Remembering Dale Earnhardt

Gone but not forgotten #TheIntimidator

 

On the afternoon of February 18, 2001, #NASCAR driver and team owner Dale Earnhardt was involved in a final-lap collision in the 2001 Daytona 500, in which he crashed into a retaining wall after making contact with Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader. 

He was pronounced dead at Halifax Medical Center a short time later; the cause of death was a basilar skull fracture, which was determined to have killed him instantly. 

Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr., who finished second in the race, shared the memory of his final moment with his dad in the hospital. "I walked into dad's room, and knew right away it was as bad as it could be," he recalled. "I turned around and walked back out of there and sat for 30 minutes in that hospital before they told us he was gone."

Had a surprise this morning. Now the fun part of learning its history begins.... pic.twitter.com/N2WjkxtD0x

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 18, 2025

There will never be another Dale Earnhardt Sr. He will live in our memories forever. pic.twitter.com/KcZLzZBesO

— Atlanta Motor Speedway (@ATLMotorSpdwy) February 18, 2025

It’s been 24 years since we heard the words “We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt.”

Dale Earnhardt was a 7-time Winston Cup Champion
1979 NASCAR ROY
1998 Daytona 500 Champion
Winner of 76 races#RIP Intimidator. 🖤 pic.twitter.com/U5GY55f0xv

— The Bulldawg Report (@ReportBulldawg) February 18, 2025

Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr. today…
(April 29, 1951 - February 18, 2001)#TheIntimidator pic.twitter.com/hg9Ta4DWm5

— Front Row Racing (@row_racing) February 18, 2025

Feb 18, 2001 - The day we lost one of the greats. Dale Earnhardt Sr. passes away in a crash during the last lap during the Daytona 500 at just 49 years old. Dale won 76 Winston Cup races during his 26-year career. 🏁#OTD #3 #NASCAR #TheIntimidator #RaiseHellPraiseDale pic.twitter.com/WBKem1TMnk

— NineLineApparel (@NineLineApparel) February 18, 2025

Dale was called “Dale Earnhardt Sr” in an interview with Ralph Sheheen before the 2000 Daytona 500 and quickly made that point:

“No. Dale Earnhardt. Dale Jr.” https://t.co/HB1baLU8pk pic.twitter.com/2vprTr4BKw

— Seth Sharp (@SethSharp35) July 26, 2023

FOCO Releases Dale Earnhardt Jr. Bobblehead

Wearing his White Raceday Suit, Dale Jr. Recreates his Famous Sports Illustrated Cover

 

FOCO is one of the sport industry’s most prominent manufacturers of apparel, toys, and accessories officially licensed by all the major sports leagues.

 

Today FOCO released a brand-new NASCAR bobblehead they don’t want any NASCAR fans missing out on.

 

“You can get your Intimidator on because it’s time to put the pedal to the metal! Make way in that collection for the all-new, officially licensed Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Gets His Intimidator On Sports Illustrated Cover Bobblehead. March 3rd, 2014: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets his intimidator on and graces the front cover as a champion!” FOCO

 

FOCO continued “Put yourself in the victory lane of fandom by adding this Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Sports Illustrated Cover Bobblehead to your collection. The bobblehead portrays Earnhardt Jr. wearing his white race day uniform, re-creating his famous Sports Illustrated cover.”

 

This bobble is limited to 225 units and is retailed at $110. It stands eight inches tall.

 

Click Here to Preorder

 

About FOCO:

FOCO is a leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment merchandise celebrating more than 20 years in the industry. The company’s always-growing product lines include apparel, accessories, toys, collectibles, novelty items, and more. FOCO is licensed with all major sports leagues including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS and over 200 colleges and universities as well as entertainment properties such as Nickelodeon, Peanuts, and WWE.

 

We're happy to have you back in the Cup garage, @DaleJr. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qP3X0TbKNB

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 12, 2025

 

source: FOCO PR

The Famed Stylized No. 8 Returns with Sammy Smith for JR Motorsports

NASCAR Xfinity Series

 

The No. 8 made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most iconic numbers in NASCAR history.

 

The stylized digit, with its signature font, is one of the most recognizable numbers in all of racing, stemming from Earnhardt Jr.’s use of it from the beginning of his career in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1999 through 2007.

 

It’s back where it belongs for 2025 for JR Motorsports, adorning the sides of driver Sammy Smith’s Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

 

“It is awesome to have this number and this font back at JR Motorsports this year, and I can’t wait to see it on the car in Daytona,” said Earnhardt Jr. upon its unveiling. “That’s going to be a pretty awesome feeling for me personally. Sammy is going to do a great job with it. Excited to have that number out there and I know everybody else is as well.”

 

In November, Earnhardt Jr. stepped back in time with the debut of his iconic Budweiser paint scheme for the Florence 400 Late Model race. In that event, the third-generation star raced from the back of the field to second by the halfway break and was in contention for the win before a mechanical issue ended his day.

