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  • Christopher Bell claims Darlington Cup Series pole as Playoffs commence

    Christopher Bell claims Darlington Cup Series pole as Playoffs commence

    Christopher Bell captured the pole position for the opening race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Darlington Raceway with a 169.193 mph qualifying lap Saturday afternoon. It’s his third pole of the season and his seventh career pole in the series.

    Bell was happy with the speed of his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota but also acknowledged the difficulty of keeping his car up front throughout the race.

    “It definitely feels good. Darlington is a place that’s notoriously hard to pass, so starting up front is a really big deal,” he said. “But, with that being said, it’s an extremely long race. The Southern 500 is, in my opinion, probably harder than the Coca-Cola 600 just because of the race track that we’re at. Very long time tomorrow so starting position has no indication of where we’re going to finish, but we certainly have the speed to compete and hopefully we can keep it up front all day.”

    Bell’s teammate, Denny Hamlin, will join him on the front row after posting a 169.042 mph lap. 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick was third fastest, placing three Toyotas at the top of the field. Ford drivers scored the following seven spots with Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski rounding out the top five followed by Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Chris Buescher, Michael McDowell and Aric Almirola to complete the top 10.

    Blaney, starting fourth, emphasized the importance of staying focused.

    “That’s not a bad starting spot,” he said. “It’s nice to start in the top five and starting fourth. That’s really good. I’m proud of the effort today and now it’s just a matter of staying in it. Five hundred miles is a long race. It’s a super long race and you can make mistakes real easy, so it’s just a matter of focusing in on tomorrow. It was a good effort today we just have to keep improving.”

    Playoff contender and Regular Season Champion, Martin Truex Jr., will start toward the back of the field in 31st after his car got loose during qualifying.

    The Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway is scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on USA with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

    Playoff Drivers Starting Positions for The Cook Out Southern 500:
    Christopher Bell – 1st
    Denny Hamlin – 2nd
    Tyler Reddick – 3rd
    Ryan Blaney – 4th
    Brad Keselowski – 5th
    Joey Logano – 6th
    Kevin Harvick – 7th
    Chris Buescher – 8th
    Michael McDowell – 9th
    Kyle Busch – 11th
    Kyle Larson – 18th
    Bubba Wallace – 19th
    William Byron – 23rd
    Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – 25th
    Ross Chastain – 27th
    Martin Truex Jr. – 31st

  • Just Announced: 2024 NHRA Season Schedule

    Just Announced: 2024 NHRA Season Schedule

    INDIANAPOLIS – Highlighted by a special 70th anniversary of the world’s biggest drag race, the Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, and the 55th annual NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville to open the season, as well as a return to Phoenix, NHRA officials announced today its 2024 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule.

    As previously announced, the NHRA will open its season at legendary Gainesville Raceway on March 7-10. NHRA is also set to return to Phoenix for the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals on April 5-7 and the 2024 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will include 21 races at standout facilities across the country.

    As the NHRA looks to expand its track network across the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, NHRA is in the closing stages of the selection process for two of the 21 events. Those locations and races – which will take place June 21-23 and July 12-14 – will be announced in the coming weeks.

    Along with the return of the NHRA Arizona Nationals, the NHRA will again be back at Route 66 Raceway on May 17-19 for the 24th annual Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance. The Chicago race hosted its first NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series race since 2019 this year and will return in 2024 as one of many exciting events taking place during the upcoming season.

    “It is always a huge thrill to release our schedule for the upcoming year and I know the 2024 season will continue to build on all the excitement that’s already taken place in 2023,” NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. “Celebrating our 55th annual event to open the season in Gainesville and our 70th event at Indianapolis is a great tribute to the longstanding traditions that have been built at these iconic tracks over the past several decades. Those will be two special moments in a year that will again feature a lot of fantastic racing at spectacular facilities across the country, including a return to Phoenix. We’re excited for two future track announcements as well, and we appreciate all the fans, race teams, track partners and sponsors who all played a big role in helping put this exciting 2024 schedule together.”

    For more ticket information, visit www.nhra.com. Details on class schedules for Pro Stock, Pro Stock Motorcycle, as well as specialty series like the FuelTech NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Type A Motorsports and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown will be announced soon.

    All races during the 2024 NHRA will be aired exclusively on FOX Sports, with select events on the FOX broadcast network. To view the 2024 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule, please visit www.nhra.com/schedule/2024.

  • Three Big Stories: Gateway (IndyCar)

    Three Big Stories: Gateway (IndyCar)

    MADISON, Ill. — And then there were two.

    Scott Dixon reminded everyone that we live in his world. Josef Newgarden’s championship hopes hit the wall. Moreover, how did two tire compounds affect today’s race?

