAR season, it’s fair to say Buescher seized upon opportunity. The 23-year-old did not disappoint, winning two races (Iowa and Dover, Del.) and leading the championship standings for the final 23 of 33 races. He was never farther back than third place in the overall standings all season, and with 20 top-10 runs and 11 top-five showings, he consistently did what was needed to wrap up his first major title.

Setbacks: After missing the 2014 race at Daytona International Speedway (and still rallying to a seventh place overall finish in the standings) Buescher was adamant to make a full season run at the title in 2015, and his runner-up effort at the Daytona season-opener put him atop the standings from the get-go. It’s hard to find much to improve upon when you lead the standings for a total of 26 of the 33 race weekends and turn in good performances at every sort of track.

Quoteworthy: “The coolest thing is having so many people say congratulations and it shows all the years working up to this point was all worth it. I’ve done so many different things to get to this point and it’s so humbling.


“I think a lot of the success this year was based on the fact we had four teams work together so well. That’s unusual with all the moving parts involved and the chemistry we had with all four teams was incredible.”

What’s next: Buescher will get his big break in 2016 driving full-time in the Sprint Cup Series in the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, which is in a technical alliance with Roush-Fenway. In six starts with the Front Row team last year, Buescher recorded a best of 20th at California. The new alliance with Roush — which includes both engineering and pit road support — was a can’t-pass-up opportunity for the XFINITY Series champ.

Posted on by Staff Report

Jeff Gordon made his 2016 season debut with the FOX NASCAR broadcasting team on FS1’s “Race Hub” Monday.

Danielle Trotta and Adam Alexander kicked off the episode with Alexander saying, “We’ve done a lot of shows in this studio, but this is one we’ll remember forever.”

“It’s been a great offseason, but I can’t wait to get to Daytona and be part of the FOX team,” Gordon said.

The Gordon family took a trip to Australia over the competition break, and enjoyed fireworks in Sydney and racing, as well.

Gordon reflected on his final season, in which he was in the hunt for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in the Championship 4 Chase race at Homestead-Miami.

“You can’t script it,” Gordon said. “There were struggles. It wasn’t the way I wanted it to go all season, but the Chase … and of course the banquet in Las Vegas. It really was the best of times.”

Gordon and fans alike were shocked when actor Tom Cruise introduced Gordon for his speech at the Sprint Cup Awards banquet in Las Vegas.

“I already knew it was going to be an emotional night,” Gordon said. “I was really proud to be on that stage, and I also knew it was a chance to reflect on my career. I’m a planner, though. I like to plan and that truly was a surprise. It was very overwhelming.”

Another surprise from earlier in the season was one of Gordon’s retirement gifts. At Texas Motor Speedway, he received two Shetland ponies for his children, Ella and Leo.

“I was not real thrilled with Eddie Gossage and Bruton Smith at the time,” Gordon said with a laugh,  “But they really have been the brightest gift.”

Gordon said the logistics of pony ownership were interesting, but they have found a stable in North Carolina for the ponies, who are named “Nutella” for Leo’s favorite snack and “Prince,” though Ella may change her mind about her pony’s name.

Gordon also joked that he’s eager to see what promotors/track owners Gossage and Smith might have in mind for Tony Stewart, who is retiring after the 2016 season.

“With Tony’s passion and love for animals …. You never know what’s going to happen,” Gordon said.


Gordon stepped away from driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet after the 2015 season (he doesn’t like the word “retire”) with 93 wins and four championships in NASCAR’s premier series.

Gordon will join fellow analyst Darrell Waltrip and play-by-play announcer Mike Joy when FOX opens the 2016 season with the coverage of SpeedWeeks from Daytona International Speedway. He will help call races, practices and qualifying sessions for the network.

Posted on by Staff Report

*Indicates changes from 2015
#Indicates driver to miss start of 2016 season
^Indicates driver will not make every start in car (Michael Waltrip will drive the No. 83 in the Daytona 500, Matt DiBenedetto will drive a third entry for BK Racing.)

