Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s not necessarily the warm beach air or laidback Jimmy Buffett-vibe of Daytona Beach that captures Austin Cindric’s heart when he arrives in Florida each January. It’s a far faster beat that moves him and there’s nowhere else he’d rather be this week.

The 24-year-old NASCAR star fully concedes that from the moment he drove through the tunnel at Daytona International Speedway for this weekend’s 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener, he felt that familiar special relationship he’s developed with the famed track.

MORE: 2023 Rolex 24 race coverage, info | History of NASCAR drivers in Rolex 24

His dramatic victory in the Team Penske No. 2 Ford in the 2022 Daytona 500 – as a NASCAR Cup Series rookie, no less – immediately placed him among the all-time laurels at the historic facility. This week he’d like to elevate his standing even more by winning in the Rolex 24’s LMP2 prototype class, which would mark the first time in history a driver has won the Daytona 500 and taken a Rolex 24 class victory in the same 12-month span of time.

For Cindric, this week’s sportscar opportunity is a result of his love-love relationship between the two major auto racing events, the Rolex 24 (Saturday, 1:40 p.m. ET, NBC) and the Daytona 500 – so much so, that fondness and his success have created a bit of an identity crisis.

“It’s funny, here I guess I’m known as the NASCAR guy now, or at least I’m waving the flag as the only one here (in the Rolex 24),’’ Cindric said. “But in NASCAR, I’m still known as the road-racing guy. So either way, it’s really cool and special to have that response. I guess that’s what it’s all about, why this place was built.

“This kind of feels like home in some ways. I’ve been coming to Daytona a lot longer for this race (Rolex 24) than I have for the 500 or NASCAR Speedweeks. So when I get on the speedway for the first time for qualifying in the Cup car, I blow by the bus stop (the road course chicane) and feel like I’ve missed the corner – so much so that my heart sinks a little bit and then I realize I am on the correct line. That’s how used to this (Rolex) weekend I am.”

Cindric will co-drive the LMP2 Class No. 51 Rick Ware Racing ORECA LMP2 07 with defending Rolex class winners Devlin Defrancesco and Eric Lux and highly-touted young driver Pietro Fittipaldo, grandson of Indy 500 winner Emerson Fittipaldi. It marks the first race of a full-time 2023 IMSA entry for Ware, who also owns a NASCAR Cup Series team and fields cars in the NHRA and IndyCar series as well,

Often as Cindric spoke to the media in Daytona Beach during last week’s Rolex 24 test session, the Daytona 500 winner commented and gazed at his teammate Lux’s Rolex watch – a trophy for Lux’s 2022 LMP2 class win in the Rolex. It’s something Cindric wants badly. And has for years.

RELATED: Austin Cindric 2022 season in review

This weekend marks Cindric’s fifth start in the Rolex 24; the team’s car will roll off sixth in LMP2 and 14th overall on the 61-car grid. Cindric’s previous best Rolex finish is fifth in the GT3 class – in 2019 and 2022.

“I think the first step (to winning) is having a really good (driver) lineup, especially in a category where the car is essentially ‘spec,’ “Cindric explained. “I think we have a really strong lineup. There are a few lineups right now that are strong and I think we are one of them. So just going through the progression. Happy to be part of it.

“Eric and I have wanted to put something together for a few years now and it’s kinda cool to pull that off and I’m excited for the race.”

His teammates are equally confident and committed.

“When this whole deal came together, I was really excited and confident with the team we have, Rick Ware Racing and my teammates, Austin and Pietro and Eric,’’ Defrancesco said. “Pietro has been very strong over in Europe so he’s got a ton of experience in the car. Austin has the talent and has driven many different race cars and been fast in many different race cars. And Eric did a very, very good job last year with me here, so I think we have a very good shot.”

That’s exactly what Cindric wants to hear as he attempts to join a legendary list of Daytona 500 winners who have also won in class in the Rolex 24 – Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Jamie McMurray and Jeff Gordon.

“I want to win this race,’’ Cindric said. “That’s why I put so much work in. That’s why with the schedule we have (in NASCAR) I don’t care about sacrificing my last two weeks of offseason because this is something I’m really passionate about. I’m not passionate about just doing the event, I want to go win it.

“I’m not going to do something or be part of something I don’t think has the legs to be able to do it and between the lineup and the experience a lot of the team guys have, I think this has that potential. And it’s fun because I feel this lineup itself represents what makes this event fun for everybody.

“You’ve got one guy from NASCAR, one guy from Formula One, one guy whose IMSA, one guy from IndyCar and that’s what this event is all about, it’s a coming together of the people and individuals of motorsports and I see so many familiar faces here, people I only get to see once a year anymore that I’ve worked with and raced against. … I’m pretty hungry for the win and most importantly to get a cool watch like Eric has on.”

Posted on by Holly Cain

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. –NASCAR driver Harrison Burton held off hard-charging sports car veteran Spencer Pumpelly by a slight 0.688 seconds to earn the overall victory in Friday’s BMW M Endurance Challenge, the season-opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway road course.

Pumpelly, who co-drove with Jeroen Bleekemolen and Tom Collingwood, moved the No. 83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport from fifth place to second in the final 30 minutes of the four-hour race, applying pressure on Burton as he cut into the lead with each lap.

But the 22-year-old Burton – who drives the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series – steered mistake-free, high-pressure circuits of his own in the No. 42 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4 to ensure he and teammate Zane Smith – the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion making his IMSA debut – became the first NASCAR regulars to take the victory in this race.

2021 Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes and fellow NASCAR Truck Series driver Hailie Deegan finished third in the No. 41 PF Racing Mustang to complete the podium for the 32-car Grand Sport (GS) class.

Smith, 23, qualified an impressive third and moved forward immediately on the start, holding a sizable lead with just under three hours remaining. Late pit strategy by the competition, however, shifted the lineup as the No. 41 Mustang pitted to change drivers – Smith out and Burton in – just past the midpoint.

Burton ran third with just under 50 minutes to go, steadily making his way forward. He took the lead for good when leader Elliott Skeer in the No. 47 Nolasport Porsche had to retire with 22 minutes remaining.

“I felt like I was a little bummed out early because we got shuffled back a little after the first pit stop,’’ said Burton, making his second start in the race. “It was taking me a little bit to get back to the lead, and I was like, ‘I don’t want to be the guy that lets the team down and not finish the race off like we should.

“But a few restarts came our way, and I kinda shuffled my way through there. A lot of hard racing,’’ he added with a grin. “Pretty similar to NASCAR racing, to be honest with you, the amount of bumping and aggressive dive bombs and stuff. I felt kinda home in that. That was fun.”

Smith, who will attempt to make his first Daytona 500 start in February, gave a thumbs-up to his friend Burton’s work.

“Watching Harrison at the end with Spencer coming had me shaking in my boots, but he didn’t make a mistake,’’ Smith said, delighting in the win at the famous track. “If you can win anything at Daytona, whether it’s a dirt bike or a go-kart or a stock car and now a GT4 Mustang is just so dang cool.

“Daytona just brings such a different vibe than really any other race track. Not only to win at Daytona but in our first start is just so cool.’’

Posted on by Press Release

LOS ANGELES – The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum is NASCAR’s first event of its 75th anniversary season. It’s also going to be a party for the ages.

That’s because NASCAR announced today that global DJ phenomenon Cheat Codes will perform during the caution breaks of its season-opening celebration and join forces with global superstar Dixie D’Amelio for a special performance of “I’ll Remember.”

Combined with a pre-race performance by Cypress Hill and a race-break performance by Wiz Khalifa, this addition creates a power-packed lineup of entertainment to accompany the stars and cars of the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday, Feb. 5.

“Adding Cheat Codes and Dixie D’Amelio to the lineup of entertainment takes the Busch Light Clash to the next level,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s senior vice president for racing development and strategy. “They are current artists with a global reach that numbers in the billions. Their addition to the Busch Light Clash takes this event to the next level.”

