Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway: Entry list, live stream, more for prestigious short track event in 2024

Posted on December 2, 2024December 4, 2024 by Brandon White

When every short track season begins in the United States, the one event most competitors prioritize takes place at the end of the year: the prestigious Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

More than 50 years of history to lean on, this race is widely considered one of the most important short-track events in the United States. With a week of anticipation that begins on Tuesday evening, the pre-race atmosphere for the Snowball Derby comes close to rivaling those of other notable racing events in the country.

Among the reasons the Snowball Derby is so prestigious are those who have made the trip to Five Flags in December. Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and David Pearson are among the NASCAR legends to make at least one Snowball Derby start during their careers, with Waltrip being the only one of that group to earn a win.

Whenever the top names of NASCAR venture to Five Flags, they always face stiff competition from seasoned short track competitors. Rich Bickle holds more victories than any other driver in race history with five, while other multi-time winners included Bobby Gill, Augie Grill and 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ty Majeski.

The group of drivers hoping to participate in the 300-lap Super Late Model feature include short track legends and a handful of names from NASCAR’s top levels. They’ll share Five Flags Speedway with drivers looking to make their own mark on Snowball Derby history with a victory in one of several support features.

Tickets to the 57^th annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway can be purchased here. Below is everything you need to know before drivers chase the Tom Dawson Trophy along with a race-winning purse of $50,000.

(Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR Regional)

Snowball Derby TV channel, live stream

The 2024 Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway will be shown exclusively on FloRacing, the official streaming home of all NASCAR Regional properties.

The race will not broadcast on a traditional TV channel/network.

FloRacing is covering nearly every aspect of the Snowball Derby starting with the Kickoff Show on Tuesday evening. Following this will be five straight days of on-track coverage that includes every practice leading up to the 300-lap Super Late Model main event on Sunday.

Below is the complete broadcast schedule.

Date	Event	Start time	How to watch
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024	Kickoff Show	8 p.m. ET	FloRacing
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024	Day One	10 a.m. ET	FloRacing
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024	Day Two	10:45 a.m. ET	FloRacing
Friday, Dec. 6, 2024	Day Three	10:45 a.m. ET	FloRacing
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024	Day Four	10:45 a.m. ET	FloRacing
Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024	Day Five	12 p.m. ET	FloRacing

Event schedule

On-track activity for this year’s Snowball Derby encompasses five days from Dec. 4-8.

Qualifying carries nearly the same amount of hype and notoriety as the main event, as the top 30 in time trials lock into Sunday’s 300-lap race. Those who do not time in are relegated to a heat race on Sunday afternoon, where only the top four finishers transfer into the main event.

Accompanying the Super Late Models will be seven different support divisions. The most notable of these is the prestigious Allen Turner Snowflake 100 for Pro Late Models, which takes place Saturday night before the Snowball Derby at 7 p.m. ET.

Like the Snowball Derby, the top 30 from Snowflake 100 qualifying and the top four from the accompanying heat race earn a starting position in the event.

Pro Trucks, Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Crown Stocks, Modifieds of Mayhem and Outlaws round out the stacked docket with features of their own on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Below is the complete schedule of events for the 2024 Snowball Derby.

(All times CT)

Wednesday, Dec. 4

Time	Event
9 a.m.	Hauler Parking
11 a.m.	Tech Opens For Late Models
Noon	Snowball Practice & Qualifying Tire Draw
1:30 p.m.	Snowflake Practice & Qualifying Tire Draw
6 p.m.	Snowball/Snowflake Qualifying Draw

Thursday, Dec. 5

Time	Event
8 a.m.	Pits Open
8:30 a.m.	Track Services Meeting
9 a.m.	Driver’s Meeting
10 a.m.-4 p.m.	Late Model Rotating Practice (1 hour sessions)
4 p.m.	Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock Practice
6:45 p.m.	Pro Truck, Sportsman, Pure Stock Qualifying
7:45 p.m.	Pre-Race Festivities
8 p.m.	Pro Truck 50
To follow…	Sportsman 50
To follow…	Pure Stock 35

Friday, Dec. 6

Time	Event
8 a.m.	Pits Open
9 a.m.	Late Model Drivers Meeting
10-10:45 a.m.	Snowball Derby Practice
10:45-11:30 a.m.	Snowflake Practice
11:30 a.m.	Modified Drivers Meeting
Noon-1 p.m.	Modified Practice
1 p.m.	Snowball Derby Practice
2 p.m.	Snowflake Practice
3 p.m.	Modified Qualifying/Snowball Derby Pre-Qualifying Tech Opens
5 p.m.	Crown Stocks Drivers Meeting
6 p.m.	Snowball Derby Qualifying (Lock Top 30)
7:45 p.m.	Pre-Race Festivities
8 p.m.	Crown Stock Practice/Qualifying
8:15 p.m.	Modifieds of Mayhem 75
To follow…	Crown Stock 25

