Category: XFINITY Series News

No. 8 Hellmann’s Chevy to Carry Dale Sr. Tribute During Darlington NXS Race  

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 28, 2019) – As a third-generation racer, Dale Earnhardt Jr. understands the importance of family, hard work and heritage. Today, Hellmann’s and Earnhardt Jr. unveiled a special paint scheme that captures those key elements in a memorable way, announcing by video a throwback tribute to his late father Dale Earnhardt Sr. that he’ll drive during the Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway (Aug. 31).

Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 8 Hellmann’s Chevrolet draws inspiration from the same classic design Earnhardt Sr. piloted in his first NASCAR Cup Series start on May 25, 1975 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 2019 version mirrors the blue and yellow livery, showcases a similar font and recreates the vintage style of the No. 8 on the door panels and roof.   

“This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “We had the perfect opportunity with the Darlington throwback race and I couldn’t pass up the chance. Hellmann’s has been completely supportive from the beginning and the whole concept aligns well with their core values.” 

With the project combining NASCAR history and car design, two of Earnhardt Jr.’s passions, the appeal and significance of the commemorative paint scheme is evident given its intriguing backstory. 

Carrying sponsorship from 10,000 RPM Speed Equipment, Earnhardt Sr.’s No. 8 was owned by Ed Negre, both a driver and car owner who made 338 Grand National starts between 1955-79. Negre’s son Norman worked as an engine builder for his father and the Negre Racing Team and was a close friend of Earnhardt Sr. In 1975, after some persuasion, the pair convinced the elder Negre to let them enter a second car, which Earnhardt Sr. would drive and Norman would crew chief in the World 600. With his approval, the two dusted off a spare car out of Negre’s shop and went to work prepping it for the race. 

Earnhardt Sr. would go on to finish 22^nd in what was his first of 676 series starts. But it was the start of long and fruitful motorsport careers for both he and Norman and the beginning of another chapter in their respective family legacies.

“It was a ton of fun getting Norman (Negre) in on it, too,” Earnhardt Jr. continued. “He was good friends with Dad and they worked together to get that car ready for the race back in the day. Norman had some old pictures of that ride and we collaborated to get the paint scheme as close as we could to the original. I’m really happy with how it turned out.”

The No. 8 Hellmann’s throwback car marks only the fourth time Earnhardt Jr. has driven a special paint scheme in tribute to an Earnhardt family member.

Fans were urged to be part of the excitement surrounding the paint scheme through social media and at Talladega Superspeedway where fan-submitted photos were added to an at-track digital mosaic of the Hellmann’s paint scheme. For each fan-submitted photo Hellmann’s also secured eight meals for local Feeding America food banks as part of the Race To Fight Hunger campaign.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 50 NASCAR-sanctioned races.  Now in its 17^th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports races in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it won championships in 2014, 2017 and 2018.  The company also competes in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional late model divisions.  To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com. 

ABOUT UNILEVER UNITED STATES, INC.
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2.5 billion consumers a day. In the United States, the portfolio includes brand icons such as Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Caress, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Dove, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, Klondike, Knorr, Lever 2000, Lipton, Love Beauty and Planet, Magnum, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Pure Leaf, Q-tips, Schmidt’s Naturals, Seventh Generation, Simple, Sir Kensington’s, St. Ives, Suave, Sundial Brands, Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto, TAZO, TIGI, TONI&GUY, TRESemmé and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan underpins the company’s strategy and commits to: 

• Helping more than a billion people take action to improve their health and well-being by 2020.
• Halving the environmental impact of our products by 2030.
• Enhancing the livelihoods of millions of people by 2020.

For more information on Unilever U.S., its brands, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan visit: www.unileverusa.com

Graf Jr. to Make Select Starts in No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro, While Also Serving as Team’s Marketing and Communications Intern

WELCOME, N.C. (April 26, 2019) – Richard Childress Racing welcomes Joe Graf Jr. to its NASCAR Xfinity Series program, as well as its marketing and communications team. Graf Jr., who will pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro in select races this year, is a freshman at New York University. He will also learn the business side of the sport by serving as a marketing and communications intern for the team. The 20-year-old’s first race will be at Michigan International Speedway this June.

“This is an amazing opportunity that wouldn’t be possible without NYU and RCR working together,” said Joe Graf Jr. “For my internship to be with one of the most recognizable teams in NASCAR is unbelievable. To then think that I will also have the opportunity to drive the No. 21 car is really exciting.”

