Auto Racing

Michael Annett Wins NASCAR Racing Experience 300 for 1st NASCAR Xfinity Series Victory

Published

7 years ago

February 16, 2019

DAYTONA BEACH – Michael Annett led the last 45 laps Saturday to win the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway, in the season-opening race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Annett, driving the No. 1 Pilot Flying J/American Heart Association Chevrolet, held off his JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier (No. 7 Brandt Professional Agriculture Chevrolet) at the line for his first Xfinity Series victory in 230 starts over an eight-year span. Brandon Jones (No. 19 Juniper Toyota) finished third.

“This is amazing,” Annett said. “My first words were ‘Eight years,’ my eighth year in the series. My guys have stuck with me through the hard times, when everybody has counted us out and wondered why I get to drive this car.

“We got the No. 1 into Gatorade Victory Lane. Our slogan this year is ‘One team, one dream, one goal.’ This was one of them, so we’re starting off good.”

Saturday’s race started with a bit of a Daytona throwback feel – an Earnhardt started on the front row and led the first 29 laps. That would be Jeffrey Earnhardt – grandson of Dale Earnhardt.

Earnhardt qualified second in the No. 18 iK9 Toyota several hours before the race. He got to lead the field to the green flag when polesitter Tyler Reddick was penalized for having to change a tire during qualifying. Reddick started from the rear of the field. Earnhardt was victimized on Lap 30, the last lap of the race’s first stage, by a classic slingshot move by Justin Haley (No. 11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet). Haley got by Earnhardt – as did three others – to win the stage.

The race was divided into three stages of 30, 30 and 60 laps. (Stage winners earn points toward the season-long series championship battle.) The second stage was won by Ross Chastain (No. 10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet).

The fifth and final practice session for the DAYTONA 500 was also held Saturday with 20 cars in the 40-car field participating, as some teams chose to sit out, satisfied with their set-ups for race day. Michael McDowell (No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford) posted the session’s fastest lap of 191.440 mph. DAYTONA 500 polesitter William Byron (No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet) ran four laps, posting the session’s third-best speed of 191.339. The top speed of the five sessions was 200.758 mph by Paul Menard (No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center) during the fourth session on Friday.

The starting lineup for the DAYTONA 500 – the season-opener for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – was finalized on Thursday night after the Gander RV Duel, two 150-mile/60-lap races that determined starting positions 3-40 for the DAYTONA 500. The front row was “locked in” on Feb. 10 with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger, as Byron and Alex Bowman qualified 1-2. That led a top-four sweep by Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. The competitive outlook for Sunday seemed to be balanced, though, by the Duel results; Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano won those races in Fords.

Harvick (2007) and Logano (2015) are two of eight DAYTONA 500 champions in the field. The others: Austin Dillon (2018), Kurt Busch (2017), Denny Hamlin (2016), Jimmie Johnson (2013, 2006), Jamie McMurray (2010) and Ryan Newman (2008). McMurray (No. 40 McDonald’s/Cessna/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) will be participating in most likely his final DAYTONA 500 as he begins a new chapter of his career as an analyst with FOX Sports.

There are seven former Monster Energy Series champions in the field, including seven-time champion Johnson (2006-10, ’13, 16), Logano (2018), Martin Truex Jr. (2017), Kyle Busch (2015), Harvick (2014), Brad Keselowski (2012) and Kurt Busch (2004).

Auto Racing

Chris Buescher Wins, Bubba Wallace Clinches Playoffs at Daytona’s Coke Zero 400

Published

3 years ago

August 27, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Rafael Crisostomo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – Chris Buescher has won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and Bubba Wallace has secured the 16th and final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This will be Wallace’s first time racing for a championship.

Chris Buescher in Victory Lane after the Coke Zero 400. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Wallace had entered the race in 16th place, but a victory from a driver below the cut line could have knocked him out of the playoffs. An early accident took out several drivers including Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and several others. A spectacular crash late in the race by Ryan Preece had him flipping at least ten times over the grass. Fortunately, he was able to exit the vehicle.

Bubba Wallace clinches Playoffs. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

The sixteen drivers in the Playoffs include the points leaders William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Bubba Wallace.

NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race takes place next weekend at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd. Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.

