2024 season preview: Trackhouse Racing

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.

Posted on January 24, 2024January 24, 2024 by Staff Report

The 62nd running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona kicks off the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. This year, 59 entries will take the 24-hour test of endurance all fighting for the overall win at Daytona International Speedway, as well as bragging rights within their own class. Here’s a glance at this year’s Rolex 24, including the race format, schedule, tune-in information and more.

What: 62nd Rolex 24 at Daytona, the first race of the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season

When: Race starts Saturday, Jan. 27, at 1:40 p.m. ET and ends Sunday, Jan. 28, at 1:40 p.m. ET

Where: Daytona International Speedway, 3.56-mile combined tri-oval and road course

How to watch: The first and final hours of the Rolex 24 will be on NBC’s main network, with USA Network and the network’s streaming platforms carrying out the broadcast from Saturday night to Sunday morning. To watch the race in its entirety, with no channel changes, sign up for Peacock here. Information for international broadcasts can be found here and radio broadcast information can be found here. A full breakdown of the broadcast schedule is listed below.

Classes: The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is divided into four classes, all competing on the track at the same time. Those four divisions include two prototype classes — Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) — and two sports-car classes — Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD).

Preliminary events: The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, split into Grand Sport (GS) and Touring Car (TCR) classes, will host the four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona on Friday, Jan. 26 (1 p.m. ET, IMSA.tv). Two races for the Mazda MX-5 Cup are also slated — Thursday at 4:10 p.m. ET and Friday at 10:10 a.m. ET.

2023 winners: The Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian GTP Acura took overall honors with drivers Tom Blomqvist, Colin Braun, Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud.

Last year’s other class winners:

LMP2: Proton Competition ORECA team with drivers James Allen, Gianmaria Bruni, Fred Poordad and Francesco Pizzi
LMP3: AWA Duqueine team with drivers Nico Varrone, Thomas Merrill, Anthony Mantella and Wayne Boyd
GTD: Heart of Racing Aston Martin team with drivers Marco Sørensen, Ian James, Darren Turner and Roman De Angelis
GTD PRO: WeatherTech Racing Mercedes-AMG team with drivers Jules Gounon, Marco Engel, Cooper MacNeil and Daniel Juncadella

SHOP: Buy Rolex 24 tickets | Gear up for the Rolex 24

Cars: A total of 12 manufacturers will participate in the series’ four classes. The number of automakers grows to 17 when adding the Michelin Pilot Challenge series. The full list: Acura, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mazda, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche.

NASCAR involvement: There are a few NASCAR connections making appearances this weekend; most notably, Cup Series drivers Bubba Wallace and John Hunter Nemechek will team up with Xfinity Series driver Corey Heim to compete in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season opener. The three drivers will team up with Smooge Racing and co-pilot the No. 23 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO in the BMW M Endurance Challenge on Friday, Jan 26.

***

FULL BROADCAST SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)

Thursday, Jan. 25
4:10-5 p.m.: Race 1 of 2 Mazda MX-5 Cup (IMSA.tv)

Friday, Jan. 26
10:10-11 a.m.: Race 2 of 2 Mazda MX-5 Cup (IMSA.tv)
1:40-5:45 p.m.: IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona (Peacock, IMSA.tv)

Saturday, Jan. 27
All 24 hours of Rolex 24 at Daytona (Peacock, IMSA.tv)
1:30-2:30 p.m.: Rolex 24 at Daytona (NBC, NBC Sports app)
2:30-8 p.m.: Rolex 24 at Daytona (USA, NBC Sports app)
10 p.m.-midnight: Rolex 24 at Daytona (USA, NBC Sports app)

Sunday, Jan. 28
All 24 hours of Rolex 24 at Daytona (Peacock, IMSA.tv)
6 a.m.-Noon: Rolex 24 at Daytona (USA, NBC Sports app)
Noon-2 p.m.: Rolex 24 at Daytona (NBC, NBC Sports app)

Posted on January 24, 2024January 24, 2024 by Brandon White

The season-opening New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is only a few weeks away, and entries are already pouring in.

Making up the early entrants for the opener at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway are the usual group of Whelen Modified Tour veterans and champions, along with a handful of rookies and part-timers looking to add their own history within NASCAR’s oldest division.

Last year’s opener saw 35 cars take the green flag, an increase from 31 that showed up for the inaugural New Smyrna running in 2022. The expected final entry list for the 2024 New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 is expected to at least equal and likely exceed the car count from the 2023 race.

Ron Silk prevailed over Justin Bonsignore for a season-opening victory at New Smyrna Speedway in 2023. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

Reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ron Silk opened last season in thrilling fashion by holding off Justin Bonsignore in a climactic battle at New Smyrna. Back with Haydt Yannone Racing once again for 2024, Silk will seek to start his title defense with a second consecutive New Smyrna win.

The New Smyrna race last year served as a perfect encapsulation of what became the championship battle, as Bonsignore fought Silk valiantly but ended up settling for second by a narrow margin.

Bonsignore looks to reverse last year’s outcome in 2024 by winning at New Smyrna for the first time and kickstarting a campaign for his fourth series title.

Matt Hirschman’s resume at New Smyrna Speedway includes four Modified titles in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

One of the most successful drivers in recent New Smyrna history, Matt Hirschman has accumulated four championships in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing’s Modified division.

Hirschman won the inaugural NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event at New Smyrna back in 2022 and enters as a heavy favorite for a second victory this year.

Six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Doug Coby is back on a part-time basis with Tommy Baldwin Jr., who took a sabbatical from racing last year to undergo treatment for cancer.

Coby hopes to park the iconic No. 7NY in Victory Lane for the first time in a Tour race at New Smyrna after leading a race-high 106 laps in 2023 before fading to fifth.

The sophomore season for Austin Beers on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour was a successful one, as he amassed two victories, 10 top fives, 633 laps led and a third-place points finish. Now armed with more experience and confidence, Beers heads to New Smyrna determined to establish himself as an early title favorite.

Ryan Newman is set to race at New Smyrna Speedway for the first time on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. (Photo: Rob Branning/NASCAR)

The 2008 Daytona 500 winner in Ryan Newman is set to make his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour appearance at New Smyrna, piloting the No. 14 for Advantage Motorsports.

Newman has visited Victory Lane four times on the Tour during his career, but he has not done so since a triumph at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2011.

Other drivers who have already filed entries for New Smyrna include three Catalano brothers in Tommy, Trevor and Tyler, the latter two of whom are participating in their first full NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour seasons this year.

Joining the Catalanos in the New Smyrna field are drivers such as Eric Goodale, Craig Lutz, Tyler Rypkema, Ronnie Williams, Dave Sapienza, Ronnie Williams, Eddie McCarthy, Tim Connolly, Melissa Fifield and Chris Hatton.

A complete entry list for the 2024 New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 will be released in the days leading up to the green flag.