Posted on by Staff Report

Familiar faces prevailed as the 2023 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Most Popular Driver Award presented by Hooters was earned by Chase Elliott in the NASCAR Cup Series, Justin Allgaier in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Hailie Deegan in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Thursday evening at the NASCAR Awards banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.

Elliott, 28, claims the honor in the Cup Series for a sixth consecutive year, dating back to 2018. The 2020 Cup champion is one of only five Cup drivers to win the award five times or more in NASCAR’s premier series, joining Richard Petty (8x), Bobby Allison (8x), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (15x) and Chase’s father, Bill Elliott (16x). The younger Elliott additionally won the award twice in the Xfinity Series (2014-15).

RELATED: Every NMPA MPD Award winner

“I don’t ever take it for granted,” Elliott said, noting that Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney and the retiring Kevin Harvick were also worthy candidates in this year’s balloting. “You know, I think it’s an easy thing to look at and to think that I would, but always grateful for the honor and always, always grateful to have the support that we’ve had. Like I said on stage, this has always been, to me, an extension of my family’s place in the sport and the success that they had over the years. The fans have been great to all of us, not just myself but my entire family. So that’s kind of how I look at it and certainly respect it and appreciate all that they do for me, and I’m looking forward to seeing folks back on the road next year.”

Elliott was seen on stage wearing a sling after having shoulder surgery roughly two weeks ago. Earlier in the day, fellow driver Denny Hamlin revealed details about the severity of his shoulder operation just eight days ago, noting that it has raised uncertainty about his status for the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum exhibition on Feb. 4.

Elliott said he felt confident that he should be ready for season-opening events in February, including the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18.

“Anytime you have surgery and you go through the process, any little setback or whatever can slow the process down, but thus far, everything has gone really well,” Elliott said. “So, you know, the way I see things today, I don’t think there’s anything that would make me think that next year would be compromised at the beginning of the season, including the Clash. So my goal is to be rehabbed and feeling good and ready to go for the Clash, and then ultimately, and more importantly, Daytona when that time rolls around, which gives you a couple more weeks, at that, But no, I feel good right now, and unless something changes, I should be totally fine.”

After winning the award for three consecutive years (2019-21), Allgaier, 37, found himself back in the Most Popular Driver award-winning column in the Xfinity circuit after Noah Gragson claimed the honor in 2022. With this achievement, a JR Motorsports pilot has won the award in the Xfinity Series for 12 consecutive years.

Deegan, 22, took home her third consecutive Most Popular Driver award in the Truck Series. Deegan became the first woman to win the award in the Truck Series in 2021 and remains the second woman to win the award all-time (Danica Patrick in the Xfinity Series in 2012).

Voting for this year’s award ran from Nov. 7 to Nov. 29.

Formed in 1965, the National Motorsports Press Association consists of qualified media members who report on the sport of auto racing through affiliations with print, radio, television and/or Internet news-gathering organizations. In addition to the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, the NMPA presents an array of auto-racing honors, including the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award, the Myers Brothers Award, the NMPA Pocono Spirit Award and the Wood Brothers Award of Excellence.

Posted on by Zack Albert

NASHVILLE — Sherry Pollex was honored in Thursday’s NASCAR Awards ceremonies as the recipient of the 2023 Myers Brothers Award for outstanding contributions to the sport of stock-car racing, a recognition of her long-standing charitable works in the fight against pediatric and ovarian cancer.

The award presented by the National Motorsports Press Association was given posthumously. Pollex died in September at age 44 after her own valiant personal battle against the disease.

The Myers Brothers recognition is Pollex’s second. In 2017, she shared the honor with her former partner, Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr.

Pollex was a driving force behind the Catwalk for a Cause, an annual charity fashion show that rallied the NASCAR industry in the fight against cancer. The event was launched in 2010 and has raised more than $4 million to fund research and other initiatives in the campaign.

Pollex faced multiple surgeries and difficult diagnoses in her own battle, but she maintained an optimistic attitude in her quest to inspire others. Her legacy as an ambassador is a lasting one, through her “Sherry Strong” initiative, her foundation’s work, and an oncology clinic founded in 2020 through a partnership with Novant Health.

“I often wonder if that’s my purpose here,” Pollex told The Athletic in 2022. “It’s maybe not what I would have chosen for myself — nobody really wants to be the poster child for any type of cancer — but maybe I’m supposed to go through all this so I can pave the way for other women. On some days, that can be a really hard pill to swallow. But on other days, it’s like, ‘You know, I’ve been given this really important role in this life, and if I’m going to leave a legacy behind and help other people, then I need to do it 100 percent.’ ”

Pollex was also honored Wednesday with a remembrance at the Comcast Community Champion of the Year awards ceremony. Pollex was a 2022 finalist for the award, and Comcast paid tribute to her memory with a $10,000 donation to the Sherry Strong Foundation.