Auto Racing

Last Chance For NASCAR Playoffs at Coke Zero 400 in Daytona

Published

3 years ago

August 25, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – NASCAR fans are already packing the Daytona International Speedway as the regular season comes to its finale Saturday, August 26, with the Coke Zero 400. While fifteen drivers have already secured a spot in the playoffs, the 16th is still up for grabs based on the race results.

Fans at Daytona International Speedway. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

The fifteen drivers who are already guaranteed a spot in NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd include the current points leaders Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell. The top two drivers, Truex and Hamlin, will compete Saturday night to win the Regular Season Championship. There are seventeen drivers who are competing at the Coke Zero 400 for that final spot in the postseason. Bubba Wallace is currently in 16th place, and could clinch with 24 points. Ty Gibbs and Daniel Suárez could clinch with enough points to pass Wallace or with a victory. AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Ryan Preece, Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe and Ty Dillon need to win on Saturday night to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Bubba Wallace competes for a spot in the Playoffs. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Joey Logano is the reigning champ after winning in Phoenix last season.

The action begins Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.

Auto Racing

General Motors President Mark Reuss Named Grand Marshal of Rolex 24 At DAYTONA

Published

3 years ago

January 24, 2023

FNN NEWS

General Motors President Mark Reuss. Photo: LinkedIn.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN) – Source: IMSA // The 61-car field for the 61^st running of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA will come to life under the command of General Motors president Mark Reuss, as Daytona International Speedway today announced he has been named the Grand Marshal for Saturday’s endurance race. The field will take the green flag under the watchful eye of Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board for BMW Group, in the flag stand as the honorary starter, the track also announced.

Both dignitaries have spent their entire professional careers with their respective manufacturers. Reuss has served as president of General Motors since January 2019. A mechanical engineer, he began his career with GM as a student intern in 1983. Zipse was named Chairman of the Board for BMW in August 2019, and started his career at the automaker as a trainee in development, technical planning, and production in 1991.

“Being named the Grand Marshal of the Rolex 24 at Daytona is one of the true honors of my life and something I’ll never forget,” said Reuss. “This is one of the premier motorsports events in the world, at one of its most historic venues, and I couldn’t be happier about how far the series has come since the first Corvette-inspired DPI appeared with Jim France and set a new trajectory for the sport. I’m proud to be at Daytona this year with all of the fantastic drivers and great cars, including our own Cadillacs and Corvettes.”

General Motors’ teams in this year’s edition of the Rolex 24 include three Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-LMDh entries in Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and the ever-popular No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C8.R GT Daytona Pro (GTD Pro) entry. Cadillac Racing posted overall wins in the Rolex 24 in four consecutive years from 2017-2020, while Corvette Racing has posted four class wins in the Rolex 24 since 1999.

“It is an honor to welcome Mark as our Grand Marshal for the 61^st running of the Rolex 24,” said Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher. “General Motors has long had a strong partnership with Daytona International Speedway, alongside their success on the track here. This is a great opportunity to recognize their commitment to our facility and motorsport in general.”

A field of 61 will take the green flag waved by Zipse on Saturday to begin the twice-around-the-clock contest that is one for the IMSA record books as it marks the debut of the GTP class. And that’s only fitting at Zipse holds that honor, as BMW M’s history with Speedway began in 1975 with the brand’s very first IMSA start at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Only one year later, BMW took its first overall victory at the endurance classic. Without a doubt, BMW’s motorsport success in IMSA competition over the past 48 years has been foundational to establishing the North American market as the largest in the world for BMW M vehicle sales.

“Daytona International Speedway and BMW have great historical ties in racing,” said Kelleher. “It’s only fitting that Oliver waves the green flag over the track where BMW first raced in the United States.”

Zipse’s BMW teams will also include a pair of entries in GTP with the BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 cars. Additionally, they will be competing in the largest class in the Rolex 24 – GT Daytona (GTD) – which has 24 cars entered for the season opener. Paul Miller Racing and two Turner Motorsports BMW M4 GT3 entries make up the BMW stable.

The 61^st running of the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA begins at 1:40 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Fans are encouraged to reserve their place in history at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA by logging onto daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. New in 2023, garage access will now be included for all 2-day infield and single-day customers, enhancing the experience for guests by providing close access to the incredible cars and teams. Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE to the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway via daytonainternationalspeedway.com, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.