Speed, desire for experience land Carson Hocevar partial Xfinity schedule

Posted on April 26, 2023April 27, 2023 by Dustin Albino

EDITOR’S NOTE: Spire Motorsports announced Thursday afternoon that it has decided to withdraw the No. 77 from competing at Dover Motor Speedway and will re-focus its efforts on next month’s race at Darlington Raceway.

If you’ve been watching the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the past three years, it’s easy to see the speed that Carson Hocevar has displayed. The full-time No. 42 Chevrolet driver for Niece Motorsports turned all the close calls – and a win earlier this month at Texas Motor Speedway – into a six-race Xfinity Series schedule with Spire Motorsports this season with a technical alliance from JR Motorsports.

“He doesn’t need my help driving a race truck fast,” Ross Chastain, Hocevar’s mentor, said recently. “That came natural to him.”

RELATED: View Hocevar’s career stats

Originally, Hocevar was slated to make his series debut at Dover Motor Speedway this weekend. But when Blaine Perkins departed SS GreenLight Racing in late March, the No. 07 team needed a driver. Team owner Bobby Dotter reached out to Chastain about running at Circuit of The Americas. The Cup star was already committed to running the Truck Series race earlier that day. In steps the 20-year-old, who was recommended to drive the car by Chastain.

Being thrown into the fire on a last-minute notice at COTA wasn’t a colossal deal. Hocevar had been driving the simulator for JR Motorsports for some time, just to get a feel for the Xfinity car and relay information back to the team that won 15 races last season.

Because of Hocevar’s experience on the simulator, he expects to be up to speed come practice this Friday at the Monster Mile. He’s also formed relationships with all of the JRM drivers.

“There’s a lot of people in that building that I can lean on and bounce ideas off, or at least pick apart their brain,” Hocevar told NASCAR.com. “I’m going to be really prepared when I walk into Dover. I don’t think it should take any more than a lap or two to get up to speed.”

And though Hocevar only made it seven laps into the COTA race before experiencing a part failure, he now has firsthand experience of the inner workings of an Xfinity car. Frankly, he doesn’t think anyone is ever 100% ready for their next foray up to a new series because “racing is tough.”

“Carson is a really intriguing talent that a lot of people want to get some eyes on,” Jeff Dickerson, co-owner of Spire Motorsports, said. “He had a thirst to move up and run a handful of races this year. It all made sense.”

Dickerson also believes that in order to have a successful showing, Spire needed to have an alliance with one of the bigger teams in the series. After all, this is the team’s first foray into the Xfinity level.

“In a situation like this where you have a driver like Carson, you want him to be the worst part of the program,” Dickerson said. “You don’t want any question marks for a guy like that; you want him to shine. Carson’s not doing this, and we’re not doing this to just show up and make laps. The guy has real speed, so you’ve got to have it.”

MORE: 2023 Xfinity Series schedule | 2023 Truck Series schedule

Following Dover, Hocevar will next be in the car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in late May. His schedule finishes with trips to Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Bristol Motor Speedway. Originally, he was scheduled to run at Richmond Raceway, but a scheduling conflict with the Truck Series changed that to Bristol.

Hocevar has competed at five of the six venues. The lone track he’s yet to check off is Michigan, despite growing up an hour and 40 minutes away from the 2-mile venue. That race was guaranteed, given it’s a home race for him and his sponsor, Premier Security.

“They are all good JRM tracks and good tracks for me,” Hocevar stated. “They asked for my list of favorite race tracks, and I gave them my list.”

Among the six tracks Hocevar will race at, JRM won at five of the six venues in 2022. However, the team has gone winless through the opening nine races of the 2023 season.

Expectations will vary over Hocevar’s six-race schedule. Starting off with the “Monster Mile” was by design, as it can take a toll on a driver and equipment.

“I think they will migrate over the six,” Dickerson said of his expectations for Hocevar. “By the time he gets his feet underneath him in these cars and figures out what they give him and what he needs out of them, I would expect him to be contending. I think he would expect the same.”

Three of the six races – Charlotte, Nashville and Bristol – will coincide with his Truck Series schedule. While some could see running a second event on a given weekend as a distraction, Hocevar wanted those additional laps.

“I wanted to get used to it,” he said. “The goal was to fill some of the gaps. We had a month off last year right before the playoffs, and I didn’t want to have that off. I wanted a few doubleheaders to get used to that and help. But also, I wanted to fill the gaps and make a 23, a [29]-race year.”