Posted on by Staff Report

The NASCAR Foundation announced Molly Moran of Walpole, Massachusetts, as the winner of the 13th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award during Thursday’s NASCAR Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

With the announcement, Moran secured a $100,000 donation to Comfort Zone Camp. This bereavement organization helps transform the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver or significant person.

“Molly’s work with grieving children is difficult but important,” The NASCAR Foundation Vice President and Executive Director Nichole Krieger said in a press release. “The relationships she builds with the campers at Comfort Zone Camp help them through the challenging time of losing a loved one. The $100,000 will help them expand their efforts into even more communities.”

RELATED: Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award archives

Additional finalists for the award included Darla Crown of Youth & Family Services in South Dakota, Jennifer Gage of GiGi’s Playhouse in Arizona and Sandy Stanley of City of Refuge in Georgia. Each of these organizations earned a $25,000 donation for their nominated achievements.

Moran began volunteering after her mother and grandmother passed away from cancer. Moran serves as a mentor for grieving children during camp weekends, attends community events to advocate for grieving children, trains volunteers, and organizes fundraising events.

Moran has been a NASCAR fan for over 30 years after being introduced to the sport by her family.

In its 13 years, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award has recognized 52 NASCAR fans who are dedicated volunteers working for children’s causes in communities nationwide. Over 515,000 children have been affected by the program, with $2.335 million contributed to children’s charities.

Learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s programs, including the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and Speediatrics Children’s Fund, at www.NASCARfoundation.org. 

Posted on by Holly Cain

NASHVILLE — Ty Gibbs showed up at the NASCAR Awards Banquet smiling and ready to receive his 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year trophy. But the former NASCAR Xfinity Series champion said he was not absolutely satisfied with this first full-season run, even if he had plenty of which to be proud.

Gibbs earned the first top-five and top-10 finishes of his Cup Series career — posting four top fives and 10 top 10s over the 36-race season in the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He led 112 laps, including 102 laps in the fall Bristol night race where he finished fifth. His top finish was fourth place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

MORE: Cup schedule | Scenes from Champion’s Week

“Statistically, yes (he was happy), but I feel like I wanted to run a lot better, of course, and I’m working really hard,” Gibbs said. “The one thing I can take away from my (Xfinity Series) championship (last year) and all the other championships is to enjoy the journey, and I am.

“And I’m working hard. Getting better every weekend is the main goal, and I feel like I accomplished that, so I’m happy with that.”

The 21-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs said he learned many lessons throughout the season, primarily that patience is essential in racing, no matter how counterintuitive that may sound.

“You learn over time and the way Cup Series is now, there are not as many crazy moves going on as there were in Xfinity Series,” Gibbs said, allowing a smile.

“I’m not worried about showing others what I’m doing. I think for me, I’m just trying to do the best I can and when I can do that it shows others,” Gibbs added. “It’s a fine line. You can’t race to make everybody else happy, but at the same time, if you do everything right and calculate everything right and are patient, usually it pays off.

“For me, like this year, even if I wasn’t running as well, I’m still trying to figure out what I have to do to run better and win and that’s the same it will be for next year and until I retire. For me, it’s working hard during the week, having fun, but really learning where I can get better at. I want to win every week if I could, and I want to win championships, too. I feel like it’s been the same motto for me since I’ve been in ARCA and Xfinity; it was how I was raised.”

Posted on by Holly Cain

NASHVILLE — Perennial NASCAR Cup Series championship contender Denny Hamlin came to Nashville wearing a soft brace on his right arm to immobilize his shoulder after surgery a week ago to repair a lingering rotator cuff injury — aggravated by pulled tendons he suffered “playing sports” just before the Oct. 15 playoff race in Las Vegas.

Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, didn’t disclose the injury publicly during the season, saying he didn’t want anyone to think it served as an “excuse” during his playoff performance. But he conceded Thursday that the post-surgery situation has turned out to be more painful and involved than he anticipated.

RELATED: Scenes from Champion’s Week

Surgeons have recommended three months of rest and rehabilitation so Hamlin is not absolutely certain today where he will be in the recovery process come the first race of 2024 – the Feb. 4 non-points Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. He was reluctant to say for sure yet whether he would be in the field for that exhibition event or not.

