NASCAR Joe Gibbs Racing

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Déjà vu Would be Just Fine with Denny Hamlin

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 17: A detail of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, driven by Denny Hamlin 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 – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin wouldn’t mind at all if history repeated itself during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.

Hamlin won the Advance Auto Parts Clash, and eight days later, the driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota followed up with his first Daytona 500 victory, a breathtaking affair that saw Hamlin beat fellow Camry driver Martin Truex Jr. to the finish line by 0.010 seconds, a margin of roughly six inches.

Hamlin is well aware that winning The Great American Race back-to-back is one of the toughest feats in motorsports, so tough that only three drivers have accomplished the feat: Richard Petty (1973-1974), Cale Yarborough (1983-1984) and Sterling Marlin (1994-1995). Continue reading

JJ Yeley Joins AM Racing for Daytona Truck Series Opener

Photo – Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

Officials from AM Racing (@AMRacingNASCAR) announced today that NASCAR veteran driver JJ Yeley will pilot the team’s No. 22 Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Friday night, February 24th.
Yeley, a native of Phoenix, Ariz. will make his 23rd career NCWTS start and first since last March’s race at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway. In Yeley’s previous 22 starts, the two-time USAC Sprint Car champion has one start at the “World Center of Racing” in 2010 resulting in tenth place finish.

The partnership for now is a one-race agreement with industry veteran Rick Ren serving as crew chief.

Yeley’s efforts will be backed by Legrand and Superior Essex. 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

Optimism Abounds at NASCAR’s West Coast Media Day in Las Vegas

Reporter Kelli Stavast (L-R) hosts a panel discussion with drivers Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney during NASCAR West Coast Media Day at Hyde Bellagio at Bellagio on January 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Photo – Isaac Brekken/Getty Images

Optimism and excitement were the common themes that flowed through NASCAR’s West Coast Media Day at The Bellagio’s Hyde night club in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney joined Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Chris Powell, Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen and Phoenix Raceway President Bryan Sperber to speak to the media at the exclusive club. NBC’s Kelli Stavast hosted the event, which featured a Q&A session and one-on-one time with the assembled media. Continue reading