NASCAR Cup Series drivers hit Nashville Superspeedway for the first time Saturday afternoon, and Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson topped the practice leaderboard with identical lap times.
Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet and Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet were clocked at 161.082 mph around the 1.33-mile concrete track just east of the Music City. The 50-minute session was the only practice scheduled for NASCAR’s top division before Sunday’s Ally 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM).
Chase Elliott logged the third-fastest lap in another Hendrick entry, the No. 9 Chevy. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. placed fourth on the practice leaderboard with Tyler Reddick fifth. Chevrolets swept the top seven spots on the practice chart.
Sunday’s event is the inaugural race for the Cup Series at Nashville Superspeedway, which is hosting its first NASCAR weekend since 2011. It’s the first Cup Series race in the Nashville area since 1984, when the circuit last visited the .596-mile fairgrounds track in town.
Busch Pole Qualifying to set the 39-car starting lineup is scheduled for Sunday at 11:05 a.m. ET (NBCSN, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM).
This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series visits Nashville Superspeedway for the first time in the history of stock-car racing’s highest level. While the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series have history at the venue since it opened in 2001, the Cup Series hasn’t visited — and it makes for some intriguing questions about who will do what this weekend.
With qualifying being held Sunday morning before the race, it’s anybody’s guess who will start where — but as we enter the weekend, there are some stud drivers who need no introduction that are perched atop the NASCAR betting odds. There are also some talented veterans who’ve had success at Nashville in the lower series ranks.
Kyle Larson again, eh? That’s right. Larson is quickly earning a reputation for being so talented he could probably wheel a fire truck with a flat tire around a track during a race and still be competitive. He’s that good.
Larson won the All-Star Race last weekend in Texas, and he’s won the last two NASCAR Cup Series points races (Sonoma and Charlotte). He hasn’t finished outside the top five in more than 45 days, has 11 top-10 finishes in 16 starts, and has shown he can win on just about any kind of track.
So why wouldn’t he be at the top of the NASCAR odds this week, right?
OTHERS: Along with Larson, Martin Truex, Jr. (+1000), and Chase Elliott (+550) have run well on a myriad of tracks this year and the odds reflect that. While the Cup Series hasn’t visited Nashville before, Truex, Jr. has. Back when he was dominating the Xfinity Series in the mid 2000s, Truex, Jr. took second at Nashville Superspeedway in 2004 and fifth in 2005. So it’s been awhile for Truex, but unlike a lot of his competitors this weekend — he at least has a solid record at the track. Like Larson, Elliott is solid just about anywhere.
That takes us to Kyle Busch (+1000), who I just can’t drop into the dark horse threat category below. Busch has won at Nashville in Xfinity (one time), the Camping World Truck Series (twice), and ARCA (once). We put him in the dark horse category last week and it just seemed … inappropriate. Or put more simply — weird.
THE DARK HORSE THREAT
Brad Keselowski (+1400)
Brad Keselowski’s very first win at any level in NASCAR was at Nashville in 2008. Talk about sentimental. Driving the No. 88 for JR Motorsports, he battled Clint Bowyer and David Reutimann for the win. That win launched what has become a big-time stock-car racing career. Up until then, he wasn’t much more than a stroker in the Camping World Truck Series.
Like Busch above, Keselowski has had success at Nashville before, just in a lower series. In 10 Xfinity starts, he had two laps, seven top-five finishes while leading 253 laps.
This venue helped launch a career that has seen him win a NASCAR Cup Series season championship (2012), an Xfinity Series title (2010) and grab 35 Cup Series victories along the way. And he’s still several years away from his 40th birthday, so there’s time to add to it.
OTHERS: Denny Hamlin (+850) was five-for-five when it came to finishing in the top 10 back when he raced at Nashville in the Xfinity Series. Granted, that was a long time ago (just like with Busch and Keselowski) but it may be just the mental edge he needs to secure that first 2021 victory so he’s firmly locked into the NASCAR postseason later this year. That’s right, he still doesn’t have a win, even though he’s leading the season’s points race.
THE INTRIGUING LONG SHOT
Aric Almirola (+15000)
Hear me out on this: Aric Almirola has the eighth-best average finish on intermediate-length tracks since the beginning of the 2018 season, and some of his best success has come at 1.5-mile, D-shaped oval tracks, which is as about close as it gets to Nashville’s 1.33-mile, D-shaped form. Almirola has led 175 laps at these tracks since 2018 (all with Stewart-Haas Racing), with seven top-10 finishes. He also has three career top-10 finishes in four attempts at Nashville in the Xfinity Series.
