Category: NASCAR Cup News

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 25, 2019) – Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Chris Buescher will make his return to the team, taking the wheel of its No. 17 NASCAR Cup Series Ford in 2020. The team will part ways with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

“We can’t say enough about Ricky and his contributions to Roush Fenway Racing,” said team co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush. “We’re proud to have been a part of Ricky’s development from ARCA to Xfinity and ultimately the Cup Series. He has served as a great representative to our partners, while helping to accumulate numerous accolades, wins and multiple championships on the racetrack. We wish him well as he enters the next chapter of his career.”

Buescher, a product of Roush Fenway’s development driver program, returns to the team that he led to a NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) title in 2015.

“We are certainly excited to have Chris back in the fold at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Roush. “He has a long history with our organization and we’ve always been a big fan of Chris and his racing style. We have watched his progress with great interest over the last couple of seasons and we are looking forward to having him in the No. 17 as we continue to grow our program next season.”

Buescher first joined Roush Fenway as a development driver in 2009, winning the 2012 ARCA Series championship in a partnership with Roulo Brothers Racing, before making his NXS debut for Roush Fenway in relief of Trevor Bayne in 2011. He moved to full time in the NXS in 2014, and in 2015 brought home Jack Roush’s eighth NASCAR Championship; dominating the series while leading the NXS standings for 24 consecutive weeks.

Stenhouse has piloted the No. 17 car for the past seven seasons after taking over for Matt Kenseth in 2013.

Buescher drove the No. 34 Ford during his Cup rookie season in 2016, racing his way into the playoffs via a victory at Pocono. He has served as the driver of the No. 37 Cup entry for the past three seasons and is currently 20^th in the NASCAR Cup point standings.

About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history. In its 32^nd season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, producing multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway. 

Bell to Pilot the No. 95 Camry in 2020 with Enhanced Technical Alliance and Sponsorship From Rheem and Procore

CONCORD, N.C. (September 24, 2019) – Leavine Family Racing (LFR) welcomes Christopher Bell to the organization for the 2020 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) season as the driver of the No. 95 Toyota Camry with sponsorship from Rheem and Procore.

In addition to Bell in the driver’s seat, the technical alliance between LFR, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and TRD, U.S.A. (Toyota Racing Development) will also be enhanced for the 2020 season. TRD will continue to build the team’s engines and provide technology, data and technical assistance. Enhancements to the technical alliance between JGR and LFR, which began with the 2019 MENCS season, will continue to build into the 2020 season.

Bell’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) crew chief, Jason Ratcliff, will join him in the transition to LFR and the Cup Series. Ratcliff is no stranger to NASCAR’s premier series as he spent six full seasons serving as a Cup crew chief at JGR with drivers Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth. Mike Wheeler will remain with LFR and transition to the role of Competition Director, working alongside Ratcliff. Wheeler was instrumental in LFR’s growth during the 2019 season serving as crew chief of the No. 95 as the organization ran Toyota Camrys for their first year in an alliance with the manufacturer and JGR. With Wheeler’s promotion to Competition Director, Michael Leavine who is LFR’s current Competition Director will now become the Vice President of Racing Operations for the organization. Leavine will play an active role in guiding LFR through the upcoming competition changes within NASCAR.

“I’ve said from the start, I want this team to be competitive,” said Bob Leavine, LFR team founding owner. “Christopher is one of the most talented drivers we’ve seen come up through NASCAR’s ranks and together, with JGR and Toyota’s support, I’m confident our team will continue to grow, just as it has this past year. We’re certainly happy to continue to progress our relationship with both JGR and TRD as the technical partnership takes the next step forward.”

Bell is currently competing in his second full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season for JGR, where he’s amassed 15 career-series victories and in 2018, set the record for most wins (seven) by a rookie in the series. With seven wins in his Toyota Supra already in 2019, Bell is set for another championship run as he currently ranks first in the driver point standings.

“Since I was young, I wanted to make a career out of racing,” said Bell. “To take this next step and race in the NASCAR Cup Series with the support of LFR, JGR and Toyota is just a dream come true. It also means a lot to me to have Rheem make the move to Cup racing with me. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without their support and I’m also excited to have the opportunity to represent Procore now.

“Having been under the JGR banner these past seasons in the Xfinity Series and with TRD for as long as I can remember, having their continued support as I transition to LFR is extremely comforting and will be a tremendous benefit to me. I can’t wait to close out this season in the Xfinity Series with a strong run, and I’m looking forward to the challenge that awaits in 2020.”

A native of Norman, Oklahoma, Bell began his career racing on local dirt tracks around the Midwest. He then moved on to compete in USAC Racing’s National Midget Series where he joined TRD’s driver development program and won the 2013 title.

Bell’s NASCAR career started in 2015 racing a Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. Just two years later, he won the 2017 Truck Series championship, and that same year he captured the first of three-consecutive Chili Bowl titles (2017, 2018, 2019) driving a TRD-powered Midget for Keith Kunz Motorsports.