 

“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

 

The championship-winning JRM Late Model team campaigned the No. 8 for the past three seasons, though not in the stylized font carried by Earnhardt Jr. Carson Kvapil won two straight zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car championships (2022 and 2023) wearing that number, as well as the 2024 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

 

The No. 8 has been associated with the Earnhardt family since Earnhardt Jr.’s grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, took it to the 1959 and 1960 NASCAR Limited Sportsman championships. It was additionally used by Dale Earnhardt Sr. in his racing efforts in what is now the NXS throughout the 1980’s.

 

And today, the historic No. 8, in its traditional stylized font, officially makes its return to NASCAR competition, with Smith behind the wheel.

 

2024 has come to an end. Excited to see what 2025 has in store 👊@JRMotorsports @PilotFlyingJ @TMCTRANS @GldnHarvest @PeterbiltGroup pic.twitter.com/qByGFKoSfM

— Sammy Smith (@sammysmithSS) December 31, 2024

 

source: JR Motorsports Media

Dale Jr. and the Budweiser No. 8

Wake Up the Echoes at Florence Motor Speedway

 

On Saturday (11/23/2024) night, Dale Earnhardt Jr. woke up some echoes of the past and painted Florence Motor Speedway Budweiser red.

 

Driving a throwback scheme to the glory days of his Hall of Fame career in the NASCAR Cup Series, the 15-time NASCAR Most Popular Driver put on a show for the monstrous, red-clad overflow crowd in the annual Florence 400, charging from the rear of the field into contention for the race victory before a fuel-pump problem ended his night 31 laps before the finish.

 

A subpar qualifying effort in the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet forced Earnhardt Jr. to start 40th in the 41-car field for the prestigious season-ending event, but it didn’t seem to matter a whole lot.

 

 

In the early stages of the 250-lap race, Earnhardt Jr. wasted little time getting after the cars ahead, avoiding a crash in front of him just three laps into the race. Over the next 46 laps, he methodically moved his way to 20th position, much to the delight of the jam-packed house.

 

Despite a growing tight condition on his Chevrolet, Earnhardt Jr. continued to move forward and made his first appearance in the top 10 at lap 75 as the Budweiser No. 8 found its groove on the top line.

 

With 20 laps remaining in the first 125-lap segment, Earnhardt Jr. swept into seventh and cracked the top five two laps later, setting up a charge that would see him pass former JRM Late Model start Josh Berry for second on the final lap before the break.

 

 

“I was worried up until the race started,” Earnhardt Jr. said after the race. “We had a really bad effort in qualifying. I knew the car was good but that’s kind of been a puzzle for me, trying to figure out how get the car to qualify. When the race started, I felt good about the car and just kind of picked them off as I could.

 

“I was pretty surprised we drove up to second in the first half. I was hoping to get into the top 20 or top 15 if we were lucky. The car was excellent and a lot of guys started to struggle with the balance of their car and lose drive on corner exit.”

 

On the 10-minute halfway break, crew chief Bryan Shaffer and the team changed four tires, added fuel and repaired some nose damage picked up in the latter stages of the first segment before sending Earnhardt Jr. out for the remaining 125 laps.

 

When the field went back to green, Earnhardt Jr. stayed behind leader Treyten Lapcevich, watching the leader’s line and making notes for the end. With 55 laps remaining, the caution waved and the field reset for the charge to the finish.

 

Telling Shaffer that the No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet was handling well, Earnhardt Jr. took off from second and settled in behind Lapcevich, noting that the leader was shearing the rear tires and formulating a plan of attack.

 

As the laps wound down, Earnhardt Jr. tracked along in second until the caution waved with 31 laps to go. As the cars headed down the backstretch, Earnhardt Jr. radioed to Shaffer that there was a problem with the engine, as the powerplant shut off and could not be restarted.

 

Hitting pit road, the No. 8 team lifted the hood and discovered that the fuel pump had broken, ending his night. He would eventually finish 28th.

 

“It was about time to turn it on and for sure everybody was going to go hard and see what they had left,” Earnhardt Jr. said following the race. “Going down the backstretch under caution, the fuel pump broke and it started to starve. Nothing we could do about that.”

 

Lapcevich won the race over Doug Barnes, with local favorite Sam Yarborough third. Jacob Heafner was fourth and newcomer Carson Loftin rounded out the top five.

 

Following the race, Earnhardt Jr. said that his plan was to shadow the leader and eventually earn the top spot.

 

“In the second half, we were just going to sit there in second behind that 77 (Lapcevich) and I could see him start to shear the back a little on throttle and I thought when it was time to start pressuring him I could get him to lose some drive off the corner and be able to beat him.”

 

It wasn’t to be, thanks to the mechanical failure, but for quite some time on Saturday night, the glory days were back and the massive crowd celebrated the chance to see it happen.

