Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • DUDE Wipes – Bristol Motor Speedway – Race Advance

    DUDE Wipes – Bristol Motor Speedway – Race Advance

    Race 8 of 36:

    Short-track racing at “The Last Great Colosseum” awaits as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) heads to Tennessee this weekend for 500 miles of mayhem on the high-banked, .533-mile oval of Bristol Motor Speedway. The Food City 500 will mark the second short-track race of the 2019 season and also Corey LaJoie’s 65th MENCS start. LaJoie and the GFR team look to have a better showing at the second short-track race after persevering with a 33rd-place finish at the first short-track of the season, competing in a back-up car after a practice incident.

    LaJoie has a pair of top-10 finishes at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” one in the Xfinity Series and one in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Thunder Valley, known for its beating and banging, is always a fan favorite. The Food City 500 will be broadcast on FS1, PRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio at 2:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 7th.

    DUDE Wipes returns to GFR in 2019:

    Returning to the Go Fas Racing (GFR) team, DUDE Wipes will make their 2019 debut this weekend at Bristol, on board the No. 32 Ford Mustang.

    DUDE is one of the fastest growing men’s hygiene companies in the U.S., started by four lifelong friends out of Chicago in 2012. Their flagship product, DUDE Wipes, the first flushable wipe marketed to men is in over 12,000 stores nationwide (Walmart, Kroger, Target, Albertsons, Safeway & CVS). DUDE has expanded its product line and they also offer DUDE Shower Body Wipes, DUDE Face Wipes and DUDE Body Powder.

    In 2015 DUDE was on the very popular ABC show, Shark Tank where they received a deal from Mark Cuban.

    Last Weekend for the No.32 PROSPR team:

    At Texas: Corey LaJoie delivered a 28th-place effort in his fourth start at the 1.5-mile track in Fort Worth, Texas. LaJoie took the green flag from the 31st position and would mostly remain there until the No.32 PROSPR Ford cut a tire and the team was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop. The team fought for the race to get the laps back and when the checkered flag flew to conclude the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, the No. 32 PROSPR Ford Mustang was credited with a 28th-place result and sits 30th in the standings.

    LaJoie on the upcoming weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway:

    “Bristol is one of those tracks that you circle as soon as the schedule comes out. The racing there is second-to-none. I’m really looking forward to getting back to short-track racing and to one of my favorite tracks. [Crew Chief] Randy Cox has given us fast race cars at the short-tracks we’ve had this year and I know that speed will translate to Bristol. I’ve had some great races in the XFINITY and the Truck Series and I’m hoping this can be a similar weekend for me in Cup. It’s really exciting to have DUDE Wipes back with the team. I’ve seen a lot of their marketing online and it’s absolutely hilarious. It’s a great brand to align with and I love using their products. Hopefully we can give them a great race to kick off their 2019 season with us.”

    Corey LaJoie Career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Stats at Bristol Motor Speedway:
    Starts: 4
    Average Start: 33rd
    Average Finish: 28th
    Best Finish: 24th (2017)
    ————————————————————–
    About Our Team:

    About DUDE Products:
    DUDE is one of the fastest growing men’s hygiene companies in the U.S., started by four lifelong friends out of Chicago in 2012. Their flagship product, DUDE Wipes, the first flushable wipe marketed to men is in over 12,000 stores nationwide (Walmart, Kroger, Target, Albertsons, Safeway & CVS). DUDE has expanded its product line and they also offer DUDE Shower Body Wipes, DUDE Face Wipes and DUDE Body Powder.

    In 2015 DUDE was on the very popular ABC show, Shark Tank where they received a deal from Mark Cuban.

    Get Corey LaJoie Updates:
    To get live updates during the race weekends follow @coreylajoie on Instagram and Twitter. Make sure to give Corey a “like” on Facebook – “@CoreyLaJoieRacing”. For a detailed bio and updated in-season statistics, please visit www.coreylajoieracing.com .

    About Go Fas Racing:
    Go Fas Racing (GFR) currently fields Ford Mustangs in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for driver Corey LaJoie. Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, GFR has competed in the NASCAR’s premier series since 2014; fielding cars for some of NASCAR’s top drivers, including past champions. To find out more information about our team please visit www.GoFasRacing.com.

