Doug Coby, Tommy Baldwin Racing unite in pursuit of NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Press Release

MILFORD, Conn. — Doug Coby and Tommy Baldwin Racing jointly announced today that Coby will pilot the historic No. 7NY for a full-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour campaign in 2023.

Set to compete in the 19-race schedule that begins in February at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway, the team will carry primary sponsorship from Mayhew Tools, a sponsor that has been with Coby since 2017 and is happy to make the move with him to TBR.

The partnership between team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. and Coby will allow the six-time series champion to chase a seventh championship while also allowing Baldwin to try and continue his incredible run of success with his team. In 2022, Baldwin won the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour owners championship with three different drivers, including Coby. The Milford, Connecticut, veteran won three races with Baldwin in 2022, including two straight early in the season at Lee USA Speedway and Riverhead Raceway, and another at Langley Speedway.

Baldwin is excited to get work with Coby again, this time on a full-time basis.

“We worked together for the first time last year, and it sparked success right from the first laps we had together on the track,” Baldwin said. “Doug is a proven champion who knows how to be there at the end of races and the end of the year when it comes time to crown a champion. His record speaks for itself. With the year we had in 2022, we are looking forward to building on all of our success and putting ourselves back at the front again in 2023. Having Doug pilot the 7NY with the assistance of Mayhew Tools is a great opportunity for us.”

Coby sits inside the top six on the all-time wins on the Tour with 34 victories to go along with his six titles. He has finished inside the top 10 in points in 12 consecutive seasons including in 2022, when he competed in 12 of the series’ 16 events driving nine races for Baldwin and three for his own team.

Mayhew Tools has been a major supporter of Coby in the last five years, including sponsoring his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021. Mayhew also sponsors the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole award at each event during the season.

“Mayhew Tools and I have a great relationship, with the goal being to bring brand awareness to the Mayhew name through our partnership on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour,” Coby said. “I’ve been fortunate to have them with me at Mike Smeriglio Racing, my own team Doug Coby Racing, and now next season with Tommy Baldwin Racing.

“Tommy’s family history in the Modifieds and his notoriety in NASCAR gives us a chance to get even more eyes on the Mayhew logo, and right now Tommy’s preparing the fastest cars in the pit area, so teaming up with Tommy full-time on the Tour in 2023 is a huge opportunity for us. Chasing my seventh NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship behind the wheel of the 7NY is a pretty neat story, and I can’t wait to build on the success we already found together last season.”

The 2023 Whelen Modified Tour season will begin at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 11. Spread across eight states, the season will end in Virginia at Martinsville Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 26. The series will visit many of New England’s staple race tracks, including Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Seekonk Speedway, Monadnock Speedway and more, while also helping to headline weekends with NASCAR National Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Richmond Raceway and Martinsville Speedway, among others.

“Mayhew Tools has been a supporter of Doug Coby and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour pole award for many years, and we have had a tremendous amount of success in the past with Doug and his race teams,” said John Lawless, President of Mayhew Tools. “Last year was only a partial season for both Doug and Mayhew, but we are really looking forward to supporting the combination of Doug and Tommy Baldwin Racing for a full season on the Whelen Modified Tour.

“We think they’re going to be a team that will certainly contend for many wins and a championship this season, and we are excited to help them work together on a full-time basis.”

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Staff Report

Alpha Prime Racing announced Friday that Rajah Caruth will return for a partial schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season.

Caruth ran seven races for the Tommy Joe Martins-owned organization last season, recording a best finish of 12th place at Martinsville Speedway last October. The 20-year-old driver is also set for his first full season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this year; his agreement with GMS Racing was announced last December.

RELATED: 2023 Xfinity Series schedule

“Rajah is a special young race car driver who is exactly the type of person we want in our building,” APR vice president David Schildhouse said in a team release. “Keeping him here at Alpha Prime Racing for his Xfinity starts was a top priority for us this offseason. We look at Rajah as a vital part of our future and look forward to giving him the best tools possible to continue his growth in this sport.”

Caruth returns to an expanding driver roster for Alpha Prime, which will attempt to grow to a three-car effort in the Xfinity Series this season. Jeffrey Earnhardt is set to drive the APR No. 44 Chevrolet full-time, and Caruth joins Ryan Ellis, Sage Karam, Stefan Parsons and Leland Honeyman Jr. among drivers set to run select Xfinity events for the organization in 2023. Ellis’ deal is set for at least 24 of the season’s 33 races.

