Posted on February 1, 2023 by Brandon White

A talented field of competitors will be in the presence of NASCAR royalty for this weekend’s Chilly Willy at Tucson Speedway.

Fresh off being enshrined into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Hershel McGriff, the 1986 champion of what’s now the ARCA Menards Series West, will serve as the grand marshal for the 10th annual Chilly Willy. Tucson’s flagship event was moved back two weeks so it wouldn’t conflict with McGriff’s induction ceremony on Jan. 20.

With deep family ties at Tucson, including his daughter-in-law Shelly McGriff working as a track administrator, Hershel McGriff enjoys every opportunity to visit the facility. He expects a fun, eventful day of competition in the 2023 running of the prestigious event.

“My kids and granddaughter have all raced at Tucson,” McGriff said. “I haven’t raced there much myself, but I’ve been out there a lot and know many people. With a lot of these guys that are coming out of town [for the Chilly Willy], I raced against many of their dads, so I always have a good time [with this race].”

A sincere message of gratitude from Hershel McGriff. #NASCARHOF pic.twitter.com/FFdyxwy5zH

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) January 21, 2023

McGriff’s impact and influence on West Coast stock-car racing remains prevalent. With a storied resume that includes four Cup Series wins to go along with his 37 victories in the West Series, McGriff was instrumental in fortifying the region’s proud history of success that dates to the 1940s when his career began.

Despite all the changes the West Series endured following its first official race on March 28, 1954, McGriff never lost his passion for the division — or for racing in general. He competed in at least one race each decade until his final tentative event at Tucson in 2018 when he was 90.

When McGriff was initially deliberating with his son and fellow racer Hershel McGriff Jr. about where the former would make his final start, they agreed Tucson was the perfect facility for the occasion. The reason was their established connections and the overall quality of the on-track product.

“[Tucson] is such a good, competitive track, because it’s not one groove,” the elder McGriff said. “You can run two grooves and sometimes three a part of the way into the corner. You can have a car with less horsepower and keep it wound up, which always makes for a good show.”

At age 90, Hershel McGriff ran his final race at Tucson Speedway in 2018. He finished 18th after completing 94 of 100 laps. (Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Tucson track operator John Lashley said he is unsure of where the facility would be today without the McGriff family’s involvement.

Shelly’s input has been invaluable for Lashley when it comes to understanding what drivers need. She provides that while assisting her husband Hershel Jr. with passing down the family’s substantial racing knowledge to their daughter Mariah, who won a Pro Stock title at Tucson in 2019.

Lashley said the professionalism displayed by the McGriffs on many fronts is why Tucson’s culture has thrived over the past decade. He knows the track will only keep growing as long as they’re around.

“No matter where you turn in the McGriff family, they are racers,” Lashley said. “They have racing DNA built into them, but they are all excellent people. Shelly’s influence on the track has expanded as we’ve grown, but her family has gotten more involved with the track, as well. They truly want to help the other racers.”

The development of the Chilly Willy into a marquee short-track event is something Lashley attributes to the hard work of the McGriffs. More than 30 cars are expected for the Super Late Model feature alone, a major improvement over the 16-car field that took the green flag for the inaugural race in 2014.

Being pregnant with her second child is going to keep Mariah out of this year’s edition of the Chilly Willy as a driver, but she does not plan to be too far from Tucson once the weekend’s festivities get going.

For Mariah, the influx of talent for the Chilly Willy, like two-time winner Preston Peltier, has only added to the prestige of the race. It also has created an opportunity for local drivers to showcase their skills on a larger stage.

“The Chilly Willy is one of the biggest races of the year,” Mariah McGriff said. “It’s always a good race to run because you’re going up against the top competitors across the nation. My dad is a crew chief on a few cars, and my husband [Nick O’Neil] is racing in the Modifieds, so I’m just looking forward to supporting both this year.”

Once Mariah has her second child, she is determined to get back behind the wheel and continue her family’s racing heritage that began with Hershel eight decades ago.

Alongside her father and grandfather, Mariah’s mother Shelly also found success as a driver by being the first woman to win an open comp championship on the West Coast during the 1980s. With so much talent in the family, Mariah considers herself fortunate to grow up in an environment that encouraged her to excel both on and off the track.

Watching Hershel McGriff deliver his Hall of Fame speech in person was a special moment for Mariah, who was able to hear stories she had never heard about her grandfather and fully appreciate everything he accomplished.

“[Hershel’s] impact was huge, especially on the West Coast,” Mariah said. “He started back when NASCAR first came about, and the fact that he’s still standing today is impressive, as well. He still has a lot to do with racing today, so it was big to celebrate [his induction] into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, because I know that meant a lot to him.”

Like Mariah, Lashley was in attendance for Hershel’s induction into the Hall of Fame and was overwhelmed by the anecdotes and experiences shared with the audience that night.

