CONCORD, N.C. — In one way, Joe Gibbs Racing crew chiefs James Small and Chris Gabehart enter Sunday’s penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series season in identical positions, each of their teams 17 points beneath the provisional elimination line ahead of Martinsville Speedway.
In another, their respective postseasons could not feel more different.
Small and the No. 19 team, headed by driver Martin Truex Jr., have been plagued by bad breaks, failed execution or poor results on a seemingly weekly basis through eight races in the NASCAR Playoffs. The group collected the Regular Season Championship with a stellar 26-race stretch to start the season, but the postseason has been anything but smooth. Conversely, Gabehart’s No. 11 team with driver Denny Hamlin has generally had strong results to back up their collective speed. Both, though, enter Martinsville in need of points.
Frustration reached a visible fever pitch for the No. 19 Toyota last week at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where slow pit stops routinely cost Truex valuable track position before his day went up in smoke anyway due to a blown engine at Lap 237.
Thursday morning at the NASCAR Research & Development Center, where the sanctioning body hosted breakfast for the Round of 8 crew chiefs as well as media members, Small maintained a sense of optimism despite the repeated metaphorical kicks to the shin his team has taken.
“It’s just because we’ve always got a chance, you know what I mean?” Small said. “Like, that’s the mindset. We’re not out of it and they can’t kick us out that easy. So, you know, it’s no different to any of the other elimination races we went through. You know, we were behind at Bristol and we survived. It was tough at the (Charlotte) Roval and we had to do some silly things to make sure we advanced but we know we’re capable of doing it and the guys on the team just will never ever give up.
“And Martin’s the same. So long as we execute, we’ll have a good chance and I still think we can make it there next week.”
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A lack of execution on pit road has been unfortunately commonplace for the No. 19 team, particularly in the postseason. Per Racing Insights, the No. 19 crew ranks 25th during the playoffs with its average four-tire service time 1.2 seconds slower than the top-ranked team of Brad Keselowski’s No. 6 RFK Racing crew.
After losing five spots on a pit stop after the conclusion of Stage 2, Truex radioed that the service was “terrible.” Reminded by Small “we can overcome it though” with plenty of laps left, Truex resigned to weeks’ worth of frustration: “Yep, we’ve always got to overcome it, don’t we?”
To help that execution, a change has been made to the No. 19 team’s pit crew ahead of Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (2 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Rear tire changer Kevon Jackson shifts to Truex’s car after spending the last eight races with the No. 54 JGR Toyota driven by Ty Gibbs. Jackman Caleb Dirks joins the squad after working on the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford most recently. Both Jackson and Dirks began the season pitting the No. 20 Toyota, another JGR car, piloted by Christopher Bell.
“You used to be able to out-aero people and do all these things and have huge car advantages,” Small said. “But now it comes down to essentially everyone’s got the same mouse trap and it’s just small gains there, but then it’s pit stops and restarts. And that can define your day. And you know, you might not glimpse that on TV or whatever as the average fan, but you have one slow stop and you lose a few spots and then you’re in a crappy restart and like things unravel really quickly and so on. Yeah, it’s critical to have a solid day on pit road.
“Our guys have been fantastic all through the regular season, and then kind of the playoffs came in and they kind of (expletive) the bed. So it’s been a challenge and they’ve been working with them and yeah, hopefully these changes will help and just lift the other guys as well who are still on the team.”
An engine failure means the result effectively would have been the same at Homestead. Worse for Joe Gibbs Racing is it happened mere moments after Hamlin’s No. 11 car suffered a mechanical failure, sending the vehicle careening into the outside SAFER barrier.
“It appears that we had an acute power steering failure at exactly the time of the downshift where he only had one hand on the wheel, and the car was really loaded up,” Gabehart explained Thursday. “So, he’s used to a certain amount of effort — he’s been doing it for 220-something laps in that exact scenario — the powering steering fails, effort instantaneously has to go way up, it ripped the wheel out of his hands, quite simply, and into the wall we went.”
James Gilbert | Getty Images
Thus the teammates — both of whom were widely viewed as locks for the Championship 4 — are deadlocked 17 points beneath the elimination line and up against it.
Hamlin enjoyed a fairly steady playoffs without much issue, but his Homestead DNF marks his second in a three-race span after crashing out at the Charlotte road course. A 10th-place run in Las Vegas to open the Round of 8 wasn’t stellar but seemed decent enough at the time to remain safe in the postseason hunt. Now, he and Gabehart head to Martinsville — one of their best tracks, statistically, with five top-five finishes in nine races there together — with ground to make up.
