Posted on by Press Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour will have new ownership when the green flag waves on its 2023 season in March. Today, NASCAR icons Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Justin Marks announced their acquisition of the Southeast’s premier asphalt late model series.

“This is a dream come true for me,” said Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR Hall of Famer and current NBC Sports analyst. “I’m a huge fan of the CARS Tour and local short-track racing. The competition, the tracks and the drivers are some of the best around. These regional series are vital to the quality of racing you see at the top level. Jack (McNelly, CARS Tour founder) has done a tremendous job establishing the CARS Tour as a preeminent series, and I’m thrilled to be part of its future.”

Aside from the ownership transition from McNelly, the CARS Tour will remain unchanged. The 2023 schedule is set with 19 race weekends, and McNelly and his staff will continue to oversee operations and track events. The key addition will be the industry expertise brought by the current owners’ respective business units: DEJ Management, Jeff Burton Autosports, Inc., Kevin Harvick, Inc. and Trackhouse Racing. The contingent will collectively aim to bolster the health and longevity of the CARS Tour by providing proficiencies in brand management, business strategy and partnership acquisition and retention.

“Owning and developing the CARS Tour has been an honor and one I’m immensely proud of,” said McNelly. “Fortunately, it’s in the best of hands with this new group. They have the passion and talent to take the Tour to the next level. I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings for everyone involved.

“I give my heartfelt thanks to all that have contributed to the success of the series over the years. It has truly been a team effort. The CARS Tour staff, officials, competitors, sponsors and fans have made this series one of the best in the country.”

Earnhardt Jr., Burton, Harvick and Marks are all former or current drivers themselves. Both Earnhardt Jr. and Burton grew up racing regionally in the Southeast while Marks was bitten by the short-track bug after competing in several high-profile late model races. Harvick cut his teeth in regional action on the West Coast.

Josh Berry (8) races alongside Mason Diaz (11) during a Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour event at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2021. (Photo: Adam Fenwick)
Josh Berry (8) races alongside Mason Diaz (11) during a Solid Rock Carriers CARS Tour event at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2021. (Photo: Adam Fenwick)

“I grew up racing Late Model Stock Cars on the West Coast,” said Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion with 60 wins to his credit. “Late Model racing has always been a passion of mine, and I want to ensure short-track asphalt racing and the CARS Tour continue to grow and succeed. I look forward to sharing the responsibility with this like-minded group of racers.”

Founded in 2014 as a continuation of the former Pro Cup Series, the CARS Tour enters its ninth season in 2023. Uniquely, the CARS Tour features both Pro Late Models and Late Model Stock Cars competing at the same track on the same night, becoming the first series of its kind to host two premier divisions under its banner at the same event.

“This is something I’m really excited about, not only for Trackhouse and the initiatives that we’re pursuing, but for short-track racing in general,” said Marks, who led Trackhouse Racing to a runner-up effort in the 2022 Cup Series championship. “Asphalt Late Model racing truly is the foundation of NASCAR and bringing a group like this together will serve the racer and fan. The CARS Tour is so important to the racing scene in the Southeast, and this group can bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion to the series that will ensure authentic and valuable growth in the years to come.”

The CARS Tour has produced a number of notable drivers who have built successful careers on the national stage, including Josh Berry, Harrison Burton, William Byron, Ty Gibbs, Sam Mayer and Myatt Snider as well as current series stars like Carson Kvapil, Deac McCaskill, Bobby McCarty and Layne Riggs.

“The opportunity to work with a group of partners that I have so much respect for in the sport that I love is amazing,” added Burton, a 2023 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee and NASCAR analyst for NBC Sports. “Collectively, I believe we can contribute to grass-roots racing and the overall health of motorsports in the process. By building off the positive foundation Jack has built, I’m confident we can create a next-level experience for the competitors, partners and fans.”

The CARS Tour season kicks off at Southern National Motorsports Park (Kenly, N.C.) on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Posted on by Brandon White

When Karsyn Elledge departed the 2020 Chili Bowl, she had no idea her next race would not be for another three years.

A lot has changed in Elledge’s life since that day, but the daughter of Kelley Earnhardt Miller is eager to shake off the rust and continue her family’s storied racing tradition in the 2023 Chili Bowl. She will drive a car fielded by Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports.

Despite being out of racing for an extended period, Elledge finds herself composed as she makes final preparations for a long and grueling week in the most prestigious event in dirt midget competition.

“The nerves haven’t really gotten to me too much,” Elledge said. “Everyone has asked me how I’m feeling about [the Chili Bowl], and I’m not feeling too jittery yet. I’ve had great results with Dave Mac [Dalby] Motorsports before, so this should be a really good time.”

