Posted on January 30, 2024February 6, 2024 by Pat DeCola

NASCAR: FULL SPEED now streaming on Netflix

• Fueled by passion and NASCAR Cup Series glory, 16 drivers battle for a championship and the chance to make history in this sports docuseries. •

WATCH CLIPS:

Behind the scenes: At Daytona with Denny Hamlin

How these drivers are different than other professional athletes

Behind the scenes: NASCAR Cup Series inspection process

‘I’ve got a driver that people are talking about’

Down to the wire in Talladega finish — ‘Did we get it?’

NASCAR 101

• NASCAR 101 is your place to get up to speed on the ins and outs of stock car racing, drivers, teams, tracks, rules and more! •

Key NASCAR terms, definitions

Keep this handy guide by your side when watching your next NASCAR race to stay in the know with stock-car racing terminology.

What the flags mean in NASCAR

Flags are among the most crucial elements of all NASCAR races. Here’s a quick guide to what each NASCAR flag you’re likely to see means.

How the regular season works

Each of NASCAR’s three national series has a separate regular-season schedule. Read up on how it works, where they race, and what’s on the line.

How the NASCAR Playoffs work

Playoffs? Yes — the NASCAR Playoffs are where the contenders set themselves apart. Brush up on how the postseason works and how points come into play.

How to watch a NASCAR race

All three NASCAR national series can be viewed on the FOX Sports or the NBC Sports family of networks — but also in person. Get the full breakdown.

How NASCAR started, grew to today

Learn all about early stock car racing, the North Carolina moonshinin’ origins behind the birth of NASCAR and how it became so popular worldwide.

DRIVER SNAPSHOTS

• Meet the 16 drivers who competed for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship •

Ryan Blaney has racing in his blood. The son of a former Cup Series driver, Blaney grew up slinging dirt in Ohio with his family, ultimately paving a path into the NASCAR circuit. With a personality to be a podcast host and an on-track pedigree to match it, Blaney went into the 2023 playoffs with one major question — could he deliver on the biggest NASCAR stage when it mattered most? | Blaney through the years, career highlights

Denny Hamlin

No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s most fiery competitors. The Virginia native rose to prominence from local short-track racing to driving for Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs since 2005, and now co-owns 23XI Racing with Basketball Hall of Famer and icon Michael Jordan. Hamlin is still seeking his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. Whether through opinions on his podcast, one-liners in Victory Lane or bulletin-board material issued directly to fans, Hamlin has established himself as one of NASCAR’s most quotable drivers. | Hamlin through the years, milestones

Ross Chastain

No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

A fresh contender in the NASCAR Cup Series, Ross Chastain has quickly proven he belongs among the best. An eighth-generation watermelon farmer, Chastain’s hard-nosed, on-track aggression has won him numerous races and led to a few thrown fists along the way. Upstart team Trackhouse Racing gave Chastain his best big-league shot yet in 2022 and No. 1 immediately produced, charging all the way to a runner-up finish that season. How far will his potential take him? | Chastain through the years

William Byron

No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

From simulator racing online to rubbing fenders on the track against the biggest stars in the sport, William Byron had one of the most unique paths to the NASCAR Cup Series. Now, the pressure is on as he carries the famed No. 24 Chevrolet previously piloted by four-time champ and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. Can Byron carve his own path and help the iconic number reclaim its spot atop the sport’s peak again? | Byron through the years, career highlights

Bubba Wallace

No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

Bubba Wallace entered the national spotlight after becoming the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since 1963 with a memorable victory in October 2021 at Talladega Superspeedway. As Wallace seasoned himself into a veteran amid notable improvement on the track, the Alabama native kept rolling with his second career win in 2022. The popular driver pilots a ride for 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan — and is also known for his willingness to speak openly on societal injustices and about mental health, navigating those challenges all while chasing a Cup Series championship. | Wallace’s career highlights

Tyler Reddick

No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota

From NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. to legendary team owner Richard Childress to NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, Tyler Reddick has piloted a race car for them all. With that comes significant pressure to deliver when it matters most — the playoffs. Will the fun-loving Reddick live up to his famed team owner’s success at the highest level and make the jump to stardom to win his first championship? | Reddick through the years

