NASCAR.com’s 36 for 36: 2024 Season Wrap-Up

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Steve Luvender

The 2024 NASCAR season had no shortage of excitement, drama and unpredictability. The same went for NASCAR.com’s season-long 36 for 36 competition.

With 36 races and 36 full-time Charter cars, our players selected one car per race, with one simple twist: Once they made a pick, they couldn’t choose that car again for the rest of the 36-race season. Yes, that means every car was selected exactly once — NASCAR’s version of a survivor pool. You get it.

Our panel of pickers — Dustin Albino from Jayski, Steve Luvender and Cameron Richardson from NASCAR.com, and the collective r/NASCAR subreddit — thought like strategists and proved their picking prowess over the course of the year.

Now, with the 2024 season in the books, it’s time to crown a champion and take a look back at the journey.

Final Standings:

Steve Luvender: 985
r/NASCAR Community: -118
Cameron Richardson: -163
Dustin Albino: -168

Here are some closing thoughts from our pickers. Let’s pretend this is our awards banquet.

Fourth Place: Jayski’s Dustin Albino

Total season points: 817 (-168 points from first place)

Best moment: “If we’re basing this off points accumulated for a single race, it would go to the retiring Martin Truex Jr. at Dover, earning a whopping 51 points. But I enjoy giving some credit to the underdogs, and some of my picks rose to the occasion. My Harrison Burton choice at Talladega was his only top 10 in 2024 outside of his summer Daytona triumph. Michael McDowell was caught up in multiple incidents at Sonoma and rebounded to finish runner-up. It was a challenging transition to Toyota for Legacy Motor Club, but the 30-point day Erik Jones tallied at Pocono was the most points he earned on a non-superspeedway this year. Also recorded a strong seventh-place result with Zane Smith at Michigan.”

Worst luck: “I don’t think we have enough space to list the worst luck here. After taking the championship lead during the summer months, Ross Chastain was wrecked from the lead in overtime at Nashville. The following week, Shane van Gisbergen was taken out in the rain after dominating the opening stage. Right before the two-week Olympic break, Brad Keselowski ran out of fuel from the lead. Let’s jump to the regular season finale at Darlington; William Byron was having a top-five day and was involved in a late wreck. Kicked off the Round of 8 with a Tyler Reddick flip after winning Stage 1. Kyle Larson had a mediocre Homestead race, and by then, I was finally mathematically eliminated from the championship. If I didn’t have bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”

Overall thoughts: “Fun first year — this was a blast! Caught myself every race checking out where my opponents’ picks were running. It felt real.”

Third Place: NASCAR.com’s Cameron Richardson

Total season points: 822 (-163 points from first place)

Best moment: “My best moment was probably going with Stewart-Haas Racing early in the season as Preece, Briscoe and Berry all netted me 28 points or more at the flatter and smaller tracks.”

Worst luck: “My season practically ended at Nashville when Ross Chastain was wrecked in overtime battling for the win. It just led to one bad result after another and I never could fight back to the lead, but I’m glad I didn’t finish last.”

Overall thoughts: “I really enjoyed participating in the inaugural 36 for 36 run. I like being able to strategize for weeks in advance, just like a survivor pool in other sports, and I love our take on it here. This was incredibly fun. Maybe we could throw in some new ideas like bonus points or more players but other than that, I loved this and hope we can continue on with it next season.”

Second Place: r/NASCAR Community

Total season points: 867 (-118 points from first place)

The NASCAR subreddit dutifully participated in weekly voting threads each Thursday throughout the season that delivered lively debate, thoughtful strategy decisions and plenty of laughs along the way. Each week, individual Redditors would upvote the driver they thought would make the best 36 for 36 pick in a blind vote — vote totals weren’t visible while selections were taking place — and the driver with the most votes would get the nod on the board.

Highlights of the season for the r/NASCAR community included picking four race winners: Denny Hamlin at Richmond, Christopher Bell at New Hampshire, Harrison Burton at Daytona and Tyler Reddick at Homestead. None of our individual pickers scored as many wins.

There were only a few missteps or bad luck throughout the year. The community confidently picked Kyle Larson in the Coca-Cola 600 — or so they thought — but Larson didn’t race, and Justin Allgaier piloted the car. And, at Bristol in the spring, the community couldn’t quite come to a consensus on a pick, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ended up with the most votes; the No. 47 only scored four points.

As it turns out, getting a community of 1.4 million readers to reach a weekly consensus was good enough for second place overall. Score one for the hivemind.

2024 Champion: NASCAR.com’s Steve Luvender

Total season points: 950

Best moment: “I had a feeling my opponents would select defending race winner Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 16 at the Chicago Street Race — and they all did. Of course, SVG ran into some bad luck and crashed out in Stage 2. But, I saved my No. 16 for AJ Allmendinger at the Charlotte Roval, where he’s, like, otherworldly-good. It paid off: my Chicago pick of Michael McDowell scored 32 points, while the ‘Dinger delivered a huge 44-point day at the Roval. Other than that, I’ll admit I got lucky on a few picks — like 43 points from Austin Cindric at Atlanta in February.”

Worst luck: “I picked the No. 3 at Richmond in the spring. The No. 3 car won at Richmond … in the fall. That one stings a little bit. Other standouts include Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Dover, who was in contention for a top-five finish until he found the wall and crashed out, and Kyle Busch at Las Vegas in March, who might have won the race without a late-race pit-road speeding penalty.”

Overall thoughts: “36 for 36 is a great game not only because it has a nice balance of luck and skill, but also because you can have fun whether you spend an hour analyzing Racing Reference for past results or if you make your pick based on vibes and vibes alone. (I did both throughout the year.) Maybe next time, I’ll fill out my board with a random-number generator and see if I can win again. Thanks for following along!”

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Cara Cooper

A field near Jordaine Penick’s Virginia home served as her first race track when she was 13 years old.

That’s the year she got her first race car, but since she was still too young to really compete, she took the car around a homemade dirt-track. It was there where she earned the nickname “Peach Picker.”

“I had told dad to video me as I went around my little track in the field, and next thing I knew I was in a tree,” Penick said. “It was a peach tree. All the peaches were in my car because there was no windshield in it, so that’s how I got the nickname Peach Picker.”