Currently, that final spot in the Championship 4 is held by Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, who holds a 10-point advantage over fifth-place Tyler Reddick. Truex and Hamlin sit tied for sixth with all eyes locked on Blaney’s No. 12 Ford. How significant is a 17-point deficit?
“It always depends who you’re racing,” Gabehart said. “And being that the points stuff sits against Blaney, who, this is also a really good track for him. Hasn’t won yet at it. Hasn’t led really any laps in the Next Gen era. So it is possible, but he still tends to score really high. So when you look at that, 17 points is significant. But the 11 team has always been fortunate enough to not have to focus on anyone else. And that’s hard, right?
“When you talk about the course of our five years together, if we execute to our highest level, our biggest competition is ourselves. That doesn’t mean you’re gonna go win every race, but you will be in the conversation to win every race on the 11 team if we execute at a high level. And Martinsville is certainly one of the top race tracks in that category.”
Gabehart and Hamlin have gone to the Championship 4 in three of their four prior seasons together, 2022 the only exception thanks to Ross Chastain’s “Hail Melon” desperation move at Martinsville.
Hamlin is still chasing his elusive first championship. A title slipped away at Homestead in 2019 after the team placed a significant patch of tape on the grille of the car in the wrong spot while running second, leading Hamlin’s engine to overheat and necessitate another pit stop. In 2020, his car simply couldn’t compete against the other championship contenders at Phoenix. A chance to lead the field on the final restart in 2021 slipped away after Kyle Larson’s crew performed the fastest pit stop of the year in crunch time.
One more chance to have another chance? Gabehart says bring it on.
“I think the best way I can say it is in order to win, you have to be willing to lose,” he said. “I don’t mean back into a win. I don’t mean every now and then. … I mean, be one of the most winning race teams on the track. One of the most winning drivers on the track. You don’t get those stats by not being willing to lose and OK with an understanding that it’s part of the process.
“And I think over time, we’ve both earned that respect in one another. We both know how bad we want to win and how capable we are. It doesn’t mean you’re not gonna have bad days. That’s part of it. Doesn’t mean you’re not going to slap a big piece of tape on the front of the car on the final pit stop at Homestead in 2019 and miss. That’s OK. The reason we got there is because of our willingness to do it. You know this weekend will be no different win, lose or draw.”
The battle for the final two NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 berths couldn’t be much closer.
Three bubble drivers—Cole Custer, Austin Hill and Justin Allgaier—are covered by a three-point spread entering Saturday’s Round of 8 elimination race, and if form holds, they’ll be fighting for the final two berths in the Nov. 4 title race at Phoenix Raceway.
Custer and Hill, the Regular Season Champion, are third and fourth in the playoff standings, both three points ahead of Allgaier.
The rest of the playoff scenario is clear-cut. Sam Mayer qualified for the Championship 4 with a victory last Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his fourth win of the year and the first of his career on an oval track.
John Hunter Nemechek leads fifth-place Allgaier by 44 points and can clinch a spot in the championship event by scoring 12 points on Saturday—no matter who wins the race. That translates to a 25th-place finish if Nemechek scores no stage points.
Hence, if the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota can avoid an early disaster, he’s all but guaranteed a spot in the final four. Nemechek won the spring race in his only Xfinity Series start at the 0.526-mile short track.
For practical purposes, the bottom three in the standings—Sammy Smith, Chandler Smith and Sheldon Creed—must win at Martinsville to advance.
In all likelihood, that leaves the three drivers huddled around the cut line to battle for two Championship 4 spots.
Allgaier, who has five top-10 finishes in six Martinsville starts, finished third in last year’s final standings. He expects to run well on Saturday as he tries to continue the quest for his first series title.
“Martinsville has been a strong track for us since its return to the schedule (in 2020), and I know we will be just as quick again this weekend,” said Allgaier, who has finished seventh or better in the Xfinity standings in his last 12 full-time seasons.
“We just need to be smart all day long and keep the fenders on our JR Motorsports Camaro. If we can do that, then I feel extremely confident that we will accomplish what we’ve set out to do.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCAR Foundation recognized four NASCAR fans dedicated to volunteer support for local children’s organizations as finalists for the 13th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The announcement, which was made on FOX Sports NASCAR Race Hub, highlighted the volunteers’ commitment to improving the lives of children across the country.