    So without further adieu, here are Three Big Stories from World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

    We all live in Scott Dixon’s world

    MADISON, Ill. – AUGUST 27: Pato O’Ward (L), Scott Dixon (C) and David Malukas (R) spray each other with champagne in victory lane, after the NTT IndyCar Series Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Aug. 27, 2023, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: Simon Scoggins/SpeedwayMedia.com

    “Scott Dixon decided to do a Dixon, today,” Pato O’Ward said, in the deadline room.

    “How does he do it?” Dave Furst, IndyCar vice-president of competition and communication, jokingly asked O’Ward.

    “Well, he just does it,” O’Ward said. “He’s just Scott Dixon, you know? I feel like that’s what he’s best known for.”

    Dixon stretched his stint on Firestone red tires to 60 laps, when everyone else ran roughly 40. A timely caution let him pit for sticker blacks and exit pit road with the race lead.

    Now he needed to hold off the field AND save fuel.

    “I think probably the hardest part was the restart where we were leading, having to get a pretty high fuel number,” Dixon said. “We weren’t getting it. We were a ways off.

    “But I knew we could kind of stress that kind of second through fifth pack, get them into a pretty vulnerable situation. I knew once we caught the back markers we’d be able to save and get beyond the fuel mileage that we needed to. It actually worked out perfectly. We were able to go further and beyond where we needed to.”

    Dixon entered Indianapolis, two weeks ago, winless on the 2023 season. Naturally, everyone asked if he’d win, period.

    Fast-forward 15 days, the six-time NTT IndyCar Series champion not only has two wins, but he’s reeling in Alex Palou’s once insurmountable points lead.

    Now it’s still his teammate’s title to lose, but Dixon won’t make it easy.

    Though in the end, Chip Ganassi wins.

    “I think what is special is going into the last two races, it can only be a Ganassi driver, which is very cool,” he said. “I know that makes Chip very proud, and the hundred-plus employees that work at that place, as well.”

    In the meantime, Dixon celebrates back-to-back wins by downing cans of Stag with Marshall Pruett.

    Josef Newgarden’s title hopes hit the wall

    One picture says it all.

    Newgarden, with the slimmest of hopes, needed everything to go right to catch Palou and win his third IndyCar championship. And for much of the first half, it did.

    He led 98 laps and even when he fell behind Dixon and his pit strategy, he was in contention.

    Then he hit a wall, literally.

    He turned the wheel like there was no tomorrow, but to no avail.

    His chance at sweeping all six oval races vanished.

    As did his slim chance at the title.

    Effect of different tire compounds

    MADISON, Ill. – AUGUST 26: Firestone red tires sit stacked in the garage during the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Aug. 26, 2023, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: Tucker White/SpeedwayMedia.com

    Sunday marked the first time IndyCar used different tire compounds for an oval race.

    And the result?

    Well, it varied from driver to driver.

    Case in point, the race winner:

    “The tire was kind of interesting,” Dixon said. “It actually had a good amount of deg.”

    The guy who finished second:

    “It brought in some pretty horrendous marbles onto the racetrack, which made the second lane almost impossible to use,” O’Ward said.

    Both agreed, however, it needs more falloff.

    “I think having an alternate tire, you really kind of want it to – I know Firestone doesn’t want to do it because that’s the product they produce, they produce very good tires – but I think for falloff like we see at Iowa where you go from an 18-second lap all the way to 22s, 23s, you have good cars coming and going, people able to make changes throughout the race,” Dixon said. “I think that’s what they need to bring back here, a little bit more aggressive for next time.”

    Now while both series use different tire makers, these sentiments echo similar statements NASCAR Cup Series drivers made in June at Gateway. Denny Hamlin noted drivers could run 50+ laps on the same Goodyear tires and not experience significant dropoff.

    So whether it’s a matter of Firestone and Goodyear bringing harder tires or the track surface, that’s for a more engineer-minded person to decipher.

    As for the future of INDYCAR, O’Ward likes the idea of different compounds for ovals.

    “I just think if they want good racing, we can’t be in single file,” he said. “Then even the lappers can be racing with the leaders.”

  • Ryan Preece’s No. 41 car flips multiple times in crash at Daytona

    Ryan Preece’s No. 41 car flips multiple times in crash at Daytona

    Ryan Preece was involved in a frightening crash on Lap 156 of Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway after Erik Jones made contact with Preece’s No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford’s rear bumper sending him into teammate Chase Briscoe’s car. He then slid off the track and onto the grass as his car went airborne, barrel-rolling multiple times before it came to a stop.

    The AMR safety team responded quickly and helped Preece get out of his car, put him on a stretcher and took him to the infield care center. Per NASCAR, he was later transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

    Preece later posted on social media, saying, “If you want to be a race car driver, you better be tough. Dammit. Fast @racechoice @FordPerformance Mustang. I’m coming back.”