You would think that would be a scary experience for a young girl.

“No, it didn’t scare me,” Penick said. “It was more of, I blinked and it was there, so I wasn’t really reacting about it. I was more scared about the fact that my dad was going to be mad at me.”

Three years later, the now 16-year-old Penick is still racing that fearlessly.

As one of the youngest competitors and the only girl in the Hornets Division at South Boston Speedway, Penick didn’t show any fear this season racing against veterans. She finished in the top five in nine of 10 races on the way to her first track championship.

Penick became the second woman to win a championship at the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series track in South Boston, Virginia, and the first since Terri Marks won a Grand Stock division championship in 2004.

Jordaine Penick (07) attempts to fend off a challenge from Cameron Moss (29) and Jason DeCarlo (54) during a 20-lap Virginia State Police HEAT Hornets Division race at South Boston Speedway in 2023. (Photo: Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway)

“It’s really awesome being one of the first girls in 20 years and the second girl out of the whole life of South Boston Speedway to ever win a championship,” Penick said.

Penick finished fifth on championship night to lock up the title by 13 points. Marks was in attendance at the race that night to congratulate her, and Penick later got to meet former NASCAR Cup Series driver and South Boston native Ward Burton, who signed her race car.

“I don’t really think it really hit me,” she said of the championship. “Sitting back and actually realizing I got it. I mean, it was nice coming up there and seeing how proud my family was of me and everything.”

Penick is a third generation driver, beginning with her grandfather who raced in the 1960s and ‘70s. He passed the tradition on to his daughter – Penick’s aunt, Cheryl – who competed around Eastern Virginia.

Cheryl taught the sport to Penick.

“She really tries to help me out, giving me pointers, but it’s a whole lot different somebody sitting there trying to tell you how to drive the car versus you actually being behind the steering wheel and driving the car,” Penick said.

Penick’s brothers all also are in racing, though they’re all in different rides. Her two oldest brothers drive mud trucks and compete in mud bogging races, and the one closest to her in age drag races.

Penick was the only one in her immediate family that gravitated towards circle tracks. She and her dad always liked going to watch races at South Boston, and she wanted to do the compete in the same style of races as her grandfather and aunt.

“I just told dad, I want to get into racing, and he was like, ‘OK, well, if that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do,’” she said.

“My brothers and I, we’ve always been tight. We’ve always had four wheelers growing up, so we always raced or whatever, so speed has always been something I love.”

Penick has grown as a driver since she began racing competitively three seasons ago. When she began she admits she was a “bad competitor,” she said, never really racing near the front.

“I was just trying to get used to the track, and I wasn’t driving the fastest car out there,” she said. “It was just a car I could race with and say I was getting experience.”

The second year she started getting more competitive, and by the end of the season she was pretty consistently finishing third and fourth every race.

Jordaine Penick (second from left) joined Jason Myers (left), Peyton Sellers (second from right) and B.J. Reaves (right) as a track champion at South Boston Speedway this season. (Photo: Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway)

By her third year, she had gotten the hang of how to get around South Boston, and was now figuring out how to pick up speed.

The improvements stemmed from Penick, “realizing that it doesn’t really matter if I tear my car up, and to just push as hard as I could to get where I was,” she said.

“Learning when I needed to let off the gas and when to accelerate back after I got out the curves, because I’ve always raced four wheelers and stuff like that around the fields,” she added.

Being in a race car as an early teenager had its advantages when it came to getting her real driver’s license, which Penick got during the summer. But she hasn’t quite been able to take the race car driver out of her system when it comes to the road.

“It was pretty easy, but Dad, when he first got in the vehicle with me, he said I held the curves way too fast,” she said with a laugh.

“I honestly love racing, like just being out there and being able to go fast without getting a ticket.”

Penick said she isn’t ready to move up out of South Boston’s hornets division quite yet, because she still wants to learn a little more about how to be the best racer she can be, and get to victory lane.

She’s spending this offseason continuing to work on her craft, while also taking pride in what she accomplished during the 2024 season.

“I’m really proud of myself,” Penick said. “I’ve come a long way thanks to my father, my aunt Cheryl, and all the sponsors.

“It’s awesome. It’s a big honor for me. Being a champion, that’s an honor. There’s four champions at South Boston, so to be one of those four, you’ve got to be really, really good, and it’s nice.”

Posted on November 15, 2024November 15, 2024 by Seth Sharp

Bobby Allison, the 1983 NASCAR Cup Series champion and a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the age of 86.

Allison won 85 times in NASCAR’s premier series between 1986 and 1988. The 1983 champion also finished second in the season standings five times.

The following are some of Allison’s most iconic and memorable races that can be watched for free in the NASCAR Classics Library.

1972 Atlanta 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway:

NASCAR Images

Allison had 19 victories heading into the 1971 season, his eighth season on the Cup Series tour.

He almost doubled his career wins total in one season, notching 11 victories in 1971 while finishing fourth in the final standings.

The 1972 season saw Allison continue cementing his place as one of the best drivers on the circuit.

He kicked off the season with a second-place finish at Riverside before eventually grabbing two more runner-up finishes over the first four races of the season.

The series arrived at Atlanta for the sixth race of the season, and Allison continued his success by putting his No. 12 Chevrolet on the pole.

He backed that up with a dominating effort in the race, leading 142 laps en route to his first victory of the season. Allison had to hold off a handful of motorsports legends to do so, as AJ Foyt, Bobby Isaac, David Pearson, Donnie Allison, Richard Petty, Benny Parsons and Buddy Baker finished behind him.

This is Allison’s oldest victory in the NASCAR Classics Library.

1975 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway:

NASCAR Images

A trip to South Carolina to the famed Darlington Raceway was always something Allison had circled on his calendar.

The Hueytown, Alabama driver was at a point in his career where he found success at almost any track but Darlington was almost a given that he would be up front, if not finishing in Victory Lane.

The 1970s saw Allison hit his stride at the track, starting with his first victory in the Southern 500 in 1971 in dominating fashion. Allison led 329 laps en route to Victory Lane. It didn’t take long for Allison to make it back to the checkered flag first at the track, winning the iconic event for the second consecutive season in 1972.