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers

Car Number Driver Crew Chief Manufacturer Team
1 Jamie McMurray Matt McCall Chevrolet Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
2 Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe Ford Team Penske
3 Austin Dillon Slugger Labbe Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
4 Kevin Harvick Rodney Childers Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing
5 Kasey Kahne Keith Rodden Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
6 Trevor Bayne Matt Puccia* Ford Roush Fenway Racing
7 Regan Smith* Tommy Baldwin Jr.* Chevrolet Tommy Baldwin Racing
10 Danica Patrick Billy Scott* Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing
11 Denny Hamlin Mike Wheeler* Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
13 Casey Mears Bootie Barker Chevrolet Germain Racing
14 Tony Stewart# Mike Bugarewicz* Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing
15 Clint Bowyer Steve Addington Chevrolet* HScott Motorsports*
16 Greg Biffle Brian Pattie* Ford Roush Fenway Racing
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Nick Sandler Ford Roush Fenway Racing
18 Kyle Busch Adam Stevens Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
19 Carl Edwards Dave Rogers* Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
20 Matt Kenseth Jason Ratcliff Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
21 Ryan Blaney Jeremy Bullins Ford Wood Brothers Racing
22 Joey Logano Todd Gordon Ford Team Penske
23 David Ragan* Patrick Donahue* Toyota BK Racing
24 Chase Elliott* Alan Gustafson Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
27 Paul Menard Justin Alexander Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
31 Ryan Newman Luke Lambert Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
32 Jeffrey Earnhardt*/Bobby Labonte Wally Rogers* Ford Go FAS Racing
34 Chris Buescher* Bob Osborne* Ford Front Row Motorsports
38 Landon Cassill* Donnie Wingo Ford Front Row Motorsports
41 Kurt Busch Tony Gibson Chevrolet Stewart-Haas Racing
42 Kyle Larson Chad Johnston* Chevrolet Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
43 Aric Almirola Trent Owens Ford Richard Petty Motorsports
44* Brian Scott* Chris Heroy* Ford* Richard Petty Motorsports*
46 Michael Annett Jay Guy Chevrolet HScott Motorsports
47 AJ Allmendinger Randall Burnett* Chevrolet JTG Daugherty
48 Jimmie Johnson Chad Knaus Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
78 Martin Truex Jr. Cole Pearn Toyota* Furniture Row Racing
83 Matt DiBenedetto^ Gene Nead Toyota BK Racing
88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Greg Ives Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
95 Michael McDowell/Ty Dillon* Dave Winston* Chevrolet* Circle Sport — Leavine Family Racing*
98 Cole Whitt* Mark Hillman* TBA Premium Motorsports
Posted on by Staff Report

The 2016 Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour is here with most of the teams and the sanctioning body meeting with the press corps to look ahead to the upcoming season.

NASCAR.com will have you covered with complete coverage of the week, which caps off with Jerry Cook, Bobby Isaac, Terry Labonte, Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on the night of Friday, Jan. 22.

Below is the full schedule of live-streaming events on NASCAR.com

READ MORE: Top story lines heading into 2016 | Drivers, crew chiefs on the move in ’16 | 2016 Paint Scheme Preview

Tuesday, January 19 (Watch live)

— 11 a.m.: NASCAR
— 1:30 p.m.: Joe Gibbs Racing
— 3:15 p.m.: Furniture Row Racing
— 5 p.m.: Fox Sports

DAILY ROUNDUP

READ: NXS, NCWTS to get Chase elimination format

WATCH: Kenseth jokes with Joe Gibbs about playoff football

READ: NASCAR introduces Caution Clock in NCWTS

WATCH: Driver analyzes changes in all three top series

 

Wednesday, January 20 (Watch live)

— 9 a.m.: Richard Petty Motorsports
— 10:45 a.m.: Roush Fenway Racing
— 3:30 p.m.: Team Penske

DAILY ROUNDUP
READ: New team coming into NASCAR
READ: Will more change lead to gains Roush needs?
READ: Scott, Heroy ready for first Cup season together
READ: Logano looks to turn page on Kenseth drama

Thursday, January 21 (Watch live)

—11:10 a.m.: Richard Childress Racing | RELATED: RCR forms new alliance
—1:30 p.m.: Stewart-Haas Racing | RELATED: Stewart, Patrick get new crew chiefs
—3:15 p.m.: Hendrick Motorsports | RELATED: Junior drops ‘Gray Ghost’ hints

 

DAILY ROUNDUP
READ: Johnson on the cusp of breaking records in 2016
READ: Retirement? Not on the radar for Earnhardt Jr.
READ: Ty’s Cup plans revealed
READ: Larson ready for bounce-back with new crew chief

READ: Tony deflects about Chili Bowl altercation 

WATCH: Say What?! Danica’s fancy feet

Posted on by Zack Albert

A 2015 rewind and a 2016 preview for the top five finishers last season in the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series. Today: Erik Jones, the 2015 champion in the Truck Series.