RELATED: Watch all 2023 Chili Bowl action LIVE on FloRacing

Karsyn Elledge
(Photo: Adam Mollenkopf)

Elledge’s original plan after the 2020 Chili Bowl was to compete in the USAC Midget National Championship once again after qualifying for 17 features the year before.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced every auto racing organization to temporarily suspend their seasons, Elledge utilized the quarantine period to re-evaluate her own career before ultimately deciding to step away from active competition.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Elledge has kept herself busy by embarking on several business ventures. They include her own clothing brand in Raceline Apparel. She also handles marketing and social media responsibilities for Mamba Media, which is operated by Dylan ‘Mamba’ Smith.

Working with Mamba Media allowed Elledge to stay close to the sport that had been an integral part of her like growing up. Despite being happy with her current job, Elledge admits she had been waiting for an opportunity to get back behind the wheel.

An encounter with Dave McIntosh of Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports led to Elledge making the trip to Tulsa for her third Chili Bowl appearance.

“I’ve just kind of had that itch lately,” Elledge said. “I’ve been watching some of my old outlaw kart races and [my brother Wyatt Miller’s] races, which brought back a lot of memories for me. I happened to be in the same restaurant as Dave [McIntosh], and he asked me if I was ever going to race again. Everything just started to come together after that.”

Elledge’s most recent Chili Bowl attempt in 2020 came with Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports. She ended up finishing 22ndin the A-Main during her qualifying night, but her quest to make Saturday’s main event ended with a 17th-place run in the first E feature.

While he anticipates a brief adjustment period for Elledge during the week, McIntosh considers himself fortunate to have her be a part of his driver roster that already consists of his son Cannon and IndyCar driver Santino Ferrucci.

“I watched a lot of film on [Karsyn], and she definitely rips, which I think comes from her Outlaw Kart days,” McIntosh said. “She is not scared of anything and puts the pedal down. That’s what we wanted to see from her during our first Chili Bowl together, and she did not disappoint.”

RELATED: 2023 Chili Bowl drivers with NASCAR ties

Elledge said the professionalism and welcoming atmosphere prevalent within Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports have made her feel calmer than she normally would be ahead of such a strenuous week of racing.

“My favorite thing about [Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports] is that everything is always really fun,” Elledge said. “Even though they take things very seriously, there’s not a lot of pressure. Regardless of how everything goes, I know I’ll have a great time with them, because everyone is always super positive. That makes my job as a driver so much easier.”

Despite their mutual excitement about working together, both Elledge and McIntosh enter this year’s Chili Bowl with realistic expectations.

The extended practice Sunday gave McIntosh plenty of time to evaluate Elledge and ensure she had everything needed to find her comfort zone. As the week progresses, McIntosh expects Elledge to gradually become more aggressive, which he said will be imperative against hundreds of other talented competitors.

McIntosh added he does not want Elledge putting a tremendous amount of pressure on herself. He hopes she takes time to appreciate the atmosphere while staying focused on accomplishing the goals the two laid out before arriving in Tulsa.

If everything goes according to plan, McIntosh is confident Elledge can easily improve upon her performance from the 2020 Chili Bowl and potentially factor into Saturday’s 55-lap main event.

(Photo: Adam Mollenkopf)

“There’s no reason [Karsyn] can’t make her preliminary A feature,” McIntosh said. “With where our program is at, I think we can adjust to her driving style, but once you make the feature on your prelim night, anything can happen, but that sets you up decently for Saturday.”

Simply progressing through each main during the preliminaries and the final day will be a tall task for Elledge, who finds herself amongst a group that consists of past Chili Bowl winners in Rico Abreu, Tanner Thorson and Sammy Swindell, along with NASCAR Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe and Alex Bowman.

Elledge is not letting the overall challenge of the Chili Bowl get to her, as she is more focused on getting back up to speed and making the most of her opportunity with Dace Mac Dalby Motorsports.

“My goal every time I’ve been to the Chili Bowl is to end up in a better main than I was in the year before,” Elledge said. “This year I’m shooting for either the E or the D, and I feel like I can accomplish that. A lot of people think I’m crazy for racing again after so long, but it shouldn’t take too long for me to pick everything back up. We’ll see what happens.”

Unlike 2020, Elledge currently does not have plans to race once she leaves Tulsa. For her, this puts more emphasis on showing everyone at the Chili Bowl and the auto racing industry she can still drive just like her mom, uncles and grandfather.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

Every January inside the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, hundreds of competitors and thousands of fans converge to witness one of the greatest races in all of grassroots racing.

The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire, which begin Monday, Jan. 9 and run through Saturday, Jan. 14, is the largest midget racing event in the world. Annually drawing hundreds of entrants from across the United States and multiple countries, the event brings together countless drivers from a variety of racing backgrounds.

Typically, among those drivers are several NASCAR drivers, and the 37th running of the legendary event is no different. There are 18 drivers entered who have competed in at least one of NASCAR’s three national divisions.