Fast forward to the spring of 1975 and Allison found himself in Victory Lane yet again at the track, continuing an incredible stretch at the track which saw him finish seventh or better in seven of the previous eight races at the track. This included three victories, as he also managed to lead the field in all eight of those events.

The 1975 Southern 500 came during an interesting period of Allison’s career, as he was driving the No. 16 car for Roger Penske. The tandem was only competing in a partial schedule, making each and every race that much more important for the future success of the team and driver.

The summer months saw them struggle through trying times, finishing 22nd or worse five times over a six-race span thanks to a handful of engine failures.

A trip back to Darlington was exactly what the doctor ordered for the duo, who were looking to defend their spring victory at the track, ironically where their season started to derail following that victory.

The race featured a legendary battle between Allison and Richard Petty, as the two traded the lead back and forth throughout the afternoon. They combined to lead 265 laps but it was Allison who triumphed and took home his third Southern 500 trophy.

1978 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway:

NASCAR Images

For as much success as Allison had over the first half of his career, he seemingly had no luck at Daytona.

It didn’t matter what car owner was signing his checks or what car number was on the door; whenever Allison strapped into a stock car at Daytona, luck wasn’t on his side.

His first 16 races at the track saw Allison able to grab just three top-10 finishes, a third and a pair of sevenths. The next few seasons saw Allison lead a plethora of laps but various engine issues robbed him of taking the checkered flag.

To top that off, Allison entered the 1978 season with a long victory drought that spanned back to the 1975 season.

He ended his partial season of 1975 with three victories, giving him 47 for his career. In the next two seasons, Allison drove all 60 races but was unable to find Victory Lane, bringing his winless streak to 66 races to end the season.

Hope was on the horizon for the driver, thanks to a new partnership with legendary car owner Bud Moore.

Would Moore be able to help Allison break his 0 for 34 record at the superspeedway?

It seemed like a movie script was playing out in front of Allison’s eyes as contender after contender experienced many of the same issues that kept him from Victory Lane at the track over his first 34 starts there.

Richard Petty led 39 laps but blew a tire, collecting Darrell Waltrip and David Pearson in the process.

Defending race winner Cale Yarborough was next on tap, leading 39 laps before losing an engine. Enter Buddy Baker, who led a race-high 76 laps before suffering engine issues of his own as the final laps quickly passed by.

This allowed Allison, who was lurking near the front the entire day, to take advantage of the struggles of the other stars and finally capture the first Daytona 500 victory of his career.

1979 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway:

NASCAR Images

Allison’s defense of his first Daytona 500 victory was the perfect storm, literally, for NASCAR and all of the viewers around the country.

It marked the first live superspeedway event broadcasted by a major outlet in its entirety, as CBS was scheduled to carry all 200 laps of The Great American Race for the first time.

The timing of their first huge event on TV couldn’t have come at a better time, as a giant snowstorm had most of the East Coast stranded at home, most with nothing to do or watch as other sports along the coast were postponed.

This put NASCAR in the spotlight and the 41 starters in the event, combined with the CBS broadcast crew, didn’t disappoint.

Allison started seventh and led early on before contact from Cale Yarborough sent both Allison and his brother Donnie through the infield.

Bobby never recovered from the accident, but that was not the case for his brother or Cale. The two drivers found themselves at the front of the field, with Donnie leading the way for the majority of the last 20 laps of the race.

On the final lap, the two cars made contact multiple times before crashing into the infield, ending both drivers’ chances at glory.

This allowed Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip and AJ Foyt to pass by and finish 1-2-3 in the event, the only three cars that finished on the lead lap.

As Petty was working his way to Victory Lane for the sixth time in the event, CBS broadcaster Ken Squier’s booming voice echoed through the microphone, proclaiming that there was a fight between Yarborough and the Allison brothers.

The three drivers, who all had a shot at victory but were harrowed in defeat, were involved in a bloody brawl in the grass, as helmets swung while the drivers had to be separated from each other.

Donnie and Yarborough finished fourth and fifth, while Bobby was credited with a seventh-place finish.

1983 Winston Western 500 at Riverside:

NASCAR Images

Allison entered the 1983 season at 45 years of age but was far from washed up. If anything, it looked like part of his second prime after he found struggles in the middle portion of his career.

He won five, five, four and five races between 1978 and 1981, finishing third or better in the standings three times as he still chased that elusive first NASCAR Cup Series title.

Allison was even stronger in 1982, winning eight races but it wasn’t enough as Darrell Waltrip was also in the midst of a career season. Waltrip captured 12 race victories and won the championship by 72 points over Allison, who sat with a comfortable 200+ points advantage over third-place Terry Labonte in the final standings.

The two drivers continued their dominance into 1983, as Allison’s chase of his first title resembled his tough chase of capturing a Daytona 500 victory.

Would this finally be the season he broke through?

Allison led the point standings for the majority of the season but could not pull away from Waltrip, as the two were locked in a heavyweight battle for the championship down to the final races of the season. Allison led Waltrip by 64 points as he looked to finally hoist the championship for the first time as they arrived for the season finale at Riverside.

Bill Elliott, who had yet to win a race in his Cup Series career, sat third in the standings, 425 points back of Allison, setting up a two-horse race for the title.

Waltrip won the pole for the race, while Allison qualified sixth. It seemed like Waltrip had the speed to win the race, as he led a race-high 34 laps. Allison hovered near the front of the field, pacing the other 41 cars for one lap, before settling for a ninth-place finish.

This was more than enough to clinch the title for the Hueytown native, as he won the championship by 47 points over Waltrip, who came home sixth.

1988 Daytona 500:

NASCAR Images

The story of the Allison family was full of immense amounts of triumph and success but also incredibly painful hardships through the years.

Looking back, it was only fitting that the 1988 Daytona 500 might have been the greatest moment for the family of them all.

The season kicked off with Davey and Bobby Allison finishing second and third in the Busch Clash exhibition race. Bobby won his Daytona 500 qualifying event, while Davey finished third in his after putting his No. 28 car on the outside of the front row in qualifying for the 500-mile event.

