Posted on by Pat DeCola

As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series slate enters its second quarter this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Ford Performance is stuck in its longest dry spell to start a season since 2010 — but there’s a high chance it ends on the high banks Sunday.

Though winless through the first nine races this year, the manufacturer’s entries at drafting tracks have been unparalleled in speed recently, collecting six of the past seven poles (and 13 of 14 front-row starting spots), 11 of 14 stage wins, 965 of 1,452 laps led and three of the past seven race wins.

The eyes then look to a particular Ford driver who’s led the most drafting track laps of any driver this year (74) and has been there at the end of the past few races down in Alabama to put together a splendid 9.67 average finish in the last three ‘Dega races.

Ford’s streak-snapper? Well, it might just be No. 38 Front Row Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland.

MORE: Full Talladega schedule | ‘Dega surprise winners

“I think there’s definitely been a tough start to the season just as far as not being able to win with the Ford yet, but we know our Dark Horse Mustangs have a lot of speed, and I definitely think they’re all-around the best cars when they show up to the superspeedways,” Gilliland told NASCAR.com. “Obviously, we still have a long ways to go in every area — as racers, we’re really never satisfied, I would say — but this weekend, we definitely feel like we should be strong.”

Of course, having speed and knowing what to do with it are two separate parts of the equation, but Gilliland has shown early in his Cup Series career that superspeedway racing and working in the draft come naturally to him. Maneuvering around drafting tracks is as much about getting to the front as it is picking up what your car is capable of within the pack itself, and as laps tick off, the game becomes a tug-of-war between learning and surviving.

Scoot through the wrecks, know what your car can do on that last lap and who your friends are and maybe, just maybe — you’ve got a shot.

“Really, these races just start from the drop of the green flag, even if it’s just semi-riding around, but you’re really just learning what your car is capable of and what everyone else is feeling out there; just trying to build a good notebook for the end of the race,” said Gilliland, currently in his third year of full-time Cup competition. ” … For me, it’s kind of about balancing expectations. It’s pretty unpredictable. You have a pretty good chance, I guess, of kind of getting caught up in a wreck, right? Whether it’s your doing, someone else’s doing. But at the same time, I definitely have a lot of high expectations that we’re gonna bring fast Ford Mustangs to the race track again, just like we started out the season really strong at Daytona and Atlanta.”

And honestly, that shouldn’t come as a surprise.

todd gilliland talks to michael mcdowell
Tim Nwachukwu | Getty Images

Front Row has consistently proven to be among the most competitive teams on drafting tracks, and Gilliland has two of the more respected racers of the past decade-plus at those venues as direct resources in teammate Michael McDowell and his father, David Gilliland — a former driver for Front Row and Daytona 500 pole winner himself. They’ve both offered the younger Gilliland a bevy of advice on how to last in these races and position yourself for a strong finish.

Each mentor has contributed to Gilliland’s superspeedway acumen in unique ways.

“The advice from my dad was more kind of just early on as far as bigger picture things for superspeedway racing, but really, I feel like I have picked it up fairly easy,” said Gilliland, who has led the second-most laps for Ford in 2024. “And I really do think that’s just from watching him all those years. He always seemed to just run well at them, for whatever reason. And for me as a kid, that’s what was always super exciting — when we would go to the race track and, in my heart as a 10-year-old, I really thought he had a good chance of winning. And I’d watch those races that much more closely. And I’m sure I’ve picked up on random stuff along the way, as far as that goes.

“But I would say nowadays, for sure, Michael is probably the main point of advice whether it’s any race track, right? He’s the one driving the car right next to me, and he knows what he’s going through and can relate to what I’m going through better. But as far as superspeedways, we’ve really been working on, probably last year and a half, taking care of each other out there; as far as, if someone’s in trouble, letting them back in line, trying to stick together for the majority of the race. And it’s funny, sometimes it works out better than others, but it’s just good to have that game plan, at least. It’s hard to have anybody’s back out there, but as teammates you do cut them a break here or there.”

MORE: Michael McDowell through the years

The mentorship between Gilliland and McDowell appears to be paying off for both of them, with the 23-year-old North Carolinian rounding into form as he shakes off the rookie and sophomore newness and the grizzled veteran from Arizona keeps turning in his best seasons as he rounds the corner to his age 40 campaign. At some point — likely years down the road as McDowell continues to get stronger and stronger — it’s conceivable that the former “Great American Race” winner will toss the proverbial baton to Gilliand as Front Row continues its rapid development into a leading organization for Ford.

He’s not quite ready to take the handoff, but it’s in his purview.