Christopher Bell

No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Dirt to Daytona — literally. Blistering his way through local dirt tracks to the Cup Series, Christopher Bell’s first triumph at NASCAR’s highest level came in the unlikeliest of venues for him — the Daytona road course. His ability to adapt quickly has made him one of the Cup Series’ most clutch drivers. And while plenty of other drivers may take more spotlights or headlines, Bell’s performances on the biggest stage speak for themselves. Can he muster up another dream run to Phoenix? | Bell through the years

Kyle Larson

No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Kyle Larson is the modern-day Swiss Army knife across American motorsports. The California native drives anything and everything he possibly can, whether on dirt in a USAC midget-type car, on asphalt in an IndyCar vehicle or on both in the NASCAR Cup Series. Racing legend Mario Andretti noted he sees “a lot of myself” in Larson, the 2021 Cup champion who’s won 23 races while continuing to dominate the dirt sprint car scene as both a driver and series co-owner. One word defines the spirit of Larson: Racer. | Larson through the years, career highlights

Joey Logano

No. 22 Team Penske Ford

Nothing says dedication quite like spending half your life in the Cup Series. From the time he was a teenager, Joey Logano was destined to be a superstar in the sport, and he’s already done so as a two-time Cup champion at only 33 years old. Logano is attempting to join rarified air and become the first three-time Cup champ since Tony Stewart in 2011. | Logano through the years

Other 2023 NASCAR Playoffs drivers

• Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford: A champion driver for RFK Racing in the Xfinity Series, Chris Buescher wants to cement his name at NASCAR’s highest level. Buescher was the breakout driver of the summer, winning three times in a five-race stretch. A driver known for his humble grit and determination, Buescher began the 2023 playoffs as a sleeper championship contender. | Buescher through the years

• Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford: The 2012 series champion, Brad Keselowski has had a storied career in the Cup Series by being a strategic and aggressive driver. Keselowski does things “his way,” leading to him becoming co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing before the 2022 season. | Keselowski through the years

• Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota: Since the beginning of his full-time Cup Series foray in 2006, Martin Truex Jr. has become a steady face in the NASCAR circuit. Already in the eternal echelon of being a Cup Series champion, Truex Jr. seeks a second title — all while deciding if he’ll return next season or hang up the racing shoes. | Truex through the years

• Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford: A longtime Cup Series staple since his surge into the circuit more than two decades ago, the 60-time Cup Series winner — and 2014 champion — looks to close out his storied racing career on a high note before transitioning to TV analyst. How will Harvick conclude his final racing chapter? He’s hoping with a title run. | Harvick through the years

• Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet: Love him or hate him, cheer him or boo him, everyone has an opinion on this NASCAR Bad Boy. As a two-time Cup Series champion with Joe Gibbs Racing, Kyle “Rowdy” Busch takes his talents to Richard Childress Racing, where the Las Vegas native looks to pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet to yet another title triumph. | Busch through the years

• Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford: A journeyman driver laying the foundation for success at Front Row Motorsports, Michael McDowell is known for showing up in the mix in crucial moments — just like his win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier in 2023 and a Daytona 500 triumph a few seasons back. He’ll try to use the lessons he learned from a lengthy career to show up in a big way in the playoffs. | McDowell through the years

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet: Stenhouse Jr. made his mark on the NASCAR Cup Series when he became 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, following consecutive championships at the NASCAR Xfinity Series level. He’s scored big wins at Daytona and Talladega throughout his career — including the 2023 Daytona 500 — and aims to shake up the playoffs and find the right magic to make a deep run. | Stenhouse through the years

TRACK-BY-TRACK

• Learn about the 10 tracks featured in NASCAR: FULL SPEED •

Round of 16

Darlington Raceway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

One of NASCAR’s most historic and grueling races — the Southern 500 — will test playoff drivers right out of the gate. Who will ride the wall at “The Lady in Black,” to Victory Lane … and into the Round of 12?

Kansas Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

A high-wire, Midwest speedfest at one of the sport’s most volatile and unpredictable tracks in recent years. Denny Hamlin and his Toyota cohorts have been the ones to beat here recently.