Ryan Preece took the lead from Grant Enfinger with seven laps remaining in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway to earn his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory Friday night in his first race in the series.
Preece, the 30-year-old Connecticut native who competes full time in the NASCAR Cup Series, is only the fifth driver in history to win in his Truck Series debut.
“That was a lot of fun,” Preece said. “Really I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know anything.
“I was just taking the guidance from (crew chief) Chad (Johnston) and my teammates and told them I’d be better in the race than I was in qualifying and practice. And fortunately, I lived up to that.”
Preece’s teammate, Todd Gilliland, who started at the rear of the field after a pre-race inspection violation, rallied all the way to second place, passing Enfinger with four laps remaining.
“It stings not to get that last spot, especially because I was under the 17 (Preece) and got too loose, but that’s racing,” said Gilliland, whose father, David, served as his crew chief after his normal crew chief was suspended as part of the inspection penalty.
The Preece-Gilliland work gave Ford its first one-two finish of the season. Enfinger finished third, followed by Zane Smith and Stewart Friesen.
Veteran Matt Crafton, two-race winner Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, Austin Hill and championship leader John Hunter Nemechek rounded out the top 10.
Preece, who drives the No. 37 JTG-Daugherty Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, was one of three full-time Cup Series drivers entered Friday – all wanting to get some extra laps at the 1.333-mile Nashville track, which is hosting its first-ever Cup race Sunday. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Ross Chastain finished 22nd driving for Niece Motorsports, and Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron finished last in the 36-truck field, his No. 27 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet experiencing a motor problem shortly after the Stage 1 break.
Nineteen-year-old Derek Kraus, who won his first career Camping World Truck Series pole position Friday afternoon, followed it up by leading the first 48 laps of the race and earning the Stage 1 victory – his second career stage win.
A slow pit stop during that stage break forced Kraus to play catch-up, but he rallied back inside the top 10. His race ended early after contact with the Josh Berry truck sent Kraus’ No. 19 Toyota hard into the wall with only 40 laps remaining.
Nemechek’s 10th-place finish retained the lead in the championship standings for the second-generation driver. A four-race winner so far in 2021, he leads Rhodes by 78 points with only three races remaining to set the 10-driver playoff field.
Chandler Smith, who finished 13th Friday, sits in the final playoff transfer position with a slim 15-point edge on former series champion Johnny Sauter, who finished 12th at Nashville.
The series races next in the CRC Brakleen 150 at Pocono Raceway (June 26 at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
NOTE: NASCAR indicated there were no issues in its post-race inspection, thus confirming Preece’s victory.
Two teams were penalized during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pre-qualifying inspection at Nashville Superspeedway before Friday night’s Rackley Roofing 200 (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The No. 15 DGR-Crosley Ford of Tanner Gray and the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford of Todd Gilliland failed Sections 20.4.2a; 20.4.b; 20:4:1b; 20.20.a (body part did not meet NASCAR rule specifications) of the NASCAR Rule Book.
As a result, both crew chiefs have been ejected — Seth Smith for the No. 15 team (Jacob Hampton will fill in) and Chris Lawson for the No. 38 entry (Gilliland’s father, David, will take over). Gray and Gilliland will also drop to the rear of the field for the series’ first race at the 1.33-mile track since 2011.
In addition to the immediate race consequences, both teams have lost 25 owner and driver points, respectively, for 2021. Gilliland already has a win in hand, where as Gray is in a points battle to try and reach the 10-driver Playoffs.
NASCAR officials reinstated spotter Eddie D’Hondt on Friday, restoring his membership privileges.
D’Hondt was suspended by the sanctioning body May 26 after news of his recent arrest in Catawba County, N.C., came to light. In the reinstatement notice, NASCAR competition officials stated that D’Hondt’s “indefinite suspension has been lifted. He has been approved to return to all NASCAR racing activities effective June 18, 2021.”
D’Hondt has been the spotter for Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 Chevrolet team and driver Chase Elliott. He was a part of the effort that claimed the Cup Series championship in 2020.