 

It's time to dive into all the action from Florence! 🎙️

Don’t miss the latest Dirty Air episode—dropping later today! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ldY96oZVGd

— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) November 25, 2024

Florence Speedway Results
November 23, 2024 South Carolina 400

1. Treyten Lapcevich
2. Doug Barnes
3. Sam Yarbrough
4. Jacob Heafner
5. Carson Loftin
6. Brent Crews
7. Kade Brown
8. Darren Krantz Jr
9. Casey Kelley
10. Riley Gentry
11. Brenden Queen
12. Cody Kelley
13. Jarad Fryer
14. Leland Honeyman
15. Bryant Barnhill
16. Zack Miracle
17. Caden Kvapil
18. Justin Hicks
19. Chase Burrow
20. Vicente Salas
21. Ryan Millington
22. Landon Huffman
23. Ryley Music
24. Adam Congrove
25. Josh Berry
26. Jake Crum
27. Donovan Strauss
28. Dale Earnhardt Jr
29. Jamie Weatherford
30. Connor Jones
31. Alex Meggs
32. Matt Cox
33. Ryan Glenski
34. Austin Green
35. Ronnie Bassett Jr
36. Mason Diaz
37. Jonathan Shafer
38. Landon S Huffman
39. Matt Gould
40. Truett Miranda
41. Ryan Wilson

 

source: JR Motorsports Media

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Seeks Repeat Performance

It’s Bristol, Baby

 

In last year’s fall NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a force.

 

Leading 47 laps, the two-time NXS champion was flying in the high line and running away with the race before a mechanical issue caused a fire in the cockpit of his No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, ending his run short of the finish.

 

It’s a new year and a new opportunity, but Earnhardt Jr. is ready to go after another BMS victory.

 

 

“Last year was a blast,” Earnhardt Jr. said on the latest edition of his Dale Jr. Download program. “Yes, I have thought about what would have happened had we not had the issue with it. I’ve run that over in my head a million times, and I have a vivid image of looking down at the floorboard and seeing that fire and thinking, ‘this is over.’

 

“I want to go back and finish the job. We have one race, and you know how tough it is, how easy it is to show up and not be on, to miss the mark or miss the setup. We don’t know, when we unload, if it’s going to be as good as it was last year. That was a winning car. That car should have won the race. That was as good as you could ask in terms of that. The chances of getting that good a car are not very good. We feel prepared and ready. It is the same Hellmann’s car we ran last year, too.”

 

Coincidentally, 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the more dominant performances on the tricky banking of the .533-mile oval. In the fall race that year, Earnhardt Jr. swept the weekend, winning both the NXS and Cup Series events in dominating fashion. Over the two races, he led 420 of the 756 laps.

 

Despite that, there is a bit of a nerves factor, he said.

 

“I get nervous, can’t help it,” he said. “Last year when we went, I was freaking out. We were one of the two cars that could miss the race (in qualifying), but we’re locked in this year (points). I told the guys that without that pressure I’m probably going to qualify worse.

 

“For me, I just have to keep reminding myself that if I listen to all of them, I hear, “man, you’ve got a shot! You almost won it last year.” That’s pressure, and that makes you nervous because you want to go and deliver. You have all these people setting an expectation and you’re like, ‘Now I’ve got to go run good enough to win.’ Some of us look at that and say, ‘that’s more pressure.’ Others look at it and go, ‘that’s opportunity.'”

 

As for expectations, Earnhardt Jr. has a few, and they are about what you would expect from a driver of his caliber.

 

“When I get into the car, I have to go, ‘all right, here are my expectations. Here’s what I want to be happy,'” he said. “If I go run top-five, we run like we did last year and we get to the end of the race with a chance to win or a damn good result, I’m like, ‘hell yes!’ I will be ecstatic. I just want, when the race is over with, I want to have enjoyed what I just did.”

 

“I want a car that drives good, a car that I can move around and be creative with and a car that I can pass with. I want to have some fun with whoever it is that I’m racing, don’t want to get pushed around. There’s a lot of options that I want to check and some I don’t, and at the end of the night…we came here to do what we did with it and had fun doing it.”

 

My very first trip to race @ItsBristolBaby with Ed Whitaker. 1997 pic.twitter.com/ww56K5lxyT

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 20, 2024

 

source: JR Motorsports Media

 

source: JR Motorsports Media https://www.jrmracing.com/2024/09/19/its-bristol-baby-earnhardt-jr-seeks-repeat-performance/

South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway

Entry list, live stream, more for 2023 race featuring Dale Earnhardt Jr., other NASCAR stars

 

Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is getting used to racing his Late Model Stock Car at Florence Motor Speedway. Having finished ninth in last year’s South Carolina 400 at the NASCAR Home Track, the 49-year-old during Saturday’s edition of the race will have his third chance at a Florence victory in 2023.

 

Earnhardt is included on the loaded entry list for this year’s South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing). He finished sixth in the track’s Locked In 150 a couple months ago to secure his place in the 250-lap feature. Earnhardt also ran Florence’s Icebreaker in February, when he logged a 16th-place finish.

 

Today’s South Carolina 400 figures to be another action-packed show one year after Late Model Stock star Brenden “Butterbean” Queen took the checkered flag in what was his debut race with Lee Pulliam Performance. Queen is back for 2023, as is Carson Kvapil, the JR Motorsports driver whom Queen outlasted for last year’s win.

 

After winning the Locked In 150 in September, South Carolina short-track racing veteran Sam Yarbrough will start the 2023 South Carolina 400 from the pole position.

