Posted on by Press Release

LEBANON, Tenn. – NASCAR Cup Series driver Michael McDowell recently visited Fort Campbell to experience a day in the life of a soldier while engaging with our nation’s finest ahead of Nashville Superspeedway’s Ally 400 NASCAR race weekend (June 28-30). The visit generated exposure for the NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola initiative to more than 250,000 people affiliated with the military in the Clarksville area.

Fort Campbell, the Army post at the Kentucky-Tennessee border, organized a day of activities for McDowell. The day featured lively discussions between McDowell and the soldiers, highlighting the strong connection between the military and NASCAR communities. McDowell also shared racing stories and life advice with young soldiers, and he signed memorabilia.

During McDowell’s visit, he visited the Gabriel Field memorial, toured the base and participated in shooting practice at the firing range. He also got a firsthand look at some training by the 101st Airborne Division, the only air assault division in the U.S. Army.

Nicknamed the Screaming Eagles, the 101st has demonstrated the highest standards of military professionalism since its activation in 1942. The 101st is recognized for its unmatched Air Assault capability, its ability to execute any combat or contingency mission anywhere in the world and is still proving its mettle as “tomorrow’s division in today’s Army.”

McDowell got a little taste of those futuristic methods by using the Virtual Combat Training System to virtually drive military vehicles and shoot select artillery. A little more old-school was his work on conquering his discomfort with heights — by rappelling from a 30-foot Air Assault tower.

Honoring history

One purpose of McDowell’s visit was to reconnect with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Special Forces soldiers are renowned for their ability to deploy in small teams, operate independently and conduct their mission in austere environments.

The 5th Special Forces and McDowell already share an incredible relationship and history. In 2019, during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, drivers in the race carried the names of fallen service members on their windshields.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan R. Farmer, a fallen 37-year-old father of four was McDowell’s co-pilot for the race. McDowell was able to reunite at Fort Campbell with those who continue to honor the memory of Farmer. He served proudly with the 5th Special Forces Group.

“It’s a really special, humbling time to go hear stories and to see their faces light up when they talked about memories. Officer Farmer had four children. He was a few years older than I am. He gave up watching his kids grow up. He gave up watching them graduate high school and get married and he did it for us. That makes it very real,” McDowell said of his visit with Farmer’s comrades in 2019. “None of this would be available to us if we didn’t have the freedom we have in the United States and that freedom isn’t free.”

Farmer, a distinguished Special Forces assistant detachment commander, died Jan. 16, 2019, of wounds sustained during an attack while conducting a local engagement in Manbij, Syria.

Farmer was with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) throughout his career and exhibited unwavering commitment and expertise during his extensive and varied combat experience. He completed nine overseas combat tours, including missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Farmer, a native of Boynton Beach, Florida, dedicated nearly 14 years of exemplary service to the U.S. Army. His legacy is one of exceptional service, sacrifice, and dedication to his country.

NASCAR Salutes Together

Throughout its 75-year history, NASCAR has partnered with numerous groups and organizations. But perhaps no collaboration has carried more significance than the sport’s relationship with the United States military. From pre-race flyovers to the annual Coca-Cola 600 Memorial Day Weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR and the armed forces have seemingly been joined at the hip.

The sport celebrates its close ties with the military thanks to the NASCAR Salutes initiative, paying homage to some of those close ties this weekend during the Ally 400 race weekend:

NASCAR Troops to the Track, presented by Chevrolet, honors and pays tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by inviting service members from local military installations to VIP experiences at NASCAR races, including hosting military personnel at Nashville Superspeedway.
Ford Motor Company will pay tribute to veterans and active service members in a special pre-race moment, including several specially wrapped vehicles ahead of the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola officially kicked off last month during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The campaign culminates celebrating the service and sacrifice of U.S. military members and their families through a multitude of at-track integrations, original content features and fan engagement opportunities through the Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 30. Fans can visit NASCAR.com/salutes to learn more.

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR officials issued a penalty Tuesday for a rear-axle violation in the Xfinity Series stemming from last weekend’s events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Following Christopher Bell’s victory in Saturday’s SciAps 200, No. 42 Young’s Motorsports crew member Dennis Powell has been suspended from the next Championship Series event, through and including Nashville Superspeedway.

RELATED: Xfinity Series standings | Weekend schedule: Nashville

The specific safety infraction states there was a violation of Sections 10.5.2.5.G: Loss or separation of an improperly installed rear axle from the vehicle. No. 42 driver Leland Honeyman wrecked in the race and finished 37th.

