Category: Featured Headline

Historic team readies for 75th anniversary season

STUART, Va. (October 30, 2024) – Miles Stanley, a seasoned race engineer in the NASCAR Cup Series and longtime employee of Team Penske, will transition to Wood Brothers Racing in 2025 – the team’s 75th anniversary season – to serve as crew chief of the famed No. 21 Ford Mustang with driver Josh Berry.

Stanley, a native of Akron, Ohio, currently serves as Team Penske’s performance engineering manager, a role he has held for three years. Previously, Stanley served as the race engineer for Joey Logano’s championship-winning No. 22 team from 2013 to 2019. He was instrumental in the team’s success those seven seasons including 21 wins and qualifying for the NASCAR Playoffs Championship 4 three times which led to the series title in 2018.

After finishing fifth in the Cup Series standings in 2019, Stanley transitioned to the No. 12 team in 2020 with Ryan Blaney behind the wheel. The duo battled for race wins throughout the season, extending Ryan Blaney’s streak of four consecutive seasons with a win and playoff berth. In 2021, Stanley earned his first opportunity as a crew chief with Team Penske in the Cup Series, leading the team’s part-time No. 33 entry with Austin Cindric before taking on his current role in 2022 where he also contributed to the organization’s 2022 and 2023 Cup Series championships.

“The Wood Brothers name is synonymous with the sport of NASCAR, and to be able to serve as the crew chief for the iconic No. 21 is an incredible opportunity,” said Stanley. “I’m looking forward to working with Josh Berry, whose skills and enthusiasm are sure to bring great value to the team. It’s an exciting time for the Wood Brothers with the addition of Josh Berry and the celebration of their 75th anniversary in NASCAR in 2025. We’ll be ready to hit the ground running.”

Stanley attended the University of Akron and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2007. After completing college, Stanley began his career in open-wheel racing, working for Polestar Racing Group in the Champ Car Atlantic Series. During his time there, Stanley served as both an engineer and crew chief.

In 2009, Stanley transitioned from open-wheel racing to stock cars as he joined Robby Gordon Motorsports, first serving as race engineer, then becoming a crew chief for Gordon’s part-time Cup Series team. Stanley joined BK Racing for its 2012 Cup Series campaign as the head of race track engineering. He oversaw the engineering programs on both the No. 83 and No. 93 Cup Series cars before he got the opportunity to join the Penske organization for the 2013 season.

“Miles has built an impressive resume filled with wins and championships, and he has a deep, technical understanding of the sport. His commitment and impressive track record make him a perfect fit for the No. 21 team as we enter an exciting new chapter,” said Jon Wood, president, Wood Brothers Racing. “Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most talented crew chiefs in NASCAR, and I look forward to seeing what Miles and Josh accomplish on the track next year.”

Stanley’s first race atop the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing pit box will be for the inaugural Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sunday, February 2, to kick off the 2025 Cup Series season.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 100 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop.

Weatherford, Texas (October 28, 2024) – Voting for the 2024 National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award opened Monday, Oct. 28, 2024.

Voting will remain open until Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. The winner will be announced Friday, Nov. 22, during the annual NASCAR Awards Ceremonies in Charlotte, N.C.

Fans may cast five votes for a single driver once a day, per email address at www.NASCAR.com/mostpopulardriver or on the NASCAR mobile app.

To be eligible for the award, a driver must have declared for NASCAR Cup Series points. A driver also must have been eligible for championship contention during the 2024 season.

The award was first presented to Curtis Turner in 1949 after NASCAR’S inaugural Strictly Stock (now Cup) season. It has been administered by the NMPA and presented annually by the organization since 1983. It remains the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote.

NMPA Hall of Fame member and 1988 Cup Series champion Bill Elliott possesses the record for Most Popular Driver awards with 16: 1984-1988, 1991-2000, and 2002. Dale Earnhardt Jr., inducted into the NMPA Hall of Fame in 2020, won the award for 15 consecutive seasons, 2003-2017. 

Chase Elliott has received the honor the past five years.

Formed in 1965, the NMPA consists of qualified media members who report on the sport of auto racing through affiliations with print, radio, television, and/or internet news-gathering organizations. In addition to the NMPA Most Popular Driver Award, the NMPA presents an array of significant honors in auto racing, some of which are the Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award, the Myers Brothers Award, the NMPA Pocono Spirit Award, and the Wood Brothers Award of Excellence.