Team: Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 4 Toyota (2015); Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota in the XFINITY Series (2016)

Wins: 3 (Iowa, Mosport, Texas-2)

Strides: Besides the trio of victories and five pole positions, Jones finished outside the top 10 just three times. Once he prevailed on the twisty layout of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in late August, the talented rookie grabbed a lead in the points standings that he would hold the rest of the year.

Setbacks: An electrical issue and a related 23rd-place result at Gateway stood as Jones’ only finish in the back half of the truck field all year.

Quoteworthy: “I think there were definitely times in the year when I didn’t think we’d be able to do this and looking back and seeing the deficit we were in at some points and just being able to really pull together and make this all happen here at the end of the year, it was just so, so special for everybody here. I couldn’t think of a better way to thank them.”

What’s next: After a resoundingly successful season with starts in all three NASCAR national series, Jones moves up the ladder into the XFINITY ranks. He already has visited Victory Lane twice in that series. He’ll have a new crew chief in Chris Gabehart calling the shots, but will also likely gain more seasoning with a select part-time schedule in the Sprint Cup Series.

Posted on by Team Release

CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 18, 2016) — WIX Filters has joined Hendrick Motorsports as a key technical partner with an agreement that will supply innovative filtration products and provide critical development support to the 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions through 2019.


With a four-year pact, WIX’s air and oil filters will be used in competition by the four Sprint Cup Series teams of Hendrick Motorsports with drivers Kasey Kahne, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Its logo will be featured on team equipment, transporters and underneath the hood of Hendrick Motorsports‘ Chevrolet SS race cars.


“Since the early 1960s when Richard Petty began using our filters, generations of motorsports champions have driven to Victory Lane with WIX,” said Jennifer Gibson, brand manager for WIX Filters. “Adding a team like Hendrick Motorsports only further positions us as the number-one filter in motorsports, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what that means on the track this season.”


“We pride ourselves on our technical superiority and high performance racing filters, and we like to align ourselves with the best,” said Bill Stamey, engineering manager for WIX Filters. “Becoming a Hendrick Motorsports technical partner this race season is an incredible honor and a testament to our ongoing innovation and hard work.”


Hendrick Motorsports has earned 240 points-paying Sprint Cup wins since 1984, and its engines have more than 300 victories across all NASCAR series. Last season, the team’s engines posted wins in 14 of 36 Sprint Cup races and powered six Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup contenders.


“WIX Filters has been involved with NASCAR for nearly five decades,” said Doug Duchardt, general manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “They not only will provide proven filters for our race cars but impressive capabilities in research and development. We know both their products and insights will ultimately help improve our performance. It’s an exciting partnership for our entire competition group, and we look forward to many successes together.”

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 18, 2016) – Team Penske announced today that one of its most accomplished engineers will take on a new challenge beginning in 2016, as Brian Wilson has been named crew chief of the No. 22 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS).

Wilson will assume the crew chief role while Greg Erwin, who guided the No. 22 team to its third-consecutive NXS Owners’ Championship this past season, will return as team manager of Team Penske‘s NXS program. The No. 22 team has earned an amazing 25 wins with four different drivers (Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney and AJ Allmendinger) over the course of the last three seasons. The No. 22 Mustang is the first car to capture three-consecutive NXS Owners’ Championships.

Wilson joined Team Penske in 2004 and has served as race engineer on both the No. 22 NXS team as well as the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team over the last several years. A native of Detroit, Mich., Wilson played a key role on Team Penske‘s first two NASCAR championships. He was race engineer on the No. 22 team that captured the 2010 NXS title with driver Brad Keselowski and he served in the same capacity in 2012 when Keselowski and the No. 2 team captured the Sprint Cup Series title.

“Brian has been an integral part of two of our NASCAR championships over the last few years and he has shown he deserves the opportunity to lead a team as he has demonstrated the ability to consistently produce race-winning cars,” said Roger Penske. “Brian has earned this opportunity and we believe he is the right person to lead the No. 22 team as it prepares to race for four-straight titles in 2016.”