    Early Sunday morning, Stewart-Haas Racing issued a statement on Preece’s condition.

    NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece will remain overnight at Halifax Health Medical Center for continued observation. The driver of the No. 41 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing is awake, alert and mobile and has been communicating with family and friends. Preece will undergo another evaluation by medical personnel later this morning. An update will be provided in the afternoon.

    NASCAR stated that it would take Preece’s car back to the R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further inspection.

    Update from Stewart-Haas Racing Sunday morning:

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2023) – NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece was discharged from Halifax Health Medical Center earlier this morning following his accident last night in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The driver of the No. 41 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing is on his way home to North Carolina.

  • Kurt Busch announces retirement from NASCAR Cup Series competition

    Kurt Busch announces retirement from NASCAR Cup Series competition

    Kurt Busch announced his retirement from the NASCAR Cup Series completion in a media post on Saturday afternoon, titled, “Thank you to everyone who helped me accomplish my dream.”

    He later met with the media at Daytona International Speedway to discuss what led him to this decision and expressed his appreciation to everyone who has positively impacted his career.

    “As I transition out of the driver’s seat, I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed to have spent the amount of time I did as a driver in NASCAR, and I could never have imagined that growing up as a blue-collar kid from Las Vegas,” Busch said. “

    “So many people have been part of my journey. I want to thank the fans, my family, friends, sponsors and team members. Thanks to everyone who has taught me the different things around the motorsports world, and also for those who have had to put up with me. And I want to just thank again, everyone that continues to push me to strive for success in this sport. It’s time for a new journey, and I’m excited to get started.”

    Busch, who won the first series championship under the Playoff system in 2004, leaves the series with an impressive resume that includes 34 NASCAR Cup Series victories during a 23-year career.

    His first win came in 2004 with Roush Racing and he continued his winning ways with various organizations including Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing.

    In 2022 Busch moved to 23XI Racing as the driver of the No. 45 Toyota, winning at Kansas Speedway. His season would be cut short at Pocono Raceway when Busch crashed during qualifying and suffered a concussion. However, he remained with the organization as a consultant and a mentor to drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. In May 2023, Busch was named to the list of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.

    “Again, it’s not one moment that’s led to this,” Busch said. “It’s a few different factors, and my body is having a battle with Father Time. I’ve had arthritis ever since I can remember. My gout has flared up so much that I can barely walk on some days, just pushing to get through physical therapy and to continue the workouts. I remember last summer, I was trying to not show that emotion, and I barely could even walk to the car at Dover because I had to have some shots pre-race just so that I could move my knee and move my feet. Those are those moments where things were starting to add up before things happened at Pocono.

    “As I transition out of the driver’s seat, I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed to have spent the amount of time I did as a driver in NASCAR, and I could never have imagined that growing up as a blue-collar kid from Las Vegas,” Busch said. “So many people have been part of my journey. I want to thank the fans, my family, friends, sponsors and team members.

    “Thanks to everyone who has taught me the different things around the motorsports world, and also for those who have had to put up with me. And I want to just thank again, everyone that continues to push me to strive for success in this sport. It’s time for a new journey, and I’m excited to get started.”

    In summary, he said, “I’m 45 years old. I’m very happy, complacent, and there’s nothing that I look back on and regret about having this opportunity at the top level of NASCAR.”

    “It’s time for a new journey, and I’m excited to get it started.”

  • This will be the Final Season for Multi-Time Championship Winning Team GMS Racing

    This will be the Final Season for Multi-Time Championship Winning Team GMS Racing

    STATESVILLE, NC (August 23rd, 2023) – This morning, GMS Racing officials announced it will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2023 race season. GMS Fabrication, a separate entity which has operated alongside the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race team, will also close its doors following the championship race at Phoenix Raceway.

    ”During the past nine years, GMS Racing has become one of the top teams in the Truck and ARCA Series garage. The people that made this happen have been the hard-working men and women at GMS Racing and GMS Fabrication. Every employee, new and old at GMS has always strived to be the very best,” said Maury Gallagher. “Without their effort and dedication, we would have never been able to win two Truck championships, three ARCA championships and 68 wins. Leadership is always critical in any success story. Since 2015, Mike Beam has been the catalyst of this race team’s success. Chevrolet and GM has also been critical to our success. With the combination of Chevrolet plus Mike at the helm, we became the team I always dreamed of owning. I can’t thank Mike enough for all his leadership and hard work. We are looking to finish out this year on a high note and close our legacy in this era with another Truck Series championship.”

