Posted on by Steve Luvender

James Davison made it look easy in NASCAR’s first glimpse at Circuit of The Americas, grabbing a win — a virtual one, at least — in dominant fashion. 

Fans and NASCAR Cup Series stars got a first look at COTA Wednesday night in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series before NASCAR’s inaugural visit to the Austin, Texas, road course this weekend. 

RELATED: Complete COTA weekend schedule 

Davison, the Australian racer, qualified on pole at the 20-turn road course, nearly a half second ahead of fellow sim-racing enthusiast Anthony Alfredo in single-car time trials. With all cars set up equally, qualifying relied entirely on drivers’ ability to post a fast lap.

The field of 39 held a collective breath on the initial start of the race; the close-quarters pack heading into a tight opening set of corners had all the makings for a big mess. But, even on a new track, pros are pros — they made it through cleanly, for the most part. 

Davison quickly made headway at the front of the field as Alfredo followed in his trails. Star drivers — Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, to name a few — experienced trouble navigating COTA’s tricky 3.41-mile circuit.

The 32-lap race required drivers to stop for fuel at least once, most opting to make a single stop — though others, like in-race NASCAR on FOX reporter Joey Logano, opted to make multiple stops for fresh tires. Davison made his lone stop just past halfway, handing the top spot to Alfredo for a moment. 

Davison, who drives for Rick Ware Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, experienced a scary moment as the laps wound down in the race’s second half. Clint Bowyer, who provided in-race TV coverage, struggled to keep his car up to speed — eventually careening into Davison, the lead car, while attempting to make a pit stop. 

RELATED: Joey Logano breaks down a lap at COTA

The contact with Bowyer didn’t seem to slow Davison’s No. 15 car, however; he continued on at full song, stretching his lead over the field. 

Davison never looked back in the end, bringing home the virtual checkered flag for the first time in the Pro Invitational Series. 

Alfredo finished second, while William Byron came home third. Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher rounded out the top five.

The battle for sixth came down to the wire. In pursuit of Denny Hamlin in the final corner, Timmy Hill gave Hamlin’s Toyota a bump — and then another bump — to send the No. 11 spinning.

While the race was for nothing but bragging rights (and fun), iRacing will donate $5,000 to a charity of Davison’s choice for the win.

NASCAR visits COTA — the real version — for the first time this weekend. Catch the Cup Series’ EchoPark Texas Grand Prix Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, FS1). 

The Pro Invitational Series returns June 2 for another inaugural trip — this time, the fictional Chicago Street Course.

Posted on by Zack Albert

Matt DiBenedetto’s phone started filling up with notifications Tuesday. A rise in the amount of grist for the NASCAR rumor mill translated into pings for the Wood Brothers Racing driver, whose career faces an uncertain path for 2022.

Reports that Brad Keselowski could leave the Team Penske fold for a driving role and an ownership stake in Roush Fenway Racing next season began to swirl Tuesday. The potential arrangement, first reported by Motorsport.com, set the early end of NASCAR’s annual ‘Silly Season’ in motion, and DiBenedetto stands to be among those affected by a blockbuster move.

RELATED: COTA weekend schedule

The Wood Brothers team, which shares an affiliation with Team Penske, announced last October that Xfinity Series champ Austin Cindric would move to the No. 21 Ford for his rookie Cup Series campaign in 2022. That meant a one-year extension for this season for DiBenedetto, who is hunting for the next stop in his NASCAR career.

A potential move by Keselowski, who is in his 12th season driving for team owner Roger Penske in the No. 2 Ford, could change that dynamic. Officials with Team Penske and Roush Fenway have declined comment on the potential personnel change, and DiBenedetto says he knows of nothing concrete in place beyond the speculation.

“I’m pretty much on the same page and wondering some of the same questions and who knows what’s going to happen,” DiBenedetto said in a Wednesday morning appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “I talk about it all the time with my situation that basically everyone wants to know so early, ‘Matt what do you think, what are you doing for next year, you have any talks, has Team Penske or the Wood Brothers told you anything?’ this and that. I’m like, well, no, no, no and no, and my answer would be that my situation completely relies on other dominos falling first, and maybe that’s one of them.

“I unfortunately have to sit and be patient, which is hard to do, and just focus on my job and let some of those dominos fall, which it sounds like, we’re starting to get into that time of year.”