“Certainly hope so. I think, you know, (becoming the leader at Front Row) is something I’m working toward, for sure. Just as far as being a better leader for myself, right? Like that’s just a life skill that McDowell, whether it’s more natural to him or he’s been doing it much longer than me, he’s definitely better at it. That’s one thing that I feel like he does really well; he gets the most out of the people around him and pushes everyone to be better. Every year he’s been here, he’s probably improved his average finish position by two or three or four spots. That’s really tough to do, and he’s continued to do it up through the mid-20s to teens to be able to become a playoff contender.

“So definitely, what he’s doing here is really special. And yeah, that’s my goal; to hopefully take over at some point. Long ways to go, obviously; he’s really solid on the race track and just a super, super solid guy off the race track. But that’s definitely my goal one day.”

The short-term goal for this weekend, though? Putting one on the board for the blue ovals.

And it’s quite possible he does.

Posted on by Track Release

FORT LIBERTY, N.C. — In advance of the 65th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend, Charlotte Motor Speedway launched its 2024 Mission 600 campaign Wednesday, visiting the 82nd Airborne at Fort Liberty, with Coca-Cola Racing Family driver Daniel Suárez and his Trackhouse Racing crew chief Matt Swiderski.

Now in its seventh year, Mission 600 pairs NASCAR drivers with regional military bases in an effort to educate the NASCAR community about the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and to build meaningful connections between the worlds of motorsports and the military.

RELATED: Buy Coca-Cola 600 tickets

“We are so thankful for these guys; if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have the freedoms that we are able to enjoy,” said Suárez. “To be able to spend some time here and be able to learn about what they do, how they do it, their specialties, the guns, everything, it’s mind-blowing.

“The guns, to shoot, all that stuff is cool. But the coolest part is to get to know them. Like, who are these individuals? What do they do on a weekly basis? How did they get to this point? Obviously, I have so much respect for them. Some of them have been here for 29 years. That’s half a lifetime. It’s quite impressive, and I have learned a lot from these men and women today.”

As part of Mission 600, Suárez and Swiderski, alongside Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter, spent the day learning about the equipment and training that members of the 82nd Airborne receive. The trio toured Fort Liberty in Infantry Squad Vehicles and fired an M119A3 Howitzer, a 105mm weapon that uses a six-man team — much like a NASCAR pit crew — to aim and fire. The group also dined with service members in Fort Liberty’s Warrior Restaurant and participated in live-fire exercises with an M4 Carbine. The exercises, designed to simulate shooting in combat environments, are aimed at testing a soldier’s ability to calm themselves after rigorous activity.

“It’s amazing (shooting a Howitzer). You don’t really know what to expect when you pull the handle, probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve had,” Swiderski said. “You try to appreciate what all these people do and the families behind these people. You come out here and actually get to meet them and see their personalities; it’s really impressive what they put on the line and how hard they work to protect our families.”

Fort Liberty is the largest military installation by population in the U.S., providing the infrastructure and training that enables a ready, capable force to fight and win the nation’s wars. The 82nd Airborne Division is America’s immediate response force — ready to deploy and answer the nation’s call in 18 hours.

At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Memorial Day Weekend provides the opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. With the support of the U.S. Department of Defense, the patriotic Coca-Cola 600 pre-race show includes representation from all six major branches of the military.

“The Sunday before Memorial Day is the greatest day in racing, but we also want to be sure that we set the right tone and timber — that we’re on the eve of Memorial Day, which is a very solemn holiday for us as Americans,” Walter said. “We actually pause the race halfway for a moment of remembrance. The fact that we have the 600 Miles of Remembrance, where the name of a fallen service man or woman is on the windshield. We have Gold Star Families there and we love on them. Our fans appreciate the words of service, duty, and sacrifice. It sets the right tone, and our fans appreciate that.”

Posted on by Staff Report

After a thriller in Texas, the Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for what is shaping up to be a sensational GEICO 500 this Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Set your Fantasy Live roster | Weekend schedule

The advance metrics predict another Hendrick Motorsports win, with William Byron projected to earn his fourth victory this season.

It’s wild to think Byron has yet to find Victory Lane at Talladega. The No. 24 Chevrolet finished in the top 10 at both races there last season, with a runner-up to Ryan Blaney in the fall. In addition, all of Byron’s finishes at Talladega in the Next Gen era have been in the top 15, suggesting he could visit Victory Lane soon at the famed superspeedway.

Following Byron in the projections is his teammate and most recent Cup Series victor Chase Elliott, Team Penske’s Blaney, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace. Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Martin Truex Jr. complete the projected top 10.