    GMS Racing, or as it was formerly known as Gallagher Motorsports, was founded by entrepreneur and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company, Maury Gallagher, in 2012. Initially competing in the ARCA Menards Series with Gallagher’s son, Spencer Gallagher, as the team’s primary driver, the team fielded the No. 23 as a tribute to Spencer Clark, a young driver from Las Vegas who tragically passed away at the beginning of his career in 2006. In 2013, the team grew to include part-time operations of a NCTS race team, in which Gallagher would compete in three races.

    In 2014, the then-renamed GMS Racing began full-time in the Truck Series, partnering with Joey Coulter. The team also expanded its ARCA program, fielding two cars for Spencer and Grant Enfinger. Enfinger won the first race at Berlin Raceway for Gallagher as Team Owner. Spencer finished the year by winning the season finale at Kansas Speedway. Enfinger would finish runner up in the points in his first full-time season competing in ARCA.

    2015 would be a banner year for the race team, as Gallagher joined forces with one of the most respected names in motorsports, Mike Beam. Mike joined as Team President, a position he still holds today. He oversaw the race team and GMS Fabrication’s efforts. The year started off with a bang, as Ty Dillon won the team’s first pole award in the Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The team’s first truck win was soon in hand as Austin Dillion won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, solidifying their spot as a race-winning organization on a national level. Enfinger was on a tear in the ARCA Menards Series, winning a total of three poles and a division-high six races en route to winning the series championship, a remarkable feat for Beam and the crew members associated with GMS.

    Coming off the ARCA Menards Series championship, GMS Racing wanted more. In addition to the ARCA Series, GMS upped its game in its Truck efforts in 2016, fielding two full-time entries for Gallagher and Johnny Sauter, along with two part-time trucks split between several drivers. Race wins were plentiful that year, as Kyle Larson, Ben Kennedy, and Grant Enfinger would each score Truck Series victories. Sauter won three races of his own and captured the series championship, checking off a monumental accomplishment for the still relatively new race team. This would make it two championship seasons in a row for Beam and Gallagher, further emphasizing that this team was on the pathway to building a legacy.

    The 2017 season saw the team go full-time Xfinity Series racing with Spencer, in addition to a part-time second car. The Truck Series operations expanded yet again, this time making it three full-time entries with Sauter, Kaz Grala, and Justin Haley, along with a fourth truck that ran three times. Six wins would be earned by the team; one each by Grala and Chase Elliott, and four by Sauter, who fell one spot short of defending his title, finishing second overall.

    In 2018, Spencer Gallagher would earn both his and GMS Racing’s first Xfinity Series win at Talladega Superspeedway. Later that year he announced he was stepping away from driving to take on a managerial role within the team. It would be one of the organization’s most formidable years in the Truck Series, fielding four full-time trucks that combined to win 10 races. Six of those races were won by Sauter, three by Haley, and one by Timothy Peters. Sauter advanced to the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, ultimately finishing fourth in points.

    The following season in 2019 saw John Hunter Nemechek take over the reins of the GMS Xfinity Series car, finishing seventh in the points standings. The Truck Series operations would shrink to two full-time trucks driven by Sheldon Creed and Brett Moffitt, who won four races, along with an additional part-time truck. GMS started an ARCA East entry driven by Sam Mayer, who won four races on his way to the series championship in his rookie season. At the conclusion of 2019, the decision was made to exit the Xfinity Series and focus more on driver development in Trucks and ARCA.

    Arguably the most successful season throughout the team’s history was 2020. Its drivers combined to win 19 races across three series. The Truck Series fielded five full-time teams with drivers Creed, Moffitt, Zane Smith, and Tyler Ankrum competing for the championship, and a rotation of drivers in the fifth truck. This combination racked up 10 wins, five by Creed, two by Smith, one each by Moffitt, Chase Elliott and Sam Mayer. Heading into the championship race at Phoenix Raceway, GMS qualified for three of the four championship contenders places and finished the year with a remarkable 1-2-3 finish, led by Creed, who won the organization’s second Truck Series championship. Mayer continued to dominate the ARCA Menards Series East, boasting an unheard-of 80% win ratio with five wins in six races, cruising to the championship. He also won one time in ARCA West, driving a special paint scheme that honored the late Spencer Clark in front of Clark’s hometown Las Vegas.

    GMS Racing once again fielded five full-time trucks in 2021 for Creed, Smith, Ankrum, and Chase Purdy. The fifth was split by multiple drivers, coupled along with a part-time ARCA entry. The Truck team won a total of four races – Creed won three races while Smith brought home one checkered flag. Smith advanced to the final round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, finishing second in points. Daniel Dye won his first, and the team’s final ARCA win at Berlin Raceway, fittingly book-ending the team’s series wins at the same racetrack.

    Gallagher announced in late 2021 that he would field a NASCAR Cup Series in 2022, purchasing controlling interest in Richard Petty Motorsports. The new team, Petty GMS, began competing in 2022 in tandem with the Truck Series teams.