“These four volunteers are representative of the generosity of our NASCAR fan base. Their efforts have made an important impact on improving the lives of children, an endeavor shared by Betty Jane France,” The NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton said. “Darla, Jennifer, Molly and Sandy each exemplify an unparalleled commitment to serving children in their communities and are an inspiration to us all. We encourage our fans to learn more about these finalists’ stories and vote for this year’s award winner.”
The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman Betty Jane France, recognizes NASCAR fans who volunteer for children’s causes in their local communities. Each finalist receives a minimum $25,000 donation for their organization, with the overall winner receiving a $100,000 donation from The NASCAR Foundation to further their efforts.
The 13th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalists include:
Darla Crown of Rapid City, S.D., a volunteer with Youth & Family Services, a non-profit organization that helps support children and their families to become capable, caring, and contributing members of the community. Through Darla’s participation with numerous organizations, she connects families in need with services provided by Youth & Family Services. Darla is also a 41-year veteran of the South Dakota National Guard.
Jennifer Gage of Phoenix, Ariz., founder of GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix, a local chapter of a national non-profit organization that serves children and adults with Down Syndrome by helping them find support, network with other families and navigate their diagnosis. Jennifer, whose daughter has Down Syndrome, saw a need for these services in her community.
Molly Moran of Walpole, Mass., a volunteer with Comfort Zone Camp, a non-profit organization that operates camps across the country that empower children experiencing grief to fully realize their capacity to heal, grow and lead more fulfilling lives. Molly has been volunteering as a camp counselor and mentor for nine years.
Sandy Stanley of Dalton, Ga, a volunteer with City of Refuge Dalton, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for family and community advancement. Sandy has volunteered as part of the hot meal feeding program and food bank, where she packs and delivers food boxes to the area’s most vulnerable children.
The overall winner will be determined by an online vote, which is open now. Fans can visit NASCARfoundation.org/Award to watch videos about each finalist’s impact on children while voting once a day, every day through Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. E.T. for their favorite finalist.
The overall winner will be announced during the NASCAR Awards on Thursday, Nov. 30 in Nashville.
To learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and the 2023 finalists, visit NASCARfoundation.org/Award.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season has reached its penultimate event. The Championship 4 will be decided Sunday at Martinsville Speedway (2 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), and the fight for the final two spots couldn’t be any more competitive as three title favorites have yet to punch their ticket to Phoenix.
Before the green flag drops, see how the Round of 8 looks ahead of Sunday, trends to watch for the race, a brief history of NASCAR’s shortest track and Goodyear tire info.
The Virginia short track has been around longer than NASCAR’s existence, with the first race being held for modified stock cars in 1947. The first NASCAR-sanctioned event came a year later, followed by the first Cup Series race in 1949, which was won by Red Byron.
The first 12 races at Martinsville were run on dirt.
The introduction of the grandfather clock trophy came in 1964, first awarded to Fred Lorenzen. Richard Petty owns the most clocks with 12, followed by Darrell Waltrip (11), Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson (nine each).
Sunday’s Cup race will be the 150th at Martinsville, second to Daytona International Speedway (153).
(Via Racing Insights)
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Unlike last year, no miracle last-lap efforts can save a playoff driver’s title hopes, so getting quality track position quickly will be of the highest importance on Sunday. Qualifying could pay off with awarding points in Stage 1, but as we saw in the spring, a mistake on pit road could find you at the back of the pack and your race-win and championship hopes dashed.
While not yet locked in, William Byron holds a comfortable 30-point cushion to the elimination line and is likeliest to join Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in the Championship 4. Byron owns three top-five finishes in the last five Martinsville events.
Ryan Blaney has never made the Championship 4 but has a golden opportunity to make it on Sunday as he enters 10 points above the elimination line. He’s trending toward a big points day as well, with top-10 finishes in the last three Martinsville races.
Being a short track with relatively long straightaways, very little banking and tight corners, Martinsville Speedway traditionally produces close racing, a lot of contact on the track and hot tempers. Cup teams will have a new tire set-up at Martinsville, designed with a thicker gage – or tread thickness – and tested at Richmond Raceway in August.
Teams will be allotted one set of tires for practice, one set for qualifying and an additional nine sets for Sunday’s race.
Fans can get in on the action all season long with NASCAR Fan Rewards, a free program that rewards fans for participating in the action when they watch races and play NASCAR Fantasy.