Saturday, Dec. 7

Time	Event
8 a.m.	Pits Open
9 a.m.	Late Model Drivers Meeting
9:30 a.m.	Snowball Race Tire Drawing
10-11 a.m.	Snowflake Practice
11-11:45 a.m.	Outlaw Practice
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.	Snowball Derby Final Practice
1:30 p.m.	Outlaw Qualifying
3 p.m.	Snowflake 100 Qualifying (Lock Top 30)
To follow…	Snowflake 100 Last Chance Race (50 Laps, Transfer 4)
To follow…	Snowball Derby Last Chance Race (50 Laps, Transfer 4)
To follow…	Outlaw B-Main (if necessary)
7 p.m.	Allen Turner Snowflake 100
To follow…	Outlaw 50

Sunday, Dec. 8

Time	Event
8 a.m.	Pits Open
9 a.m.	All Haulers Must Be Out of Infield/Snowball Derby Drivers Meeting
9:30 a.m.	Pre-Race Tech Inspection Opens
11:30 a.m.	All Cars Must Be Through Tech/Engine Warm-Ups/Cars To Grid
Noon	2024 Snowball Derby Class Photo
To follow…	Pre-Race Festivities Begin
To follow…	Driver Introductions
1 p.m.	57th Annual Snowball Derby (300 Laps)

Stephen Nasse is among the many notable Super Late Model veterans who have yet to win a Snowball Derby. (Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR Regional)

Entry list

The current Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 entry lists include 45 Super Late Models and 47 Pro Late Models, respectively.

Headlining the group of NASCAR-affiliated drivers heading to Five Flags Speedway is full-time Cup Series competitor Noah Gragson. Gragson, who is driving the No. 30 for Rette Jones Racing, won the Snowball Derby back in 2018, which he accomplished after passing Harrison Burton with six laps remaining.

Ty Majeski returns to defend his Snowball Derby crown only a few weeks after securing his maiden NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. Should Majeski win on Sunday, he will become only the second driver who has more than two Snowball Derby victories, joining only Rich Bickle in that category.

Many eyes will be on Super Late Model legend Bubba Pollard as he looks to finally earn his first Snowball Derby checkered flag. Pollard has won nearly every Super Late Model crown jewel during his storied career, but the prestigious Tom Dawson Trophy has eluded him during each of his previous 18 Snowball Derby attempts.

Pollard is one of several drivers competing in both the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100 at Five Flags Speedway. Among those joining Pollard in the 100-lap Pro Late Model feature is Stephen Nasse, another short track stalwart who has also never prevailed in the Snowball Derby through 13 tries.

William Sawalich, the defending ARCA Menards Series East champion, is also on the Snowball Derby entry list as part of four-car effort for Rackley W.A.R. that encompasses Super Late Models and Pro Late Models. Dawson Sutton will serve as one of Sawalich’s teammates before embarking on a full Truck Series campaign with Rackley W.A.R. in 2025.

2023 NASCAR Canada Series champion Treyten Lapcevich will look to parlay his South Carolina 400 victory into a strong performance at the Snowball Derby. He will be joined in the field by his brother Cayden, another past Canada Series champion who now works as a crew chief for Venturini Motorsports.

Other notable names competing at Five Flags Speedway during Snowball Derby weekend include previous Snowball Derby winners Derek Thorn, Chandler Smith and Travis Braden as well as Brent Crews, Jake Finch, Kaden Honeycutt, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Jake Garcia and David Gilliland.

Below are the complete entry lists for the Snowball Derby and Snowflake 100.

Snowball Derby

Car No.	Driver
07	Derek Thorn
08	Jace Hensen
1	Kasey Kleyn
2	John Bolen
2	Chandler Smith
4	Luke Fenhaus
v5	Vito Cancilla
8	Carson Kvapil
8	Sammy Smith
9	Derek Kraus
14	Connor Okrzesik
21	Kaden Honeycutt
22	Gio Ruggiero
22	Buddy Shepherd
23	Billy VanMeter
24	Brent Crews
25	Nicholas Naugle
26	Bubba Pollard
26	Dawson Sutton
28	Cole Butcher
28W	Timothy Watson
30	Noah Gragson
30	Kyle Steckly
32	Caden Kvapil
32	Treyten Lapcevich
33	Dustin Smith
35	Jake Garcia
43	Nick Loden
44	Jeremy Doss
44	Conner Jones
51	Jake Finch
51	Stephen Nasse
54	Matt Craig
54	Conner Sutton
55	Haedon Plybon
62	William Sawalich
69	Michael Hinde
76	Cayden Lapcevich
76	Kole Raz
82	Michael Scott
89	Dylan Fetcho
91	Ty Majeski
98	David Gilliland
121	Joseph Meyer
123	Ed VanMeter

Snowflake 100

Car No.	Driver
00	Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
2	John Bolen
3	Chris Munson
4	Elliott Massey
v5	Vito Cancilla
5	Jeremy Miller
5	Ryan Phipps
6	Brandon Lopez
7NY	Luke Baldwin
11	Dylan Cappello
11	Will Mack
11	James Patrick
14	Chase Pinsonneault
15	T.J. DeCaire
16	Derek Thorn
17	Hudson Bulger
18	Jake Finch
22	Dylan Courtney
25	Mike Faulk
25	Sylas Ripley
26	Bubba Pollard
29	Spencer Davis
33	Dustin Smith
40	Dylan Caldwell
43	Augie Grill
43	Nick Loden
44	Conner Jones
45	Seth Christensen
46	Cole Williams
47	Kaden Honeycutt
47	Mamba Smith
50	Jett Noland
51	Anthony Bello
51	Stephen Nasse
54	Jarrett Butcher
54	Matt Craig
55	George Phillips
62	Casey Roderick
67	Colin Allman
67K	Zack Dixon
69	Michael Hinde
69	Travis Braden
81	Carson Brown
82	Grant Thompson
89	Jeremy Williams
91	Jim Wall
407	Jason Vail

Ty Majeski earned his second Snowball Derby victory last year at Five Flags Speedway. (Photo: Susan Wong/NASCAR Regional)

Snowball Derby winners

Wayne Niedecken kicked off the proud tradition of the Snowball Derby by winning the inaugural running at Five Flags Speedway in 1968.