Plenty of playoff spots are still up for grabs this weekend. Talladega is known to produce surprise winners, which leaves the door open for another wild Cup race.

OTHER DRIVERS TO WATCH

CHASE ELLIOTT: After returning to the mountaintop and breaking a 42-race winless drought last weekend at Texas, and with Talladega on tap, signs point to the No. 9 Hendrick driver to have another stellar weekend. Before last Sunday, Elliott’s last win came at the Alabama circuit, and he owns the fourth-best all-time average finish at Talladega (13.63) with a minimum of six starts.

RYAN BLANEY: Blaney is the only repeat Talladega winner in the last nine races. He’s finished in the top 10 in seven of the last nine drafting races, with his last three Talladega finishes being in the top two. In the Next Gen era, drafting tracks have been Blaney’s second nature, with the 2023 champ earning six top fives and nine top 10s and owning an average finish of 10.9.

JOEY LOGANO: After a slow start to the 2024 campaign, Logano has found his way back into the playoff mix. While his recent numbers at Talladega don’t jump off the page, one can’t discount the two-time champ whenever the Cup Series shifts to superspeedways. His last win came at a drafting-style track in last year’s Atlanta race, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him in the mix this weekend as he aims to end a drought of his own.

CHRIS BUESCHER: Both RFK Racing cars have a chance to turn in solid results this weekend. Buescher, to match his champion teammate’s prowess, has become a savvy superspeedway racer over the past several years and won at Daytona last season. He is already off to another great start in 2024, with five top 10s through the first nine races. Plus, Buescher finished third at Talladega last fall. 

DANIEL SUÁREZ: Suárez landed a top-five finish last weekend at Texas for his first top-five finish since the Atlanta win earlier this year. Suárez also has three consecutive top-10 finishes at Talladega and should be carrying some extra momentum this weekend after turning in a result that reflects the speed the No. 99 has shown all season.

RACING INSIGHTS’ PROJECTIONS FOR THE GEICO 500

Racing Insights’ advanced statistical formula includes current track, current track type, recent performance, team data and pit-crew data to arrive at a projected winner and full race results.

FinishCar NumberDriver
124William Byron
29Chase Elliott
312Ryan Blaney
411Denny Hamlin
523Bubba Wallace
65Kyle Larson
722Joey Logano
820Christopher Bell
914Chase Briscoe
1019Martin Truex Jr.
118Kyle Busch
1217Chris Buescher
136Brad Keselowski
1499Daniel Suarez
151Ross Chastain
1648Alex Bowman
1743Erik Jones
1845Tyler Reddick
192Austin Cindric
2054Ty Gibbs
2134Michael McDowell
227Corey LaJoie
2310Noah Gragson
2451Justin Haley
2538Todd Gilliland
2641Ryan Preece
2747Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
283Austin Dillon
294Josh Berry
3042John Hunter Nemechek
3177Carson Hocevar
3221Harrison Burton
3332Daniel Hemric
3462Anthony Alfredo
3571Zane Smith
3678BJ McLeod
3715Cody Ware
3816Shane van Gisbergen
Posted on by Pat DeCola

Here’s what’s happening in the world of NASCAR with Texas in the rearview and Talladega (Sun., 3 p.m. ET, FOX) right around the corner.

THE LINEUP ️

1️⃣ Elliott back to winning — but is he a title favorite?

2️⃣ Playoff spot up for grabs at wide-open ‘Dega

3️⃣ Who could squeeze their way into the playoff picture?

4️⃣ Guess who’s due in Alabama?

5️⃣ Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

chase elliott celebrates at texas
Getty Images

1. Chase Elliott is back to winning — but is he a title favorite?

Now that the 2020 champion is free of a heavy 42-race winless streak and a playoff spot is in hand, it’s time to assess his championship hopes.

It felt like 420 races, didn’t it?

Forty-two-race winless streaks aren’t the most remarkable of droughts — plenty of drivers capable of winning in bunches have gone a season or more without a return to Victory Lane — but the way Elliott’s past two years have played out only served to highlight the drudgery of No. 9’s quest to snap the skid.

Well, he finally did.

Now Elliott’s got a provisional playoff spot after missing the postseason for the first time in his career eight months ago, a full head of steam and a championship-quality cast surrounding him. With the dominance we’ve seen from a handful of drivers apparently destined for a Championship 4 date themselves (Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson and rival Denny Hamlin, in particular) where, exactly, does the 2020 champ fit into this year’s title picture?