There’s no cost to join. Fans must be 18 years or older to participate in the program.
Earn points by checking into a race from home or at the track, setting your Fantasy Live lineup, making purchases on the NASCAR.com shop, and more. Points can be redeemed for race tickets, merchandise, and VIP experiences at the track, including pace car rides and waving the green flag at qualifying.
NASCAR Mobile has now added support for fans to “Follow the Race” and access live leaderboard and race information from Live Activities in the current app release (v13.2.0), available now. Android users, we didn’t forget you — the same functionality has been custom-built for Android devices, as well.
How to access Live Activities on iPhones:
Make sure your iOS device has been updated to 16.1 or higher.
Available on the leaderboard of all NASCAR Series races.
Click on the three-dot menu near the top right of the screen.
Select “Follow the Race.”
Swipe up to access the home screen, and you will see the Live Activities at the top.
Lock the device, and you will see Live Activities on the Lock Screen.
To turn it off, simply visit the leaderboard, click the three-dot menu, and “Unfollow the Race.”
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Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week, a select number of in-car cameras will be available — as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.
NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement to the NASCAR Mobile App. Log in to the mobile app during the race for polls, quizzes, the cheer meter, and more — and see instant results from NASCAR fans like you.
Jesse Love will move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, teaming up with Richard Childress Racing to pilot the No. 2 Chevrolet on a full-time basis, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.
The 18-year-old wheelman dominated the ARCA Menards Series circuit this season with 10 wins in 20 races en route to the series championship.
“We’ve been watching Jesse for a while now, and his breakout performance in the ARCA Menards Series was impressive this season,” Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of RCR, said in a statement. “We know that he has the talent and determination to win races and compete for championships within RCR’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program. We are looking forward to welcoming Whelen back for another year on the No. 2 program and feel confident that Jesse will be a strong ambassador for Whelen.”
Love will replace Sheldon Creed, who currently is competing in the Round of 8 of the Xfinity Series Playoffs alongside his teammate Austin Hill.
Fielding teams in the Xfinity Series since 1995, RCR has nabbed five driver’s championships, including two with Kevin Harvick (2001, 2006), one with Clint Bowyer, one with Austin Dillon, and most recently, Tyler Reddick in 2019.
“I’ve been fortunate to gain a lot of racing experience at a young age, but nothing compares to the opportunity to race for a legendary team like Richard Childress Racing,” Love said. “I have so much respect for Richard Childress and am extremely grateful to be able to race and learn with one of the most successful teams in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. I’ve dreamed of racing at the highest levels of the sport since I was a young kid, and the path to the NASCAR Cup Series seems more clear with this opportunity.”
NASCAR officials issued penalties to multiple teams on Wednesday after last weekend’s races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, including two in the Xfinity Series that carried with them suspensions. Also included in this week’s report were an L1-level points penalty in Craftsman Trucks and a fine to Cup Series driver Ryan Newman.
One of those penalties in the Xfinity Series affected playoff-eligible driver Austin Hill and the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team, which was found with two unfastened lug nuts on the left-front wheel after a fourth-place finish in Saturday’s Contender Boats 300. The violation of Section 8.8.10.4a in the NASCAR Rule Book resulted in a one-race suspension and a $10,000 fine for No. 21 crew chief Andy Street. Mike Shiplett will fill in as the No. 21’s crew chief this week.
Hill, the Xfinity Series’ Regular Season Champion, will be vying for one of the three remaining spots in the Championship 4 field in Saturday’s Dead On Tools 250 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App) at Martinsville Speedway. Hill currently ranks fourth among the eight remaining title-eligible drivers, holding a three-point edge over the elimination line.
In the Cup Series, Ryan Newman, the driver of the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford, was fined $10,000 for a safety violation for removing the head sock, which comes under Sections 8.3.2 A; 14.2.1.1 A & F of the Rule Book. Newman finished 26th in Sunday’s 4Ever 400 Presented by Mobil 1.
In the Truck Series, the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team of Ty Majeski was hit with an L1-level penalty for violating Sections 14.14.1.C of the Rule Book having to do with the front suspension. That penalty resulted in a 10-point loss for the team and the driver. Majeski finished ninth in Saturday’s Baptist Health Cancer Care 200.
Competition officials also suspended crew members Taylor Collier and Dale Hollifield from the No. 74 Xfinity team of Dawson Cram for the next two events for loss of an improperly secured tire at Homestead. Cram finished 36th in the CHK Racing Chevrolet on Saturday.
