NASCAR 2020 News and Discussion

All NASCAR Cup and general stock car discussion, including the Xfinity, ARCA and any feeder series.
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acerogers58
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#271

Post by acerogers58 »

Bottom post of the previous page:

Bret Holmes wins the 2020 ARCA Championship
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#272

Post by erwin greven »

Kyle Larson reinstated by NASCAR

Kyle Larson has been reinstated by NASCAR. On Monday afternoon, the sanctioning body announced the suspended driver has completed the requirements for reinstatement and may return to action starting 1 January 2021.

“NASCAR continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion across our sport,” the sanctioning body said in an official statement. “Kyle Larson has fulfilled the requirements set by NASCAR, and has taken several voluntary measures, to better educate himself so that he can use his platform to help bridge the divide in our country. Larson’s indefinite suspension has been lifted. Under the terms of his reinstatement, he will be cleared to return to all NASCAR racing activities effective January 1, 2021.”

Larson was indefinitely suspended in April after using the N-word during an iRacing stream, resulting in the loss of sponsors and his ride at Chip Ganassi Racing. While he continued racing on dirt, he also underwent sensitivity training and other racial inclusiveness missions during the summer.

Although most of his efforts went without much publicity outside of an interview with the Associated Press in August, he returned to the spotlight in early October when he published an essay on his website, followed by speaking with CBS This Morning on Friday ahead of his request for reinstatement. In the latter, he noted that he understood “people who might not know me […] might not believe (that I have changed) or think I’m just checking the box. I feel like I’ve definitely grown more in these last six months than I have in the 28 years I’ve been alive.”

As part of his conditions for reinstatement, he will work as a public speaker and continue taking training courses through 2023. The former Drive for Diversity member will also remain involved in the Urban Youth Racing School, where he visited in the summer, and Rev Racing, an ARCA Menards Series East team that is partnered with the D4D to provide rides for minority and female drivers.

At the time of his suspension, Larson was seventh in points after four races. From 2014 to 2020, he scored six Cup victories, 101 top-ten finishes, and a best points placement of sixth in 2019.

His 2021 plans were not immediately revealed, but many have rumoured that he will take over the fourth Hendrick Motorsports car, which Alex Bowman will vacate after 2020 as he moves to the team’s #48. Although currently the #88, the number has more of a connection with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and former sponsor Nationwide Insurance, with fans speculating the car will either become the #5 (the team’s first number last used in 2017), #25 (a former Hendrick number), or #57 (Larson’s dirt track number that was formerly used by Hendrick in what is now the Xfinity Series). Another possibility the #32 of Go Fas Racing, which has an alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing while driver Corey LaJoie departs; SHR co-owner Tony Stewart, also a dirt racer, has long supported Larson receiving another chance in NASCAR.
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2020 ... by-nascar/
Brian Redman: "Mr. Fangio, how do you come so fast?" "More throttle, less brakes...."
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#273

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Larson confirmed at Hendrick next season driving the #5 (former #88).
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#274

Post by acerogers58 »

The upcoming race at Phoenix will be the first "Championship 4" race held away from Homestead-Miami, and also the first season finale not held at Homestead since 2001.

It will be Jimmie Johnson's final NASCAR Cup series race as a full time driver, and he will be looking to go out on a high note after finishing the last 3 races outside the top 30, something which he had only done once in his career, coming back in 2004, he has also never had four straight outside top 30 results.

It will also mark the end of Clint Bowyer's career as he moves into broadcasting, while it will also be the final race for Levine Family Racing and Germain Racing, who will both close at seasons end.
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#275

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acerogers58
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#276

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15 year-old Jesse Love wins the ARCA West series championship
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#277

Post by Everso Biggyballies »

Not really NASCAR news, but maybe of interest.....

Australia’s first winning (ex Ambrose) NASCAR hits the market for first time


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Australia’s first winning car in NASCAR competition, which Marcos Ambrose drove to victory in a Nationwide race at Watkins Glen International Raceway in 2008, has been put on the market for the first time.

The #59 STP Ford, which is considered an important part of Australian motorsport history, sat in storage in an old workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina for more than a decade before being mechanically rebuilt last year and shipped to Australia.

The car is owned by Speedcafe.com founder Brett ‘Crusher’ Murray, who has relocated it to Queensland where it has been in storage and serviced.
current owner Brett Crusher Murray wrote:“We had it rebuilt thanks to some NASCAR guys I had met and become friends with through Dale Earnhardt Jnr in North Carolina. “The Charlotte-based guys sourced all the original 2008-spec parts, including the Roush Yates Engine bits and it is now almost identical to the car that rolled into victory lane at Watkins Glen in August 2008.
Cosmetically it is exactly as raced and has every rub mark and dent from that race , complete with remaining tear offs on the screen, along with some Gatorade splash marks still on the roof and windscreen.



The car is for sale through leading auction house Lloyds Auctions and collectors have until 19:00 AEDT on November 28 to bid on the car which has already attracted major national and international interest.

image: https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/04/29/ga ... ng-nascar/

It is currently bidding at $A220,000.
Auction listing: https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDeta ... =1&pgs=100


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Brodie Kostecki tested the car today at Queensland Raceway.
https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/11/17/am ... -to-track/

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#278

Post by erwin greven »

I can remember that race! I miss guys like Ambrose in Nascar. And in particular on road courses.
Brian Redman: "Mr. Fangio, how do you come so fast?" "More throttle, less brakes...."
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#279

Post by SBan83 »

That period (second half of the 2000s) saw more drivers outside USA compete in NASCAR than ever before (or ever since, more than likely).
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#280

Post by acerogers58 »

Wins by non American born drivers across all 3 series:

Marcos Ambrose (Australia): 7 (2 Cup, 5 Xfinity)

Ron Fellows (Canada): 6 (4 Xfinity, 2 Trucks)

Daniel Suarez (Mexico): 4 (3 Xfinity, 1 Trucks) - Only non American championship winner in NASCAR top 3 series.

Juan Pablo Montoya (Columbia): 3 (2 Cup, 1 Xfinity)

Nelson Piquet Jr. (Brazil): 3 (1 Xfinity, 2 Trucks)

Stewart Friesen (Canada): 2 (Both in Trucks) - Still drives, had a disappointing 2020 after a breakout 2019.

Mario Andretti (Italy): 1 (Cup) - Only foreign born winner of the Daytona 500, although he’s an American citizen.

Earl Ross (Canada): 1 (Cup)

Larry Pollard (Canada): 1 (Xfinity)

Raphaël Lessard (Canada): 1 (Trucks) - Likely to add more in the future.
acerogers58
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#281

Post by acerogers58 »

2020 Awards:

NASCAR Cup Series most popular driver: Chase Elliott - third straight

NASCAR Xfinity Series most popular driver: Justin Allgaier - second straight

NASCAR Gander Truck Series most popular driver: Zane Smith

Bill France Award of Excellence: Jimmie Johnson

NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year: Cole Custer

NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year: Harrison Burton

NASCAR Gander Truck Series Rookie of the Year: Zane Smith

A rather amazing stat continues regarding the Cup series most popular award, No one with a last name apart from Earnhardt, Elliott and Waltrip has won since 1983. Bill Elliott won 16, Chase now has 3, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won 15, which were all consecutive. Dale Earnhardt Sr won the year he passed away and Darrell Waltrip won 2 from 1989-90. Bill still could of won a 17th in 2003 but he decided to withdraw his name from ballots after 2002.
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