Chevrolet Owners Contemplate a Surfeit of Young Talent in NASCAR Racing

(L-R) Chevrolet executive Jim Campbell and Chevrolet team owners Richard Childress, Chip Ganassi, and Rick Hendrick preview the Daytona 500 during a press conference at Daytona International Speedway on February 24, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Photo – Scott Hunter/Getty Images

Roughly 30 minutes after Chevrolet unveiled the Camaro ZL 1 that will pace Sunday’s Daytona 500 and announced four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon as its driver, Chevy brass and team owners gathered in the Daytona International Speedway media center to field questions from reporters.

Owners Richard Childress, Chip Ganassi and Rick Hendrick joined Jim Campbell, Chevy’s U.S. vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports, at the press session. One of the first topics to arise was the prospect of Jimmie Johnson winning a record-breaking eighth championship at NASCAR’s highest level.

Johnson won his seventh title last year to tie Richard Petty and the late Dale Earnhardt for most championships in the history of the series. Continue reading

Chase Elliott Starting to Feel Comfortable with No. 24 Legacy

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash on February 17, 2017 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Chase Elliott can’t make fans forget the legacy of the No. 24 car, but by all indications, he’s ready to make his own distinctive mark in that vaunted ride.

The history of the No. 24 car is monumental, and Elliott inherited that ride last year from the driver who made it famous.

The No. 24 has won 93 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races in 1,414 starts since the number debuted in 1950. All 93 victories belong to Jeff Gordon, who retired from full-time racing at NASCAR’s highest level at the end of the 2015 season. Continue reading

Derek Thorn Dominates in Winter Showdown Victory at Home Track

Fan4Racing Radio guest Derek Thorn at 8:40 pm ET on Monday, February 13, 2017 Photo – Sal Sigala

Derek Thorn is our guest on Fan4Racing NASCAR & Race Talk, Monday, February 13, 2017 at 8:40 pm ET. Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite or @Sal_Sigala with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.

In front of a packed house at Kern County Raceway this weekend, local Bakersfield, CA resident, Derek Thorn dominated all 250 laps of the SRL Southwest Touring Series’ Third Annual Winter Showdown, bringing home a $30,000 bonus for the win. After taking the pole in qualifying, Thorn led every lap in the première Super Late Model event that included big name drivers such as NASCAR’s Kyle Busch and Erik Jones as well as the Showdown’s winner the last two years, Bubba Pollard.

Thorn has traveled across the country as far as Pensacola, FL to compete in their Snowball Derby, and other première Super Late Model events including all three years at his home track of Kern County Raceway in the SRL’s Winter Showdown, dreaming of victory. Continue reading

Jones, 5-hour Energy Team Make First Laps at PIR Test

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones addresses the media during NASCAR testing at Phoenix International Raceway on January 31, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona.
Photo – Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

New Furniture Row Racing team prepares for 2017 NASCAR season  

It’s the hours and hours a person spends preparing for the opportunity ahead that creates success.

Furniture Row Racing’s No. 77 5-hour ENERGY team spent Tuesday and Wednesday at Phoenix International Raceway becoming familiar with the new Toyota Camry as well as each other as a new team for the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season. Driver Erik Jones and crew chief Chris Gayle have a brief history together in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with Joe Gibbs Racing though both are entering their rookie seasons in NASCAR’s premier class. Continue reading

Truex Says Edwards’ Departure will Change Toyota Dynamic

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. poses for a photo during the NASCAR 2017 Media Tour at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 24, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr. was as surprised as everyone else when he heard Joe Gibbs Racing driver Carl Edwards had decided to step away from racing.

As part of the Toyota factory effort, which also includes the Furniture Row Racing team, Truex valued Edwards’ contribution to the body of knowledge. Understandably, that will change when rookie Daniel Suarez takes over the seat of Edwards’ No. 19 Camry. Continue reading