The green flag waved on Valentine’s Day for The Great American Race and there weren’t many people watching that didn’t love seeing Bobby and Davey, father and son, check out from the field and battle for the victory between themselves over the final 10 laps.

Bobby led the final 18 laps of the day, holding off his son in the process to capture his third Daytona 500 victory.

The race marked the 85th and final victory of Bobby’s Hall of Fame career.

Fast forward to the middle of the 1988 season, Bobby’s career came to a premature end following a serious crash at Pocono Raceway. The 1992 season saw his son Clifford pass away in a practice crash at Michigan International Speedway. Davey passed away in a plane crash not even 12 months later.

The pain from tragedy after tragedy will always outweigh the happy times but it was more than fitting that the last great memory that Bobby and Davey shared on the track together was them battling for the victory in the biggest stock car race in the world, more importantly, celebrating together in Victory Lane in iconic images and videos that will live on forever.

Posted on November 15, 2024 by Zack Albert

Asked to assess his 2024 NASCAR season with a letter grade, Chase Elliott paused before assigning himself “probably a B, B-plus.” This year’s campaign showed marked improvement for the former Cup Series champ and his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, and Elliott noted, “I’m trying to grade that really honestly.”

Elliott finished seventh in the Cup Series standings this season, wrapping the year up with an eighth-place result in last weekend’s finale at Phoenix Raceway. He fell one round short of reaching the Championship 4, which he qualified for each year from 2020-22, but the outcome — which included an encouraging closing kick — was far preferable to missing out on last year’s playoffs after a jagged 2023 campaign.

“It’s like anything when you’re trying to compete at this level,” Elliott said Saturday, one day before the season-ending race. “Nothing is ever perfect, I guess, in my eyes, but I am really proud of where we’ve come from and where we have been, particularly over the last few months of the season, and even more so over the last few weeks. I just feel like we have a really good direction, I feel like I have a good direction. I’m giving them better feedback in what I want and what I need, and I think all those things are really positive. So, yeah, I don’t know that you ever have it figured out, but I’m certainly, genuinely proud of where we’ve been and where we are right now.”

Elliott broke a 42-race winless skid in April with his victory at Texas Motor Speedway, cementing a return to the postseason after a one-year absence. He backed that up with a solid playoff effort, scoring seven top-10 finishes in that closing 10-race span and leading multiple laps in each of the final three events.

That performance marked a solid return after Elliott missed seven races in 2023 — six after suffering a broken leg in a snowboarding mishap and one more after a suspension for rough driving in the Coca-Cola 600. Despite receiving waivers to retain playoff eligibility, Elliott was unable to return to Victory Lane to clinch a spot in the 16-driver field. He returned in 2024 eager to fill both those voids.

“It’s always the same things. It’s hard work and effort and focus, and it’s tough when we came off of the year that we had in ’23,” No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson said during a media event Oct. 31. “You don’t want to beat a dead horse, right? I mean, like, how much are you going to whip? I’m not going to whip Chase or whip the guys or demand something unreasonable when the deck’s been pretty hard, pretty stacked against you, pretty difficult. So I think, 2023 … look, I would have loved to have won and got in. Could that have happened? Yes. It didn’t. I still think we gave a good effort. …

“But to generate that, what you kind of see from Chase, I think is pretty natural through the progression of performance and the work that we’ve put in together, and that generates optimism and then generates some positive energy and knowing that you’re prepared to go out there and compete at a super-high level and win races. So that’s what I think the difference is. It’s just a little easier or more fruitful to turn the screws or however you want to say it, when the build-up to it’s been much better.”

MORE: Photos: 2024 Cup Series winners

Elliott said he’s considering some extracurricular racing in the offseason, mentioning that a soon-approaching opportunity to race in the Snowball Derby Super Late Model event Dec. 8 is “a potential possibility there, but we just haven’t 100% decided.” But Elliott also said that he was looking forward to taking a break, even if completely detaching from the racing world was a long shot.

“The competitor in you is always wanting to think about what you could have done better or what different choice throughout the season could have bettered your results or whatever it may be,” Elliott said. “So yeah, I think naturally you’re going to think about racing, just because that’s what we do. But I certainly intend to just get away, take some time, recharge the batteries, just like everybody in the room here.”

Posted on November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 by Press Release

Austin, TX – November 14, 2024 – Legendary NASCAR driver and two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kyle Busch, today announced a partnership with FloSports that will put him on the clay in a Lucas Oil midget car for a historic debut at the 39th Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Powered by NOS Energy Drink streamed exclusively on FloRacing this January.

Kyle’s debut follows similar appearances at the USAC National Midget events at Bakersfield Speedway (November 26) and Ventura Raceway (November 30). The 39th annual Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink will run from January 13-18, 2025 at the famed SageNet Center.

Busch, who has conquered tracks across the NASCAR Cup Series and built a legacy as one of the most skilled drivers of his generation, will take on a field of more than 300 drivers to prove his mettle at the so-called ‘Super Bowl of midget racing’. His appearance follows a 30-year legacy of top-tier talent appearing at the race and follows in the footsteps of fellow NASCAR drivers who have competed including Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell.

“The Cup Season may be over, but the Racing season is still in full swing with the biggest events on dirt taking place over the next couple of months. The Chili Bowl is a legendary event and has always been on my wish-list. To be able to compete there, and then alongside my son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout, is making this year one to remember,” Busch commented.

As part of today’s announcement, Kyle also revealed that he will be driving alongside his son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout (December 31 – January 4).

All of these events will be streamed exclusively on FloRacing – making it the essential home to watch Kyle Busch get behind the wheel during the NASCAR offseason. FloRacing fans are encouraged to watch these races and more on the updated FloSports Connected TV app, which features enhanced discoverability and streaming capabilities, providing the ultimate viewing experience on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV devices.

The service will also be available on the web and for download on mobile devices (iOS and Android) via the FloSports app. To watch the Chili Bowl Nationals please visit flosports.link/chilibowl2025. For more information and to gain access to more than 1,000 races annually, subscribe to FloRacing by visiting www.floracing.com.