Roush Fenway Racing president Steve Newmark addressed the reports during a Wednesday media availability, opting to focus on the organization’s announcement of a multiyear extension for sponsor Fastenal. Roush Fenway currently fields two Ford entries in the Cup Series — the No. 6 driven by Ryan Newman and the No. 17 of Chris Buescher.

Penske’s three-driver Cup Series roster currently includes the long-tenured Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. DiBenedetto qualifies as an unofficial fourth Penske pilot through the organization’s tight-knit alliance with the Wood Brothers, but that stable will make room next season for Cindric — an 11-time Xfinity Series winner who is running a partial Cup Series schedule this year before making the full-time jump to NASCAR’s top tour.

DiBenedetto qualified for the Cup Series Playoffs in his first campaign for the Wood Brothers last season and has inched back into the postseason hunt after a slow start to 2021. For now, even the hint of some movement among the Cup Series driver roster has provided DiBenedetto with hopes for stabilizing his career path, either by potentially replacing Keselowski or remaining with the Wood Brothers should Cindric take the No. 2 ride.

“I’d be lying if I told you it didn’t give me some sort of optimism,” DiBenedetto told SiriusXM. “I don’t know what’s exactly set in stone or what’s done, but it’s all speculation at this point obviously on Brad’s side, and I want to wish him the best on whatever ends up happening. Who knows how the rumor mill can work, so I don’t read too much into that stuff, but if something like that winds up to be true or dominos fall and it can be an opportunity for me, of course I’m going to be optimistic about it.

“Obviously I love driving for the Wood Brothers and I love our alliance with Team Penske and also being affiliated with Team Penske, and that relationship with the Captain, Roger Penske, and all that group is nothing short of amazing. So if I can stay in that fold, and I love being part of the Ford family, all that, that’s the ultimate goal for me.”

Posted on by Staff Report

See where your favorite driver will pit for the first NASCAR Cup Series race held at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Staff Report

The 2021 NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola campaign is more than just a military appreciation platform — it’s a campaign that salutes heroes next door. Each week, NASCAR.com will highlight multiple individuals who have made a difference with their service both in the military and to their communities.

In the latest profiles, NASCAR.com is highlighting two 2020 USO Service Members of the Year: United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Nigel C. Archer Jr. (USO Airman of the Year) and Connecticut Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Sikander S. Rahman (USO National Guardsmen of the Year).

RELATED: Learn more about NASCAR Salutes

SSgt Archer (pictured above) was honored for displaying quick thinking and exemplary leadership and heroism while responding to an accident near Comayagua, Honduras. During time stationed at the Soto Cano Air Base, he noticed fresh skid marks disappearing from the road and realized a vehicle had driven off the road after being involved in a collision. SSgt Archer slid down a 50-foot wet embankment where he discovered an overturned van with a local family trapped inside. He immediately secured the scene and got the victims out of the vehicle. Despite not speaking the local language, he created a fast rescue plan and directed others to call for help as well as assessed injuries and placed an improvised splint on one victim’s broken arm. His lifesaving actions directly aided to the recovery of all nine passengers. 

SSgt Archer is currently with the U.S. Air Force’s 728th Air Mobility Squadron and is from Havelock, North Carolina. 

Rahman Main
Photo courtesy of the USO

A1C Rahman (pictured to the right) was honored for showing great bravery and carrying a calm demeanor during an off-base motor vehicle crash near Hartford, Connecticut. An off-duty police officer wrote the Connecticut Air National Guard to recount Rahman’s immediate actions. While police officers were eating lunch at a restaurant, the restaurant’s owner yelled for someone to call 911. Before the officer could exit his seat, he saw Rahman running for the door to see a motor vehicle flipping sideways down the street and coming to a final rest on its roof. 

The lone occupant of the vehicle was yelling for help and to get out of the vehicle before it burned up. A1C Rahman dove onto the ground, carefully pushed the air bag away from the occupant and was able to gently remove the occupant from the vehicle. He remained on the scene to keep the victim calm and render first aid until medical personnel arrived. His courageous efforts resulted in the saving of a civilian’s life. 

A1C Graham serves with the Connecticut Air National guard’s 103 Maintenance Squadron and hails from Windsor, Connecticut.

The details of the honorees brave actions were provided by the USO.

Posted on by Press Release

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls to Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday, May 29, all cars in the field will carry the name of a fallen hero who lost their life serving the United States in war, to honor Memorial Day weekend.