    Last year saw the team transition to two full-time trucks driven by Grant Enfinger and Jack Wood along with a full-time ARCA entry for Dye. Enfinger would win once that season, and Dye finished runner up in the ARCA championship and was named ARCA’s Rookie of the Year. He would later make the jump up to the Truck Series heading this season. 2022 was the finale for GMS Racing’s ARCA team.

    This season, GMS welcomed rookie drivers Dye and Rajah Caruth to its Truck Series roster in addition to Enfinger, returning to form and contending for wins throughout the year. Wins at Kansas Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway solidified Enfinger as one of the threats poised to win the 2023 Truck Series championship. The latest victory, win number 44 in the Truck Series, positioned the team as the overall winningest Chevrolet organization within the series. With six races remaining in the year, all three drivers will look to add fuel to the legacy of one of the most successful organizations in NCTS history.

    “I just want to start off by saying how grateful I am for Maury (Gallagher) and these incredible nine years at GMS Racing. A lot of people, including myself, have poured their hearts and souls into this organization to make it where it’s at today. Our success wouldn’t have been possible without the talented drivers, crew members, fabricators and administrators that have walked through our doors over the years,” responded Mike Beam. “I also want to thank Chevrolet. Chevrolet has been such a key partner of ours over our entire existence. They have been along for every success GMS has obtained and we couldn’t have done it without their support. As for the rest of this year, we will continue business as usual and chase after a Championship in our final season.”

    While the ending of an era with the closing of the race team is undeniably a difficult circumstance, bright futures lie ahead. Heading into 2024, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ Co-Owners Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson look to strengthen the team on all fronts with their NASCAR Cup Series efforts to become a force to be reckoned with for years to come. #WeAreGMS

    ABOUT GMS RACING:

    GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series operating the No. 23, No. 24, and No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for drivers Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Daniel Dye. Since the team was formed in 2012, GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, as well as the 2019 & 2020 ARCA East championships. GMS has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. including operations for GMS Fabrication. The GMS Racing campus also houses operations for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, a team that competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

    SOCIAL MEDIA:

    To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • William Byron Dominates at Watkins Glen

    William Byron Dominates at Watkins Glen

    By Holly Cain
    NASCAR Wire Service

    WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – William Byron added to his season highlight reel earning his first career NASCAR Cup Series road course victory with a dominant win in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen at historic Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

    It marks a career best fifth victory of the season – tops in the NASCAR Cup Series and most for him in a single season in a six-year career in NASCAR’s top series. And the 25-year-old Charlotte native and driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet had to earn this one – holding off another championship challenger, Denny Hamlin by a healthy 2.632-seconds for the win. Byron led an impressive 66 of the 90 laps – extending his advantage over the field each lap of the final 10 lap-run to the checkered flag.

    “Yeah, I would have to think about that a little bit though,’’ Byron said when asked if he felt like it was his most dominant race win. “But it definitely feels really good, just a huge credit to the race team behind me. I want to thank Max Papis. My first road course win and we worked years and years for this.

    “Thanks to all the guys on the team. I did a lot of laps on iRacing this week, got a new simulator at home. It’s a great win. It shows when we’re at our best we can perform like this.’’

    Byron, who won Stage 2 on Sunday, noted the timing is important as the series heads into the Playoffs.

    “We seem to go through that summer slump in July and August and for some reason we just can’t put the races together, I think it’s the race tracks themselves. But this weekend, we came with a good mindset and focused on getting ready for the postseason. We’ve had fast cars just haven’t executed races, but today was flawless.”

    Hamlin’s runner-up finish keeps the NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship still up for grabs. He trails his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. – who finished sixth – by 39 points heading into next week’s Daytona regular-season finale.

    Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell finished third with Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger and JGR’s Ty Gibbs rounding out the top five.

    Truex, Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing’s Chris Buescher, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick, Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10.

    With finishes of 15th and 21st, respectively, Roush-Fenway-Keselowski Racing owner/driver Brad Keselowski and Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick both locked themselves into the 2023 Playoffs based on points. That leaves only one position to be decided in next Saturday night’s regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway.

    23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace solidified his hold on that all-important 16th place in the points standings that could automatically transfer him into his first Playoff berth. Although Wallace concedes road course racing is not his strongest suit, he did exactly what he needed to, turning in a non-dramatic, consistent day. Wallace, who said he had a valuable phone conversation with six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon before the race, earned points in both stages. And his 12th place finish was his best road course finish of the five run so far this season.

    He now holds a 32-point advantage on the Joe Gibbs Racing rookie Gibbs and a 43-point advantage on Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez.

    “Just executed really,’’ Wallace said, noting that no new race winner Sunday certainly helps his cause in pursuing his first ever Playoff berth.