And crew chief Jason Ratcliff of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team was fined $5,000 for a single unsecured lug found in Saturday’s post-race check. Joe Graf Jr. drove the Toyota to a 10th-place finish.
Also in the Truck Series, the Nos. 15 and 17 teams of Tanner Gray and Taylor Gray of Tricon Garage were each cited for one lug nut not being secure in post-race inspection. Crew chiefs Jerame Donley and Jacob Hampton were each fined $2,500. Tanner Gray finished 11th while Taylor Gray was 13th in Saturday’s Truck race.
The No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford was disqualified in post-race inspection after Saturday’s Truck Series event for an infraction involving the windshield supports, but no further sanctions were issued Wednesday. Front Row Motorsports did not appeal the penalty.
Throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Advance Auto Parts is spotlighting a series of Home Track Heroes from NASCAR-sanctioned short tracks around the country. Each Home Track Hero, nominated by his or her peers as a result of contributions made to the race track, will have his or her name appear on the C-Post of Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang in a Cup Series Playoff race. Logan Clark, a driver at Dominion Raceway in Woodford, Virginia, is the Home Track Hero whose name will appear on Blaney’s car during the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Many NASCAR Home Track Heroes contribute to their facility’s efforts off the track. Logan Clark of Dominion Raceway makes his contributions both on and off the racing surface.
Clark is a 19-year-old driver who just finish his fourth year of late model racing. A former Bandolero driver, he won the INEX Virginia State Championship in 2018 and 2019, plus the 2019 Southside Speedway championship, before moving up to heavier stock cars.
Clark won a race at Dominion in 2023, but he’s a Home Track Hero as a result of his efforts outside the car.
His ability to network and connect with new fans and sponsors to grow the sport doesn’t go unnoticed. He works tirelessly to promote his home track, providing others an example of what and how they can contribute to the community and help others.
Clark, who works as a licensed realtor at The Hogan Group in Richmond, is consistently involved in charitable efforts such as Soles4Souls. The organization turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities, providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.
Through Clark’s efforts, thousands of dollars have been raised and hundreds of pairs of shoes have been donated to those in need.
Additionally, Clark recently announced the formation of The Logan Clark Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Richmond.
Mixed in with Modified veterans from both the northeast and the south are two NASCAR Cup Series legends in Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman. The duo is once again back with Sadler-Stanley Racing for Martinsville, piloting the No. 38 and No. 39 Modifieds, respectively.
Despite entering the Cup Series nearly a decade later than Labonte, Newman has more track time in a Modified. Since 2008, Newman has made at least one start in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour each year, with 2020 being the exception. The 2008 Daytona 500 winner has amassed four victories, 16 top fives and seven poles during that time, with his most dominant stretch being a clean sweep of the three races he entered in 2010.
Bobby Labonte will make his fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start Thursday night at Martinsville. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Labonte has been competing in Modifieds since 2020, when he started making appearances in events around the southeast. Driving for Mike Smith, Labonte, a two-time race winner in a Modified, has applied the same efficient driving style that won him the Cup Series title in 2000.
In their first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season together under the Sadler-Stanley Racing banner, Newman and Labonte have endured mixed results.
Labonte qualified inside the top 10 for both of his Modified Tour appearances this year. He brought home a sixth-place finish at Richmond Raceway in March but was unable to replicate that showing at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May after getting swept up in a crash with fewer than 40 laps remaining.
As for Newman, who was unable to compete at Richmond after the race was pushed back a day, he put together a vintage performance at North Wilkesboro, leading six laps and finishing sixth in the 38-car field.
Thursday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 at Martinsville marks one year since Newman and Labonte first raced Modifieds as teammates. Labonte’s night ended after 63 laps due to an accident, but Newman survived two late restarts to finish third behind Matt Hirschman and race-winner Corey LaJoie.
Both Newman and Labonte will look to add one more accomplishment to their respective storied resumes when the green flag waves at Martinsville.
2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece will return to the series at Martinsville Speedway in his own equipment. (Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/ARCA Racing)
Ryan Preece racing his own Modified at Martinsville
It’s been nearly a year since Ryan Preece last participated in a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event. That will change Thursday.
The 2013 series champion is bringing his own No. 40 Mizzy Construction Modified to Martinsville for the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200. He’ll look to obtain his first victory in the series since 2021.