  • BLUE-EMU to Partner with Richard Petty Motorsports at the Bristol Motor Speedway

    BLUE-EMU to Partner with Richard Petty Motorsports at the Bristol Motor Speedway

    Richard Petty Motorsports Announces the Return of Partnership with BLUE-EMU

    WELCOME, N.C. (April 3, 2019)-Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) announced today the renewed partnership with Blue-Emu. As part of the agreement, the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 will carry the Blue-Emu brand as the primary partner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Food City 500 at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 7 with driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr.

    Blue-Emu will return to battle with RPM at the iconic all-concrete half-mile. Nestled between the rolling hills and mountains of Northeast Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway is the home track for the Bristol, Tenn.,-based company. This weekend marks the second primary partnership with RPM at The Last Great Colosseum, and the first with Wallace.

    Blue-Emu is no stranger to the organization, being an associate sponsor of RPM during the 2014 season, and with a primary partnership the following year at the Bristol Motor Speedway as well as at the Sonoma Raceway in 2016.

    Nutrition & Fitness, Inc. (dba / NFI Consumer Products) is an innovative consumer products company that manufactures, markets, and distributes the Blue-Emu line of products for muscle, joint and skin conditions.

    “Our team has always enjoyed partnering within NASCAR, and especially the RPM brand,” Benjamin Blessing, EVP of Marketing, said. “Having Blue-Emu on the iconic No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at our hometown track is truly an honor.”

    This weekend, Blue-Emu, America’s number-one emu oil brand, heads to the Bristol Motor Speedway with Wallace, for a race at the short track that guarantees beating, banging, and temper tantrums.

    “It is great to have Blue-Emu partner with our team, and to have them on-board our No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the Bristol Motor Speedway,” Wallace said. “With Blue-Emu as a local company to the area, we are the home team and looking forward to having a built-in cheering section! “

    The driver of the No. 43 Blue-Emu Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for RPM has two starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the .533-mile high-banked bullring. Wallace posted a career-best finish at the Bristol Motor Speedway of 16th-place on April 16, 2018, and led his first laps in the series. The Mobile, Ala.,-native has also notched a top-10 finish in five career starts at Northeast Tennessee’s “Thunder Valley” in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS).

    After coming so close to winning in NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) at the track with a second-place finish in 2014, Wallace would like nothing more than to bring home a Gladiator Sword – the trophy given to conquerors of the Bristol Motor Speedway.

    No. 43 Blue-Emu Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

    About Richard Petty Motorsports:
    A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. RPM is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup history with 273 wins and has business partnerships with national and global leaders. Today the race operation fields the famed No. 43 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with driver Bubba Wallace. The team is headquartered in Welcome, N.C. and is supported by primary partners United States Air Force and World Wide Technology.

    For additional information, news and the latest updates, please visit www.richardpettymotorsports.com or connect with RPM on Facebook (Richard Petty Motorsports), Twitter (@RPMotorsports) or Instagram (@richardpettymotorsports).

    About NFI Consumer Healthcare:
    NFI Consumer Products is an innovative consumer products company that manufactures, markets, and distributes the Blue-Emu® line of products for muscle, joint and skin conditions. Blue-Emu® products as well as e.p.t.® products. Since acquisition in 2014, Blue-Emu has become the 5th largest pain relief brand at retailers in the United States. Following the success of Blue-Emu, NFI purchased the historical pregnancy test brand: e.p.t.® In 2019, NFI further innovatived the brand by launching the first ovulation test to offer numeric read outs regarding LH levels. Blue-emu.com eptfamily.com lhsurges.com

  • Toyota Racing Weekly Preview 4.1-4.7.19

    Toyota Racing Weekly Preview 4.1-4.7.19

    Toyota Racing
    This Week in Motorsports – April 1 – 7, 2019

    Toyota Racing On-Track this Week

    · MENCS/NXS/NKNPSE: Bristol Motor Speedway (Bristol, Tennessee) – April 6-7

    · NHRA: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, Nevada) – April 7

    · Formula Drift: Streets of Long Beach (Long Beach, California) – April 5-6

    · USAC: Kokomo Speedway (Kokomo, Indiana) – April 5-6

    NASCAR National Series – MENCS | NXS

    Toyota Tops the Charts… Toyota Racing has had a stellar start to the 2019 NASCAR season, posting 13 victories across 18 NASCAR national series events. In total, Toyota drivers have led 47 percent of all laps run in the three national NASCAR series with Toyota also leading the manufacturer championship standings in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS), NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS). Toyota MENCS and NXS drivers head to Bristol Motor Speedway this week, where last spring Toyota swept both events with Kyle Busch and Ryan Preece winning in their respective series.