In a statement, Hendrick Motorsports said: “We are pleased about the resolution of this matter and look forward to Eddie D’Hondt re-joining our team this weekend at Nashville Superspeedway.”
D’Hondt issued a statement earlier Friday indicating that charges against him had been dismissed. The statement read: “Mr. D’Hondt is very pleased with today’s announcement of dismissal. He is grateful that based on the diligent efforts of his defense team the District Attorney was able to process this case and ultimately decide it had no merit and the charges levied against him were totally unfounded. Mr. D’Hondt would like to personally thank all the people who have shown him and his family a tremendous amount of support and love. He is glad that justice has won the day and will consider any and all available legal remedies against his accuser. Mr. D’Hondt looks forward to resuming his lengthy career as one of the top spotters in NASCAR.”
NASCAR officials said last month that D’Hondt violated Sections 12.8.1.e (Member Conduct Guidelines) and 2.11 (Required Notice) in the NASCAR Rule Book.
Section 12.8.1.e states, in part, that member actions that could result in a fine and/or indefinite suspension, or termination, include: “Being charged with or convicted of significant criminal violations (e.g. Domestic Violence, Trafficking, Assault), or having had determinations rendered by criminal or civil authorities that in NASCAR’s judgment necessitate action. NASCAR will not pre-judge guilt or innocence in the criminal or civil legal system, or the guilt or innocence of the Member, but rather review each matter in its own context and circumstances and with regards to its potential effects upon the sport.”
Section 2.11 states: “Any NASCAR Member charged with any violation of the law (misdemeanor and/or felony) shall notify NASCAR … prior to the next scheduled Event or within 72 hours of being so charged, whichever is earlier.”
Trey Poole filled in for D’Hondt during the suspension. Poole, Elliott’s cousin, had previous served as an additional spotter for the team at road-course events.
D’Hondt has been a spotter for Elliott since he joined the NASCAR Cup Series as a rookie in 2016, and has also worked with Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch on the Cup Series side. He has also served as a spotter in the Xfinity Series for the JR Motorsports No. 7 team and driver Justin Allgaier, and in the Camping World Truck Series for the Hattori Racing Enterprises No. 16 team and driver Austin Hill.
NASCAR officials also reinstated Kurt Butcher after he successfully completed the Road to Recovery program. Butcher, who was listed as the hauler driver for Sam Hunt Racing for six races at the start of the season, was suspended April 13 for violating the sanctioning body’s Substance Abuse Policy.
Kaulig Racing will race full time in the NASCAR Cup Series season in 2022, the team announced Friday at Nashville Superspeedway.
The current Xfinity Series organization has secured a pair of Cup Series charters and will field a full-time ride for Justin Haley, while veteran AJ Allmendinger will pilot select Cup races in a second car. Allmendinger also will compete full time for an Xfinity championship in 2022. The two deals are part of multi-year agreements with both drivers.
“(Owner) Matt Kaulig is continuously showing how much he has invested in NASCAR and what he’s going to do,” Kaulig Racing president Chris Rice told NASCAR.com. “We’ve been working hard over the last three years on trying to secure a charter and how we went about it and it’s been so much fun it gives me cold chills but also it’s been a lot of work, a lot of endless nights. … Going Cup racing means a lot. Bringing somebody like AJ back to help us understand a little bit more about Cup racing helps, because he’s done it.”
Haley, who has served as Kaulig’s longest-running full-time driver in the Xfinity Series, will continue his commitment as the team’s first-ever full-time Cup driver. The 22-year-old Haley is a past premier series winner in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway and has driven the team’s flagship No. 11 Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series since 2019, earning three wins, 15 top fives and 50 top-10 finishes. He also claimed the team’s first-ever Cup start in the 2020 Daytona 500.
“It’s just really cool for me, right? I’ve been within their Xfinity program, and building that up to a championship-level organization has been so cool, so to kind of flood that over and get the Cup opportunity with Kaulig Racing, it just feels like the right fit,” said Haley, currently sixth in Xfinity Series points. “It feels like a family atmosphere and it feels like I’m still part of the family, so to go Cup racing my first full-time season, to go to the Daytona 500 with the Matt Kaulig racing machine is pretty cool.”
The team revealed in Friday’s press conference that the two charters were purchased from Spire Motorsports, which currently fields the No. 7 Chevrolet driven by Corey LaJoie. Spire sent out a statement confirming the deal and some of its plans for 2022.