After first coming on board as a shock specialist with Team Penske, Wilson became engineer of the No. 2 Miller Lite car in the Sprint Cup Series in 2007. Alongside crew chief Paul Wolfe, he transitioned to race engineer of the newly-formed No. 22 NXS team in 2010. After the team won the title with Keselowski that season, Wolfe moved into the crew chief role of the No. 2 Miller Lite team while Wilson was promoted to the Sprint Cup Series race engineer position.

Over the last five seasons, the tandem of Wolfe and Wilson helped lead the Miller Lite team to 16 wins, 10 poles, 58 top-five finishes and Team Penske‘s first Sprint Cup Series Championship with Keselowski behind the wheel in 2012.

“I am looking forward to this new challenge and the opportunity to lead the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang team after my last stint there during our first championship season in 2010,” said Wilson. “This is a team that has certainly proven that they know how to win and I want to continue that tradition. I’m excited to get a chance to continue to work with Brad and to get to work more closely with Joey and Ryan. Our goal will be to maintain the level of success that this team has shown since its beginning and continue to race for wins each and every week. Winning that fourth-straight NASCAR XFINITY Series Owners’ Championship would just be the ultimate prize.”

 

The NASCAR XFINITY Series will open its season on February 20th at Daytona International Speedway.

Posted on by Team Release

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (January 18, 2016) — Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today the No. 20 Toyota Camry driven by 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Erik Jones will carry GameStop, Reser’s Fine Foods, Hisense and Interstate Batteries for his rookie season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS).
 
Jones has 26 career starts in the XFINITY Series over two seasons of running a limited schedule. He has earned two wins (Texas – April 2015 and Chicago – June 2015), three pole starting positions, 13 top-five finishes, 20 top-10 finishes and led 292 laps with an average start of 4.8 and average finish 8.9.
 
“I’m really excited to get 2016 started,” said Jones. “Ending last season with the Truck Series Championship and having the success on the XFINITY side, along with the Cup starts, it was a dream season. Things happened quicker than I’d ever planned, but I’m thankful for all of the opportunities and to be running full-time in the XFINITY Series this year. I can’t wait to get back in the No. 20 Toyota Camry for JGR and to work with Chris Gabehart. We had a great year in 2015 with GameStop and it’ll be another fun year continuing to build on that partnership, as well as with Reser’s, Hisense and Interstate Batteries.”
 
GameStop
Longtime partner GameStop enters their ninth season partnering with JGR and their second with Jones. Their 2016 season will kick off at Auto Club Speedway on March 19 and include two trips to their home track, Texas Motor Speedway. In 2015 in just his ninth career NXS start, Jones earned his first NXS career win at Texas Motor Speedway, starting the race from the pole position and leading 79 laps before taking the checkered flag on April 10, 2015. The win also marked the first win for GameStop in their backyard.  
 
“Erik saw great success in his first year driving for team GameStop, and has become an amazing brand ambassador for us,” said Bob Puzon, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for GameStop. “He not only has great skills on the race track, but is also an avid gamer who our fans and customers connect with.”
 
GameStop will adorn the No. 20 Camry this season for 12 races: Auto Club Speedway (March 19); Texas Motor Speedway (April 8); Bristol Motor Speedway (April 16); Talladega Superspeedway (April 30); Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 28); New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 16); Watkins Glen International (August 6); Richmond International Raceway (September 9); Kentucky Speedway (September 24); Dover International Speedway (October 1); Texas Motor Speedway (November 5); Homestead-Miami Speedway (November 19).
 
Reser’s Fine Foods
Moving from veteran Matt Kenseth, Reser’s Fine Foods enters their fourth season with JGR as they join Jones for his rookie season. Reser’s previously sponsored Jones at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2014. Jones started the race from the sixth position and finished eighth in his second-career start in the series.
 
“We see it too… Erik Jones is a rising star in the world of NASCAR racing,” states President and CEO Mark Reser. “We’ve had success with veteran Matt Kenseth and now we are fired up to have Erik take the wheel of the No. 20 and make us proud. Our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing continues to provide a tremendous marketing platform to support our business.”


Reser’s Fine Foods will be featured on the No. 20 Camry for eight races this season: Daytona International Speedway (February 20); Phoenix International Raceway (March 12); Dover International Speedway (May 14); Michigan International Speedway (June 11); Kentucky Speedway (July 8); Bristol Motor Speedway (August 19); Road America (August 27); Kansas Speedway (October 15).
 