“What I’m optimistic of is that I’ve got a great team that’s going to work on me to get this better and certainly, I find it hard to believe that I’ll have more pain in late-January than what I did in the end of October and November,” Hamlin said. “Getting through those last five races was really, really hard so I think if I can get through that, then certainly I’ll be able to challenge myself enough to get back in a car sooner than what they’d want me to.”

Hamlin finished fifth in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship, but the right-handed 43-year-old conceded the injury did force him to rely more on his left arm as he completed the final part of the 2023 postseason schedule.

“It was painful, there were many times when they asked me to turn on a switch and I couldn’t reach it, I couldn’t touch it,’’ Hamlin said. “We were certainly up against the odds, but one thing is I didn’t want to use it as any kind of excuse for not making the final four.

“I think really our performance was as good as it possibly could be on track. I did everything I could to succeed, we just didn’t get it done for whatever reason. Certainly, I didn’t want that to be any excuse of why we didn’t perform well. … It’s just one of those things, I grew up being a right-arm driver and during the playoffs had to switch to holding the wheel with the left hand, so it was certainly different.”

Hamlin, was a three-race winner last season, earning his milestone 50th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Pocono Raceway in July then answering with a 51st at the celebrated Bristol Motor Speedway night race in September during the playoff portion of the schedule.

Posted on by Zack Albert

NASHVILLE — Team owner Roger Penske said Thursday that NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney had expressed recent interest in a potential Indianapolis 500 bid.

His response? Let’s pump the brakes.

“It’s interesting that Blaney said to me at some point over the last several weeks that he’d like to go to Indy. I said, ‘whoa,’ ” Penske said with a chuckle. “Let’s slow down here a little bit.”

RELATED: Scenes from Champion’s Week

Penske’s remarks came Thursday morning ahead of the evening’s NASCAR Awards ceremonies, the culmination of a busy Champion’s Week celebration for Blaney and the Team Penske No. 12 group. Penske, who owns the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, had been asked about the impact of Kyle Larson’s quest to run the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double next May. He said that the development has already created a boost in ticket sales.

Blaney said during his Thursday media availability that his interest in the Memorial Day doubleheader was authentic.

“Honestly, it’s something I’ve bounced around in my mind for a couple years, something I feel like if you could do the double, that’s cool,” Blaney said. “Larson’s doing it next year. That’s going to be great. Yeah, I’ve poked around that idea with RP for a couple years now, and I might have to bring it back up. So we’ll see where that goes.”

Penske said fellow team owner Rick Hendrick, who fields Larson’s cars, had approached him years ago about an Indy bid for Larson in one of Team Penske’s cars. He said stretching his resources with a fourth IndyCar entry wasn’t feasible at the time, but he applauds Larson’s partnership with Arrow McLaren for the 2024 running.

“I think that his skill and his fan base in the Midwest (are) amazing,” Penske said. “And he went out there did his rookie tests, just bang, bang, bang. And I think that look, Kurt Busch has run there and you think about the other people that have come from Formula One — Jimmy Clark, Graham Hill, other people and Nigel Mansell — have been successful there. I think that he comes with a tremendous amount of talent, and it’s something that he wants to do.”

MORE: Larson’s Indy, 600 entries debut at Brickyard

Blaney said the lure for him is a mix of participating in a race with so much tradition, but also the draw of an 1,100-mile test that few have attempted or achieved.

“I just feel like (there’s) not maybe many people (who) can do that, right, that can do the double, and it’s a pretty short list,” Blaney said. “It’d be neat to just do it. I have respect for all forms of motorsports, so I think you want to go experience something like that. At my age, it’d be kind of perfect to do it, but I just think the nostalgia of it, being able to say you ran hopefully 1,100 miles in one day on the race track is a cool feat, and cool for Kyle to be able to do it. And maybe one day, I’ll get the privilege, too.”

Blaney’s interest was news to Larson, who said he’d like to see drivers from the IndyCar world give the double a try with an extracurricular trip to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I think that’d be really cool,” Larson said. “I would love to see, you know, a Josef Newgarden come and run the Coke 600 or something like that. I think, there’s been a lot of guys come from the NASCAR side to do it, and it would be interesting to see the other side of the switch. But yeah, I haven’t experienced it yet, so I don’t know. I’ll probably have a better opinion on it all here in a few months. But that’s cool to hear Ryan wants to do the double. I didn’t know that, so that would be be neat if he did actually get to do it someday.”

Posted on by Brandon White

Of all the marquee events in pavement short track racing throughout the United States, the Snowball Derby stands out among the rest.