Now that Hershel McGriff’s legacy is immortalized by NASCAR, Lashley takes pride in knowing motorsports fans will always be able to cherish McGriff’s influence on racing and enjoy the stories that defined his career.

“Hershel has great recall,” Lashley said. “At 95 years old, he was interviewed for about eight hours a day for three days. That’s a daunting task, but I was listening to his interviews, and I learned so much. What impressed me the most was how honest he was about everything important to him, but that’s the kind of guy he is.”

Hershel McGriff has raced alongside plenty of NASCAR legends, but still hopes to make one more start when he turns 100. (Photo: Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Although he has been unofficially retired for five years, McGriff still believes he has one more chapter left as a driver. He would love to get back behind the wheel at Tucson when he turns 100.

Until that day arrives, McGriff intends to spend as much time with his family as possible. He’s looking forward to observing the current generation of drivers battle for a Chilly Willy victory at Tucson.

McGriff anticipates more changes befalling short-track racing on the West Coast as motorsports continues to evolve. Despite this, he is confident Tucson will continue to flourish with Lashley and Shelly overseeing the day-to-day operations of the track.

“Everything changes,” McGriff said. “John Lashley is pretty organized with everything, so whatever he comes up with will make everything better. He might even be ahead on a few things, and he already pays pretty good money, so that draws some good fields. That also brings the families out, and they always have a great time.”

As everyone makes final preparations for the Chilly Willy, McGriff intends to cherish his first race weekend as a Hall of Famer the only way he knows.

“I’m looking forward to that nice, warm weather,” he said. “I don’t like the wind, and it blows out [at Tucson] pretty good, but I’m looking forward to having a hot dog or two and seeing all my friends.”

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Cameron Richardson

Editor’s Note: Today’s Legacy Motor Club 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.

Legacy Motor Club

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: ECR Engines
Driver-crew chief pairings: Noah Gragson-Luke Lambert (No. 42), Erik Jones-Dave Elenz (No. 43), Jimmie Johnson-Todd Gordon (No. 84)

Team outlook: After the merger of GMS Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports in the Cup Series last season, the team saw a much-improved performance from Erik Jones and the No. 43 team. Ty Dillon couldn’t replicate the consistent results as his former teammate, so the team snagged a big fish from the Xfinity Series, bringing in Noah Gragson and crew chief Luke Lambert for the No. 42 Chevrolet after the pair scored eight Xfinity wins in 2022 and reached the series’ Championship 4.

In November, the team made another mega splash as seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson announced he will have co-ownership of the team and compete in a part-time role beginning with the 65th running of the Daytona 500. Two months later, Johnson announced that Petty GMS Motorsports rebranded to Legacy Motor Club and that he will pilot the No. 84 in 2023.

Not one, but two seven-time Cup champions are at the helm of the Chevrolet team, and with two young, exciting drivers coming off impressive 2022 campaigns, Legacy just might serve as the biggest threat to the Cup powerhouses.

NOAH GRAGSON, NO. 42 CHEVROLET

Experience: 18 starts in NASCAR Cup Series.
2022 stats: Second in final Xfinity Series standings; 8 wins, 21 top fives, 26 top 10s (Xfinity); 0 wins, 1 top five, 1 top 10 (Cup)
2023 championship odds (BetMGM): 66-1

Outlook: You can’t have a more fruitful season without a series championship than what Gragson had at the Xfinity level in 2022. Matching Sam Ard’s consecutive race-winning streak en route to eight triumphs on last year’s circuit, Gragson should be considered a playoff threat entering his rookie campaign despite the No. 42 not producing impressive results last season. He will also be paired with his Xfinity crew chief Luke Lambert to carry their stout chemistry into their first Cup season as a duo. There’s every reason to believe Gragson can steal a win or two and earn his way into the 16-driver postseason.

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 CHEVROLET

Experience: Six full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series.
2022 stats: 18th in final standings; 1 win, 3 top fives, 13 top 10s
2023 championship odds (BetMGM): 66-1

Outlook: Jones appears to be on the precipice of a breakout season as he enters his third campaign with the newly-minted Legacy M.C. The three-time Cup winner seized the evening last September at Darlington Raceway to earn his second victory in the Southern 500, the first time the iconic No. 43 took the checkered flag since Aric Almirola won a rain-shortened race at Daytona International Speedway in the summer of 2014. With the momentum garnered from that “Crown Jewel” victory and a boisterous offseason from the organization, Jones could be in line for a multi-victory year and deep playoff run.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 84 CHEVROLET

Experience: 19 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series.
2022 stats: Did not compete in 2022.
2023 championship odds (BetMGM): N/A; running part-time schedule

Outlook: He’s no newbie at the Cup level, but Johnson can be considered a rookie when it comes to the Next Gen car. He’ll get his first competitive reps in it when he rips his qualifying laps for the Daytona 500. The No. 84 not only represents the inverse of the No. 48 that Johnson drove to seven championships between 2006-2016 but the quest for his 84th Cup victory that would see him surpass Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough and match Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip on the all-time wins list. Johnson could certainly pull off the accomplishment as Todd Gordon will sit atop the pit box as crew chief for the No. 84 team. Gordon has crew chiefed 25 wins in the Cup Series and won the 2018 title with Joey Logano. Speedweeks will be quite the thriller as Johnson looks to make the 65th running of the “Great American Race” against the likes of 2022 Truck Series champ Zane Smith, Austin Hill, Travis Pastrana and Chandler Smith.

MORE: Gordon to crew chief No. 84 entry

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 February 1, 2023February 7, 2023 by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary season marks its first on-track competition this weekend with Sunday’s primetime Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum in high-wattage Los Angeles. The annual season-opening Daytona 500 is two weeks later – on Feb. 19 – at the most iconic track on the schedule, Daytona International Speedway.

The two venues are a perfect representation of modern-day NASCAR – the bold move into a famed facility like the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that introduces tens of thousands of new fans to the sport in a thrilling, high-energy two days of racing. The other in Daytona Beach is the most famous speedway in the sport hosting an absolute bucket-list weeklong event that has long featured the sport’s legends and provided legendary moments.

The 2023 edition of an ever-evolving NASCAR Cup Series schedule will also mark the debut of a summer street race in downtown Chicago and a return to one of the most iconic and popular venues from its past, North Wilkesboro Speedway for the annual All-Star Race. There is a road course event at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, where Formula One will race later in the year. And there is the traditional Labor Day event in the heart of stock car country at Darlington Raceway – both fan favorites.

For sure NASCAR in 2023 doesn’t look exactly like NASCAR in 1983, but that’s the point of well-considered progress. And the resounding success thereof.

“I take a lot of pleasure in celebrating that time frame whether its 50 years or 75 years, as quick as time goes by now,” longtime NASCAR executive Mike Helton said. “It seems like it wasn’t but a couple days ago we were celebrating the 50th anniversary but when you study the history of our sport you see all the evolutions that went into the first 50 years and then the last 25 years, the things we’ve done and gotten done.

“It’s kind of indicative of that going into 2023 – our 75th anniversary – with the uniqueness of the LA Coliseum for the Clash and then the Chicago Grant Park race because it all signals, yeah, we’ve been doing this for 75 years, but one of the ways we figured out how to do it for 75 years was to stay fresh and current.”

Certainly, the flexibility of the schedule in recent years and the openness to bringing NASCAR to the fan, wherever the fan may be is indicative of the sport’s ever-evolving mindset.

The question isn’t ‘why?’ but ‘why not?’ as the sanctioning body embraces trying bold new initiatives from race locales and Playoff formats; from social media and track entertainment that didn’t even exist during the sport’s grand 50th-anniversary celebration.

“I think it starts with the fan,” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said. “Our fans have told us again and again – and again – they want schedule variation. So, whether we’re going to North Wilkesboro for the All-Star race, or to the Chicago street course – in our 75 years we’ve never raced on the street ever – so you’re talking about milestones.

“The Coliseum is 100 years old and for us to go somewhere we’ve never been before and build a racetrack, race on it and then dig it up and put grass back down, that’s big.

“I just think it really comes back to ‘what is going to entertain our fans?’ And we want to put on great racing that will be unique and different and creates visibility for our sport. Last year, 70 percent of the fans that went to the race at the Coliseum had never been to a NASCAR race. … The Chicago street race will probably have a similar number of people having never been to a NASCAR race. And it’s exciting and it’s going to be fun.”

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The willingness to think outside the box and to be open-minded is exactly the kind of approach that has sustained NASCAR through so many challenges from the fuel shortage in the 1970s to the COVID-19 epidemic more recently. And the positive results have given the sport and its leadership reason to feel confident going forward with new ideas and approaches.

“In the early days, NASCAR’s game plan was to try and be as consistent as we could for fans to be able to plan and companies involved in the sport to be able to plan because it took that long to do those plans,” Helton said. “Now in the modern world, people make quick decisions and make changes quicker. So, we can move stuff around and have fun and add pizzazz and the industry and the fans aren’t left out.

“They are actually driving us to do things quicker.”

The mix of tradition and innovation is a delicate balance that NASCAR executives take seriously. The cars, the rules, the venues and the speedways are all vital components of that progress.

Yet, above all, is the commitment to stay true to the most fundamental element of the sport: close, safe, thrilling big-time racing in front of packed grandstands – the fans eager and entertained.

And it’s worked for 75 years.

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“I think anyone who is involved in this sport at all, whether you work at NASCAR, or you work at a race team or for a racetrack, or our fans, it’s just a moment in time for us to take a step back and really celebrate and honor the past which is what we’re going to do,” Phelps said.

“And I think the unique thing is we also need to celebrate what’s happening today in this sport and then a look forward. That’s what we’re going to do. We’re talking about this our “75th” and we have a tagline, “always forward.” That’s going to represent what we’re going to do.

“For anyone, it’s about being a fan. For me personally, I’m just excited about what the opportunity is for us to celebrate 75 years of NASCAR.”

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Team Release

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Interstate Batteries, one of the most tenured team sponsors in NASCAR history, begins its 32nd season as the founding sponsor of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) with an expanded presence that will feature the brand’s iconic green livery across all four of JGR’s NASCAR Cup Series entries.

The introduction of Team Interstate more than doubles the Dallas-based company’s visibility with JGR, as Interstate Batteries will have 13 primary sponsorships in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023, up from the six primaries it has typically had each year since 2008.

Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry for JGR, kicks off the Team Interstate effort in the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (8 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM). It marks the first time in Bell’s seven-year history with JGR, which dates back to his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2017, that Bell will carry the green-and-white colors of Interstate Batteries, joining such marquee names as Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte and Kyle Busch.

Then, for the first time since 2007, Interstate Batteries returns as a co-primary sponsor in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 19 when it adorns the sides of Ty Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota Camry in the Great American Race. The Daytona 500 will always hold a special place in the respective histories of Interstate Batteries and JGR, as they won their first race together 30 years ago in the 1993 Daytona 500 with Jarrett.

Bell and Ty Gibbs will run the majority of Interstate Batteries’ races, but veteran racers Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr., will each carry a primary Interstate Batteries sponsorship. Hamlin, a winner of 48 NASCAR Cup Series races, will drive the No. 11 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry March 26 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Truex, the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will pilot the No. 19 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry July 23 at Pocono Raceway.

“One of the great strengths of our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing over the last 31 years is the way the sponsorship with them has evolved and changed as our needs as a company and brand have evolved. The expansion of Team Interstate on all four JGR cars during 2023 is the next step in the evolution of our sponsorship,” said Norm Miller, chairman, Interstate Batteries.

“Working together, we always find new ways to use the JGR and NASCAR assets to set up new accounts and sell more batteries. We believe in our partnership and the sport of NASCAR, so when we saw the opportunity to double the amount of races as a primary sponsor — and be a part of such crown-jewel races as the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 again — we knew it made a lot of sense. Since we’ve been with Joe Gibbs and JGR from the beginning, we really feel like all four teams are part of our family, so it’s very exciting for the stars to align and be a primary sponsor with all the JGR teams for the first time ever.”

After racing at the LA Coliseum, Bell returns to Interstate Batteries colors for the NASCAR All-Star Race May 21 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The four-time Cup Series race winner keeps his Interstate Batteries livery for a second straight week when he competes in the Coca-Cola 600 May 28 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Bell’s final two Interstate Batteries races are Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth and Oct. 29 at Martinsville Speedway.

Ty Gibbs continues his slate of Interstate Batteries races with the Food City Dirt Race April 9 at Bristol Motor Speedway, June 25 at Nashville Superspeedway, July 2 in the inaugural Chicago Street Race, Sept. 24 at Texas and Oct. 8 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

“Our motto at Interstate Batteries is ‘Outrageously Dependable,’ and this expanded partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing drives home that point. We’re incredibly proud of our association with JGR. It’s a program that for more than three decades has resonated with our dealers, distributors and customers,” said Lain Hancock, Chief Operating Officer, Interstate Batteries.

“It’s a winning combination galvanized by the personalities we’ve been associated with at JGR, and it begins with Joe Gibbs. His vision and his ability to put the right people in the right places have made his team and our program a massive success. Expanding our presence with JGR allows us to reap the benefits of the organization’s entire effort, and we’re blessed to have such a talented group of racers represent Interstate Batteries.”

Interstate Batteries helped launch JGR in 1992. In the 31 years that have followed, JGR has scored 200 Cup Series victories — a number that includes four Daytona 500s — and five Cup Series championships. All of JGR’s firsts — win (Jarrett, 1992 Daytona 500, pole (Bobby Labonte, April 21, 1995 at Martinsville) and championship (Labonte, 2000 Cup Series title) have come with Interstate Batteries as the primary sponsor. When all of JGR’s successes are added up across each of the NASCAR series in which it competes, its race victories total more than doubles to 413 (200 in the Cup Series, 193 in the Xfinity Series and 20 in the ARCA Menards Series) with 12 total championships (five in Cup, six in Xfinity and one in ARCA).

“We’re extremely proud of our partnership with our founding sponsor, Interstate Batteries,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “They have been such an important part of our team for over three decades now, and it’s exciting to have them on board all four of our cars this season. The best part of our partnership is the relationships we’ve built with everyone there over the years. It all started, of course, with Norm and Tommy Miller, and now includes Lain (Hancock) and his entire team. It’s going to be a great season.”

Gibbs, along with three of the drivers who have raced for JGR since its inception in 1992, have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Jarrett was ushered into the Hall in 2014 while Gibbs, Labonte and Tony Stewart were enshrined together as part of the Class of 2020.

Posted on February 1, 2023February 1, 2023 by Tadd Haislop

Short-track racing is alive and well in the Arizona desert.

This thanks in part to the existence and excellence of Tucson Speedway, a 0.375-mile paved oval located on the Pima County Fairgrounds about 20 miles southeast of downtown Tucson.

Built in 1968 and having been through multiple renovations over the years, Tucson Speedway became a NASCAR Home Track in 2014. Part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, the venue hosts Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Pro-Stocks, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super Trucks, Hornets, Bandoleros and INEX Legends, almost always featured on Saturday nights.

Tucson Speedway’s flagship event is the Chilly Willy, a Super Late Model race held every January or February to kick off a long season of racing.

Below is everything to know about Tucson Speedway.

Tucson Speedway

Track Profile

Track	Tucson Speedway
Location	Tucson, Arizona
Opened	1968
Length	0.375 miles
Banking	3-9 degrees (variable banking)
Surface	Asphalt

When Tucson Speedway was built in 1968 as Raven Speedway, it was constructed as a clay oval. That changed in 1992, a couple years after Brian France took over operations. France led the charge to convert the track to a paved oval.

The venue then went through a series of ownership changes in the early 2000s. Deery Sports West, Inc. purchased the track from France’s group before selling it to Dan and Joyce Ruth in 2005. The Ruths sold it to Mark Ebert. All ownership groups made their own improvements to the facility.

The track closed in 2010 but quickly re-opened in 2013 after local businessman John Lashley had purchased the lease. Lashley again renovated the facility and re-named it Tucson Speedway.

The next year, Lashley’s oval became an authorized NASCAR Home Track.

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In addition to its weekly racing — featuring Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, Pro-Stocks, Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super Trucks, Hornets, Bandoleros and INEX Legends — Tucson Speedway has hosted multiple NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, ARCA Menards Series West races and NASCAR Southwest Series events.

Some of the notable NASCAR names who cut their teeth racing on asphalt at Tucson are Kurt Busch, Ron Hornaday Jr., Mike Skinner and Kevin Harvick.

Below are the results from all of the Truck Series, West Series and Southwest Series races at Tucson dating back to 1993.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Tucson Speedway

Year-Race No.	Date	Winner
1995-02	4/8/95	Ron Hornaday Jr.
1996-05	5/25/96	Mike Skinner
1997-02	3/1/97	Ron Hornaday Jr.

ARCA Menards Series West races at Tucson Speedway

Year-Race No.	Date	Winner
1993-05	6/12/93	Dirk Stephens
1994-02	4/30/94	Mike Chase
1994-14	11/27/94	Ron Hornaday Jr.
1995-01	1/22/95	Bill Sedgwick
1995-08	7/22/95	Doug George
1996-01	1/21/96	Ron Hornaday Jr.
1996-07	6/15/96	Mark Krogh
1997-01	1/19/97	Gary Collins
1997-04	5/10/97	Gary Smith
1998-01	1/11/98	Butch Gilliland
1999-01	1/17/99	Sean Woodside
2001-03	3/10/01	Johnny Borneman III
2015-03	5/2/15	Noah Gragson
2016-03	5/7/16	Ryan Partridge
2017-01	3/18/17	Chris Eggleston
2018-02	5/5/18	Kody Vanderwal
2018-03	5/5/18	Kody Vanderwal
2019-03	5/11/19	Derek Kraus
2019-04	5/11/19	Derek Kraus

NASCAR Southwest Series races at Tucson Speedway

Year-Race No.	Date	Winner
1993-07	5/29/93	Bob Lyon
1993-16	9/25/93	Jim Inglebright
1994-13	9/24/94	Rick Carelli
1995-14	9/23/95	Kevin Harvick
1996-01	1/14/96	Ron Eaton
1996-15	9/21/96	Bryan Germone
1997-01	1/5/97	M.K. Kanke
1997-15	9/20/97	Steve Portenga
1998-01	1/18/98	Derrick Gilchrist
1998-13	9/19/98	M.K. Kanke
1999-01	1/10/99	Tom Sweatman
1999-14	9/18/99	Kurt Busch
2000-04	5/6/00	Auggie Vidovich
2001-16	11/3/01	Joe Benedetti
2003-11	9/20/03	Eddy McKean
2004-13	10/24/04	Jim Pettit II

Posted on January 31, 2023February 1, 2023 by Zack Albert

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The newly announced all-star lineup of drivers for the Garage 56 project was back at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday, but this time without the fanfare, spotlight and festival atmosphere of the Rolex 24 as a backdrop. Instead, the trio of Jimmie Johnson, Jenson Button and Mike Rockenfeller were down to business at a virtually empty track, trading their team polo shirts for fire suits in their first test as a group.