RELATED: Clash format | Busch Light Clash entry list

Cheat Codes is considered an inescapable musical force hopscotching through genres of electronic, dance, pop and now country. The Los Angeles trio’s impact of innovation and collaboration throughout popular culture has produced a total stream tally eclipsing a staggering 6 billion plays. Their diverse discography includes the platinum Pop Radio Top 5 smash “No Promises” (feat. Demi Lovato), the gold certified “Feels Great” (feat. Fetty Wap & CVBZ), and gold-selling breakout “SEX” with Kriss Kross Amsterdam.

Dixie D’Amelio is a multifaceted talent whose music has topped 625 million streams to date and a social media reach eclipsing 100 million followers. In addition, she has a successful TV show on Hulu (The D’Amelio Show), her own clothing brand with Hollister, Social Tourist, and brand partnerships with Puma, Valentino, Burberry, and more. She is one of the top 10 most followed creators on TikTok and was named one of YouTube’s Top 10 Breakout Creators of 2020 with one of the fastest growing channels globally. Her entrepreneurship combined with her influence on social media, has earned her coveted spots on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and Forbes’ top creators list as well as, AdWeek’s Young Influentials and Variety’s Power of Young Hollywood Impact List.

In 2020, Dixie’s debut single “Be Happy” landed on the US Top 40 and Billboard’s Top Triller U.S. chart within a week and garnered more than 300 million streams. Most recently, her collaboration with Cheat Codes, and country singer Russell Dickerson on a remix of the hit song “I Remember (Dixie Remix)” has propelled her to even greater heights. On Nov. 4, 2022, Dixie made a cameo at Marquee Nightclub in New York City and joined Cheat Codes on stage for a surprise performance of the single.

Now, the powerhouses will join forces again at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for an unforgettable day of NASCAR racing and entertainment.

Tickets for the 2023 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum begin at $65, and kids 12-and-under are $10. Fans who want to take their race-day experience to the next level can upgrade to the Ally Pre-Race Party, which includes brunch, a drink ticket for Busch & Coca-Cola products, exclusive entertainment, a pre-race trackwalk and a special appearance from driver Alex Bowman. Fans are encouraged to get their tickets now while supplies last by visiting www.nascarclash.com. It’s one of the many anticipated events taking place this year as a part of the venue’s centennial anniversary celebration – “Coliseum Forever.”

College students can experience the Busch Light Clash from The Coca-Cola Torch Party Porch for just $40. This standing-room-only general admission section, located on the Coliseum’s peristyle steps, provides college students with up-close access to all the musical entertainment, driver introductions and racing action. College students can take advantage of this exclusive offer by visiting www.nascarclash.com/student.

Posted on by Staff Report

On Saturday, NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports will announce the driver lineup scheduled to compete as the Garage 56 entry in the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The announcement will come at 11 a.m. ET and will be streamed live on NASCAR.com via Press Pass.

RELATED: Latest on Garage 56 | Cup test features G56 influence

Additionally, the Garage 56 entry, built and fielded in partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, will hit the Daytona International Speedway road course for a test on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The announcement precedes the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, scheduled to begin at 1:40 p.m. ET on Saturday on NBC.

WATCH STREAM: Press Pass

Posted on by Press Release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Staff Report

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

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

RELATED: 2023 Xfinity Series schedule

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Jerry Bonkowski

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

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

RELATED: McDowell, Gilliland return to Front Row Motorsports driver lineup in 2023 

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

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 34, FORD

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

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

RELATED: Front Row hires Travis Peterson as No. 34 crew chief, shuffles personnel 

TODD GILLILAND, NO. 38, FORD

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

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

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

NASCAR.com 2023 team previews schedule

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

Posted on by Staff Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

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

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

MORE: Shop merch now

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RELATED: Busch steals Bristol Dirt win as Reddick, Briscoe clash

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

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