    Toyota Takes Bristol… Over the last decade, Toyota drivers have won 50 percent of the MENCS races run at Bristol. In total, the manufacturer has 10 victories at the half-mile short track over the span of 20 MENCS races. Busch has the most MENCS Camry wins (six), while Denny Hamlin (one) and former Camry drivers Matt Kenseth (two) and Carl Edwards (one) also have Bristol victories. Overall, Busch leads all active drivers in the MENCS with seven total victories at Bristol.

    Show Me the Money… Supra drivers have more than just a race win on the line at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Saturday afternoon event marks the first of four races where NXS drivers will compete in the 2019 Dash 4 Cash program. Following a third-place finish in last weekend’s event at Texas Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell is one of four drivers to qualify for the Dash 4 Cash race at Bristol. If Bell is the highest-finishing qualifier at the short track, he’ll win a cash bonus and automatically qualify for the next event at Richmond Raceway. Last year, Preece received the bonus after winning at The Last Coliseum.

    NHRA

    Todd Looks To Keep Vegas Streak Going… J.R. Todd looks for his third consecutive victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend. Last year, he swept both events at the track on the way to earning the 2018 NHRA Funny Car world championship. This weekend also marks the fifth anniversary of Todd’s time at Kalitta Motorsports. He made his debut with the team at Las Vegas in the spring of 2014 after team owner Connie Kalitta decided to make a change during the race weekend. Todd flew from Indiana to Las Vegas on a red-eye, qualified on Saturday and raced on Sunday.

    Toyota Drivers Win Big In Vegas… The NHRA’s annual spring race in Las Vegas has provided a jackpot of winnings for Toyota drivers. Camry Funny Car drivers have won four of the last six events at the track, with J.R. Todd winning in 2018, while former Toyota drivers Alexis DeJoria (2014, 2016) and Cruz Pedregon (2013) were also victorious. Toyota Top Fuel drivers have enjoyed similar success with five victories in the past nine spring events. Antron Brown has earned three titles (2011, 2016 and 2017), Richie Crampton won in 2015 and former Toyota driver Larry Dixon in 2010.

    Kalitta Dragsters Off To Fast Start… Kalitta Motorsports has won two of the first three Top Fuel events to open the 2019 campaign. The Toyota-sponsored dragsters of Doug Kalitta and Crampton were victorious in two of the biggest events in the sport with Kalitta taking the Winternationals at Pomona and Crampton with his second consecutive Gatornationals crown at Gainesville in the most recent NHRA event. Kalitta enters this weekend’s action leading the Top Fuel point standings by 42 points, while Crampton currently sits fifth in points.

    Formula Drift

    Return to Where it all Began… Formula Drift opens its 2019 season at the Streets of Long Beach where Toyota driver Frederic Aasbø captured a victory with the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback in its Formula Drift debut last year. Aasbø returns this year hoping to win his second-consecutive race at the course and third win in Formula Drift competition at Long Beach.

    New Year, New Goal… Toyota closed the 2018 Formula Drift season with its fifth-straight manufacturer’s championship. The title was won on the strength of two wins and six podium finishes with Aasbø garnering both victories at Long Beach and St. Louis. Toyota has competed in Formula Drift since 2008, when Scion entered the series as Toyota drivers have combined for 16 victories in 11 seasons.

    Regional Stock Car Racing – NKNPSE

    From West to East… The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE) returns to action for its second event of the 2019 season. Three K&N Pro Series West regulars will compete once again in the NKNPSE as Derek Kraus, Hailie Deegan and Brittney Zamora will all make an appearance at Bristol Motor Speedway. Kraus returns to the series after winning its season-opener at New Smyrna Speedway in February. Toyota Racing drivers have won three-consecutive events at the short track with Todd Gilliland winning last year’s race.

    Midget Racing – USAC

    Thomas Leads Toyota Into Kokomo Grand Prix… After a pair of second-place finishes to open the season, Kevin Thomas Jr., will lead 15 Toyota-powered drivers into this weekend’s USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series Kokomo Grand Prix double-header at Kokomo Speedway. Among those expected to join Thomas will be defending series champion Logan Seavey, the series’ most recent winner in 16-year-old Cannon McIntosh and 2018 POWRi champion Tucker Klaasmeyer. Toyota drivers currently hold down seven of the top-10 positions in the point standings.