Before embarking on a full-time career in the NASCAR Cup Series, Preece was regarded as one of the best drivers on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Along with his championship, Preece’s resume includes 25 victories, 81 top fives, 18 poles and 4,340 laps led.
Preece still makes time for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour whenever his busy schedule allows. Among the teams Preece has raced for in recent years include the iconic Ole Blue No. 3 owned by Jan Boehler and the late Eddie Partridge. Preece was driving that car at Richmond when he obtained his most recent series win.
Thursday serves as a throwback to Preece’s rookie season on the Modified Tour, when he ran the entire year with his family-owned team. A victory for Preece at Martinsville would be his first in the series with a car prepared by himself and his father Jeff.
Fresh off winning his first title at Bowman Gray Stadium, Brandon Ward is set to make his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start of his career at Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Eakin Howard/NASCAR)
Bowman Gray champion Brandon Ward looks to build momentum
In the months since Bowman Gray’s finale, Ward has turned his attention to other Modified events around the southeast, which will include his second career NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start on Thursday at Martinsville.
Known for his versatility, Ward has visited Victory Lane in nearly every type of car he has competed in over the past two decades. These accomplishments include wins in the now-defunct NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series and the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour.
Ward and his team New Day Motorsports elected to test their luck with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regulars during the series’ inaugural visit to North Wilkesboro Speedway in September. He managed to work his way to the front but faded to his original starting position of 24th by the time the checkered flag waved.
A strong run at Martinsville in the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 200 would give Ward plenty of confidence heading into 2024, when he plans to run an expanded schedule that includes a defense of his Bowman Gray title.
NOTES:
John-Michael Shenette will make his third NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start Thursday at Martinsville, and he’ll do so with a new partner on board his No. 28 Modified. Anglers Choice Marine, a Bass Boat Superstore with locations in Martinsville, Lexington, N.C. and Spindale N.C., is a family owned business that’s been in operation for more than 25 years. Shenette hopes to deliver a new career-high finish after logging a 12th-place run in his Modified Tour debut at Virginia’s Langley Speedway in August.
Patrick Emerling is back in his family-owned No. 07 for Martinsville after finishing in the top five with Joe Stevens at North Wilkesboro. Emerling has been focused on his NASCAR Xfinity Series program this year, with his best run being a 14th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Burt Myers is among the southeast contingent looking to challenge the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regulars at Martinsville. Along with being a 10-time champion at Bowman Gray Stadium, Myers won two NASCAR Southern Modified Tour titles in 2010 and 2016.
Andy Jankowiak’s successful 2023 season has seen him tally several Modified victories and two top fives in the ARCA Menards Series. On Thursday, Jankowiak will make his second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour start of the year in the No. 59 with Jody Lauzon as he looks to improve upon a 13th with the team at Oswego Speedway.
Former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Joey Coulter is back with the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour at Martinsville in his own No. 02. Coulter primarily competes in Modified events around the southeast, but he heads to Martinsville searching for his first top 10 on the Tour.
NASCAR’s Diamond Anniversary culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series returning to Nashville on Nov. 29 and 30 to close out the 75th anniversary season and honor each series champion.
The 2023 NASCAR Awards will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, at the Music City Center to formally honor the 2023 champions from all three NASCAR national series. For the first time in Nashville, NASCAR will also recognize the champions from the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West and NASCAR International Series on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
“As we continue to commemorate our diamond anniversary, there is no other place we’d rather return for our end of the year celebration than Music City,” said Pete Jung, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer at NASCAR. “We are ecstatic to bring Champion’s Week back to Nashville for a fourth year. The energy of this city never goes unnoticed and the fans’ dedication for our sport never fails.”
On Wednesday, Nov. 29, NASCAR will initiate two new fan activations: NASCAR House and NASCAR Champion Car Parade. NASCAR House will take place in the city center on 5th and Broadway from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. CT. The NASCAR Champion Car Parade will take to the street of Broadway from 2:30–3:30 p.m. CT. More details will be available in the coming weeks.
The formal postseason Awards is a tradition that stretches back to 1981, when the event was held in New York City. It relocated to Las Vegas in 2009 and then called Nashville its home for the first time in 2019. The engagement loosely coincided with the return of NASCAR racing to the area, with the Cup Series making an annual visit to Nashville Superspeedway every year since 2021.
More details regarding the schedule of events and tickets will become available in the coming weeks, organizers said.