Bristol Motor Speedway* | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

An elimination race under the bright lights surrounded by a screaming sea of fans piled high into the Tennessee moonlight at the “Last Great Colosseum” — what more could you ask for?

Round of 12

Texas Motor Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

The heat is on as a new round begins, with four fewer drivers in the hunt. Everything is bigger in Texas — including the postseason stakes, a spot in the Round of 8.

Talladega Superspeedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

With elimination looming, the 12 drivers left in title contention face the biggest unknowns on NASCAR’s wildest track — the 2.66-mile 200-mph mercurial chess match that is Talladega Superspeedway.

Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL* | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Left, right and everything in between, NASCAR’s only road course in the playoffs in 2023 comes with a twist. Charlotte’s Roval is exactly what it sounds like — part oval, part road course, fully intense. And at the end of the day, we’re down to eight.

Round of 8

Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

It’s time for drivers to roll the dice. Make the right gamble, and you could find yourself locked into the Championship 4 before anyone else. Make a costly error? Well, that might mark the end of your title hopes.

Homestead-Miami Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

The sport’s top drivers take their talents to South Beach, where the vibes outside the race track are laid back but inside the teal walls of Homestead — until drivers start ripping the fence, at least — the pressure cooker is on.

Martinsville Speedway* | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

One last shot to race for the championship, at the oldest track on the circuit — and for NASCAR’s most cherished trophy, the vaunted grandfather clock. For four of the remaining eight drivers vying for the title? Time’s up.

NASCAR Championship Race

Phoenix Raceway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

It’s now all on the line in this give-it-everything-you’ve got duel in the desert. The goal? Simple — beat the other three Championship 4 drivers to the finish line and you’re the champ. Easier said than done, but legends never came easy, did they?

* Denotes elimination race, where the four lowest-ranked NASCAR Playoffs drivers are dropped from championship contention following the checkered flag.

MORE: See the rest of the NASCAR tracks | Full 2024 NASCAR schedule

joey logano and martin truex jr race at the chicago street race — Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Notable 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular-season races

Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum (Feb. 4)| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 18)| Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 (April 14) | Circuit of The Americas| Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Goodyear 400 Throwback Weekend race (May 12) | Darlington Raceway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

NASCAR All-Star Race (May 19) | North Wilkesboro Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Coca-Cola 600 (May 26) | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Grant Park 165 Chicago Street Race (July 7) | Chicago Street Course | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Brickyard 400 (July 21) | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Race recap | Best photos | 2024 tickets

Catch NASCAR: FULL SPEED now streaming on Netflix!

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Staff Report

Actor, professional wrestler and entrepreneur Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been named Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 18 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Johnson will say the most famous words in motorsports ahead of a sold-out “Great American Race,” which marked the earliest sellout of the event in recent history.

MORE: Daytona International Speedway announces sellout for 2024 Daytona 500 | Full Speedweeks schedule

“Nothing compares to the intensity and anticipation of that first command of the NASCAR season as we kick off the 66th running of the Daytona 500, and who better to say those four famous words than Dwayne Johnson,” said Frank Kelleher, president of Daytona International Speedway.

“There are very few people who can truly match the energy around the pomp and circumstance of The Great American Race, and The Rock may be the only person who can actually ramp it up even more. We can’t wait to see how he fires up the crowd and the engines for all the fans.”

On-track festivities for the Daytona 500 will kick off Wednesday, Feb. 14 with single-car qualifying (8:15 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Holly Cain

Editor’s Note: Today’s Trackhouse Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2024 Cup Series season.

TRACKHOUSE RACING

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: ECR Engines
Driver-crew-chief pairings: Ross Chastain-Phil Surgen (No. 1), Daniel Suárez-Matt Swiderski (No. 99)

Team outlook: In only three years of full-time competition, Trackhouse Racing has established itself as one of the most talented – and exciting – teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez are both race winners, with the former being a bona fide championship contender. The organization is energized to welcome New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen to the fold, where the highly-touted three-time Australian Super Cars champion brings raised expectations. Team owner Justin Marks takes great pride in the innovative ways this team operates in NASCAR’s big leagues, and after three full-time seasons of competition, high hopes are now high standards of expectation.

