Trackhouse Racing Team has struck a deal for a marketing partnership with UFC president Dana White, the team announced Tuesday.
Howler Head Whiskey, the official flavored whiskey of the UFC that White co-owns, will be the primary sponsor for Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet in Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum (6 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio). The sponsorship for the preseason event will be part of a broader collaboration between White and the Justin Marks/Pitbull co-owned operation.
“I love the vision that Justin Marks has for Trackhouse,” White said in a team release. “I’m excited to be a part of it and my two favorite things are fast cars and Howler Head. I’m so excited that we’ll be making our first NASCAR appearance this weekend. This is an absolute badass car, and I can’t wait to see it compete on the track at the Coliseum on Sunday.”
A decaled Next Gen car will be featured in front of UFC headquarters on Wednesday in Las Vegas, as well.
“Partnering with someone like Dana is what this Trackhouse mission is all about,” Marks said. “We want to transcend our sport, work with innovative minds and powerful brands, and Dana White, along with Howler Head and UFC exemplify that. Dana’s influence, vision, and passion is inspiring and I’m looking forward to working with him on amplifying both our brands and hopefully along the way, learning from him as well.”
With NASCAR descending on Los Angeles this week, the first names in a group of grand marshals set to kick things off for Sunday’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum have been announced.
And what bigger way to get things started in the City of Angels than with some of LA’s biggest sports stars?
The first of the group, announced Monday — Eric Dickerson.
A staple of the Los Angeles football scene, the Pro Football Hall of Famer Dickerson played 11 seasons for the LA Rams, Indianapolis Colts, LA Raiders and Atlanta Falcons. In just his second year in the league, Dickerson set the NFL’s single-season rushing record (2,105 yards) while playing for the Rams. He holds the record to this day.
TUESDAY: NASCAR Race Hub announced that Jim Abbott would be among the grand marshals. Abbott pitched in the major leagues for a decade, his crowning achievement being a no-hitter in 1993. Abbott, who was born without a right hand, had two stints with the California Angels and won 87 games in his remarkable career.
“One thing I’ve never done is see a short-track NASCAR race, and this weekend I’m so excited to go up to the LA Coliseum and be part of history,” Abbott said. “I’m so honored to be a grand marshal.”
WEDNESDAY: Race Hub announced two more grand marshals for the event: Misty May-Treanor and Greg Townsend.
Treanor is a retired American professional beach volleyball player. Over the course of her highly decorated career, she collected three Olympic gold medals while competing for the United States and won more than 100 championships in domestic and international competition. Along with teammate Kerri Walsh Jennings, the pairing went on to become one of the most dominant in beach volleyball history. The duo only lost one set in their 11-year run.
“I am so humbled and honored to be one of the grand marshals for this unique and historic event,” May-Treanor said. “I am so excited. I can’t wait for the speed, I can’t wait for the adrenaline rush, I can’t wait for the sounds of the crowd.”
Drafted in 1983, Townsend spent 12 years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders (formerly Oakland, now Las Vegas) and one with the Philadelphia Eagles. A versatile defensive player, he primarily played end and was selected to four All-Pro teams and a pair of Pro Bowls. Born in LA, Townsend helped bring the hometown Raiders a Super Bowl victory in 1984.
THURSDAY: Race Hub announced another grand marshal for the event: NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon is joining the lineup.
Gordon, the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, was recently promoted to vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports after spending the last few seasons in the FOX Sports broadcast booth. Gordon won 93 races in 23 full-time seasons at the Cup Series level, earning four premier series championships in the legendary No. 24. The California native also has three Daytona 500 wins to his name.
“I think the fans are going to blown away,” Gordon said. “I know I can’t wait to see what happens on track and all the action.”
FRIDAY: Race Hub announced that Dave Roberts will join the list of grand marshals for this weekend’s spectacle. In addition, former University of Southern California football legends Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush will also be grand marshals.