Additional information about the NMPA can be found at www.nmpaonline.com.

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 25, 2024) – NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe knows time is of the essence. The 29-year-old racer from Mitchell, Indiana, is always up against the clock, trying to shave seconds from his lap times as he races at 200 mph.

In a sport where performance reviews come via a stopwatch, it’s appropriate that Briscoe has his own signature watch.

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner partnered with Fleddermann von Rieste, an independent Indiana-based watch brand, to serve as the company’s first brand ambassador and its growing line of watches. As part of that growth, Briscoe has unveiled two versions of his signature Hanoverian Sport Watch – the Southern Nights Black edition and its Back Home Again Blue counterpart – both designed by Briscoe and the Fleddermann von Rieste team and carefully assembled in their home state of Indiana.

Southern Nights Black features a black carbon fiber textured dial with an exhibition case back that showcases the Cerakote-plated, Chase Briscoe-branded oscillating weight with high-beat movement. The higher oscillation frequency allows for enhanced accuracy and greater precision, while making it less susceptible to shock and other forces. Also included is a durable and comfortable FKM rubber strap that is resistant to chemicals, oils, heat and wear, but also flexible and tough to withstand extreme conditions without losing shape or strength.

Back Home Again Blue draws inspirations from Briscoe’s Hoosier heritage and the colors of its state flag. Its blue carbon fiber textured dial is a direct contrast to the Southern Nights Black edition while keeping the same sleek lines. To see and learn more about both watches, please visit vonrieste.com.

“I still view myself as just a kid from Indiana, and it’s a pinch-me moment to have my own signature watch,” Briscoe said. “I started racing for the love of it, and that’s why you put so much time, energy and effort into your craft. You love it and you take pride in what you do and how you do it. My Hanoverian Sport Watches from Fleddermann von Rieste are made the same way.”

The center of each of Briscoe’s Hanoverian Sport Watches has a 41mm black PVD coated 316 stainless steel case, and they are paired with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal that is water resistant to 100 meters. This sapphire crystal protects the exquisite carbon fiber textured dial that features Briscoe’s personal logo and the watch industry’s standard–defining Swiss BGW9 Super LumiNova.

“Ensuring that Chase’s style and personality were intricately woven into the architecture of the watch was of the utmost importance to us during the design process,” said Dr. Adam Fleddermann, CEO, Fleddermann von Rieste. “Chase never just sticks a toe in the water to test something. He dives in head first, and his signature watch is no exception. Chase was intimately involved in all stages of the development of his watch, from initial brainstorming, to the review of design renders, and the finalization of the design, packaging and product launch. Chase’s passion toward this project was unwavering. We’re proud to bring Chase’s watch to his fans and watch enthusiasts.”

Briscoe is a third-generation racecar driver who has advanced from winning grassroots dirt track events in his home state of Indiana to competing at the highest level of North American motorsports, the NASCAR Cup Series.

“Being someone who has always been attracted to watches and what they symbolize as not only a tool for keeping time but also a piece of family pride, I was naturally drawn to the Fleddermann von Rieste brand,” Briscoe said. “Their Hoosier heritage and faith-based family approach to business made them a perfect fit for me and the brands I want to represent. The Fleddermann family has already become part of my extended family, and I’m excited to introduce their high-quality products to my fans and the entire racing industry.”

Since he was 13, Briscoe has followed in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps, racing sprint cars on the rough and tumble bullrings of the Midwest. Briscoe has since expanded his family’s name into NASCAR. After winning the NASCAR Cup Series rookie-of-the-year title in 2021, Briscoe won in just the fourth start of his sophomore season. On March 13, 2022 at Phoenix Raceway, Briscoe took the checkered flag in just his 40th career NASCAR Cup Series start. The victory secured Briscoe’s place in the NASCAR Playoffs and earned him the honor of being the 200th Cup Series winner in NASCAR history. Most recently, Briscoe won the 75th edition of the Southern 500 on Sept. 1 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, considered one of NASCAR’s crown-jewel races.