 

That’s all we know ahead of a long day of practice and qualifying Saturday as more than 40 Late Model Stock Car competitors look to add a Florence crown jewel to their trophy cases that evening.

 

Pre-race ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, immediately followed by feature racing. Twin Late Model heat races will begin the feature action, followed by the Street Stock and Mini Stock races. The 250-lap Late Model feature will close the night.

 

Entry list

Dale Earnhardt Jr. headlines the entry list for today’s South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway. But the NASCAR legend’s Hall of Fame credentials will do little to help him against a stacked field of Late Model Stock Car aces.

 

 

For example, Earnhardt will race against the driver who delivered JR Motorsports the 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship. Josh Berry, who will drive the No. 4 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series next season for Stewart-Haas Racing, will pilot Kevin Harvick’s late model at Florence.

 

Last year’s SC 400 front-runners Brenden Queen and Carson Kvapil are back in the field for 2023. As are talented late model drivers William Sawalich, Kaden Honeycutt, Doug Barnes Jr., Katie Hettinger, Kade Brown, Carter Langley, Brandon Pierce, Ryan Glenski, Landon Huffman, Josh Williams and Stephen Nasse, to name a few.

 

More than 40 entries for tonight’s #SC400, including @DaleJr, @joshberry @Josh6williams, @StephenNasse, @LandonHuffman, @Carson_Kvapil, @katiehettracing, @WilliamSawalich to name a few!

📺 Qualifying begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on @FloRacing. pic.twitter.com/CKLvgApGGl

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) November 18, 2023

The Complete Late Model Stock Car Entry List (As of Nov. 15):

1. 51 Matt Cox
2. 02 Justin Milliken
3. 03 Brenden Queen
4. 34 Matt Linker
5. 13 Cody Kelley
6. 16 Casey Kelley
7. 95 Jacob Heafner
8. 21 Lanie Buice
9. 99 Austin Somero
10. 23 Kade Brown
11. 95 Sam Yarbrough
12. 94 Jamie Weatherford
13. 07 Averitt Lucas
14. 1 Trent Barnes
15. 88 Doug Barnes Jr.
16. 71 Katie Hettinger
17. 29 Casey Wyatt
18. 2 Gracie Trotter
19. 18 Anthony Adams
20. 5 Carter Langley
21. 2 Brandon Pierce
22. 30 Paul Owens
23. 55 Mark Wertz
24. 28 Ryan Glenski
25. 75 Coy Beard
26. 3 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
27. 8 Carson Kvapil
28. 62 Josh Berry
29. T2 Travis Truett
30. 20 Josh Dickens
31. 32 Zack Miracle
32. 5 Bryant Barnhill
33. 18 Truett Miranda
34. 21 Landon DeVaughn
35. 28 Landon S. Huffman
36. 11 Josh Williams
37. 16 Adam McCumbee
38. 09 Riley Gentry
39. 75 Landon Huffman
40. 18 David Roberts
41. 43 William Sawalich
42. 10 Kaden Honeycutt
43. 04 Ronnie Bassett Jr.
44. 51 Stephen Nasse
45. 7 Tristan McKee

 

source: MSN.com Media

Allgaier Gets Xfinity Playoff Boost by Claiming Food City 300 Victory

Earns JRM’s 78th #NASCAR Xfinity Victory and the Fourth #Win at Bristol for the Team

 

Justin Allgaier used bold strategy and fresh tires to top the field in the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

Allgaier, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, gave up the lead under caution with less than 50 laps to go to put on four fresh tires while his main rivals remained on the track. Methodically picking his way through the field, Allgaier had a thrilling side-by-side battle with Daniel Hemric before pulling away and clinching postseason advancement after taking the checkered flag in the debut race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.

 

.@J_Allgaier’s win was the 11th triumph in a playoff race for JRM 🎉 https://t.co/qUp7PiAUC2

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) September 16, 2023

“I’m speechless - we won Bristol,” said Allgaier, who led a race-high 110 laps, collected his second Bristol victory, third win of the season and 22nd of his Xfinity Series career. “This team has done such an amazing job at this racetrack. The fans were unbelievable.

 

“The pit strategy – coming down pit road all by myself was nerve-wracking.”

 

Allgaier has three wins this year. One of the event’s ‘feel good moments’ occurred as the race winner gave both Team Owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Allgaier’s father* a ride to Victory Lane.

 

.@DaleJr is living his best life. 😎 pic.twitter.com/MTEz3JMB6a

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 16, 2023

 *Mike Allgaier was in the tire business and went to various racetracks, supplying competitors

 

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media

Nemechek and Hill are NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

Food City 300 Xfinity Playoff Opener Tonight

 

For the first time in NASCAR history Bristol Motor Speedway will serve as host to a Playoff race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The longtime home of the final Xfinity regular season race, Bristol is now the Round of 12 kick-off race.

 

While the Playoff opener is a huge deal and the 12 Playoff contenders will share the majority of headlines, one moonlighting driver is also garnering his share of the spotlight.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who famously coined the phrase “It’s Bristol, baby!” is suiting up to race at the iconic short track for the first time since he retired from full-time driving in 2017. Earnhardt will be at the controls of the blue, yellow and white No. 88 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Chevy for JR Motorsports, giving his team five entries in what promises to be a very thrilling Food City 300 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio) on Friday night.