ROSS CHASTAIN, NO. 1 CHEVROLET

Experience: Five full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: Ninth in final standings; 2 wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s
2024 championship odds: 14-1

Outlook: Now with a solid two years of championship-caliber performance under his belt, Chastain has proven himself to be a legitimate part of the trophy conversation. Trackhouse Racing has answered every call as a high-profile contender, and Chastain has matched that with his performance on track in both years with the company. In so many ways, this partnership is that “great” opportunity for both the team and the driver. Expect it to continue playing out positively. Chastain has shown he can win races and maintain a new disciplined approach, which he worked on last year. Now, it will be a matter of elevating the hard work into that first championship trophy for the team and driver. It would surprise no one if Chastain and Marks were standing under falling confetti on the Phoenix Raceway championship stage this November.

MORE: Swiderski to Trackhouse, Mack to Kaulig in crew-chief swap

DANIEL SUÁREZ, NO. 99 CHEVROLET

Experience: Seven full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: 19th in final standings; 0 wins, 3 top fives, 10 top 10s
2024 championship odds: 70-1

Outlook: Suárez is coming off a frustrating season where the result did not meet the expectation. He and the team are hopeful a new look with crew chief Matt Swiderski will re-establish Suárez’s path forward. He won his first NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway in 2022 and had high confidence for 2023, which was simply not met. His 10 top-10 finishes marked the fourth time he eclipsed the double-digit finishes in this category, but his three top fives were half of his 2022 total (six). Trackhouse continues on a rise, however, and many expect Suárez to regain the positive traction he showed in 2022.

BOUNCE-BACK CANDIDATE: With a breakout 2022 season in the books, a new crew chief for 2024 and a team with all the elements in place to raise its championship game next season, expect to see Suárez not only hoist a trophy but give the organization a pair of title contenders come November. The infrastructure is in place, the talent there and the motivation never higher.

MORE: Cup drivers with the chance to rebound in 2024

NASCAR.com 2024 team previews schedule

Jan. 15: Legacy Motor Club
Jan. 16: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 17: Kaulig Racing
Jan. 18: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 22: Rick Ware Racing
Jan. 23: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 24: Stewart-Haas Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 29: Trackhouse Racing
Jan. 30: RFK Racing
Feb. 6: 23XI Racing
Feb. 7: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 8: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 9: Team Penske

Posted on January 28, 2024January 28, 2024 by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Felipe Nasr delivered the first Rolex 24 at Daytona overall win for team owner Roger Penske in 55 years and the first for Porsche in 14 years, in an exciting conclusion Sunday to the iconic endurance sports car race.

Driving the No. 7 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 that he shared with co-drivers Dane Cameron, Matt Campbell and reigning Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden, Nasr crossed the finish line 2.112 seconds ahead of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R driven by Tom Blomqvist, who was aiming to become just the second driver in Rolex 24 history to be an overall winner three straight years.

MORE: Full Rolex 24 results | Best photos from Daytona

Nasr took the lead for the final time when the No. 7 Porsche crew gave him a quicker pit stop than the No. 31 Cadillac crew could manage for Blomqvist under a full-course caution with 43 minutes remaining. Blomqvist hounded Nasr for the last half-hour but could never get close enough to attempt a pass for the lead.

Team owner Penske’s last win at the Rolex 24 came in 1969 when Mark Donohue and Chuck Parsons drove a Lola T-70/Chevrolet to victory. A Penske entry also claimed a class win in 1966. Porsche’s last overall win came in 2010, when the Action Express Racing Riley-Porsche driven by Joao Barbosa, Terry Borcheller, Ryan Dalziel and Mike Rockenfeller triumphed. Ironically, Action Express also entered the No. 31 Cadillac that finished second on Sunday.

Blomqvist, who won in 2022 and ’23 with Meyer Shank Racing, finished second overall and in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class with Action Express co-drivers Pipo Derani and Jack Aitken. Blomqvist will drive full-time this year for Meyer Shank in the IndyCar Series and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac.

The No. 18 Era Motorsport took the victory in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class with co-drivers Dalziel, Dwight Merriman, Christian Rasmussen and Connor Zilisch. The No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 claimed victory in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class with drivers Daniel Serra, Davide Rigon, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado. Winward Racing’s No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 was victorious in the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class, the car shared by Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, Indy Dontje and Daniel Morad.