  • FRM Race Preview: Bristol

    FRM Race Preview: Bristol

    Michael McDowell on Bristol
    17 Starts
    Best Finish: 18th
    “I’m looking forward to having another chance to race at Bristol this weekend, especially right now. We’re coming off of a Top-15 finish last weekend and I feel that’s where we can race weekly without any mistakes. We’ve shown a lot of speed this year and Bristol is going to be a new challenge for everyone. We’re going to carry a lot of corner speed and handling will be important.

    I’m hoping to carry momentum moving forward and I’m optimistic that we can get another great result for our Love’s Travel Stops Ford.”

    Matt Tifft on Bristol
    (Xfinity Series) 5 Starts | 1 Top-10
    Best Finish: 10th
    “Bristol always offers some great racing for the fans, but it’s always a challenge for the drivers. Saying that, I’m looking forward to Bristol because of the progression of our team. I feel the past few weeks we’re getting stronger and stronger. Bristol gives us a chance to really race up front all day.

    I feel we can take our learnings over the last few weeks and apply them at a track with such high speeds, where it’s so important to find grip. Our whole team is coming off of a good run at Texas, so I’m hoping we can go out there and finish strong again in our Surface Sunscreen/Tunity TV Ford Mustang.”

    David Ragan on Bristol
    24 Starts | 1 Top-10
    Best Finish: 10th
    “Bristol has been a good track for me over the years with Front Row Motorsports. Yes, aero doesn’t come into play as much. It’s back to mechanical grip there, and that’s easier for a driver and a crew chief and an engineer to work through when you have one less element that’s so critical like say, the splitter control and attitude of a car at Texas, for example, running 190 miles an hour.

    We’re going to welcome Hulsey Environmental to our program this weekend. It’s important to see us continue to grow with new partners who are helping us on and off the track. We appreciate that and welcome Hulsey Environmental on board at Bristol.”

    Food City 500
    Bristol Motor Speedway
    (Bristol, TN)
    Sunday, April 7
    2:00 p.m. ET FS1, PRN

    Qualifying
    Friday, April 5
    6:10 p.m. ET FS1, PRN

  • Roush Fenway Weekly Advance – Bristol I

    Roush Fenway Weekly Advance – Bristol I

    RFR Set for 500 Laps at ‘The World’s Fastest Half Mile’

    Roush Fenway Racing rolls through the Cumberland Gap to Johnson City, Tennessee, for the first time in 2019 as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) gets set to run 500 laps Sunday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway. Roush Fenway has visited victory lane 18 times at The Last Great Colosseum across NASCAR’s three major touring series.

    Bristol Motor Speedway

    Sunday, April 7 | 2 p.m. ET

    FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

    · Ryan Newman, No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang

    · Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 SunnyD Ford Mustang

    Good Ole’ Rocky Top

    It’s no secret that Bristol stands as one of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s strongest tracks, having finished top-10 in half of his career Cup races at the half-mile track. His new teammate, Ryan Newman, has finished top-10 in 53 percent of his Cup races all-time at BMS. Despite no Cup wins at Bristol, Newman does have an Xfinity Series victory (2005) as well as two wins in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (2010, 2011). Stenhouse heads into the weekend with two-straight top-fives in spring Bristol races (ninth – 2017, fourth – 2018), while Newman has an average finish of 9.5 in his last four spring events.

    Runner Up

    Roush Fenway’s storied history at Bristol began on April 10, 1988 with the No. 6 MENCS car earning a second-place finish. Since that time, in addition to the organization’s 11 MENCS wins at the track, Roush Fenway Fords have finished second at Bristol on 15 occasions (7 MENCS, 4 NXS, 4 NCWTS).

    One-Two Punch

    Roush Fenway’s most recent victory at Bristol came after sweeping the top two positions in the March 2014 event with former driver Carl Edwards taking the victory and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. coming home in second. Edwards led the final 78 laps of the event to earn the victory.

    History and Hot Streaks at “Thunder Valley”

    Roush Fenway’s history at Bristol has been that of hot streaks, including trips to victory lane in nine of the last 16 seasons at the famed short track. Roush Fenway swept the track in 2003 and put a MENCS car in victory lane at least once in every season from 2002-2008.