As part of the Jennerstown Salutes 150, presented by DGV, two-time Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore will have the honor of carrying the name of Air Force Staff Sergeant David A. Wieger, who passed away in 2007. For his efforts in war, Wieger was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He lost his life following an incident where his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

“It’s an amazing program that the JDV Productions team and NASCAR have come up with for this event,” Justin Bonsignore said. “To pay honor to everyone that has paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, on Memorial Day weekend, it’s special. NASCAR always does a good job of saluting the troops and honoring the freedoms that we have in our country. It’s a really special program. I’m excited to have SSgt Wieger’s name on our Kenneth Massa Motorsports car and I’m excited to give his family something to enjoy and cheer for on the track. Hopefully, they’ll be cheering us along to a win.”

Wieger worked as a Technical Services Agent at AFOSI Det 303, at Travis Air Force Base in California. He entered the Air Force in 1999, and was recruited to join the AFOSI’s Tech program in 2004. After completing his training, he was assigned to the California base.

Nwmtfallensoldiers Nwmtfallensoldiers Wieger

The Whelen Modified Tour race at Jennerstown, promoted by JDV Productions, will be worked in combination with Operation Vet NOW Inc. (OVN), a non-profit organization established to reduce veteran suicide and improve the overall wellness of veterans, regardless of era served, through innovative outreach experiences. OVN concentrates on veterans who suffer from the invisible injuries of PTSD, TBI, combat and transition stress issues, and mental health concerns, stemming from military service, connecting them to heal their mind, body and soul. The race day will feature special appearances from Gold Star Family members — including grand marshals, an honorary starter and more. All of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour cars will feature a fallen hero’s name on their car during the race. JDV Productions will donate $1 from each ticket sold to OVN to continue to increase awareness and assistance for veterans. A discounted general admission ticket of $27 will be offered for Active Duty Military and Veterans.

“These special tributes to our fallen heroes are so important to the Gold Star families, friends and fellow veterans they served with,” Tony Aubrey, of OVN, said. “On May 29, we will host the family of SSgt David Wieger — and all of us at OVN are honored to have them at this important event. SSgt Wieger and all of the military members represented on this night gave their lives for this country, and we owe it to them and their families to ensure their story and legacy lives on. All of us at OVN are dedicated to this mission.”

Aubrey, like many others in the racing community, is thankful for the opportunity to honor those we have lost, especially in one of the biggest events of the season. With a 14-event schedule set for the Whelen Modified Tour in 2021, the Jennerstown stop marks the fourth race of the year — with three different winners in the first three races. The entry list is expected to be strong, with a good car count and impressive Modified talent, including Bonsignore and Craig Lutz, the two drivers to win at Jennerstown in 2020.

“The entire OVN team salutes JDV Productions and NASCAR for allowing us the opportunity to this elevated platform, to ensure more Americans know our fallen heroes names and stories,” Aubrey said. “All of us at OVN are appreciative. Beyond words.”

As part of a one-day show, the Jennerstown local Late Models and Modifieds will also join the action. Practice begins at 2:45 p.m. for local divisions, with the only Whelen Modified Tour practice of the day set from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mayhew Tools Dominator Pole qualifying, which will be single-car time trials, is set for 5:45 p.m. Following tour qualifying, local divisions will race, and the green flag in the Jennerstown Salutes 150, presented by DGV, will drop at 7:30 p.m.

General admission tickets are $30 for adults, with advance tickets now on sale at JDVProductions.com. A discounted ticket of $27 will be offered for Active Duty Military and Veterans. Tickets will also be available at the gate on the day of the race. Pit passes will be sold at the track only and are also available to the general public. There are no capacity restrictions in place for the event. The race will also air to a live audience on NBC Sports Gold through their TrackPass platform.

For more information on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, visit nascar.com. For more information on JDV Productions, visit JDV Productions on Facebook and follow at JDVProductions.com.

Posted on by Team Release

CONCORD, N.C. — Fastenal, which has served as an anchor partner of Roush Fenway Racing for more than a decade, has announced it is extending its relationship and will continue as the anchor partner on Jack Roush’s No. 17 Ford Mustang driven by Chris Buescher.

“For more than 10 years Fastenal has been one of the cornerstones of our partner lineup and we are thrilled to have them continue their long-standing commitment to Roush Fenway and the No. 17 team,” said Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark. “During our partnership, Fastenal has not only created impactful motorsports marketing programs, but they have been instrumental in helping us maximize our build process with tailored solutions to our supply chain and inventory management controls.”