RELATED: Watch every lap of the 2023 Chili Bowl on FloRacing

They include a pair of drivers who qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs last season, Chase Briscoe and Alex Bowman.

For Briscoe, the 2023 Chili Bowl marks his ninth attempt to secure the Golden Driller trophy that goes to the winner of the championship A-Main on Jan. 14. He made his initial Chili Bowl appearance in 2015 and has returned annually since.

The driver of the No. 14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing has qualified for the Saturday finale once. He raced his way into the finale in 2017, starting and finishing 22nd in a race that was won by current Joe Gibbs Racing competitor Christopher Bell. Since then he’s narrowly missed qualifying for the finale multiple times, falling just short in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

His most recent Chili Bowl attempt came last year, when he finished sixth in a C-Main during the Saturday finale.

Bowman returns to the Chili Bowl for his seventh attempt at the Super Bowl of midget racing. He made his Chili Bowl debut in 2010, but thus far he has failed to qualify for the Saturday A-Main.

RELATED: Everything you need to know about the 2023 Chili Bowl

The driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet fell a few positions short of advancing to the main event last year when he finished 11th in his B-Main on championship Saturday. It was his best Chili Bowl performance to date.

In addition to competing as a driver in the Chili Bowl, Bowman will double as a team owner. Bowman will field entries for himself as well as veteran dirt trackers C.J. Leary and Jake Swanson.

Briscoe will kick off his Chili Bowl pursuits on Monday, Jan. 9, when he takes part in Cummins Qualifying Night. Bowman will race Tuesday, Jan. 10 during Warren CAT Qualifying Night.

Below is a look at some of the competitors taking part in the Chili Bowl who have made starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series or have other connections to NASCAR.