    Thunder Rolls

    Roush Fenway has earned five victories, 23 top-five finishes, 37 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 15.8 at Bristol in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Former Roush Fenway driver David Ragan earned the organization’s most recent Xfinity victory at the .533-mile short track in the Aug. 2009 event.

    Tale of the Tape

    Roush Fenway has started 328 races all-time at Bristol, recording 18 wins, 77 top-five and 132 top-10 finishes. RFR Fords have captured 18 poles at The World’s Fastest Half Mile and led more than 5,000 laps at BMS.

    Where They Rank

    Through seven weeks on the schedule, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., ranks 13th in driver points while Newman is 20th.

    Roush Fenway Bristol Wins

    1993-2 Martin Cup

    1996-1 Martin NXS

    1997-1 Burton NXS

    1998-2 Martin Cup

    2002-1 Busch Cup

    2003-1 Busch Cup

    2003-2 Busch Cup

    2003-2 Busch Cup

    2004-1 Busch Cup

    2004 Edwards Truck

    2005-2 Kenseth Cup

    2006-2 Kenseth Cup

    2006 Martin Truck

    2006-2 Kenseth NXS

    2007-1 Edwards NXS

    2007-2 Edwards Cup

    2008-2 Edwards Cup

    2009-2 Ragan NXS

    2014 -1 Edwards Cup

    By the Numbers at Bristol Motor Speedway

    Race Win T5 T10 Pole Laps Led AvSt AvFn Miles

    207 11 50 86 11 98231 3396 18.2 15.7 49115.5

    98 5 23 37 4 24218 1653 13.2 15.8 12109

    23 2 4 9 3 4097 318 12.6 14.5 2048.5

    328 18 77 132 18 126546 5367 16.3 15.6 63273

  • CHASE ELLIOTT, KYLE LARSON HEADLINE IGNITION GARAGE HOSPITALITY

    CHASE ELLIOTT, KYLE LARSON HEADLINE IGNITION GARAGE HOSPITALITY

    KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 3, 2019) – Defending Hollywood Casino 400 winner Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, who finished in the Top Five in both Kansas Speedway races in 2018, will headline Q&A sessions at Ignition Garage on Saturday, May 11.

    “It’s great that our fans are going to get to hear from two of the most popular drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren.

    The Ignition Garage is located in the support series garage, and includes a hospitality parking pass, pre-race pass for access to the pre-race concert, driver introductions and FanWalk, a guided tour of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage, Q&A sessions with NASCAR drivers and VIPs, exclusive gifts, and an opportunity to watch Stage 1 of the race from a designated area near pit road.

    The Ignition Garage will open when the grandstand gates open and closes at the conclusion of Stage 1. Transportation to and from the infield until the end of Stage 1 is available for fans who need assistance.

    This one day hospitality option is $199 per person. To purchase the Ignition Garage hospitality, fans must have a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series grandstand ticket or RV admission.

    All Kansas Speedway tickets are currently on sale by calling 866.460.RACE (7223) or by logging onto www.kansasspeedway.com.

    Kansas Speedway, a premier motorsports facility in the Midwest, hosts two NASCAR race weekends a year, in addition to hosting approximately 250 event days throughout the year. Kansas Speedway’s first race weekend of the season is in May with the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series under the lights. In the fall, the NASCAR playoffs return in with the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. To purchase season or single day tickets, call 866.460.RACE (7223) or log onto www.kansaspeedway.com

    General parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.

    Fans can follow Kansas Speedway on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kansasspeedway, Twitter (@kansasspeedway), Instagram (kansasspeedway) and Snapchat (kansasspeedway).

  • Matt DiBenedetto – No. 95 LFR eNASCAR Heat Pro League Toyota Camry – Bristol 1 Preview

    Matt DiBenedetto – No. 95 LFR eNASCAR Heat Pro League Toyota Camry – Bristol 1 Preview

    Matt DiBenedetto – No. 95 LFR eNASCAR Heat Pro League Toyota Camry Preview
    Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway

    No. 95 LFR eNASCAR Heat Pro League Toyota Camry Notes:

    ·       DIBENEDETTO BY THE NUMBERS: In eight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career starts at Bristol, Matt DiBenedetto has an average start of 28.9, an average finish of 20.6, and he’s completed 3,988 of 4,011 (99.4 percent) career laps at the half-mile high-banked track, making it one of his best tracks on the circuit.