“Spire Motorsports will sell two of its three charters to Kaulig Racing,” the statement read. “We will continue to field the No. 7 with Corey LaJoie as a chartered entry in 2022. We remain committed to NASCAR and the Cup Series and we will continue to look for opportunities to grow and compete in the future.”
Matt Kaulig’s foray into NASCAR began in 2014 when he put his company, LeafFilter Gutter Protection, on a Cup car as the primary partner. Instantly hooked, Kaulig formed his own team in 2016 and began full-time competition in the Xfinity Series.
Haley and Allmendinger each joined the team in 2019. A longtime road-course ringer, Allmendinger has shown to be a well-rounded driver, earning five wins, 16 top fives and 19 top-10 finishes since his first start with the team in ’19. The most recent win came at Kaulig’s home track of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course earlier this month.
“I feel like I’m a small part of it, but I love seeing where this team is going; what Kaulig Racing as a whole in NASCAR is trying to develop into,” Allmendinger said. “It’s to the degree where I told Chris Rice, ‘I’m all-in whatever you want me to do,’ whether that’s full-time in Cup or part of the Xfinity program full-time again and running Cup races, I’m here to help this team in whatever capacity I can help them with.”
In only two Cup starts this season, Allmendinger has earned the team’s best-ever Cup finish — a top five at Circuit of The Americas — as well as a top-10 finish at the Daytona Road Course earlier this year.
Kaulig’s entry to the Cup Series in ’22 will also line up with the debut of the NASCAR Next Gen car, one of many factors that made the chance to make the move to Cup full time too good to pass up for the team’s owner.
“We’re super excited to get a fresh start with the Next Gen car,” Kaulig said. “We’ve almost been using a saying on our race tram for us is where it’s a Next Generation car, Next Generation owner and Next Generation team. So, we’ve done a great job of trying to be really relevant in the Xfinity Series and now that we’ve got the opportunity to go Cup racing, we’re super excited about ’22 and what’s on the horizon.”
The team plans to make its full-time debut in February at Daytona.
Nashville Superspeedway is a familiar venue for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the track having hosted 14 races between 2001-11. But Friday night’s Rackley Roofing 200 (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be a new ball game for most of the drivers in the field.
There will be a practice and qualifying session Friday prior to the green flag. There are no defending winners entered, and only six Truck Series regulars have competed previously at the 1.33-mile track – Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Norm Benning, Parker Kligerman and Clay Greenfield.
Among those with some Nashville laps, Sauter boasts an impressive resume – four top-10 finishes in five series starts. His runner-up work in the 2011 race – the last time the series competed at the track – is tops among those with previous starts.
Sauter could certainly use that promising past this week. The former series champion sits in 11th in the series driver standings – one position outside the Playoff cutoff. He trails 10th place Chandler Smith by eight points.
Four-time winner John Hunter Nemechek continues to lead the points. The Kyle Busch Motorsports driver holds a commanding 78-point advantage on two-race winner Ben Rhodes. Austin Hill is third, followed by Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith and 2020 series champion Sheldon Creed. Gilliland and Creed are the only other drivers with a win this season to guarantee their playoff run.
None of these championship frontrunners has ever raced at Nashville previously.
Even so, Nemechek has to be considered a favorite this weekend. The driver of the No. 4 Toyota has won the last two races – at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway – and led double-digit laps in nine of the 11 races to date. A win at Nashville would make him only the eighth driver in series history to win three consecutive races.
Nemechek finished eighth at Darlington Raceway last month but led a race-best 65 of the 147 laps – significant in that Darlington is a 1.366-mile oval and Nashville is a 1.333-miler.
Creed, driver of the No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet, could use a boost this weekend. His only victory this year came at Darlington, which is encouraging for the team. However, he has finished 32nd or worse in three of the last five races – including DNFs in the last two.
Rhodes, driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Racing Toyota, was runner-up to Creed at Darlington and is another looking to rebound from a poor performance last week in the Lone Star State. His 26th-place finish at Texas was his worst showing of the season.
Also entered in this weekend’s Truck race, eager to get some competitive laps, are Cup regulars William Byron and Ryan Preece as well as 2021 Xfinity Series race winner Josh Berry.