“Similar to the same attributes teams put into their cars to win at the top level of our sport, I can respect the incredible attention to detail and overall craftsmanship the Fleddermann von Rieste team puts into every watch they design. The watches they produce are attention-grabbing pieces that you truly want to cherish for generations,” Briscoe said.

Learn more about Briscoe by visiting vonrieste.com/ambassadors.

About Fleddermann von Rieste:

Fleddermann von Rieste is an independent Indiana-based watch brand that assembles watches with an American Watchmaker and Clockmaker Institute (AWCI) certified watchmaker and his apprentice in Kokomo, Indiana. Arriving in the 1840s, the Fleddermann family is proud of their longstanding Indiana heritage, with their earliest ancestor arriving in Southeastern Indiana from Rieste, Germany. Appreciative of their Indiana and German roots, the family believes in producing attainable luxury timepieces inspired by their ancestry in Germany, produced with passion and skill in their home state of Indiana. Fleddermann von Rieste offers a growing line of watches ranging in styles and pricing from under $500 to $1,600. All have mechanical or automatic movements and have passed the stringent bench testing of AWCI watchmakers before finding a home on your wrist. When you purchase a Fleddermann von Rieste watch, you’re not only purchasing a watch, but also an extension of your personality as you take another step forward on the journey toward your legacy.

By Holly Cain
NASCAR Wire Service

LAS VEGAS — Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano made his Team Penske’s fuel strategy call work to perfection Sunday afternoon to claim victory in the South Point 400 Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and earn the first of four NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 berths.

Logano led only the final six laps on the Vegas 1.5-miler but was able to hold off the afternoon’s most dominant car, Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota by a slight .662-second in the final few laps.

Bell, on the other hand, led a race-best 155 of the race’s 267 laps and won Stage 2, but he pit 35 laps later than Logano and was not able to make up the nearly 30-second advantage Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford held on track after Bell’s stop.

Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez, who also used the same strategy as Logano, finished third after leading 57 laps, followed by Playoff driver, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Hendrick’s Alex Bowman.

It’s been quite the turn of fortune for Logano, who a week ago following a race at the Charlotte ROVAL thought he was eliminated from the Playoffs only to receive news from NASCAR hours after the checkered flag that he was reinstated. Bowman had initially held that Playoff position, but his car was ruled illegal in post-race inspection and he was disqualified after the ROVAL race.

That meant Logano, not Bowman would advance to this Round of 8 which includes two more races – next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway and then Nov. 3 at Martinsville, Va. – to set the four-driver Championship field. Of note, Logano’s last Las Vegas Playoff race win in 2022 propelled him to the series championship.

“Man, we did some fuel mileage stuff, didn’t we? Holy crap,’’ said a smiling Logano, whose four career wins now at Las Vegas ties NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson for most all-time at the track.

“What an incredible turn of events here the last week. Very fast Pennzoil Mustang. We’re going to the Championship 4 again. It’s real. Great fuel mileage, great calls by [crew chief] Paul [Wolfe], Nick Hensley, our gas man, making sure she’s full, giving me the info to keep the lead that we needed to. We’re going racing again. What an incredible situation, man. I’m so blessed.

“Just incredible day. Like I said, it takes the whole team to do the fuel mileage stuff. Not just the engineers, spotter. It takes all of us to do it. Total team win. We may not have been the fastest car today, but we were a solid top-five car and be able to maximize it at the end.’’

Bell was as disappointed as Logano was elated.

“I don’t know [how to come to terms with the race ending] and I don’t think I have come to terms yet’’ said Bell, who is now 0-for-13 in wins after starting a race from pole position.

“Just a bummer. I think everyone on this team did everything perfect today. This thing was obviously on rails, pit crew did an amazing job and [pit crew] Adam [Stevens] called a great race. Did everything we needed to, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be today.’’

“The points look pretty good, but you’re never safe in this deal,’’ Bell added. “We needed to win today and unfortunately, we didn’t. We’ll go on to the next one.’’

The race certainly provided major implications for the eight Playoff drivers – three of them were eliminated from winning contention by Stage 2, two more struggled with pit stops thereafter, leaving Logano, Bell, Byron and eighth place finisher Denny Hamlin to lead the championship presence among the top-10. Bell’s afternoon was good enough to propel him into the championship points lead with a 42-point advantage on the cutoff line.