“I am pumped for the opportunity to learn all facets of this business,” continued Graf Jr. “From inside the cockpit to the corporate office. The quality of the RCR organization speaks for itself, especially celebrating their 50th anniversary this season. I am eager to learn, contribute and compete.”

While racing for RCR this season, Graf Jr. will also have the chance to learn the science of racing, by spending behind-the-scenes time with the competition and engineering teams. Graf Jr. will have the opportunity to attend competition meetings and debriefs, get simulator time, and assist with pit stop practice.

“We’re happy to have Joe joining us in such a unique developmental role as a driver and intern,” said Torrey Galida, President of RCR. “It’s not often that drivers get the opportunity to learn both in and out of the race car, and we hope that’s what Joe is able to do with his dual role here. It’s very helpful for drivers to understand the technical and business side of the sport, and Joe gets that. We’re confident he’s going to be successful both on and off the track for RCR.”

Graf Jr. is currently competing full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, and will balance his internship and starts with RCR with his current race schedule. During his 2018 debut season in ARCA, the Mahwah, New Jersey native secured one win, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes, including the closest finish in ARCA Series history when he placed second at Talladega Superspeedway in a statistical tie.

Prior to racing in ARCA, Graf Jr. competed in the NASCAR Modified Series and was named the Rookie of the Year at Stafford Motor Speedway. The current NYU student, who began racing in bandolero cars at age nine, also has recorded over 50 wins in the INEX Legends Car Series and multiple track championships.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit rcrracing.com.

About Richard Childress Racing:
Richard Childress Racing (rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR celebrates 50 years of racing in 2019 and has earned more than 200 victories and 15 championships, including six in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2019 Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion, 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/American Ethanol/AAA/Symbicort/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) along with Rookie of the Year contender Daniel Hemric (No. 8 Caterpillar/ Bass Pro Shops/Liberty National Life Insurance/Cessna/VF Workwear Chevrolet). Its Xfinity Series program includes defending Series Champion Tyler Reddick (No. 2 Hurdl/Pinnacle Financial Partners/Anderson’s Maple Syrup Chevrolet) as well as select races with Kaz Grala and Joe Graf, Jr. (No. 21 Camaro).

Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro Team to Feature State-of-the-Art Pediatric Medical Center in the NASCAR Xfinity Series

WELCOME, N.C. (March 27, 2019) – Richard Childress Racing is proud to welcome Nationwide Children’s Hospital, who will be featured on the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Tyler Reddick for multiple races this season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The not-for-profit freestanding pediatric health care system’s association with RCR begins with the upcoming Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 30.

“Tyler has left lasting impressions on the patients and families he has met at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and his commitment and passion for helping kids everywhere speaks volumes,” said Niki Shafer, Senior Vice President, Outreach, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are thrilled Tyler is continuing his support, and we are looking forward to being a part of the extraordinary Richard Childress Racing team.”

Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 13,000 providing state-of the-art pediatric care during more than 1.4 million patient visits annually. The central Ohio-based health system was founded in 1892, and today provides pediatric care and research programs to help children worldwide.

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital is a well-regarded leader in pediatric care and research, so it’s an honor to be able to help bring attention to their mission during the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season,” said Torrey Galida, President of RCR. “Tyler has built a great relationship with the medical center in the past and remains passionate about his continued work with the hospital as he looks to defend his championship this year.”

Reddick joined RCR in 2019 in the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro as the reigning Xfinity Series champion. In just five races this year, he has collected two pole awards, three top-five and four top-10 finishes.

For additional information on today’s announcement, and all that’s happening at RCR, please visit rcrracing.com.

About Nationwide Children’s Hospital:
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2018-19 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric health care systems providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 13,000 providing state-of-the-art pediatric care during more than 1.4 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.

About Richard Childress Racing:
Richard Childress Racing (rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR celebrates 50 years of racing in 2019 and has earned more than 200 victories and 15 championships, including six in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2019 Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR champion, 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Dow/American Ethanol/AAA/Symbicort/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) along with Rookie of the Year contender Daniel Hemric (No. 8 Caterpillar/ Bass Pro Shops/Liberty National Life Insurance/Cessna/VF Workwear Chevrolet). Its Xfinity Series program includes defending Series Champion Tyler Reddick (No. 2 Hurdl/Pinnacle Financial Partners/Anderson’s Maple Syrup Chevrolet) as well as select races with Kaz Grala (No. 21 HotScream Camaro).