Since 1968, Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida has been the gathering spot each December for many of the best in NASCAR and short track racing to battle it out for 300 laps. Awaiting each driver in Victory Lane is the opportunity to hoist the Tom Dawson Trophy and join an elite group of individuals who have a Snowball Derby win.

Wayne Niedecken’s triumph in the inaugural Snowball Derby helped lay the foundation for what the event is today. He is one of a few drivers who have multiple Snowball Derby wins alongside names such as Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Bobby Gill, Augie Grill, Gary Balough and Chase Elliott, the latter of which remains the youngest winner in the history of the race.

RELATED: 2023 Snowball Derby entry list breakdown

No driver has more victories in the Snowball Derby than short track veteran and former NASCAR Cup Series driver Rich Bickle. During his career, Bickle won the Snowball Derby a record five times from 1990-1999 before electing to hang up his helmet during the 2021 edition of the event.

Other notable Snowball Derby victors include NASCAR legends such as Darrell Waltrip, Donnie Allison and 1970 Daytona 500 winner Pete Hamilton. Tammy Jo Kirk made history in 1994 as the first female winner of the Snowball Derby before Johanna Long joined her in that category in 2010.

A healthy group of teams are set to make the pilgrimage to Pensacola this week for a busy week of on-track action. Four NASCAR Cup Series drivers in Jones, William Byron, Ryan Preece and Carson Hocevar are on the preliminary entry list alongside short track standouts Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse, Preston Peltier, Derek Thorn, William Sawalich and more.

With anticipation building for the 56th running of the Snowball Derby, those who are competing talked about why this race means so much to them.

Erik Jones
Erik Jones in action during the Money in the Bank 150 Super Late Model race at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway on June 7, 2023. (Emily Elconin/NASCAR)

Erik Jones: No. 4 Vast Racing Products Toyota (2012, 2013 winner)

“I came into the 2012 Snowball Derby with some limited options beyond late models, and at the time, I didn’t see an opportunity to do much more than that. Those 2012-13 races really opened my world to the NASCAR side of things and trying to get opportunities to move over there and race forward.

“I wouldn’t say I was the only person that has been in that situation, but it really did change the course of things and help propel my career.”

William Byron: No. 24 U.S. Radiators/PFC Brakes Chevrolet

“[The Snowball Derby] is important just because I enjoy giving back to that aspect of the sport. I feel like it’s very competitive and there’s plenty of competition at that level, just like there is at the Cup level. It’s a good chance to challenge myself against those people and it’s a historic race when you look at the list of people who have won it.

“It’s cool to see people like Donnie Allison, Kyle Busch and others who have won that race in the past.”

Ryan Preece: No. 62 Morton Buildings Ford

“I’m really looking forward to the Snowball Derby. It’s the biggest Super Late Model event in the country, and it’s highly anticipated every year. There’s nothing quite like it for racers and fans. To be a part of it is really exciting, and to be behind the wheel of the No. 62 is awesome.

“We’ve been prepping for this for a while now, and I’m ready to chase the Snowball Trophy and hopefully bring it back to North Carolina.”

Two-time CARS Tour champion Carson Kvapil seeks to improve upon a 12th place run from his debut Snowball Derby attempt last year. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

Carson Kvapil: No. 35 Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net Chevrolet

“I feel that the Snowball [Derby] is that one Super Late Model race everyone pays attention to. I believe that the Snowball has a huge amount of competition, and to win that race, everything has to go your way, and obviously you have to have a fast car. Running my dad’s car is always fun to do when I am not running with the JR Motorsports team in Late Model Stocks.

“Hopefully we can find some speed for this weekend.”

Treyten Lapcevich: No. 32 Glenn Styres Racing Toyota

“[The Snowball Derby] is really special. It’s a race I’ve grown up watching, and I know a lot of big names have been made there. It’s really special that I’m able to go there with the family team and have my own family with me, too. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I’m really excited for it.”

Caden Kvapil: No. 32 Keen Parts/CorvetteParts.net Chevrolet

“The Snowball Derby is one of the most prestigious races in short track racing, so it makes it really important to myself because you are racing the best of the best. In the one week you’re here, you can learn so much about the track, car and your racing. The prestige of this event makes the short track scene a whole lot better since it is so known for the awesome racing it puts on.”

Luke Fenhaus: No. 26 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet

“The Snowball Derby is what everyone looks forward to all year long. It’s the Daytona 500 in short track racing where all the fans and racers end their year at. It’s the greatest week in short track racing and also the hardest.”

