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NAPA was his primary sponsor in the races where he clinched his Xfinity and Cup championships, and for all but six of his Cup Series wins. If not for the company taking a chance on the then-18-year-old son of Bill Elliott, he’s not sure what path his career might have taken. “NAPA has defined my […]
NAPA was his primary sponsor in the races where he clinched his Xfinity and Cup championships, and for all but six of his Cup Series wins. If not for the company taking a chance on the then-18-year-old son of Bill Elliott, he’s not sure what path his career might have taken.
“NAPA has defined my entire career, I’ve said it a lot,” Elliott told The Associated Press. “I’ve tried to express my appreciation for them, but if they don’t come on board, I don’t think 2014 happens. You’re essentially looking at the Xfinity championship never happening. We were going to run a handful of races had NAPA not signed on. We were talking about a part-time season and going full-time wasn’t going to be possible without that money, without that deal coming. So, yeah, it was more than a little career defining.”
Although NAPA is a 100-year old company, its involvement in race car sponsorships didn’t begin until 2001 when it joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. with Michael Waltrip. Waltrip won his debut race with the brand — the Daytona 500 in which Earnhardt was killed on the final lap.
NAPA stayed with Waltrip through his time at DEI and then moved with him when he started his own team. The brand then shifted to Michael Waltrip Racing driver Martin Truex Jr., but cut its ties after MWR was involved in a 2013 late-season cheating scandal.
That made the company available for a new NASCAR driver and settled on unproven Elliott, who is from Georgia, where NAPA is headquartered.
Jeff Gordon, now vice chairman at Hendrick Motorsports, wasn’t involved in Rick Hendrick’s courtship of turning NAPA into the largest supplier of Hendrick Automotive and also a NASCAR sponsor. But he was a keynote speaker at NAPA’s convention in Las Vegas a little over a week ago and understands how much the company means to the Hendrick brand and Elliott’s career.
“When Chase says that NAPA defined his career, he means that,” Gordon told the AP. “He doesn’t say anything he doesn’t 100% mean. We all have these moments in our career where things could have gone either way. For me it was DuPont (sponsorship) and for Chase it was NAPA. I can’t even imagine Chase on track without NAPA some part of his car.”
NAPA’s racing portfolio has expanded over the years. NAPA signed on as an associate partner with Ron Capps and Don Schumacher Racing in 2007 and the next year NAPA became Capps’ primary sponsor. NAPA became the official auto parts store of the NHRA this year.
Capps ran the gold commemorative car in last weekend’s NHRA event.
NAPA also partnered with Andretti Autosport in IndyCar in May 2016 with Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi. That sponsorship has ended. In NASCAR, NAPA initially sponsored Waltrip and then Truex Jr., then moved to be primary sponsor of Elliott the next season.
As part of the centennial celebration this weekend, the gold cars will also be run by Daniel Hemric in the Truck Series and sprint car racer Brad Sweet, who is racing at Texas’ dirt track this weekend. NAPA plans to bring all the gold cars together for a photo opportunity.
Based on his age — Elliott is now 29 — he doesn’t associate the NAPA traditional blue and gold paint scheme with any driver but himself. After all, NAPA has backed his entire NASCAR national series career.
“I’ve spent so much time with them at this point that it feels like home,” Elliott said. “It feels like a true partnership and they definitely feel like part of my family.”
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Post-race inspection following Saturday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway has been completed, and there were no issues with the race-winning No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. As a result, Justin Allgaier and his team have officially been declared the winners of the race. Unfortunately, ninth-place finisher Daniel Dye wasn’t as fortunate. […]
Post-race inspection following Saturday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway has been completed, and there were no issues with the race-winning No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. As a result, Justin Allgaier and his team have officially been declared the winners of the race.
Unfortunately, ninth-place finisher Daniel Dye wasn’t as fortunate.
In post-race inspection, Dye’s No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet was found to be too low on the rear heights. As a result, NASCAR disqualified the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year contender. Dye will be credited with a 38th-place finish.
UPDATED RESULTS: Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville
Additionally, Connor Zilisch, who finished in the second-place, had two unsecured lug nuts on his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in post-race inspection, which will result in a $10,000 fine assessed to the No. 88 team and a one-race suspension for crew chief Mardy Lindley. Zilisch will remain credited with the runner-up finish, his second consecutive runner-up finish.
The remainder of the top-10 in Saturday night’s Tennessee Lottery 250 was comprised of Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Ross Chastain, Aric Almirola, Austin Hill, Jesse Love, Carson Kvapil, and Sammy Smith.