Honestly, he was already firmly entrenched in it even before Texas.

STACKING PENNIES: No. 9 team back in its stride?

While everyone was focused on the zero in the win column, Elliott was quietly putting the pieces together for what could wind up being his best season to date. The 19-time Cup Series winner has been a fixture among the cars at the front of the field nearly the entire campaign so far, landing in the top four in most laps run inside the top five and top 10 this season and turning in the second-best average finish (10.33) among full-timers this year. He’s absolutely on fire right now, with all four of his top-10 finishes coming in the last five races — the last three of which were all top fives for his longest top-five streak since last summer.

What was remarkable during the drought was the chatter and the questioning. Plenty asked the questions—did Elliott lose anything off the ol’ fastball from his snowboarding accident? Does Hendrick need to make a change atop the pit box and break up the dynamic duo of him and Alan Gustafson? Is this now Byron and Larson’s team?

No, no and no.

How quickly some forget just how exceptional of a talent Hendrick Motorsports’ longest-tenured driver is, and despite the slump he’s still, in a way, wiping the floor with everybody. Get ready for this — Elliott, a driver who missed last year’s playoffs amidst arguably his worst career season … still owns the best average finish (12.45) of any driver in the Next Gen era.

Couple that with the fact that his 13 most recent wins all came at different tracks (one of which is the site of this weekend’s race) and now that he’s kicked the streak to the curb, he’s likely to pile on plenty more in the coming months.

Elliott’s championship chase is officially on and in full force.

Giddy up.

chase elliott at texas
Getty Images

2. Playoff spots up for grabs at wide-open ‘Dega

The 2024 postseason field is taking shape already and drivers need to maximize every remaining opportunity as more spots dry up.

Part of the somewhat under-discussed fallout from Elliott’s massive Texas win? That’s one more playoff spot off the board.

“But Pat,” you say. “It’s Chase Elliott — we expected him to make the playoffs. Plus, it’s April.”

Indeed. But he didn’t last year. Nor did Atlanta winner Daniel Suárez. And one of last year’s postseason competitors (Kevin Harvick) will be watching this year’s playoff drivers sweat it out while he’s sitting comfortably on his couch.

That’s at least three spots of turnover in the playoff field we’re tentatively going to see. And perhaps more.

Enter Talladega Superspeedway.

Perhaps the track most notorious for unexpected winners, the Alabama track could easily offer up another surprise playoff entrant this weekend and really shuffle the deck.

According to Racing Insights, 86% of the playoff field has been set, on average, after the ninth race in the past seven years, which was Texas this season; Talladega being the 10th.

Based on that trend, there are essentially just two remaining spots up for grabs at the moment from drivers not currently in. Even if it is April.

And naturally, there’s almost no possible way to predict who might emerge this weekend — seven different drivers have won the last seven ‘Dega races.

There are a lot of eyes on Ford and Brad Keselowski — a six-time Talladega winner — to make the first big strike for the blue ovals this season, and his former Team Penske teammates all join him as formidable options to break through for their first 2024 wins as well, all being past superspeedway winners. Ford itself, for all of its noted struggles this season, might be the manufacturer to beat on Sunday as the unquestioned best at drafting tracks in recent years.

Talladega is anybody’s ballgame, but Toyota has not won a race on a drafting track in the Next Gen car, with the last win for the manufacturer on this track type coming via Bubba Wallace there in October 2021, 14 drafting races ago. Thankfully for Toyota, all Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing cars are in the tentative playoff field already, so an off weekend can be afforded should it happen. And actually, if Toyota was to buck the trend, it may come at the hands of Legacy Motor Club’s Erik Jones, who compiled a sparkling 8.71 average finish in the seven Talladega races prior to last fall’s P26 in his final superspeedway race for Chevy.

Then again, let’s go full circle here.

It’s extremely possible Elliott just goes back-to-back, as Talladega stands as one of his best tracks with two wins and top 10s in half of his 16 starts. No. 9 finished in the top 10 in three of the last four in Alabama and, oh yeah — his last win before the streak?

Talladega, fall 2022.

cars race at talladega
Getty Images

3. Who could squeeze their way into the playoff picture?

NBC’s Steve Letarte and MRN’s Todd Gordon break down expectations for when NASCAR hits the high banks at Talladega on Sunday.

 

4. Guess who’s due in Alabama?

This year’s Daytona 500 winner might make it two in a row at superspeedways, as William Byron has been close to his first ‘Dega win with two runner-ups in the past six races.

