Posted on by Adam Fenwick

BRISTOL, Tenn. — When Kyle Larson was in the midst of negotiating his new contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports, he said it didn’t feel like much of a negotiation.

The reason for that was because he was negotiating with Hendrick Motorsports Vice Chairman and four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve gone through anything like that I guess,” said Larson, who will remain with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2026 season. “It was a fun process and fun to kind of go through it with Jeff. He’s somebody that I’ve looked up to my whole life.

“It’s just neat to see me dealing with contracts with my childhood hero.”

ICYMI: Larson inks new deal with Hendrick

Larson considers Gordon, who returned to Hendrick Motorsports this year following five years as an analyst for Fox Sports, more of a friend than a boss. He said that made the negotiation process much easier.

“Jeff is more of a friend I feel like than I view him as a boss or somebody like that,” Larson said. “I think it’s good to have that kind of relationship with him. I think it makes going through negotiations and stuff like that even easier.”

Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports for the 2021 season and stormed to the Cup Series championship thanks in large part to a career-best 10 victories.

He’s added two victories this season and enters Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 ET on USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) 27 points above the cutline as he looks to continue his run towards a second Cup Series title.

“I’m glad to have it done and glad to have it behind me and get focused on our racing and knowing that you’re going to be there for quite awhile,” Larson said.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

BRISTOL, Tenn. — A Ford driver hadn’t won a pole position at Bristol Motor Speedway in more than 10 years, but that changed radically on Friday afternoon when Aric Almirola snagged the top starting position for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 ET on USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

In the final round of time trials, Almirola covered the 0.533-mile distance in 14.946 seconds (128.382 mph) to become the first NASCAR Cup Series pole winner at “Thunder Valley” since Greg Biffle claimed the top starting spot in March 2012.

“We had a really good (car) in practice,” Almirola said. “We ran, I think, 55 laps straight, and I felt really good about it. We swapped over to (qualifying trim), and it still had a lot of speed.

“I’m really proud of the effort on this team. We were bummed out we didn’t make the playoffs, but we’re showing what we’re capable of. We can race with these guys. Yeah, we’re going to try and do it for 500 laps (Saturday) night.”

In fact, Ford drivers locked out the front row for the cutoff race for the Round of 16 in the Cup Playoffs, with Chase Briscoe running second to Almirola with a lap in 14.968 seconds (128.193 mph). Alex Bowman (128.176 mph) qualified third in the tightly bunched field, with Denny Hamlin (127.911 mph) taking the fourth starting position.

Playoff drivers will occupy positions two through nine on the grid. Brad Keselowski in the 10th position joined Almirola as the only other non-playoff driver to qualify for the final round, as six Ford drivers made the final 10.

Kevin Harvick, who realistically is in a must-win position after suffering calamities in the first two playoff races, will start seventh.

Among playoff drivers who failed to qualify for the final round, Austin Dillon and Daniel Suárez have the most ground to make up. Dillon, three points below the cut line, qualified 28th, one position better than Suárez, who is six points ahead of Kyle Busch in 13th.

RELATED: Starting lineup | Schedule for Bristol

PRACTICE

Hamlin led the charge in Friday’s split practice session, setting the best lap time of 15.247 at 125.848 mph in his 31-lap run. Team Penske teammates Austin Cindric (15.347 seconds) and Joey Logano (15.355 seconds) set the pace for the Blue Oval, finishing second and third in the session. Busch, who spun while on track, still bounced back to finish fourth.

Part-time Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger put together a surprisingly sharp run in the No. 16 for Kaulig Racing, finishing just 0.13 seconds behind Hamlin in fifth. Allmendinger won last summer’s Xfinity Series race at Bristol to clinch the 2021 regular season championship.

Overall, Ford showed up and dominated, claiming nine of the top 15 positions on the board. See the full practice leaderboard.

Contributing Staff reports.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

BRISTOL, Tenn. — A lot has changed for Tyler Reddick in the last few months.

On July 12 it was announced that Reddick would depart Richard Childress Racing when his contract expires at the end of the 2023 season to join 23XI Racing.

Then, earlier this week, it was announced by Richard Childress Racing that Kyle Busch would join the team in 2023 to pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet — currently wheeled by Reddick.

That leaves Reddick, who has earned his first two NASCAR Cup Series victories this year, in the unique position of not knowing exactly what his 2023 season will look like. Right now, all he knows is that he’ll presumably be back at Richard Childress Racing as part of a new, third charter team.

MORE: Follow 2022-23 Silly Season

“None of it surprised me honestly,” Reddick admitted Friday afternoon prior to practice and qualifying at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I’m going to be moving on in 2024 to a new group of people and new team. It’s a unique challenge to be able to kind of go through that next year with a new group of people.

“If anything, I think it’ll help me when I move on to the next place (23XI Racing), kind of getting used to moving with different people and going through that process.”

As of Friday afternoon, Reddick said that team owner Richard Childress had not given him any details regarding what his program in 2023 would look like.

“We’ve talked about that stuff. We’ve discussed, like OK, what’s going to happen?” Reddick said. “He said he’s going to have details for me soon. When? I don’t know. Maybe after the race because he said he wanted to discuss that here at Bristol, but we both agreed it’s most important for me to focus on this race and talk about it after.”

As far as Reddick is concerned, his move to 23XI Racing and Richard Childress Racing signing Busch are strictly business decisions done in the best interest of both parties. He says he holds no ill will towards Childress for putting Busch in the No. 8 next season.

“I looked at it from the business point of view and I feel like they are approaching with Kyle coming in and being with the 8 team, they’re looking ahead to the future and what’s going to be best in the long term,” Reddick said. “I’m sure I could understand how people could think it is personal, but I’m not looking at it that way.

“There were enough rumors about it, right? I kind of had an idea he was coming. For the long term of RCR, it makes sense to put him in the 8 car.”

Reddick enters Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway (USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff standings, two points above the cutoff line to make the Round of 8 as he pursues his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Posted on by Staff Report

Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson will race for Hendrick Motorsports for years to come, the powerhouse organization announced Friday.

The 30-year-old California native is set to pilot the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the next several years with fresh, multi-year extensions for Larson and sponsor HendrickCars.com that now run concurrently through 2026.

“When Kyle joined our team, the expectations were sky high from both inside and outside the organization. To say he’s exceeded them would be an understatement,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group in a team release. “Not only has Kyle proven himself as a champion driver, he’s performed at a championship level outside of the race car. We’re proud to continue our relationship and to see him represent our team and our brands in such positive ways. The years to come are very bright.”

MORE: Kyle Larson through the years | All of his Cup wins

The extension comes after the driver and team came to terms in July 2021 on a deal that lengthened his contract through the end of 2023. He’ll now operate out of the Concord, North Carolina, headquarters for the foreseeable future.

“I can’t explain how much this opportunity means,” Larson said in the release. “The chance to compete for the top team and best sponsors in racing is something every driver dreams about. I’m humbled to have incredible people in my corner and amazing support from so many fans. Thanks to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group for believing in me, Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) and our team. Even though we’ve done some great things so far, I truly believe our best is ahead of us.”

Larson claimed a series-best 10 victories en route to the 2021 championship in his first season running the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick last year. He’s enjoyed success in his 2022 title defense as well, winning two races thus far and in position to advance to the Round of 12 after Saturday’s Bristol Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET, USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Hendrick’s other drivers are all under contract for next year and beyond, as well, with Alex Bowman (signed through ’23), William Byron (signed through ’25) and Chase Elliott (signed through ’27) all slated to be back in their respective rides for NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Zane Smith fell one position short of winning Thursday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, but considering how his day started it may as well have been a victory.

Smith, a winner of three Truck Series events so far this year, was forced to miss qualifying earlier Thursday when a rear-end axle seal failed on his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150.

As a result, he was forced to start at the rear of the field for the UNOH 200. He was joined there by John Hunter Nemechek, who crashed in practice and also missed qualifying.

RELATED: Race results

“We started out today really rough with our axle seal busting open and not being able to qualify,” Smith said. “This is probably the worst place that could happen. If it was a mile-and-a-half, you just go where they’re not. The PJ1 is just so dominant, you can’t do that.”

With passing so difficult, Smith’s team strategically kept him on track at the conclusion of the second stage. That moved him into the race lead alongside eventual winner Ty Majeski.

Smith would eventually lose the lead to Majeski during a restart. Despite having additional restarts to attempt to take the lead back, Smith was unable to pass Majeski and crossed the finish line second.

“All of those restarts, even when I was the leader, it probably looked dumb because I took the bottom,” said Smith. “I was so bad outside of the PJ1. I knew he would have a better launch, but all I was hoping for was to be door-to-door with him. Towards the end there, I don’t know how many laps we had on tires, it was really hard not to spin them so much.”

Smith’s attention now turns to the next two races, on Oct. 1 at Talladega Superspeedway and on Oct. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as he looks to lock himself into the championship race on Nov. 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

“Focus forward and hopefully win Talladega or Homestead,” Smith said. “Looking forward to those two. I’m happy we’re still above the cutline, but you’re never safe in this round.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

Ty Majeski downplayed his final run in Thursday night’s UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway as “just another restart.”

In reality, it was the most important moment to date in Majeski’s hardscrabble career.

Streaking away from Zane Smith after a restart with 12 laps left in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ Round of 8 playoff race, Majeski scored the first NASCAR national series victory of his career and claimed the first berth in the Nov. 4 Championship 4 finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“Awesome job! Thank you!” Majeski radioed to crew chief Joe Shear Jr. as he crossed the finish line. “Let’s polish this baby up, and let’s take this thing to Phoenix.”

RELATED: Race results | Photos from Bristol

To preserve the lightning-fast No. 66 ThorSport Racing Toyota that had carried him to victory, the short-track ace eschewed the customary burnout on the frontstretch, eliciting some good-natured boos from fans in the grandstands.

But nothing could dampen Majeski’s mood.

“Man, this is unbelievable,” said the 28-year-old from Seymour, Wisconsin. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this. …We came guns blazing for this race, took our best truck. Joe was aggressive on pit strategy — got us out front, and we were able to get it done.

“This is so cool. My career’s been so up-and-down. … This is just damn cool — I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

WATCH: Majeski honors Kulwicki with Polish victory lap

Smith started from the rear of the field because of transmission issues that prevented him from qualifying. But after pitting under the first caution for Josh Reaume’s accident on Lap 37, Smith finished the race without returning to pit road.

The strategy put Smith in the lead for 39 laps, but Majeski had the superior truck and made the winning pass during a restart on Lap 156. He kept Smith at bay on two late restarts to seal the victory.

“A good salvage of the night,” said Smith, who crossed the finish line 1.152 seconds behind the race winner. “I tried matching the 66 (on the restarts). I did the first time, but on the second time, he just got me. He was ultimately just better than us. Still, a never-give-up kind of night. That’s what it takes to get to the final four.”

RELATED: Smith averts crisis with rally to second place

Non-playoff driver Parker Kligerman ran third, followed by Grant Enfinger, who fell below the cutline for the Championship 4 with two races left in the Round of 8. Matt Crafton was fifth, followed by pole winner Derek Kraus in a battle of non-playoff drivers.

Chandler Smith led a race-high 89 laps and won the first two stages but was forced to pit for tires and fuel after the second stage and lost track position. He finished ninth behind fellow playoff drivers Stewart Friesen and Christian Eckes.

Chandler Smith heads for the second Round of 8 race, Oct. 1 at Talladega Superspeedway, 24 points above the cutline.

Playoff driver John Hunter Nemechek slammed the outside wall during practice earlier in the day and started from the rear in a backup truck. He finished 12th.

Reaume, who spun sideways into the path of sliding Rajah Caruth’s Chevrolet on Lap 37, climbed from his truck after the driver’s-side impact but was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

NOTE: Inspection is complete in the Truck Series garage with no issues, confirming Majeski as the winner and first to the Championship 4 in Phoenix.

Posted on by Staff Report

Josh Reaume was transported to the hospital for precautionary CT scans after a crash in Thursday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, according to Reaume Brothers Racing. He was diagnosed with a concussion and discharged and will follow up with a neurologist, according to the team.

RELATED: Race results

Reaume spun his truck working through the corner in Stage 1, resulting in Rajah Caruth making hard contact with the left side of Reaume’s No. 43 Toyota. Reaume was unable to continue the race but was able to climb out under his own power.

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

The first round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is reaching its final stop.

The Round of 16 ends with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), meaning four drivers’ championship hopes will come to an end after the checkered flag.