The Xfinity Series races at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday in the Tennessee Lottery 250 (5 p.m. ET, USA Network, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: No. 38 disqualified at New Hampshire

Posted on by Staff Report

On Tuesday, NASCAR announced the following penalty has been issued:

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Andy Seuss has been fined $500 and suspended from NASCAR until the fine is paid. He will remain on probation until December 31, 2024.

The rule infraction is as follows:

12-8.1 Member Conduct Guidelines

1. Heat of the moment actions or reactions, either on or off the race track.

E. 1. Actions by a NASCAR Member that NASCAR finds to be detrimental to stock car racing or NASCAR.

9-4.2.1 On-Track Incident Procedure

A 3 After being directed to exit the vehicle, the driver must immediately proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR Official.

5 At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle.

Posted on by Press Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 25, 2024) – As the summer heat cranks up, so does the action in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series with a trio of historic Virginia tracks preparing to host the most prestigious series of Late Model Stock Car races of the year.   

 The Virginia Triple Crown rewards the driver with the best average finish over the contests at three famed short tracks – South Boston Speedway, Langley Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. The winner receives $7,000, while second place gets $2,000 and third earns $1,000. 

The Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston opens up the Virginia Triple Crown this weekend on Saturday, June 29, with the drivers ready to chase glory once again. Langley Speedway follows with the Hampton Heat 200 on Saturday, July 20. The Triple Crown champion will be decided at the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

In 2023, Bobby McCarty (South Boston) and Brendan “Butterbean” Queen (Langley) won the opening two races of the Virginia Triple Crown, and held the top two spots in the standings heading into the finale at Martinsville. But in the end, it was the driver who sat third in the standings entering the finale who walked away with the title. Trevor Ward had a patient late-race move to post the come-from-behind victory in both the race and the Triple Crown title chase at Martinsville. 

“The triple crown is something I’ve always thought was a huge accomplishment,” said Ward. “Having the opportunity to chase the title last year was a great experience. Martinsville is something my family has dreamed of winning for many years and to have bene able to win that race is a feeling that will never be able to be replaced! Winning the triple crown was just that much better! We have put a lot of work into preparing for these races this year. It would mean so much to me and my team to put ‘two-time winner’ on the resume.” 

However, another key driver from the 2023 season – reigning NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion and current points leader Connor Hall – wants to add his name to the consideration set and include the Triple Crown title in his list of achievements. 

“To go into the triple crown as the 2023 National Champion means a ton,” said Hall. “It was an honor to have my name placed into that conversation. We’re working hard towards having a good showing in this year’s Triple Crown and we are excited to get going with the first event at South Boston this week!” 

The 11th iteration of the Triple Crown is led off by South Boston, and it’s a major event for not only the competitors such as Hall, but the fans as well. 

“This race is our showpiece and to kick off the prestigious Virginia Triple Crown here at South Boston is special,” said South Boston General Manager Brandon Brown. “We take a lot of pride in it being a crown jewel event not only here in the Commonwealth, but in all of grassroots racing. You can tell how much the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 means just by talking to the drivers and fans. This race always delivers the action, and sets the tone for what’s to come at Langley and Martinsville.” 

Ward is hoping to join four-time Virginia Triple Crown winner Peyton Sellers (2013, 2014, 2018, 2022) and two-time winner Lee Pulliam (2015, 2019) as the only the third multi-time winners of the Virginia Triple Crown. Other fan-favorite drivers, such as “Butterbean,” are chasing their first Triple Crown payday. 

“The Triple Crown is the best of the best going at it for three crown jewel events,” said “Butterbean.” “Last year was a heartbreaker to be so close to winning it, but also, I was super proud to come out in second with all the competition involved. It gets harder and harder each year, and I’m sure that will be the case this year.”  

It was “Butterbean” who won the middle race, the Hampton Heat 200, at Langley Speedway in 2023. He snapped an 11-race winning streak by eventual NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion Connor Hall, who had been undefeated at Langley until that point in the year. 

“I am excited about entering the second decade and 11th season of the Virginia Triple Crown with Brandon Brown and his team at South Boston, and Clay Campbell at Martinsville Speedway,” said Langley Speedway Owner Bill Mullis. “When the three-track series started, we had high hopes. But to see where it is today is great, as with NASCAR’s support and the Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, these races have been sought out by sponsors, race fans and drivers. Watching the best of the best at these tracks continues to showcase the ever-increasing popularity of Late Model Stock Car racing.”     

The final race in the Virginia Triple Crown, Martinsville’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300, also offers up one of the most unique trophies in motorsports with the Grandfather Clock. Ward won the clock and the Triple Crown check while holding off Landon Huffman in a dramatic finish. 