    ·       eNASCAR HEAT PRO LEAGUE: The eNASCAR Heat Pro League enters its inaugural season in 2019 following collaborative efforts from NASCAR, 704Games and the Race Team Alliance. The newly-formed esports league will feature up to 16 race teams and 32 drivers, each owned and operated by prominent NASCAR teams.  Leavine Family Racing is one of the organizations participating in the league and will field two drivers, Nicholas Vroman who will be competing on Xbox One and Josh Harbin who will be competing on Playstation 4 and both drivers’ gamer tags will be featured on the No. 95 Toyota this weekend at Bristol.  For more information on the eNASCAR Heat Pro League visit eNASCARHeatProLeague.com.

    ·       RACE INFO: The Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile) begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 7th. The race will be broadcast live on FS1, Sirius XM Channel 90 and PRN Radio.

    DiBenedetto’s Career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Stats at Bristol:

    Date                Event:                                                             S          F         Laps              Status

    04/19/15          Food City 500                                                 22        21        508/511          Running

    08/22/15          Irwin Tools Night Race                                   42         33        493/500         Running

    04/17/16          Food City 500                                                 30         6         500/500         Running

    08/21/16          Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race                  18        17        500/500         Running

    04/24/17          Food City 500                                                 32       19         498/500         Running

    08/19/17          Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race                  34        26        496/500         Running

    04/16/18          Food City 500                                                 24        21        497/500         Running

    08/18/18          Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race                  29        22        496/500         Running

    Races     Wins     Top 5s    Top 10s       Poles

    Cumulative         8            0              0              1                0

    DiBenedetto’s 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Season Stats:

    Starts         Wins        Top-5’s     Top-10’s         Poles        Laps Led            Avg. Start       Avg. Finish

    7                0                0                 0                    0                  49                      21.6                 23.9

    DiBenedetto’s Career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Stats:

    Starts         Wins        Top-5’s     Top-10’s         Poles        Laps Led          Avg. Start       Avg. Finish

    147                0                 0                4                    0                  72                  30.87                  28.7

    From the Driver’s Seat:

    Matt DiBenedetto: “I think that Bristol is one of my best tracks on the circuit because it’s a fast, short track and the high banks seems to even the playing field a bit in my opinion compared to other tracks we visit.  Bristol has always been a place that I seem to always know what I need as far as a feel in the race car so that it will be good in the race.  I think every driver has their place, and Bristol has become one of those places for me.  Looking ahead to this weekend at Bristol with this new package, I anticipate my body to hurt after the race because we’re going to be going so fast.  With having the larger spoiler on the back of our Camry, we’ll have a tremendous amount of downforce this weekend, even though Bristol is a short track, it’s really fast.  Racing at Bristol is like racing in a big cereal bowl is about the best that I can describe it.  I think that our laps times will be so fast and we’ll be pulling so many G’s this weekend.  So many drivers were talking about having to work on their seats to make sure that they’re really braced up on the right side because we’re going to get so physically worn out from going much faster than normal and be out of the gas a lot less than we normally are.  Our Camry is going to need to turn really well this weekend and I’ll have to be able to just grab the throttle before the center and not out of the gas much.  If our Camry can turn really well, and carry a bunch of speed and momentum, that will make for a good race for us on Sunday.”

    From the Pit Box:

    Mike Wheeler: “With the new downforce package, Bristol will most definitely will see cars running faster this weekend, which will be interesting in and of itself since the place has always been very fast to begin with.  Goodyear is bringing a different tire this year to try and slow cars down a little bit, which will be a little harder left-side tire compound, so how the track will take rubber will be a question.  We’re not sure yet whether we’ll be racing along the top of the bottom yet.  The track is also going to put down some PJ1 on the bottom groove but it will be a different mixture than we’ve had in the past, so that’s another change looking ahead to this weekend.  There’s also so weather forecasted for the area on Friday so that will also be a concern.  Usually we don’t get a whole lot of reading on the track until Saturday in ‘happy hour’ and the last part of that session when the track gets warmed up with everyone on it, so there will be a lot to learn in a short bit of time.  I suspect quicker lap times this weekend than we have seen at Bristol in the past with more time on throttle and probably harder cornering.  The question is going to be whether cars end up preferring the top lane or the bottom lane when it comes time for the race.”