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Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will not take part in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix due to pain in his hand. On Saturday Stroll had qualified in 14th, but the Canadian will not take up his grid position tomorrow after experiencing recurring pain in his right hand and wrist. The team said the discomfort was […]
Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll will not take part in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix due to pain in his hand.
On Saturday Stroll had qualified in 14th, but the Canadian will not take up his grid position tomorrow after experiencing recurring pain in his right hand and wrist.
The team said the discomfort was related to him fracturing his hand in a cycling accident on the eve of the 2023 season, and Stroll will now undergo surgery to fix the issue.
“Over the course of the past six weeks Lance has been experiencing pain in his hand and wrist, which his medical consultant believes is in relation to the procedure he underwent in 2023,” Aston Martin said.
“As a result his medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery.”
A week before Bahrain’s 2023 pre-season test, Stroll sustained injuries during a training ride in Malaga, including fractures in both wrists as well as a broken toe.
Having had screws inserted into his right wrist, Stroll sat out testing but made a swift recovery way ahead of schedule. The following week he took part in the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix, battling through the pain all weekend to score an impressive sixth place as Aston made a flying start to the season.
Stroll will now miss a grand prix after all, two years after the initial injury. At the time of writing it is not yet known if Stroll will recover from the procedure in time for F1’s next race at the Canadian Grand Prix, but Stroll will understandably be keen to ensure he is fighting fit for his home race in Montreal in two weeks’ time. First practice for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event is scheduled on Friday 13 June.
Stroll pulling out after qualifying means Aston Martin will only enter Fernando Alonso’s car in the Spanish Grand Prix, with 19 cars on the starting grid.
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Tarohn Finley | The Detroit News Detroit — When Ricky Taylor of Cadillac crossed over Felipe Nasr of Porsche to take the lead, Renger Van Der Zande of Acura stayed right behind. With not enough speed and little tire traction, patience was all Van Der Zande could rely on. With 3:15 left, for Van Der […]
Detroit — When Ricky Taylor of Cadillac crossed over Felipe Nasr of Porsche to take the lead, Renger Van Der Zande of Acura stayed right behind.
With not enough speed and little tire traction, patience was all Van Der Zande could rely on. With 3:15 left, for Van Der Zande it was “game on” as soon as he hit Turn One.
He capitalized on his last opportunity to take the lead and he never let it go.
“When we made the pass for the win I kind of lost it, I felt like a little child because I was so excited,” Van Der Zande said.
Van Der Zande won the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic GTP Class race on Saturday in downtown Detroit. Van der Zande’s comeback victory was his 22nd IMSA Class win.
It was all Acura this weekend, as Acura was able to secure its first win this year. Van Der Zande’s victory and Nick Yelloly’s pole win yesterday made it a “precision-crafted performance weekend” for Acura drivers.
The victory was the first time both drivers had success on the course. For Yelloly, he got a victory in his second start on the course. Despite it being Van der Zande’s first victory on the course since the course was moved downtown in 2023, Van Der Zande has had a lot of success in Detroit.
“I actually won quite a bit in Belle Isle, maybe four times or something, ” Van Der Zande said. “So it has always come my way here.”
Renger Van Der Zande was not the only one who had momentum in Detroit; Ford was able to win the GTD Pro. Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx led them.
Rockenfeller, a six-time IMSA class winner, was happy to get the victory after recent struggles. “Finally it’s been a bit of a struggle not having the right days or packages the last couple of years,” Rockenfeller said.
Rockenfeller dedicated the win to Ford workers, as Edsel Ford looked on. “For Seb and I, the whole Ford team, all the employees of Ford are just right around the corner, I think this victory is really for them,” Rockenfeller said. “I’m so happy and really overwhelmed.”
Priaulx now has consecutive victories on the Detroit street course. Despite winning with two different manufacturers, winning with Ford in Detroit was significant for Priaulx. “To win for Ford here is an amazing achievement I think, ” Priaulx said.
For Ford and Acura drivers, it has been a great weekend indeed.
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Denny Hamlin, who already has two Cup wins this year, is set to make his 700th career Cup start on Sunday. However, the expected arrival of a baby boy may keep him from the track. Hamlin and long-time partner Jordan Fish already have two girls, but the due date for their first-born son is June […]
Denny Hamlin, who already has two Cup wins this year, is set to make his 700th career Cup start on Sunday. However, the expected arrival of a baby boy may keep him from the track.