“Last year’s Virginia Triple Crown provided exactly the entertainment and on-track drama for the fans that makes this challenge so prestigious in the Late Model Stock Car community,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “We share in the passion that our colleagues at South Boston and Langley put into this series of three races, and take great pride in hosting a fantastic finale and crowning the winner in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway each September.” 

The three races at South Boston on June 29, Langley on July 20, and Martinsville on September 28 will be streamed live on FloRacing.  

Tickets for the opener of the Virginia Triple Crown at South Boston may be purchased at southbostonspeedway.com. Tickets for the second leg of the series at Langley are available at langley-speedway.com. For tickets to the finale at Martinsville, fans can go to martinsvillespeedway.com.   

 Fans can stay connected to NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series action, including Virginia Late Model Triple Crown updates, at nascar.com/regional.  

Posted on by Pat DeCola

LOUDON, N.H. — Kyle Larson saw his opening and wasted no time at all in giving the business to his friendly rival Christopher Bell last Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Bell became an instant, viral sensation on the stock-car racing side of X, formerly known as Twitter, with his accidental press-conference-reveal of soon-to-be teammate Chase Briscoe’s news that he’d be taking over the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2025. Larson joined in by whipping his phone out immediately and dropping one of the most memorable social media posts (with a hammer of a hashtag) in years.

So long, Chase Elliott?

To recap, during Bell’s Friday media session, he slipped and mentioned that a “Chase” would be in the 19 car next year after the incumbent Martin Truex Jr. retires from full-time racing at the end of 2024. Already suspected of being the top candidate to take over the ride heading into the weekend, Bell’s inadvertent admission essentially confirmed Briscoe’s 2025 status before the team itself announced the news, which it officially did Tuesday.

“I was like, really proud of it,” Larson said Saturday at NHMS of his post. “I was typing it so fast. I couldn’t wait to get it out. I texted Bell and Briscoe, I think before I even sent that tweet. I was (expletive) dying laughing because that was, I mean, that’s the greatest way to announce somebody coming to a team. I’m sure PR departments (were) planning this extravagant, very professional thing, but they got way more clicks for that than once they finally (did) announce it.”

All mainstays of the dirt-racing ranks, the trio of Bell, Briscoe and Larson are all quite familiar with each other, and bringing the Indiana native into the fold to pair with Bell, Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin on a championship-capable organization should provide plenty of battles between them for years to come.

It’s a bit of a revamped, younger lineup for JGR than we’ve seen in years; the team as recently as 2016 featured a lineup of Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth — at the time, four of the most tenured drivers in the sport and all current or future NASCAR Hall of Famers. Leading into next season, JGR’s three fresh-ish faces will have fewer than 400 Cup Series starts combined.

It’s not too dissimilar of a transformation that Hendrick Motorsports underwent over the past decade, seeing its own Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson all step out of the car in 2015, ’17 and ’20, respectively. The team has since invested in younger — and still extremely productive — talent, solidifying its core with Larson, Alex Bowman, William Byron and, of course, its own “Chase” — Elliott.

RELATED: Joe Gibbs Racing team page | Hendrick Motorsports team page 

It’s not hard to see each of these legacy four-car stables competing annually as the 1A and 1B elite organizations in the Cup Series over the next decade, perhaps trading the Bill France Cup from shop to shop each year as well.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, it is (a solid, young foundation for the future at JGR). And then you got one old guy that’s probably leaving in a few years, so yeah,” said Larson, playfully referring to the 43-year-old Hamlin. “I think they have a good lineup for sure. I think, looking at Hendrick Motorsports’ lineup, though, I think we have by far the strongest lineup for (the future). We’re all, you know, in our early 30s or late 20s. Mid 20s, for William. And yeah, lots of wins and championships and all that. So yeah, it’s cool to see where the sport’s at right now.”

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — “The opportunity of a lifetime” is now at Chase Briscoe’s fingertips.

With help from his new teammate Christopher Bell, Briscoe was officially introduced Tuesday as Joe Gibbs Racing’s newest driver, taking the reins of the No. 19 Toyota Camry on a multiyear deal to start the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Briscoe, who has spent the past four seasons driving the No. 14 Ford at Stewart-Haas Racing, will now step into a top-tier car at a powerhouse organization, replacing the retiring 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. at season’s end.

RELATED: Cup standings | Larson on JGR’s lineup

“I think it’s the worst kept secret in the sport for a while,” Briscoe laughed, flanked to his right by Gibbs and crew chief James Small. “Christopher, I guess, just couldn’t hold it any longer.”

Indeed, longtime friend and the most recent Cup Series winner Bell tipped everyone’s hand Friday at New Hampshire when he let Briscoe’s first name slip in response to a press conference question. To finish the job, JGR employed Bell as Tuesday’s conference moderator in the organization’s auditorium, officially welcoming the Indiana native to the JGR stable.

“Since I had the mistake of starting this on Friday, I guess I’ll get to finish it out,” Bell said. “… It is my honor to finally announce the full name of our driver next year, Chase Briscoe, in the No. 19 car.”

The transition to an elite seat in the NASCAR Cup Series struck Briscoe lightning fast. Stewart-Haas Racing announced on May 28 that it would close operations at the conclusion of 2024, placing all four of its current drivers on the free-agent market. Upon receiving the news at SHR, Briscoe wasted no time in searching for his next opportunity.

“Literally in the conference room, I just started texting all the team presidents I knew, and Dave (Alpern, JGR president) was one of them,” Briscoe said. “And just said, ‘Hey, Stewart-Haas let us know today that we’re kind of free to do whatever we want. Would love the opportunity just to talk to you guys if there’s any potential there.’ And I think that SHR announcement got done Tuesday and Wednesday night, Dave had called me and said, ‘Hey, would you like to go to breakfast Thursday?’ And I think I was signed by (Wednesday). So it was a super quick thing. It’s like four or five days.”

The whirlwind has left Briscoe unable to truly process the magnitude of his latest opportunity yet.

“It did happen crazy fast,” he said. “I say that it started that Thursday when I went to breakfast, but like I didn’t hear from him until Saturday really. And that’s when like, Saturday, Coach (Gibbs) called me for five minutes. Sunday, I finally met with Coach, and then he called me Sunday night, said let’s meet Monday morning.

“Monday morning, I sit there, and 48 hours later had a contract, and he told me that I was going to be in the car another 12 hours after that. So yeah, I don’t know if I really had time to process it all.”

Three hours after signing his contract, Briscoe got another call from Gibbs at 7 p.m. that Wednesday evening, asking about his morning plans. Suddenly, a 6 a.m. flight was on Briscoe’s calendar to fly to Missouri to meet Johnny Morris, the founder, owner and CEO of Bass Pro Shops. The quick out-and-back trip returned Briscoe to North Carolina 30 minutes before his SHR flight to Sonoma Raceway, Briscoe said.

“They snuck me around the back so nobody saw me getting on Joe’s plane and getting off Joe’s plane,” he added. “Yeah, like this whole process has happened unbelievably fast for sure.”

Joe Gibbs (L) poses with Chase Briscoe (C) and Chase's family.
Al Wheeler | Joe Gibbs Racing

At the top of the sport’s echelon, an opening at Joe Gibbs Racing immediately became the most coveted landing spot in NASCAR. To fill it, Gibbs himself focused on two things: character and winning. Briscoe is a one-time winner in Cup with 11 Xfinity wins and two Craftsman Truck Series victories.

“The most important thing we (have) is our people and the people that you have on your team,” Gibbs said. “And so for us really here, it always starts with character. You’re always looking at what kind of a person you’re getting. …

“But also, we have to win. So we came down to the end. We think Chase can win. And so that’s where we are and it’s a thrill for us to have him coming on board.”

With the backing of Bass Pro Shops built into his program, funding was not a required piece of Briscoe’s puzzle in coordinating his JGR ride.

“Out of all the teams I met with, Joe’s is the only team that never said, ‘What can you bring?’” Briscoe said. “They just wanted me for me. That meant a lot to me personally, just that they felt that strongly about me in the car. … Joe was the one that literally called me two, three times a day and would reassure how bad that they wanted me in the car. That just made a difference for me personally because it honestly it helped my confidence even just knowing that he believed in me that much, and I haven’t even driven a race over here yet.”

For Gibbs, that stems from a simple need: For his company to succeed, it must win. And by winning, sponsors will continue to happily support the team’s efforts.

“All our people here work super hard,” Gibbs told NASCAR.com. “We don’t have outside income or anything, so this has to go based on its merits. We’ve got to make it go. I tell people we go to work every day knowing there’s no alternative. This thing’s gotta go. We gotta make it work.

“I do think, you know, when you have the flexibility of saying, ‘Alright, what’s first?’ First is character and can we win. And other things come after that. So we’re fortunate.”

Its lack of reliance on Briscoe’s funding also factored into his perception of the team’s culture, a significant part of Briscoe’s priorities as he evaluated where his next steps would lead him.

“I definitely felt like from a culture standpoint, it was a great fit and felt like what I believe in, how I try to go about everything, it was a perfect fit,” he said.

