On Thursday prior to the Gander RV Duel 150-mile qualifying races, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Daniel Suarez and Matt DiBenedetto and NASCAR President Steve Phelps flew with the world-renowned United States Air Force Thunderbirds.

In 2019, both Suarez and DiBenedetto are driving for new teams beginning with Sunday’s 61st DAYTONA 500. Suarez will start from 23rd in the No. 41 Haas Automation Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing. DiBenedetto will roll off ninth in the No. 95 Procore Toyota Camry for Leavine Family Racing.

The USAF Thunderbirds will perform the flyover for the DAYTONA 500 for the 10th year. The Thunderbirds flyover will feature six F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter aircraft.

DIS PR

Richmond Raceway (Richmond) and Sunoco have partnered to continue the evolution of the track’s growing eSports platform. Sunoco, the official fuel of NASCAR since 2004 and the exclusive fuel provider for all three national racing series in the sport, will be the naming rights sponsor for the entire Richmond Raceway eSports program including competing in the eNASCAR Peak Antifreeze iRacing Series (NPAiS) as well as hosting over 20 eSports race competitions on Xbox One and Playstation 4 this year. The program’s official name is Richmond Raceway eSports Fueled by Sunoco.

“The world of eSports is growing in NASCAR and around the world, and Richmond continues to be at the forefront of its development,” said Richmond President Dennis Bickmeier. “Partnering with Sunoco, we have a partner that is driving value to this new venture and recognizes the importance of connecting with a new generation of fans. We look forward to working closely with Sunoco as we continue to support the growth of eSports in NASCAR.”

To download the new Richmond Raceway eSports Fueled by Sunoco logo and an image with the Richmond Raceway simulator with Dennis Bickmeier and Fred McConnell and Michael Barrows of Sunoco, click here.

As the presenting sponsor for Richmond Raceway eSports, Sunoco will have naming rights associated with all Richmond Raceway eSports activations and entitlement sponsorship of individual competitions that Richmond hosts. Over the past year, Richmond has grown its eSports presence through competing in the NAPiS, season-long fan competition on the NASCAR Heat series by 704Games, and introduction of the Richmond Raceway Simulator for outbound events. Richmond is the only track participating in these eSports platforms.

“We are excited to partner with Richmond Raceway eSports as we find new and different ways to connect with a new generation of NASCAR fans and loyal Sunoco customers,” said Fred McConnell, Director of Brand & Consumer Marketing, Sunoco. “Richmond has been a leader within the NASCAR industry through its eSports programs, so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them and integrate the Sunoco brand into the platform.”

The partnership will kick off when the state-of-the-art Richmond Raceway Simulator is loaded into the Sunoco Injector at Daytona International Speedway for fan activations throughout DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth. Sunoco has its injector closest to the Ticket and Tours Building, with a view of Turn 4, at Daytona International Speedway. The Richmond Raceway Simulator will be active for fans to drive from the moment gates open to the waving of the green flag for the 61st Annual DAYTONA 500 and all other Daytona International Speedway events on Feb. 14-17.

The Richmond Raceway Simulator is an interactive two-seat, in-car driving simulator that allows fans to get behind the wheel to drive Richmond’s famed ¾-mile D-shaped oval and 79 other tracks including some select Racing Virginia tracks. The Richmond Raceway Simulator is powered by iRacing, the world’s premier motorsports racing simulation platform. Richmond-based Sim Seats designed and installed the hardware for the simulator. The Richmond Raceway Simulator is featured at select outbound events throughout the year.

2019 marks the second year Richmond Raceway eSports Fueled by Sunoco will compete in the eNASCAR Peak Antifreeze iRacing Series. In this season’s first-ever draft, the team selected Jimmy Mullis and Malik Ray to represent the team. This will be Mullis’ second year with the team, while Ray will be competing with the team and in the series for the first time.

Ray will drive the No. 90 in honor of Richmond native and long-time NASCAR team owner, Junie Donlavey. His No. 90 team represented NASCAR in the 1976 24 Hours of LeMans, then got its only Cup victory with Jody Ridley at Dover 1981. Donlavey was one of the inaugural members of the Garage Walk of Honor at Richmond, which was unveiled this past September in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the new DC Solar FanGrounds. The No. 90 paint scheme will consist of the Sunoco colors and branding.

The NPAiS will showcase 40 of the world’s best sim racers across 12 different teams. NASCAR teams Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, Wood Brothers Racing, and Roush Fenway Racing are fielding cars in the series. NPAiS is will be celebrating its 10th season in 2019. There will be 18 races in 2019, taking place every two weeks. The season kicks off on Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway, and ends in mid-October with the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Richmond Raceway eSports Fueled by Sunoco will also host a NASCAR Heat 3 League, where fans can test their skills against one another. The league will be available on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and will run in two five-week sessions. The first league will take place February through March prior to the Toyota Spring Race Weekend, and the second league will begin in July and end in August prior to the NASCAR Playoff Race Weekend. One grand prize winner will be selected along with second and third place finishers.

For more information on Richmond Raceway eSports Fueled by Sunoco, visit richmondraceway.com/esports.