  • J.J. Yeley – A familiar face both in the NASCAR garage and at the Chili Bowl, Yeley is a veteran dirt-track competitor. He is also a veteran of more than 350 NASCAR Cup Series starts and has competed at the Chili Bowl countless times. He came close to winning the championship A-Main in 2007, when he finished second to three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. His Chili Bowl program begins Thursday.
  • Josh Bilicki – Making his Chili Bowl debut in 2023, Bilicki has become a familiar face in NASCAR the last few seasons. In 2022 alone, Bilicki competed in 24 events across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His Chili Bowl program begins Tuesday.
  • Carson Hocevar – A rising star in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Niece Motorsports, Hocevar is making his second trip to the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He made his Chili Bowl debut one year ago but struggled and saw his championship Saturday end during an I-Main. He’ll look to improve upon that result when he begins his Chili Bowl program Wednesday.
  • Kaden Honeycutt – A competitor on dirt and asphalt, Honeycutt recently began making a name for himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. In nine starts last season, he scored a career-best ninth in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway driving the No. 30 Toyota for On Point Motorsports. He’s also been a regular competitor with the CARS Late Model Stock Tour, where he is a three-time race winner. His first Chili Bowl attempt begins Wednesday.
  • Sammy Swindell – Best known for his efforts as a sprint-car competitor, Swindell once dabbled in NASCAR. He competed in the 1991 Daytona 500 and ran the full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 1995, earning a best finish of fourth at Bristol Motor Speedway that year. He’s a legendary name at the Chili Bowl having won the event a record five times. His 2023 program begins Wednesday.
  • Tanner Thorson – The defending Chili Bowl Nationals champion briefly dabbled in the world of NASCAR. Thorson, who held off Christopher Bell to win the 2022 Chili Bowl, made 11 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts in 2018 with a best finish of 13th at Iowa Speedway. He’ll look to begin his Chili Bowl defense on Thursday night.
  • Rico Abreu – One of the most popular competitors every year inside the SageNet Center is Abreu, who is a two-time Chili Bowl champion. The California native and veteran sprint-car competitor tried his hand at NASCAR in 2016, when he ran the full NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule and finished a career-best third at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway. He also raced in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2015, earning one victory and finishing fifth in the series standings. He begins his pursuit of a third Golden Driller trophy Wednesday.
  • Max McLaughlin – The son of six-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner Mike McLaughlin, Max McLaughlin is making his maiden voyage to the Chili Bowl this year. The younger McLaughlin has been focusing on racing modifieds recently, both on dirt and asphalt. He competed in three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races last year and made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2018. He begins his Chili Bowl program Wednesday.
  • Karsyn Elledge – A member of the Earnhardt family is racing at the Chili Bowl. Elledge, who is making her return to racing after a few years away, is the niece of NASCAR Hall of Famer and two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. She’s competed at the Chili Bowl twice and will look to improve upon her E-Main appearance in 2020. She begins her Chili Bowl program Wednesday.
  • Buddy Kofoid – One of the favorites to win the Chili Bowl, Kofoid has plenty of experience on his side. He is the two-time and defending USAC National Midget Series champion and has been a contender in the Chili Bowl finale the last few years. Kofoid made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2022 driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway and Knoxville Raceway. He begins his Chili Bowl program Tuesday.
  • Santino Ferrucci – Ferrucci has raced a variety of race cars all over the world. Set to compete in the IndyCar Series this season for the legendary A.J. Foyt, Ferrucci has made a handful of NASCAR Xfinity Series starts over the last two years. This marks his fourth Chili Bowl attempt. He’ll begin his program Friday.
  • Tim McCreadie – Now one of the top dirt late model competitors in the United States, McCreadie dabbled in NASCAR during the 2000s. He made six NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for Richard Childress Racing in 2007, earning a best finish of 12th at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. These days he makes his living racing dirt late models and has captured the last two Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series titles. He is also the 2006 Chili Bowl winner. He begins his 2023 program Tuesday.
  • Parker Price-Miller – Sprint car fans know Price-Miller, but fans of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series may also recognize the name. Price-Miller made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2021 when he drove a Truck fielded by Jordan Anderson at Knoxville Raceway. He begins his Chili Bowl program Wednesday.
  • Shane Golobic – A regular on the California sprint car circuit, Golobic is also a regular inside the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, every January. Golobic made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2021, piloting the No. 78 entry owned by B.J. McLeod on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. He begins his Chili Bowl program Monday.
  • Dillon Welch – A familiar face during NASCAR Cup Series broadcasts on NBC, Welch loves to race in his spare time. He’s a regular at the Chili Bowl and has qualified for the championship A-Main on two occasions. He scored a 23rd-place finish during the 2018 finale and last year earned a 22nd-place finish in the championship A-Main. He begins his 2023 program Thursday.
  • Tanner Berryhill – A native Oklahoman, Berryhill has been racing at the Chili Bowl since 2010. A veteran of 43 NASCAR Xfinity Series races and two NASCAR Cup Series events, Berryhill has never made the Chili Bowl finale. His best effort came in 2016, when he finished seventh in a C-Main on championship Saturday. He begins his Chili Bowl program Wednesday.
  • Logan Seavey – A contender at midget racing events across the United States, Seavey briefly dabbled in stock-car racing. He scored an ARCA Menards Series win in 2018 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway that same year, finishing eighth. The 2018 USAC National Midget Series champion started on the pole at the Chili Bowl in 2019 and has a best finish of fourth in 2020. He begins his 2023 program Friday.
  • Todd Kluever – A native of Wisconsin, Kluever was a member of Jack Roush’s developmental program in the mid-2000s. He made 51 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, earning one pole and a best finish of seventh during his time with Roush’s team. More recently he began dabbling in midget racing and made his Chili Bowl debut last year. He begins his 2023 Chili Bowl program Friday.
  • Adam Andretti – The famous Andretti family will have a presence inside the SageNet Center during the 2023 Chili Bowl. The younger brother of the late John Andretti and nephew of 1967 Daytona 500 winner Mario Andretti, Adam Andretti is scheduled to make his Chili Bowl debut. Typically a competitor in the Trans Am Series, Adam Andretti has also dabbled in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, where he has a best finish of third. He begins his Chili Bowl program Tuesday.
  • Chris Windom – Widely considered one of the best USAC competitors of his generation, Windom is one of a select few to win championships in each national USAC division – the USAC Silver Crown Series, USAC National Sprint Car Series and USAC National Midget Series. He made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2021 on dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway and has made a handful of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts. He begins his Chili Bowl journey Monday.
  • Nick Hoffman – Arguably one of the best dirt modified drivers ever, Hoffman has won almost everything there is to win in a modified in the Midwest. A multi-time touring series champion, Hoffman has made four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts. His best result came in his most recent event in 2018, when he finished 10th at Eldora Speedway. His Chili Bowl journey begins Monday.
Posted on by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find USA Network | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App | Watch on USA Network | Get the NBC Sports App | Watch on Peacock | FloRacing | How to watch NASCAR International

Monday. Jan. 9
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Season Preview (re-air), FS1
8 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features 2022 (re-air), FS1
9 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive 2022 (re-air), FS1
10 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: 2022 Truck Season Recap (re-air), FS1
11 p.m., NASCAR Presents: Beyond the Wheel (re-air), FS1

Tuesday, Jan. 10
12 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: 75 Years of Racing (re-air), FS1
1 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Season Preview (re-air), FS1
2:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Season Preview (re-air), FS2
3:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: 2022 Truck Season Recap (re-air), FS2
4:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features 2022 (re-air), FS2
5:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive 2022 (re-air), FS2

Thursday, Jan. 12
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: 2022 Truck Season Recap (re-air), FS2
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features 2022 (re-air), FS2
8 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Features 2022 (re-air), FS2

Posted on by Brandon White

As the start of the 2023 NASCAR season approaches, Penske Racing tire changer and Stacking Pennies co-host Ryan ‘Skip’ Flores is utilizing his limited free time to take part in a unique-but-proud racing tradition this weekend.