Many have tried to conquer Five Flags’ most prestigious event over the following five decades, but only a handful have succeeded. Rich Bickle proved to be the most efficient competitor in Snowball Derby history with his five triumphs, all of which occurred during the 1990s.

The Snowball Derby has rewarded both youth and experience during its existence. Kyle Busch, Jody Ridley, Jeff Purvis, Butch Miller, Gary St. Amant and Derek Thorn are among the seasoned veterans that have won a Snowball Derby, while Chase Elliott made history as the youngest winner at 16 years old back in 2011.

The event has also been won by a pair of female competitors. Tammy Jo Kirk became the first female Snowball Derby winner in 1994 and Johanna Long joined her in the exclusive club in 2010.

An even mix of veterans and young prospects are descending upon Five Flags this weekend with the goal of joining the prestigious group of competitors with a Snowball Derby triumph on their resume.

Below is the complete list of Snowball Derby winners.

Year	Winner
1968	Wayne Neidecken
1969	Friday Hassler
1970	Wayne Neidecken
1971	Dickie Davis
1972	Ed Howe
1973	Dickie Davis
1974	Pete Hamilton
1975	Donnie Allison
1976	Darrell Waltrip
1977	Ronnie Sanders
1978	Dave Mader, III
1979	Freddy Fryar
1980	Gary Balough
1981	Freddy Fryer
1982	Gene Morgan
1983	Mickey Gibbs
1984	Butch Lindley
1985	Jody Ridley
1986	Gary Balough
1987	Butch Miller
1988	Ted Musgrave
1989	Rick Crawford
1990	Rich Bickle
1991	Rich Bickle
1992	Gary St. Amant
1993	Bobby Gill
1994	Tammy Jo Kirk
1995	Jeff Purvis
1996	Rich Bickle
1997	Bobby Gill
1998	Rich Bickle
1999	Rich Bickle
2000	Gary St. Amant
2001	Wayne Anderson
2002	Ricky Turner
2003	Charlie Bradberry
2004	Steve Wallace
2005	Eddie Mercer
2006	Clay Rogers
2007	Augie Grill
2008	Augie Grill
2009	Kyle Busch
2010	Johanna Long
2011	Chase Elliott
2012	Erik Jones
2013	Erik Jones
2014	John Hunter Nemechek
2015	Chase Elliott
2016	Christian Eckes
2017	Kyle Busch
2018	Noah Gragson
2019	Travis Braden
2020	Ty Majeski
2021	Chandler Smith
2022	Derek Thorn
2023	Ty Majeski

Posted on December 2, 2024December 4, 2024 by Staff Report

Tyler Allen will crew chief the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing team with driver Ty Gibbs in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2025, JGR announced Monday.

Allen advances to the Cup Series after a fruitful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, collecting eight wins as crew chief for JGR’s No. 20 program before a late-season swap to the No. 19 team.

A native of Bellevue, Washington, Allen replaces Chris Gayle on the pit box for Ty Gibbs. Gayle had worked with Gibbs since 2021 dating back to Xfinity competition, but Gayle will move to the No. 11 team with driver Denny Hamlin for the 2025 campaign.

MORE: Gabehart to serve as JGR’s competition director | Hamlin ‘shocked’ Gabehart won’t be back

While he has yet to serve as crew chief in the Cup Series, Allen’s resume is stacked with experience at NASCAR’s top level, serving as a race engineer for crew chief Adam Stevens for seven seasons. Together, they won the Cup Series championship in 2019 with Kyle Busch and totaled five Championship 4 appearances — three with Busch and two with Christopher Bell.

“Only being a year removed, I still remember what it was like to be working on the Cup cars and the schedule and all of the details that are important,” Allen said Monday in an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “So it’s really just about getting settled in, getting people in place and trying to hit the ground running. I think Ty’s really excited. I’m really excited to work with him.”

In a team release, Allen also said: “This opportunity has been a dream of mine since starting here at JGR 10 years ago, and I’m thankful for the support and guidance I’ve received from my mentors, teammates, and everyone along the way. Ty has shown a lot of speed and potential the last two years, and I look forward to building on that experience to get the 54 car in Victory Lane.”

Gibbs and Allen worked together once during the 2024 Xfinity season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, winning the pole for the BetMGM 300 and leading 27 laps for a ninth-place finish.

“It’s a relatively fresh start, and I think that’s kind of what he was looking for and I’m certainly excited about it,” Allen told SiriusXM. “This is work. We met (Monday) and talked about a bunch of things, but these are our careers and it’s definitely a professional relationship. And I think over time, that will grow into a more personal and good friendship overall. But we’re here to go work. We’re here to win races, and I think we’re both on the same page with that.”