Hamlin and long-time partner Jordan Fish already have two girls, but the due date for their first-born son is June 1st — the same day as the Cup race at Nashville.
Ryan Truex, younger brother of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., is the reserve driver and will be called upon to pilot the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota should Hamlin have to leave the track.
Truex has 26 Cup Series starts, but none since the 2014 season — almost 11 years ago. Most recently, Truex has competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JGR, winning three races since 2023.
Hamlin is scheduled to start from the outside of the front row for Sunday’s 400-mile race with teammate Chase Briscoe earning pole position. If Hamlin starts the event and Truex has to replace him mid-race, then Hamlin will get credit for the final finishing position. However, if Hamlin misses the start, the car will go to the rear of the field and Truex will get credit for the start.
NASCAR has introduced a stricter playoff waiver policy for 2025 and has promised to strip drivers of all playoff points if they need a waiver for non-medical reasons. However, missing a race for the birth of a child is covered under valid medical reasons, so there is no issue for Hamlin should he need to miss the race entirely.
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Denny Hamlin
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NASCAR star Denny Hamlin has been denied pole position after an exciting qualifying session at Nashville, whilst 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson suffered a nightmare session. Hamlin was beaten to pole position for Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, with the No. 19 car edging the No. 11 by […]
NASCAR star Denny Hamlin has been denied pole position after an exciting qualifying session at Nashville, whilst 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson suffered a nightmare session.
Hamlin was beaten to pole position for Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 by Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe, with the No. 19 car edging the No. 11 by just 0.049 seconds around Nashville Superspeedway.
It is Briscoe’s second consecutive pole position after also topping Coca-Cola 600 qualifying at Charlotte last weekend, although the 30-year-old will be hoping he can convert it into a win this time around.
Hamlin, meanwhile, will have to make do with second, if he takes part in the race, that is. The Joe Gibbs Racing star is on standby as he awaits the birth of his baby son and has said he will skip the race to be there for his family.
Elsewhere in Nashville, it was a poor session for Hendrick Motorsports star Larson, failing to bounce back in the way we are used to after the disappointment of two wrecks last Sunday as he attempted ‘the double’.
The No. 5 car was only 28th quickest in qualifying this evening, with plenty of work for Larson and his team to do on race day if they want to secure a strong result.
With that said, let’s take a look at the full results from Saturday’s qualifying.
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After qualifying on Saturday afternoon, here is the starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, with times included.
Position | Driver | Car No. | Team | Lap Time/Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chase Briscoe | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 29.125 sec |
2 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | +0.049 |
3 | William Byron | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.182 |
4 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing Toyota | +0.183 |
5 | Ross Chastain | 1 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | +0.185 |
6 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford | +0.252 |
7 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | +0.262 |
8 | Michael McDowell | 71 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.272 |
9 | Joey Logano | 22 | Team Penske Ford | +0.309 |
10 | Chris Buescher | 17 | Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford | +0.318 |
11 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.352 |
12 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing Toyota | +0.401 |
13 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.463 |
14 | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | +0.464 |
15 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | Team Penske Ford | +0.476 |
16 | Austin Cindric | 2 | Team Penske Ford | +0.481 |
17 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet | +0.494 |
18 | Justin Haley | 7 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.498 |
19 | Ryan Preece | 60 | RFK Racing Ford | +0.510 |
20 | Josh Berry | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing Ford | +0.526 |
21 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | +0.532 |
22 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | +0.533 |
23 | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | +0.534 |
24 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.545 |
25 | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | +0.607 |
26 | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.629 |
27 | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports Ford | +0.641 |
28 | Kyle Larson | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | +0.653 |
29 | Cole Custer | 41 | Haas Factory Team Ford | +0.682 |
30 | Noah Gragson | 4 | Front Row Motorsports Ford | +0.695 |
31 | Ty Dillon | 10 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet | +0.699 |
32 | Daniel Suarez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | +0.759 |
33 | Corey Heim | 67 | 23XI Racing Toyota | +0.771 |
34 | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing Ford | +0.826 |
35 | Todd Gilliland | 34 | Front Row Motorsports Ford | +0.871 |
36 | John Hunter Nemechek | 42 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | +0.898 |
37 | Riley Herbst | 35 | 23XI Racing Toyota | +1.035 |
38 | JJ Yeley | 44 | NY Racing Team Chevrolet | +1.318 |
39 | Chad Finchum | 66 | Garage 66 Ford | +2.604 |
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