The team indicated that a schedule of Caruth’s events and sponsorship details would be announced at a later date.

“I’m so enthused to bolster my NASCAR schedule this year by returning to Alpha Prime Racing for some Xfinity races,” Caruth said. “Tommy and his family took a chance on me before I had even ran an ARCA race, and to represent them as well as Caesar (Bacarella), his family and every man and woman in the APR fold is a blessing. I can’t wait to build on the finishes we put together late last year and continue to show what both myself and this team is capable of.”

Posted on January 27, 2023February 9, 2023 by Jerry Bonkowski

Editor’s Note: Today’s Front Row Motorsports preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2023 Cup Series season, ranked in reverse order of best finish in last year’s owner standings.

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Manufacturer: Ford
Engine: Roush Yates
Driver-crew chief pairings: Michael McDowell-Travis Peterson (No. 34), Todd Gilliland-Ryan Bergenty (No. 38).

Team outlook: Front Row Motorsports has all the ingredients for success, and 2023 should be a better season than 2022. This will be the 19th season in the Cup Series for the organization. It has made the Cup playoffs just twice: Chris Buescher in 2016 (finished last in the 16-car field) and Michael McDowell in 2021 (also finished last in the 16-car field). The team – especially McDowell – has improved significantly over the last couple of years, particularly in 2022 when the man known as “Big Mac” recorded a career- and team-best 12 top-10 finishes. If the new driver-crew chief combos mesh well, there is no reason not to think that at least one – if not both – of the two FRM cars make the playoffs in 2023.

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 34, FORD

Experience: 11th full-time season in NASCAR Cup Series.
2022 stats: 23rd in final standings; 0 wins, 2 top fives, 12 top 10s
2023 championship odds (BetMGM): 350-1

Outlook: Even though he didn’t make the playoffs like he did the year before, McDowell – the veteran of 429 career Cup starts with one win, seven top-five and 29 top-10 finishes – had his best season ever in Cup from an overall performance perspective when it comes to race finishes. Sure, he didn’t get a win, and his 23rd-place showing in the final standings looks somewhat mediocre, but his 12 top-10 finishes (he’s never had more than five top-10 finishes in a season before) says a lot about how strong this team can be. It just needs a little more luck and potentially a different (and maybe more aggressive) pit strategy from new crew chief Travis Peterson. McDowell is always a threat to win at superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega and is one of the more underrated road course drivers. The 38-year-old Arizona native could be one of the biggest sleepers this season, provided his team keeps him on the right track.

TODD GILLILAND, NO. 38, FORD

Experience: 2nd full-time season in NASCAR Cup Series.
2022 stats: 28th in final standings; 0 wins, 1 top five, 2 top 10s
2023 championship odds (BetMGM): 1,000-1

Outlook: Gilliland had a difficult rookie season in the Cup Series in 2022, earning just one top-five finish and two top 10s. That’s not totally unusual, given the fact he jumped from the Truck Series (where he earned three wins, 27 top-five and 53 top-10 finishes in 94 starts) directly to Cup, bypassing more seasoning in the Xfinity Series. He was a poor qualifier (27.5 average start) and was a mid-pack finisher most of the season (23.2 average finish). Admittedly, 2022 was a learning year for the son of former NASCAR driver David Gilliland. And while NASCAR Cup historically has a rough outlook for drivers in their sophomore seasons, it’s very possible Gilliland can improve and finish the season in the top 20. It’s unlikely he’ll make the playoffs, but improvement would definitely appear to be on the menu.

Editor’s note (Feb. 9, 2023): It was recently announced that Gilliland would no longer be competing in the full season driving the No. 38 FRM entry in the Cup Series. While Gilliland is slated to remain the primary driver for the team, the previous statistical and performance-based outlook did not have the relevant information to take this into account.

NASCAR.com 2023 team previews schedule

Jan. 23: Non-chartered and teams outside the top 30
Jan. 24: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 25: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 26: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 27: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 30: Kaulig Racing
Jan. 31: RFK Racing
Feb. 1: Legacy Motor Club
Feb. 2: Richard Childress Racing
Feb. 7: 23XI Racing
Feb. 8: Stewart-Haas Racing
Feb. 9: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 10: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 13: Trackhouse Racing
Feb. 14: Team Penske

Posted on January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 by Staff Report

Reaume Brothers Racing announced a fire broke out at its Mooresville, North Carolina race shop on Thursday morning.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team said in a social media statement “a few” team members sustained injuries during the blaze and were transported for medical treatment.