Flores is one of many drivers making the trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania for the Indoor Auto Racing Championship season-opener inside the PPL Center. The two-day event consists of five different classes, with Flores set to compete in the Three Quarter Midgets division.

The Allentown Indoor Race has been generous to Flores, who has visited Victory Lane five times inside the PPL Center. While he feels optimistic about adding to that total, Flores knows no punches can be pulled when preparing his TQ Midget for the event.

“This time of year, I always get nervous seeing if I remember how to do it or not,” Flores said. “I get to do a little bit more racing this year, and I feel confident in my guys. There aren’t a lot of rules in TQ Midgets, so these guys are pretty innovative. You have to keep up with them to contend.”

In the near two-decade history of the Indoor Auto Racing Championship, Flores has been one of the series’ most successful drivers with six total victories and a title in 2017. He only trails former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Erick Rudolph, who has won nine races.

Other drivers that have visited Victory Lane at an Indoor Auto Racing Championship event include current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Stewart Friesen, three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mike Stefanik.

The diversity of the entry lists is one reason Flores enjoys competing in the Indoor Auto Racing Championship at every opportunity. He said there are few environments that can bring together drivers from both dirt tracks and asphalt tracks in the northeast.

During his career, Ryan ‘Skip’ Flores has been one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Indoor Auto Racing Championship with six career victories and a title in 2017.

Another factor that makes the Indoor Auto Racing Championship appealing to drivers like Flores is the open-ended nature of the rulebook. Aside from wheelbase, weight and motor guidelines, drivers and teams are free to experiment on their cars ahead of the weekend.

For Flores, the loose restrictions implemented by the Indoor Auto Racing Championship harken back to stock car racing’s past in which both driver and car setup dictated how a race would end up playing out.

“TQ Midgets are like mini Super Modifieds,” Flores said. “With these cars, it’s pretty much run what you brung, and you have to hope you brought enough. That’s why you see so many different cars and people in this series. In a world where everybody has the same stuff nowadays, this is a throwback to where everybody builds their own stuff. It’s challenging, but also rewarding when you build your own car and win.”

Flores hopes to immediately find speed in his car as he prepares for a rigorous weekend that he compared to a scaled-down version of the Chili Bowl.

On Friday evening, the TQ Midget field will be separated into three groups before running a 20-lap A-Main feature. The winner from each feature will transfer into Saturday’s main event and the ensuing qualifying dash for the pole, with the rest of the starting grid for the 40-lap finale being determined by heat races on Saturday.

Flores knows one misstep on Friday could put him in a difficult position to make Saturday’s A-Main, but he believes his car will be strong enough to stay up front all weekend and allow him to add a sixth victory at Allentown to his resume.

“As long as you get the car right, it makes the driving part a little bit easier,” Flores said. “At the same time, you have to be patiently aggressive with indoor racing. It’s really easy to rip a wheel off or find yourself upside down, but you have to be aggressive enough to fill the holes when it’s time to go. You can’t be scared of those guys, and you have to go after them.”

Among those Flores will have to fend off for another Allentown win include Rudolph, as well as Billy Pauch Jr., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Tommy Catalano and part-time ARCA Menards Series competitor Andy Jankowiak, who won the Indoor Auto Racing TQ Midget Championship in 2020.

Even if he does find Victory Lane once again at Allentown, Flores admitted he is equally focused on simply enjoying the weekend with many of the same people who helped him embark on his current career path.

There will only be a handful of chances for Flores to race this year due to his busy schedule, so being able to compete with the Indoor Auto Racing Championship allows him to cherish his roots and fully appreciate all the sacrifices and memories made to get to NASCAR’s top level as a pit crew member.

“This is my 17th season traveling with the Cup Series,” Flores said. “It’s great to do it for a living, but that means I can’t race with my family anymore. [Allentown] gives me the chance to connect with my family and friends from the short tracks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“There’s nothing like racing with your family.”

Posted on by Team Release

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — While the 2023 crew chief lineup for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) remains mostly intact from last year, two familiar names join the crew chief ranks for the team’s 15th NASCAR season.

Chad Johnston, who served as crew chief for driver and team co-owner Tony Stewart in 2014-2015, has returned to SHR to be the crew chief for driver Ryan Preece and the No. 41 team in the NASCAR Cup Series. And with SHR’s expanded two-car effort in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Jonathan Toney has been promoted from engineer to crew chief for driver Cole Custer and the No. 00 team.

RELATED: In-depth look at 2023 schedule  | Buy Tickets!

“In Chad Johnston and Jonathan Toney, we’ve got two guys who are hungry to win that also bring a lot of smarts and experience to each of their roles,” said Greg Zipadelli, chief competition officer, SHR. “Both are very familiar with our program and our people.