“TRD and Toyota have worked with Bell since his early dirt track career and we’ve been proud to see him work his way to NASCAR’s highest level,” said David Wilson, president of TRD. “Christopher is a special talent and we’re happy to have him winning races and championships in a Toyota. We look forward to seeing his continued growth and success at Leavine Family Racing in 2020. We’re also pleased with how the relationship between JGR and LFR has progressed during their first season working together. We’re confident this enhanced alliance for 2020 will continue to make them a threat for race wins week in and week out.”

Founding LFR team owners Bob and Sharon Leavine began their foray into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2011. A single-car team, LFR has focused on growing competitively on the race track each year, improving its average finishing position since racing full-time in the series starting with the 2016 season.

Bell will make his Cup Series rookie debut when the 2020 season begins with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 16, 2020.

About Rheem

Founded in 1925, Rheem® innovates all-new ways to deliver just the right temperature while saving energy, water and supporting a more sustainable future. Today, Rheem is America’s #1 water heating brand, and its products are available in more than 50 countries. Paloma Co., Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan, acquired the iconic Rheem brand in 1988, and today the company’s portfolio of premium brands include Rheem®, Raypak®, Ruud®, Eemax®, Richmond®, Splendid®, Solahart® and EverHot™as well as commercial refrigeration brands Russell®, Witt®, ColdZone® and Kramer®, which are part of the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG®) division.

*All are Trademarks of Rheem Manufacturing Company.

About Procore

Procore is a leading provider of cloud-based applications for construction. Procore connects people, applications, and devices through a unified platform to help construction professionals manage risk and build quality projects—safely, on time, and within budget. Procore has a diversified business model with products for Project Management, Construction Financials, Quality & Safety, and Field Productivity. Headquartered in Carpinteria, California, with offices around the globe, Procore is used to manage billions of dollars in annual construction volume. For more information about Procore, visit procore.com.

About Leavine Family Racing

Leavine Family Racing is an organization competing in the NASCAR Premier Series focused on growing competitively and providing results-driven partnerships for its sponsors. The single-car team was founded in 2011 by Bob and Sharon Leavine, two individuals who are passionate about NASCAR and started the team to make a positive impact on the sport and community. The team operates out of their Concord, North Carolina-based race shop with a veteran group of racing personnel driven by their desire for progress. For more information, please visit www.LFR95.com.

MACHINE TOOL MANUFACTURER TO SPONSOR NO. 88 TEAM IN 2019-2020

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2019) – Leading machine tool manufacturer Cincinnati Inc. has joined 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports as an official partner with a team record 10-year agreement that will begin in 2019 and run through the 2028 racing season.

Cincinnati will be showcased as primary sponsor of driver Alex Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the Oct. 6 Cup Series playoff race at Dover International Speedway and in two events in 2020. In addition to being named Hendrick Motorsports’ Official Metal Fabrication and Additive Equipment Provider, the Ohio-based company will become a full-season associate sponsor of the team’s entire four-car stable for the next decade.

“We are absolutely thrilled to begin this relationship with Hendrick Motorsports,” said Rakesh Kumar, vice president of sales, service and marketing for Cincinnati Inc., which was founded in the 1890s. “Rick Hendrick’s teams have a long and storied history of winning at every level. We are proud to be associated with that incredible record and partner with another enduring American brand. We look forward to starting off our partnership as a primary sponsor of Alex Bowman and having a presence across all four teams for many years to come.”

Hendrick Motorsports will utilize Cincinnati’s state-of-the art equipment in the development and construction of its full fleet of race cars, including laser cutting, press brake and additive manufacturing machinery. Cincinnati’s 10-year commitment is the longest single sponsorship pact in the history of the team, which was founded in 1984.

“Ten years is quite a statement,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “It demonstrates how the Cincinnati team feels about NASCAR and the opportunities the sport presents for their business. From the perspective of our team, it’s a major endorsement of how fantastic the Cincinnati products are and the confidence we have that the relationship will help provide a competitive advantage on the racetrack. We look forward to a lot of trips to Victory Lane together over the next decade.”

In 2019, Bowman secured his second consecutive playoff berth in his second full Cup season with the No. 88 team. The 26-year-old driver won his first Cup-level race June 30 at Chicagoland Speedway and this year has posted personal records in multiple statistical categories.

“The best way we can welcome Cincinnati to Hendrick Motorsports is with a playoff win,” said Bowman, who led 16 laps and recorded a runner-up result at Dover on May 6. “After our performance there earlier this season, I’m excited to get back to Dover and finish one spot better. We’re looking forward to having Cincinnati on board with the No. 88 team.”