We will update the situation as we learn more details. pic.twitter.com/pbUMwaj0Jd

— Reaume Brothers Racing (@RBR_Teams) January 26, 2023

“An investigation into the cause is ongoing,” the statement read. “We are in the process of determining the extent of the damages.”

Reaume Brothers Racing fielded entries for 21 drivers in the 2022 Truck Series season totaling 42 starts in the 23-race campaign. The team additionally worked to provide Team Hezeberg with its inaugural part-time endeavor in the NASCAR Cup Series.

According to the Mooresville Fire-Rescue Facebook page, the department was dispatched to the team’s location at approximately 11:30 a.m. ET to a reported commercial structure fire. The post states crews extinguished the flames quickly but the building itself sustained “significant fire damage.”

According to the page, three patients were treated for injuries.

“One patient was transported to Lake Norman Regional for smoke inhalation, the second patient was transported to Baptist Hospital for burn injuries and the third patient was treated and released,” the post states.

The Mooresville Fire Marshal’s office is currently investigating the cause of the fire, according to the page.

On Wednesday, RBR announced Mason Massey is slated to run the full Craftsman Truck Series season for the program, which also announced Wednesday it will field Ford F-150s in 2023.

Posted on January 26, 2023January 31, 2023 by Official NASCAR Release

Daytona Beach, Fla. (Jan. 26. 2023) – NASCAR and Hurley, the iconic action-sports brand, announced today a collaboration that will deliver a brand-new collection of men’s and women’s beach and surf apparel. Two racing-themed product lines will drop during NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season in 2023, with the first available now on Hurley.com, and another dropping prior to the NASCAR Darlington Throwback Weekend in April.

“Hurley is one of the most influential brands in the world when it comes to action-sports and beach apparel,” said Megan Malayter, NASCAR managing director of licensing and consumer products. “As two companies who were born on the beach, we’re thrilled to be collaborating with Hurley to bring this exclusive Hurley x NASCAR collection to fans in 2023.”

MORE: Shop merch now

Hurley was founded in Huntington Beach in 1999 on the principle of empowering and fueling the voice of the next generation. Through the lens of inclusion, Hurley has partnered with the world’s best surfers, skateboarders, snowboarders, musicians and artists, and is an iconic global youth culture brand with roots sunk deep in beach lifestyle.

“We’re excited to bring the Hurley energy that has solidified its stake in surf, snow and skate to a new audience through the Hurley x NASCAR collection. Racing and surfing take dedication, commitment and drive and have many of the same key attributes. We have fused the two as one in the latest Hurley x NASCAR collection while taking our brand trackside,” said Ralph Gindi, COO and co-founder of Bluestar Alliance, parent company of Hurley.

Hurley has developed cutting-edge, fashionable beachwear for both collections including items such as board shorts, swimwear, athleisure, tees, hats and woven tops. The first line of product, which dropped today, will feature designs that reflect an authentic 1990s feel. The second line will appropriately carry a look that represents vintage NASCAR, drawing on the rich history of the sport’s quintessential branding.

One of Hurley’s feature athletes is NASCAR’s own Noah Gragson, who will pilot the No. 42 Chevrolet for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in 2023. Hurley, as well as several of its athletes, will be on site at Daytona International Speedway for the DAYTONA 500, giving fans the opportunity to purchase items from the collection in person. Follow all of the excitement here https://www.instagram.com/hurley/.

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season begins with the 65th running of the DAYTONA 500^®, the Great American Race, on Sunday, February 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. UNOH Fanzone passes are still available at www.daytona500.com or by calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP.

Posted on January 26, 2023January 26, 2023 by Zach Sturniolo

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Thursday a multiyear contract extension with Chase Briscoe, confirming the Indiana native will pilot the team’s No. 14 Ford for “many more years to come.”

The commitment comes at a pivotal time for the organization, two weeks after its flagship driver Kevin Harvick announced his imminent retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series following the 2023 season.

With a champion of Harvick’s caliber planning his exit, Stewart-Haas Racing is well aware its No. 4 car will be a key source of speculation heading into 2024. Who fills the vacancy? Where does that driver come from? Will the team make a big splash in the free-agent pool?

For now, that’s where Briscoe comes into play. Sure, the No. 4 remains an unanswered question — but the last thing Stewart-Haas Racing needs is another mystery on its hands.

MORE: 2023 Cup Series schedule | Who fills the No. 4 car in 2024?