    No. 95 LFR eNASCAR Heat Pro League Toyota Camry Team:

    Driver: Matt DiBenedetto                   Crew Chief: Mike Wheeler

    Car Chief: Greg Emmer                     Spotter: Doug Campbell

    Engineer: J.R. Houston                     Engineer: Etienne Cliche

    Mechanic: Bill Mares                         Mechanic: Matt Kimball

    Shock Specialist: Tim Lambert        Mechanic: Ryan Dextraze

    Tire Specialist: Tony Ramirez          Jackman: Bailey Walker

    Fueler: Ryan Dextraze                      Rear Changer: Deven Youker

    Front Changer: Adam Hartman        Tire Carrier: Chris Hall

    Hauler Driver: Damon Lopez

  • Ryan Newman – Bristol Advance

    Ryan Newman – Bristol Advance

    Team: No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang
    Crew Chief: Scott Graves
    Twitter: @Roush6Team, @RoushFenway and @RyanJNewman

    Food City 500 – Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90

    ADVANCE NOTES

    Newman at Bristol Motor Speedway

    · Newman will make his 35th Cup start at Bristol on Sunday. In
    34 prior events, Newman has 18 top-10 finishes with two top-fives and
    an average finish of 15.7.

    · Newman’s best result at the half-mile track came back in
    2004 when he finished second. He also crossed the line fifth in 2015.
    In the past eight races at Bristol, Newman has only one finish outside
    the top-15 with five top-10s.

    · In the last four spring races along, Newman has an average
    finish of 9.5 with results of 10th (2018), 14th (2017), ninth (2016)
    and fifth (2015).

    · Newman has three career Cup poles at The World’s Fastest
    Half Mile and an average start of 12.2 He led the field to green in
    2003, 2004 and again in 2011.

    · Newman also has an additional nine starts in the Xfinity and
    Truck series combined, winning in Xfinity action back in 2005. He
    earned the pole for the 2006 race and finished 10th or better in five
    Xfinity starts there. He also started from the top spot in 2009 in the
    No. 2 truck before finishing fourth.

    · Additionally, Newman has seven starts at Bristol in the
    NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he won twice (2010, 2011).

    Scott Graves at Bristol Motor Speedway

    · Graves will call his seventh MENCS race at Bristol on
    Sunday. In six prior events, Graves has a best finish of 11th with
    Daniel Suarez in 2018.

    · Graves has called seven Xfinity Series events at Bristol
    dating back to 2012, recording one top five (Chris Buescher – 2015)
    and two additional top-10s (Buescher – 2014, Suarez – 2016).

    QUOTE WORTHY

    Newman on racing at Bristol:

    “Bristol is a tough and physical race but an exciting show that we
    always put on for the fans. We got back on track last weekend in Texas
    and we’re looking to continue that to this week. We’ve made some
    changes in our short track cars, so I’m anxious to see what we’ve got
    once we unload Friday in our Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang.”

  • FedEx Racing Express Facts – Bristol

    FedEx Racing Express Facts – Bristol

    Denny Hamlin
    #11 FedEx Freight Toyota
    Joe Gibbs Racing

    Race Info:
    Race: Food City 500
    Date/Time: April 7/2:00 p.m. ET
    Distance: 500 laps/266.5 miles
    Track Length: 0.533 miles
    Track Shape: Oval
    Banking: 24-28 degrees
    2018 Winner: Kyle Busch

    Express Notes:

    Press Kit: Download the 2019 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

    Texas Recap: Denny Hamlin notched his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season at Texas Motor Speedway after overcoming two penalties in the #11 FedEx Camry during the 334-lap race. Hamlin took the lead for the final time with just 12 laps remaining, following a pit stop for a splash of fuel that sealed the victory for the FedEx team. However, Hamlin’s race up to that point was anything but easy, as he suffered two pit road penalties, one for speeding and one for an uncontrolled tire that would send the #11 to the back of the field each time. But, Hamlin had a fast Toyota Camry and the penalties allowed him to show the rest of the field just how good the FedEx car was. Hamlin started the race sixth and maintained his position near the front throughout the early part of the race. But during the team’s first stop, Hamlin was caught speeding while exiting pit road, sending the FedEx car to the rear of the field, eventually crossing the line 19th at the conclusion of Stage 1. Stage 2 saw the #11 put on a show as Hamlin methodically pick off cars as the laps clicked. With nothing to lose, crew chief Chris Gabehart changed up the team’s strategy during a late-stage caution, calling Hamlin to pit road for fuel only. The gamble paid off and Hamlin restarted from the lead with 12 laps to go in the segment. Hamlin was able to hold off the cars with fresher tires to take the stage win. The Stage 2 win was short-lived when the team suffered an uncontrolled tire penalty, sending Hamlin to the back of the pack for the second time. Gabehart changed up the strategy again, pitting Hamlin off sequence with fresh tires for the first stop, and fuel only for the final two pit stops that allowed Hamlin to get his third career Texas Motor Speedway victory. Following the win, Hamlin maintains the second spot in the championship standings.