About FloSports

Founded in 2006, FloSports is a global independent sports media company delivering live events, award winning original content, always-on social experiences, and comprehensive sports data solutions to passionate and underserved sports communities interested in more than 25 different sports. Its portfolio includes the top destinations for avid fans seeking comprehensive live and on-demand access for the sports they love: motorsports (FloRacing), hockey (FloHockey), wrestling (FloWrestling), Jiu-Jitsu (FloGrappling), Track & Field (FloTrack and MileSplit), cheer (FloCheer and Varsity), a variety of NCAA sports, and more. Strategic partnerships with NASCAR, USA Wrestling, ECHL, Tour de France, top NCAA Conferences, and others, fuel more than 24,000 live events streamed annually across the globe and accessed via monthly or annual subscriptions. For more information, please visit: flosports.tv.

Posted on November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 by Ken Martin

Many great warriors have competed in motorsports, but none have responded with unmatched bravery through tragedy and heartbreak more than Bobby Allison.

Taking inventory of his losses is staggering. The NASCAR Hall of Famer suffered the sudden deaths of his two sons, Clifford (1992) and Davey (1993), in separate racing and aviation accidents. Then, the loss of fellow “Alabama Gang” member Neil Bonnett (1994) in a Daytona International Speedway practice crash. Later, the loss of the love of his life, Judy (2015), following what should have been a relatively simple medical procedure.

The rivalries of his Cup career were legendary and certainly sharpened his steel, including fender-banging duels and heated exchanges with other future Hall of Famers Curtis Turner, Richard Petty, Junior Johnson and Darrell Waltrip.

He backed down from no one.

Allison’s iron will and quest for perfection led to conflicts, resulting in him driving for more than 20 different Cup car owners. His legend grew all the while.

In 1974, Bobby suffered a broken back in a crash at Riverside during the Saturday race of the IROC Series. Yet there he was, back on track in a makeshift brace the following day — beating the biggest names in motorsports such as Foyt, Unser, Petty, Pearson, Yarborough and Formula 1 world champions Jody Scheckter and Emerson Fittipaldi.

His fight with Cale Yarborough alongside his brother Donnie in the 1979 Daytona 500 created an unforgettable memory, still considered one of the most significant events in NASCAR history.

Allison was the original barnstormer, racing anywhere, any day of the week. Local short tracks would promote his special appearances, where he shook hands, signed autographs and ran against the local heroes at hundreds of venues, building a nationwide following as one of the sport’s most popular drivers. He was famous for “buzzing” the tracks in his private plane upon arrival and departure, leaving fans to imagine where he was headed next.

On the track, he suffered wrecks that changed the course of NASCAR history. In 1987, his crash into the catch fencing at Talladega resulted in engine restrictor plates for Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway to slow down the cars. He suffered horrific crashes at Elko, Minnesota and Rockingham and hardly skipped a beat.

Following his father-son 1-2 finish with Davey in the 1988 Daytona 500, Bobby suffered a career-ending and nearly life-ending crash at Pocono in June, resulting in a severe head injury. Rebounding from that injury, Bobby focused on resuming his career as a car owner and supporting Clifford and Davey’s racing careers.

After retiring as a car owner, Bobby made numerous appearances at fan gatherings, festivals and special events. Sitting alongside his brother and fellow NASCAR Hall of Famers Donnie Allison and Red Farmer, they were always among the most famous legends in the autograph line and drew the longest lines.

Bobby endured several health issues in his final years, but he always had the support of his daughters, Bonnie and Carrie, and numerous lifelong friends who would stop by with a strawberry milkshake from Chick-fil-A.

Some competitors are judged by their numbers and he loses no shine there – Allison’s 85 career wins rank fourth on the all-time Cup Series win list. Others are judged by their contributions as innovators, and Bobby was one of the best at developing power steering and spotter radio communications. Some might be judged by fan appeal and popularity, and once again, Bobby’s legion of fans is legendary.

He did it all with grit, determination and bravery.

Bobby first came to my attention when I was 14 and attending the 1966 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville. Bobby and Fred Lorenzen competed in a classic battle. Bobby led for 218 laps in his little Chevelle, owned by Donald Brackins, while Lorenzen led for 172 laps in his factory-supported Holman Moody Ford. Late engine problems relegated Bobby to third, while Lorenzen went on to win.

From that day at Martinsville forward, I closely followed Bobby’s career. When I started on the media side of the sport 42 years ago, I never dreamed that I would know Bobby so well. I especially enjoyed visiting Bobby and Judy in their home, where Judy had gluten-free cookies waiting upon my arrival. The stories we shared will always be with me.

One of my most cherished accomplishments is my small role in NASCAR recognizing his 85th career win at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1971.

Through all his trials and tribulations, Bobby maintained his faith, cherished his family’s love and was supported by thousands of friends and fans.

Rest well, my friend, and enjoy your family reunion.

Ken Martin, director of historical content, has worked exclusively for NASCAR since 2008, but has been involved with the sport since 1982. He has worked in the broadcast booth for hundreds of races and calculated the “points as they run” for the historic 1992 finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Brandon White

The conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season did not play out the way Layne Riggs envisioned, but his journey to reach the Nov. 8 finale at Phoenix Raceway was more than rewarding.

While battling eventual series champion Ty Majeski for the lead, Riggs got loose underneath Nick Sanchez in Turn 1, causing him to spin in front of the field and make slight contact with the outside wall. Riggs did not let the setback deter him; he charged through the field during the closing laps to settle for a 10th-place finish.

In many ways, Phoenix served as the perfect encapsulation of Riggs’ first year with Front Row Motorsports. Adversity hindered Riggs at the beginning of the campaign, but he and his team persevered to earn a pair of victories and seven top fives, all of which helped Riggs obtain Rookie of the Year honors in the Truck Series.

Given Front Row’s efficiency in the back half of 2024, Riggs believes he could have contended for the championship had the team made the Playoffs. Despite this, Riggs is thrilled with his Rookie of the Year award and is looking forward to building on the late-season momentum.