    “I’m proud of myself and that’s the first time I’ve felt proud of myself after a road course race. Just executed and didn’t lose focus, maybe one time. And that’s the difference-maker. You’ve got to stay on it in these places. Hats off to my team for sticking with me and believing in me.

    “Great day for the 23-team,’’ he added. “Now we get to go into Daytona, still stressful as hell but it takes a little bit of the edge off.’’

    On the flip side of fortune, it was a troublesome day for two of the other high-profile teams still needing to race their way into the upcoming Playoffs and needing a race win.

    Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott – the five-time and reigning Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Cup Series – came into the race already depending on a high speed Hail Mary of sorts. He was 80 points behind Wallace at the green flag. But Elliott’s team was slowed by an uncharacteristic fuel miscalculation. His No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet ran out of fuel with 23 laps remaining, stopped on-course and brought out a caution flag to push him back to pit road for a fuel-up.

    Elliott returned to race a lap down and finished 32nd and is now 21st in the standings.

    The three-time Daytona International Speedway polesitter will need to earn his first win at the superspeedway to advance to the Playoffs this season and keep his eight-year run of championship eligibility going. Elliott has two runner-up finishes at Daytona, in the 2020 summer race and the 2021 DAYTONA 500. He finished 29th in the summer race there last season.

    Elliott wasn’t made available to comment after the race.

    “That’s sort of the agony of a four-car team when one car does so well,’’ Hendrick Motorsports executive Jeff Gordon said of the day at The Glen. “It just shows you can’t make any mistakes.

    “Unfortunately, we had some mistakes,’’ he added, “Clearly it was a mis-calculation with the 9 car [Elliott] and that was huge.”

    Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suárez started the day only one position out of the top 16 – 28 points behind Wallace. But Suárez was the first of those on the Playoff bubble to encounter issues – going off-course at the famous “bus stop” portion of the Watkins Glen course and brushing the wall only five laps into the race.

    The off-course excursion dropped him from 10th place at the time to 24th in the field and he had to play catch-up all day, ultimately finishing 22nd. He goes into the Daytona season-finale next week 43 points out of the top 16 and also needing a victory.

    The rookie Gibbs actually improved his standing among those still within Playoff reach as the regular season closes. The driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota – who led a race best 70 laps in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen – ran among the top five all Sunday afternoon as well. His fifth place finish Sunday was best among those in the close fight for a Playoff berth. He goes to Daytona Beach 32-points behind Wallace and needing a win.

    “I felt like we were really fast,’’ the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Gibbs said. “I just didn’t do a good job of getting through the guys in front of us. I feel like we were much faster than three of them in front of us and I just couldn’t get by them.”

    Of his move into 17th place in the standings, and placing himself on the cusp of a Playoff berth, Gibbs said, “I don’t really know what mindset to have going there just to stay clean and try to make it to the end and have a good finish.’’

    The NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale to set the 2023 16-driver Playoff field takes place at the Daytona International Speedway with Saturday night’s ’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Austin Dillon is the defending race winner. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the DAYTONA 500 in February.

    NASCAR Cup Series Race – Go Bowling at The Glen
    Watkins Glen International
    Watkins Glen, New York
    Sunday, August 20, 2023
    (2) William Byron, Chevrolet, 90.
    (1) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 90.
    (7) Christopher Bell, Toyota, 90.
    (6) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 90.
    (4) Ty Gibbs #, Toyota, 90.
    (19) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 90.
    (13) Chris Buescher, Ford, 90.
    (8) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 90.
    (23) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 90.
    (11) Joey Logano, Ford, 90.
    (25) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 90.
    (12) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 90.
    (28) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 90.
    (9) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 90.
    (24) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 90.
    (17) Austin Cindric, Ford, 90.
    (30) Ryan Preece, Ford, 90.
    (22) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 90.
    (21) Mike Rockenfeller, Chevrolet, 90.
    (10) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 90.
    (33) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 90.
    (14) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 90.
    (18) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 90.
    (20) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 90.
    (29) Andy Lally, Ford, 90.
    (5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 90.
    (35) Josh Bilicki(i), Chevrolet, 90.
    (34) Cole Custer(i), Ford, 90.
    (31) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 90.
    (27) Aric Almirola, Ford, 90.
    (16) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 90.
    (15) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 89.
    (32) Harrison Burton, Ford, 89.
    (36) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 89.
    (26) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 83.
    (3) Michael McDowell, Ford, Electrical, 74.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 111.426 mph.

    Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 58 Mins, 44 Secs. Margin of Victory: 2.632 Seconds.

    Caution Flags: 1 for 4 laps.