    Bristol Preview: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the 500-lap race on Sunday, April 7. Hamlin will be looking for his second career win at “Thunder Valley” having won in 2012, along with seven career top-five finishes and 12 career top-10 finishes. Denny and team will be looking for their third win of the season, potentially moving into the lead in the Cup standings.

    Hamlin Statistics:

    Track: Bristol Motor Speedway

    Races: 26

    Wins:  1 (2012)

    Poles: 3 (2013, 2014, 2015)

    Top-5: 7

    Top-10: 12

    Laps Led: 611

    Avg. Start: 14.4

    Avg. Finish 15.3

    Hamlin Conversation:

    How was your team able to win today’s race, despite the two penalties?

    “We had a really fast FedEx Camry today, just really fast. I told the team over the radio when I was making my way through the pack after the penalties, this really stinks because we’re probably not going to win with the fastest car. It was fun passing all those cars, it really was. It was great, we had such a fast car and that’s how we were able to make up time there at the end.”

    What is your team mostly looking forward to this weekend at Bristol?

    “Bristol is always a fan favorite, and it would be such an awesome place to return to Victory Lane. We’re proud of our performance at Texas, but now our team is back to work with all our focus on the challenge at Bristol.”

    FedEx Freight Memphis Service Center Along for the Ride at Bristol Motor Speedway: For the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, FedEx Freight recognizes the company’s Memphis, Tenn., service center by featuring the call letters MEM on the FedEx Freight #11. The Memphis service center, opened in 1982, has approximately 340 team members who are always committed to making every FedEx experience outstanding.

  • Is a win on the horizon for Chevrolet in the Cup Series?

    Is a win on the horizon for Chevrolet in the Cup Series?

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is heading into its eighth race of the season and while Chevrolet has made a lot of progress in that time, they still haven’t managed to find victory lane yet. In fact, their performance has been so far off lately that they aren’t even in the manufacturer’s championship picture at this point in time.

    Beyond that, Chevrolet’s best finish this entire season is a second-place effort by Chase Elliott at Martinsville Speedway, which doesn’t bode well for the manufacturer’s program at intermediate tracks this season. It could even mean that Chevrolet misses the Playoffs for the third straight year in a row.

    Interestingly enough, no Chevrolet driver seems to be immune to the problem at this point. While some believe it is the new aero package, that still doesn’t explain why they had to play catch up last season too. Furthermore, it doesn’t explain Toyota and Ford’s advantage with the new package.

    NASCAR officials took six cars to the wind tunnel for testing after Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, which could be a sign that NASCAR is interested in knowing why Chevrolet is at a disadvantage and what can be done to level things out.

    With that being said, however, Chevrolet has gotten progressively better over the course of the 2019 season and despite some mistakes, are getting closer and closer to being in contention. Take Kyle Larson for example, who had the spring race at Atlanta Motor Speedway locked up, but was taken out by a speeding penalty.

    Then there was Chase Elliot, who despite starting up front at Phoenix, made a lane change before reaching the start-finish line at the beginning of the race and had to go the back. He would ultimately recover to finish 14th, but the incident took him out of contention for what could have been a win.

    Another example was William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch, who all found themselves in the top 10 after Sunday’s race at Texas. If nothing else, it was a huge momentum shit for Chevrolet and could be a sign that things will continue to get better as Chevrolet hits those mile and a half tracks.

    Will they win though? Believe it or not, with Chevrolet’s best showing being at a short track and two short track races coming up, the answer seems to be yes. Above all that, There is also Talladega, Dover and Kansas, which have all been great tracks for Chevrolet in the past.

    As for making the final four, that question is a lot harder to answer, but will ultimately depend on whether Chevrolet can win, continue to be consistent and stay away from the bad luck that has thrown them for a loop throughout this season.