The 2025 season will mark Gibbs’ third at the Cup level. While still searching for his first career win, Gibbs doubled his top-five total between his rookie and sophomore seasons, leaping from four in 2023 to eight in 2024 in addition to collecting his first two career Busch Light Pole Awards. The 22-year-old qualified for the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time in 2024, finishing 15th in the final season standings with a 17.4 average finish and 417 laps led.

“We take a lot of pride in our Xfinity Series program and the depth of talent that we have been able to maintain,” team owner Joe Gibbs said in a release. “Tyler Allen was successful at the Cup level with us while working under Adam Stevens and was impressive last season in the Xfinity Series leading that 20 team to eight wins while working with a number of different drivers. We have an exciting young and talented team on the 54 car.”

Allen’s promotion to the Cup Series left a vacancy in the Xfinity Series for JGR’s crew-chief rotation. In Allen’s place, Jason Ratcliff returns to the pit box and will lead the No. 54 Xfinity team with rookie driver Taylor Gray behind the wheel. Ratcliff has 72 combined victories between the Cup and Xfinity series in addition to the 2009 Xfinity championship.

“I’m thrilled to join Taylor and the 54 team for the 2025 season,” Ratcliff said in a release. “After a year away from the track, I’m eager to return to the pit box every weekend. Taylor has the talent and determination to excel in NASCAR, and it’s our mission to help him achieve that success.”

Ratcliff has crew-chiefed 253 Cup races and 548 Xfinity events, earning 15 Cup wins and 57 Xfinity victories.

“It is also exciting to have Jason Ratcliff back on the pit box in the Xfinity Series to work with Taylor Gray next season,” Joe Gibbs said. “He has contributed so much to our organization over his career.”

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Staff Report

Tricon Garage announced Monday that it has signed Gio Ruggiero to pilot the No. 17 Toyota for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

The Toyota Racing Development prospect takes over for Taylor Gray, who drove for Tricon in 2023-2024 and will move to the Xfinity Series in 2025 with Joe Gibbs Racing.

It will mark the rookie season for the 18-year-old wheelman who spent time in the ARCA Menards Series before landing the gig with Tricon.

“I am super thankful to have the opportunity to run full-time with Tricon in 2025,” Ruggiero said in a statement. “I look forward to getting to work with all of the guys on the 17 team and contending for wins this season.”

Ruggiero collected seven top fives and nine top 10s in 10 starts in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024 and earned a victory in the ARCA Menards East Series at Five Flags Speedway. He also owns a decorated short-track resume that is highlighted by a Winchester 400 trophy.

“Gio has shown a lot of promise in his young career, and we are super excited to welcome him into our program,” said Tricon partner David Gilliland. “Jumping into the Truck Series is no small feat, but Gio has proven that he adapts quickly, and we have no doubt that he will have a successful rookie season with us as he takes over the 17 truck.”

Ruggiero’s signing fills out the Tricon lineup for 2025, which includes Corey Heim, Tanner Gray and Toni Breidinger.

MORE: Breidinger to run full-time for Tricon in 2025

Posted on December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2024) – NASCAR announced Monday that Craig Stimmel has been hired to lead all sales efforts for the sanctioning body as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Stimmel will oversee all sales aspects for NASCAR, including premier partner and official partner categories, race entitlements, track partnerships and media sales across owned channels such as Motor Racing Network (MRN) and NASCAR Digital Media. He will also work closely with NASCAR’s media partners, teams, and non-NASCAR tracks to cultivate commercial opportunities across the entire NASCAR ecosystem.

NASCAR

Stimmel comes to NASCAR with a wealth of experience from the property, media and consumer side of the business, having led global sales & partnerships for the WWE and a similar role at Snapchat. Before that, he also held a leadership role on the brand marketing side at Procter & Gamble. Most recently, Stimmel was Senior Vice President of Commercial for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

“Craig’s proven track record of driving results and building billion-dollar brands in a multi-faceted environment like ours was one of several reasons why we felt he was an excellent fit for this role,” said Brian Herbst, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Media and Revenue Officer. “NASCAR has the most brand-loyal fans and many of the most recognized sponsorships in professional sports, and Craig brings all the acumen to build upon our roster of tremendous partners and continue to deepen the engagement with our fans.”

“In recent years, NASCAR has taken some impressive and successful steps to grow the sport, authentically tell the brand story and build momentum for the future,” said Stimmel. “When you combine those factors with all the ways small and large brands alike can engage fans, new customers or new partners, it makes this opportunity extremely desirable, and I’m eager to continue building on the foundation already in place.”

Stimmel, who officially begins the new role Monday, will be based in NASCAR’s New York office and will manage employees across more than 20 office and race-track locations across the country. He will report to EVP, Chief Media & Revenue Officer Brian Herbst.

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Zack Albert

The NASCAR Cup Series’ return to the race track sits exactly two months away, when the season-opening Clash exhibition marks the unofficial kickoff of the 2025 campaign. For RFK Racing team co-owner Brad Keselowski, that in-between time won’t go idly by, not in what he’s characterized as a “really busy offseason.”