Even though Hocevar is a high prospect on many lists, he doesn’t desire a ride in the Xfinity Series now. His ultimate goal is to get to the Cup Series, and he doesn’t necessarily think he has to make a stop at the Xfinity level on a full-time basis, similar to Todd Gilliland’s path at Front Row Motorsports.

“The Xfinity deal was to help my day job on Friday,” Hocevar said. “I thought it would help me as a race car driver; that’s more of what I’m focused on. I have people around me that make the decisions. I’m not writing the checks, so I’m not making the decisions of what cars I drive or who I drive for. I just give recommendations, and they give decisions.”

Posted on April 25, 2023April 27, 2023 by Official NASCAR Release

CHICAGO – Yesterday, NASCAR announced a new partnership with After School Matters, working with local teens to create an official Chicago Street Race mural to be featured on race weekend in Grant Park. At an event with Wood Brothers Racing’s Harrison Burton, the young artists showcased their work and had an opportunity to paint with the NASCAR Cup Series star at After School Matters at Gately Park in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood.

The artwork for the 200-foot, 50-panel NASCAR-themed mural began in February and will be showcased in Butler Field – which will be free and open to the public – during race weekend, July 1-2.

NASCAR Chicago: Learn more

“It’s so wonderful to watch these amazing young artists bring the spirit of NASCAR to life for all of Chicago to see,” said Burton. “They are perfectly capturing the excitement of this sport in this incredible work of art, and I’m just honored to be here on behalf of NASCAR to support public arts in Chicago.”

“We want to ensure that our presence in Chicago will deliver benefits to residents, youth, and the local community,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “With an office of more than a dozen full-time employees here in Chicago, we are a true part of the Chicago community year-round, and we are honored to partner with organizations like After School Matters and these amazing young artists who are welcoming us to this city through their art

After School Matters is a non-profit organization that provides life-changing after-school and summer program opportunities to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens each year. The joint event with NASCAR was held at the After School Matters facility in Gately Park, which opened in 2021 on the city’s far south side. The teen-centric facility is a wing of the Gately Park field house operated by the Chicago Park District and serves up to 1,500 young people each year from the Pullman and Roseland communities.

“We are proud to partner with NASCAR to provide our teens the opportunity to share their enthusiasm for our city and this race through their artwork. We look forward to seeing this amazing mural on display at Butler Field on race weekend,” said Mary Ellen Caron, After School Matters’ Executive Director.

This partnership is the latest example of NASCAR’s continued and long-lasting commitment to the Chicago community. To date, NASCAR has already announced long-term partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Chicago Public Schools, the Art Institute of Chicago, All Kids Bike, and the Field Museum. For more information on After School Matters, visit afterschoolmatters.org.

Posted on April 25, 2023April 26, 2023 by Official NASCAR Release

CHICAGO – Today, NASCAR, Chicago Street Race and The NASCAR Foundation brought the All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride Kindergarten physical education (PE) program to Brian Piccolo Elementary School, as a part of a $48,000 commitment to fund the bike program at eight Chicago Public Schools locations.

Wood Brothers Racing’s Harrison Burton joined local area students to help build bikes as part of the All Kids Bike initiative, which is designed to teach every child in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten physical education classes.

NASCAR Chicago: Learn more

“Whether it’s two wheels or four wheels, we’re all about positive motion at NASCAR, so this is a great opportunity to help get these students moving,” said Burton, driver of the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. “Riding a bike is a terrific way for kids to be active and engage with one another, and I’m thrilled to be here on behalf of NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race to further their ongoing commitment to Chicago area students.”

“NASCAR is investing in the Chicago community for the long-term, and this partnership is the latest example of that,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “Our Chicago Street Race team is a part of the Chicago community 365 days a year, and we are honored to partner with a wonderful organization like All Kids Bike to help serve our fellow Chicagoans.”

The Tuesday launch event included an exciting bike reveal, an introduction of the Learn-To-Ride Program to students, and a presentation with information from school staff. The long-term investment includes a full Learn-To-Ride curriculum, teacher training, a fleet of 24 Strider Balance Bikes, pedal-conversion kits, helmets, and a teacher instructor bike, plus resource portal access and live support for the life of the program for eight local elementary schools.

“The All Kids Bike program is a perfect extension of The NASCAR Foundation’s efforts to provide health and wellness resources to children in our racing communities,” said Nichole Krieger, executive director and vice president of The NASCAR Foundation. “We are thrilled to partner with the Chicago Street Race to increase our long-term impact in eight schools across Chicago.”

“From the beginning of our existence, we felt learning to ride a bike should be an instrumental foundation that all kids deserve,” said Lisa Weyer, Executive Director of All Kids Bike. “It is our hope that by teaching kids how to ride a bike in Kindergarten PE class, we are leaving a legacy for the next generation of riders. We’re excited to partner with NASCAR, Chicago Street Race and The NASCAR Foundation and make an impact far beyond the race. By teaching bike riding at the entry level in a public school system, All Kids Bike is providing the knowledge and a positive foundation of a lifelong skill.”

The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Program boasts an inclusive, proven Learn-To-Ride curriculum that offers every child the opportunity to experience the joy of two wheels. For more information, visit AllKidsBike.org.

Posted on April 25, 2023April 25, 2023 by Staff Report

Ron Hornaday Jr., the only four-time Craftsman Truck Series champion in NASCAR history, is the latest addition to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.

The Palmdale, California native won 51 times in the Truck Series, a record that held until Kyle Busch broke through for No. 52 in 2019. He was a series regular nearly every year from its first season in 1995 until hanging up the fire suit in 2014, collecting 158 top fives and 234 top 10s along the way. Hornaday finished in the top five in points nine times, including two titles and a runner-up from 2007-09.

Hornaday, a 2018 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, won six races in a season four different times (1995, ’98, ’08, ’09), twice setting the high-water mark for victories among contenders for a single season. His first two titles came driving for Dale Earnhardt in 1996 and ’98, with the latter two coming behind the wheel of a Kevin Harvick Inc. Chevrolet in 2007 and ’09.

Fierce and successful on the track, the hard-nosed Hornaday was a favorite among his peers in the garage, noted for his generosity in helping many young racers get established in NASCAR. 2014 Cup Series champion and fellow Californian Harvick counts Hornaday among his heroes and influences, often crediting him for the help and advice given along the way.

“When you saw him in the mirror, you knew trouble was coming,” said fellow champion and one-time rival Todd Bodine. “You didn’t want to mess with him. He never took it from anybody. If you wanted to dish it out to Ron, you better be willing to take it back because he’s going to make sure you get it back.”

Though known mostly for his Truck Series endeavors, Hornaday also collected four Xfinity Series wins in 184 starts, finishing in the top five in points there three separate times (2000, ’03, ’04). He also added 46 Cup Series starts stretching from 1991 to 2015, with his lone top 10 coming in 2001 at Las Vegas — only one week before Harvick’s first career Cup win at Atlanta Motor Speedway after replacing the late Earnhardt two weeks prior.

“He’s a very compassionate and caring person,” Bodine continued. “If you’re a friend of Ron’s, you’re a friend for life, and he would do absolutely anything he could to try and help you. That’s a part of Ron that doesn’t get to be seen by the fans.”

Posted on April 25, 2023April 30, 2023 by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Not only has this week’s venue, Dover Motor Speedway, been an iconic location for NASCAR racing for more than seven decades, but it also holds a special place in the celebration of the sport’s 75-year history.

As with so many longtime facilities on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Dover’s first race trophy went to NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, who hoisted three of the first four and seven total in his 200-win, seven-championship career. But unlike so many of the sport’s other longtime stops on the schedule, the 1-mile Dover facility was not the idea of – or built by – one of the more traditional track owners in NASCAR’s long history.

A local Delaware contractor, Melvin Joseph broke ground on the track in 1966 with the idea of hosting horse racing and auto racing – and Dover Downs International Speedway, as it was first called, held its inaugural NASCAR race on July 6, 1969. Many people don’t realize Joseph’s initial construction used asphalt to cover the surface because Dover has become famous for its concrete surface, which wasn’t laid until 1995. And it remains one of only two concrete tracks (also Bristol Motor Speedway) on the current schedule.

Dover Motor Speedway – as the facility is known now since being acquired by longtime NASCAR track operator Speedway Motorsports Incorporated – has been a pivotal and significant venue for racing. Its location in Delaware is a bridge between the traditional Southern fanbase and the equally dedicated Northeastern part of the country. And the list of winners at the “Monster Mile” – as Dover is known – includes Hall of Fame name after Hall of Fame name.

David Pearson (1972-73), Rusty Wallace (1993-94) and Jeff Gordon (1995-96) – all NASCAR Hall of Famers – are the only competitors to earn three consecutive race victories at Dover. Seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson is the all-time winningest driver at the track with 11 trophies, including the final one of his illustrious 83-win career, in the 2017 spring race.

The unique track, which plays host to the Würth 400 this Monday (12 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), has been a significant and acclaimed stop on the schedule for its competitive flair – the high-banked turns (24 degrees) and short straightaways (also banked at nine degrees) – and consistently producing memorable competition.

But Dover also holds an important and sentimental place in NASCAR history – one neither builder nor competitor would ever have envisioned. On Sept. 23, 2001, the NASCAR Cup Series returned to competition for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and nearby Washington D.C. two weeks earlier.

Dover is home to a vital U.S. Air Force base and patriotism has always been a prominent theme at the track. So it was of no surprise that the entire crowd stood on its feet and waved American flags – giant and small – to cheer on NASCAR’s best for hours. The entire sport shows its immense support for the country.

Crew for Kyle Petty stands with an American flag in 2001. … Credit: Jamie Squire | Allsport

And as it would happen on that September afternoon, one of NASCAR’s most beloved drivers, Dale Earnhardt Jr., took both the checkered flag and American Flag in a unique and powerful victory that transcended the sport of auto racing. Immediately after crossing the finish line, he asked his crew for an American flag and then made an emotional victory lap holding the flag outside his window.

“I’m glad I could be the guy to win the race so I could carry that American flag around and make them (the crowd) feel good,” Earnhardt said in Dover Victory Lane.

In the following years, Earnhardt’s good friend Martin Truex Jr. would solidify his “favored son” status at the “Monster Mile.” The popular driver from nearby Mayetta, New Jersey considers Dover his “home track” and in June 2007 earned the first NASCAR Cup Series victory of what would become a NASCAR Cup Series championship career for Truex – one of the few drivers from that area of the country.

Jamie Squire | Allsport

“I view Dover as my hometown track, it’s closest to home, and if you could drive across the bay, it would be really close,” said Truex, the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota who has three career Dover wins, but is still looking to notch his first points-paying victory of the 2023 season.

“I’ve been going there a long time and it’s a place that means a lot to me, starting early in my Busch Series (now called Xfinity Series) career and doing some racing there in my dad’s car and getting my first Cup win there.

“It’s a special place for me and I love going there,” he added. “It feels like home.”

NASCAR 75: Greatest Drivers list is growing | STP, Legacy MC reveal Petty tribute

The uniqueness of Dover – both competitively with the high-banked concrete mile surface and geographically as one of the earliest venues outside NASCAR’s traditional Southern speedways – has made it a popular stop for drivers and fans.

“It’s the only race track we go to where the sensation of speed is extremely high,” Stewart-Haas Racing driver Aric Almirola said. “A lot of the race tracks we go to, we know we’re going fast but it doesn’t feel as fast in the race car after you adapt. But at Dover, you really feel like you’re riding a rollercoaster, and you get that sensation of speed. I love it.”

Fellow Ford driver Austin Cindric agrees.

“Dover is probably one of my favorite tracks that we get to go to,” the Team Penske driver Cindric said. “As far as making a lap, the demands of that place are really, really fun. … if I had the opportunity to give anyone an experience to drive a NASCAR car anywhere, it’d be Dover.”

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Staff Report

Returning to one of NASCAR’s iconic tracks for the 2023 All-Star Race, Legacy Motor Club and STP will honor one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history — Hall of Famer and team co-owner Richard Petty.

STP, the American brand of automotive aftermarket products, will make a historic return as primary sponsor to the No. 43 driven by Erik Jones on May 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway for the exhibition race (8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Jones unveiled the car privately to Petty at the Petty Museum in Level Cross, North Carolina, but it will be revealed to the public on Thursday’s edition of NASCAR Race Hub (6 p.m. ET, FS1).

“Looking good!” was Petty’s initial response upon seeing the artwork presented by Jones, according to a team press release.

“It’s like a copy of one of my older model cars. One thing about this scheme is Erik won’t be able hide from me on the track because I’ll be able to see that car from anywhere.”

Petty and STP first linked up in 1972 and have been partnered ever since, remaining a primary contributor to Petty’s racing teams even after his retirement from driving. Along with Petty’s enormous success behind the wheel, the iconic STP paint scheme became a fan favorite for decades.

“Fans are going to love this car no matter who you root for,” Jones said. “It’s going to bring back a lot of really great memories for Richard Petty fans at one of the most historic tracks in NASCAR. I’m thankful to STP and happy they decided to go in the direction they did on this design. When I showed the car to Richard, he thought it was very cool. Carrying on the No. 43 car legacy at North Wilkesboro will be one of the highlights of my career. I’m looking forward to May 21.”

MORE: Fan Vote opens for 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Staff Report

Carl Edwards, the popular Missouri native who punctuated his wins with a backflip, was named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list on Monday.

Edwards won 28 times in the NASCAR Cup Series, beginning in 2005 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for owner Jack Roush and ending in 2016 at Texas Motor Speedway for Joe Gibbs.

Between that time, Edwards finished as high as second in the Cup Series standings twice — in 2008 and 2011. Edwards’ thrilling battle with Tony Stewart in 2011 came down to a tiebreaker, with Stewart clinching the championship based on more wins that season.

Edwards won the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2007 for Roush and finished second in the Xfinity Series standings four times. Edwards won 38 times in the Xfinity ranks and added six more victories in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Some of Edwards’ wins in the Cup Series came on the biggest stages, including two in the Bristol Night Race and one in the Coca-Cola 600. Edwards’ most wins came at Bristol and Texas Motor Speedway, where he had four victories apiece.

Edwards advanced to the Championship 4 in 2016 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and was on the front row for a restart with 10 laps to go, but a wreck took him out of contention when he tried to block Joey Logano. Edwards memorably stopped by Logano’s pit box on the way to the infield care center and shook hands with several members of Logano’s team.

That show of class was the last time we saw Edwards in NASCAR competition as he retired during the following offseason. Today he joins a classy list befitting of his talent.

Posted on April 24, 2023April 24, 2023 by Zack Albert

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Chase Briscoe endured a roundabout route to his third consecutive top-five finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. There was the metaphorical ache of a Stage 1 spin on pit road that forced him to rally from two laps down. Then there was a more palpable pain, stemming from a surgically repaired finger fracture earlier in the week.

Briscoe drove home fourth in Sunday’s GEICO 500, picking his way through a pair of overtime finishes with his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. The result marked his best finish of the year, bettering the fifth-place efforts in the previous two weeks at Martinsville and Bristol’s dirt.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos

“Wild day. I made a huge mistake coming to pit road. We’re two laps down, and then we were one and was going to get the lucky dog at the end of Stage 2, and then (Joey) Logano had that speeding penalty and barely got us for the lucky dog,” Briscoe said, making reference to a bold move that Logano made to blend in with the pack and receive the free pass at the stage-break caution.

“It was a battle all day long — very similar to how we kind of were at the end of last year, just continuing to fight and keep doing everything we could to try to maximize our day. At the end, found ourselves up there and in the top five. I would have loved to have a little bit more, but if you told me we were going to finish fourth there — at any point of the race really, even there with 20 to go — we were so stuck in the back and couldn’t really do anything.”

Briscoe’s first pit stop of the day nearly wound up being disastrous. He headed to pit road for service in a coordinated group with fellow Ford drivers, but lost control at pit entry and slid to a stop. He avoided contact with the wall or other cars, but the car stalled out with a flat right-front tire, and Briscoe helplessly flailed as he tried to right it.

“I felt like I was gonna be a meme eventually or something,” Briscoe said. “But it was weird. Like I literally couldn’t move. I went from first gear to reverse, up to third gear just trying anything I could, and it was definitely just a helpless feeling. It was funny. I think the pit box that I was spinning out in, all their pit-crew guys had their phones out and were videoing it. It was kind of just like embarrassing. I was just sitting there doing circles in front of them. So yeah, it was a weird circumstance. Honestly, super lucky that we didn’t go three laps down there.”

By the time he wound up returning to the race, he was still two laps back of the lead pack in 37th place. He regained one lap at the Stage 1 intermission, then worked back onto the lead circuit when the yellow flew again on the 143rd of 196 laps.

WATCH: On-board view of Briscoe’s pit-road spin

Briscoe made the most of evasive action in both overtimes. He was in the vicinity when Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece made severe contact in a multicar crash in the first extra session, then scooted by when contact between Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace at the front of the pack ended the race in the second OT. He was on the fringes of the top 10 when the white flag emerged, but his nifty path along the top groove left his No. 14 Mustang unscathed.

Worse for wear was Briscoe’s wrapped-up left hand, braced after surgery six days earlier on his broken middle finger. The injury came during a dirt-track race April 6, but Briscoe didn’t miss time in the three Cup Series races since then as he remains on the mend.

Briscoe said hardware was inserted during the operation to assist the bone’s healing process, but his pain level spiked over the course of Sunday’s race. He plans to make adjustments before the next Cup Series event, scheduled for Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway (2 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM).

“Not good,” Briscoe said. “Yeah, it’s weird. The last two weeks I’ve had absolutely zero issues, and with the pins in there, it’s like anytime anything touches one of those pins, it just is excruciating pain. I mean, I was literally screaming in the car at some points because it was just, it hurt so bad. So in the past, I’ve kind of had two splints — one on top, one on bottom — and I think I just need to go to one on bottom now, because that one on top kind of hits that pin a lot.

“So yeah, I was not really worried about Dover or really any of the rest of the races coming up, but definitely a little more … not worried, but I guess I just need to be a lot more particular about what I do going into this week to make sure I get it as good as I possibly can, because it was definitely an issue today, and some of it, I don’t know if you just have more time to think here so you kind of notice it more, too, but it was definitely not fun today.”

Posted on April 23, 2023 by John Crane

A two-way podium finish during the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum on Feb. 5 might have suggested something was brewing with Richard Childress Racing. A dominant win at Auto Club Speedway on Feb. 26 — precisely three weeks later — might have further proved as such.

But a down-to-the-wire win at Talladega Superspeedway in the GEICO 500 on Sunday cemented it.

Cemented what, you might ask? Simple — while the 2023 season might still be in its relative infancy, the long-fabled — yet new-look — RCR team is turning heads in significant ways. Race trophies aren’t the only hardware the organization has its eyes set on, however.

It wants the Bill France Cup.

The obvious major factor ushering in 2023’s success comes in the form of Kyle Busch, who claimed his second win under the RCR banner following his GEICO 500 victory at Talladega. And while the effort wasn’t necessarily a dominant one for the No. 8 RCR Chevrolet, it was definitely a notable one. After all, the win was not only the team’s 13th at the 2.66-miler but the first since Oct. 23, 2011, when now-FOX Sports broadcaster Clint Bowyer found Victory Lane over then-RCR teammate Jeff Burton. And for Busch himself, the Talladega win was, too, a throwback of sorts, winning there for only the second time in his Cup career and his first since April 27, 2008, in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing.

“It’s awesome,” Busch said after the win. “I know they’ve (RCR) had a lot of superspeedway love for a long, long time. One of the best to ever do it was obviously one of the winningest ones. It’s fun to be able to come out here and be a part of this team and work with Randall (Burnett, crew chief) and all my guys. Pit stops today were fine. We were never really in a position to push hard, but we got everything to go our way and came out on top.”

Then, there’s Austin Dillon. While his 38th-place finish at Talladega wasn’t the performance he or RCR wanted, the upside certainly remains for the 32-year-old’s No. 3 team. A silver medal during the LA Clash (ahead of Busch’s bronze), preseason or otherwise, suggests as such.

WATCH: Late wrecks, multiple overtimes highlight Talladega spring race

Whether looking at a 62-time Cup Series winner in Busch or a potential breakout candidate in Dillon can all pivot back to the same junction: RCR can contend now. No one doubted the long-term viability of the two-driver tandem, really — bringing in the ninth-winningest driver in Cup Series history in Busch during the offseason was a move emphasizing the team’s hunger to vie for a championship in due time.

Instead, to some in preseason chatter, there were concerns about how quickly RCR could contend. Perhaps not this year, one could’ve argued — an adjustment for Busch would likely be in the works after being at JGR for 15 years. The Next Gen car’s sophomore season might have been another hurdle for Busch and Dillon alike, especially with Rowdy’s move from Toyota to Chevy. Perhaps 2024 was the year, instead.

However, a dramatic win for the team at Talladega instead put any need for doubting title contention to bed. While the team was certainly ready to contend in the future, it’s now ready to contend in the present. Busch’s two wins alone through 10 races is more than JGR has collectively put together thus far, and if Dillon’s ability to turn heads late in the season is any indicator, then perhaps both drivers could make significant noise come September, October and November. Time will tell, but so far, so good.

While barely a quarter of the 2023 season is complete, one driver has already left his mark with another having the potential to do so quickly. For RCR, the potential has already been highlighted, and if that ceiling continues to rise as the remainder of the season unfolds, then perhaps the team can have a chance to hoist its first driver championship since 1994 when Dale Earnhardt did so.

With plenty of season left, the options are endless for the entire field. In the case of RCR, however, one thing has already been proven — it’s here to stay.

Cement it.

Posted on April 23, 2023April 23, 2023 by Zack Albert

TALLADEGA, Ala. — All’s fair in sharing among friends, and Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney have a deep-rooted relationship that dates back to their rise up the NASCAR ranks. With the stakes high at Talladega Superspeedway, the two longtime buddies had shared the lead for almost half of the Cup Series’ Sunday showdown but made contact that left both empty-handed in a double-overtime scramble.

The contest for the lead came down to the final lap of Sunday’s GEICO 500, and Wallace led at the drop of the white flag with Blaney in close quarters behind him. As Blaney attempted to mount a charge to the outside line through Turns 1 and 2, Wallace countered with multiple blocks to stem his progress.

RELATED: Official race results | At-track photos

Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford and Wallace’s No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota made repeated contact, which ended with Wallace’s car turned into the outside retaining wall. The collision also slowed Blaney enough to allow Kyle Busch’s No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to scoot into the lead. He was there when the caution period froze the field, relegating Blaney to second place.

Wallace finished 28th in the 38-car field, the first driver one lap down. He was evaluated and released after a quick check at the infield care center.

“Just got jumped by the 12. I pulled a late block – close, close, close block — and just that sent us around,” said Wallace, who led 35 laps — second only to Blaney’s 47. “Not the 12’s fault, just I honestly thought that he would leave me high and dry coming back around and so just hate it, hate it for my team. That’s how it goes. So that was our best, by far, (superspeedway) race that we’ve ever done, so hat’s off to the 23 group, Freddie (Kraft, his spotter) on top of the roof. Just a great day for us, just a crap result, so … hate it. I caused that one and man, I just thought it’d play out a little bit different, obviously not getting wrecked, but I thought the move would’ve happened coming off through the trioval.”

Blaney agreed with that version of events, saying he was in a difficult position where he couldn’t afford to stall out his momentum.

“I mean, it’s hard to block in these cars. I felt like he kind of triple-moved on me. Can’t really do that,” Blaney said. “I mean, he blocked the middle, blocked the bottom, blocked the top, and I’m there. I mean, I’m kind of there. It’s a shame he got turned, but I don’t know what else I can do besides slam on the brakes, and you can’t do that. So I’m not blaming anybody. I mean, it’s just hard racing. I mean, as the leader, I would have done the same thing, right? You’re trying to block and maintain the lead. So, but in second, I’ve gotta take every run I can get and keep my momentum. So yeah, just one of those things that stinks.”

MORE: Blaney expands on Wallace block

Both drivers are former Talladega winners, and the two looked the part again Sunday at various points. Wallace contended late, but spent most of his time up front during the first stage of the race. Blaney didn’t lead until the final stage, but that’s when his No. 12 Mustang was most stout.

As for their friendship, Blaney said those bonds only go so far during the pressure of competition.

“You never want to have someone turned off the front end of your nose, no matter what the situation is, and obviously you don’t want to do that to a friend,” Blaney said. “But you know, everyone’s competitors out there, and it’s not like I’m going to race Bubba any less hard than anyone else. We’re trying to beat him just as much as everybody else, so that definitely stinks when it’s your buddy. Maybe if it’s someone you don’t really like too much, you wouldn’t blink an eye at it, but when it’s your buddy, you’re just like, ‘Man, that just kind of stinks that one of us got turned.’ ”

Wallace had sidestepped Busch’s No. 8 as the pack flashed under the white flag as the deciding overtime wound down. The No. 12 of Blaney was in his mirror then, as it had been at other points of the final stage. He was among Wallace’s top choices as a partner in the aerodynamic draft.

“Oh, when I saw the 12, I was pumped,” Wallace said. “We work well together obviously, every speedway race and that’s just the way it goes. Not the 12’s fault at all.”

Blaney came away with his fourth finish in the top two in the last eight Talladega races. He also tied his season-best result, matching the runner-up effort he had at Phoenix in March.

But still lingering was another statistic that’s hounded him – a winless skid that now stands at 56 races, and the thought of what else can he do to shake it.

“Every single day,” Blaney said. “Every single day.”