The next WeatherTech Championship race is the 72nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 16 at Sebring International Raceway.

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Track Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2024) – He knows you want to have a good time. And if you’re going to be at the 66th running of the Daytona 500, you’ll get it, as Daytona International Speedway today announced that Armando Christian Pérez — Pitbull — will kick off the “Great American Race” on Sunday, Feb. 18, by performing the pre-race show on the ballfield.

“There’s no better way to get the energy flowing than with Pitbull performing our pre-race concert for the Daytona 500,” said Daytona International Speedway president, Frank Kelleher. “Pitbull has continued to release major hits for over a decade and has shown tremendous longevity as an artist over the years. He’ll bring all the South Florida vibes and culture up here to put on quite the show for the 66th running of The Great American Race.”

MORE: Full schedule for Daytona | Daytona 500 odds

Pitbull announced the next iteration of the “TRACKHOUSE” album series, set for release in February. The lyrics and cover of the EP titled “TRACKHOUSE: Daytona 500 Edition” reflect key elements of NASCAR’s biggest race. Pitbull joined Trackhouse Racing as a co-owner in 2021, connecting the world of music and racing to unite and inspire fans globally.

“It’s an honor to once again be part of the Great American Race, this time performing at the Daytona 500,” said Trackhouse team co-owner Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull).

“So everyone start your engines, Get Ready and Dale!”

“Mr. Worldwide” has earned 46 total awards throughout his career, sold 25 million studio albums, has over 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and passed 18 billion YouTube views. Most recently his Billboard Hot 100 global hit “Give Me Everything,” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, his third record to join Spotify’s billion streams club.

He’ll continue touring with fellow artists Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin on The Trilogy Tour during the first part of 2024.

Pitbull has collaborated with numerous famed artists including Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Enrique Iglesias, Kesha, Christina Aguilera, Ne-Yo and many more. Some of his most notable songs include “On the Floor,” “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,” “I Like It,” “Timber,” “Feel This Moment,” and “Give Me Everything.” At the 2016 Grammy Awards, Pitbull’s second Spanish album Dale won the award for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album.

Pitbull’s concert serves as just one of the many highlights during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth.

It all starts on Wednesday, Feb. 14, with Daytona 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light determining the front row for the Daytona 500. That’s followed up on Thursday, Feb. 15, with the Bluegreen Vacations Duel, where drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series battle it out for the chance to race on Sunday.

Friday, Feb. 16 sees the return of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the Fresh From Florida 250. Then, the racing continues with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 17, with the ARCA Menards Series Race, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series United Rentals 300.

SHOP: Gear up for the Daytona 500

Then, on Sunday, Feb. 18 directly following Pitbull’s performance, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series will make their 2024 season debut in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 at 2:30 p.m. ET. The concert will take place on pit road, visible from the grandstands, but fans with a Hard Rock Bet Fanzone Pass can watch Pitbull’s set up-close. Fans can still purchase the Infield Admission and Hard Rock Bet Fanzone Access Package, even without grandstand admission, which also grants access to driver and VIP appearances, a glimpse into the NASCAR Cup Series garages, up-close access to driver introductions and more. Fans who have already purchased a grandstand admission to The Great American Race can upgrade to include Hard Rock Bet Fanzone access to their experience.

Fans are encouraged to reserve their place in history during Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth by logging onto Daytona500.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Additionally, fans can buy or sell reserved seats for the Daytona 500 by visiting SeatGeek, the Official Ticket Marketplace of NASCAR.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway via www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Press Release

A major primary sponsorship for Zane Smith and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team is coming into focus just weeks before the start of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Trackhouse Racing announced Friday that Focused Health, a national health insurance agency formed by long-time industry veterans Shawn Holt and Larry Cassar, will serve as the primary sponsor for 20 races during Smith’s Cup Series rookie campaign.

Focused Health founders Holt and Cassar, each with more than two decades as senior executives in the health insurance industry, concentrate on government-supported health care offerings, including Medicare and ACA exchange. Focused Health assists consumers and employers in navigating the myriad of health insurance options in the government programs space.