Briscoe provides immediate stability with clear potential for success. A winner in his 40th career start last spring at Phoenix Raceway, Briscoe has proven plenty capable in the Next Gen car, muscling his No. 14 team into the Round of 8 in the 2022 playoffs and nearly into the Championship 4 at Martinsville.

“Chase has made the most of every opportunity and the proof is in the results,” team co-owner Tony Stewart said in a release. “Keeping him at SHR was a priority and we’re proud to have him in our race cars for many more years to come.”

To truly capitalize on the opportunity, though, Briscoe will have to grow from some of his sophomore campaign miscues. While he excelled to a ninth-place finish in the overall point standings, consistency eluded Briscoe through the regular season.

His opening four races of 2022 culminated in one win, two top fives, a 16th-place finish and a 35th-place DNF due to a crash. Missed chances to win at Bristol Dirt and Charlotte Motor Speedway — spinning respective leaders Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson in the closing laps — emphasized an overeagerness that bit Briscoe ahead of a 15-week stretch of finishes outside the top 10.

But when the moment mattered, Briscoe rose to the occasion in the postseason, netting six top 10s in the final seven races. Those performances are what Stewart-Haas Racing is banking on with this multiyear contract extension.

As one flagship driver exits SHR, there’s hope Briscoe can grow into the team’s next leader for years to come.

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Staff Report

The Carolina Cowboys announced Thursday that the team will relocate to the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina for the 2023 season and beyond.

The Carolinas’ only professional bull-riding team competing in the groundbreaking Professional Bull Riders Team Series will host its first PBR Cowboy Days homestand Sept. 22-24.

The team is owned by Richard Childress and partner Jeff Broin, with 2018 Daytona 500 winner and two-time national series champion Austin Dillon serving as general manager.

MORE: A different driver’s seat for Austin Dillon

“We’re thrilled to be able to keep the Carolina Cowboys in the Piedmont-Triad and bring professional bull riding to Greensboro in 2023,” said Childress in a team release. “Our goal is to introduce an entirely new generation of fans to Western sports and can’t wait for everyone to experience our Cowboy Days homestand September 22-24, 2023.”

The move comes after competing out of LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem during the inaugural year of competition for the PBR Team Series. In its maiden season in the series, the Carolina Cowboys concluded its regular-season fourth in the standings, 15-13 in gameplay.

“Greensboro has long been known as a sports town, and we are thrilled to add to that reputation as we welcome North Carolina’s first Professional Bull Riding team, the Carolina Cowboys, to the Greensboro Coliseum,” said Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan. “I can’t wait to dust off my cowboy hat and join everyone for ‘Cowboy Days’ on September 22-24 at the Greensboro Coliseum to watch our Carolina Cowboys compete against some of the best bull riders in the country in a new league that’s made the most exciting eight seconds in sports even more thrilling.”

Additionally, Prime Video announced “The Ride,” an eight-episode docuseries produced by Kinetic Content surrounding the world of PBR. The series will give viewers a first-of-its-kind, behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. The Ride will premiere later this year on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“’The Ride’ is a deep, engaging and beyond-the-arena window into the world of PBR athletes who risk life and limb to entertain the world’s most passionate sports fans,” said Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner, PBR in a release. “Regardless of their background, walk of life or familiarity with the sport, anyone who is exposed to the infectious, determined and youthful exuberance of a PBR bull rider inevitably walks away as a fan, which is why we partnered with Prime Video and Kinetic Content to capture their compelling stories.”

“The Ride” follows an ensemble cast of bull riders and coaches throughout the PBR Team Series as they navigate the league’s inaugural 2022 season, budding rivalries, exhilarating highs and challenging lows of PBR’s newest team-based competition.

Posted on January 26, 2023May 29, 2024 by Zack Albert

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Thursday that the organization has signed Chase Briscoe to a multiyear contract extension that keeps the 28-year-old driver in the No. 14 Ford for the 2023 season and beyond.

The agreement comes ahead of Briscoe’s third season in the NASCAR Cup Series. The Indiana native – who took Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 – followed that performance by scoring his first Cup Series victory last year, prevailing last March at Phoenix Raceway.

“Chase has made the most of every opportunity and the proof is in the results,” team co-owner Tony Stewart said in a news release. “Keeping him at SHR was a priority and we’re proud to have him in our race cars for many more years to come.”

Briscoe’s first win qualified him for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs last year, and he wound up ninth in the final driver standings. The victory also gave him the distinction of being the Cup Series’ 200th winner.