RELATED: Chris Buescher driver page

Fastenal is in its 11th season for Roush Fenway, having first joined the fold in 2010 as the primary partner on the No. 60 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team and driver Carl Edwards. That team went on to win the owners championship with Edwards in 2011. Fastenal later served as a primary on Buescher’s No. 60 Ford that captured the NXS Championship in 2015. Overall, Fastenal has celebrated 70 top 10s and 44 top fives aboard Roush Fenway Fords.

“Our partnership with Roush Fenway Racing is a lot more than just putting our name on a car; it’s a relationship with an organization we respect and an opportunity to showcase our brand and culture,” said Dan Florness, Fastenal’s president and CEO. “We look forward to many years of future success as we continue the tradition.”

Since joining the team, Fastenal has nine wins in more than 220 starts across the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series. Eight total drivers have driven the iconic Fastenal blue colors for Roush Fenway, with Buescher currently in his second season piloting the No. 17 Fastenal Ford.

Posted on by Cara Cooper

It took years for Tyson Lanfermann to build up the confidence to race at Lakeside Speedway.

The track has “probably some of the best competition in the Kansas City area,” Lanfermann said, and he wanted to make sure he was on that level before jumping in.

But now that he’s been racing at Lakeside – a .400-mile semi-banked dirt oval track in Shawnee, Kansas in its first season returning to a NASCAR-sanction – he’s now chasing another elusive prize. He wants a win.

Image From Ios
Tyson Tyson (right), his dad, Paul Jr., and his grandfather, Paul Sr., are chasing wins at Lakeside Speedway. 

In his first couple seasons at Lakeside, Lanfermann was consistently finishing around 15-17. Last year, after getting a new car and new program with Luke Nieman Motorsports, he was able to get into the top-10 consistently, with an average finish of seventh.

On opening night this season, Lanfermann briefly got the chance to feel what winning at Lakeside was like. He won the B Modifieds race, only to face a disqualification for coming up about two pounds too light in postrace inspection.

“Starting out the year, it was unfortunately heartbreaking,” Lanfermann said. “But it definitely fueled my fire to continue doing it and chase that feeling again.”

Lanfermann has two top-10 finishes in three races this season.

“For me to race there and be competitive there, it’s a big deal,” he said. “On any given night it’s tough to finish in the top 10. If you finish in the top 10 you’re doing something. If you finish in the top five, that’s an amazing accomplishment. And if you win, it’s unreal. It’s an amazing feeling.

“I’m chasing that feeling again. There’s nothing like it. Especially with the amazing fans they have there.”

Lanfermann faces stiff competition in the B Modifieds class at Lakeside, especially from one driver in particular. His dad, Paul Lanfermann, also races in the class, and is currently one spot ahead of his son in the standings. Paul drives Lanfermann’s back-up car every week.

When the younger Lanfermann was growing up his dad raced at Lakeside in the former grand national class. When Lanfermann was born in September of 1983, as soon as he was able to get out of the hospital, his first stop was to the race track to watch his dad race.

“My dad and grandfather are probably my biggest supporters in the sport along with my wife. Just three people that believe in me and believe in what we can do. It’s just amazing. They’re just such huge helps.”

It was watching his dad that made Lanfermann want to begin driving himself, and he wanted to race at Lakeside like his dad too.

Fifteen years ago Lanfermann began racing a dirt stock car around Kansas before coming to his family’s old track.

But now, racing against his own family is “nerve-wracking,” to say the least, Lanfermann said.

“I want him to do well and I want to do well, and the best thing about it is I get to share those memories with him,” he said. “Years down the road when I’m an old man and I talk to my kids I’m going to be saying, ‘Yea, I used to race against your grandfather.’ I’ll never forget those moments.

“Do I want to win? Of course I do. But I want to see him do well too. He’s done so much for me that I kind of want to put him first at times, but I always have that uber competitive personality that wants to do well too.”

Working with his dad and grandfather, Paul Lanfermann Sr., has been part of what’s helped Lanfermann’s confidence in the racing world.

Teaming up with Luke Nieman Motorsports has been a “massive, massive,” help too, he said. The team bought Lanfermann a new car before the 2019 season, and having an established group behind him has “really, really helped my confidence,” he said.

“I’m lucky enough to have support from Luke Nieman Motorsports whose been just a massive, massive help to me. I can‘t say enough about him and his family for helping me get to that point. He’s also helped out my father and I work out some of our kinks and the things that we were missing in the past. Definitely, definitely a big help to us.”