Richmond Raceway PR

1st annual DAYTONA 500 (2:30 p.m. ET; TV–FOX; Radio–MRN, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio), the season-opening race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Harvick’s victory gives him a third-place start – inside, second row – in the DAYTONA 500. He led the last 44 laps of the first Gander RV Duel race en route to his eighth victory overall at Daytona International Speedway and his second in Duel competition. Harvick won the DAYTONA 500 in 2007 and the Monster Energy Series championship in 2014.

Experience, talent and a strong No. 4 Busch Beer Car2Can Ford notwithstanding, Harvick also credited a four-leaf clover given to him by his 6-year-old son Keelan as a factor in the win.

“He brought it home and said we should put it in the car for good luck,” Harvick said. “It worked out pretty well … Maybe it’s the lucky charm.”

Two other Ford drivers – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 17 Fastenal Ford) and Paul Menard (No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford) finished second and third.

“Our Ford was fast,” Harvick added, “and I had [Stenhouse and Menard] behind us; we wanted a Ford in [Gatorade] Victory Lane.”

Logano, the reigning Monster Energy Series champion, will start fourth on Sunday in the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford. He charged from fourth to first on the final lap to edge Clint Bowyer (No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Ford). Aric Almirola (No. 10 Smithfield Ford) came home third.

“It’s great to see two Mustangs in [Gatorade] Victory Lane already,” said Logano, the 2015 DAYTONA 500 champion. “Hopefully we can keep that going on Sunday.”

The Gander RV Duel, two 150-mile/60-lap races on the famed 2.5-mile DIS tri-oval, determined starting positions 3-40 for the DAYTONA 500; the first race set the odd-number positions while the second race set even-number positions. The front row was “locked in” on Feb. 10 with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger, as William Byron (No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet) and Alex Bowman (No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet) qualified 1-2, leading a Hendrick Motorsports/Chevrolet sweep of the top four spots.

Two DAYTONA 500 starting spots were up for grabs in the Duel, among those drivers not guaranteed a start. (Thirty-six drivers were guaranteed to make the field, due to their teams being part of NASCAR’s charter system.) Parker Kligerman (No. 96 Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota) claimed one of those spots by finishing 12th in the first Duel race. In the second race, Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 Beard Distributing/South Point Chevrolet) finished 15th to get the last open spot.

Also Thursday, there were two NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series practice sessions in advance of Friday night’s (7:30 p.m.) NextEra Energy 250, the truck series’ season opener. Clay Greenfield (No. 68 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet) and Austin Hill (No. 16 CHIBA Toyopet Toyota) led the sessions. Qualifying for the NextEra Energy 250 is Friday at 4:40 p.m., with a single-truck/two-round format.

DIS PR

ISM Raceway is excited to announce that Chevel Shepherd, winner of “The Voice” season 15, will be performing the National Anthem prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 on Sunday, March 10.

“As a longtime fan of cars and racing, I am absolutely thrilled to honor our country by performing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at ISM Raceway’s upcoming TicketGuardian 500,” Shepherd said. “I’ve heard so much about the new facility and I’m excited to experience it in person.”

At just 16 years old, Shepherd consistently impresses listeners with her powerful voice. The New Mexico native was raised on country music and the outdoors – often doing crafts, feeding the animals and fixing cars with her dad. When Shepherd turned eight, she began singing in town whenever she could, always looking for musical opportunities. In 2018, that opportunity came when she propelled herself into the spotlight by winning season 15 of the hit TV show, “The Voice,” and earlier this month when she performed on the Meaning of Life Tour with her Voice Coach Kelly Clarkson.

Tickets to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 weekend March 8, 9 and 10, are available online at ISMRaceway.com, by phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223), or in person at the ISM Raceway ticket office.

ISM Raceway PR

Atlanta racing fans and NASCAR star Ryan Blaney will be making a Guinness World Record attempt on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Blaney’s talents behind the wheel of a stock car are well known, but this record attempt will test his high-speed self-photography skills. That’s because the record on the chopping block is the most selfies taken in three minutes.

If he’s to succeed, Blaney will need a lot of help. The current record for most selfies taken in three minutes is 168, set by James Smith in January 2018. That’s why NASCAR fans coming to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 are being called upon to help the cause.

“To beat the current selfie record, I know I’m going to need to be fast,” Blaney said. “The good news is being fast is the name of the game in NASCAR, so I feel like I’m well prepared. Plus, I can’t think of a group of people better suited to help me make it happen than NASCAR fans. Let’s do this!”

The world record attempt will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Fan Zone.

It’ll take speed to break the current selfie record, and it’ll take speed to win the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, which caps off Georgia’s NASCAR weekend Feb. 22-24.

The Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 weekend begins Friday with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying. Saturday features the only doubleheader on the NASCAR schedule, with the Rinnai 250 XFINITY Series race followed by the Gander Outdoors Truck Series 200-miler. On Sunday, after the world record attempt, the stars of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series battle it out on the high banks of Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

Tickets for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 can be purchased by contacting Atlanta Motor Speedway at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.

AMS PR