Posted on May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR is launching the second installment of its 75th anniversary creative campaign this weekend as the sanctioning body shifts gears from primarily honoring its past to a more dedicated focus on celebrating its present throughout the summer.

The new 30-second spot – titled “Roads” – will debut during FOX’s telecast of the Coca-Cola 600 this Sunday, May 28 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Full NASCAR 75 coverage | 75 Greatest Drivers named

“Roads” features transcendent NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the narrator and driver of the anniversary-themed No. 75 car. Reflecting on his own remarkable journey, Earnhardt Jr. provides a bridge between the past and the present, showcasing the sport’s evolution and the promising drivers who are shaping its future.

“NASCAR’s growth is really important to me, and it’s great to see the sport expanding with so many talented racers from different areas and walks of life as the sport continues to evolve,” said Earnhardt Jr., who was recently named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers. “It was an honor to be included in this campaign to help celebrate where NASCAR has been and where it’s going as part of the 75th anniversary.”

As Earnhardt Jr. races around a night-lit track, viewers see snippets of his past success interspersed with visual representations of the unique journeys several NASCAR Cup Series stars of today have taken:

• Daniel Suárez: The 31-year-old driver of the No. 99 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, a team co-owned by Justin Marks and global music star Pitbull, who became the first Mexican-born driver to win a Cup Series race by taking the checkered flag at Sonoma Raceway on June 12, 2022.

• Bubba Wallace: The 29-year-old driver of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by NBA icon Michael Jordan and current Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, who became the second Black driver to win in the Cup Series with his victory at Talladega Superspeedway in the 2021 fall race prior to notching his second victory at Kansas Speedway in 2022.

• Chase Elliott: The 27-year-old driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, who won the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series championship, has amassed 18 total Cup series wins, and has been voted by fans as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver the past five consecutive years (2018-2022).

The visuals are paired with Earnhardt Jr.’s narration articulating the multitude of different roads drivers take to reach NASCAR’s top level and the singular direction they all aim once arriving: “Forward.”

“The current generation of NASCAR stars are carrying on the enormous legacy of the legendary figures who helped build NASCAR,” said Pete Jung, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at NASCAR. “This creative execution is a testament to the pursuit of excellence that defines NASCAR and the resilience of our tenacious competitors. We’re grateful to Dale for his enthusiasm in helping deliver this message, and to our incredible creative partners at 77 and Boomshot for bringing it to life with such authenticity.”

“Roads” was developed with NASCAR’s long-time agency partner 77 Ventures Creative, in partnership with Boomshot Productions and director Sinuhe Xavier. It was filmed at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, NC.

“We were thrilled to help NASCAR honor their 75th-anniversary by making this beautiful film with them. Working with Dale Earnhardt Jr. again was a true highlight and an apt reminder of the sport’s powerful and ongoing evolution,” said Meredith Weiss, managing director at Boomshot. “We’ve collaborated with NASCAR many times over the years, so paying tribute to the sport’s incredible history felt really personal to all of us.”

“Roads” will run across television and digital inventory throughout the summer until the third and final installment of the 75th campaign launches prior to the start of the NASCAR Playoffs, which begin Sunday, Sept. 3 at Darlington Raceway.

Posted on May 26, 2023May 29, 2023 by Sean Montgomery

Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
(⏰ Monday, 3 p.m. ET | 📺 FOX, FOX Sports App | 📻 PRN, SiriusXM)

Everything you need to know for Monday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in North Carolina, the 14th points-paying race of the 2023 Cup Series campaign.

Updated weekend schedule (Xfinity race also on Monday) | TV schedule | Weather tracker | Charlotte 101

🇺🇸 NASCAR Salutes: Annually involved in honoring active, former and fallen members of the U.S. military | Learn more

🚨 Sunday’s race postponed to Monday and Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions canceled due to weather. Stay tuned to NASCAR.com for updates throughout the week.