Most laps led at Talladega laps without a win

DriverLaps LedCareer wins
Kurt Busch29234
Benny Parsons25321
Geoff Bodine17818
Jeff Burton15821
Greg Biffle15519
Elliott Sadler1263
Morgan Shepherd1224
Rusty Wallace12055
William Byron10813
Jim Vandiver1030

5. Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

Power Rankings: Brad Keselowski next champ to snap winless streak?

Paint Scheme Preview: See the schemes for Talladega

William Byron on Texas tangle with Chastain: ‘We’ll discuss it and go from there’

@nascarcasm: Nine things you may not know about Chase Elliott

Analysis: Chase Elliott’s victory highlights journey back to top of mountain

NASCAR Inside The Race: How scoring lines factored into Chase Elliott’s Texas win

Fans fired up about Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Jordan Brand paint scheme

Kyle Petty on impact of Elliott’s victory: ‘The sport needs him to win’

@nascarcasm: Fake texts to Texas winner Chase Elliott

Which driver is favored to win 2024 title after Texas?

Getty Images
Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR officials issued two-race suspensions Tuesday to two crewmembers of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team for a detached wheel in last Sunday’s Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Larson’s right-rear wheel came unfastened during a Stage 2 caution period in Sunday’s Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. He was penalized two laps during the race but regained some of the lost ground for a 21st-place finish on the lead lap.

RELATED: Cup Series standings | Weekend schedule: Talladega

Tuesday, the remaining penalty for the safety violation was handed out, with suspensions for the next two Cup Series events for No. 5 crewmembers Calvin Teague (rear-tire changer) and Brandon Johnson (jack). The suspension will be in effect for Sunday’s GEICO 500 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Talladega Superspeedway and the following week’s race at Dover Motor Speedway.

Competition officials also issued an indefinite suspension to Nicholas Covey for a violation of NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy. According to NASCAR’s team rosters portal, Covey was jackman for the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet as recently as the April 7 race at Martinsville Speedway.

Three other Cup Series crews were hit with one-race suspensions for Talladega for infractions related to protective clothing and equipment:

  • No. 17 RFK Racing tire carrier Zach Yager (gloves)
  • No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing tire carrier Jake Holmes (helmet strap)
  • No. 33 Richard Childress Racing jackman Doug Warrick (helmet)

In the Xfinity Series, competition officials handed down a one-race suspension to Brandon Harder — fueler for the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team — for a protective clothing/equipment violation, specifically the protective apron.

Officials also fined two crew chiefs $5,000 apiece after their cars were found with one unsecured lug nut each in a post-race check:

  • No. 9 JR Motorsports crew chief Phillip Bell
  • No. 48 Big Machine Racing crew chief Patrick Donahue

In the Craftsman Truck Series, Henderson Motorsports crew chief Chris Carrier was fined $5,000 and suspended for one race after two unsecured lug nuts were found on the No. 75 entry of Stefan Parsons post-race at Texas.

Posted on by Zack Albert

CONCORD, N.C. — William Byron said Tuesday he’s awaiting a discussion with Ross Chastain after their last-lap contact in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race but that the benefit of hindsight hasn’t swayed his viewpoint on their overtime collision at Texas Motor Speedway.

Byron finished third behind a victorious Hendrick Motorsports teammate in Chase Elliott, but his charging No. 24 Chevrolet tangled with Chastain’s No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevy as the two drivers exited Turn 2. Chastain scraped the outside retaining wall and went from a likely top-five finish to a 32nd-place result in the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400.

RELATED: Byron takes third at Texas | Byron tops Power Rankings list

Byron said post-race Sunday that the contact was not intentional, adding, “I don’t want to do that to anyone.” In a Tuesday roundtable with reporters, the 26-year-old driver said he’d made the initial reach-out to Chastain to talk it through.

“We haven’t spoken yet. I reached out to him, but I’m sure we’ll get connected later this week,” Byron said. “But nothing really changes for me, my perspective. We just came together in a spot there. He was coming down the track to try to cover my run, and I was just making the corner exit like I anticipated him being where he would be on the exit. It’s unfortunate, but it’s racing on the last lap, and I’m just going to do that at times probably to save that spot.”

Byron said he would have expected turnabout if the roles were reversed, and Chastain — known as one of the series’ most aggressive drivers — was in his position under Sunday’s circumstances.

“I would. I think probably the timing and the momentum that I had was probably, maybe a little bit different than what he thought or something,” Byron said. “I haven’t talked to him, so once we talk, we’ll discuss it and go from there.”