Change is in the air as NASCAR gets ready to hold its first-ever Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway. On top of the excitement that will take place on the track, there will be a new look for the green flag, the fuelport on each car and for the No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet driven by Austin Dillon.
The green, white and black paint scheme is a fresh spin for fans of the No. 3 as Get Bioethanol represents the rebranding of American Ethanol. What hasn’t changed is the performance benefits of racing with engine smart and earth kind bioethanol blended fuel, Sunoco Green E15.
“Engine performance and reliability is important whether you’re on the racetrack or driving to the grocery store, and high-octane bioethanol help enhance performance,” said Austin Dillon. “Higher octane means better performance under pressure, so I am proud to race the Get Bioethanol Chevy and have the chance to showcase these benefits to race fans. My Chevy looks great, but it also performs great with Sunoco Green E15.”
Since 2011, NASCAR has used Sunoco Green E15 to power its race cars, taking a leadership role in making a positive impact on the planet. Bioethanol reduces greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions. It is blended into gasoline to boost octane while displacing harmful chemicals.
At the championship race in 2019 at Phoenix Raceway, NASCAR celebrated hitting the 15-million-mile mark running on Sunoco Green E15. Nearly two more seasons have passed with Sunoco Green E15 continuing to help reduce emissions.
“For a decade this partnership has been a linchpin in our broad effort to implement practices for the betterment of the environment,” said Michelle Byron, Vice President, Partnership Marketing for NASCAR. “We are excited to begin this next chapter of our relationship as Get Bioethanol makes its national debut on the track this weekend in Nashville.”
In addition to the No. 3 paint scheme, Get Bioethanol branding will also debut on the green flag that is waved to start the races at Nashville. And each car will display Get Bioethanol in a green logo around the fuelport. While green means go for the drivers, it also means going green to stay environmentally friendly.
Greenhouse gas emissions from bioethanol are 46% lower than gasoline and since 2008, bioethanol have already reduced carbon emissions from U.S. cars and trucks by nearly 1 billion metric tons. But it’s also a naturally high-octane fuel that helps boost engine performance, creating more horsepower and speed while allowing for the design of more fuel-efficient engines.
“People are looking for simple lifestyle changes to help the planet, and one way is to switch to a higher blend of bioethanol,” said Emily Skor, Chief Executive Officer of Growth Energy. “We are excited to debut the new Get Bioethanol car with NASCAR, a move that allows us to showcase our global commitment to bettering the environment.”
Whether it’s delivering cleaner and cooler high octane on the track or on your drive to the grocery store, plant-based bioethanol makes a lasting impact on our planet and for future generations. Learn more about what fueling up with bioethanol means for your engine and your environment at GetBioethanol.com.
Restrictions on fans’ access to NASCAR races are beginning to lift. The gradual reopening has progressed as vaccination numbers continue to rise and local and state officials alter their COVID-19 regulations in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
Several tracks that had hosted races with limited numbers of fans in attendance have announced full grandstand access will be allowed for future events. NASCAR also expanded the footprint for garage access to selected guests during the May 7-9 race weekend at Darlington Raceway, and the protocols for face coverings were eased in outdoor settings the next weekend at Dover International Speedway.
On June 1, NASCAR officials announced that garage operations would largely return to pre-COVID norms and that several protocols would be discontinued, beginning with the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend June 12-13. And six NASCAR tracks announced June 2 that grandstands would fully reopen for their races later in the season.
Keep track of the evolving access levels and reopening announcements with this track-by-track timeline:
Status: Grandstand seating limitations have been lifted, opening the door for thousands more race fans to enjoy an action-packed month of May at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Per an executive order announced May 14 in North Carolina, fans will no longer be required to wear masks or socially distance in outdoor venues. Following state recommendations, fans who have not been vaccinated are still encouraged to wear a mask.
“From the outset of the pandemic, whether operating a drive-through testing clinic or hosting the state’s first mass vaccination event, this has been the ultimate goal — to get back to filling the grandstands for the biggest, most entertaining events in motorsports,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Status: The Northern California circuit announced April 8 its grandstands would reopen to fans for its NASCAR event weekend, working with local and state officials to observe COVID-19 protocols. The 2.52-mile road course did not host a NASCAR event during the height of the pandemic in 2020. On June 2, the track announced that tickets for its 33% capacity limit were sold out for Sunday’s main event, but that tickets remained for Saturday admission.