Briscoe said that Stewart-Haas took the lead on initiating contract negotiations, but that the desire to renew their agreement was mutual. “I felt like we were both kind of pushing to get something done,” Briscoe said in an afternoon teleconference.

His return firms up an SHR lineup that’s in a state of transition. Veteran Kevin Harvick announced his retirement as driver of the No. 4 Ford at season’s end, and Ryan Preece is a new addition to the team’s Cup Series roster in the No. 41 Mustang. Aric Almirola reversed course last August on his retirement plans, and his future in the No. 10 Ford beyond this season is unclear.

Briscoe said Harvick’s departure after the 2023 campaign may prompt him to take more of a leadership role among SHR’s active drivers.

“This past year, I definitely talked a lot more and I would bring up ideas and kind of say things that I wanted to get off my chest where in the past I wouldn’t have done that,” Briscoe said. “So I feel like as I’ve gotten more confident in myself in my position. I’ve gotten to the point where I speak my mind a little bit more, and I guess be a little bit more of a leader. But where we’re at as a company, for me still, Kevin Harvick’s the guy, right? He’s who steers our ship. He’s the guy that when he talks, people listen. And for me, I’ve just tried to watch as much as I can.”

Briscoe scored 11 victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series before his promotion to the Cup Series level. He is also a two-time winner in the Craftsman Truck Series, where he began his NASCAR national series career as part of Ford’s driver development program, and the 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion.

WATCH: Briscoe signs multiyear extension with SHR

Like Stewart, a fellow Hoosier, Briscoe holds a rich dirt-track pedigree. The third-generation driver showed his skills at short tracks across the Midwest before moving to North Carolina in 2014 to follow a path toward stock-car racing. Briscoe noted those early years in the sport were filled with uncertainty; he enters 2023 with a far better sense of security.

“Definitely, it’s really nice to have stability, especially being a young father now,” Briscoe said. “I think that’s the biggest thing just for my family, that’s the nicest thing is just having that comfortability knowing that for the next few years that I might have a job. So that’s really important, obviously, especially when you’re raising a little one, and I think that’s probably the biggest thing for me, that’s most important about the whole thing is just how it affects my family versus how it affects me.

“So that’s really nice to have that. I’ve never had that my entire career, so that’s going to be something new for me to kind of navigate.”

Stewart won three Cup Series championships during his driving career, and he was elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020. Of his 49 wins, 16 came driving the No. 14 – a number in tribute to his racing hero, A.J. Foyt.

The car number has been a part of the organization since 2009, when Stewart launched SHR with team co-owner Gene Haas. Stewart added his winning legacy to the No. 14, as did successor Clint Bowyer. Now Briscoe’s name is on that list.

“The first two years, I definitely felt like I was always getting in Clint’s car or getting in Tony’s car, and it was just kind of my name on it, but I was just filling in,” Briscoe said. “Like … that wasn’t me. I wasn’t a long-term guy for it. Where now, I feel like it is mine to a certain extent. You know, it’s still Tony’s obviously but I feel like it’s my car now, the 14. When people think of the 14, I want them to think about me because that’s how I feel, where before I was thinking it was Clint’s car or Tony’s car.

“So yeah, I definitely want to add a lot of history to the 14. It’s known for being this car that always is battling for championships and battling for wins and the driver’s just this down-to-earth, just normal dirt racer, and I feel like I want to add my history to the 14.”

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Staff Report

Editor’s note: NASCAR Studios has partnered with students from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism to provide content for the Busch Light Clash. This story is by Jacqueline Cao, who is pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising.

From mouth-watering entrées at Grand Central Market to admiring famous artists on Museum Row and stargazing at the Griffith Observatory, these are the Los Angeles places you can’t miss while in town for the Busch Light Clash (8 p.m. ET, Feb. 5, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM).

RELATED: Buy tickets | Full Clash schedule | Clash format

Savor a breakfast burrito at Delia’s Restaurant

Delia’s Restaurant is a cherished family-run breakfast spot for locals in Highland Park and Eagle Rock who rush there for delicious food at quality prices. Pair a flavorful carne asada breakfast burrito with a fresh cup of freshly squeezed orange juice for the perfect start to your day. The tastiness of the food is only enhanced by the affordable prices, which range from $3 to $10. Have room for more? Try the tortas, tacos or even a breakfast platter. Cash only.