The dawn of the new season will mark the next phase in Keselowski’s vision for the Jack Roush-founded organization, which will grow from two Cup Series teams to three with the addition of driver Ryan Preece and a family of sponsors with Kroger. The 34-year-old joins a driver roster that includes Keselowski and Chris Buescher, both of whom won Cup events last season — the organization’s third under the RFK banner.

Keselowski, 40, noted how the team caught stride after a first-year stumble with the Next Gen car, putting both of its teams into the 16-driver playoff field in 2023. Last year, Keselowski snapped a 110-race drought with his victory at Darlington Raceway to mark his first win as a driver-owner, but all while having visions of what RFK’s evolution should resemble. That, he said, meant expansion.

“From there, it was kind of like we recognized that’s the next step,” Keselowski said Nov. 22, in the hours before the annual NASCAR Awards. “If you look at the way NASCAR’s set up right now, you need to have three teams. I think that’s why you see the Trackhouses and the 23XIs and all those guys are pushing to be three teams, even Front Row. So there’s strength in numbers with just the way the sport’s laid out, and how you can kind of amortize the overhead and capture the most data. So it’s important for us to be not just financially viable, but competitively viable to have three teams and maximize the opportunities on any given weekend. So, it’s a natural next step for us to get us to where we can ramp up our performance.”

Enter Preece, who has roots as a Connecticut Modified ace and spent the last two seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing on the Cup Series side. He’ll take over the No. 60 Ford, starting a new chapter with a car number that Keselowski says holds a special place in the Roush team’s heritage.

Preece has two victories in each the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series but has been a bit of a journeyman in his five-plus Cup Series seasons. Keselowski said he’d started discussions with Preece back in the spring and sees plenty of potential in his next phase.

“Talent, underrated, hard-working — you know, everything you could dream of, of a coachable player,” Keselowski said. “I think the ball is in our court to give him the right opportunity and equipment, and surround him with the right people to succeed next year.”

Keselowski said he was working diligently to firm up the No. 60 team’s crew chief for next season, but one personnel puzzle piece is already set. RFK announced Nov. 21 that Jeremy Bullins will replace Matt McCall atop the No. 6 Ford’s pit box, marking a rekindling of their driver-crew chief pairing. The two worked together at Team Penske from 2020-21, reaching the Championship 4 in their first campaign, and Keselowski said there was “joint interest” in reconnecting.

“Yeah, years have passed, but there’s still a friendship that never goes,” Keselowski said of his renewed partnership with Bullins. “I’m confident we’ll be able to learn from the years we had apart and apply lessons bilaterally.”

Until this past May at Darlington, Keselowski’s most recent Cup Series win had been a Bullins-led effort. His resurgent run to victory at one of NASCAR’s most demanding tracks was a special one, celebrated with his wife and daughters, who helped push the car from Victory Lane after the confetti had flown.

CLASSICS REWIND: 2024 Goodyear 400 from Darlington

The triumph was Keselowski’s first in more than three years and the first for car No. 6 in nearly 13 seasons, but the sentiments ran high with his loved ones close by to share in the joy.

“When I won Darlington with my family there, I mean, that was just … it still gives me chills thinking about it,” Keselowski said. “Once you become a father, one of the things that nobody can really tell you — or at least they didn’t tell me or I wasn’t listening — is the impact of your success and being able to see it through the eyes of your own children and to know that it commands some level of respect and validation from them for years to come and hopefully through their whole entire life. As a father, you want your kids to think you’re a badass, and to see that actually happen is pretty cool.”

RFK Racing has tallied six Cup Series victories over the last three seasons since its re-launch. Pressed for measurable goals in the organization’s next stage, Keselowski says “we want to be able to do that in one season. That’d be a good mark for us.” Placing each of the team’s cars in the Cup Series Playoffs field is another aspiration, one fueled by the aim of being contenders on a weekly basis.

Building RFK’s strength through increased numbers and resources is Keselowski’s goal.

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying in this sport, and we’re growing,” Keselowski said. “We’re adding people, adding teams, making key investments. It’s an exciting time for me. You know, ’23 versus ’24 looks really similar, but I’m keen to say that ’25 should be a step up for us.”

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Zach Sturniolo

On the track, Noah Gragson has no friends.

Few are as aggressive as Gragson, the newest addition to Front Row Motorsports who just completed his first full NASCAR Cup Series season in Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 10 Ford.

Off the track is a different story though. Once the helmets are off, the smoke settled and the rage of driving 200 mph in 120-degree-plus conditions quelled, Gragson and a fraternity of fellow drivers can commiserate and decompress with the accompaniment of a few adult beverages.

“Yeah, you nailed it right there,” Gragson said.

MORE: 2025 Cup schedule | Silly Season moves for ’25

A new wave of drivers is finding its footing at NASCAR’s highest levels, a group that includes Gragson, Riley Herbst, Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland and Harrison Burton among others. All are in the midst of their 20s, fighting for successful careers as stock-car racers. The intensity on the track is heightened with every lap logged, each door slammed and each flag waved. But there has to be a compromise once the checkered flag is unfurled.

“They say bring your friends to the racetrack,” Gragson said ahead of the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. “But this is a grueling, grueling schedule and you’re pissed off by everyone else 38 weeks of the year. And you have to be around them 38 weeks a year. … So we can find that balance and race hard. We put each other in bad positions sometimes, and it doesn’t work out. But I feel like we all do a pretty good job at being able to find that balance and separation between, hey, when we’re inside the track, we’re here to compete against each other when we put the helmets on. But when we walk outside the gates, we got each other’s back at the end of the day.”