With 500 laps scheduled around the grueling half-mile oval, get ready for what’s sure to be a heavyweight fight:

RELATED: Weekend schedule | Cup Series standings

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Teams will have 20 minutes to practice on Friday (4:35 p.m. ET, NBC Sports App, 5 p.m. ET on USA) with teams broken into Groups A and B. Once both groups have completed their practice sessions, single-car, single-lap qualifying will begin to set the starting lineup (5:20 p.m. ET).

With the postseason underway, playoff drivers and teams will be ordered by their previous race metrics and assigned to Group A or B by the usual odd/even metric procedures. Playoff teams will be the final cars to qualify in their respective groups.

The five fastest overall drivers from each group will advance to the final round of qualifying, where those 10 drivers will each set one more timed lap to fight for the Busch Light Pole Award.

MORE: Paint Scheme Preview | Qualifying order

BRISTOL STORY LINES

— After Bubba Wallace’s Kansas victory, a record 18 different drivers have won through 28 races.

— The pass for the win came in the final 10 laps in 15 of the 28 races this season.

— Seven of the last 13 races in 2022 were won by drivers getting their first win of the season, including each of the last three.

— Wallace’s win was Toyota’s first since Christopher Bell won at New Hampshire, ending a 13-race winless streak for the manufacturer.

— All four Hendrick Motorsports drivers won on a short track in the last nine races.

— Kevin Harvick enters Bristol 35 points below the cutline, but he won the last short-track race at Richmond and finished top two in the last two Bristol races (won this race in 2020).

Source: Racing Insights

GOODYEAR TIRES

Bristol is one of just three concrete ovals on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, joining Dover Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway.

That presents a unique opportunity for teams to learn how the Next Gen car will react on the high-banked short track, one unlike any other on the calendar since it produces such high speeds. The tire provided by Goodyear must play well with both the concrete and the traction compound used around the bottom of the racing surface.

“Bristol is undoubtedly a challenge across the board,” said Greg Stucker, Goodyear’s director of racing. “We have done a good job with bringing a setup that rubbers in the track and allows for multiple racing grooves. Bristol has had a recent history of using PJ1 in the corners, so that ‘preferred’ groove takes rubber fairly quickly. The progressive banking and the search for fresh concrete will have teams moving up the track, which potentially leads to more passing and better racing.”

The left-side tire used this weekend will be the same used earlier this season at Pocono Raceway, while the right-side tire is a new tire code.

BRISTOL HISTORY

— Bowling operator Larry Carrier, Kingsport businessman Carl Moore and construction company owner R.G. Pope built Bristol Motor Speedway. They first selected nearby Piney Flats but faced with local opposition they selected a location 10 miles away in Bristol, the site of a dairy farm.

— Their inspiration to build a track in Northeastern Tennessee came from Carrier’s visit to the new track in Charlotte. When area banks would not finance the $600,000 required for construction and land acquisition, funding was obtained in New Jersey from the operator of stadium concession stands.

— In 1969, the track was dug up and reshaped and the banking was significantly increased. Starting in July 1969, the track was measured at 0.533 miles.

— Rookie Dale Earnhardt won his first Cup race in his 16th start in the 1979 spring race.

— Darrell Waltrip dominated Bristol from his win in the 1979 night race to the first concrete race in 1992, a period in which he amassed 12 wins, including a NASCAR record seven straight.

— As soon as Speedway Motorsports acquired the track and drag strip in 1996, it began an aggressive expansion program. Seating was added at a rapid pace and by 2003 was at 160,000, and in 2006 reached 165,000 with the addition of the Kulwicki grandstand.

— Following the spring 2007 race, work began on the first resurfacing of the concrete track as well as reconfiguring the top lane of the turns and changing the banking to variable (progressive). Four miles of drainage beneath the track and infield were also added.

— On April 25, 2012, after much public discussion, Bruton Smith announced that based primarily on fan feedback the track would return to its former style of racing. The fix was to eliminate the upper groove that was created with the new banking. The work was completed by late May, and after a June Goodyear tire test, all participating drivers agreed that the top groove was eliminated and racing should be closer to the “old” Bristol.

Source: Racing Insights

IF I WAS A BETTING MAN…

Two-time Bristol winner Denny Hamlin is the man listed as the favorite entering Saturday night’s showdown at 13-2 odds, according to Draft Kings. But the Hendrick Motorsports duo of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson has my attention.

Both enter the weekend at 15-2 odds just behind Hamlin, and for good reason. Larson is the defending race winner at Bristol, netting his third top-two finish in his last five starts on the concrete half-mile, in addition to 17 laps led or more in six of his last seven starts.

Elliott, meanwhile, remains winless at Bristol in 11 starts (save for the exhibition All-Star Race victory he scored in 2020). But the No. 9 Chevrolet appeared on its way to a top-two finish before late contact with Kevin Harvick derailed such a fate. Don’t let that distract you, though — Elliott has led laps in eight of his 11 starts, including 23 circuits or more in each of his last six.

Need some more worthwhile odds? Consider Ryan Blaney (15-1). Like Elliott, Blaney has yet to win at Bristol, and his results in 12 starts aren’t outstanding. But Blaney has led significant laps there — 45 last year and 100 or more three times. The Fords have been fast on short tracks this year, which means Blaney could be due to win on Saturday night.

MORE: Complete list of odds for Sunday

FANTASY LIVE

Want to manage a team and race your way to the top of the leaderboards? Check out NASCAR Fantasy Live, which reset for the playoffs. 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 $10,000 prize for the playoff winner.

The 2022 Fantasy Live points leaders are Chase Elliott (971), Joey Logano (867), and Ryan Blaney (866).

In addition to Fantasy Live, NASCAR.com is offering the Playoffs Grid Challenge presented by Ruoff Mortgage during the playoffs.

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 a select number of in-car cameras will be available — as well as a battle cam and an overhead look.

NASCAR has partnered with LiveLike to add fan engagement in 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 by Staff Report

Christopher Bell’s first career top-three finish at Kansas Speedway in the Hollywood Casino 400 made for a “bittersweet” day as he claimed the points lead and advanced to the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. He did, however, admit it would prove to “probably be a great day” after sleeping on it.

In the context of Bell’s young career, Sunday was definitely a great day that didn’t require a night’s sleep to age well. 

Exactly one year earlier, Bell finished third in the 28th race of the season and second race of the playoffs – the Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders. But he left Richmond Raceway ninth in the playoff standings, just five points clear of the second-round cut line with one race remaining, the Bristol Night Race.

Last year Bell was +2000 in race-winner NASCAR odds at BetMGM and wasn’t popular among bettors. He had just 2.3% of the handle on 2.9% of tickets, both 12th-highest in the field.

This year, as of Thursday, Sept. 15, he’s +900 to win the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, just behind the favorites:

  • Chase Elliott: +700
  • Denny Hamlin: +700
  • Kyle Larson: +700
  • Kyle Busch: +800
  • Christopher Bell: +900
  • Kevin Harvick: +900

Bettors, however, aren’t buying Bell. He has just 1.4% of the handle (13th-most) on 1.3% of the tickets (19th). Busch leads in handle share (26.3%) while Martin Truex Jr. (+1600) leads in ticket share (19.1%). 

Sunday’s race will be Bell’s fourth Cup Series career start at a paved Bristol Motor Speedway. He has one top 10, one lap led and an average finish of 22nd in his first three starts, though he does have a win and second-place finish in two of his three most recent Xfinity Series starts at the track.

Bell is also the biggest favorite in this week’s featured matchups at BetMGM:

 

Christopher Bell (-225) vs. Bubba Wallace (+165)

Bubba Wallace isn’t in the playoff field but a win in Kansas has the No. 45 Toyota in fifth place in the owners’ standings. It’d be shocking if he wins again this weekend, given his track record.

While he’s finished better than his starting position in six of seven career Cup Series paved races at Bristol, he’s never finished higher than 10th and has six total laps led, all of which came four years ago in the Food City 500.

Wallace has bigger race-winner ticket (2.3%) and handle shares (2.8%) than Bell and is commanding 79% of the handle (on 71%) of the tickets in featured matchup betting.


Kyle Busch (-120) vs. Kevin Harvick (-110)

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch’s 41 and 32 career starts at Bristol rank first and third, respectively, among active drivers. They have a combined 11 wins, including Harvick’s victory in this race two years ago, and both rank in the top three (minimum of 10 starts) in all major categories, including average finish and laps led.

Harvick does rank third in both race-winner ticket (7.6%) and handle share (7.7%) but has just 2% of the handle in the matchup vs. Busch.