“Winning Rookie of the Year was a great testament to my team and what we were able to accomplish at the end of the season,” Riggs said. “The beginning of the year was a rocky and tough start, but we fought through the growing pains and that brought us together as a strong team. At the end of the year, we really showed what we had.”

After his journey up the developmental ladder, Riggs is no stranger to adversity.

When he was competing in Late Model Stock Cars, Riggs’ small team had a limited number of resources at their disposal. The guidance of Riggs’ father, former NASCAR Cup Series driver Scott Riggs, was advantageous, but the family still had to fight for every position on track.

Riggs more than answered the call against the elites of the Late Model Stock discipline. He earned six victories in the CARS Tour’s Late Model Stock division before turning his attention to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, where he bested veteran Peyton Sellers for a national title in 2022.

Winning the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series championship in 2022 was a turning point in Layne Riggs’ career. (Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Riggs knew there was no guarantee his success would translate into a NASCAR ride. He had witnessed other great Late Model Stock competitors exhaust funding trying to build a career and was beginning to worry he would meet a similar fate.

Everything began to line up for Riggs during his national championship run. Halmar Friesen Racing providing Riggs his first Truck Series starts in 2022 set into motion the chain of events that resulted in his achieving the dream of a full-time NASCAR seat.

“The national championship was the first thing that turned everything around,” Riggs said. “I made my first Truck [Series] start during that season. With my name being pretty hot at the time, there were people who gave me the opportunity to make my first start. We finished seventh in my first start, and we had really strong performances afterwards in the part-time rides.

“This sport is all about timing, and I hit the timing just right.”

Riggs’ consistency across limited Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series appearances in 2023 caught the attention of Front Row. With Zane Smith set to move up to the NASCAR Cup Series, Front Row and Riggs worked out a deal that would see them contest the entire 2024 Truck Series season together.

Although Front Row had previously won a Truck Series title with Smith, Riggs did his best to temper his own expectations. The No. 38 Ford F-150 was comprised of almost an entirely new staff compared to the previous year, but Riggs still believed he and his team could win races together from the start.

The opener at Daytona International Speedway immediately humbled Riggs, as he lasted just 13 laps before a multi-truck crash ended his night. The following eight races were just as adverse for Riggs and Front Row; their only finish inside the top 10 came at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Struggles to begin the year provided Riggs insight into what it takes to run a successful Truck Series operation. He felt his truck had plenty of speed, but he admitted more time was needed for his team to develop proper cohesion.

A return to his short-track racing roots at North Wilkesboro Speedway culminated with Riggs earning a third-place run. That performance was a turning point on the 2024 season that saw Riggs and everyone at Front Row get consistently rewarded for their tireless efforts.

“Nothing really changed,” Riggs said. “It just took enough time for everyone to get comfortable. Everybody knew what their job was. My crew chief Dylan [Cappello] had to be a team leader in all aspects at the beginning of the season, but he wasn’t able to spend as much time on the important stuff as he wished he could have.

“Everybody finally hit their stride at the right time, and we all executed perfectly.”

Following a few more strong outings, perseverance finally paid off for Riggs at the Milwaukee Mile in August.

Riggs methodically climbed his way up from the 16^th starting position to place himself behind Majeski and Christian Eckes for the start of the final stage. Once he dispatched Eckes, Riggs applied tremendous pressure to Majeski before making the race-winning pass with 53 laps remaining.

Crossing the finish line was cathartic for Riggs, as it allowed him to reflect on his journey to that point. Other than unintentionally dislocating his shoulder during the post-race celebration, Riggs took pleasure in celebrating the moment with his crew and Scott.

“It was a weight off my shoulders, literally,” Riggs said. “You question yourself if you’re ever going to make it, but you have to keep working. I’m glad my dad was there, because he is the one who allowed me to race and kept me focused to work so hard in the race shop at home. It was really a moment of relief and satisfaction.”

Layne Riggs credits his father Scott Riggs for the guidance he provided to help him excel in Late Model Stocks and NASCAR. (Photo: HHP/Andrew Coppley)

After Riggs was eliminated from playoff contention at Richmond Raceway, his goal for the rest of 2024 remained simple: Keep winning races.

Riggs and Front Row built off their Milwaukee triumph with a stalwart performance at Bristol that saw them earn their second consecutive victory after leading a race-high 80 laps. Their average finish across the playoffs was 10th, a number that could have been better had bad luck not hindered them at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Performing so well across the back half of 2024 highlighted not only improved team chemistry for Riggs, but also how much he had grown behind the wheel. The numerous aspects that comprise a normal Truck Series event required Riggs to compartmentalize his mindset and exude patience throughout the day.

“I was trying to think bigger picture, even during a race,” Riggs said. “If your truck is not handling well in stage one, you can’t get flustered. You have to understand how long the race is. With stage racing, it’s multiple races into one. You can turn your whole day around on a dime. If you’re fifth, you can be one adjustment away from leading.

“[This year] has shaped me to be a more mature race-car driver.”

Now that he has won Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Layne Riggs is turning his attention toward a championship in 2025. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Now fresh off a Rookie of the Year Truck Series campaign, Riggs is raising his own expectations for 2025 and is confident he can contend for a championship.

The path to a Truck Series title will not be easy for Riggs regardless of momentum. Three members of the Championship 4, Majeski, Corey Heim and Grant Enfinger, are all expected to return full-time in 2025 alongside the usual group of veterans and young prospects.

Riggs does not the doubt the ability of himself and Front Row to be exceptional when the Playoffs come around, but he emphasized the importance of obtaining a regular-season win. If they can secure a Playoff spot early, Riggs thinks everything will be in place for him to bring a championship trophy back to Front Row’s shop.

“Inside the Playoffs, we ran strong at most of those race tracks,” Riggs said. “I know we have some new [tracks] this [upcoming] year, but the first goal is to keep doing what we’re doing; throw Hail Marys and go get a victory to lock ourselves into the Playoffs. At that point, you can start focusing on the Playoff races.

“The sooner we can get that win, the further we can look down the line.”

A short-but-productive offseason awaits Riggs and Front Row. When Daytona comes around, Riggs will be ready to continue his journey from the grassroots level into what he hopes will be a long, sustainable career in NASCAR’s top levels.

Posted on November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 by Track Release

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. (Nov. 14, 2024) – Work is well underway to get Bowman Gray Stadium ready for its next generation of racing, which begins next year with The Clash on Feb. 1-2, 2025, live on FOX. NASCAR, City of Winston-Salem, and Winston-Salem State University announced several initiatives today that are preparing the facility for a future that includes the return of NASCAR Cup Series racing to its historic quarter-mile oval for the first time since 1971.

MORE: First look at Bowman Gray preparations

Improvements include:

• A brand-new Musco lighting system that is custom designed to improve track lighting and visibility, reduce energy consumption, enhance the overall experience for drivers and fans, and provide the necessary illumination for nationally televised racing events, beginning with the 2025 NASCAR Clash on FOX. Funding for the lighting system will come from a pandemic recovery grant that was awarded to the City of Winston-Salem in 2022 as part of the North Carolina Motorsports Relief Fund.
• Installation of SAFER barrier, the innovative and life-saving steel and foam energy reduction system, and new catch fences featured at every NASCAR national series racetrack.

“Part of being good stewards of Bowman Gray Stadium includes preparing it to host compelling events that rightfully place it in the national spotlight,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer. “We are grateful to Musco for providing the premium event lighting product to illuminate this historic venue. The preparations in advance of The Clash will position this national treasure as a showcase of national and grassroots racing for the next generation and beyond.”

RELATED: Buy tickets | Gear up for The Clash

The Total Light Control — TLC for LED™ system from Musco features patented light control that prevents glare from affecting drivers, spectators, and television cameras. The new LED system features Musco’s Show-Light® Pro special effects technology that allows for the creation of customized light shows on the race track, with color-changing fixtures and light-to-music synchronization for a world-class entertainment experience.

“Bowman Gray is a fantastic venue with a storied history in both racing and football,” said Musco CEO Jeff Rogers. “We’re looking forward to working on this project with NASCAR. Lighting the Clash is exciting, but leaving a legacy LED lighting system for local racing and Winston-Salem State University football makes the project even more special.”

Musco lighting solutions provide the high light levels required for television broadcast, the uniformity and glare control specified by international racing organization safety standards, and an unforgettable race night experience for spectators – at the venue and broadcast on television or online. Installation will begin in December and will be completed in advance of The Clash in February.

“The City of Winston-Salem is thrilled that NASCAR has chosen to kick off their 2025 season by holding the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium,” said City of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. “We value the partnership with Musco, NASCAR, and WSSU to provide enhanced stadium lighting that will position the stadium and community to host future national events and improve the fan experience for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series at Bowman Gray Stadium and WSSU Football. This lighting system complements the $9 million that the City invested in improvements to Bowman Gray Stadium a few years ago. The City Council and I want to thank Musco for their investment in our historic stadium and their commitment to the Winston-Salem community.”

“This collaboration with NASCAR is a testament to their strong commitment to community engagement,” said Winston-Salem State University Chancellor Bonita Brown. “The installation of new lighting will enhance the experience for our student-athletes, fans and the broader community, making our stadium a brighter and more inviting place for everyone. We are thrilled about these improvements as well as the ongoing partnership we have with NASCAR that offers our students exposure to the motorsports industry.”

Crews began preparing Bowman Gray Stadium for SAFER barrier installation on Oct. 21 with the removal of the previous guardrail system. Installation of the new barriers and catch fencing is anticipated to be completed by the first week of January.

A scant number of tickets remain for the inaugural NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, Feb. 1-2. A full schedule of weekend activities will be released in the near future, but both days will include NASCAR Cup Series cars on track concluding with The Clash broadcast live on Feb. 2 (8 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Fans are encouraged to visit NASCARClash.com to secure their seats now while supplies last.

To learn more about the 2025 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series season with weekly modified, sportsman, street stock and stadium stock competition, visit bowmangrayracing.com.

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Adam Fenwick

The Baldwin family has a long history at New York’s Riverhead Raceway.

The family patriarch, Tom Baldwin, cut his teeth racing at the quarter-mile oval on Long Island. He won 11 weekly Modified events at the track in addition to two NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races before his passing in 2004.

Riverhead continues to hold a special place in the heart of Tommy Baldwin Jr., the elder of Baldwin’s sons who grew up to be a Daytona 500-winning crew chief and champion NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team owner.

That’s why when the green flag waves for Saturday’s Islip 300 at Riverhead, there will be not one, but two members of the Baldwin family in the field.

Jack and Luke Baldwin, Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s sons, will make their first starts in the Islip 300, held in honor of the now-defunct Islip Speedway. Both are excited to take on one of Riverhead’s marquee events for the first time aboard cars fielded by their father.

“Growing up all we heard were stories about our grandpa and the things he did and the tracks he won races at, and Riverhead was definitely one of them that came up the most,” Jack said. “I always look forward to going up there, and I actually probably went to Riverhead more than any other race track before I started racing when I was around 17 years old.”

The Baldwin brothers have quickly proven to be among the brightest rising stars in Modified racing. Luke captured the 2023 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing 602 Modified championship at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, and Jack won the same championship in 2024.

Luke Baldwin during the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia on Oct. 26, 2024. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)

Both have continued to excel up and down the East Coast this year, with Luke winning Modified events at South Boston and Dominion Speedways in Virginia while Jack honed his skills racing at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway.

The brothers got their first taste of Modified racing at Riverhead earlier this year when they competed in the Baldwin, Evans & Jarzombek 77, an event named in honor of their grandfather and fellow Modified racing greats Richie Evans and Charlie Jarzombek.

“That was a blast. Some of the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel of a race car,” Luke said. “We didn’t get the result we wanted. We got caught up in a little bit of a racing deal during a late-race restart, but we were racing for third to fifth the whole race. It’s just a tight little bullring. It’s physical, and it’s a lot of fun.

“I was hustling it for the full 77 laps. It was a ton of fun.”

The field for the Islip 300 is, as always, chock full of talent. Among the entries are reigning Riverhead Modified champion John Beatty Jr., Matt Hirschman, Austin Beers, Timmy Solomito, Craig Lutz and Jimmy Blewett.