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

The collection of competitors — including Gragson, Smith, Herbst, Gilliland, Burton, and 2025 Xfinity Series full-timers Christian Eckes and Sheldon Creed — shared a rental house together in Arizona after the 2024 campaign drew to a close, all in an effort to unwind.

“It’s hard to have friends in this industry,” Smith said. “But fortunately, we do have a friend group that has a similar mindset of, hey, let’s leave everything on the track, and that’s work. Be mad at each other on the track, but put it behind you and move forward come the next week. We’re adults. We can hash it out or whatnot. But it’s definitely fun to have a few beers and hang out after races with a group of friends.”

With his rookie year in the Cup Series complete, Smith added at Phoenix just how important his friend group has become. The 25-year-old piloted the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in 2024 through an agreement with Trackhouse Racing that was announced as a multiyear contract. Trackhouse, however, announced in late August that Smith would not return to the program in 2025, leaving Smith searching for options in the year ahead. All the while, he’s had plenty of support from those around him.

“Time and time again, it’s the same group that’s behind me, and I won’t ever forget that,” said Smith, the 2022 Truck Series champion. “I hope I get to experience the easy days, because I always remember those ones that hung out with me during those [difficult] times. Super fortunate for those ones, and they know who they are. But we’ll continue to move forward, and we’ll be all right.”

The tight-knit bond between these racers should not be confused for any on-track favors, though. Burton, who became the first of the group to score a NASCAR Cup Series win back in August at Daytona, said he’s seen some sentiment that racers who are friends “don’t race as hard as they used to.”

“No chance,” he said ahead of the NASCAR Awards in Charlotte. “I can promise you, we race each other harder. I can think off the top of my head the amount of times me and Todd Gilliland have ran into each other, me and Noah having our fight or racing really hard.”

Indeed, Burton had no problem exchanging both words and punches with Gragson after a 2020 Xfinity race at Kentucky Speedway after contact put Burton in the wall.

“We’ve all had our moments where we don’t like each other,” said Burton, who returns to Xfinity competition in 2025. “Like me and Noah fought each other and now are friends, right? And we were friends before that and are friends after that. And I think it just shows there’s a fraternity there, and we all came up through the same roots together, race each other and then just get along good. We’re all just friends, right? But then when the helmet turns on, we race each other really, really, really hard, and obviously to the point where we’ll fight each other as well.”

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Next season, Gragson and Gilliland will reunite as teammates at Front Row Motorsports. The two previously raced together in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2018, but their connection dates back even further, competing in what’s now known as the ARCA Menards Series East with plenty of fierce battles both there and in late models.

“It’s been really cool to see Todd’s evolution as a driver and his craft as a driver. It’s great to see,” Gragson said. “All of us drivers, we’re all competing against each other, but at the end of the day, we want what’s best for each other. We don’t want to see anybody else fail. We want to beat each other, but we don’t want to see somebody fail. And I think Todd’s done an unbelievable job throughout his career and building his brand and the driver that he’s become. So I think we can work together really well next year. We’re good buddies, which helps. We know each other. We’ve been teammates before. I think it’ll be a very easy transition.”

Posted on November 26, 2024November 26, 2024 by Staff Report

Tricon Garage announced Tuesday that Toni Breidinger will pilot the No. 5 Toyota full-time for the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season.

It will mark the rookie season for the 25-year-old driver in the Truck Series, who has made select starts with Tricon over the last two years with a best finish of 15th in 2023 at Kansas Speedway.

“Racing full-time with Tricon is a dream for me,” Breidinger said in a statement. “It’s been a 15-year process to get here, but I’m so excited for this moment and ready to capitalize on it.”

Breidinger also made 65 starts in the ARCA Menards Series, scoring four top fives in 2023 and finishing fourth in the 2024 standings after tallying 11 top-10 results.

Breidinger will have backing from partners Raising Cane’s, Celsius and Sunoco.

In the Drive for Diversity Awards ceremony for 2021, Breidinger was recognized with the Developmental Series Driver Award as the first Arab-American woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned event.

Her historic journey in racing received TV coverage on TODAY, Good Morning America and the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Along with racing, she has appeared in modeling campaigns for brands like Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Free People. Recently, Breidinger became the first NASCAR driver to appear in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue.

The 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season kicks off on Feb. 14 at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NASCAR Wire Service contributed to this report.

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Official NASCAR Release

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. (Nov. 25, 2024) — NASCAR announced Monday that The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2 is sold out as fans eagerly anticipate the return of the NASCAR Cup Series to this historic venue for the first time since 1971.

NASCAR also announced expanded action on Saturday with the Madhouse Classic, an exhibition race from Bowman Gray Stadium’s weekly Modified Division, along with Cup Series on-track activity.

“The sellout of The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium speaks volumes about the monumental nature of the event at this historic venue,” said NASCAR’s Justin Swilling, Project Lead for the NASCAR Clash. “We’re honored to bring such an incredible race weekend to Winston-Salem that will provide an opportunity to place the stars of Bowman Gray Stadium’s Modified Division in the national spotlight.”