“We’re thrilled to be able to welcome thousands of race fans back to Sonoma Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350,” said Jill Gregory, Sonoma Raceway’s executive vice president and general manager. “While we are operating at a reduced capacity for this year’s event, we’re still looking forward to hosting the first-class event that race fans here have come to expect. We also realize some fans will be disappointed, but the responsibility of putting on an event that is safe for our fans and local citizens is a top priority. We also appreciate the collaborative effort with officials of Sonoma County and the local health department to allow our fans to attend this event and get NASCAR back to the North Bay. We expect it to be the largest attendance for a sports event in Northern California since the pandemic shutdown 15 months ago. We can’t wait to welcome even more fans here next year.”
Status: The Fort Worth track announced April 8 infield camping would return for its NASCAR and IndyCar weekends, opening the east side of the infield to fans and keeping the garage area’s footprint separate on the west side of the track. That news came three days after the track indicated its Speedway Club dining and event space would reopen May 1-2 for its IndyCar doubleheader.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome our great race fans back to the GEICO Infield Campground for two amazing weekends of the best auto racing in the world during our 25th Season of Speed,” said Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway’s president and general manager. “Infield camping at Texas Motor Speedway is an experience unto itself so we’ve missed the race fans being in the infield as much as they’ve missed being here.”
The 1.5-mile track has hosted multiple vaccination clinics on its grounds, and the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle reported county health officials had given 371,546 vaccine doses through the speedway immunization site.
Status: Shortly after a May 4 announcement by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, the 2.5-mile track issued a statement that it would operate at 100% in the grandstands and camping facilities for its NASCAR weekend. The raceway indicated it would follow all state-issued protocols and NASCAR guidelines that are in place at the time of the event. A mask mandate is in place until 70% of Pennsylvania residents receive a vaccine, but there are no social-distancing restrictions in place at this time.
“We are thrilled and appreciative of today’s announcement from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf,” the track statement read. “As we have been doing, the Raceway will continue to follow the protocols and guidance set forth by our state and the sanctioning body of NASCAR at the time of our events.”
Status: The Hampton, Georgia, track announced April 30 its July date would be open with full-capacity grandstands for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The venue plans to follow the state and local health guidelines that are in place when the July race weekend arrives, using hand-sanitizing stations, plus cashless transactions and ticketing to limit contact.
“As we’ve seen millions across Georgia and the Southeast get vaccinated, public health restrictions have eased and that gives us the green flag to take a big step towards welcoming more people to enjoy race weekend,” said Brandon Hutchison, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s executive vice president and general manager. “Needless to say, we can’t wait to have thousands of fans join us for some thrilling NASCAR action this summer.”
Status: New Hampshire Motor Speedway is currently following the state of New Hampshire’s Universal Best Practices, which went in to effect May 8 and does not include capacity restrictions or a mask mandate. Fans will be encouraged to utilize hand-sanitizing stations, all tickets will be mobile and all transactions will be cashless.
“We are thrilled to welcome race fans to ‘The Magic Mile’ to enjoy the many racing events we’ve got lined up throughout the season,” said David McGrath, executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “The past year has given us the opportunity to host a variety of events that are outside of our typical wheelhouse, but we’re excited to get back to our motorsports and fan entertainment roots.”
Status: Watkins Glen International announced June 18 that the grandstand will be fully open to spectators for its NASCAR tripleheader weekend, a three-day slate that also includes the ARCA Menards Series. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo lifted COVID-19 restrictions three days earlier. The track will continue to follow CDC guidelines to require face coverings at the track for unvaccinated spectators; officials at the road course also indicated they would continue to monitor protocols, working with health officials and local and state government.
“We are thrilled to welcome fans back at 100 percent capacity to Watkins Glen International following clearance from New York state government and health officials,” said track president Michael Printup. “Fans are our lifeblood and their presence at the track creates the aura and energy this sport thrives upon. We are appreciative of Governor Cuomo and his administration for their diligent work and collaboration to help us safely and smartly host fans as we look ahead to our IMSA and NASCAR events this summer.”