All of them will be chasing the $12,000 top prize for winning the eighth running of the Islip 300, but both Baldwin brothers believe they’ll be among those in contention when the checkered flag waves Saturday.

“One of the main things that my brother and I take away and talk about every time we leave Riverhead is the amount of people, and I’m not saying I don’t know who they are, but the amount of people who come up to us on race days at Riverhead and tell us stories about how awesome our grandpa was and different things he did or the race he won or the wrecks he was in,” Jack said. “To be able to get the chance to continue that legacy that my grandpa built there and that so many people still talk about is a really cool opportunity.”

Jack Baldwin celebrates a 602 Modified victory during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway on Feb. 14, 2024. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

There is an added incentive to win the Islip 300. For the first time, Riverhead Raceway will present the Glenn Dixon Crew Chief of the Race Award to the race-winning crew chief.

The $500 award, which will be presented by Nick Rutigliano of Brigandi Brothers Automotive and Timmy Solomito of the Natural Design Co., pays tribute to the late Glenn Dixon, a veteran member of the Modified racing community who passed away May 1.

Prior to his passing, Dixon had been working with the Baldwin family and was helping guide the careers of Luke and Jack.

Winning the event and, thus, allowing their father to receive the special award named for Dixon would be icing on the cake. Should one of the brothers win, it would also be the first victory for their father following a battle with cancer.

“It would be super, super special for my dad to bring that award home,” Luke said. “We haven’t won the Islip 300 yet since it started at Riverhead. It would be really cool to bring one home in (Tommy Baldwin Jr.’s) car. It would be the first win in the 7NY since he’s been healthy. We’re still chasing that.

“It would be really cool to do in front of so many people that have seen my grandpa race and understand my family’s background. That would be the best place to do it.”

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Zack Albert

Michael McDowell made his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start in the next-to-last race of the season Nov. 3 at Martinsville Speedway. There was something special about start No. 501 as well, with McDowell’s seven-year run with Front Row Motorsports No. 34 team drawing to a close last weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

McDowell’s next stage starts this week as he joins Spire Motorsports to drive the team’s No. 71 Chevrolet in 2025. The adjustment — to a new organization, a new manufacturer — should take some getting used to, but McDowell noted an unintended consequence while signing autographs for fans last weekend at Phoenix. Adding “34” to his signature as he’s done for the last seven years will no longer be accurate.

“I thought about it like, man, it’s going to be a hard habit to break,” McDowell said Saturday, the day before the season finale. “I’m … just thankful, thankful for the opportunity I’ve had and what we’ve built and what we’ve done, and you know, there is a new chapter, and so I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful to still have a few years in front of me racing in the Cup Series, but it’s definitely going to be hard to walk away from the 34.”

McDowell’s FRM tenure produced both of his Cup Series wins — his breakthrough in the 2021 Daytona 500 and a convincing drive to victory in 2023 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Though his average finish this past season receded slightly to 21.3, his average starting spot (14.6) was a career-high — aided by the first six pole positions of his career, all in one calendar year.

With some aspects of the transition — autographs included — that will take some time to adapt to, McDowell will have the advantage of keeping his crew chief pairing intact. Travis Peterson, atop the No. 34 pit box the last two seasons, will also make the shift to Spire’s No. 71 operation in a move that should smooth their relocation in the Cup Series garage.

“I think it was huge for both of us,” Peterson told NASCAR.com on race-day Sunday morning. “The way the sport is right now, teams clicking and the little details of understanding each other and doing that kind of stuff is more valuable than it’s ever been. So being able to go somewhere new but have a lot of familiarity with some of the guys on the team coming with us, and me and Michael staying together is going to help us not have so many growing pains, because we already have that understanding of each other, the way we communicate, the things that he likes in the race car, and how to accomplish that. So it’s going to help us a ton, even though it’s a new manufacturer and a new team and all that, it won’t be as bad because we have a lot of the foundation.”

Their groundwork will add to a burgeoning organization in Spire, which has grown since its humble start as a single-car outfit in 2019. Spire expanded its Cup Series operations from two cars to three full-time entries last season, and its Craftsman Truck Series effort that began in 2022 is now a three-truck fleet after its acquisition of Kyle Busch Motorsports in September 2023. That move gave Spire a new headquarters in Mooresville, N.C., in KBM’s former 77,000-square-foot shop.

MORE: 2025 Cup Series schedule

The sustained growth was a prime selling point for McDowell, who announced his move in May. Peterson’s deal with Spire was revealed three months later, not long after championship-winning crew chief Rodney Childers signed a multiyear agreement with Spire in July.

“I’m super-excited because we have a lot of great people and great hires that we’ve made and more to come,” McDowell said. “Momentum is good, and you know you’ve seen Spire really progress these last six months in a good direction, so timing is good. I think the timing is right, and I feel good about the decision I’ve made and where it’s going and what it’ll look like, and so I’m very excited. I’m ready to get to work, but that starts on Monday.”

Welcomed in the new guys.
@RodneyChilders4 | @TRAVIS_P3TERSON pic.twitter.com/Zw4jTKMVgs

— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) November 14, 2024

McDowell will add a veteran presence to a Spire roster with two young teammates lined up for next season. Carson Hocevar will return to the No. 77 Chevrolet after driving to Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, and Justin Haley will be back in the No. 7 Chevy after Spire traded for him in September with seven races left in the season.

That direction combined with focused growth, Peterson said, made Spire an attractive next option for both driver and crew chief.

“I mean, I think that’s everything that we liked about it when we were looking around for what our next move would be, and their vision and the things they’re doing and the people they’re investing in is very exciting,” Peterson said. “That was a huge part of why we’re choosing to go there is to be part of that next step for them. And they’ve done a good job, even through this season of showing a lot more speed and performance, so all of that is super encouraging. And I’m pumped, because it’s a good group, and they’re doing all the right things in terms of what they’re trying to create. Again, like we kind of talked about in our sport right now, that stuff is so much more valuable than it’s ever been, too, because it’s not just ‘somebody’s got better race cars,’ it’s how you put the people together to make it happen.”