The three drivers took turns shaking down the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 test car, getting a feel for the modified Next Gen prototype on the eve of a crucial endurance test Wednesday at the 3.56-mile road course. The two-day session marks the next step in preparations for the project’s expected participation as a showcase entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 10-11.

“It’s the first time to be in a NASCAR car at Daytona, which is where the car really belongs in a way,” said Rockenfeller, who opened the morning session and has been the Garage 56 project’s primary test driver. “So it was nice to do the first laps. I mean, it’s very different to any other track, as we all know, the combination of the banking and then the infield. So yeah, we’re still trying to work on the setup a little bit, but this test mainly is about getting miles, getting the group together the first time, work on maybe some driver change practice and stuff like that.

“So I think tire testing is one big part as well, one big portion. We started this morning, we will continue, so there’s a lot to come on this test. And yeah, I think it’s another milestone in a way, but then we definitely still need a bit of testing after this.”

James Gilbert | Getty Images

The Garage 56 tester — which shared the track Tuesday with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R that is scheduled to make its IMSA debut next season – will get a generous share of on-track prep during Wednesday’s durability test. The car is scheduled to run for a 12-hour block of track time (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET), stopping only to change drivers or brakes. More endurance testing is scheduled in February at Sebring International Raceway.

The question of whether a NASCAR vehicle could run a 24-hour race was recently broached by Dale Earnhardt Jr. during the 2019 running of the Rolex 24. Earnhardt, in his role as an analyst for NBC Sports, posed that question to engine builder Doug Yates during that year’s broadcast. “But yeah, of course we could do it,” Yates said, noting the balance that teams would have to strike between performance and reliability.

The collaborative team of Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR, Chevrolet and Goodyear will evaluate that balance during Wednesday’s longer haul.

“From my standpoint, I don’t have really any concerns for the car from a durability point of view,” said Johnson, who had also participated in two previous Garage 56 tests. “I think it’s going to be great for Hendrick and a lot of the folks that are here that have not worked through live pit stops and trying to keep the car running like you do an endurance race. I think that for me, I’m more excited about that, so the whole group understands that aspect because there’s a lot of new faces and a lot of first-timers to an endurance race.”

Tuesday presented the first time for the three drivers to get to work and bond in the Daytona garage, working with four-time IMSA champion and Le Mans regular Jordan Taylor. The always clever Taylor, who has been the point of some lighthearted joking for his new role as driver coach and reserve driver, showed up for Tuesday’s test runs with a T-shirt marked “COACH” in big, block letters.

Button, the 2009 Formula One world champion, turned his first laps in the car, taking over from Rockenfeller and loading in just before lunch. The stints marked his first driving experience at Daytona, plus his first hands-on time behind the wheel of a stock car.

“For me, I’ve only done 20 laps, so it’s very difficult for me to talk about where the car is,” Button told NASCAR.com after completing his last afternoon session. “But for me, it’s getting used to the position in the car. Obviously, there is body roll, it feels like it oversteers, but it’s not oversteering; it’s actually just the car itself taking a set. So the car runs like in the Cup Series, it runs very low at the rear, so on the banking, it’s like sitting on the ground. So it’s a lot to learn, but it’s a race car. And I can work with a race car.”

Button’s first impressions also provided a measure of validation for Johnson, who is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series as a part-time driver this season after spending two years on the IndyCar circuit.

“I obviously went the other direction the last two years driving formula cars, and I’ve been waiting for that confirmation just how different the worlds are,” Johnson said of Button’s feedback, to laughs from his co-drivers. “And I got it today.”

Several other elements took shape in the test car’s next stage of development. Most noticeable was the on-track debut of working headlights in place of the faux-headlight stickers. The twin banks of brightness will help light up the evening hours of Wednesday’s Garage 56 test and eventually are expected to illuminate the car’s path through the French countryside during a 24-hour run.

The opening test day also offered a chance for an over-the-wall crew to practice pit stops in a makeshift stall in Daytona’s Cup Series garage. Though the pace of the pit stops is expected to be slower than on a NASCAR weekend to account for driver swaps, the test drivers still screeched to a stop against a Camaro pit sign for a well-choreographed rapid response of four tires and fuel.

The test car’s unofficial lap times compared to those at the top of the GTD class from last weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opener. Though the Garage 56 team won’t be competing for the overall victory as an invite-only entrant in its own category, the project’s performance goals remain set at a high bar.

“We’re all racers,” Johnson said. “And I think we all want to … we’re all looking at these test sessions as an opportunity to make the car as strong as it can be and competitive as it can be. … We don’t have another car that we’re racing, but we all, I think know where we feel like this car, the pace it can do. We just want to help it get there.”

Posted on January 31, 2023 by Staff Report

NASCAR’s 75th anniversary will certainly look to be a monumental occasion for each respective driver and team. Fans will additionally have the opportunity to participate in the spectacle, too.

The introduction of NASCAR Fan Rewards will be a way to show appreciation to the latter. NASCAR Fan Rewards is a free program that rewards fans for participating in the action when they watch races and play NASCAR Fantasy. Be sure to join today.

Here are additional pointers on the program:

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE

Fans must be 18 years or older and legally reside in the United States or Canada to participate in NASCAR Fan Rewards.

WHY JOIN

NASCAR Fan Rewards members will earn points toward rewards and experiences. There is no cost to join.

HOW TO JOIN, EARN POINTS

Fans can link their existing NASCAR.com profile to NASCAR Fan Rewards or create a new account from their desktop or mobile device. Once fans are logged into their NASCAR Fan Rewards account, they will earn points by checking into a race from home or at the track, setting their Fantasy Live lineup, making purchases on the NASCAR.com shop and more. For a full list of earning opportunities, click here.

REDEEMING POINT OPTIONS

The  Fan Rewards Catalog is a one-stop shop for rewards exclusive to NASCAR Fan Rewards members. Rewards include race tickets, merchandise and VIP experiences at the track,  including pace car rides and waiving the green flag at qualifying.

POINT EXPIRATION

All points for U.S. participants will expire on Dec. 31 at midnight PST, beginning in 2023. Points earned in 2022 will roll over into 2023. Points awarded to participants in Canada will expire when and if a participant fails to redeem Reward Points from the participant’s account for a period of 12 months, calculated from either the date of the last Reward Point redemption by that participant or Jan. 1, 2023, whichever is later.

BADGES

Badges act as an opportunity to unlock more earnings. Watch your badges light up as you continue to collect points and achievements. Badges are not redeemable for rewards in the Fan Rewards Catalog.

HOW TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER-TIER STATUS

Earning 3,000 Tier points in a calendar year to reach All-Star status. Earning 6,000 Tier points in a calendar year to reach Champion status. Tier benefits include bonus points, tier graduation gifts and more.

MORE INFORMATION

Click here for full details about NASCAR Fan Rewards.

Posted on January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 by Staff Report

NASCAR officials released the schedule for the 2023 Triple Truck Challenge on Tuesday, renewing the incentive program for this year’s Craftsman Truck Series.

The three-race bonus series within the 23-race schedule begins earlier this season than in past years, starting with the May 26 event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which returns to the Triple Truck Challenge rotation after a one-year absence. From there, the initiative continues to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (June 3) before closing out on June 23 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Series officials indicated that drivers who opt to collect championship points in the Cup Series may compete in five Camping World Trucks events in 2023, plus are ineligible to race in Triple Truck Challenge events or the final eight races of the season (the regular-season finale and the seven postseason races).

Drivers who are collecting championship points in the Xfinity Series are ineligible for the Triple Truck Challenge races or the season finale.

RELATED: Dash 4 Cash races revealed

Posted on January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 by Staff Report

NASCAR officials on Tuesday released the 2023 schedule for the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash program, bringing back the four tracks that formed last year’s mix.

Eligible Xfinity Series regulars who are the top finishers at those designated events will pocket cash bonuses. The March 25 race at Circuit of The Americas will determine the four eligible drivers with the first crack at the extra money.

The four events in the 2023 Dash 4 Cash initiative:

April 1: Richmond Raceway
April 15: Martinsville Speedway
April 22: Talladega Superspeedway
April 29: Dover Motor Speedway

MORE: Full 2023 Xfinity Series schedule | 2022 Dash 4 Cash recap, results

The top four eligible Xfinity Series regulars from each event will form the field for the next race’s bonus.

Eligibility requirements for this year will be similar to the 2022 structure. Drivers who have not declared to collect Xfinity Series points may not participate in the series’ playoffs, elimination events, or Dash 4 Cash races. That list of restricted events also includes the Chicago Street Race on July 1.

Additionally, drivers with more than three years’ experience at the Cup Series level remain limited to a maximum of five Xfinity races.

Posted on January 31, 2023February 1, 2023 by Zach Sturniolo

The dawn of a new NASCAR season comes with significant procedural modifications on the horizon.