Gibbs also pointed to Toyota Racing Development for its part in Briscoe’s signing, noting the team’s need for the manufacturer to believe in its new hire’s ability too. That was affirmed in a statement from TRD USA president David Wilson Tuesday afternoon.

“We are very excited to welcome Chase Briscoe to the Toyota family next season,” Wilson said in a statement. “Chase’s proven high character and racing acumen will fit perfectly amongst the talented drivers in the Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota camps. We believe in Chase and look forward to all of the on-track success he will achieve aboard a Toyota Camry XSE.”

MORE: Key players in 2024-25 Silly Season

Though the contract is signed and the ink has dried, Briscoe is not under any false premises. Once he gets behind the wheel of the No. 19 Toyota to begin the 2025 campaign, expectations are to find Victory Lane.

“I have to win. Like there’s no excuse not to win,” Briscoe said. “You have to make the playoffs. If you don’t make the playoffs, then there’s no reason I should be driving this race car. So yeah, I definitely think that you have to win races. You have to be running up front consistently, and I think they feel like I’m capable of doing that. But I have to show that, so hopefully that’s what I can do.”

On Sunday, Briscoe finished second in Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway behind Bell. Briscoe currently sits 16th in the regular-season points standings but 18th in the provisional playoff grid, 25 points beneath the elimination line to advance to the playoffs, which begin on Sept. 8 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Posted on by Brandon White

A proud short-track tradition is set to commence this weekend when South Boston Speedway hosts the first leg of the 2024 Virginia Late Model Triple Crown.

Since the Triple Crown’s inception in 2012, many talented Late Model Stock competitors have battled across a grueling three-race stretch consisting of South Boston, Langley Speedway and Martinsville Speedway for an opportunity at a title. The list of champions includes Peyton Sellers, Lee Pulliam, Timothy Peters and more.

Every Virginia Triple Crown campaign kicks off at South Boston with the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200. A fast, 0.4-mile oval nestled in the heart of South Boston, Virginia, the facility has long been a proving ground for competitors seeking to build a successful short-track career or to find a path to NASCAR’s top ranks.

Fireworks will be prevalent both on and off track Saturday evening as a healthy contingent of drivers descend upon South Boston. A victory in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 could be paramount toward carrying momentum into the final leg of the championship at Martinsville for the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

Below is everything to know about Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston.

Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway will be the 18th running of the prestigious race. (Photo: Victor Newman/South Boston Speedway)

What TV channel is the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway on?

All the on-track action for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Regional properties.

The event will not be shown on a traditional television network.

Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage of the 2024 Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.

Date Start time How to watch
Saturday, June 29, 2024 6:40 p.m. ET FloRacing

Race-day schedule

This year’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 will take place Saturday, June 29.

Three support divisions encompass the evening’s schedule of events aside from Late Model Stocks. The Limited Sportsman, Pure Stock and Hornet classes open the festivities before the night concludes with the 200-lap Late Model Stock feature.

Below is the complete race-day schedule at South Boston Speedway.

(All times ET)

Time  Event
10 a.m. Registration/Pit Gate/Tire Building/Frontstretch Spectator Gate/Tech Open
12:10 p.m. Limited Sportsman/Pure Stock/Hornets Driver’s Meeting (Tech Building)
12:30 p.m. Track Services Meeting
1-3:30 p.m. Rotating Practice
3:30 p.m. Backstretch and Turn 4 Gates Open
3:40 p.m. Late Model Stock Driver’s Meeting (Tech Building)
4:15 p.m. Late Model Stock Group Qualifying
5:15-6:15 p.m. Driver Autograph Session
6:30 p.m. Pre-Race Ceremonies
7 p.m. Green Flag (Late Model Stock LCQ: 20 Laps/25 Minutes … Limited Sportsman: 40 Laps/45 Minutes … Pure Stock: 20 Laps/15 Minutes … Hornets: 20 Laps/15 Minutes … Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 (200 Laps)
There will be plenty of fireworks as drivers look to pick up an important victory at South Boston Speedway to kick off the Virginia Triple Crown. (Photo: Victor Newman/South Boston Speedway)

Entry list

More than 30 cars are expected to participate in Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.

Leading the talented group of competitors is Bobby McCarty, the defending winner of the event. McCarty will be seeking a more orthodox path to Victory Lane this year, as he inherited last year’s victory after the original winner Carson Kvapil and second-place finisher Landon Huffman were disqualified for failing post-race inspection.

Joining McCarty on the entry list is the most recent NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion Connor Hall. Currently in the middle of another standout season that includes 16 victories in 20 starts, Hall is piloting Nelson Motorsports’ No. 22 Late Model with the goal of adding a Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 win to his growing resume.