“It’s great to have Chad back with our race team. A lot of the people he worked with when he was here before are still here today, and he already has a rapport with Ryan Preece. Chad fits in seamlessly and has a tremendous work ethic.

“Jonathan has been a workhorse and his fingerprints are on a lot of the success this team has enjoyed. He’s been here since the very beginning and knows this place inside and out. Jonathan has definitely earned this opportunity and all of us are proud to see him take on this new role.”

Johnston is from Cayuga, Indiana, and graduated from Indiana State University in 2003 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Before his first stint at SHR, Johnston spent 2004-2005 in the NASCAR Truck Series. He moved to Cup in 2006 with Evernham Motorsports and stayed there until 2009 when he joined Michael Waltrip Racing. It was there in 2011 when Johnston was promoted from engineer to crew chief for driver Martin Truex Jr. The two were paired for 95 races, earning a win, two poles, 17 top-fives and 43 top-10s, numbers that earned Johnston his first stint at SHR. After working with Stewart for two seasons, Johnston was recruited by team owner Chip Ganassi to be the crew chief for driver Kyle Larson in 2016. In five seasons with Ganassi, Johnston and Larson won six races together. Johnston returned to the Truck Series in 2021 with David Gilliland Racing and it’s where he first worked with Preece, winning a Truck Series race with him at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in 2021.

Toney is one of the most tenured members of SHR. The Newton, North Carolina-native joined Haas CNC Racing in December 2003, five years before Stewart partnered with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas to form SHR on the underpinnings of Haas CNC Racing. Toney is a 1996 graduate of the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and, like Johnston, holds a mechanical engineering degree. Toney was the lead engineer for Stewart and the No. 14 team from 2009 through 2012, helping secure Stewart his third NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2011 and the first for SHR. Toney remained an engineer at SHR, assisting the organization across its Cup and Xfinity Series programs, spending considerable time with Custer during his three previous years in the Xfinity Series from 2017 through 2019. The 2023 season marks Toney’s first as a crew chief.

The rest of SHR’s crew chief lineup remains unchanged across its Cup and Xfinity Series teams.

Rodney Childers, crew chief for the No. 4 team, will begin his 10th year atop the pit box for driver Kevin Harvick. The Harvick/Childers duo is the longest-tenured active driver-crew chief pairing in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, a partnership that has netted 37 points-paying wins and the 2014 championship.

John Klausmeier remains the crew chief for the No. 14 team and Chase Briscoe. Klausmeier helped Briscoe secure the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series rookie-of-the-year title and he delivered Briscoe a victory in just the driver’s 40th career start – March 13, 2022 at Phoenix Raceway. The 2023 season will mark Klausmeier’s sixth season as a crew chief, all of which have come with SHR (2018-2019 with driver Aric Almirola and 2020 with driver Clint Bowyer).

Drew Blickensderfer took over as crew chief for Almirola and the No. 10 team in 2022 and he returns in 2023. It will mark his third full season being paired with Almirola. Blickensderfer served as his crew chief while they were together at Richard Petty Motorsports for the last few races of 2016 and then all of 2017 before Almirola departed for SHR in 2018.

Richard Boswell has been the main steward of SHR’s Xfinity Series program since its inception in 2017 and he will continue in that capacity in 2023. He will again serve as crew chief for driver Riley Herbst and the No. 98 team. Boswell has been the crew chief for nine of SHR’s 21 Xfinity Series wins and has placed his driver in the NASCAR Playoffs for four straight seasons (2019-2020 with Briscoe and 2021-2022 with Herbst).

Posted on by Staff Report

The ARCA Menards Series’ annual pre-race practice at Daytona International Speedway offers drivers from across the motorsports spectrum a chance to gain knowledge and experience at one of the most legendary venues in the country.

When the series returns to the track for its lead-in to the 2023 season on Jan. 13-14, six drivers will have earned opportunities to make laps around the famed World Center of Racing via the “Road to Daytona” program, which for the first time includes the champions of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

Modified Tour champion Jon McKennedy and Weekly Series champ Layne Riggs will join ARCA Menards Series West champion Jake Drew, ARCA Menards Series East Bounty Rookie Challenge winner Leland Honeyman, ARCA CRA Super Series super late model top rookie Bobby Van Meter and ARCA Midwest Tour super late model rookie of the year Harley Jankowski as participants in 2023.

RELATED: Complete 2023 pre-race practice schedule

Layne Riggs
Layne Riggs (Photo: Joe Chandler/South Boston Speedway)

Each of the drivers will make laps in cars prepared for the practice session by Andy Hillenburg, the 1995 ARCA Menards Series champion and two-time ARCA winner at Daytona, and his Fast Track High Performance Racing Team.

Emotions run high for each of the drivers as they head to Daytona Beach.

“I feel very fortunate to get the opportunity to test,” McKennedy said. “In a car prepared by former Daytona winner and ARCA champion Andy Hillenburg and his people. Daytona is the pinnacle of racing, and I’m very excited to feel the sensation of driving a car around a high banked superspeedway.”