ABOUT CINCINNATI INC.:
Founded in 1898 as the Cincinnati Shaper Co., Cincinnati Inc. remains privately owned and has a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on its 80-acre campus in Harrison, Ohio. With over 50,000 machines sold, its current machine offerings include laser cutters, plasma tables, press brakes, shears, powder metal presses, additive manufacturing, and automation. For more information, visit www.e-ci.com or engage on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 255 points-paying race victories and a record 12 car owner championships in the premier NASCAR Cup Series. The organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Cup circuit with drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 600 people. For more information, please visit  HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 19, 2019) – Liberty University and 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports have reached a two-year agreement to extend the world’s premier Christian university’s support of driver William Byron and his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team.

Byron will continue to carry primary sponsorship from Liberty in 12 Cup races annually in 2020 and 2021. At NASCAR’s highest level, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native earned 2018 rookie of the year honors followed in 2019 by his first career playoff berth. He is currently ninth in championship points with nine races remaining in his second season driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

“We have been by William Byron’s side as he’s risen through the ranks at a young age, and it is an honor to continue to support one of our very own in his career,” said Jerry Falwell, president of Liberty University. “William and Hendrick Motorsports have always been a perfect fit for Liberty University. We share the same values and are committed to the same mission that makes champions on the racetrack and champions in life.”

Byron, 21, is currently a junior working toward an undergraduate business communications degree via Liberty University’s online program. Founded in 1971, Liberty now offers more than 600 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 400 programs are offered online. The school has supported Byron since 2014 when he drove late model stock cars and has been a 12-race primary sponsor since his 2018 Cup Series debut with Hendrick Motorsports.

“Liberty University has been a big part of my racing career and progression through NASCAR from basically the beginning,” Byron said. “Their support on and off the track, including with my studies, has been monumental. They’ve been with me through numerous accomplishments, including race wins and championships, and I’m glad we were able to add to that list this season by making it into my first Cup Series playoffs. I’m excited about Liberty being back on board with the No. 24 team, and I look forward to what the future holds for us.”

In addition to raising awareness of Liberty University’s educational opportunities, the Hendrick Motorsports sponsorship has touched a variety of student-focused programs. The team has supported the School of Engineering’s Formula SAE effort, which is working on electric car technology. In addition, the partnership has developed a degree specialization in automotive dealership management with support from Hendrick Automotive Group. Next month, Hendrick Motorsports director of competition systems Alba Colón will address the school’s engineering, computer science and information technology students as part of an ongoing guest speaker program.

“Promoting online and on-campus academic opportunities and becoming more deeply involved with student programs have been tremendous experiences,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group. “I’ve visited the campus multiple times, and I never fail to be impressed by the quality and commitment of the young people there. William is a wonderful ambassador for Liberty and continues to show his talent on the racetrack as he works toward his degree. It’s been terrific to see the relationship grow, and we look forward to delivering more value to the school in the coming years.”

ABOUT LIBERTY UNIVERSITY:
Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the world’s premier Christian university, one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the nation, and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty offers more than 600 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 400 programs are offered online. Utilizing its world-class infrastructure and Christian faculty, Liberty’s mission is to train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrow’s world.

ABOUT HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS:
Founded by Rick Hendrick in 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 255 points-paying race victories and a record 12 car owner championships in the premier NASCAR Cup Series. The organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Cup circuit with drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman. Headquartered in Concord, North Carolina, Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 600 people. For more information, please visit HendrickMotorsports.com or interact on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Truex scores fifth win of the season and advances to the next playoff round

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Martin Truex, Jr., driver of the No.19 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats and ATVs Toyota Camry, hit the jackpot at Vegas by winning the opening playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) Sunday, September 15. Truex conquered the 1.5-mile speedway to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400. The 2017 champion has won the opening race of the playoffs three of the last four seasons. This is his seventh playoff appearance.

“We took a gamble and qualified 24^th,” Truex said in a post-race interview. “For a while there it wasn’t looking too smart, with (Harvick) out front.”

After some car adjustments, Truex passed Harvick with 20 laps to go en route to his fifth win of the season.

Now with 16 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at LVMS, Truex has two wins, four top-five finishes and seven top-10s.

Truex entered the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs third on the playoff grid. During the regular season, he earned top-five rankings in the following categories: wins (tied for most), top-five finishes (tied for third), top-10s (fourth), laps led (fifth), average finish (fourth), average running position (fifth), driver rating (fourth), fastest drivers late in a run (fifth), fastest laps run (third), green flag speed (third) and speed by segment (fifth).

The next playoff race will be September 21 in Richmond, Virginia.

Bass Pro Shops, which was founded in 1972 by avid outdoorsman and conservationist Johnny Morris, is a leading retailer of equipment for hunting, fishing, camping, boating and other outdoor pursuits. The outdoor retail leader has 102 stores throughout the United States and Canada, serving more than 120 million sportsmen a year. Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit http://www.basspro.com/.

About Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”