Address: 4501 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Immerse in art along Museum Row

Located in the Miracle Mile neighborhood, Museum Row refers to the various institutions that constitute LA’s cultural and arts hub on the west side: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Petersen Automotive Museum, the Korean American Museum and more. Start your art endeavors with LACMA, the largest art museum in the western United States, featuring works from pioneers and diverse artists. Before leaving, head over to the Grove for some shopping and eat a quick bite at the Original Farmers Market, both located less than a 10-minute drive away from Museum Row.

Address: LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Unwind at Verve Coffee Roasters

The award-winning Verve Coffee Roasters has 12 locations around California, four of which are in Los Angeles, and four in Japan. Its flagship restaurant and roastery in downtown LA is hip, beautifully designed and has plenty of space to work from home or chat with friends. Enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee or one of their various menu items, including pastries, pudding and oats. This is the perfect spot to stop and caffeinate before you head to the race track!

Address: 500 Mateo St #102, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Refuel at Grand Central Market

Everyone is occasionally haunted by the dilemma: what should we eat tonight? Luckily, at Grand Central Market, you don’t have to choose. Since 1917, the market has brought together different cultures and cuisines in a large food emporium filled with over 40 stalls and vendors. With options such as fresh donuts, vegan ramen, Texan BBQ, gourmet egg sandwiches and more, every adult, child and craving will be satisfied here. Don’t miss the handmade pupusas that come with a dozen different fillings at Sarita’s Pupuseria. And for all film aficionados: don’t leave without snapping a picture at Sarita’s counter, where “La La Land” filmed Mia and Sebastian’s first date.

Address: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Grab a beer at Rock & Reilly’s USC Village

Frequented by students and locals alike, Rock & Reilly’s restaurant and bar is conveniently located at the USC Village, only a 10-minute walk from the Coliseum. Stop by the gastropub to watch a sports game and grab a beer or to hang out with friends after a day at the Clash. Aside from the full bar and delicious menu, the restaurant also offers great happy hour specials and outdoor seating.

Address: 3201 S Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90089

Stargaze at the Griffith Observatory

The crown jewel of Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory is a can’t-miss public observatory with breathtaking views of the city and the universe! Come here in the day for hikes or biking trails along the Hollywood sign or visit at night to observe planets through the observatory’s telescopes. Inside, the Samuel Oschin Planetarium will transport you to all corners of the universe and immerse you in the wonders of the cosmos. Whether you’re looking to spend time indoors or outdoors, Griffith Park is the perfect place to be.

Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Jerry Bonkowski

Editor’s Note: Today’s JTG Daugherty Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2023 Cup Series season, ranked in reverse order of best finish in last year’s owner standings.

JTG DAUGHERTY RACING

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Motorsports
Driver-crew chief pairings: Ricky Stenhouse-Mike Kelley (No. 47)

Team outlook: This will be the third year that JTG Daugherty will field just one car in the NASCAR Cup Series, again to be driven by veteran Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who appears to really have found a home with the organization, even if it isn’t that successful overall. Without a second car to trade data with or an affiliation with a NASCAR Xfinity Series team, there’s little the team can do to improve its lot in 2023. Stenhouse will have a new crew chief in veteran Mike Kelley, and they are not strangers to each other. They paired together for consecutive Xfinity Series championships in 2011 and 2012, and again in 2014 when Stenhouse recorded one top-five finish and five top 10s that season in the Cup Series with Kelley atop the pit box.

RICKY STENHOUSE JR., NO. 47 CHEVROLET

Experience: 11th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series.
2022 stats: 26th in final standings (second worst season finish in his Cup career); 0 wins, 1 top five, 5 top 10s
2023 championship odds (BetMGM): 350-1

Outlook: Once again, the odds are long for Stenhouse to make the playoffs, let alone to win the championship. The only year he made the playoffs in his Cup career was 2017, when he finished 13th; also the same year that Stenhouse recorded both of his two career Cup wins. Since then, the Mississippi native has finished 18th (2018), 23rd (2019), 24th (2020), 22nd (2021) and 26th (2022).

Stenhouse has shown he has the ability to come up with the occasional big finish – like 2nd at Dover Motor Speedway last season, 2nd on the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021 and also runner-up at Talladega Superspeedway in spring 2020 – but unfortunately those big finishes are too few and far between. Without a second car and driver to share data with, Stenhouse is a one-man band, so to speak. It’s likely to be a season of more of the same from Stenhouse, once again falling short of the playoffs and likely finishing somewhere between 20th and 30th in the final standings.

MORE: 2023 Cup championship odds

NASCAR.com 2023 team previews schedule