“This partnership with Focused Health is incredibly important to me, Spire Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing,” said Smith, a 24-year-old native of Huntington Beach, California. “It will be my job this year to bring awareness to the government-supported health insurance programs available to our fans. These programs are both primary and supplemental, and Focused Health will educate those in need and introduce them to the programs readily available.”

Courtesy of Trackhouse Racing

The founder’s background in building national insurers places them in a unique position to create a win for insureds, employers, and payors.

“We are excited to be the primary sponsor with Spire Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing to support Zane in his rookie year as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver,” said Cassar, chief growth officer of Focused Health. “NASCAR brings a unique value proposition for our business. The partnership allows us to connect with our consumers, business leaders and insurers.”

In September, Trackhouse Racing announced a multi-year driving agreement with Smith, the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, and its aim to operate three full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2025. In 2024, Smith will race full-time in the Cup Series, driving the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in an alliance with Trackhouse Racing.

Smith owns nine Cup Series starts, including a 13th-place finish in the 2023 Daytona 500 and a 10th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 in May. He retains his rookie status and will be hunting for Rookie of the Year honors this year.

MORE: Buy Clash tickets now!

Focused Health will make its debut on Smith’s No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet at the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Feb. 4 (8 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, Sirus XM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on January 26, 2024January 26, 2024 by Kobe Lambeth

Editor’s Note: Today’s JTG Daugherty Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2024 Cup Series season.

JTG DAUGHERTY RACING

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Motorsports
Driver-crew chief pairing: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.-Mike Kelley

Team outlook: JTG Daugherty Racing made the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs for the second time in team history last year. Thanks to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s season-opening victory in the Daytona 500, the organization secured a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2014 when AJ Allmendinger won at Watkins Glen. The “Great American Race” win allowed the No. 47 team to go the rest of the regular season focused on playoff preparation. A 16th–place finish in the final standings exceeded expectations and with the pairing of Stenhouse and crew chief Mike Kelley returning, they will certainly hope to make the Cup Series Playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

RELATED: Stenhouse still savoring Daytona 500 reign, targets repeat

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 CHEVROLET

Experience: 12 full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: 16th in final standings (made second career playoff appearance); 1 win, 2 top fives, 9 top 10s
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 150-1

Outlook: Heading into 2024, Stenhouse will look to improve on the previous season that saw the driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet get one win, including a pair of top fives and nine top 10s. For JTG Daugherty Racing, making the Cup Series Playoffs after a nine-year postseason drought was a huge victory for this squad. Winning the Daytona 500 at the beginning of 2023 was the cherry on top. However, a first-round exit in the Round of 16 will leave them hungry for more this year. If the No. 47 team makes the playoffs in 2024 and wants to get past the first round, Stenhouse must pick up more top fives and top 10s than last year.

The 36-year-old native of Olive Branch, Mississippi has three career Cup Series wins, which all came on superspeedways at Daytona and Talladega. It would not be surprising to see Stenhouse win at those tracks again given his strong superspeedway racing record. He ended the final 10 races of the 2023 season with only two top 10s and six finishes of 20th or worse. Looking ahead, a reasonable goal for 2024 would be to build off last year and search for more consistency.

NASCAR.com 2024 team previews schedule

Jan. 15: Legacy Motor Club
Jan. 16: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 17: Kaulig Racing
Jan. 18: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 22: Rick Ware Racing
Jan. 23: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 24: Stewart-Haas Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 29: Trackhouse Racing
Jan. 30: RFK Racing
Feb. 6: 23XI Racing
Feb. 7: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 8: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 9: Team Penske

Posted on January 25, 2024January 29, 2024 by Brandon White

Defending NASCAR Canada Series champion Treyten Lapcevich will chase another championship in 2024, this time on American soil.

Lapcevich, who won half of the 14 races on the 2023 NASCAR Canada Series calendar, will join Chad Bryant Racing’s Late Model Stock Car program full-time in the No. 77 Evirum/Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Ford with the goal of adding a zMAX CARS Tour title to his burgeoning stock car resume.

Having seen the growth the CARS Tour has undergone under the current ownership group consisting of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Justin Marks, Lapcevich is confident he can excel in his new environment and build upon the consistency he has enjoyed while competing in Canada.