📍 Location: Concord, North Carolina
📐 Track length: 1.5 miles
🎟️ Buy tickets: Find weekend passes, seats for the race
💰 Cup Series race purse: $9,421,275
📏 Race distance: 600 miles | 400 laps
🔢 Stages: (only race with four stages): 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
—
🚪 Entry list: Cup Series drivers entered
📋 Starting lineup: Where Cup Series drivers will start Monday
🚗 Pit stall assignments: Where drivers will pit
🏆 Most recent winner: Denny Hamlin

Key things to watch 🔑

Top story line

More than motorsports. Coca-Cola 600 weekend is the pinnacle of NASCAR’s commitment to honoring fallen military members on Memorial Day weekend. Pre-race ceremonies and the gesture of remembrance mid-race — and throughout, with special decals on the windshield and Goodyear tires — make the weekend moments that much bigger. All year long, NASCAR remains active in relations and initiatives with every branch of the U.S. military through the NASCAR Salutes program. With hundreds of family, friends and comrades of fallen soldiers in attendance throughout the weekend, recognizing each of them will be a primary focus. | Check out the 600 Miles of Remembrance gallery

🕰️ ICYMI: Alex Bowman set to return this weekend after injury

History tells us…

Even in the season’s longest race, the pole winner still holds a massive edge. Four of the last seven Coca-Cola 600 winners started from the pole position, including Kyle Larson in 2021 and Denny Hamlin last year. Coincidentally, both drivers are among the favorites to win this weekend and have a decent track record in qualifying at the track. Additionally, the driver who led the most laps won three of the last five 600-milers. So despite the long night, there’s still a clear advantage to starting and staying out front. That’s good news for William Byron, who starts from P1 after qualifying was rained out.

🤖 Key stat from Racing Insights: Four of the last six Coca-Cola 600 races have seen the final lead change in the final five laps.

He may not be the betting favorite to win, but watch out for…

Jimmie Johnson. If you want to place a serious longshot bet this weekend, it’s one of the few chances you have to wager on the seven-time Cup Series champion who has returned to run a part-time schedule for his team, Legacy Motor Club. Though he has very limited experience behind the wheel of the Next Gen car compared to the majority of the field, don’t count out his prowess and knowledge in the sport’s toughest showdown. It’s a bold choice but at 150-1 odds, it may be worth it if Johnson can rekindle some of the magic he had during his incredible full-time career.

Inside the Race 🔍

Todd Gordon and Kyle Petty look at the top points earners and playoff contenders in the Cup Series.

Familiar favorites ⭐️

Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.

• Paint Scheme Preview: Patriotic paint schemes are back in action | Pick a favorite
• Power Rankings: Which drivers have the most playoff mojo at the midseason mark? | Latest driver rankings
• Betting odds: See which driver is the favorite for Monday | Top bets, underdog picks
• Stacking Pennies: Discussing Kyle Larson’s dominance and recapping return to North Wilkesboro | Listen to the podcast

💎 NASCAR 75: Learn more about the history of the sport, from pioneers to current stars | Visit NASCAR 75 hub

Hot off the press 📰

Key stories and breaking news from the week leading up to the race.

• Mid-point superlatives: Dishing out distinctions at regular-season halfway mark | View the gallery
• Bowman’s back: No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports driver cleared to race | Read more
• Ty Gibbs: Competing in Saturday’s star-studded Xfinity Series race | Read more
• Christopher Bell: Driver debuts a special military scheme for Monday | Read more
• Sold out: Coca-Cola 600 grandstand reserved and camping sold out | Read more
• Next Gen update: Chassis adjustments implemented after Talladega wreck | Read more
• Coca-Cola moments: Looking back at 25 of the sport’s best | View the gallery
• Jeff Gordon: Driver looks back on 1994 win that started HOF career | Read more
• Jayski: Josh Berry reportedly coming to terms with SHR for 2024 | Read more
• Xfinity Series: Dale Jr. unveils paint scheme for Bristol race | Read more
• Truck Series: No. 88 team penalized for loose lug nut | Read more
• Chicago Street Race: Xfinity named founding partner of event | Read more
• Kyle Petty: Charity Ride Across America raises $1.7 million for Victory Junction | Read more

Get in on the action 💰

Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy and Fan Rewards.

🚨 REMINDER: Garage picks in Fantasy Live will lock after Stage 3. Points will be awarded for Stage 1, 2 and the finish.

• Fantasy Live: Participate in interactive gameplay from week to week | Choose your lineup
• Fan Rewards: New in 2023, get rewarded for your participation | Learn more
• NASCAR BetCenter: Don’t miss your chance to make picks each week | Visit the BetCenter
• Going the distance: 2023 Cup Series championship odds | See them here
• The Action Network: Picks and predictions for Monday’s race | Read expert analysis

Coming home to Charlotte 🏡

One of the most wholesome events for family and friends of the sport, there’s a lot of history packed into these 600 miles.