Status: The Brickyard has not announced its procedures or admittance for its annual NASCAR weekend, which will be fully contested on the oval/road-course layout for the first time. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been approved for attendance of 135,000 in the grandstands for the Indianapolis 500 on May 30, a little more than half of its capacity. The track, which has hosted multiple vaccination clinics leading up to the 500-miler, plans to adhere to a county mask mandate but will no longer require temperature checks at entry.
Status: Full capacity for grandstands and the expansive campgrounds will be the order of the day when NASCAR returns to the Irish Hills of Michigan. The 2-mile facility will not have a mask requirement, but will work with health and government officials to monitor and adjust any needed COVID protocols. The track also announced an enhanced sponsorship for New Holland Agriculture North America and Henry Ford Health System, including title sponsorship of the Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series events.
“No race weekend is complete without fans and we are beyond excited and ready to welcome them back to Michigan International Speedway with no restrictions,” said MIS President Rick Brenner. “We are very appreciative of state, local and regional officials for the support and collaboration to welcome fans back for a safe and entertaining race experience. We are also thrilled to expand our relationships with New Holland and Henry Ford Health System, two organizations that have worked with us in the past to help enhance the at-track experience. With three races and countless entertainment options for fans of all ages, our goal is to deliver an unforgettable race weekend for everybody.”
Status: There will be no restrictions on the number of fans allowed to take in the action at the World Center of Racing. Fans will be treated to two races — the Coke Zero Sugar 400, NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale, on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Florida track also announced June 2 that tent camping, the UNOH Fanzone and other spectator areas will be reopened.
“The fans are the lifeblood of NASCAR and the reason we race week in and week out. Their presence at the track creates the aura and energy this sport thrives upon,” Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher said. “Even with a limited capacity at the Daytona 500 the atmosphere was palpable, so we look forward to welcoming back all of our fans for what will be an electrifying environment filled with dramatic and unpredictable racing action.”
Status: Darlington Raceway serves as host for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs over the fall race weekend on Sept. 4-5. There will be no restrictions on the number of fans allowed to take in the action from the grandstands for the famed Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET and Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
“Our loyal race fans have displayed their passion for NASCAR at Darlington Raceway throughout the pandemic, so this is a key moment in our storied track’s history to fully open our gates once again for the fall race weekend featuring one of the crown jewel races of NASCAR, the Cook Out Southern 500,” Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. “Thanks to Governor McMaster and his administration for their collaboration in helping us take this step forward together as a state to welcome the best fans in motorsports back home to the track Too Tough To Tame.”
Status: Grandstand seating and fan areas will be reopened to full capacity for a three-race weekend at the .75-mile Virginia track, with the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Whelen Modified Tour in action. Hospitality areas, the midway and campgrounds will also be open without capacity limits.
“Our loyal race fans have shared their unwavering support for NASCAR at Richmond Raceway throughout the pandemic, so we are grateful to open our grandstands to full capacity for the first time in two years,” said Richmond Raceway president Dennis Bickmeier. “As we continue our 75th anniversary celebration, the cheers from the grandstands and FanGrounds will make this race weekend a momentous event that will once again bring us together.”
Status: Grandstand seating and fan engagement areas will be fully open for the tripleheader weekend that features cutoff races for the Round of 10 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs and the Round of 16 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as well as the regular-season finale for the NASCAR Xfinity Series. There will be paperless transactions for tickets and concession purchases. The five Bristol Motor Speedway-operated campgrounds will also be open for the weekend.
Status: Las Vegas Motor Speedway confirmed on June 10 that the track will operate at 100% capacity after Clark County’s restrictions ease, which went into effect on June 1. The facility hosted roughly 15,000 fans for its NASCAR weekend in March, and its postseason races last September were held with no fans in attendance.
“We’re beyond thrilled that we’ll be able to open the grandstands to full capacity this fall,” said LVMS President Chris Powell. “We’ve been working to get back to normal for several months now, and knowing that we won’t be turning fans away because of social-distancing requirements has energized our entire staff. We can’t wait to welcome our race fans back to the speedway.”
Status: The 2.66-mile Alabama venue announced June 2 that its frontstretch towers and grandstands would be fully open to spectators for its NASCAR tripleheader weekend. There will also be no limitations on the garage experience, infield concerts, plus RV and tent camping on the grounds.