Former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Roberts is the first manager in MLB history to lead a team to division titles in each of his first four seasons. He led the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series, collecting the storied franchise’s seventh title and ending a 32-year championship drought. In six seasons as manager of the LA-based organization, Roberts has a .662 win percentage.
Leinart is no stranger to big moments under the lights in the Coliseum, as he won the 2004 Heisman Trophy at USC and led his team to an undefeated season as a junior before going on to a career as a first-round NFL draft pick. Bush, a former USC Trojan running back, earned the Heisman Trophy in 2005 after amassing more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Bush’s electric ability earned him a plethora of NCAA records, alongside his two selections to the NCAA All-American Team. Drafted to the NFL in 2006 as the second overall pick to the New Orleans Saints, Bush went on to win Super Bowl XLIV before retiring in 2017.
The athletes join a star-studded cast of participants in this year’s event, including performing artists Ice Cube, Pitbull and DJ Skee.
Sunday’s event coverage kicks off at 2 p.m. ET with NASCAR Race Day on FOX. Following the pre-race show, the heat sessions begin at 3 p.m. ET with the main event scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (radio broadcast on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
An event that has become a crown jewel in short-track racing arrives this weekend at Florence Motor Speedway in Timmonsville, South Carolina.
True to its name, the 2022 IceBreaker at the 4/10-mile paved oval will be the first chance for Late Model Stock, Super Truck, Limited Late Model and Mini Stock drivers and teams to run their cars in feature events this year as the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series season nears.
The entry list for the seventh annual IceBreaker is stuffed with talent, including drivers from the NASCAR national series and ARCA Menards Series ranks in Josh Berry, Jeb Burton, Mason Diaz, Thad Moffitt and Connor Mosack, to name a few.
With the addition of Keen Parts and CorvetteParts.net as partners, the IceBreaker in 2022 will award $10,000 to the winner, up from $5,000 in previous years.
All of the IceBreaker feature racing action can be seen live on FloRacing. Below is the schedule and entry list for this year’s kickoff to the short-track racing season at Florence Motor Speedway.
What TV channel is the IceBreaker on in 2022?
All feature racing action from the 2022 IceBreaker at Florence Motor Speedway can be viewed live on FloRacing, the new streaming home of all NASCAR Roots properties.
The IceBreaker will not be shown on a television network.
Below is the complete schedule for IceBreaker coverage on FloRacing.
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing at Florence Motor Speedway (William Chilton/NASCAR)
IceBreaker 2022 schedule
Though the 2022 IceBreaker feature race action will take place Saturday evening, the weekend at Florence Motor Speedway is full of activity.
It begins with an optional testing session Thursday, when teams have the ability to test during an open session from noon to 5 p.m. ET. Teams will test again Friday afternoon in a rotating practice session at the same time.
All divisions will practice throughout the day Saturday before feature racing begins at 3 p.m. ET.
Below is the complete track schedule for the 2022 IceBreaker at Florence Motor Speedway.
Thursday, Feb. 3 (Optional)
Time
Event
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sign In / Park Trailers / Mount Practice Tires
Noon – 5 p.m.
Optional Open Practice
5:30 p.m.
Gates Closed
(All times ET)
Friday, Feb. 4
Time
Event
9:30 a.m.
Sign In
10 a.m.
Pit Gates Open / Park Trailers
10 a.m.
Mount / Work Race Tires (MUST leave in impound)
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Late Model Inspection (All teams must be inspected prior to 2 p.m.)
Noon – 5 p.m.
Rotating Practice (LM-1hr/ST-20min/LLM-20min/SS-20min/MS-20min)
5:30 p.m.
Gates Closed
(All times ET)
Saturday, Feb. 5
Time
Event
8 a.m.
Pit Gates Open
9 a.m.
Mandatory Driver’s Meeting
10 – 10:30 a.m.
Late Model Practice (30 min)
10:35 – 10:55 a.m.
Super Truck Practice (20 min)
11 – 11:20 a.m.
Limited Late Models Practice (20 min)
11:30 – 11:50 a.m.
Street Stock Practice (20 min)
11:30 a.m.
Late Model Qualifying Inspection. Teams must stop work at this time. Track Officials
will come get you when it is your time to proceed to the inspection area.
11:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Mini Stocks Practice
12:30 p.m.
Grandstands Open
12:30 – 12:50 p.m.
Late Models line up for qualifying
1 p.m.
Start Euro qualifying for Late Models to determine
positions 1-35. All cars will be impounded on pit road. After Late Model qualifying, start Euro qualifying for Super Trucks-Limited Late Models-Street Stocks–Mini Stock
2:45 p.m.
Pre-Race Activities
3 p.m.
Features (Late Model: 125 Laps … Street Stocks: 50 Laps … Limited Late Models: 60 Laps … Super Trucks: 60 Laps … Mini Stocks:40 Laps
(All times ET)
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing at Florence Motor Speedway (William Chilton/NASCAR)
IceBreaker 2022 entry list
More than 30 Late Model Stocks are entered for the 2022 IceBreaker’s main event, with several Super Trucks, Limited Late Models and Mini Stocks also appearing on the entry list.
Below is the list of drivers entered for this year’s event.
Late Model Stocks
Car No.
Driver
Hometown
Sponsors
Team
51
Matt Cox
Longs, SC
Aaron’s Sales and Lease
–
2
Brandon Pierce
Oak Ridge, NC
FREMONT PROPERTIES, SOLID ROCK CARRIERS, THUNDER ROAD HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Lee Pulliam Performance
55
Mark Wertz
Chesapeake, VA
CorvetteParts.net , Dunkin Donuts , J&J clearing and demolition
Mark Wertz Racing
70
Jeremy McDowell
Conway, SC
Carquest Auto Parts of Conway, Coastal Marine
–
94
Jamie Weatherford
Darlington, SC
Cannons Small Engine Repair
JW Racing
16
Matt Linker
Kannapolis, NC
AK Performance
AK Performance
12
Annabeth Barnes Crum
Charlotte, NC
Liberty Buick GMC
KHM Racing
88
Doug Barnes Jr
Forest Hill, MD
Barnes Paving
Barnes racing
95
Jacob Heafner
Dallas, NV
JH Graphic Designs, Heafners Towing and Recovery
Carroll Speedshop
99
Kade Brown
Denver, NC
Affordable RV’s, Carolina Driveline, Race City Steel
AK Performance
2
Justin Milliken
Shallotte, NC
Shallotte Electric, Bell and Bell Buick GMC
JM Racing
10
Janson Marchbanks
Anderson, SC
Door Tech LLC., Hy-Tec Speciality Coatings, Hedgecock Racing Enterprises, Robbie White Racing Engines
Hedgecock Racing Enterprises
77
Connor Hall
Granite Falls, NC
Breeden Concrete TowneBank First Team Automotive Jarrett Bay Boatworks Liquid Performance Knot Done Yet Sportfishing Release Fighting Chairs
Triple R Racing w/ Chad Bryant Racing
54
Justin Johnson
Rougemont, NC
Puryear Tank Lines
Justin Johnson Racing
44
Connor Jones
Jones Utilities
Justin Johnson racing
4
Connor Mosack
Rougemont, NC
Drive4puryear.com
Justin Johnson Racing
5
Carter Langley
–
Graphics Solutions
Justin Johnson Racing
18
David Roberts
–
–
–
28
Ryan Glenski
Mooresville, NC
RG Excavating
RG Racing
99
Austin Somero
Landrum, SC
Ted Cook Heating service
Somero Performance Racing
27
Coy Beard
Lexington, NC
Davis Performance
1
Trent Barnes
Forest Hill, MD
Barnes Paving Inc
Barnes Racing
8
Josh Berry
Mooresville, NC
IRacing, All Things Automotive
JR Motorsports
32
Zack Miracle
Indian Trail, NC
Miracle Dental Center
Miracle Motorsports
6
Mike Darne
Mooresville, NC
ABC hosiery. Gildan, Concord Auto Service
MDR
24
Mason Diaz
Manassas, VA
Solid Rock Carriers
MAD Motorsports
27
Jeb Burton
Halifax, VA
Puryear Tank Lines, State Water Heaters, Alsco Uniforms, Rich Mar Florist, Mincey Graphics
–
16
McCumbee-Elliott Racing
Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Aaron’s Sales and Lease
McCumbee-Elliott Racing
5
Bryant Barnhill
Conway, SC
Barnhill Realty Co.
Barnhill Motorsports
5
Casey Kelley
Hartsville, SC
Tobaccoville USA, Shugs Steakhouse, North industrial Machine
Kelley Racing
15
Ryan Millington
Statesville, NC
–
–
41
Magnum Tate
–
–
Hawk-McCall Racing
46
Thad Moffit
Mooresville, NC
–
Chad Bryant Racing
40
Taylor Satterfield
Nicholson, GA
Maverick Steel Buildings
Satterfield Racing
Super Trucks
Car No.
Driver
Hometown
Sponsors
Team
00
Jody Measmer
Sanford, NC
Fayetteville Heating &Air , Wynn Site Development, Solid Rock Carriers
Measamer-Usry
71
Adam Fulford
Supply, NC
Smithfield’s Chicken & BBQ
Fulford Motorsports
01
Jadan Bowling
Supply, NC
Global imports / east coast handrails
Jadan Bowling Motorsports
7
Strom Altman
Charelston, SC
Stokes Kia
5
Cody Kelley
Hartsville, SC
North Industrial, Tobaccoville USA
Kelley Racing
16
Adam McCumbee
Orum, SC
McCumbee home improvements Elliott auto sales city tire
NASCAR on Monday revealed the schedule for this season’s Triple Truck Challenge in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the popular series of races that launched in 2019 as a chance for drivers to win bonus money as they competed for checkered flags at select events.
The 2022 Triple Truck Challenge will start at 1:30 p.m. ET on June 4 at World Wide Technology Raceway (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) in Madison, Illinois, just outside St. Louis, before continuing at 8 p.m. ET on June 24 at Nashville Superspeedway (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). “The Trip,” as it is affectionately known, will close out its 2022 run at 1:30 p.m. ET on July 9 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).
“A very cool program and a lot of money on the line for our guys,” said Camping World Truck Series director Seth Kramlich. “It’s a big incentive for our trucks and a lot of money on the line for those guys to be able to move their programs and step them into a greater place for the future.”
The Triple Truck Challenge is open to drivers who declare to earn Truck Series points during the 2022 season, and prize money can multiply if a driver wins multiple races — or all three races — in the Triple Truck Challenge.
Last year, the Triple Truck Challenge took place at Darlington Raceway, Circuit of The Americas and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Sheldon Creed, Todd Gilliland and John Hunter Nemechek took home the top prizes in those races.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series will kick off the 14th season of the popular Dash 4 Cash incentive program on March 26 with the qualifier race, the Pit Boss 250 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Circuit of The Americas (FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The top four Dash 4 Cash-eligible Xfinity Series drivers in that race will advance to compete in the Dash 4 Cash opener at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 2 at Richmond Raceway (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). There, a cash prize will be handed out to the top finisher among the four Dash 4 Cash drivers.
The other races in the Dash 4 Cash, as announced by NASCAR on Monday, will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET on April 8 at Martinsville Speedway (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM), at 4 p.m. ET on April 23 at Talladega Superspeedway (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM) and at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 30 at Dover Motor Speedway (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). Each race will feature the top four Dash 4 Cash-eligible drivers from the previous race battling for the top cash prize, which will go to the top finisher among the group. Only Xfinity drivers who have declared for points in that series will be allowed to compete for the Dash 4 Cash.
In addition to the Dash 4 Cash schedule, NASCAR also revealed that the Xfinity Series field will increase to 38 cars in the 2022 season, up from 36.