Hamlin’s eighth-place effort was impressive after a difficult day for his No. 11 Toyota team, which endured a challenging day on pit road before also using a similar fuel-save plan to Logano.

His teammate JGR’s Martin Truex Jr. was sixth, followed by Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain, Hamlin, Legacy Motor Club’s John Hunter Nemechek and Roush-Fenway-Keselowski’s Chris Buescher.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson finished 11th – falling off the lead lap at one point after also having a bad pit stop. He is now second in the points standings, 35 points above the cutoff line and his Hendrick teammate Byron holds that important fourth place, 27 points ahead of Hamlin.

Regular season champion and the race’s outside polesitter Tyler Reddick finished 35th, eliminated after a roll-over accident in tight racing on lap 90. The accident collected fellow Playoff driver, Chase Elliott along with Brad Keselowski and reigning series champion and Playoff driver Ryan Blaney.

“We can still have a good day at Homestead and be in the mix in Martinsville,’’ a frustrated Reddick said. “Ideally, yeah, it would have been nice to win today. It would be nice to win next week, and that is what we will focus on, but thankfully we got 10 stage points in stage one, and it’s not like we are absolutely out of it on points, yet. We are going to have to be perfect here on out, probably.”

It was a rough weekend from even before the race’s green flag for Blaney, who suffered a flat tire in Saturday’s opening practice that put his primary No. 12 Team Penske Ford into the wall. He started his back-up from last in the 37-car field Sunday and was steadily moving forward before being caught up in that multi-car accident with Reddick and Elliott. He finished 32nd. Elliott was 33rd.

Hamlin is fifth in the championship standings, 27 off Byron. Reddick is 30 points below the cutoff line, followed by Blaney (-47) and Elliott (-53).

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to South Florida for Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Bell is the defending race winner.

NASCAR Cup Series Race – South Point 400

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sunday, October 20, 2024

(10) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 267.
(1) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 267.
(23) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 267.
(9) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 267.
(3) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 267.
(12) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267.
(7) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 267.
(4) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 267.
(26) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 267.
(22) Chris Buescher, Ford, 267.
(5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 267.
(19) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 267.
(20) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 267.
(35) Corey LaJoie, Ford, 267.
(31) Harrison Burton, Ford, 267.
(14) Zane Smith #, Chevrolet, 267.
(16) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 267.
(21) Noah Gragson, Ford, 267.
(33) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 267.
(15) Michael McDowell, Ford, 267.
(36) Cody Ware, Ford, 267.
(32) Ryan Preece, Ford, 266.
(6) Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 266.
(28) Josh Berry #, Ford, 266.
(27) Erik Jones, Toyota, 266.
(24) Chase Briscoe, Ford, 266.
(25) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 266.
(29) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota, 265.
(34) Shane Van Gisbergen(i), Chevrolet, 265.
(8) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 264.
(30) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 263.
(37) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 259.
(18) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, Suspension, 230.
(11) Austin Cindric, Ford, DVP, 96.
(2) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota, Accident, 89.
(17) Brad Keselowski, Ford, Accident, 89.
(13) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, Accident, 61.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 139.385 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 52 Mins, 24 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.662 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 5 for 32 laps.

Lead Changes: 13 among 10 drivers.

Lap Leaders: C. Bell (P) 1-36;R. Blaney (P) 37-40;C. Bell (P) 41-67;M. Truex Jr. 68-74;T. Reddick (P) 75-83;D. Hamlin (P) 84-87;T. Gibbs 88-110;C. Bell (P) 111-123;K. Larson (P) 124;D. Suarez 125-150;C. Bell (P) 151-229;W. Byron (P) 230;D. Suarez 231-261;J. Logano (P) 262-267.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Christopher Bell (P) 4 times for 155 laps; Daniel Suarez 2 times for 57 laps; Ty Gibbs 1 time for 23 laps; Tyler Reddick (P) 1 time for 9 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 1 time for 7 laps; Joey Logano (P) 1 time for 6 laps; Denny Hamlin (P) 1 time for 4 laps; Ryan Blaney (P) 1 time for 4 laps; William Byron (P) 1 time for 1 lap; Kyle Larson (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 45,20,19,24,6,54,17,22,2,5

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,19,24,17,22,48,7,99,23,41