“I’m really excited,” Lapcevich said. “I’ve been watching the CARS Tour the past few years and it’s getting really big. Everyone can see that, so this is the next big step for me. I had a lot of fun racing in Canada, but it’s time to make the jump down to the States and see what we got against some new competition.”

Lapcevich enters the CARS Tour with plenty of short track experience on his side. Of his nine career victories in the NASCAR Canada Series, six of them have occurred on paved short tracks.

The deal with Bryant’s team is not Lapcevich’s first venture into the United States. He has competed in a handful of American Super Late Model events during the 2020s, with his most recent start coming during the Snowball Derby last December.

Lapcevich’s bid for a victory ended with less than 20 laps remaining after he was swept up in a restart crash. Although he did not to finish that race, the maturity and composure Lapcevich showed at the Snowball Derby all week caught the attention of many in the industry, including Bryant.

Treyten Lapcevich made a strong impression at the 2023 Snowball Derby, which saw him start inside the Top 10. (Photo: NASCAR)

The deal for Lapcevich to race full-time for Bryant came together at the last minute, but the veteran crew chief has every reason to believe the efficiency Lapcevich showed in Canada and the Snowball Derby will carry over to Late Model Stock Cars.

“Treyten is a racer,” Bryant said. “The first person I called about him was Ty Majeski, who was at the [Snowball] Derby. Ty said the kid brought his own equipment with his own people from Canada. At one point during the weekend, he thought he was going to be a contender for the win. He impressed Ty and I value Ty’s opinion with our program.”

Bryant is coming off another strong campaign in the CARS Tour that saw his drivers Connor Hall and Mason Diaz score one victory apiece. With the accomplishments Lapcevich has accumulated, Bryant expects him to pick up where Hall and Diaz left off despite being a rookie.

The one aspect of Late Model Stock racing Bryant anticipates will provide Lapcevich a learning curve is navigating tracks with more abrasive surfaces, but he believes it will only take a few races for Lapcevich to adapt to the intricacies of conserving equipment.

“Tire conservation is something I want to teach Treyten,” Bryant said. “That’s the biggest part of our races. He’s used to heavy cars with inferior brakes since the Late Model Stock brake package hasn’t evolved in 30 years. You have to manage brakes, your equipment and your tires. The biggest thing is race management.”

Along with Bryant, Lapcevich plans to lean on his older brother and fellow NASCAR Canada Series champion Cayden Lapcevich for advice on how to race in the southeast. Since winning his title in 2016, Cayden has made limited appearances in Super Late Models and Modifieds around the country.

With a strong support system that includes his brother Cayden, Treyten Lapcevich is confident he can contend for a zMAX CARS Tour title. (Photo: NASCAR)

The support Lapcevich is receiving has provided some comfort ahead of his maiden CARS Tour season, but he said Late Model Stock Car success will come down to understanding his limits and earning respect amongst the veterans and other newcomers.

“You need to feel out the other drivers and figure out the style of racing here,” Lapcevich said. “By myself, it’s going to be tougher to learn the new tracks. The test day will help out quite a bit so come race day, I think we’ll be good wherever we go.”

There is no shortage of stellar competition set to formally welcome Lapcevich to the CARS Tour platform. Among the expected title contenders are defending champion Carson Kvapil, Super Late Model veteran Stephen Nasse and reigning NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion Hall.

Lapcevich knows it will be a fight each week for wins on the CARS Tour, but his confidence is unwavered as he prepares to chase a second consecutive title between two different countries.

“I feel like a title is definitely possible with the partners I have and the team I’m going to,” Lapcevich said. “Chad holds such a vast book of knowledge. We’re in the right place with the right people, so it’s up to me to try and make it happen.”

Lapcevich’s bid for a CARS Tour championship begins on March 9 when the Late Model Stock Car division opens its 10^thseason with a trip to Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, North Carolina. The event will be available live on FloRacing.

Posted on January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 by Jerry Bonkowski

Editor’s Note: Today’s Front Row Motorsports preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2024 Cup Series season.

