Over the many years, NASCAR’s annual has been held in Daytona Seaside, New York Metropolis, Las Vegas and Nashville. they opted for comfort and held it this previous weekend in Charlotte, the place most drivers and groups are based mostly.
Some information was made through the weekend, some , however all the blow was made since we final gathered right here every week in the past.
Let’s undergo the gears and make up some floor …
First Gear: RFK not proof against enlargement; 23XI additionally provides a 3rd wheel
A pair of two-car groups have formally introduced enlargement plans for the 2025 season.
Ryan Preece, freshly out of labor as a result of closing of Stewart-Haas Racing, will develop into a teammate to Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher at Roush Fenway Racing.
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Preece, a 34-year-old Connecticut native, beforehand raced three full-time seasons with JTG-Daugherty Racing (extra on that group shortly) and the previous two with Stewart-Haas. Jack Roush, the R in RFK Racing, hasn’t had a three-driver lineup since 2016. Do you keep in mind that trio? Reply beneath.
In the meantime, Michael Jordan, part-owner of 23XI Racing, took a timeout from authorized proceedings so as to add Riley Herbst as a 3rd driver for that crew subsequent season. Herbst gained the Xfinity Sequence’ season finale in Phoenix, his third win in 5 full-time seasons in that collection.
Why add a 3rd crew throughout ongoing litigation? Properly, this isn’t only a sport, but in addition a enterprise, and Herbst brings the coveted Monster Vitality sponsorship with him to a crew already swimming in advertising leverage resulting from Jordan and one other co-owner, Denny Hamlin.
Herbst is from the household that owns the “Horrible Herbst” chain of almost 200 service stations within the West, principally in Nevada. We’re guessing there’s presumably a Monster-Horrible Herbst enterprise connection. That is racin’, most of the time.
Oh, the Roush trivia. Jack’s final three-man lineup in 2016: Greg Biffle, Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Extra Biff information beneath, too.
Second Gear: Ho-hum, Chase Elliott wins NASCAR Most Standard Driver award once more. NMPA additionally honors Greg Biffle
The annual Elliott Household Award went to Chase for the seventh straight yr.
Not precisely a number of drama right here.
Formally, it’s referred to as NASCAR’s Most Standard Driver Award, given yearly to the motive force who gathers probably the most fan votes at season’s finish. It’s managed by the Nationwide Motorsports Press Affiliation.
That is the twenty third mixed win for Chase and his dad Invoice, whose 16 wins are probably the most ever, however not by a lot. In between Invoice and Chase, Dale Earnhardt Jr. gained it 15 occasions. Lee Petty gained the primary two years the award was handed out, in 1952-53. Lee’s son Richard gained it eight occasions.
The NMPA additionally offers out the respect in NASCAR’s different collection. This yr, Justin Allgaier gained in Xfinity and Rajah Caruth in Vans.
The NMPA additionally manages the annual Myers Brothers Award, which honors excellent contributions to stock-car racing. This yr it went to Greg Biffle, who truly made excellent contributions to mankind.
Within the wake of devastating Hurricane Helene injury all through western North Carolina and different areas, Biffle loaded his private helicopter with provides and beat a steady path to the area, ultimately turning into the face of “Operation Helidrop.”
The mirror that caught our consideration properly over a mile away 👀 solely means we we have been capable of finding somebody stranded within the mountains at backside of steep canyon. 6 makes an attempt to land resulting from issue however we obtained there – obtained him a chainsaw, EpiPens, insulin, hen meals, formulation, fuel, 2…
Third Gear: Denny Hamlin will get a shock
Denny Hamlin is getting a brand new crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing, and to listen to Hamlin inform it, he was blindsided by the substitute of Chris Gabehart. The pair gained 22 races collectively over the previous six seasons.
It doesn’t sound like Denny was in favor of the transfer.
“I definitely was shocked, that’s all I’ll say,” he informed assembled media ultimately weekend’s banquet in Charlotte. “The primary few days was a shock, however I’m shifting on,”
Gabehart, who will develop into JGR’s competitors director, can be changed atop Hamlin’s field by Chris Gayle, a JGR crew chief in Xfinity and Cup since 2013. He spent the final two seasons as Cup Sequence crew chief for Ty Gibbs.
Fourth Gear: JTG Daugherty offers approach to Hyak, however what’s a Hyak?
As promised above, an replace on JTG Daugherty Racing.
It’s gone.
Properly, the signage is gone.
It’s now Hyak Motorsports. Rhymes with kayak. Gordon Smith grew to become majority proprietor a yr in the past and brings the identify from his Hyak Maritime, a marine providers company based mostly in Oregon.
NEWS: JTG-Daugherty Racing has formally rebranded itself as Hyak Motorsports with proprietor Gordon Smith who took over major possession of the crew in late-2023, in response to a information launch. Ricky Stenhouse will nonetheless be the motive force of the No. 47 Chevrolet in 2025.
Hyak? It means “quick” within the Chinook Jargon language of the long-ago Pacific Northwest.
JTG Daugherty has fielded a Cup Sequence crew since 2009. Two of its three wins have come prior to now two seasons — together with the 2023 Daytona 500, with Ricky Stenhouse driving. It was a two-car crew from 2017-21 however a single-car operation the previous three years.
Longtime co-owner and former NBA all-star Brad Daugherty stays a part of the possession group, together with Ernie Cope and Mark Hughes.