Jake Drew looks on during ARCA Testing at Daytona International Speedway on January 14, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/NASCAR)
Jake Drew (Photo: James Gilbert/NASCAR)

Added Jankowski: “I’m just a small one-car, low-budget driver who does all the work on the car and pays for everything out of my own pocket. Working full time plus trying racing is a struggle at times, but it all paid off this year even though it was a long shot. We never give up.

“Being able to drive at Daytona has always been a dream of mine that I thought would never come true. I can’t wait to make some laps. I even thought about bringing the motorcycle down and pulling up like Cole Trickle did in the movie Days of Thunder.”

The Road to Daytona program is supported by Ilmor, General Tire, Sunoco, Eibach and JRI Shocks.

Former Road to Daytona participants include five-time ARCA Midwest Tour champion and 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff contender Ty Majeski, two-time ARCA CRA Super Series champion Travis Braden, and Greg Van Alst, who finished fifth in the 2022 ARCA Menards Series championship standings.

This year’s pre-race practice at Daytona takes place Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14, with a weather day reserved on Sunday, Jan. 15. The open practice sessions begin at 10 a.m. ET and run through 5 p.m. ET each day.

The 60th running of the ARCA Menards Series’ Daytona 200 is set for Saturday, Feb. 18 and will be televised live on FS1 starting at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Posted on by Staff Report

Stewart Friesen will have a new brand on his truck this year, Halmar Friesen Racing announced Thursday.

Ferris Mowers will sponsor Friesen and the No. 52 Toyota Tundra as a primary partner in six races during the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. The announcement came Thursday in Sherrill, New York, at the Briggs & Stratton facility where Ferris mowers are engineered and manufactured. Ferris was founded in central New York, and HFR has a shop in the region, the team said in a press release.

RELATED: 2023 Truck Series schedule | Silly Season updates

Ferris will be featured as the main sponsor of Friesen’s trucks at Texas Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt, North Wilkesboro Speedway, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Nashville Superspeedway and the Milwaukee Mile.

“I’m looking forward to representing Ferris mowers nationally in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and on Ferris’ home turf in the Northeast Modified events,” Friesen said in a press release. “As someone who mows a lot of acreage at home when I’m not racing, I appreciate the smooth ride and superior quality of a Ferris mower. Everyone at HFR is excited to welcome Ferris to our team, and we look forward to a successful 2023 season.”

Friesen, a three-time winner in the Craftsman Truck Series, earned his most recent victory in May 2022 at Texas Motor Speedway. The native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, was one point shy of advancing to the Championship 4 last season, eventually finishing sixth in the overall year-end standings.

“We’re excited to expand our involvement with the racing community this year by partnering with HFR, Stewart Friesen and the No. 52 truck,” said Christin Wam, senior director of marketing, Briggs & Stratton in a press release. “Given that race car drivers and lawn contractors alike are always looking for the best possible ride, the partnership just makes sense.”

The new partnership is dedicated to the late Bill Shea, who was an integral part of making the partnership a reality, HFR added. Shea, who was a long-time Northeast Modified racing supporter and track owner, was a Ferris executive up until his passing in 2022.

Ferris will also serve as an associate sponsor of Friesen’s No. 44 Halmar dirt modified as an associate partner at all dirt-modified races in 2023.

Posted on by Staff Report

Every new season means lots of new changes to keep up with throughout NASCAR’s premier series, including driver and crew chief movement. From Kyle Busch’s historic move from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Childress Racing to Greg Ives’ retirement from atop the iconic No. 48 pit box, we have the details covered here in our Silly Season tracker.

As we approach the 75th anniversary season, we will update the tracker with the latest information and movement for every full-time Cup Series team.

Check for updates on this page often, as organizations finalize their plans for the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the 65th running of the Daytona 500 and beyond. Anything highlighted in red indicates news on that driver, team and ride, and clicking on the red line will give you more information on the move and its impact.