Getting to work with a successful team, and alongside his dad and grandfather, is what makes racing worth it and enjoyable to Lanfermann.

As he builds confidence in his driving ability, getting back to victory lane will make it worth it for him too.

“For me to keep racing and everything like that, it’s just working to try to be the best driver I can be, and the most successful I can be,” Lanfermann said. “I think I’m more driven now than I was going into the season to definitely try to bring home a win, for sure. They’re not easy to come by. They’re very, very difficult there, especially in the class I’m in. But it’s been an uphill battle to get to this point, to be competitive in that class that I’m in, so now that I feel I’ve got the confidence to move forward in it I think getting there is just going to make it even better.

“Racing at Lakeside, it’s a tough joint. You’ve got some really tough guys there. I want to race against some of the top competition in the area and that’s where you go to do it. For me that kind of fuels it to come back every year and see where I stand and where we can all compete at.”

Posted on by Marcus DiNitto

The expansion of legal betting across the United States is creating opportunities on multiple levels for NASCAR to grow the sport, both by increasing engagement with its current fans and by attracting, through gambling, new fans to racing.

That’s the mindset of Joseph Solosky, who took over as NASCAR’s Managing Director of Sports Betting this past March.

There are droves of NASCAR fans who have either never bet on sports at all or have never wagered on a stock car race. Educating and engaging these fans from a wagering perspective represents a major opportunity for the sport, Solosky believes.

RELATED: Odds for Circuit of The Americas | NASCAR BetCenter

The larger nut, though, is converting people who enjoy watching and wagering on stick-and-ball sports into racing fans.

“The big slice of the pie is the people who are not watching NASCAR but who may be betting on other sports, and introducing them to in-race odds or educating them on how NASCAR betting is different from other sports,” Solosky said. “(We are interested) in getting them to bet on the sport and then watch the sport and then hopefully go to a race where we can acquire them as fans.”

In-race betting

Live betting — wagering that takes places after an event has started — is a relatively new concept for the American sports bettor. In Europe, it represents the majority of betting handle. That means live betting — or “in-race” betting as it applies to NASCAR — is a major opportunity for U.S. sports properties to drive fan engagement.

Think of this example: You bet pre-race Denny Hamlin at 8-1 odds to win Sunday’s EchoPark Texas Grand Prix (2:30 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Twenty laps in, Hamlin is involved in a wreck and is out of the race. Instead of tuning out, you open your betting app, see what in-race odds are available and fire away on another bet or two. Again with some action on the race, you become more engaged, and there’s a better chance you’re sticking around until the checkered flag.

MORE: In-race wagering lessons learned during Vegas race

Solosky came to NASCAR from Sportradar, a company that provides odds and other data to sportsbooks, leagues and media companies. As an executive with the company in Europe, he noticed live betting comprised between 75-90% of the overall handle, depending on the event.

For NASCAR, “I could see that number jumping up to (a similar range), probably 70, 75 percent within five years,” he said.

“We’re at just the beginning of in-race betting for NASCAR,” Solosky added, “and it’s been fun to watch the numbers and the reporting we’re getting from clients on the increased engagement from fans. We saw a report from the Daytona 500 where an operator did 90% of their total revenues in 2020 just at the Daytona event in 2021. And I attribute a lot of that to in-race betting. We’re at a really good spot with the introduction of in-race betting.”

Seamus Magee, a Sports Trader at BetMGM, one of NASCAR’s three official sportsbook partners, said the company has offered in-race betting on every Cup race this season, in addition to some Xfinity and Camping World Truck races.

“In-play betting is such a big part of the future landscape of betting in the United States, and NASCAR is certainly one place where we can try out new things that fans will really enjoy,” Magee said.

Micah Roberts, a former Las Vegas sportsbook director who now covers NASCAR on a variety of platforms, added of in-race betting, “I think that’s the best way to create a new audience. … It’s exciting, and it makes it more fun to bet as you go.”

Where we are, where we’re going

As Solosky embarks on his mission to drive NASCAR’s sports betting initiatives, a key objective is to increase the amount of money bet on the sport. He estimates NASCAR now accounts for about 1% of the overall sports betting handle across the nation, in line with estimates from multiple bookmakers.

Solosky says increasing the NASCAR handle doesn’t have to come at the expense of other sports; conversely, different sports can complement each other.