Hisense
Entering their second year with JGR, Hisense shifts their sponsorship to include 19-year-old Jones for five races. Hisense made their debut with JGR at Richmond International Raceway on April 24, 2015 with Denny Hamlin piloting the No. 20 Camry. Hamlin started the 250-lap race from the pole position and led 248 laps on his way to securing the first victory for Hisense.
 
“Last year was a great ride with Denny Hamlin leading our introduction into NASCAR,” said Dr. Lan Lin, executive vice president of Hisense Group and general manager of Hisense International Co. “We are proud to add Erik Jones to the JGR/Hisense family and look forward to working together on some exciting projects to elevate the Hisense brand in 2016.”
 
The Hisense colors will appear on the No. 20 Camry for five races this season: Atlanta Motor Speedway (February 27); Richmond International Raceway (April 23); Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 23); Chicagoland Speedway (September 17); Phoenix International Raceway (November 12).
 
In addition to their five races with Jones in the No. 20 Camry, Hisense will also sponsor Hamlin for one race in the No. 18 Camry at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28.
 
Interstate Batteries
Celebrating 25 years with JGR, founding partner Interstate Batteries will team up with Jones for the second year in a row, serving as the primary sponsor of the No. 20 Toyota Camry at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5. Last season Interstate Batteries partnered with Jones where he was running in the top five before an on-track incident took away his chances of earning a trip to the Las Vegas Victory Lane.
 
“The 2016 season marks Interstate Batteries’ 25th year as a partner with Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Dorothy Jones, Chief Marketing Officer for Interstate Batteries. “When you have a young talent like Erik Jones behind the wheel of our Interstate Batteries Toyota in the Las Vegas XFINITY Series race, it’s a great way to kick off this milestone celebration. With Erik, along with defending Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch driving our Interstate Batteries Camry’s, we are very excited about 2016 and hope to celebrate our 25th year together in victory lane.”


The 2016 NXS season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on February 20 with Jones in the No. 20 Reser’s Toyota Camry for his rookie season where he will be vying for the 2016 XFINTY Series Championship.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: NBC Sports Live Extra


All times ET

Monday, Jan. 18
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Jeff Gordon, FS1
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Tuesday, Jan. 19
7 a.m., NASCAR America: Images of the Season #1 (re-air), NBCSN
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America: Images of the Season #2 (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR America: Stories of NASCAR #1 (re-air), NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Stories of NASCAR #2 (re-air), NBCSN
3 a.m. NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Wednesday, Jan. 20
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Thursday, Jan. 21
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Friday, Jan. 22
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Jeff Gordon (re-air), FS1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Hall of Fame Special, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR America: Hall of Fame Special (re-air), NBCSN
9:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Stories of NASCAR (re-air), NBCSN
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Jeff Gordon (re-air), FS2

Saturday, Jan. 23
1 p.m., NASCAR America: Hall of Fame Special (re-air), NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, NBCSN

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Rico Abreu went back-to-back in the Chili Bowl, winning one of the most prestigious Midget Car races in the country for the second consecutive year.

 

Abreu — who on Friday announced his full-time ride with ThorSport Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series — began his ascent into NASCAR with his 2015 win, and he repeated the feat this year in a championship race that started Saturday night and ended after midnight. It was the 30th annual running of the race.

 

RELATED: Abreu excited about 2016 plans

 

Abreu took the lead with less than 10 laps remaining in the 55-lap event and powered to victory in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

 

Much to the delight of the crowd, Abreu celebrated by climbing the fence and turning donuts.

 

Bryan Clauson finished second, followed by Zach Daum, Jerry Coons Jr. and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Larson.

 

 

The Chili Bowl is a week long event with five days of practice and qualifying events to set the 25-car field for the A-Main, which is the championship race.

 

Saturday started with two N-Feature races — the top four finishers from each advance to the M-Feature races. The format was used all the way up to the A-Main, making for a long (and exciting) day of racing.

 

Roush Fenway Racing driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won his B-Main Feature to transfer into the championship race. Larson also earned a spot in the main event with a top showing in his B-Feature race.

 

Hendrick Motorsports driver Kasey Kahne qualified for the main event prior to Saturday, adding his name to the mix of NASCAR racers.

 

Christopher Bell, who has a full-time ride with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2016, finished 12th. Kahne took 13th with Stenhouse finishing in 17th after a late wreck with Sammy Swindell sent him back in the pack.

 

Reaction to Abreu’s win was quick to pour in: