This looks as if a great time to level this out. Except I missed it whereas perusing NASCAR’s record of 62 official companions, there isn’t any official antifreeze
There’s an official beer, official motor oil, even an official grill (Pit Boss, by the way in which). However no antifreeze, which stinks as a result of even , from Indiana down via the Southeast, the place the most recent arctic blast is roaring, are hoping they do not run out of Suburban Propane (yep, that is the one).
However, assuming the radiator holds up, crank ‘er up and let’s work via the gearbox and compensate for the
First Gear: Daytona 500 entry record (form of) firming up
When Martin Truex Jr.’s upcoming Daytona 500 effort was introduced late final week, the variety of groups planning a Daytona try was as much as 45.
Except it’s 44.
ROLEX PRIMER
All wish to line up on Feb. 16 as one of many 40 entries.
Except it’s 41.
The 36 Cup franchises — “chartered” groups — are all assured beginning spots all through the season. Forty-four automobiles have been entered for the Daytona 500, and that quantity will develop to 45 if Carl Lengthy’s group finds a driver (and sponsorship) to switch Mike Wallace, who was denied by NASCAR because of a 10-year layoff from high-speed ovals.
The entry of Helio Castroneves has added an asterisk to the eventual variety of Daytona 500 entries. Beneath a brand new rule permitting an “outsider” with nice racing chops to enter a Cup race, Helio is now robotically in, and if he fails to qualify for the five hundred via qualifying, he’ll fill a forty first beginning spot.
The unchartered drivers, exterior of Helio and Truex, at the moment penciled in: Jimmie Johnson, BJ McLeod, Anthony Alfredo, JJ Yeley, Justin Allgaier and whomever is known as to drive a further Rick Ware Racing automotive (Corey LaJoie is the rumor).
Second Gear: Breaking information — Kyle Larson is an efficient race-car driver
Kyle Larson is taken into account by many to be the very best all-around racer in North America. This previous weekend, he additional enhanced his avenue cred on a tiny grime oval in Tulsa. He received the celebrated Chili Bowl Nationals for the third time in six years.
Larson led all 40 laps of the ultimate.
His fellow former Cup champ Kyle Busch and (future champ?) Christopher Bell had been among the many NASCAR contingent participating within the annual gathering of the nation’s prime midget-car racers.
Third Gear: Remembering the senior Martin Truex
Sadly, the information of Martin Truex Jr.’s upcoming Daytona 500 effort was quickly adopted by the information of Martin Truex Sr.’s loss of life at age 66.
The household’s assertion: “We’re devastated by the lack of our father. Merely put, he was our hero and an awesome man. We recognize everybody’s ideas and prayers and ask for privateness right now.”
Martin Sr. did some part-time racing within the New Jersey space whereas, together with brother Barney, constructing a big clamming enterprise known as Sea Watch.
Martin Sr. did his racing on the fringes of the NASCAR highlight, beginning 135 races within the outdated Busch North Collection, now often called ARCA East, and he received as soon as, at New Hampshire in 1994. He additionally made 15 begins within the outdated Busch Collection, with a greatest displaying of twelfth at Nazareth, additionally in 1994.
Fourth Gear: Rolex 24 will get Daytona’s racing season began
Oh, by the way in which, it’s Rolex 24 week at Daytona.
NASCAR participation has ebbed and flowed over the 60-some years of Daytona’s sports-car endurance race, and recently it’s been ebbing. However one of many Corvette groups within the GTD class features a 2025 Cup Collection rookie of kinds (Shane van Gisbergen) and Xfinity Collection rookie (Connor Zilisch). Each have sports-car expertise.
Additionally, Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner, was a late sub for an injured driver and can co-drive a Ford Mustang in GTD. It’s going to be Cindric’s sixth Rolex begin.
We clearly have a bias opinion, however this automotive seems to be superb from each angle!
Thanks for all of the feedback over the previous couple of days. Loads of content material to bridge the hole between now and the Rolex 24!
In IMSA’s GTD courses, the Mustangs really appear like Mustangs, whereas the Corvettes, Porsches, Ferraris, and so forth., really look rather a lot like their showroom counterparts. Paradoxically, it could be the one week the place one thing resembling true “inventory” automobiles flip laps at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
And sure, every week from now, we’ll be speaking in regards to the upcoming Conflict and the formally unofficial begin of one other NASCAR Cup Collection season.
Vroom, vroom.