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Kaden Honeycutt will be two of the busiest drivers in the South Boston garage area this weekend. Both are participating in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway before heading to South Boston for Saturday’s 200-lap Late Model Stock feature.

Trevor Ward, the most recent Virginia Triple Crown champion, is also on the entry list for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200. After finishing third at South Boston last year, Ward capped off the impressive three-race stretch by securing his maiden victory in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300.

Other names set to compete in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 include defending South Boston track champion Carter Langley, along with Peyton Sellers, Timothy Peters, Landon Pembelton, Deac McCaskill and Isabella Robusto, among many others.

Below is the current entry list for Saturday’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200.

Car No.  Driver 
00 Chase Burrow
0 Landon Pembelton
1 Andrew Grady
01 Camden Gullie
01 G.R. Waldrop
2 Brandon Pierce
2 Matt Waltz
03 Brenden Queen
4 Kyle Dudley
5 Carter Langley
05 Mason Bailey
6 Bobby McCarty
08 Deac McCaskill
12 Austin Thaxton
15 Logan Clark
17 Jason Myers
17 Kaden Honeycutt
17 Stacy Puryear
19 Jessica Cann
22 Connor Hall
22 Jordan Pickrel
23 Kade Brown
25 Jacob Borst
26 Peyton Sellers
40 Brian Thomas
50 Raymond Pittman
51 Timothy Peters
55 Isabella Robusto
77 Blake Stallings
77 Trevor Ward
87 Mike Looney
87 Tate Fogleman
95 Sam Yarbrough

Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 history, winners

Throughout its history, the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 has primarily been dominated from drivers born outside of Virginia.

Lee Pulliam, who hails from Semora, North Carolina, was the most dominant of this group. A four-time NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion, Pulliam was unstoppable in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 during the 2010s, as he won the event six years in a row from 2011-16.

Virginia natives have tried to keep the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 trophy inside the commonwealth over the past several years. Despite this, the event’s past three winners in Bobby McCarty and Corey Heim were born in North Carolina and Georgia, respectively.

Three past winners are on the entry list for this year’s Thunder Road-Harley Davidson 200. Along with McCarty and Peyton Sellers, two-time winner Deac McCaskill makes his return to the prestigious event after last competing in 2014.

Below is the complete list of winners in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200:

Year Winner
2006 Drew Herring
2007 Adam Barker
2008 Deac McCaskill
2009 Nick Smith
2010 Deac McCaskill
2011 Lee Pulliam
2012 Lee Pulliam
2013 Lee Pulliam
2014 Lee Pulliam
2015 Lee Pulliam
2016 Lee Pulliam
2017 Philip Morris
2018 Peyton Sellers
2019 Peyton Sellers
2020 Not held
2021 Bobby McCarty
2022 Corey Heim
2023 Bobby McCarty

 

Posted on by Press Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 20, 2024) – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver/owner Spencer Boyd is helping unveil a new look for his longest running marketing partner, Record Rack premium wildlife feed (brand owned by Cargill, Inc.). This marks the seventh season of the pair working together but the first race with Record Rack on Boyd’s new team, Freedom Racing Enterprises.

Cargill’s Wildlife Marketing Lead, Jodi Cornelison spoke about the updates to the Record Rack brand: “We have been so impressed and pleased with what Spencer has brought to our brand for seven years. From his support of the hunting industry, to his love for honoring our nation’s heroes. We are incredibly proud of him as he reaches this milestone in his racing career. We thought, what better way to kick off our brand new look than to celebrate it on Spencer’s truck with his new team, Freedom Racing Enterprises?

“Besides slick new packaging, we have two great new products for our beloved NASCAR fans. Both are super easy to feed, and the intense berry flavor and smell will keep the deer coming back for more. Spincast is a mix of protein pellets with corn so it will flow well through the popular spincast feeders. Couple that with our new Big Antler Mineral (BAM) Block, and you’ll start seeing bigger monster bucks in the fall.”

Spencer Boyd commented on the partnership: “When Record Rack first sponsored me back in 2018, I was driving the No. 76. This time it’s our new team with that same number coupled with their new packaging and products, it’s a great combination. While there is certainly a natural connection between us with me being a sportsman, the rooted connection is with our mutual love for our country. We have gotten to honor so many heroes together and this year will be no exception.”

Graphic showing Spencer Boyd's new paint scheme.

The hood of the Record Rack of the No.76 Record Rack Chevrolet Silverado lists 65 names of America’s finest who have also been honored by attending the annual Bucks for the Brave sponsored by Record Rack.