Participation for competing in Saturday’s Madhouse Clash is by invitation only, based on the top 20 from the 2024 Bowman Gray Stadium Modified points standings. Saturday’s schedule will include a practice session, single-car qualifying, and a dedicated 125-lap feature race.

As part of the Saturday weekly show, race fans will be treated to Bowman Gray Stadium racing format classics like the Fan’s Challenge, where the four fastest competitors from qualifying will each be given a chance to forego their starting position and drop to the rear of the field. Entries that accept this challenge will become eligible for an event bonus paid out to those that find their way back to their initial top-four starting position or higher.

A sparse number of tickets remain for Saturday’s on-track activity at Bowman Gray Stadium, Feb. 1. A full schedule of weekend activities will be released in the near future. The Clash will be broadcast live on FOX on Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to visit NASCARClash.com to secure remaining experiences while supplies last. Those who have purchased tickets should also be on the lookout for information regarding parking, as it will be at a premium throughout the event weekend.

MORE: Bowman Gray Stadium track info

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Zach Sturniolo

For the first time in 20 years, Kyle Busch went winless in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Since his rookie campaign in 2005, Busch scored at least one win per season — and as many as eight two times (2008, 2018) — at the sport’s top level. His 19 consecutive seasons with a victory are an all-time record — one he anticipated continuing in 2024.

But an uncharacteristic drop in performance from the otherworldly standard Busch set for himself resulted in the fewest top fives (five), top 10s (10) and laps led (230) of his career, with an 18.3 average finish that marked his worst since his rookie year (21.0, 2005).

MORE: 2025 Cup Series schedule

Simply put, Busch described the 2024 season — his second driving the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet — as “character building.”

“Certainly frustrating,” Busch said during Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway. “Just not at all what we had hoped it to be after some success last year, especially early in the year and having those three wins, and then struggling a little bit on and off, but then this year, just seemingly not being able to get the monkey off our back. I mean, even having a shot to win late in the day and being close at Daytona and maybe even closer at Kansas and just not being able to pull through.

“We probably had a handful of opportunities that slipped out from under us. So can’t say that we shouldn’t have won this year or never had an opportunity to, but obviously didn’t get it done.”

The past two years have been ones of significant change for Busch. Now 39, Busch started his career with three years at Hendrick Motorsports before joining forces with Joe Gibbs Racing for 15 years. His success over those 18 seasons was remarkable, as he collected 60 wins and two NASCAR Cup Series championships.

That tenure with JGR came to a close following the 2022 season, leading the Las Vegas native to Richard Childress Racing. He laments the record run is over but has a different perspective on it now that it has concluded.

“I would have much rather it been — if I’m going to run six, seven more years — it last 25, 26 years, and just make it a mark that will never be achievable, right?” Busch said. “But unfortunately, those things didn’t happen. Things changed for me a couple years ago, and I was grateful to be able to extend the streak last year and make it my own. But honestly, for there being guys that are at 17 (years) and one guy was at 18, and now one guy at 19, it’s hard to put that many good years like that together in a row. It’s difficult.”

That sustained success throughout his career is what Busch hopes to rely upon in 2025. Crew chief Randall Burnett will return to lead the No. 8 team, but RCR has made leadership changes already in this young offseason which the company hopes will lead to improved performance.

Veteran crew chief and competition director Keith Rodden has been named the team’s vice president of competition, while former Stewart-Haas Racing leaders John Klausmeier and Richard Boswell have joined the ranks as well. Klausmeier will serve as RCR’s technical director, while Boswell becomes the new crew chief for the historic No. 3 Chevrolet and driver Austin Dillon.

While Busch’s results left much to be desired in 2024, optimism remains that a new win streak will begin in 2025.

Posted on November 24, 2024November 25, 2024 by Brandon White

TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. — For a moment in time at Florence Motor Speedway, NASCAR fans were thrust back into the mid-2000s with the return of one of the sport’s most recognizable schemes.

Among the 41-car field for the South Carolina 400 was the iconic No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet that NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. popularized during the early years of his career. Accompanying Earnhardt Jr. at Florence was his devoted fanbase that enveloped the grandstands with a sea of red once commonplace at NASCAR races around the country.

Earnhardt Jr. could not help but get immersed in the atmosphere generated by the Budweiser No. 8’s first race since 2007. The tribute nearly ended with Earnhardt Jr. taking the beloved scheme to Victory Lane, but he found satisfaction in what the weekend meant to himself and those who have been invested in his storied career.

“I felt great about the car,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Picked them off as I could. The car was excellent and a lot of guys were starting to struggle with the balance of their car. For the second half, we were going to sit there in second. When it was time to start pressuring (leader Treyten Lapcevich), I could probably get him loose, drive off the corner and beat him.

“It was about time to turn it on and then the fuel pump broke.”

🎉 Party like it’s 2004! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/UJHpmFBxRX

— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) November 23, 2024

A 40th-place starting position did little to stymie Earnhardt Jr., who carved through the field with relative ease to nestle himself into the second position at the halfway break, all while being cheered on by his exuberant fans. Earnhardt Jr. stayed in second the rest of the evening until a broken fuel pump knocked him out of the race with 31 laps remaining.