    Lead Changes: 6 among 5 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: D. Hamlin 1-3;M. McDowell 4-20;W. Byron 21;A. Allmendinger 22-23;W. Byron 24-55;K. Busch 56-57;W. Byron 58-90.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): William Byron 3 times for 66 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 17 laps; Denny Hamlin 1 time for 3 laps; AJ Allmendinger 1 time for 2 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 2 laps.

    Stage #1 Top Ten: 34,24,11,54,16,5,20,23,8,45

    Stage #2 Top Ten: 24,11,54,5,16,20,9,8,23,3

  • Josh Berry to Pilot the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ™ No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet at Daytona

    Josh Berry to Pilot the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ™ No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet at Daytona

    STATESVILLE, N.C. (August 18, 2023) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ announced today that NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) standout Josh Berry will pilot the No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) event at Daytona International Speedway on August 26th.

    The night race at Daytona will be the 32-year-old Hendersonville, Tenn., native’s first start in a NASCAR Cup Series car at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Berry has four starts at the iconic track in the NXS with 24 laps led.

    Berry is currently ranked fifth in the Xfinity Series championship point standings with eight top-fives and 13 top-10 finishes to his credit this season. He is a five-time winner in the series achieving wins at tracks of all sizes including Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Berry made his 11th NCS start earlier this month at Michigan International Speedway as a “substitute” driver for LEGACY M.C.

    “I can’t thank everyone at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB enough for giving me the opportunity to drive the No. 42 again next weekend at Daytona,” said Berry. “I haven’t driven these cars on a superspeedway yet, but I’ve got great teammates in Erik Jones and Jimmie Johnson that I can lean on throughout the week to be up to speed for Saturday night.”

    “We appreciate the cooperation of JR Motorsports and look forward to Josh driving the No. 42 Chevy at Daytona,” said VP of Race Operations Joey Cohen. “Josh stepped in at Michigan and fit in great with the team. He understands the need to work together at superspeedways as a teammate and can help LEGACY M.C. have a solid points day and contest for the win.”

    The NASCAR Cup Series’ 400-mile event at Daytona International Speedway will take place under the lights on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7:00 pm ET airing on NBC, MRN Radio and SIRIUS XM NASCAR Radio channel 90.

    ABOUT SUNSEEKER RESORT:

    Opening in 2023, Florida’s newest luxury resort located in Charlotte Harbor is the first resort property of Sunseeker Resorts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Company. Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor occupies over 22 waterfront acres with 785 guest rooms, including 189 Signature Sunsuites™. Set upon the Peace River and Florida Gulf Coast, this premier resort offers 20 original food and beverage concepts; including seven stand-alone restaurants, eleven bars and lounges, two poolside offerings and a 25,000-square-foot multi-dining experience. Additional hotel amenities include a waterfront promenade, two unique rooftop and waterfront pool experiences, 60,000-square-feet of combined convention space, full-service spa and salon, a 7,100-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center with four group exercise studios with specialty instructor lead classes, three retail and market shops, and an 18-hole championship level golf club exclusive to hotel guests only. The resort is conveniently located within a short drive of Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, and Tampa airports. For more information, visit www.sunseekerresorts.com. Follow us on Instagram: @sunseekerresorts and like us on Facebook: @sunseekerresorts.

    ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

    LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro entries, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

    In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

    Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

    SOCIAL MEDIA:

    To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

  • Double-Duty Weekend Coming at Bristol Motor Speedway for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    Double-Duty Weekend Coming at Bristol Motor Speedway for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    NASCAR Hall of Famer will race in Friday’s Food City 300 and then call the action as a USA race analyst in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race

    BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 17, 2023) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will face the challenging .533-mile all-concrete high banks that lurks inside The Last Great Colosseum for the first time since the 2017 season on Friday night, Sept. 15, when he competes in the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio).

    Then, on Saturday, Sept. 16, after he’s finished racing, he will head to the TV booth high above BMS to call the action as part of the USA/NBC Sports team in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, a Round of 16 Playoff race for the Cup Series.

    The two-time Xfinity Series champ, who famously coined the phrase “It’s Bristol, Baby!” after winning the 2004 Night Race in the Cup Series at BMS, is scheduled to drive his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevy in the Friday night race under the lights on the famed Northeast Tennessee short track.

    “I love the high banks of Bristol,” said Earnhardt Jr., who won his only Xfinity Series race at Bristol in 2004, the Food City 250. “When I was a little boy and watched dad race, out of all the races when I was a kid, the Bristol Night Race was the one I didn’t want to miss. It’s just electric there and I would always beg dad to go to that race.”

    Earnhardt Jr. has run at least one Xfinity Series race each year since his retirement to get his racing fix and this year the NASCAR Hall of Famer will elevate his game by running in two Xfinity Series events. In addition to the Food City 300, he recently announced he will also compete in another Xfinity Series race at Homestead Miami on Oct 21.