NASCAR announced Tuesday that stage racing at road courses will have a new look in 2023 with no caution flags interrupting the flow of competition. Additionally, the sanctioning body will enforce rules already written in the NASCAR Rule Book to officiate vehicles that employ a similar strategy to the one Ross Chastain used in his “Hail Melon” move at Martinsville Speedway by issuing a time penalty.

MORE: 2023 Cup schedule | Power Rankings: Possible playoff sleepers

The removal of stage cautions at road courses comes following a review of Fan Council Data and industry discussions. Stage points will still be awarded at the stage-ending lap, but the green-checkered flag will not be displayed and there will not be a caution period to interrupt the action.

The move comes in hopes of encouraging and improving pit strategies employed by race teams throughout the course of a road race. This change will be implemented at all NASCAR Cup Series road courses. However, standalone road-course races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races (Portland, Mid-Ohio, Road America) will continue to see caution periods separate stages.

“When we introduced stage racing four or five years ago, we took an element of strategy away from the event [at road courses],” said Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition. “So we felt like this is going to bring some new storylines.”

Chastain’s dash around Turns 3 and 4 at Martinsville Speedway last October made for a enthralling finish as the No. 1 Chevrolet gained five positions in one set of corners, earning enough points to advance to the Championship 4.

WATCH: See multiple angles of Chastain’s last-lap effort

While the move was thrilling and largely lauded for its creativity, it also came with an increased safety risk. Therefore, NASCAR will not add new language to the rule book but instead point to rule 10.5.2.6.A, which states: “Safety is a top priority for NASCAR and NEM (NASCAR Event Management). Therefore, any violations deemed to compromise the safety of an Event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of Competitors, Officials, spectators, or others are treated with the highest degree of seriousness. Safety violations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.”

Officials stated they will issue a time penalty to any vehicle that attempts an unsafe maneuver like Chastain’s.

“Basically, if there’s an act that we feel that compromises the safety of our competitors, officials, spectators,” Sawyer said, “we’re going to take that seriously. And we will penalize for that act going forward. Basically, what it would be is a lap or time penalty at the end of the race, so that move at Martinsville would be a penalty.”

In the days following his move, Chastain emphasized he was not eager to make that decision again any time soon.

“Why it worked? I don’t know, but I have no ideas or plans to ever do that again because it was not pleasant,” Chastain said on Championship 4 Media Day.

Other drivers like two-time champion Joey Logano and 2020 title winner Chase Elliott voiced both praise and apprehension toward wall-riding, equally aware of how exciting it looks and the danger that lurks.

In other competition-related news, competition officials have revised the penalty structure for detached wheels, shifting away from the four-race crew chief suspension that had been in place since 2015.

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

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

Competition officials have also expanded the list of tracks where wet-weather equipment could be used in 2023, adding several tracks of 1 mile or less to the mix of road courses. Those events include races at: the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Martinsville Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway for All-Star weekend, Phoenix Raceway, Richmond Raceway, The Milwaukee Mile and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Officials initially tested a wet-weather package for shorter ovals at Martinsville’s 0.526-mile circuit in the spring of 2021. Rain tires and windshield wipers have been available for use at road courses in recent years during inclement weather for all three national series.

Windshield wipers will not be required to be on the vehicles for the start of the Clash but will be mandated on the cars for the March 12 race at Phoenix Raceway.

Rules for playoff eligibility have been updated in all three NASCAR national series. The requirement that drivers must be among the top 30 (in the Cup Series) or top 20 (in Xfinity and Craftsman Trucks) to retain postseason eligibility has been removed. Drivers will still need to participate in every event to keep playoff eligibility, unless a waiver has been granted and approved by NASCAR.

Below are additional updates coming for the 2023 season:

The “choose rule” for determining the restart order has been expanded for the 2023 season, with superspeedway and dirt-track events adopting the procedure.
The restart zone for the first five events of the season will be increased by 50% in length. Officials indicated they would assess after the Atlanta event whether the larger restart zone would be used in subsequent races.
NASCAR officials adjusted the damaged vehicle policy (DVP), establishing a seven-minute repair clock for work performed on pit road. As was the case last year, no specialized repair tools are allowed. Toe links are allowed to be replaced on pit road during the allotted time.
Competition officials also updated its event procedure rules regarding vehicle interference with crews during pit stops. Vehicles encroaching on other pit stalls when coming in for service may result in a penalty. Stalls will be highlighted with new orange markings on pit road to assist officials in making those calls.

NASCAR returns to Circuit of The Americas on March 26, marking the first road course of the season that won’t feature stage cautions.

The first green flag of 2023 waves Sunday, Feb. 5 for the exhibition Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum at 8 p.m. ET (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Contributing: Zack Albert