Bucks for the Brave is an all-expense paid trip that will take place in the fall of 2024. The events will be hosted at Trinity Oaks’ Thumbtack Ranch in Batesville, Texas, which is the only nationally recognized Purple Heart Ranch in the United States. There will be both a men’s and women’s hunt with winners representing each of these eight categories: Army Veteran, Marine Corps Veteran, Navy Veteran, Air Force Veteran, Coast Guard Veteran, Retired Firefighter, Retired Law Enforcement and Retired EMT.

“As we round out the NASCAR Salutes campaign that focuses on appreciating the efforts of our military, I wanted to bring one of these true heroes to the track,” Boyd continued. “James ‘JD’ Roberts, a highly decorated Army Veteran will sit on our pit box at the upcoming race in Nashville alongside his wife, Linda. These people have sacrificed more than I could ever imagine and just hope this little token of appreciation helps them realize our entire team is grateful for all they have done.”

James “JD” Roberts, joined the army at 17. He did two tours of duty in Vietnam. The first was personal security for a chaplain, and the second was with a special forces group when he was promoted to Captain. He returned to the states where he became an AIT Company Commander. He then joined the Army Rangers as an instructor in Fort Benning, Georgia. JD was then recruited by the elite Delta Force and became one of the original members serving under Colonel Beckwith. He served during the Iranian Hostage Crisis on the Operation Eagle Claw rescue mission and survived the plane crash that killed eight service members. He retired after 20 years with decorations and medals including four Bronze Stars with Valor, a Purple Heart with OLC, along with special awards for his participation in the Iran Rescue Mission.

Even after retiring, he and two others went on a rescue mission to Jordan to bring home a young girl kidnapped by her father. This heroic event resulted in a made for TV movie starring Mariel Hemingway called “Desperate Rescue.” He didn’t stop there though. He spent an additional 20 years serving with the Department of Homeland Security. JD now lives in Crossville, Tennessee, with his wife and suffers from Parkinson’s disease caused by agent orange in Vietnam.

The No. 76 Record Rack Silverado will race at Nashville Superspeedway on Friday, June 28 at 8 p.m. ET on FS2, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Zack Albert

The arrival of rain — and lots of it — just past the two-thirds mark of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race seemed to signal an early end to the racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. But in a “stop the presses” moment befitting of a race called the USA Today 301, the event improbably resumed under damp conditions with wet-weather tires and ran to an overtime completion.

The conclusion shook up the finishing order, the points standings and the playoff picture like a Yahtzee tumbler.

RELATED: Race results | Cup Series standings

Christopher Bell stoked his New Hampshire hot streak with his third Cup Series victory of the season, climbing from a ninth-place spot at the red flag with 219 of 305 laps complete. Others rose and fell with wilder swings in their running position, and the overall standings shifted accordingly.

With eight races remaining in the regular season before the 16-driver Cup Series Playoffs field is determined, here’s a look at how some of the biggest of those before-and-after shifts played out — listed by organization, in order of their best Sunday finishes.

Joe Gibbs Racing: Bell took over when the wet-weather tires went on, but two of his JGR teammates had mixed fortunes. Denny Hamlin — a Stage 2 winner not long before the rains came — went from third place at the red flag to a 24th-place result. Martin Truex Jr., hampered by a pit-stop miscue and a Lap 210 spin before the stoppage, recovered from his 27th-place stature at the red flag to come home ninth — his first top-10 finish in the last six races. Though Truex is still missing a tally in the win column this year, he added a beefy 33 points to his sizable 155-point gap over the provisional playoff elimination line.

Stewart-Haas Racing: Chase Briscoe and Josh Berry carried the torch in a bright moment for the organization’s swan-song season, placing second and third, respectively. Those finishes marked a 21-position gainer for Briscoe and a 17-spot climb for Berry from where they stood during the rain delay. Those results marked one-spot jumps for each driver in the playoff standings as well; Briscoe gained 19 points relative to the elimination line, and Berry added 27. On the opposite side of the equation for SHR was Noah Gragson, who was 10th during the rain delay and slid to 27th after a Lap 265 crash slowed his progress.

Hendrick Motorsports: Kyle Larson led the charge for Rick Hendrick’s four-car stable, making a modest move from seventh at the red flag to fourth at the checkered in the No. 5 Chevrolet. Pole-starter Chase Elliott also made a three-spot gain to keep his historic streak of top-20 finishes alive in 18th, and he is now tied with Larson atop the points standings. William Byron had the most significant before-and-after contrast, fading 10 spots to a 26th-place result at the end.