Fresh off an All American 400 victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, 2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion William Sawalich seeks to win the Snowball Derby in his first appearance.(Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/ARCA Racing)

William Sawalich: No. 2 Soundgear/Starkey Hearing/ Toyota

“[The Snowball Derby] means a lot. It’s a really cool race, and it would mean a lot to win it. There’s so much prep before that race, and all the teams put a lot of hard work into the cars before even testing. It’d be pretty cool to win that one.”

Travis Braden: No. 21 Cook Electrical/Jett Motorsports Toyota (2019 winner)

“The [Snowball] Derby is such a spectacle from start to finish, and like most historic events, it seems to become more meaningful to the competitors and loyal audience with time. Speaking of my own experience, having not raced in the south much throughout my career. And not getting my first start in the Derby until 2019, I didn’t always understand the extent of what it means to chase that Tom Dawson Trophy as an outsider.

“Now, after competing in the event twice, the anticipation is massive each year as the regular season championships wrap up and focus shifts to, ‘Who will win this year’s Derby?’”

Posted on by Alex Cadavid

Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.

CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 4

Cole Custer lifts Xfinity Series championship trophy.
James Gilbert | Getty Images

Winner: Cole Custer

Key highlights: The battle for the 2023 Xfinity Series title was thrilling right to the very end. Cole Custer steered his way to a career-first series title after slipping from first to third on the final restart. Fellow championship contender John Hunter Nemechek held a fleeting lead but couldn’t turn his No. 20 Toyota in Turn 1 and lost the top spot to Justin Allgaier. It was Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Custer duking it out for the title on the final laps. Custer emerged with a narrow overtime victory to claim the Xfinity Series championship.

Full race recap: Cole Custer wins thrilling Xfinity finale at Phoenix for first title

At-track photos: At-track photos: 2023 Championship weekend

CHAMPIONSHIP 4 ORDER OF FINISH: Cole Custer (1st), Justin Allgaier (3rd), Sam Mayer (5th), John Hunter Nemechek (28th)

Posted on by Chris Murdock

Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.

CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 3

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Winner: Christian Eckes (race), Ben Rhodes (Championship)

Key highlights: In a race that saw 29 laps of overtime racing, Ben Rhodes came away with his second-career Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Christian Eckes, who was eliminated in the Round of 8 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, was the race winner. Championship runner-up Grant Enfinger gave it his all on the final restart in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet coming off Turn 4 in an all-out pursuit to the very end. The other two championship contenders, Heim and Hocevar had a more contentious situation on-track. Heim, whose 47 laps out front in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota were second most laps led on the night, was leading the championship-eligible drivers when Hocevar hit him going into Turn 2 with 30 laps remaining. Hocevar’s No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet was credited with a 29th-place finish from the garage, while Heim was scored 18th.

Full race recap: Christian Eckes wins thrilling Truck race at Phoenix, Ben Rhodes banks second career championship

At-track photos: At-track photos: 2023 Championship weekend

CHAMPIONSHIP 4 ORDER OF FINISH: Ben Rhodes (5th), Grant Enfinger (6th), Corey Heim (18th), Carson Hocevar (29th)

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Editor’s note: With Champion’s Week in Nashville ongoing, NASCAR.com will look back at every playoff round of the 2023 season in all three national series.

Championship 4: Phoenix Raceway, Nov. 5

Winner: Ross Chastain (race); Ryan Blaney (championship)

Key highlights: William Byron set the tone for the Championship 4 weekend by claiming the Busch Light Pole Award and leading each of the first 92 laps on his way toward winning Stage 1. Christopher Bell, making his second straight appearance in the title round, didn’t make it much further than that. A brake failure at Lap 109 sent his No. 20 Toyota into the Turn 3 wall and ended his shot at the 2023 championship. As Byron’s early speed faded, Ross Chastain moved to the front of the field — while Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford roared to life. A late caution for a spin by Kyle Busch allowed Kyle Larson’s pit crew to work its magic as Larson leaped ahead of Blaney and stayed ahead of Byron ahead of the race’s final restart with 31 laps to go. But Blaney was able to charge back by Larson in a masterful battle. Chastain sailed to the race win after leading a race-high 157 laps, but Blaney sealed his first NASCAR Cup Series championship with a runner-up finish in the season finale.

Full race recap: Ross Chastain dominates Phoenix Cup finale; Ryan Blaney wins first championship

At-track photos: Best photos from Phoenix

Championship 4 finishes: Kyle Larson (third), William Byron (fourth), Christopher Bell (36th)

Ryan Blaney hoists the Bill France Cup with Steve Phelps.
Getty Images