• Winner, winner: All-time Coca-Cola 600 winners | See full list here
• Where it all began: Drivers who earned their first win in the Coca-Cola 600 | Jeff Gordon, others
• Honoring our military: Photos of service members at Charlotte | Scroll through gallery
• 1976: World 600 marked a watershed event for this writer | Read more
• Race Rewind: Thriller! Denny Hamlin wins in double overtime | Watch highlights

Take some notes 📝

Five hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.

• Hendrick Motorsports drivers led the most laps in the last three races on 1.5-mile tracks.
• Six different drivers won the last six Coca-Cola 600s.
• Kyle Larson is the only Coke 600 winner in the last 24 races to go on to win the championship that season.
• The final green-flag stretch was five laps or less in three of the last five Coca-Cola 600 races.
• All three stage winners finished outside the top 10 in this race last year.

🔮 Advance to Victory Lane: Racing Insights projects Monday’s finishing order

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

Editor’s note (May 5, 2023): Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed to Monday at noon ET (FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR announced Thursday that the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 27, will now start at noon ET – advancing one hour from the original 1 p.m. ET start time – due to the forecasted inclement weather. The broadcast networks for the Alsco Uniforms 300 remain unchanged – FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

For tickets to Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 300, visit CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. Grandstand gates will open at 10 a.m. ET. The NASCAR Xfinity Series garage will open at 9 a.m. ET and green flag for the race will be 12:19 p.m. ET.

In addition to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series are also in action at Charlotte this weekend.

The ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150 is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. ET, broadcast on FS1 and MRN. The Craftsman Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Memorial Day weekend culminates with the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Check out the updated TV schedule

Posted on May 25, 2023May 28, 2023 by Reid Spencer

Editor’s note: Saturday’s Xfinity Series race was postponed due to weather and rescheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. ET (FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

In 13 races as a rookie NASCAR Cup Series driver this season, Ty Gibbs has three finishes of ninth as his best efforts so far.

On Monday, however, Gibbs returns to the NASCAR Xfinity Series — where he won seven times last year — to race in the Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Noon ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Gibbs won’t have a smooth path to Victory Lane. He’ll have to beat Kyle Busch, who is driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing in his third Xfinity Series start of the season.

Busch has an enviable Xfinity Series record at Charlotte, to say the least — nine victories, 19 top fives and 22 top 10s in 26 starts at the 1.5-mile track.

Additionally, the Cup interlopers have an advantage in recent seat time. Xfinity regulars have raced only once so far this month, on May 13 at Darlington. John Hunter Nemechek, a two-time Xfinity winner this year, hopes that won’t be a deterrent.

“Charlotte is always a fun weekend, being our home track and being able to have friends and family come out,” said Nemechek, who leads the series by one point over Austin Hill. “I’m really excited about the race.

“It has been a little strange only having one race so far this month, but we’ve been meeting, and in the sim (simulator) trying to stay sharp and be ready for this stretch of races that we’re about to hit this summer. Hopefully, we can get this stretch off to a good start.”

Defending race winner Josh Berry likewise is looking for an upswing. Prolific winners last year, the JR Motorsports drivers are still seeking their first victory of 2023. Berry gave JRM its first Charlotte win last season after an intense battle with teammate Justin Allgaier.

“Winning last year was incredible after that duel with Justin, and I was really happy to earn JRM’s first win at Charlotte,” Berry said. “Our intermediate program has been on the upswing for the past couple of years, and we are coming in here confident that the Tire Pros Chevrolet will be at the front.

“I’m happy with the consistency, but we really need to get a win, and this is the place and weekend to do it.”

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Staff Report

Dale Earnhardt Jr. unveiled the paint scheme for his annual return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Thursday at JR Motorsports Fan Day.

He is slated to compete in the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 15, which marks the playoff opener for the series.

Dale Jr. will pilot the Hellmann’s No. 88 Chevrolet. The blue and yellow paint scheme harks back to his father dawning the iconic color duo in the Wrangler Chevrolet. In 2010, Dale Jr. took the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet to an emotional victory an Xfinity Series night race at Daytona International Speedway.

Since beginning his one-and-done Xfinity races per season in 2018, Earnhardt Jr. has tallied three top-five finishes with his best coming at Richmond Raceway where he finished fourth (’18). He finished 11th in his most recent start at Martinsville Speedway last spring.