Last year, the Dash 4 Cash tracks included Atlanta Motor Speedway (for the qualifier), Martinsville, Talladega, Darlington Raceway and Dover. Noah Gragson took home the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash prizes at three of those tracks (Martinsville, Talladega and Darlington) before teammate Josh Berry won the prize at Dover.
Two legendary sports entities collide when the NASCAR Cup Series takes center stage in one of the most iconic venues in the world. Here is everything you need to know for the highly anticipated 2022 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum:
Started in 1979, and run under a variety of names since, premier series drivers competed in the Busch Clash at Daytona International Speedway to kickstart the annual competition. For the first time ever, this season’s exhibition will be held Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. ET on a 0.25-mile asphalt oval inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
February’s race doubles as the competitive debut of the Next Gen cars and a variety of other team and driver changes from the offseason, giving race fans their long-awaited look at a full fleet of redesigned Chevrolet Camaros, Ford Mustangs and Toyota Camrys.
WHAT TV CHANNEL IS THE CLASH ON?
FOX Sports will have complete coverage of the event, including practice and qualifying. The lone practice session on Feb. 5 will be broadcast on FS2 at 12:30 p.m. ET, while qualifying at 8:30 p.m. ET that evening moves over to FS1.
Sunday’s coverage kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on FOX with a slate of heat races before the main event at 6 p.m. ET. All weekend coverage will be broadcast live from LA.
Check out the full rundown of TV and national radio coverage below:
Date
Time (ET, -3 hours for local)
Event
TV/Radio/Stream
Saturday, Feb. 5
12:30 p.m.
Busch Light Clash practice
FS2/MRN/FOX Sports App
Saturday, Feb. 5
8:30 p.m.
Busch Light Clash single-car qualifying
FS1/MRN/FOX Sports App
Sunday, Feb. 6
3 p.m.
Busch Light Clash qualifying heats (four heat races)
Fresh off of his first title at the Cup Series level, Kyle Larson looks to continue his dominance as the West Coast native battles a star-studded lineup to jump-start the season. The field will be open to 40 entrants, each vying for one of the 23 spots in Sunday’s main event. Currently, 36 drivers from 16 different teams are slated to compete, including rookies Austin Cindric, Harrison Burton and Todd Gilliland.
Kyle Busch is the reigning Busch Light Clash winner, making the Joe Gibbs Racing driver a two-time winner (2012) of the prestigious exhibition. Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch round out the list of active drivers with a Clash win. Dale Earnhardt holds the all-time record with six.
See the complete list of Busch Light Clash winners, dating back to Buddy Baker’s inaugural win in 1979. | Every Busch Light Clash winner
Entry
Car No.
Driver
Team
Crew Chief
Manufacturer
1
1
Ross Chastain
Trackhouse Racing Team
Phil Surgen
Chevrolet
2
2
Austin Cindric
Team Penske
Jeremy Bullins
Ford
3
3
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing
Justin Alexander
Chevrolet
4
4
Kevin Harvick
Stewart-Haas Racing
Rodney Childers
Ford
5
5
Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports
Cliff Daniels
Chevrolet
6
6
Brad Keselowski
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing
Matt McCall
Ford
7
7
Corey LaJoie
Spire Motorsports
Ryan Sparks
Chevrolet
8
8
Tyler Reddick
Richard Childress Racing
Randall Burnett
Chevrolet
9
9
Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports
Alan Gustafson
Chevrolet
10
10
Aric Almirola
Stewart-Haas Racing
Drew Blickensderfer
Ford
11
11
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
Chris Gabehart
Toyota
12
12
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
Jonathan Hassler
Ford
13
14
Chase Briscoe
Stewart-Haas Racing
Johnny Klausmeier
Ford
14
15
Ryan Preece
Rick Ware Racing
Jason Houghtaling
Ford
15
16
AJ Allmendinger
Kaulig Racing
Matt Swiderski
Chevrolet
16
17
Chris Buescher
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing
Scott Graves
Ford
17
18
Kyle Busch
Joe Gibbs Racing
Seth Chavka
Toyota
18
19
Martin Truex Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing
James Small
Toyota
19
20
Christopher Bell
Joe Gibbs Racing
Adam Stevens
Toyota
20
21
Harrison Burton