Chase Briscoe (-155) vs. Austin Dillon (+125)

Chase Briscoe is miles ahead of Austin Dillon in race-winner odds – +2500 to Dillon’s +8000 – but only a modest favorite in this featured matchup. Neither driver was in contention in last year’s race, Briscoe’s first career start at Bristol.

Briscoe did post four straight top-four finishes at the track in the Xfinity Series from 2019-20, including a win in the 2020 Food City 300.

The public is buying Dillon in this matchup. He has 95% of the handle on 86% of the tickets.


Tyler Reddick (-120) vs. Ross Chastain (-110)

Tyler Reddick was eliminated from the Round of 16 after a 12th-place finish at Bristol last year. After some short-track success in the Xfinity Series, the 26-year-old has struggled to consistently contend at short tracks in the NASCAR Cup Series. He hasn’t finished higher than 12th in seven straight races.

Chastain has just one top-20 finish at Bristol (2021) and is buried in race-winner ticket (0.6%) and handle share (0.1%). And he has just 29% of the tickets and 4% of the handle against Reddick.

You can view updated Bass Pro Shops Night Race odds and more online sports betting opportunities at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

Posted on by Press Release

Concord, N.C. (September 15, 2022) — NASCAR and Rev Racing announced today the next generation of pit crew members who will begin training as participants in the 2022-23 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program class. Since the program’s inception in 2009, Rev Racing has continued to recruit top-tier college and professional-level athletes, training them to become the next best over-the-wall crew members in NASCAR.

“We are excited to welcome some of the most competitive athletes and engineers in the nation to our pit crew development pipeline,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR Managing Director, Competition Operations. “Our commitment to the evolution of this pit crew development program continues to allow us to recruit, train and place candidates at the highest levels in NASCAR.”

The pit crew program is part of the overall NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program, which also nurtures aspiring drivers. All programs are geared toward providing opportunities for women and people of color in the pursuit of NASCAR careers. The program currently boasts a total of 60 crew members who perform weekly duties in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, as well as 21 full-time graduates in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“We look forward to welcoming this year’s class to NASCAR’s most comprehensive pit crew training and development program,” Rev Racing CEO Max Siegel said. “We couldn’t be prouder of the journey both our pit crew development program and graduates have taken from its inception.”

RELATED: More on NASCAR Diversity

This year, five former college athletes were selected to participate and train in the 2022-2023 program. Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program seek athletes from all sports. The program recruitment effort and training are led by Coach Phil Horton, Director of Athletic Performance for Rev Racing. The selection process is based on recommendations from coaches and athletic directors.

“With the expansion of our recruiting efforts across the country, the talent level continues to rise,” Horton said. “Our program continues to evolve and create more opportunities for advancement at a higher level.”

This year, Rev Racing will introduce several new techniques and support tools to its repertoire. These additions include a mental skills integral coaching program led by Shelley Russi, a former D1 NCAA referee and Founder of Third Side Coaching & ref-oloy.com; and Don Vaden, a former NBA Vice President and NBA Finals referee, who currently serves as an NBA Team Consultant and NASCAR spotter.

The Russi-Vaden team teaches sports performance, mental preparation, coping and reflection skills, and provides integrative life management empowerment for current NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew members throughout the season.

These new integrations are set to support the continued success of its program members and graduates. The program boasts some of the greatest athletes currently participating in the top level of NASCAR. Some of those athletes include Brandon Banks, former UNC – Charlotte and Washington Commanders football standout who is the jackman for the driver of the No. 4 Stewart Haas Racing Ford, Kevin Harvick. This has also been a banner year for program alumni Jeremy Kimbrough and Jerrick Newsome, both crewmembers for Trackhouse Racing, as well as Marcus Horton and Jorden Paige of 23XI Racing.

The 2022-2023 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Development Program participants are:

Name Hometown University Sport / Area of Study
D’Andre Allgood Charlotte, N.C. North Carolina A&T State University Automotive Engineering Graduate
Joshua Bailey Jacksonville, Fla. Iowa State University Football
JaQuan Bailey Jacksonville, Fla. Iowa State University Football
Dante Johnson Covington, Ga. University of Miami Football
Nat Opoka Fords, N.J. Marshall University / Football