No.
Driver
Crew Chief
Team
1
Ross Chastain
Phil Surgen
Trackhouse Racing
2
Austin Cindric
Jeremy Bullins
Team Penske
3
Austin Dillon
Keith Rodden
Richard Childress Racing
After two seasons driving under Justin Alexander, Dillon's crew chief will be Rodden in 2023 as Alexander moves into the role of director of vehicle performance at RCR. Rodden's last full-time crew chief stint was with Kasey Kahne in 2016.
4
Kevin Harvick
Rodney Childers
Stewart-Haas Racing
5
Kyle Larson
Cliff Daniels
Hendrick Motorsports
6
Brad Keselowski
Matt McCall
RFK Racing
7
Corey LaJoie
Ryan Sparks
Spire Motorsports
8
Kyle Busch
Randall Burnett
Richard Childress Racing
After 15 seasons at Joe Gibbs Racing, Busch's departure was one of the biggest free-agent moves of the last decade. The two-time Cup Series champion found a new home for 2023 and beyond with Richard Childress Racing and Chevrolet.
9
Chase Elliott
Alan Gustafson
Hendrick Motorsports
10
Aric Almirola
Drew Blickensderfer
Stewart-Haas Racing
Almirola announced his imminent retirement at the start of the 2022 season, but changed his plans and is back for his 12th full-time season at the premier level in 2023.
11
Denny Hamlin
Chris Gabehart
Joe Gibbs Racing
12
Ryan Blaney
Jonathan Hassler
Team Penske
14
Chase Briscoe
John Klausmeier
Stewart-Haas Racing
15
TBA
TBA
Rick Ware Racing
Rick Ware Racing has not yet announced their driver lineup or other plans for this ride during the 2023 season.
16
AJ Allmendinger
Matt Swiderski
Kaulig Racing
Following recent success in the Xfinity Series, Allmendinger returns to the Cup Series full-time for the first season since 2018, looking to build on a rapidly improving Kaulig Racing program.
17
Chris Buescher
Scott Graves
RFK Racing
19
Martin Truex Jr.
James Small
Joe Gibbs Racing
20
Christopher Bell
Adam Stevens
Joe Gibbs Racing
21
Harrison Burton
Brian Wilson
Wood Brothers Racing
22
Joey Logano
Paul Wolfe
Team Penske
23
Bubba Wallace
Robert 'Bootie' Barker
23XI Racing
24
William Byron
Rudy Fugle
Hendrick Motorsports
31
Justin Haley
Trent Owens
Kaulig Racing
34
Michael McDowell
Travis Peterson
Front Row Motorsports
Peterson, a veteran lead race engineer for RFK Racing, gets the gig atop the box for 2023 with former No. 34 car chief Ryan Bergenty shifting to the No. 38 entry. McDowell's 2022 crew chief, Blake Harris, will work with Alex Bowman this season.
38
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Bergenty
Front Row Motorsports
Bergenty was elevated to crew chief for Gilliland after spending the past two seasons as a car chief with the organization.
41
Ryan Preece
Chad Johnston
Stewart-Haas Racing
After spending the 2022 season waiting in the wings, Preece is finally back at the top level full-time, taking over the ride from Cole Custer. The team announced that Tony Stewart's former crew chief, Johnston, would be at the helm.
42
Noah Gragson
Luke Lambert
Petty GMS Racing
Rising star Gragson settles into the vacant ride alongside his Xfinity Series crew chief Lambert for the upcoming season. Gragson made 18 Cup Series starts in 2022 and will compete in his first full season at the level this year.
43
Erik Jones
David Elenz
Petty GMS Racing
45
Tyler Reddick
Billy Scott
23XI Racing
One of the brightest young talents on the market, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan signed Reddick to a future contract during the 2022 season that was expedited by Kurt Busch being sidelined.
47
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Mike Kelley
JTG Daugherty Racing
Stenhouse reunites with former crew chief Kelley after a stint together during the 2014 season and one race in 2016.
48
Alex Bowman
Blake Harris
Hendrick Motorsports
After Greg Ives' retirement from his crew chief role, Harris joins the team after spending the 2022 season with Michael McDowell at Front Row Motorsports.
51
Cody Ware
Billy Plourde
Rick Ware Racing
54
Ty Gibbs
Chris Gayle
Joe Gibbs Racing
The phenom graduates to the Cup Series to take over the vacant roster spot left by Kyle Busch's departure. Along with this change comes the return of the storied No. 54 to the premier rank and a partnership with veteran crew chief Gayle, who spent 2017-20 with Erik Jones.
77
Ty Dillon
Kevin Bellicourt
Spire Motorsports
Dillon remains with Chevrolet but moves from Petty GMS Racing to Spire for the 2023 season.
78
BJ McLeod
David Ingram
Live Fast Motorsports
Ingram, the former Xfinity Series crew chief and Live Fast Motorsports competition director, takes over the pit box for McLeod and the No. 78 team for the 2023 season.
99
Daniel Suárez
Travis Mack
Trackhouse Racing

 

 

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Ken Block, who captivated audiences with his pioneering style of automotive acrobatics, died Monday in a snowmobile accident. He was 55.

Block’s death was announced Monday by Hoonigan Industries, an auto enthusiast company that he co-founded. Block was a standout in RallyCross competition, and his Gymkhana series of short films blurred the lines of motorsports and action sports with his precision driving — wild drifts, surreal stunts and tire-shredding burnouts — in all styles of terrain.

Block’s passing shook the NASCAR community, which shared its remembrances and tributes. Several drivers and industry figures also shared thoughts for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, whose collapse and cardiac arrest during Monday night’s NFL game closely coincided with the news of Block’s death.