NASCAR Cup Series Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The 63rd Daytona 500 will have a plethora of racing standouts looking to make the 40-car field. One of those being Ryan Preece, who must make the field either via qualifying or the Duels to make his third 500 appearance. That’s because Preece’s No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing entry doesn’t have a charter as the once Todd Braun owned property was sold to Spire Motorsports. Thus, the team who won last year’s Daytona 500 pole could possibly only have Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and not theRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Storming toward the finish line in last year’s running of the Daytona 500, it was anyone’s guess on who would be hoisting the Harley J. Earl trophy as the victor. Suddenly, that was the least of worries for all those in attendance at the World Center of Racing when a violent crash broke out, sending Ryan Newman to the hospital and leaving fellow drivers worried about the fate of their comrade. Thankfully, Newman was released from the hospital a couple of days later, walking out handRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor Brad Keselowski’s NASCAR Cup Series resume is full of accolades, from a championship in 2012 to victories in nearly all of the marquee races on the circuit, but despite all that, one race has eluded him over the years – the Daytona 500. Heading into the 2021 season and preparing to make his 12th start in the Great American Race, Keselowski is more than ready to finally get his chance to hoist the Harley J. Earl trophy. “It’s definitely the one big box I don’t haveRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Both Matt DiBenedetto and Wood Brothers Racing are entering the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season with mesmerizing confidence and ready to win races. There’s a catch, it’ll be their final season together as Austin Cindric will take over the No. 21 Ford Mustang in 2022. Momentum is on his side as his mental strength was strengthened following a run of four top-10s in the last seven races of 2020, highlighted with a runner-up finish at Las Vegas. The popular veteran openly expressed he’s in hisRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer For the first time since Homestead in 2018, A.J. Allmendinger will make a NASCAR Cup Series appearance. Kaulig Racing announced Thursday morning that he’ll drive the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in the Daytona International Speedway Road Course February 21. Allmendinger, who’ll run for the Xfinity Series championship this season, is pumped up to compete for the Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice led entity in the sport’s highest level. “I am really looking forward to racing in the Cup Series once again, but moreRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Austin Cindric will look to make his Cup Series debut in the 63rd Daytona 500, driving the No. 33 Team Penske Ford Mustang. The team confirmed Wednesday morning that the 22-year-old will be one of four rookies (Kaz Grala, Noah Gragson and Chad Finchum being the others) who must qualify for “The Great American Race.” Cindric, who’ll be driving for Wood Brothers Racing full-time in 2022, said while being an open car makes it tough on his chances of makingRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer A passing of the torch between two Las Vegas natives has been established as Beard Motorsports announced Thursday that Noah Gragson will replace the retired Brendan Gaughan in the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for next month’s Daytona 500. This will be the 22-year-old Xfinity Series standout’s first attempt to qualify for a Cup race as he’ll be among several drivers who’ll look to take one of the four available spots and be among the 40 drivers competing in the 63rd renewal of “TheRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Kaulig Racing announced Wednesday that Kaz Grala will attempt to make the 63rd Daytona 500 next month, piloting the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE. It’ll mark Grala’s second-ever Cup appearance as he filled in for Austin Dillon at the Daytona International Speedway road course race last August, finishing an astonishing seventh. Dillon had tested positive for COVID-19, ultimately leading Richard Childress Racing on giving the 22-year-old an opportunity to compete in the sport’s highest level. Grala will have to make the race however, hopingRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Encouraging progress was being reported regarding NASCAR’s “Next Gen” car following Tuesday’s session at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch participated in the latest test of the new car that’s slated to debut in 2022, focusing on the 1.5-mile oval. It’s not the first time the 2004 Cup Series champion ran the prototype as he and Martin Truex, Jr. spent two days testing both the Charlotte oval and Roval configurations last November. With experience, Busch was pleased being able to describe how theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Front Row Motorsports announced its official 2021 NASCAR Cup Series plans Wednesday morning as Anthony Alfredo will become a full-time driver and David Ragan making his return to the Daytona 500 being the highlights. Alfredo, who spent the past season running part-time for Richard Childress in the Xfinity Series, will replace John Hunter Nemechek in the No. 38 Ford Mustang. Ragan, who finished fourth in last year’s weather and crash-marred “Great American Race,” will run the No. 36 Ford once again. Car owner Bob JenkinsRead More