 

John Hunter Nemechek

 

Six-time season winner John Hunter Nemechek comes to Bristol as the Playoff top seed, fresh off a win in Kansas, where he dominated the action and took the checkered flag a full seven seconds in front of the second-place finisher. The veteran driver of the No. 20 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, has posted 13 top fives and 19 top 10s in a season that he has been out front for most of the time.

 

“I’m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started at Bristol," Nemechek said. "We came (to Kansas) trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that’s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could. So, let’s go to the Playoffs—I’m ready.”

 

An unforgettable weekend in Kansas! 🏁
Check out our exclusive YouTube video for an inside look at what all went down.🎥#youtube pic.twitter.com/W5RCfRGNM2

— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) September 14, 2023

Austin Hill

 

Meanwhile, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is right there behind Nemechek, and ironically claimed the regular season Xfinity title in his No. 21 Chevy. Hill won four times and posted 15 top fives and claimed 19 top 10s and certainly plans to battle door handle to door handle with Nemechek down the stretch.

 

“Just happy that we were able to bring home the Regular Season Championship, get the extra 15 bonus points--which is huge,” said Hill, who finished fifth in the regular season-finale. “But we’ve got to go to work. We’ve got to be better. The 20 (Nemechek) was the class of the field all day (at Kansas).”

 

In addition to Nemechek and Hill, there is a strong group of drivers among the 12 Playoff qualifiers, including former Bristol winner Justin Allgaier, and a host of drivers who have won at Bristol in either the Trucks or the ARCA series, including Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, and Sammy Smith.

 

Five other drivers have tons of experience and are expected to make some Playoff noise come Friday night, including Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Hemric and Parker Kligerman.

 

Trevor Bayne

 

Two local Knoxville standouts are also in the field, as FOX race analyst Trevor Bayne, winner of the 2011 Daytona 500, will drive the No. 19 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, and past Bristol ARCA winner Chad Finchum will pilot the No. 08 machine for SS GreenLight Racing.

 

 

 

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media

JR Motorsports Revamps Crew Chief Lineup

Updated Roles, New Hires

 

JR Motorsports has revamped its crew chief roster for the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the organization announced today. MoyerReturning veterans Jason Burdett and Taylor will assume crew chief duties with the Nos. 9 and 8 entries, respectively, while the addition of Jim Pohlman on the No. 7 and Mardy Lindley with the No. 1 team completes the crew chief lineup.

 

Entering his ninth season with JRM, Burdett is the company's winningest crew chief with 18 victories. Burdett, who led Justin Allgaier to Championship 4 appearances in five of the last seven seasons, will transition to the No. 9 Menards team with JRM's newest driver Brandon Jones. Through his first eight years with the company, Burdett racked up an impressive 110 top-five and 183 top-10 finishes.

 

Moyer moves to the No. 8 team with driver Josh Berry for 2023 to fill the role vacated by Mike Bumgarner, now serving as JRM’s director of competition. In 2019-20, Moyer served as crew chief of JRM’s No. 8 Chevrolet and its rotating roster of drivers. He has spent the past two seasons atop the pit box for Berry and Sam Mayer, leading Mayer to 12 top fives, 25 top 10s and a playoff berth through to the Round of 8 in 2022.

 

"As successful as 2022 was for JR Motorsports, we're always asking ourselves 'how can we be better?'" said Bumgarner, JRM's director of competition. "While we performed at a very high level this season, a tweak here or there can help push you even further. We were fortunate to bring in Jim (Pohlman) and Mardy (Lindley). Both have past success with their drivers and we expect that will aid in making a smooth transition."

 

A native of Oak Lawn, Illinois, the 43-year-old Pohlman comes to JRM by way of Richard Childress Racing to assume crew chief duties for the No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture team and perennial championship contender Allgaier. In 2008, Pohlman helped Allgaier secure an ARCA Menards Series championship, so the pairing will be familiar. Pohlman also spent time at the Cup Series level, most notably as crew chief for Juan Pablo Montoya in 2011 with several opportunities along the way in both Cup and NXS competition.  

 

Additionally, Greenville, S.C. native Lindley, a decades-long veteran of the sport who spent the last two seasons at Kyle Busch Motorsports with six victories, joins Mayer in 2023 to lead the No. 1 team, reuniting the driver and crew chief for the first time since 2020. The Lindley / Mayer combination netted championships in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series (2019) and the ARCA Menards Series (2020). Together, the duo has more than 15 victories between the two series.

 

TUNE-IN ALERT: Listen to @SiriusXMNASCAR at 8 p.m. tonight to hear @EarnhardtKelley discuss today's crew chief news. pic.twitter.com/5Za7CODvJJ

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) November 18, 2022

 

source: JRM Racing Media

Brendan Queen Wins the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway!

Dale Jr. Sent to the Back Twice Due to Penalties - Finishes 9th

 

The path to Victory Lane for three-time Langley Speedway track champion Brenden Queen in the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway came down to a matter of survival.

 

An evening dominated by tire conservation, intense racing and heated rivalries culminated with Queen holding off Carson Kvapil for a crown jewel victory in his debut race with Lee Pulliam Performance. 

 

What a damn night!!

I’m still speechless. I can’t thank @LeePulliam11 and the guys at LPP for brining such a fast car to the South Carolina 400 at @FlorenceMSpdwy. I’m so thankful and blessed for this opportunity. Already counting down the days until next season with these guys. pic.twitter.com/6rghgekemh

— Brenden Queen (@03Butterbean) November 20, 2022

 

Queen admitted Saturday’s triumph in the South Carolina 400 served as major validation for him by proving to the entire short track community that he can win at any facility on the East Coast.

 

“I finally win away from [my home track of] Langley,” Queen said. “Everybody questioned if I was a one-track wonder, but we proved [on Saturday] we can get it done down South. We’re taking [this] trophy back to Virginia.”

 

After carefully conserving his equipment during the first two stages, the opportunity for Queen to pounce on the lead came with 20 laps remaining.

 

Mason Diaz, who had worked vigorously to get back to the front following an earlier spin, found himself battling South Carolina short track veteran and 2007 Myrtle Beach 400 winner Sam Yarbrough for the win over a handful of late restarts.

 

As Diaz tried to clear Yarbrough off Turn 2, the latter was forced off track before miraculously saving his car in front of oncoming traffic. Yarbrough was not pleased with Diaz’s aggressive maneuver but was allowed to maintain his spot on the front row.

 

Yarbrough retaliated against Diaz on the following restart in Turn 4, which prompted Diaz to retire from the race by climbing out of his car in Florence’s frontstretch Victory Lane and doing a mock celebration with his crew.

 

We’ve got chaos at @FlorenceMSpdwy!@SamYarbrough20 spins @masondiazracing out of the lead following earlier contact!@Carson_Kvapil is now your leader.@FloRacing pic.twitter.com/EkWAVhzb7L

 

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) November 20, 2022

 

With two of the fastest cars eliminated from contention, Queen and Kvapil were left to settle the South Carolina 400 amongst themselves during the closing laps. Queen perfectly executed all his restarts to keep plenty of distance between himself and Kvapil.

 

Fresh off another second-place finish in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway, Kvapil wanted to end his stellar rookie season with JR Motorsports by earning a crown jewel victory while competing alongside his boss Dale Earnhardt Jr.

 

Despite the disappointment, Kvapil admitted he was relieved to avoid the chaos that broke out between Diaz and Yarbrough.

 

“I honestly didn’t know if we were going to wreck out,” Kvapil said. “It was getting pretty sketchy with [Diaz and Yarbrough]. They were beating and banging pretty good before they decided to wreck each other. It was a battle just to finish, but once those guys cleared themselves out, we were focused on winning.”

 

Saturday’s performance highlighted Kvapil’s efficiency at Florence in his limited starts, as he finished second to Ty Majeski in last year’s South Carolina 400 after leading 38 laps.

 

Kvapil’s trips to Florence have taught him many valuable lessons regarding patience behind the wheel. He is confident he can one day utilize that knowledge by parking his Late Model Stock in Victory Lane.

 

“It’s basically been a letdown for us with every race [at Florence],” Kvapil said. “This one doesn’t hurt as bad knowing we didn’t have the best car. We had the best car in last year’s race, but luck didn’t favor us. There’s always next year.”

 

Rounding out the top three finishers in Saturday’s South Carolina 400 was Isabella Robusto, who was thrilled to put together a strong performance in the physically demanding event.

 

Robusto’s goal for the weekend was to simply gain valuable experience in tire conservation at Florence. As the carnage started to unfold during the final stage, Robusto methodically picked off her competition to provide herself a much-needed confidence boost heading into the offseason.

 

“We started 30^th in this race and just wanted a Top 10 finish,” Robusto said. “I was able to keep the nose clean for the first 150 laps, and then I knew we had to go 110 percent with the new tires on. Next thing I knew, I was restarting fourth with three laps to go.”

 

Queen also enters the winter with plenty of high expectations following his first outing with Lee Pulliam Performance.

 

BUTTERBEAN@03Butterbean | @FlorenceMSpdwy pic.twitter.com/Mi9lLlVRwv

 

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) November 20, 2022

 

Piloting a car for a successful driver like Pulliam, whose accomplishments include four NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, was something Queen knew would carry plenty of significance when he first signed the deal, which is why he wanted to make a strong first impression in the South Carolina 400.

 

Queen responded by adding his name to the list of South Carolina 400 winners that include Pulliam, Josh Berry, Timothy Peters and Scott Riggs, a feat Queen said is very close to his Hampton Heat triumph he obtained at Langley in 2020.

 

“This might be the biggest win of all with how everything played out,” Queen said. “Luckily, I didn’t wreck anybody to win it, but I did use her up a little bit. She had enough left in her to get the job done.”

 

Now that he knows the potential he and Pulliam possess as a combination, Queen is eager to keep working with the Late Model Stock legend and continue to bolster his growing resume in the discipline.