Byron enters Sunday’s GEICO 500 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Talladega Superspeedway as the circuit’s top winner this year with three Cup Series victories in the first nine races. He’s also rounded into a proven winner at superspeedway-style racing, with two wins each at Daytona International Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

MORE: Weekend schedule: Talladega

When pressed to measure his speedway credentials against the best of the field, Byron cites two drivers from rival manufacturers — Toyota’s Denny Hamlin and Ford’s Ryan Blaney, Talladega’s most recent winner last fall.

“Those two guys do a really good job of just kind of positioning themselves throughout the entire race,” said Byron, who was runner-up to Blaney at Talladega last October. “But yeah, it just seems like for us, we just have to go with a good mindset, and then it seems like the rest kind of takes care of itself. You can’t worry about the things you can’t control, so the times I go there stressed out or worried about crashing because of a point situation or whatever, it just doesn’t work. So just try to have the right mindset going there.”

Posted on by Staff Report

23XI Racing revealed on Tuesday a special No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota that driver Tyler Reddick will pilot this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.

MORE: Full Talladega schedule | Tyler Reddick gear, die-casts

It’s the first time since Las Vegas Motor Speedway last fall that Reddick will sport the iconic brand featuring his NBA Hall of Fame team owner Michael Jordan, a frequent attendee at Talladega himself. The California native will look to claim victory No. 1 of the season in Sunday’s race (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with the slick look — and also his first top 10 at Talladega since back-to-back seventh-place runs there in 2020-21.

The response to the stand-out scheme from fans was overwhelmingly positive.

 

Posted on by Brandon White

The vibrant racing culture at Berlin Raceway is set to ignite once again Saturday with the season-opening Icebreaker.

One of the facility’s most prestigious events, the Icebreaker also acts as the first leg of Berlin’s triple crown that consists of the Money in the Bank 150 and the Battle at Berlin. Headlining the on-track festivities is the Super Late Model division, which will be accompanied by the Limited Late Model, Sportsman and 4 Cylinder classes.

Super Late Model drivers will be competing for a $4,000 race-winning paycheck at the end of the 75-lap sprint. Evan Shotko, the 2022 Berlin track champion, enters the Icebreaker as the most recent winner.

Below is everything you need to know about the Icebreaker before Berlin kicks off its 2024 season Saturday afternoon.

Berlin Icebreaker
Super Late Models will battle for $4,000 in the season-opening Icebreaker at Berlin Raceway. (Photo: Emily Elconin/NASCAR)

What TV channel is the Berlin Icebreaker on in 2024?

All on-track action from the Icebreaker at Berlin Raceway can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming partner for all NASCAR Regional properties.

The Icebreaker will not be shown on a television network.

Below is the complete schedule for Icebreaker coverage on FloRacing.

Date Start time How to watch
Saturday, Apr. 20 4 p.m. ET FloRacing
Berlin Raceway
Saturday’s season-opening Icebreaker at Berlin Raceway will consist of features for Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Sportsmans and 4 Cylinders. (Photo: Emily Elconin/NASCAR)

Berlin Icebreaker 2024 schedule

The on-track activities for the Icebreaker commence at 2 p.m. ET.

Super Late Models will be the first to hit the track with a lone 30-minute practice session. The rest of the 90-minute practice period sees the Limited Late Model, Sportsman and 4 Cylinder classes get two, 10-minute sessions apiece.

Qualifying for Super Late Models starts at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed shortly by the first event at 4 p.m. ET. The three support divisions will all take part in double features, with the 75-lap Super Late Model race wrapping up a busy opening day for Berlin.

Below is the complete race-day schedule for the Icebreaker at Berlin Raceway.

Time Event
11 a.m. Pit Pass Window Opens
12 p.m. Pit Gate Opens
12:45 p.m. 4 Cylinder Tech (Turn 1)
1:30 p.m. Sportsman Tech (Turn 1)
2 p.m. General Admission Gates Open
2-2:30 p.m. Super Late Model Practice (30 min)/LLM Tech (Turn 1)
2:30-2:40 p.m. 4 Cylinder Practice (10 min)
2:40-2:50 p.m. Sportsman Practice (10 min)/SLM Tech
2:50-3 p.m. Limited Late Model Practice (10 min)
3-3:10 p.m. 4 Cylinder Practice (10 min)
3:10-3:20 p.m. Sportsman Practice (10 min)
3:20-3:30 p.m. Limited Late Model Practice (10 min)
3:30 p.m. Super Late Model Qualifying
3:57 p.m. Invocation (Larry Bush)/National Anthem (Orchard Hill Praise Team)
4 p.m. Icebreaker (Sportsman Feature 1: 20 laps/20 min, 4 Cylinder Feature 1: 15 laps/15 min, Limited Late Model Feature 1: 30 laps/30 min, Sportsman Feature 2: 20 laps/20 min, 4 Cylinder Feature 2: 15 laps/15 min, Limited Late Model Feature 2: 30 laps/30 min, Super Late Model Feature: 75 laps/60 min)
Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation are teaming up to host a 37-hour online giving event to raise funds for nonprofits across the country.