Wood Brothers Racing
Brian Wilson
Ford
21
22
Joey Logano
Team Penske
Paul Wolfe
Ford
22
23
Bubba Wallace
23XI Racing
Bootie Barker
Toyota
23
24
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
Ryan Fugle
Chevrolet
24
31
Justin Haley
Kaulig Racing
Trent Owens
Chevrolet
25
34
Michael McDowell
Front Row Motorsports
Blake Harris
Ford
26
38
Todd Gilliland
Front Row Motorsports
Seth Barbour
Ford
27
41
Cole Custer
Stewart-Haas Racing
Mike Shiplett
Ford
28
42
Ty Dillon
Petty GMS Racing
Jerame Donley
Chevrolet
29
43
Erik Jones
Petty GMS Racing
Dave Elenz
Chevrolet
30
45
Kurt Busch
23XI Racing
Billy Scott
Toyota
31
47
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
JTG Daugherty Racing
Brian Pattie
Chevrolet
32
48
Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
Greg Ives
Chevrolet
33
51
Cody Ware
Rick Ware Racing
Billy Plourde
Ford
34
77
Landon Cassill
Spire Motorsports
Kevin Bellicourt
Chevrolet
35
78
BJ McLeod
Live Fast Motorsports
Lee Leslie
Ford
36
99
Daniel Suarez
TrackHouse Racing Team
Travis Mack
Chevrolet
CLASH FORMAT
After Saturday’s practice and the initial single-car qualifying session, drivers will be placed into heat races based on their best-posted speed. Every car entered into the Clash automatically advances to one of the heat races, giving them a chance to move on to the main event.
On Sunday, drivers compete in one of four 25-lap heat races with up to 10 cars in each race. The fields will be filled out in a manner consistent with their initial qualifying speed. Fastest will start on pole in the first heat race, second fastest starts on pole in the second heat race and so on (one, five, nine, etc. line up in Heat 1).
The top four finishers in each heat race will automatically advance to the main event, totaling 16 drivers with a ticket to Sunday night’s feature. Drivers who do not advance from their qualifying race will be placed into one of two 50-lap Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) races. The top three from each LCQ advance to the Sunday feature.
The final spot in the 23-man main event is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2021 points standings who does not transfer on finishing position in the heat races or LCQ.
In short: A lot of people. You really have to be there to experience at all, but here’s a quick rundown.
• Pitbull, Ice Cube and DJ Skee. Pitbull will perform a pre-race concerted presented by Coca-Cola. Ice Cube will perform during the race break. DJ Skee will become the first live DJ to perform during the caution breaks of a NASCAR race.
• Cobi Jones, a former player on the U.S. national soccer team, joins Monica Palumbo as in-stadium hosts.
• Riki Rachtman, formerly of Headbangers Ball, will be the host of the NASCAR Fan Fest.
• Speaking of NASCAR Fan Fest, Lightning McQueen makes his first public display in three years in the NASCAR Fan Fest. Guests can take photos with him.
• NASCAR Refuel is launching a new menu item: the Torch Taco at the Clash. The torch taco is a fusion of great track food with two iconic LA street foods – the taco and the LA street dogs.
• The grand marshals will be announced this week, and all will have a notable tie to the Los Angeles area.
CONSTRUCTING THE COLISEUM
The legendary stadium, host to the Olympic Games and University of Southern California (USC) sporting events, was revamped and transformed into a quarter-mile asphalt short track in a matter of months. Infield grass was removed, a track was paved, and walls and catch fences were erected to form a paperclip shape, similar to Martinsville Speedway.
Throughout Clash history, there have been a number of dramatic finishes; and 2021’s exhibition on the Daytona Road Couse was no exception. Bobbing and weaving through the final third of the course, road-course ace Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney made contact battling for the lead, spinning both out on the last lap. Kyle Busch pounced at the opportunity and capitalized on the duo’s misfortune, securing the first checkered flag of the season.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Helio Castroneves kept the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Acura ARX-05 ahead of the field during the final 30 minutes to lift MSR and co-drivers Tom Blomqvist, Oliver Jarvis and Simon Pagenaud to victory Sunday in the 60th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.