    At Bristol, Earnhardt will drive a blue and yellow Hellmann’s Mayonnaise No. 88 Chevy prepared by crew chief Jason Stockert.

    Earnhardt Jr. has a solid Xfinity Series record at Bristol. In 12 career starts he has posted 10 top-10 finishes and 7 top-fives, which includes the memorable ’04 sweep. In his last Xfinity start at Bristol in 2017 he finished 13th after starting 17th. His worst Xfinity finish at BMS was a 22nd place finish in his first attempt in 1997 where he started the race on the outside pole for local team owner Ed Whitaker.

    “We are thrilled to have Dale Jr. back in action on the famed high banks in the Food City 300,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “He is such a legend in the sport and has meant so much to fans in our region. We can’t wait to see him in action on the track in his No. 88 Chevy.”

    In addition to Earnhardt’s return, the Food City 300 is also the Playoff opener for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, so the stakes will be high for his four full-time team cars as they chase championship glory. On Saturday, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race will showcase the Cup Series Round of 16 Playoff elimination race, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio). The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will get the fun started on Thursday night, Sept. 14, with the running of the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (8 p.m., FS1 and MRN Radio). The ARCA Menards Series will open Thursday’s racing to make it a doubleheader night with the Bush’s Beans 200 (6 p.m., FS1 and MRN Radio).

    Off the track there’s tons to do during your Bristol visit with lots of activities available in the BMS Fan Zone and BMS Fan Midway. Kenny Wallace and John Roberts will host Trackside Live at the Food City Fan Zone Stage on Saturday at 4 p.m. where drivers and other newsmakers will be interviewed. Country music band Midland will perform the pre-race concert Saturday at 5:30 p.m. to get the fans revved up for the traditional driver introductions, where each driver enters the stadium to a favorite song or music. There will be post-race entertainment on Thursday and Friday, as DJ Sterl the Pearl will host the world-famous Foam Party after the Thursday night double-header, and country music singer Tim Dugger will perform after Friday night’s Food City 300.

    For tickets, please visit the BMS website or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.

    About Bristol Motor Speedway
    Forged amid the scenic mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line, Bristol Motor Speedway is The Last Great Colosseum, a versatile multi-use venue that hosts major auto races, football games, concerts and many other captivating events. The facility features a 0.533-mile concrete oval race track with 28-degree corner banking and 650-feet straightaways that offers racing in several NASCAR touring series, highlighted by two major Cup Series weekends each year. In 2020, the track also served as host of the prestigious NASCAR All-Star Race, and in 2021 began converting to a temporary dirt track each spring to take the Cup Series back to its racing roots. While at the track, fans are offered a unique viewing experience courtesy of Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor center-hung four-sided video screen with a 540,000-watt audio system. The adjacent quarter-mile dragstrip, Bristol Dragway, offers more than 50 events annually, including the marquee NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. The Thunder Valley Amphitheatre presented by Ballad Health transforms Bristol Dragway into a premier outdoor concert venue for the world’s greatest music performers. Three football games have kicked-off inside the oval, most notably the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol, where border rivals the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech met before an NCAA-record crowd of 156,990. In existence since 1961, Bristol Motor Speedway was purchased in 1996 by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a publicly traded company that is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. For more information, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.

  • Noah Gragson & LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Statement

    Noah Gragson & LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Statement

    Today, Noah Gragson requested to be released from his contract as the driver of the No. 42 NASCAR Cup Series entry for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.

    ”I have asked LEGACY MOTOR CLUB to release me from my contract so that I can take time to work through the NASCAR reinstatement process. I love racing, and I am looking forward to a second chance to compete for wins at the highest level of NASCAR – and most importantly, make my family, my team and the fans proud of me once again.” – Noah Gragson

    “Noah has a ton of talent and has a great personality. This is a difficult situation, but we are proud that Noah has taken ownership of his actions and are confident he will work through this process with NASCAR and come back stronger.” – Cal Wells III, CEO, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

    ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:

    LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (NCS) Jimmie Johnson. The club competes full-time in the NCS fielding the Nos. 42 and 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries, respectively, along with the No. 84 part-time entry for Johnson in 2023. Richard Petty “The King” serves as team ambassador.

    In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports and renamed the team to Petty GMS. With the addition of Johnson to the ownership structure in 2023, the organization rebranded to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY M.C.). With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level.

    Based in Statesville, N.C., LEGACY M.C. operates alongside GMS Racing (GMS), which currently fields three full-time entries in the NASCAR Truck Series. Since the formation of GMS in 2012, Gallagher and Mike Beam, team president, have shared incredible success. GMS Racing captured the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship, the 2016 and 2020 NASCAR Truck Series championships and the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East championships, accumulating over 65 wins across six national racing circuits.

    To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.