The Giveathon will begin May 14 at 8 a.m. ET and go until 9 p.m. ET on May 15. Officially known as the “NASCAR Day Giveathon,” the entire giving period will feature a multitude of bonus grants and matching gift donations for nonprofit organizations as well as commemorative prizes and memorabilia for donors. Nonprofit registration is still available until May 1 at NASCARdaygiveathon.org.

The NASCAR Foundation will work with organizations in the weeks approaching the Giveathon to increase awareness of this national movement across the extensive network of passionate NASCAR fans.

“We are thrilled to bring the NASCAR Day Giveathon back for a second year,” said Nichole Krieger, Vice President and Executive Director of The NASCAR Foundation. “It’s always heartwarming to see what our NASCAR industry can accomplish when we all come together for the greater good. We’re excited to build upon the success of last year’s campaign to make an even greater impact on the communities where we live, work and race.”

Contributions will be accepted online throughout the entire 37-hour window, with donors designating their funds toward their charities of choice from the list of participating organizations. The Giveathon will also feature bonus grants and matching gift donations for nonprofit organizations, as well as T-shirts and memorabilia items as incentives for donors.

NASCAR and Kaulig Giving will randomly award two $500 bonus grants every hour during the 37-hour window to charities that receive at least one $25 donation during that hour. Kaulig Giving is the philanthropic arm of Kaulig Companies and focuses on the wellbeing of children and families through charitable giving, community involvement, and partnerships with like-minded nonprofits.

Matching gift donations are made possible by the generosity of Giveathon sponsors, including NASCAR, Kaulig Giving, Jeep Beach, First Nation Group and Borkan Skahill. Matching donations will be matched up to $500 per gift on May 15 during the following hours:

8 a.m. NASCAR $10,000 Match
9 a.m. Kaulig Giving $10,000 Match
10 a.m. Jeep Beach $10,000 Match
11 a.m. First Nation Group
(veterans/military charities)		 $10,000 Match
Noon Borkan Skahill $10,000 Match
1 p.m. NASCAR $15,000 Match
2 p.m. Kaulig Giving $15,000 Match
3 p.m. Jeep Beach $15,000 Match
4 p.m. First Nation Group
(veterans/military charities)		 $15,000 Match
7 p.m. Kaulig Giving $10,000 Match
8 p.m. NASCAR $10,000 Match

Donor incentives include the opportunity to be listed on the bed of the Rev Racing Gainbridge No 2. Chevrolet Silverado driven by Nick Sanchez in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro on May 18; a commemorative Helmet for the first 100 donors who contribute $750 or more; a commemorative coin for the first 300 donors of $50 or more; and a commemorative T-shirt for the first 1,500 donors of $75 or more.

To learn more about the NASCAR Day Giveathon or to register your nonprofit for the event, please visit NASCARDaygiveathon.org. Nonprofit registration closes May 1.

Posted on by Brandon White

Of all the short tracks operating throughout the United States, none have a reputation quite like Bowman Gray Stadium.

Since first opening to the public in 1949, the quarter-mile bullring has entertained generations of fans with close-quarter racing and hot tempers that regularly spill over onto the track. The intense nature of the weekly shows has led Bowman Gray to be colloquially known by drivers and fans as ‘The Madhouse.’

Amidst the countless on-track rivalries is a rich racing culture that has seen many NASCAR legends take home checkered flags. The NASCAR Cup Series competed at Bowman Gray 29 times between 1958-71, with Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Bobby Allison, Rex White and Glen Wood being amongst the winners.

RELATED: Watch the Bowman Gray Stadium opener on FloRacing

Today, racing at Bowman Gray is headlined by the renowned Modified division. Many drivers have cemented themselves into Bowman Gray lore in the last 75 years by outlasting the track and their fellow competition to become one of the select few to earn a Modified championship.

Burt Myers
Burt Myers will chase his 11th track championship at Bowman Gray Stadium this year. (Photo: Parker Michels-Boyce/NASCAR)

More recently, the Modified division at Bowman Gray Stadium has been dominated by two people, Tim Brown and Burt Myers.