The final showing of 28th was not the outcome most members of Junior Nation had anticipated, yet the South Carolina 400 proved to be more about the journey for Earnhardt Jr.’s followers instead of the destination.

Although Earnhardt Jr. spent more time in a Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet during his Cup Series tenure, the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet for Dale Earnhardt Inc. is where he first built his identity.

During his eight full-time years with DEI, Earnhardt Jr. amassed 17 victories, 76 top fives and led over 5,000 laps. The most notable of Earnhardt Jr.’s accomplishments in the Budweiser No. 8 Chevrolet was his first of two Daytona 500 victories in 2004.

BACK IN BUD: Photos of Dale Jr. at Florence

Earnhardt Jr. parted ways with DEI at the end of the 2007 season, but the memories of his success in the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet never faded. Nearly two decades on from Earnhardt Jr.’s final outing with DEI and NASCAR events are still filled with spectators who adorn the iconic No. 8.

One of those fans is David Faulkner, who traveled five hours from Hampton, Virginia, to see the Budweiser No. 8 for at least one final time. A lifelong follower of the Earnhardt family since the 1970s, Faulkner admitted seeing Earnhardt Jr. pilot a red No. 8 again evoked memories of the victories he got to witness in person.

“I remember the wins at Richmond, because Richmond is my home track about an hour away [from Hampton],” Faulkner said. “Just watching the Budweiser car running around brings back a lot of memories.”

Among the achievements Dale Earnhardt Jr. obtained in the iconic Budweiser No. 8 included his first Daytona 500 victory in 2004. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)

Many stories like Faulkner’s awaited Earnhardt Jr. as he greeted fans throughout the afternoon at Florence. One woman Earnhardt Jr. interacted with had been waiting to obtain his autograph since the Budweiser No. 8 made its formal Cup Series debut during the 1999 Coca-Cola 600.

The impact of Earnhardt Jr. on NASCAR extends far beyond spectators. Since returning to his Late Model Stock origins in 2022, Earnhardt Jr. has been approached by countless competitors young and old, with every conversation providing Earnhardt Jr. a healthy perspective into how he has shaped the world around him.

“I qualified really bad and I was pretty mad at myself,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I got done, pulled around and one of the other drivers [Gary Greenwood] who qualified poorly got out and said, ‘Keep your head up. I am racing because of you. I lost my dad and listening to your podcast has really helped me. That’s why I got this car.’

“I was so upset with qualifying, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded that it’s not that important.”

For Dylan Braswell, who ventured to Florence from the small town of Nashville, North Carolina, he never witnessed Earnhardt Jr. pilot the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet but had long been familiar with the Earnhardts and NASCAR through his late grandmother Dianne.

The two got to see Earnhardt Jr.’s final Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2017 a couple of months before Dianne passed away. Braswell saw his trip to the South Carolina 400 to honor Dianne’s love for racing and to get a firsthand account as to why the No. 8 was so special to so many people.

“My grandmother got me into NASCAR and she was always big into Earnhardt Jr.,” Braswell said. “I got to watch the VCR tapes and all that stuff back in the day, so that’s kind of where the No. 8 car is for me, watching it on TV.

“I bought tickets instantly as soon as I heard.”

Braswell and the rest of Earnhardt Jr.’s fanbase colloquially known as Junior Nation were treated to a thrilling performance from their favorite driver as he battled to make his own history in the South Carolina 400.

Although a broken fuel pump ended his night in the South Carolina 400 early, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Budweiser No. 8 proved to be one of the best cars in the field. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR Regional)

Up until a few months ago, not many in the NASCAR industry would have expected to see Earnhardt Jr. bring back the scheme that kickstarted his career for any reason. Circumstances brought the Budweiser No. 8 back to life, an opportunity not many Earnhardt Jr. fans were willing to pass up as evidenced by the South Carolina 400’s sold-out crowd.

Saturday was perfect for people like Faulkner, as it allowed him and others to reflect on pleasant memories and cherish seeing part of the past being reborn into the present day.

“I’ve been waiting on this since I saw a little hint back in April when [Earnhardt Jr.] threw a bunch of Budweiser stuff on the Internet,” Faulkner said. “I thought he was going to bring the Budweiser car back and now I’m here.

“It’s iconic.”

RELATED: Dale Jr. through the years

Other than the broken fuel pump and poor qualifying effort, Earnhardt Jr. got everything he wanted by bringing the Budweiser No. 8 Chevrolet to the South Carolina 400. The purpose of the initiative was to give back to the fans, many of whom descended upon Florence to see what Earnhardt Jr. could do in his iconic scheme.

The performance Earnhardt Jr. put together on Saturday gave him a much-needed jolt ahead of four planned Late Model Stock starts in 2025. While he is unsure of when that Budweiser scheme will next see the track, Earnhardt Jr. intends to bring it back before inevitably deciding to retire from racing altogether.

“At some point, you’re going to age out,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I don’t know why that happens or how it happens, but I don’t know when that happens. Maybe I got another three, four, five years left. If I have anything to do with it, they will see that Bud car again.”

Whenever or wherever Earnhardt Jr. unloads the Budweiser No. 8 next, the grandstands will be red and black, filled with loyal spectators eager to see if the famous car will find its way to Victory Lane just like it did back in the 2000s.