“In growing our handle, we’re not looking to take away from other sports, we’re looking to grow the pie,” Solosky said. “That may be co-creating experiences for people who are betting the NFL to get them to go to NASCAR events or bet on NASCAR events. These are ways I think that we can grow our handle.”

Beyond live betting, there are countless opportunities for bookmakers to create new ways for fans to bet on sports, including NASCAR. What you see on your betting app today is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The props available on a NASCAR race will increase in the years to come, with competition driving that innovation.

“That’s something we’re always trying to do, no matter the sport,” Magee said of posting new betting markets. “We try ways to differentiate our product as much as we can, any way we can get an advantage over our competitors.”

Ed Salmons, a Las Vegas bookmaking veteran, sees NASCAR as an important piece of the sports betting landscape.

“It’s a niche sport, and there are people who like it. It certainly has its place in the gambling world. There’s a big market for it,” Salmons said. “… It definitely has its place.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Kaulig Racing announced Wednesday that Justin Haley has been cleared to return to competition after a one-week absence because of COVID-19 protocols.

Haley, 22, is set to return to Kaulig’s No. 11 Chevrolet for Saturday’s Pit Boss 250 (4 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Circuit of The Americas. He ranks eighth in the Xfinity Series standings.

RELATED: Entry list highlights for COTA | Weekend schedule

Haley was pulled from the entry list last Friday and did not compete in last weekend’s Xfinity or Cup Series events at Dover International Speedway. He was replaced in the Kaulig No. 11 by Camping World Trucks regular Zane Smith, and Josh Berry made his Cup Series debut in place of Haley in Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevy.

NASCAR officials confirmed last weekend that Haley would receive a medical waiver to maintain his Xfinity Series playoff eligibility, should he meet all other postseason requirements. He was a part of the Xfinity circuit’s Championship 4 field last season.

Posted on by Staff Report

The fourth round of the 2021 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series is set for Wednesday at virtual The Circuit of The Americas, with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET on FS1. The race, a 32-lapper featuring 40 cars and two resets, will get underway at 7 p.m. ET, also on FS1.

The fan-vote winner, as revealed on FS1’s NASCAR Race Hub is once again Jesse Iwuji. The popular NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver will join promoter’s provisional picks Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Clint Bowyer as special entries into the race.

Wednesday’s race was designed with the idea to give fans a preview of The Circuit of The Americas, which the NASCAR national series will take on for the first time starting with Saturday’s Camping World Truck and Xfinity Series races. The Cup Series will follow on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Here is the entry list for Wednesday’s Pro Invitational Series race (subject to change).

No. Team Driver
00 StarCom Racing Quin Houff
1 Chip Ganassi Racing Kurt Busch
2 Team Penske Brad Keselowski
3 Richard Childress Racing Austin Dillon
4 Stewart-Haas Racing Kevin Harvick
5 Hendrick Motorsports Kyle Larson
6 Roush Fenway Racing Ryan Newman
7 Spire Motorsports Corey Lajoie
8 Richard Childress Racing Tyler Reddick
9 Hendrick Motorsports Chase Elliott
10 Stewart-Haas Racing Aric Almirola
11 Joe Gibbs Racing Denny Hamlin
12 Team Penske Ryan Blaney
14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chase Briscoe
15 Rick Ware Racing James Davison
17 Roush Fenway Racing Chris Beuscher
18 Joe Gibbs Racing Kyle Busch
19 Joe Gibbs Racing Martin Truex, Jr.
20 Joe Gibbs Racing Christopher Bell
21 Wood Brothers Racing Matt DiBenedetto
22 Team Penske Joey Logano
23 23XI Bubba Wallace
24 Hendrick Motorsports William Byron
34 Front Row Motorsports Michael McDowell
38 Front Row Motorsports Anthony Alfredo
41 Stewart-Haas Racing Cole Custer
42 Chip Ganassi Racing Ross Chastain
43 Richard Petty Motorsports Eric Jones
47 JTG Daugherty Racing Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
48 Hendrick Motorsports Alex Bowman
51 Petty Ware Racing Garrett Smithley
52 Rick Ware Racing Josh Bilicki
53 Rick Ware Racing Joey Gase
77 Spire Motorsports Justin Haley
78 Live Fast Racing Kyle Tilley
99 Spire Motorsports Daniel Suarez
66 MBM Motorsports Timmy Hill
88 Promotor’s Provisional Dale Earnhardt Jr.
79 Promotor’s Provisional Clint Bowyer
87 Fan Vote Jesse Iwuji