Posted on May 25, 2023May 28, 2023 by Zach Sturniolo

Before Jeff Gordon was the legendary four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion he’s known as today, he was the new kid on the block, with the eyes of team owners eager to see if this young hotshot could live up to the hype of his potential.

Enter the 1994 Coca-Cola 600.

The first 41 races of Gordon’s career in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet provided glimpses of greatness in addition to some struggles. The 1993 season — Gordon’s rookie campaign — saw seven top-five finishes, 11 top 10s and 230 laps led coupled with a career-worst 11 DNFs.

“My rookie year was a real up-and-down year,” Gordon recently recalled to NASCAR Studios. “There were highlights where we ran really strong. We sat on the pole at Charlotte late in the year. We ran second, I believe, in my first ever 600 to (Dale) Earnhardt. We really showed promise, but we also… not we, me… (I) wrecked a lot, tore up a lot of equipment, and it was not the greatest confidence booster.”

Race No. 42, on the other hand, proved to be the breakout race he and crew chief Ray Evernham dreamt of.

MORE: Relive the entire 1994 NASCAR Cup Series season | NASCAR 75 hub

Gordon won the pole at 181.439 mph, but Rusty Wallace controlled the dominant car in the 1994 running of NASCAR’s longest race, pacing the field for 187 of 400 laps in his No. 2 Miller Genuine Draft Ford. Geoff Bodine’s No. 7 Exide Batteries Ford led early and often for a combined 101 circuits, but Wallace took control as the race neared its halfway point.

As would prove consistent in their tenure together, Evernham knew the Rainbow Warriors were far from out of contention.

“Rusty had that race won and was the dominant car that day,” Gordon said. “But we kept ourselves in position, we fought hard, and sometimes that’s all you need to do is be in position to capitalize. And we did by clearly a great strategy call, a two-tire pit stop, a fast two-tire pit stop, and then up against Rusty’s four-tire stop.”

That decision propelled the iconic red, blue and yellow No. 24 Chevrolet to the lead for 12 of the final 22 laps, including each of the final nine circuits en route to Gordon’s first career victory.

NASCAR Research & Archives Center | Getty Images

The emotion was palpable from the then-22-year-old, tears streaming down his face in Victory Lane as he proclaimed: “This is the greatest day of my life.” Nearly 30 years later, that emotion still bursts through Gordon, who now reigns as the vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports.

“There was a lot of emotion wrapped up in that win because I felt like it was a huge accomplishment,” Gordon said. “Number one, you just want to win. You just hope you could win one race at that level … elite drivers, teams. And I realized how competitive and hard and difficult it was going to be right away. So that day solidified my journey up to that point of, yeah, I have what it takes, we have what it takes and decisions that were made were the right ones to finally accomplish this. And there was no looking back after that.”

Indeed, what followed was a career loaded with unfathomable statistics, totaling a third-best all-time 93 wins, 325 top fives, 477 top 10s and 81 pole positions, including his four Cup championships in 805 starts. Gordon became a transcendent figure for NASCAR, hosting “Saturday Night Live” among numerous appearances in mainstream media.

That level of success was impossible for Gordon to imagine prior to winning the 600 in 1994.

“No way. No way. At that moment, I was just over the moon having one win,” Gordon said. “And of course, that (inaugural) Brickyard 400 was two, three months after that. So we did have our eyes on that and by accomplishing that (win), it did feel like 600, Brickyard 400, sky’s the limit now. But no way could I have ever imagined the race wins, the championships, or even that was going to be a 23-year-long career of tremendous success and great memories.”

Posted on May 25, 2023May 25, 2023 by Official NASCAR Release

CHICAGO – Today, NASCAR named Xfinity as a founding partner of its inaugural Chicago Street Race Weekend, which will be held from July 1-2 in Grant Park. This announcement represents an exciting new chapter in the longstanding partnership between the two leading brands over the last nine years.

As a founding partner, Xfinity will have official presenting, marketing, and promotional rights for the Chicago Street Race Weekend including the NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 220 and NASCAR Xfinity Series’ The Loop 121 races. Xfinity joins McDonald’s and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois as the founding partners of NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race Weekend.

The Xfinity 10G Network will be featured prominently and integrated on the course with significant branding in Turn 10, which will fittingly be called the Xfinity 10G Turn. The Xfinity brand will have visibility throughout the Chicago Street Race Weekend with additional on-course branding in a dedicated founding partner section as well as the historic start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain, fan entrances, concert stage, wayfinding signage, and other locations throughout the event’s footprint.