Brown’s first championship in 1996 set a commanding precedent that would persist into the 21st Century. No other driver has more Modified titles at Bowman Gray than Brown with 12 overall, but Myers follows closely behind him with 10 of his own.

The efficiency Brown and Myers have enjoyed during their respective careers has also placed them atop the all-time win list in Bowman Gray’s Modified class. Brown’s 98 victories leads all drivers in Bowman Gray’s long history, all while Myers currently sits second on the win list with 91.

Despite taking home a combined seven checkered flags last year, neither Brown nor Myers managed to tack on another Bowman Gray championship to their impressive resumes. Both veterans are back at the facility for another season, each determined to best the other for the title following a long, grueling summer.

Saturday’s Hayes Jewelers 200 will be the first opportunity for Brown and Myers to kickstart a prospective championship campaign. Myers enters the endurance event as the defending winner, but Brown is seeking to take his first season-opening victory at Bowman Gray since 2013.

With NASCAR taking over the lease at Bowman Gray this year, a new era at the facility will begin with Saturday’s with the Hayes Jewelers 200, the longest and most prestigious race on the calendar. The Modifieds will contest 200 laps around Bowman Gray’s quarter-mile, with the Sportsman, Street Stock and Stadium Stock divisions also on the docket.

Brandon Ward
Brandon Ward will begin his pursuit for a second consecutive Bowman Gray Stadium title starting in Saturday’s Hayes Jewelers 200. (Photo: Eakin Howard/NASCAR)

Brandon Ward ready to defend Bowman Gray Modified title

After several years of trying, Brandon Ward finally broke through to join an elite list of Bowman Gray Modified champions at the end of the 2023 season.

Ward brings one of the more diverse backgrounds to the Bowman Gray driver roster, having won races in Modifieds, Super Late Models, the USAR Pro Cup Series and the NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series. During the mid-2010s, Ward and his team New Day Motorsports elected to test their luck in Bowman Gray’s Modified division.

It would not take long for Ward’s versatility to carry over into Modified competition at the Madhouse. His first Bowman Gray checkered flag came during the 2017 season finale. He’s followed that up with six more victories, including a stellar four-win campaign in 2019.

Although he is no stranger to finding Victory Lane at Bowman Gray, Ward earned his maiden track championship without a trip to Victory Lane. Now armed with momentum following last year’s championship, Ward is ready to defend his title by earning victories while also maintaining the consistency he displayed in 2023.

The primary obstacle standing in the way of Ward repeating will be the two elder statesmen of Bowman Gray’s Modified class in Brown and Myers. A win in the Hayes Jewelers 200 on Saturday could provide Ward the necessary jolt to assume early control over the Modified division.

Riley Neal
Riley Neal will transition into the Modified division full-time at Bowman Gray Stadium after spending the past two seasons in the Sportsman class. (Photo: Erick Messer) 

Riley Neal carries family tradition of success into Modified division

The Neal family has a long, proud tradition of success at Bowman Gray Stadium, with family patriarch Tommy Neal having won multiple titles in the track’s Sportsman and Stadium Stock classes.

Having already enjoyed the privilege of racing alongside his grandson Riley, Tommy will now get to see the youngest member of the Neal family advance from the Sportsman division to Modifieds in pursuit of a track championship.

Riley has already become embedded with the vibrant culture at Bowman Gray, tallying five victories in the Sportsman class since the 2022 season. During the most recent offseason, Riley was busy competing in Modified events around the Southeast to prepare for his transition into Bowman Gray’s top division.

Riley now has the chance to compete alongside many of the same legends that have been synonymous with efficiency inside the Madhouse. This step forward also brings many challenges for Riley, who will have to fight for every position in events ranging from twin 25-lap features to 200-lap endurance events.

With the first race, the Hayes Jewelers 200, serving as the longest race of the year, Riley will look to gain experience and learn from the veterans so he can find his comfort zone going into the summer.

NOTES:

  • Along with the 200-lap Modified feature, the season-opening Hayes Jewelers 200 at Bowman Gray Stadium will include a 40-lap Sportsman race to accompany the traditional 20-lap and 15-lap race lengths for the Street Stocks and Stadium Stocks, respectively.
  • The first green flag of Bowman Gray’s 2024 season is set to wave at 8 p.m. on Saturday evening. Tickets for adults cost $12, while children between the ages of six and 11 can get in for $2. Any child five years old or younger has free admission into the track.
  • FloRacing is set to provide live flag-to-flag coverage of every race at Bowman Gray.