The win led to Castroneves’ signature celebratory move of climbing the fence, which he made famous during four Indianapolis 500 wins.
“It sounds cliche, but it’s all about believing,” Castroneves said. “I believe in them, they believe in me. This is exactly what is happening with this group here. With Simon, with Tom and with Oliver – we all believed that we could do it.”
It was Castroneves’ second consecutive Rolex 24 victory. Last year, he won the race as part of Wayne Taylor Racing, then climbed a fence in Victory Lane. This time, Castroneves fought off the No. 10 WTR Acura and driver Ricky Taylor to win, then stopped at the start-finish line and climbed the catch fence.
“That was absolutely incredible,” Castroneves said. “I’m so happy for the entire group. Everyone did their job. At the end, I said, ‘Put me in, Coach.’ It was great.”
The victory ended Wayne Taylor Racing’s bid to win the race for a record fourth consecutive time. As the Meyer Shank Racing celebration moved from the fence to the pits, Wayne Taylor was among the first to congratulate his former driver.
The trip to the top of the podium continued the resurgence of the career of Castroneves, 46. After winning last year’s Rolex 24 with WTR, Castroneves went on to win the Indy 500 with MSR, tying A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears for most Indy 500 wins in a career.
“It’s priceless,” Castroneves said. “In my case, I’m still very passionate about it and learning every day … and improving my driving skills. That’s what makes me a better driver. That’s why I enjoy it. That’s why when I go out there I push as hard as I can.”
Taylor finished 3.028 seconds behind Castroneves for WTR teammates Filipe Albuquerque, Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi. The 1-2 Acura sweep came 18 hours after both cars fell off the lead lap and trailed the five Cadillacs in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class.
Loic Duval brought the No. 5 JDC Miller MotorSports Cadillac DPi-V.R in third place with teammates Tristan Vautier, Richard Westbrook and Ben Keating.
The key to winning may have been the run by Blomqvist before Castroneves’ finishing run. Blomqvist got the No. 60 car into the lead with a back-and-forth duel with Taylor, then handed it to Castroneves.
“I was speechless after the race,” Blomqvist said. “I’ve dreamt of it. Did I believe? Yes. But you never know. It’s 24 hours of relentless racing. Every time I jumped in the car at moments I felt really comfortable and moments when I was like, ‘Man, I can’t get this car to work. It was just a rollercoaster of a race.”
NASCAR ties to this year’s Rolex 24 included seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and No. 2 Team Penske Ford rookie driver Austin Cindric. Johnson and the No. 48 Ally/Action Express Cadillac DPi, also driven by Mike Rockenfeller, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez, finished 11th overall and fifth in the DPi class. During the overnight hours, Johnson was forced to take the car to the garage for repairs after suspension issues.
Cindric drove the No. 15 Mercedes-AMG GT3 to 23rd in the overall classification, sharing driving duties with Patrick Assenheimer and Dirk Müller.
The No. 60 Meyer-Shank Racing Acura DPi finished the 24-hour race with a total of 761 laps completed.
Saturday, Feb. 5
12:30 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Practice, FS2
8:30 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Single-Car Qualifying, FS1
11:30 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Practice (re-air), FS1
On MRN: 12:30 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Practice
8:30 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Single-Car Qualifying
Sunday, Feb. 6
1:30 a.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Single-Car Qualifying (re-air), FS1
5 a.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Single-Car Qualifying (re-air), FS2
6 a.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Practice (re-air), FS2
8 a.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Single-Car Qualifying (re-air), FS2
9 a.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Single-Car Qualifying (re-air), FS1
2 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX
3 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Heats and Qualifiers, FOX
5 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX
6 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Main Event, FOX
On MRN:
2:30 p.m., Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum
