On Thursday night at the Music City Center, the NASCAR Champion’s Week festivities concluded with the honoring of Ryan Blaney, who reached the pinnacle of the sport—claiming the NASCAR Cup Series title—by outdueling three other Championship 4 contenders Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway.
The 29-year-old Blaney finished second to Ross Chastain in the season finale but crossed the finish line ahead of Playoff drivers Kyle Larson and William Byron—both representing Hendrick Motorsports—to earn his first Cup championship and the second in a row for team owner Roger Penske. “I know, all the competitors, we don’t agree all the time, but it is a true honor to race with the best in the world on a weekly basis, and I do appreciate that,” Blaney said after an introduction from NASCAR president Steve Phelps and a welcome to the stage from one of Blaney’s favorite bands, Whiskey Myers. Blaney comes from a racing family that includes his father, Dave Blaney and uncle, Dale Blaney, both superstars in the sprint car realm. “Obviously, growing up, watching Dad race, that’s just what I wanted to do, and I wanted to be like my Dad,” Blaney said. “I was super lucky to be able see that at a young age and get the whole spectrum of seeing what it’s like as a driver, seeing how teams operated.” Blaney had special praise for team owner Roger Penske, who has fielded Cup cars for Blaney for the last six seasons. “Roger and (wife) Kathy Penske—it’s hard to believe it’s been over 10 years since we first met,” Blaney said. “As a kid, there’s nothing more I wanted to do than to win you a championship and just be successful, because I was such a big fan of you, not only in NASCAR but in every form of motorsport. “I have such a huge respect for what you did. You stuck with me for over 10 years, and it’s been unbelievable.” Blaney delivered Penske’s first back-to-back Cup championships this season, with Jonathan Hassler as his crew chief. “Ryan is the champion, but think about his position in the garage area with other teams and other drivers,” Penske said. “He’s a champion with them, too. It’s very important, as you climb the ladder in this sport.” For the sixth straight year, Chase Elliot won the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award. Justin Allgaier and Hailie Deegan were most popular drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, respectively. Elliott, who is 10 short of the 16 Most Popular Driver Awards won by his father, Bill Elliott, appeared on stage with a sling on his left arm, indicative of recent offseason should surgery. Ty Gibbs was named Sunoco Rookie of the Year in NASCAR’s top series. “It’s been a great year, and we want to keep going,” said Gibbs, who scored 10 top-10 finishes with a best result of fourth in his first full-time season. All 16 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers appeared on stage during the award ceremony. Veteran Michael McDowell perhaps had the best laugh line of the evening. “It’s taken me a long time not to suck,” said McDowell, a former Daytona 500 winner who earned his second career victory on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course this year. Kevin Harvick summed up his retirement from full-time Cup racing with a poignant image. “When I got out of my car in Phoenix, there wasn’t another (race),” said Harvick, who is leaving full-time racing after 23 Cup seasons. NASCAR vice chairman Mike Helton had high praise for Harvick, who will remain prominent in the sport as an analyst in the FOX Sports booth. “I want to say, ‘thank you’ to everybody in this room,” Harvick said. “It’s been a heck of a ride… “Where’s Bubba (Wallace)? He bet me $100 I’d cry like a baby—I won $100. Thank you!” Brad Keselowski, co-owner/driver at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, pointed to the progress the organization has made in 2023, with both Keselowski and teammate Chris Buescher, a three-time winner, qualifying for the Playoffs. Driving for Stewart-Haas Racing, Cole Custer bested Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer and John Hunter Nemechek to win his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. Custer returned to the Xfinity Series this season after three disappointing years in NASCAR’s top division. “I think he’s matured a lot, and it’s very gratifying to see him win the Xfinity Series championship,” said team owner Gene Haas. NASCAR chief operating officer Steve O’Donnell brought Custer to the stage with high praise for the title-winning performance at Phoenix. “He dug deep, like he always does,” O’Donnell said, referencing the nail-biting restarts late in the championship race. “At the end of that race in Phoenix, when we held that championship trophy, I’ve never been more proud to be a part of that (team),” Custer said. “To the whole team, thank you for believing in me—I love you guys.” Custer also acknowledged the help and advice he received from Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion. In the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Ben Rhodes won his second title for ThorSport Racing, beating Grant Enfinger, Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim in the Championship 4 finale. Also notable in the Truck Series was Sunoco Rookie of the Year Nick Sanchez, the only rookie driver to qualify for the Playoffs this season. Rhodes finished the season with Rich Lushes as his crew chief after two in-season changes to that vital role. Ben Kennedy, NASCAR vice president of racing development and strategy, introduced Rhodes for his champion’s speech. “I can’t speak for everyone on the team,” Rhodes said, “but I can say they had incredible tenacity. We went through a lot of adversity, and not once did I hear anyone complain… While I stand before you tonight taking recognition, I really defer that to my team, without which none of it would have been possible.” Carson Hocevar and John Hunter Nemechek earned respective driver of the year honors in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Xfinity Series, while Christopher Bell won the 2023 Busch Light Pole Award for his career-best six pole positions this year. Kurt Busch held back tears as he was recognized for a NASCAR career that spanned more than two decades. “I want to say thank you to everyone in this room and everyone in this industry for supporting me for all these years,” said Busch, the 2004 series champion. “I want to thank my father, my mother and my brother Kyle—we always pushed each other to get to the next level.” NASCAR chairman Jim France presented the Bill France Award of Excellence to Rich Kramer, chairman, president and CEO of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. “I’m completely humbled by this acknowledgement,” Kramer said. “The team you see at the track each weekend—anything I’m acknowledged for is due to them…. Goodyear is long-term partner of NASCAR, I think, because we’re cut out of the same cloth.” Lesa France Kennedy, executive vice chair of NASCAR, announced Molly Moran, a volunteer at Comfort Zone Camp, as the winner of this year’s prestigious Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Comfort Zone Camp is a non-profit bereavement organization that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver, or significant person. Ryan Vargas was honored as Comcast Community Champion of the Year for his work with FACES, the National Craniofacial Association. Diagnosed with craniosynostosis as a child, Vargas serves as a board member of FACES and earned a $60,000 donation from Comcast and Xfinity for the organization. Sherry Pollex, long-time partner of 2017 Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., was honored with the NMPA Myers Brothers Award. Pollex lost a valiant, nine-year battle against ovarian cancer this year. - NASCAR News Wire Denny Hamlin opens up about recent shoulder surgery that could affect the Busch Light Clash11/30/2023
Denny Hamlin attends award ceremony in Nashville wearing a brace on his right arm to immobilize his shoulder after surgery a week ago to repair a longtime rotator cuff injury — aggravated by pulled tendons he suffered “playing sports” just before the Oct. 15 playoff race in Las Vegas.
Hamlin didn’t disclose the injury publicly during the season, saying he didn’t want anyone to think it served as an “excuse” during his playoff performance. But he conceded Thursday that the post-surgery situation has turned out to be more painful and involved than he anticipated. Surgeons have recommended three months of rest and rehabilitation so Hamlin is not certain where he will be in the recovery process come the first race of 2024, Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. He was hesitant to say for sure yet whether he would be in the field for that exhibition event or not. “What I’m optimistic of is that I’ve got a great team that’s going to work on me to get this better and certainly, I find it hard to believe that I’ll have more pain in late-January than what I did in the end of October and November,” Hamlin said. “Getting through those last five races was really, really hard so I think if I can get through that, then certainly I’ll be able to challenge myself enough to get back in a car sooner than what they’d want me to.” “It was painful, there were many times when they asked me to turn on a switch and I couldn’t reach it, I couldn’t touch it,” Hamlin said. “We were certainly up against the odds, but one thing is I didn’t want to use it as any kind of excuse for not making the final four. “I think really our performance was as good as it possibly could be on track. I did everything I could to succeed, we just didn’t get it done for whatever reason. Certainly, I didn’t want that to be any excuse of why we didn’t perform well. … It’s just one of those things, I grew up being a right-arm driver and during the playoffs had to switch to holding the wheel with the left hand, so it was certainly different.” -Information and quotes from Denny Hamlin’s Media Availability in Nashville, Tennessee at the 2023 Awards Ceremony Bimbo Bakeries USA, which is known for brands such as Thomas’® Breads, Sara Lee® Artesano™ Bread, Entenmann’s®, Ball Park® Buns & Rolls and others, is seizing a media opportunity at Daytona International Speedway with 2023 DAYTONA 500 CHAMPION Ricky Stenhouse Jr. to declare their comeback to the NASCAR Cup Series with JTG Daugherty Racing.
“Bimbo Bakeries USA is thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership,” said Taylor Burgess, Sr. Omnichannel Marketing Manager, Bimbo Bakeries USA. “The team had an impressive 2023 season, and we feel confident 2024 will be even better. Keep an eye out for your favorite brands on the No. 47 Camaro.” Stenhouse Jr. accepted an invitation from Daytona International Speedway to announce the Daytona 500 sellout, which also presented the opportunity to inform consumers that Bimbo Bakeries USA is coming back. Bimbo Bakeries USA has a hearty lineup of brands, and the company is in the process of selecting their races and assigning their brands to Stenhouse Jr.’s No. 47 Camaro. “I bet it’s fun to pick races and assign their brands to the No. 47 Camaro so it aligns with their initiatives,” said Ricky Stenhouse Jr. “I’m looking forward to hearing what they ultimately decide, and we’ll focus on delivering for them on and off the track. They are one of our longest running sponsors and we want to do well for them.” During the 2023 season, the company mostly featured Thomas’, Sara Lee Artesano, Ball Park Buns & Rolls, and Entenmann’s. Now, they are making their final decisions on brands and race markets so they can continue their work on in-store merchandising, division activations, digital advertising, consumer offers, and community outreach. “The Kroger Racing program for 2024 is coming together nicely and Bimbo Bakeries USA plays a crucial role,” said Stenhouse Jr. “We’re excited to announce their lineup soon and have our Kroger kick off meeting in the coming weeks. We’ll blink and before you know it, it will be time for Daytona. We’re looking forward to defending our title with our partners in February.” You can find out additional information about America’s favorite bread and sweet baked goods brand by visiting https://www.bimbobakeriesusa.com/ — JTG Daugherty Racing Press Release:
WELCOME, NC (November 29, 2023) – Richard Childress Racing announced this week several key leadership appointments designed to strengthen the organization’s operations. Andy Petree has been promoted to executive vice president of Richard Childress Racing, where he will play a larger role in all aspects of the 55-year-old race team. Petree, a 35-year veteran of the motorsports industry, most recently led RCR’s competition team as vice president of competition. In that role, Petree guided the organization to 23 race wins (nine in the NASCAR Cup Series and 14 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series) and helped RCR earn the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2019. Under Petree’s leadership, RCR made seven NASCAR Cup Series Playoff appearances from 2017-2023. He was also instrumental in overseeing the development of the Next Gen Chevy. While Petree’s responsibilities transition to a more macro-level oversight of the organization, a pair of long-time RCR employees with strong engineering backgrounds will take on enhanced responsibilities within the competition team. Justin Alexander has been promoted to competition director for RCR, while Eric Kominek will continue to add value to the organization in a reimagined technical director role. Alexander will supervise all competition-related departments, providing leadership, coordination and support while also continuing to utilize his 20 years of motorsports experience to maximize the capabilities of RCR’s Chevys across the organization. Most recently, Alexander served as director of vehicle performance for Richard Childress Racing. In the past, he has also led the organization’s research and development efforts and notably guided Austin Dillon to all four of his NASCAR Cup Series wins while serving as crew chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series. Eric Kominek will continue to drive value for RCR as the technical director for RCR, overseeing all technical engineering activities for the high-performance motorsports team and focusing his energies on vehicle systems engineering, design and metrology. He also assumes the role of technical director for RCR’s NASCAR Xfinity Series teams. Kominek provides forward thinking and strategic direction in all areas of technical development at RCR and will continue to play an integral role in leading strategic technical-based partnerships, including technology collaborations with Dow and Lenovo. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. “Andy Petree has been around racing his entire life in various roles and titles, from race car driver to car owner to two-time championship-winning crew chief for Dale Earnhardt, not to mention his contributions to motorsports through his work as a TV analyst for NASCAR Race Hub on FOX,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “That experience and loyalty to RCR makes him the perfect choice to take on a larger role at RCR that transcends the competition side of our business. At the same time, Justin Alexander and Eric Kominek are both extremely talented engineers who are proven in their ability to lead and are going to be valuable in their respective competition-focused positions.” -RCR RFK RACING ANNOUNCES #STAGE60, BUILDSUBMARINES.COM TO PARTNER FOR TEAM’S THIRD DAYTONA 500 ENTRY11/29/2023
RFK Racing Announces #Stage60, BuildSubmarines.com to Partner for Team’s Third Daytona 500 Entry
David Ragan to Pilot BuildSubmarines.com Ford in Daytona 500 CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 29, 2023) – RFK Racing has announced that it will field a third entry in the 2024 Daytona 500 with David Ragan as the driver of the No. 60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford, all part of the #Stage60 program, which brings back the iconic No. 60 to NASCAR with its RFK debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. “The 60 car represents an opportunity for us to honor our past and look forward to the future of RFK Racing,” said Steve Newmark, President, RFK Racing. “We’re thankful to have partners like BuildSubmarines.com, who, like us, have a mission to grow and be best in class in all endeavors.” #Stage60 kicks off with Ragan at Daytona Speedweeks. Plans to expand the program will be announced at a later date, with the intent on the No. 60 competing in additional events in 2024. #Stage60 features a ‘modern retro’ font for the famed No. 60, while introducing a logo that pays homage to the classic Roush Stage III Mustang, while also staying true to RFK’s current brand marks. “It’s really exciting to be back in an RFK Ford,” said Ragan, who led in the final laps of the 2011 Daytona 500. “I spent some of the best years of my career driving for Mr. Jack (Roush) and the team at RFK. They really gave me my first opportunity in the sport and I have to thank BuildSubmarines.com for helping make this happen. We had a really strong run going in my last year at Roush at the 500, and hopefully we can go back and finish what we started.” Ragan competed 13 full seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2007-19, five of which were in the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Jack Roush from 2007-11. The 37-year-old has two career Cup wins, including a victory in the 2011 summer race at Daytona. Overall, he’s made 30 Cup starts at ‘The World Center of Racing’ with eight top-10 finishes. BuildSubmarines.com, owned and operated by BlueForge Alliance, returns for its second season of partnership in 2024, coming off a 10-race program in 2023 that began in the summer, and featured seven top-10s alone in the BuildSubmarines.com scheme across RFK’s No. 6 and No. 17 machines. They will serve as the anchor partner for team co-owner Brad Keselowski in 2024. “To be on the track at one of America’s premier sporting events presents an enormous opportunity to showcase amazing careers across the nation,” said Kiley Wren, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, BlueForge Alliance. “Since its announcement in May 2023, our engagement with RFK Racing has already proven to be a game-changer in pursuing our mission to reinvigorate the U.S. manufacturing industry in building next generation submarines for the U.S. Navy. Our involvement in the full 2024 NASCAR campaign will get off to a roaring start thanks to the RFK team, and we’re thrilled to welcome David Ragan to the mission.” -RFK Racing |