 

“This gives us such huge momentum,” Queen said. “We really feel we can win every race we show up to. When you have confidence in yourself to win, the sky is the limit.”

 

Florence Motor Speedway Results (Finish)

1. Brendan Queen
2. Carson Kvapil
3. Isabella Rubusto
4. Cody Kelley
5. Matthew Craig
6. Bryant Barnhill
7. Doug Barnes
8. BooBoo Dalton
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr
10. Casey Kelley
11. Heath Causey
12. Averitt Lucas
13. Landon Pembleton
14. Kade Brown
15. Anthony Adams
16. Justin Whitaker
17. Riley Gentry
18. Brandon Pierce
19. Whitney Meggs
20. Sam Yarbrough
21. Zack Mircacle
22. Connor Jones
23. Mason Diaz
24. Matt Cox
25. Katie Hettinger
26. Jacob Heafner
27. Tristan McKee
28. Ryan Glenski
29. Mark Wertz
30. Kaden Honeycutt
31. Justin Milliken
32. Ryan Millington
33. Austin Somero
34. Michael Bumgarner
35. Blaise Brinkley
36. Dexter Canipe Jr
37. Trent Barnes
38. Landon Huffman
39. Jamie York
40. Justin Hicks
41. Ryley Music
42. Jamie Weatherford

 

Florence Motor Speedway Results (Stage 2) : 1. Sam Yarbrough; 2. Matt Cox; 3. Carson Kvapil; 4. Jacob Heafner; 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr; 6. Brendan Queen; 7. Doug Barnes; 8. Matthew Craig; 9. Casey Kelley; 10. Landon Pembleton;

 

Florence Motor Speedway Results (Stage 1) : 1. Matt Cox; 2. Sam Yarbrough; 3. Connor Jones; 4. Matthew Craig; 5. Zack Miracle; 6. Ryan Millington; 7. Carson Kvapil; 8. Mark Wertz; 9. Mason Diaz; 10. Kaden Honeycutt; (Note: Dale Earnhardt Jr – 18th)

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

Multiple champions entered at Florence Motor Speedway

Live coverage of the South Carolina 400 at Florence starts at 7:30 p.m

 

The 30th running of the South Carolina 400 will take the green flag Saturday night at Florence Motor Speedway, and the entry list features more than 50 drivers who will be vying for a starting position in the event that continues the legendary history of the Myrtle Beach 400 at Myrtle Beach Speedway.

 

The entry list that will battle for a coveted starting position in Saturday’s event includes track and regional champions from up and down the East Coast, as well as a two-time Daytona 500 and NASCAR Xfinity Series champion.

 

RELATED: Everything to know about the South Carolina 400

 

Multiple rounds of qualifying will determine the 40-car starting field, with more than a dozen drivers expected to be sent home before the green flag even waves for the 200-lap late model stock car main event.

 

Below is a closer look at some of the racing champions on the entry list for Saturday’s South Carolina 400 and their accomplishments.

 

• We’d be remiss if we didn’t start with the most well-known name on the entry list: Dale Earnhardt Jr. The two-time Daytona 500 winner and two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion is making a rare late model stock car start. Earnhardt won at Florence during his formative years racing late model stock cars, so there’s no reason why he can’t win at the track again.

̶1̶9̶9̶8̶ 2022. @BassProShops | #JRNation pic.twitter.com/XWoXbboc2W

 

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) November 1, 2022

 

PHOTOS: Dale Jr.’s throwback scheme for the SC 400

 