RFK Racing: Chris Buescher noted that his No. 17 Ford ended up with more tire marks on his doors after the wet-weather stretch of racing, but he also came away with an eight-position improvement at the finish. He remained 15th on the provisional 16-driver playoff grid still searching for a win, but he padded his margin by 23 points to a 50-point cushion over the elimination line.

23XI Racing: Tyler Reddick was sitting in prime position for his second Cup Series win of the season, his No. 45 Toyota leading the field with some pit-strategy savvy at the time of the red flag. He held on for a net result of sixth place, but teammate Bubba Wallace had a more dramatic drop when Gragson’s spin triggered a multicar stack 40 laps from the finish. Wallace’s No. 23 entry was too damaged to continue, and he went from 14th at the red flag to 34th in the results. Wallace lost 19 points to the playoff elimination line and went from the last driver in to now the first driver outside the postseason picture — 13 points back.

MORE: At-track photos

JTG Daugherty Racing: Maybe it’s the dirt-track racer in him that helped save the day on wet-weather Goodyears, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made his way from 24th place at the red flag to a seventh-place finish — his second consecutive top 10. Stenhouse moved up one spot to 24th in the playoff standings, which is all but must-win territory from here on out.

Legacy Motor Club: John Hunter Nemechek registered his first top-10 finish since mid-March at Bristol Motor Speedway, persevering for eighth place after sitting one lap down in 31st at the red-flag break — a remarkable 23-spot turnaround. Teammate Erik Jones also made an upturn during the wet-weather portion of the race, moving from 18th place to 13th at the end. Both are deep in the playoff hunt — Jones 26th, Nemechek 27th — and need wins.

Trackhouse Racing: Ross Chastain recovered from a wet-weather spin on Lap 235 for a net positive — 10th place after a 15th-place status during the red flag. Teammate Daniel Suárez made an 11-spot jump to finish 21st, coming from two laps down at the red flag as the beneficiary of a pair of the several caution periods in the evening hours at New Hampshire. Suárez is already in the playoff hunt with his Atlanta Motor Speedway win, and Chastain bolstered his playoff buffer by 22 points — now a 93-point gap over possible elimination.

Front Row Motorsports: Todd Gilliland was fourth and teammate Michael McDowell sixth when the weather forced the two-plus-hour delay. Gilliland faded to finish 12th, and McDowell took 15th — after an aggressive move with postseason desperation in mind led to a late-race collision with Ryan Blaney in their battle for second place. Gilliland is 21st, 83 points back, and McDowell 22nd (minus-99 points) in the playoff standings.

Team Penske: Ryan Blaney, a winner one week earlier at Iowa Speedway, had the largest before/after drop from the Team Penske camp — slipping from second place at the red flag to a 25th-place result after his run-in with McDowell. Austin Cindric went from eighth to 19th after catching part of the Lap 265 jam-up, but both he and Blaney have their playoff fates secured by wins. Teammate Joey Logano, however, crashed with Chase Elliott on a Lap 194 restart and never returned to the top 30. His 32nd-place finish was offset by 17 stage points, and Logano vaulted into the final provisional spot on the playoff grid — 13 points above Bubba Wallace.

Richard Childress Racing: A suboptimal day and a pair of DNFs derailed the RCR duo of Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon. Busch crashed three times, including a wall crunch under caution before the resumption that left his No. 8 Chevrolet in 35th place, 83 laps shy of the full distance. Dillon was 19th at the red flag but was saddled with a 33rd-place result after Lap 265’s melee. Busch slipped further behind in his hunt for the playoffs, losing 19 points and one spot to the provisional elimination line after his third DNF in the last four races.

Posted on by Staff Report

Joe Gibbs Racing will announce its new driver of the No. 19 Toyota for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season on Tuesday afternoon, and NASCAR.com will have you covered.

The press conference will begin at 1 p.m. ET with live streaming coverage on NASCAR.com as well as NASCAR’s YouTube, Facebook and X channels. JGR announced in a media alert that joining the new driver will be team owner Joe Gibbs and crew chief James Small.

MORE: Stream the announcement here

Martin Truex Jr., the current driver of JGR’s No. 19 Toyota, announced on June 14 at Iowa Speedway that he will step away from full-time NASCAR competition at the conclusion of the 2024 campaign. Truex is a 34-time winner and 2017 champion in the Cup Series, competing full-time at the sport’s highest level since 2006. Truex also won consecutive championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2004 and 2005.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s current roster also includes 54-race winner Denny Hamlin, two-time Championship 4 contender Christopher Bell and 2023 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Ty Gibbs. Bell won Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for his third victory of 2024.