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Manufacturer: Ford
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
Driver-crew chief pairings: Michael McDowell-Travis Peterson (No. 34), Todd Gilliland-Ryan Bergenty (No. 38)

Team outlook: After making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, 2024 should see McDowell continue his upward climb of success in the NASCAR Cup Series. But Gilliland may be in a make-or-break season, given he’s finished 28th in each of his first two seasons with Front Row Motorsports.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 34 FORD

Experience: Enters his 17th Cup season in 2024; 465 career starts with two wins, nine top-five and 37 top-10 finishes
2023 stats: 1 win (Indianapolis Grand Prix), 2 top fives, 8 top 10s
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 200-1

Outlook: McDowell has become somewhat of a late bloomer in his Cup career. His first-ever Cup win was in the sport’s biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500, in 2021 at the age of 36. He added a second win on the Indianapolis road course in 2023.

McDowell has become quite the prolific road course driver as well as doing well on longer superspeedways such as Daytona and Talladega. Even though he’ll be 40 in December, it will not be out of the question if the Phoenix native wins two or even more races in 2024.

BOLD PREDICTION: This has the potential to be McDowell’s best season ever in the Cup Series. Not only does he make the playoffs once again, but we can also see him reaching the Round of 8 – and maybe the Championship 4 if all the chips fall his way.

TODD GILLILAND, NO. 38 FORD

Experience: Two full-time seasons; 1 top five, 6 top 10s
2023 stats: 4 top 10s
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 700-1

Outlook: Gilliland will be facing a bit of judgment year on if he can take a step forward in development. Gilliland will have to make a significant improvement in his performance and show results somewhat similar to his FRM counterpart if he wants to continue forward with the No. 38 team after the 2024 campaign.

What is odd about Gilliland is he dominated the ARCA Series (22 wins) and was a standout in the Truck Series (3 wins, 27 top-five and 53 top-10 finishes in 94 career starts). However, making the quick jump from Trucks to the Cup Series in the first year of the Next Gen car is a good indicator of why Gilliland has struggled to date to produce solid results.

BOLD PREDICTION: Unless Gilliland makes significant progress to turn around his performance, he may not even finish the season. Instead, team owner Bob Jenkins may decide to bring in a number of free agents or young drivers looking for a break to see if he can find a more viable candidate than Gilliland in the No. 38. But if Gilliland can indeed turn things around and starts rattling off more top-fives and top-10s, it should assure him of some job security potentially.

NASCAR.com 2024 team previews schedule

Jan. 15: Legacy Motor Club
Jan. 16: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 17: Kaulig Racing
Jan. 18: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 22: Rick Ware Racing
Jan. 23: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 24: Stewart-Haas Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 29: Trackhouse Racing
Jan. 30: RFK Racing
Feb. 6: 23XI Racing
Feb. 7: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 8: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 9: Team Penske

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Track Release

DARLINGTON, S.C. (Jan. 25, 2024) – Darlington Raceway announced today that the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR will be making its return to the track Too Tough to Tame during the Goodyear 400 weekend, May 10-12. This year’s theme – Celebrate our Roots through Grassroots Racing – will honor the racing origins of drivers, owners, team members, and NASCAR as a whole.

“We’re honored to continue the tradition of hosting NASCAR’s Official Throwback Weekend in the spring,” said Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris. “Grassroots racing is the lifeblood of our sport, and providing our industry with a chance to pay tribute to their grassroots origin story acknowledges the importance that it plays in the past, present and future of NASCAR.”

Every driver has a story about their rise through grassroots/local track racing that led them to one of NASCAR’s national series, and they will each have the opportunity to celebrate their ascent with paint schemes that harken back to the beginning of their racing careers. Drivers will simultaneously be able to utilize Throwback Weekend to amplify their ongoing efforts to support grassroots racing and tell their story.

NASCAR and Darlington Raceway will also showcase historic local racetracks and drivers in the region for long-time fans to appreciate and new fans to discover. Throughout the weekend, those in attendance can expect several displays and events that highlight the history and importance of grassroots racing across the country.

The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR begins with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race on Friday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. Then, the action will continue into Saturday, May 11, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at 1:30 p.m. Finally, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will pay homage to their grassroots origins in the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 12, at 3:00 p.m.

NASCAR fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets via phone at 866-459-7223 or online at darlingtonraceway.com while supplies last.