• When identifying contenders for events like the South Carolina 400, one must consider the reigning track champion. That honor belongs to 16-year-old Kade Brown, who claimed his first Florence track championship this year in his first full season racing late model stock cars for AK Performance. He also won the 2022 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series South Carolina state championship.
• Typically a contender in a super late model, Matt Craig is set for a rare late model stock start in the South Carolina 400. Craig is a multi-time super late model champion with both the CARS Tour and Pro All Stars Series. In 2021, he won the legendary All American 400 at Tennessee’s Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
• Brenden Queen has been turning heads for several seasons with his impressive performances at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia, where he is the three-time and defending track champion in the late model stock division. A victory in the South Carolina 400 would be his first marquee victory in a major late model stock event.
• The driver of the second JR Motorsports entry in the South Carolina 400 is Carson Kvapil, the son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil. The 19-year-old racer recently completed his first full season racing late model stock cars, claiming the CARS Late Model Stock Tour championship in the process.
• You’ll be hard pressed to find a driver with more experience at tracks with worn out asphalt than Sam Yarbrough. A six-time track champion at Myrtle Beach Speedway, Yarbrough won the last race held at the historic South Carolina venue in 2020. He won the Myrtle Beach 400 in 2007 and will attempt to add the South Carolina 400 to his resume.
• The 2022 season was a statement year for Landon Huffman, who ran the full schedule at Hickory Motor Speedway in pursuit of his first track championship. He accomplished his mission thanks to three victories, joining his father Robert Huffman as track champions at one of the Southeast’s most historic venues.
• He doesn’t get behind the wheel of a race car as often as he used to, but Dexter Canipe Jr. can still be a contender if the cards fall his way. The son of 1997 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion Dexter Canipe, the younger Canipe made his mark at Hickory Motor Speedway when he captured the 2016 track championship.
• Speaking of Hickory Motor Speedway, two-time track champion Ryan Millington is heading to Florence for the South Carolina 400. The 2017 and 2020 Hickory champion has been riding a wave of momentum recently after winning the Bobby Isaac Memorial, one of Hickory’s marquee late season events that honors the legacy of 1970 NASCAR Cup Series champion Bobby Isaac.
• A familiar face at tracks across Virginia, Mark Wertz has been involved in the short-track racing scene for more than two decades. In that time he’s scored five track championships, with his most recent coming in 2020 at Langley Speedway in the modified division.
• Race fans may recognize Jason Kitzmiller as an occasional competitor in the ARCA Menards Series, but when he’s not competing on a national stage, he’s racing with the Super Cup Stock Car Series. This year he won six times en route to his first championship with the Super Cup Stock Car Series, momentum he hopes to carry into the South Carolina 400.
• Better known by his nickname “Boo Boo,” Ross Dalton is one of the more accomplished drivers on the entry list. He’s scored track championships at a variety of venues around the Southeast, including Ace Speedway, Orange County Speedway and Caraway Speedway. This year alone he’s scored nine victories at eight different race tracks.
• Blaise Brinkley makes the trek to Florence after competing regularly at Caraway Speedway in Sophia, North Carolina, the last few seasons. He captured the 2021 Caraway track championship and will look to add a South Carolina 400 trophy to his case.
• A familiar name at nearby Anderson Motor Speedway, David Roberts joins the field for the South Carolina 400. Roberts is a multi-time late model stock car track champion at Anderson, something he hopes will give him an edge when the green flag waves at Florence.

Live coverage of the South Carolina 400 at Florence starts at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FloRacing.

 

source: NASCAR Media

Dale Earnhardt Jr Makes Sensational Claim Around #NASCAR System Losing ‘Prestige’

Jr is Totally Against the Winner-Takes-All-Final Race

 

NASCAR’s scoring system has undergone a multitude of changes since the sport was introduced in 1948. In the current format, Playoffs are held in the latter part of the season that decides entries to the final race of the season, called the Championship 4 race. But this format has not found too many fans, especially Dale Earnhardt Jr.

 

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr sat down for the final podcast of the season with Brian France. France has served as the NASCAR CEO earlier. They spoke about the current format.

 

Dale said, “But the only thing I’ve kinda struggled with how expanded the playoff feeled. And it’s happened at the Clash as well. Like the eligibility for getting into the Clash changed the identity of the race. When the chase was 10 drivers, it was like damn it’s hard, it’s hard to get into. It’s 16 now. That’s half the field of the guys that run every single week.”

 

“We’ve seen other Series, other sports, expand their playoff fields as well. Because the more people you have involved in the playoff, the more entities that are plugged in and interested, sponsors that are part of it. I feel like that was kind of the push for the Clash. You had partners coming in and going ‘why aren’t we in this race? Why can’t we be in this race?’,” he said.

 

 

But he reasoned, “So I understand the pressure there. I never loved the fact that the chase field grew because I felt like it really made it difficult to get into, and something about it being that difficult when it was limited to being 10 or 12. Something about it being harder made it prestigious or powerful.”

 

Dale Jr pointed out a very valid point. The fact that it was so difficult to make it through was what made it so precious to drivers. It was like “squeezing water from a stone”. But the expanded playoff system has changed that altogether, which in some ways diminishes the worth of it all.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr is Totally Against the Winner-Takes-All-Final Race

Dale Jr isn’t the first to criticize the Playoffs system of NASCAR. Denny Hamlin has too expressed his dissatisfaction with the format in depth, explaining what possible changes can be brought in.

 

Dale Jr also picks out his problems with the final race being the deciding factor for the Cup.

 

He said, “The other thing I’ve struggled with – if we like the three-race round. It’s compelling, it could be argued that it’s relatively fair, everybody’s got the same opportunity. It’s 3 races, you can kinda dig yourself out of a hole.”

 

 

He then explained, “But I’ve always kinda struggled with the final race being all or nothing. The reason why I struggle with that because the venue may suit a team or driver. Obviously, you would never consider running it on a road course or a superspeedway because that certainly suits some drivers more than others and you try to have it a neutral facility if you will.”

 

“But I always had a hard time with saying, ‘okay it’ll all boil down to this one day where you gotta get it right and if you don’t you’re not a champion this year.’ Even though you’ve really got this amazing body of work.”

 

“You could still have that guy that wins one race be the champion and the guy that won 6 not even make the final round. So I wish we could figure out a way to make that Championship moment not an all-or-nothing 3-hour affair,” said Dale Jr

 

For those against the current format, this part too has been an issue for long. They believe that making the final race a decider takes away from someone who might have consistently performed all season, and rewards one single race-based performance.

 

An unforgettable season of The @DaleJr Download. And now… 😳

Brian France. #DJD Season Finale. Next Week. pic.twitter.com/E9qxKm9Rkr

— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) November 11, 2022

 

source: Essentially Sports Media