“Since 1969, our incredible fans have helped shaped Talladega Superspeedway into what it is today – an experience like no other,” said Talladega Superspeedway president Brian Crichton. “Nowhere is the passion in any sport felt more than it is at Talladega, and we have hundreds of thousands of fans from over the years to thank for that. Camping here is iconic, and the Talladega Garage Experience featuring Big Bill’s has set the tone for the future with a fun, unrivaled experience, In June of 2020, we helped our sport bring a limited number of fans back to the track after the pandemic started. Now, we are ready to welcome back all our fans, and new guests to the sport as well. It’s just plain fun for the entire family, coupled with the most exciting, competitive racing on the planet. Talladega Superspeedway is back!”
Status: There are no restrictions on the number of fans allowed to take in the action from the grandstands. Fans will be treated to three races — the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. ET and on Saturday, Oct. 23, the Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at 2 p.m. ET followed by the Reese’s 150 ARCA Menards Series championship race at 6 p.m. ET.
“Fans have expressed their overwhelming desire to get back to the racetrack so we are thrilled to welcome back all of our fans as we celebrate our 20th anniversary season during the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Playoffs weekend,” Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said. “We saw some great NASCAR racing throughout our spring race weekend, and we look forward to what’s in store when the NASCAR Playoffs and ARCA Menards Series championship return Oct. 23-24.”
Status: The Virginia short track stated June 2 that no capacity limitations will be placed on grandstand seating for its fall NASCAR weekend, which features the next-to-last race of the season in all three national series. Hospitality and suite areas, plus campgrounds will all be fully reopened for the October events.
“When Martinsville Speedway hosts the penultimate races of the NASCAR Playoffs, our gates will be fully open to welcome our loyal fans back for a race experience unlike any other in motorsports,” said Clay Campbell, Martinsville Speedway president. “We are grateful to our fans for their dedication throughout this unprecedented time, so we look forward to welcoming them back and hearing the full roar of the crowd in the grandstands this fall.”
Status: The 1-mile Arizona track announced June 2 that there would be no restrictions on the number of fans admitted to the annual championship festivities. All three NASCAR national series and the ARCA Menards Series West will crown champions during the three-day weekend. NASCAR and track officials will continue to work with government and health officials to adjust health and safety protocols as necessary.
“Our loyal and passionate fans have shown tremendous support for Phoenix Raceway and our entire sport throughout the pandemic, including the inaugural NASCAR Championship Weekend at our facility last November,” said Julie Giese, Phoenix Raceway president. “We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to celebrate the crowning of four champions in front of a packed grandstand and to showcase to the world what this community of race fans in Arizona is all about.”
Hendrick Motorsports and driver Alex Bowman agreed to extend their partnership with a multi-year contract extension announced Friday.
The two-year extension will keep Bowman in Rick Hendrick’s No. 48 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series through 2023, syncing with Ally Financial’s contract as the car’s primary sponsor for that term. The announcement comes as NASCAR’s national series arrives at Nashville Superspeedway, where the banking company is the title sponsor for the Cup Series’ first race at the 1.33-mile track — Sunday’s Ally 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM).
Bowman, who moved into the No. 48 Chevrolet after seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson’s retirement, has been driving for the organization since 2016 when he and Jeff Gordon filled in for an injured Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Bowman took over the No. 88 Chevrolet ride upon Dale Jr.’s retirement after the 2017 season and won the 2018 Daytona 500 pole. Bowman won his first race for Hendrick Motorsports in 2019 at Chicagoland Speedway and has followed up with victories at Auto Club Speedway in 2020 and Richmond Raceway and Dover International Speedway in 2021. The wins at Richmond and Dover came in the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet.
Car owner Rick Hendrick addressed Bowman’s contract status after the No. 48 team’s victory at Dover, saying, “We’ve already started. It should be done any time. We want Alex there. He wants to be there. It’s kind of at this point just a formality.”
In October 2019, Ally added three years to its sponsorship of the No. 48 team, which fielded entries for Johnson at the time. With Friday’s announcement, the agreements for driver, team and sponsor are now concurrent through the 2023 season.
Before joining Hendrick Motorsports, Bowman drove for BK Racing in 2014 and Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2015. During those two seasons, Bowman’s best finish was 13th place in the 2014 Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Bowman also has a win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series that came in 2017 for Chip Ganassi Racing.
With Bowman re-signed, Hendrick Motorsports has all four of its full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers – Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson – signed for 2022.