MORE: Excitement for Chicago Street Race Weekend grows

“The Chicago Street Race is an incredible moment in NASCAR history, and we can’t think of a better platform to showcase the Xfinity 10G Network and Xfinity Mobile with the iconic Chicago skyline as a backdrop,” said Matt Lederer, vice president, Xfinity Brand Partnerships.

Xfinity is in its fourth season as a Premier Partner of NASCAR and ninth season as entitlement partner of the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Xfinity also entitles the Xfinity 500, the Championship 4 elimination race of the Cup Series Playoffs at Martinsville Speedway.

“Whenever we want to do something bold to advance the sport and the fan experience, Xfinity has always been there to help us move NASCAR forward,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race president. “The Founding Partner model is really unique to the Chicago Street Race, and we can’t think of a better organization to add to this incredible list of partners for our first-ever street race.”

“Over the last nine years, NASCAR and Xfinity have become intrinsically linked, and this announcement represents the next step in that proud partnership,” said Jeff Wohlschlaeger, SVP, chief sales officer, NASCAR. “This is an opportunity to showcase our wonderful Founding Partners like Xfinity to a global audience of millions in a brand-new setting here in Chicago.”

Xfinity and the Chicago Street Race have committed to share future announcements on the organizations’ collaborative support for programs that will have a positive and lasting impact in the Chicago community.

Posted on May 25, 2023May 28, 2023 by Cameron Richardson

Three weeks of trekking through the Carolinas come to a close this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series makes its way to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

With the 2023 regular season at the halfway point, Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) marks a pivotal event for drivers to set the tone for the summer playoff push. But before the action gets underway at the home track for numerous drivers and teams, get a primer for the weekend with trends to watch ahead of Sunday, tire notes and interactive ways to follow all the action at Charlotte.

SHOWSTOPPER OR SCENE-STEALER? 🤔

Whether it’s the behemoth in length or the battle for bragging rights, the Coca-Cola 600 has produced a vast array of results. From some of the most dominant performances in the sport’s history to first-time winners and underdog surprises, the action in Charlotte is never predictable.

The Next Gen car’s debut at the 1.5-mile North Carolina oval produced a thriller for the ages last season as Denny Hamlin won a five-hour, 13-minute battle of attrition to score his first Coke 600 trophy. A year before that, however, eventual 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson outclassed the field, leading 321 of 400 laps, marking one of his many highlights from his 10-win campaign to the title.

Martin Truex Jr. has the one-up in performance on Larson in this event as he led all but eight laps in the 2016 edition of the Coke 600.

The Coca-Cola 600 produced first-time Cup Series winners in underdogs Casey Mears (2007), David Reutimann (2009) and Austin Dillon (2017) and springboarded the Hall of Fame careers for David Pearson (1961), Jeff Gordon (1994), Bobby Labonte (1995) and Matt Kenseth (2000).

MORE: See all winners of the Coca-Cola 600

📉 TRENDS TO WATCH 📈

— Four of the last seven Coke 600s were won from the pole, including the last two.

— Six different drivers won the last six Coca-Cola 600s.

— Ford has only scored one win on the Charlotte oval since 2016.

— The final lead change came in the final three laps of the last four 1.5-mile track races.

— Four of the last six Coca-Cola 600 races have seen the final lead change in the final five laps.

(Via Racing Insights)

NOTABLE MOMENTS 🎥

1994: Jeff Gordon scores first Cup win in Coke 600 | WATCH

2005: Johnson outduels Bobby Labonte at the finish line | WATCH

2011: Dale Jr. runs out of gas on final corner, Harvick wins Coke 600 | WATCH

2017: Austin Dillon brings No. 3 back to Victory Lane | WATCH

ON-TRACK SCHEDULE 🗓️

Saturday, May 27

— 7:05 p.m. ET: Practice (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) [CANCELED]

— 7:50 p.m. ET: Qualifying (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) [CANCELED]

Sunday, May 28

— 6 p.m. ET: Coca-Cola 600 (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) [POSTPONED]

Monday, May 29

— 3 p.m. ET: Coca-Cola 600 (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

MORE: Full weekend schedule at Charlotte

RULE CHANGES/GOODYEAR TIRE NOTES 🛞

The GEICO Restart Zone returned to its 2022 dimensions after being extended for this season’s first five races.

Goodyear brings the tire setup to Charlotte that was first featured at Homestead-Miami Speedway last October. It’s the same setup that was used at Fontana, Las Vegas, Kansas and Darlington earlier this season. Teams will be issued one set of tires for practice, one set for qualifying and an additional 12 sets for Sunday’s 600-miler.

NASCAR has implemented an update to the Next Gen NASCAR Cup Series chassis that will go into effect beginning with this weekend’s action at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In the event of a lost wheel that is contained to pit road, the offending team will be subject to a pass-through penalty under green-flag conditions. If the infraction occurs during a caution period, the offending team will restart at the tail end of the field.

If the wheel breaks free outside of pit road, the new rules guidelines mandate a two-lap penalty plus a two-race suspension for two crew members. Each penalty is series-specific: Violations in one series will not impact those crew members’ eligibility to participate in other series.

NOTE: No. 2 Team Penske crew members Keiston France and Patrick Gray were suspended from the next two Championship Series events after Austin Cindric lost a tire on track at Kansas Speedway on May 7.

RELATED: See rules changes for 2023

FAN REWARDS 🫵

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.

JOIN TODAY

FOLLOW THE RACE 📲

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 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 off, simply visit the leaderboard, click the three-dot menu and “Unfollow the Race.”

FANTASY LIVE 🏆

Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which is open now. The free-to-play game lets you choose your drivers each week and show off your crew-chief instincts by garaging a driver by the end of Stage 2, and there is a $25,000 prize for the winner. (NOTE: For this week only the garage will lock after Stage 3. Also, only stage points from Stage 1 and Stage 2 will count toward your score.)

How to play: Fantasy Live | Set up a team today!

ALSO ON NASCAR.COM 💻

Get additional camera views by logging on to NASCAR Drive, where each week, in-car cameras will be available.

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.

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Adam Fenwick

The second edition of the Granite State Derby at Lee USA Speedway, scheduled for Saturday night (7:45 p.m. ET on FloRacing), will take on a slightly different look this season.

Much like last year, the event will feature a theme reminiscent of the popular Kentucky Derby horse race held every year Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. As part of the theme, a bugler will be on hand to perform before the start of the 175-lap race for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and the trophies with horses will be presented to the winning driver and car owner.

New this year to the Granite State Derby, which is being held on Memorial Day weekend this year for the first time, will be a sizable tribute to fallen members of the armed forces.

“The Granite State Derby theme was an exciting one last year, and one we wanted to continue to build on, but we didn’t feel it was appropriate to have a race on Memorial Day weekend without acknowledging all the brave men and women whose have lives have been lost in defense of our great country,” said Josh Vanada, the owner of JDV Productions and the promoter of the Granite State Derby.

Every car competing in Saturday’s race will feature the name of a fallen service member. Eleven Gold Star families (immediate family members of a fallen service member who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces in a time of conflict) will also be in attendance. Those Gold Star families will stand with the driver representing their family member during driver introductions.

In addition, special performances of “God Bless America,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Taps” will take place prior to the signing of the national anthem.

“I’ve been moved the past two years that we’ve done this,” Vanada said. “In talking with the Gold Star families, I’ve met some of the comrades who have been with some of these men and women when they’ve been killed in the line of duty. Their greatest fear is we will forget the sacrifice of their friends and of their loved ones. For us, honoring the fallen is a way for us to remember their shed blood and the freedoms that it has preserved and that we get to enjoy.”

RELATED: Lee USA entry list | Streaming | Tickets

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour headlines a full day of racing during the Granite State Derby, which also includes Dwarf Cars, 350 Super Modifieds, Pro 4 Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Late Models and the Northeastern Midget Association Lites division.

Fans looking to get a more personal experience during Saturday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event can purchase tickets to the JDV Experience, which provides fans with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience during JDV Productions’ NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events.

The JDV Experience includes reserved seating, unique tours on race day, unique swag and more. Click here for more information.

Tight at the top as Justin Bonsignore leads standings

We’re four races into the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, and the battle at the top of the series standings is already as tight as ever.

Justin Bonsignore, fresh off his victory one weekend ago at New York’s Riverhead Raceway, has taken control of the series standings as he chases his fourth Tour championship for team owner Ken Massa.

He’s closely followed by Ron Silk, the same driver Bonsignore narrowly bested last Sunday at Riverhead. Silk won the opening race of the season at New Smyrna Speedway and hasn’t finished worse than seventh this year. He’s one point behind Bonsignore ahead of Saturday’s Granite State Derby.

Austin Beers sits third in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings, 19 points behind Bonsignore. His strong start to the 2023 season included his maiden Tour victory at Richmond Raceway. He’s coming off his worst finish of the season last weekend at Riverhead, where he finished 17th.

Doug Coby, in pursuit of what would be his seventh Tour championship, finds himself 25 points behind Bonsignore in fourth. A difficult day at Riverhead, which started with a two-lap penalty for breaking impound after qualifying, saw him finish 19th.

J.B. Fortin, driver of the No. 34 John Fortin Racing Modified, during the Buzz Chew Chevrolet Cadillac 200 for the Whelen Modified Tour at Riverhead Raceway on May 20, 2023 in Riverhead, New York. (Photo: Dakota Moyer/NASCAR)

Strong start has J.B. Fortin in title hunt early

J.B. Fortin has never started a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season like this before.

The driver from Holtsville, New York, has scored one top-five and two top-1o finishes in the first four races of the season, good enough to rank him fifth in the Tour standings early in the year.

Following a 16th-place finish in the opening round at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, Fortin turned heads with a runner-up finish in Round 2 at Richmond. He followed that with finishes of 12th at Monadnock Speedway and sixth last weekend at Riverhead Raceway.

In his previous four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour seasons, he’s never scored more than three top-10 finishes in a single year. After four races this year, he’s already scored two. In fact, his average finish of ninth through the first four races is the best he’s ever done at the start of a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

This weekend, Fortin returns to Lee USA Speedway, a track where he scored one of his three top-10 finishes one year ago as he looks to continue his upward momentum and make himself a contender for the Tour championship.

Notes:

Noticeably absent from the entry list for Saturday’s Granite State Derby is Eric Goodale, who will miss his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event since 2008. It ends a streak of 207 consecutive NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts for the driver from Riverhead, New York.
After sitting out the most recent Tour event at Riverhead Raceway, Tommy Catalano returns to action at Lee USA Speedway. He finished 11th one year ago during the Granite State Derby.

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Tadd Haislop

The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series show at Pennsylvania’s Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday, May 27 will be special.

Yes, the NASCAR Home Track located southeast of Pittsburgh will host an exiting night of action featuring Late Models, Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Street Stocks, Chargers and Fast 4s, but a couple days ahead of Memorial Day, it will also honor fallen soldiers.

Having teamed up with Operation Vet NOW (OVN) and its Fallen Heroes project, Jennerstown will host its Armed Forces Night, also known as Jennerstown Salutes.

Before the racing begins Saturday evening, the track will hold its Jennerstown Salutes OVN Tribute starting at 5:50 p.m. local time. Gold Star families will be welcomed and recognized, and the ceremonies will include the playing of “God Bless America,” “Amazing Grace,” a 21-Gun Salute, Taps, the national anthem, an honor guard march and a POW/MIA ceremony.

Tickets are available at the Jennerstown Speedway gates. For those who can’t make the show in person, FloRacing will provide live coverage of the racing action.

Below are the fallen soldiers who will be honored at Jennerstown on Saturday.

Michael Anthony Hook – Army

Killed in action: Aug. 22, 2007 in Multaka, Iraq
Unit: HHC, 2D BATTALION, 35TH INFANTRY, 3 BCT, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI

Hook was soldier from western Pennsylvania who had ties to New Jersey. He was among 14 U.S. soldiers killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a nighttime mission in northern Iraq.

Larry Parks Jr. – Army

Killed in action: June 18, 2007 in Arab Jabor, Iraq
Unit: COMPANY D, 1ST BATTALION, 30TH INFANTRY, FORT STEWART, GA

Parks was a Pennsylvania soldier known for his dedication as a volunteer firefighter. He died of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Parks was a Tank Gunner. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Christopher Allen Golby – Army

Killed in action: Jan. 8, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq
Unit: 571ST MEDICAL COMPANY (AIR AMBULANCE), 3D ACR, FORT CARSON, CO 80913

Golby was killed while on board a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when it crashed during a Medevac mission.

Aaron James Rusin – Army

Killed in action: Oct. 11, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq
Unit: COMPANY A, 44TH ENGINEER BN (COMBAT), 2D INFANTRY DIV, CAMP HOWZE, KOREA

Rusin died of injuries sustained when his military vehicle came under fire from enemy forces.

Brian Paul Hause – Air Force

Killed in action: Oct. 23, 2008 in Joint Base Balad, Iraq
Unit: 20TH EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SQUADRON, SHAW AFB, SC

Hause was 29 when he passed away due to a non combat-related medical issue at Balad Air Base.

Randy Donald McCaulley – Army

Killed in action: March 23, 2006 in Taqaddum, Iraq
Unit: COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION, 110TH INFANTRY, INDIANA, PA

McCaulley was killed when his dismounted patrol came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations.

Brandon Edwin Adams – Army

Killed in action: Sept. 19, 2004 in Washington D.C.
Unit: B CO, 1ST BN, 32D INF, 10TH MTN DIV (L), FORT DRUM, NY

Adams died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center of injuries sustained Feb. 16 in Fallujah, Iraq, when a grenade exploded as he was clearing a house.

Curtis John Forshey – Army

Killed in action: March 27, 2007 in Homburg, Germany
Unit: 494TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, FORT CAMPBELL, KY

Forshey’s death was of a non-combat related illness after being medevacked out of Kuwait on March 22. He suffered a brain aneurysm caused by his leukemia treatment.

Shelby James Feniello – Marine Corps

Killed in action: Oct. 9, 2006 in Ramadi, Iraq
Unit: C CO, 1ST BN, 6TH MAR, (1-1 AD, I MEF FWD), 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC

Feniello died while conducting combat operations against enemy forces when their vehicle ran over an IED. The men were rushing to the aid of Marines involved in a gun battle with insurgents.

Andrew William Brown – Army

Killed in action: Oct. 8, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq
Unit: A COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION (AIRBORNE), 509TH INFANTRY (1ST CAVALRY DIVISION) FORT POLK, LA 71459

Brown died of injuries sustained on Oct. 1, 2004 when his patrol vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

Eric Raymond Hull – Army

Killed in action: Aug. 18, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq
Unit: 307TH MILITARY POLICE COMPANY, NEW KENSINGTON, PA 15068

Hull was killed when a military vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Nils George Thompson – Army

Killed in action: Aug. 4, 2005 in Mosul, Iraq
Unit: COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 24TH INFANTRY (TF LIBERTY), FORT LEWIS, WA

Thompson was shot by a sniper while in the hatch of an armored vehicle on patrol at an Iraqi police station in northern Iraq. He was award the Purple Heart.

Landon Scott Giles – Army

Killed in action: Feb. 26, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq
Unit: HHC, 6TH SQUADRON, 8TH CAVALRY REGIMENT, 4TH BRIGADE, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION, FORT STEWART, GA

Giles was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Clint Richard Matthews – Army

Killed in action: March 19, 2004 in Landstuhl, Germany
Unit: COMPANY B 1ST BATTALION 18TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, (1ID), APO AE 09033

Matthews died from injuries sustained two days before when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle went over a 60-foot embankment and flipped over in Baji, Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Ronald Eric Baum – Marine Corps

Killed in action: May 3, 2004 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Unit: 2D INTEL BN, II MEF, 2D MAR DIV CAMP LEJEUNE, NC

Baum was in the turret of a Humvee when it was hit by a rocket, killed by hostile fire. Baum was posthumously honored with the Navy Marine Corps Commendation for his actions during the attack.

Robert Boyd Jenkins – Navy

Killed in action: May 2, 2004 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Unit: NMCB FOURTEEN, JACKSONVILLE, FL

Jenkins was killed by hostile fire. He was a member of the Navy Reserves Sea Bee unit.

Daniel Russell Lightner Jr. – Army

Killed in action: Oct. 27, 2005 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Unit: HHC, 2D BRIGADE, 28TH ID (2MEF), WASHINGTON, PA

Lightner was killed at age 28 when an Improvised Explosive Device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. Lightner was also a Pennsylvania State Trooper. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Scott Sather – Air Force

Killed in action: April 8, 2003 in Iraq
Unit: 24th Special Tactics Squadron

Sather died following an injury sustained while engaging hostile forces. His death marked the first combat casualty for the U.S. Air Force during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Raymond R. Buchan – Army

Killed in action: July 1, 2007 in Ta’meem, Iraq
Unit: 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

Buchan died of wounds sustained from enemy small-arms fire during his second tour in Iraq. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

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