Frontstretch Newsletter: Feb. 1, 2021
Volume: XV, Edition V
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Around the World in Motorsports: Jan. 25-Feb. 1
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- In Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Ken Roczen recovered from a late off-course excursion to get past Eli Tomac to win the fourth round of the season in the 450cc class. Tomac was second, then Cooper Webb, Adam Cianciarulo and Zach Osborne, who came from the rear after
apparently trying to jump the start.
The 250cc class saw Colt Nichols take the victory and sole possession of the points lead. A crash between Christian Craig and Jett Lawrence on the final lap allowed Michael Mosiman to finish second, followed by Jo Shimoda. Lawrence was fourth despite two falls, while
Craig was fifth.
- Tyler Erb claimed two victories at East Bay Raceway Park in Florida as part of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series 45th Annual Wrisco Industries Winternationals presented by Lucas Oil, including Saturday night's finale. The other events were won by Hudson O'Neal, Josh
Richards, Stormy Scott and Brendan Overton.
- ART Grand Prix announced Monday morning that Juan Manuel Correa will drive for the team full-time in the FIA Formula 3
Championship. He has not raced since being critically injured in a Formula 2 crash at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 2019 that resulted in the death of Anthoine Hubert.
- Last weekend marked the first races for the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires under the sanctioning of IMSA. The first race on Thursday saw defending SCCA Spec Miata champion Preston Pardus lead nearly the whole race, then get
swamped coming to the finish.
Gresham Wagner swept past in the final couple of hundred feet to win. Sam Paley was second, then Jared Thomas. Hernan Palermo was fourth on-track, but was put to the rear due to a technical violation. That elevated Chris Nunes to fourth, while Justin Piscitell was fifth.
Race No. 2 Friday morning saw Michael Carter sweep past Wagner right before a caution flew to take the win. Thomas was second, then Wagner, Selin Rollan and Paley.
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- Our 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season preview articles will wrap up this week. We'll have those and any news that breaks for you.
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| | 2-Tire Stop Takes Wayne Taylor Racing to 3rd Straight Rolex 24 at Daytona Victory
Wayne Taylor Racing's Filipe Albuquerque took two tires and a short fill of fuel on his final pit stop Sunday. That gave him the overall
lead. From there, he held off Chip Ganassi Racing's Renger van der Zande until the No. 01 Cadillac cut a tire. That allowed Albuquerque to go free to the finish to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona for himself, Helio Castroneves, Alexander Rossi and Ricky Taylor.
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| | Antonio Garcia, Michael de Quesada Test Positive For COVID-19 In Daytona
Corvette Racing announced right at the finish of the Rolex 24 at Daytona Sunday that Antonio Garcia had tested positive for COVID-19 and had
to leave the track in the 18th hour. It was the third positive test of the week.
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| | Denny Hamlin, FedEx Renew With JGR in
Multi-Year Deal
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Monday that they have signed Denny Hamlin to a multi-year deal to continue behind the wheel of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota.
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| | Mathieu Jaminet Forced Out of Rolex 24 Due to COVID-19, Sven Mueller to Sub
Porsche factory driver Mathieu Jaminet was scheduled to drive for RWR Eurasia in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. However, a positive test for
COVID-19 ruled him out of the race.
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| | Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR Helping COVID-19 Relief Efforts With Mass Vaccination Events
Charlotte Motor Speedway is doing anything that they can to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. With the recent completion of their annual
holiday lights program, the garage has been transformed into a drive-up vaccination clinic.
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| | Kyle Larson Sponsored by NationsGuard for Daytona 500
Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday that Kyle Larson will be sponsored by NationsGuard, an application for finance employees at car
dealerships, for the upcoming Daytona 500.
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| | Austin Cindric Adds Verizon Sponsorship for Daytona 500
Team Penske announced Tuesday that Austin Cindric will have primary sponsorship from Verizon when he attempts to make his NASCAR Cup Series
debut in the Daytona 500. It is the first time for Verizon in Cup since 2010.
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| | Corey LaJoie Picks Up Youtheory Sponsorship for Daytona
Spire Motorsports announced Tuesday that Youtheory will sponsor Corey LaJoie's No. 7 Chevrolet in the Daytona 500 and at least one other race
in 2021.
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| | Ty Gibbs Running Part-Time Xfinity Schedule for JGR
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Tuesday that a suite of drivers would be sharing the No. 54 Toyota in the Xfinity Series. One of those
drivers will be Ty Gibbs, who will make his series debut on Daytona International Speedway's road course on Feb. 20.
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| | Ryan Vargas Running Full Time for JDM in 2021
Last Monday, JD Motorsports with Gary Keller announced that Ryan Vargas will return to the No. 6 Chevrolet for the full 2021 Xfinity Series
season.
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| | Ty Dillon Running Limited Xfinity Schedule for JGR
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Wednesday that Ty Dillon will drive a limited schedule in the Xfinity Series for the team in their No. 54 Toyota
Supra. He will debut in Daytona.
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| | Drew Dollar Making Truck Debut With KBM, Running 8 Races
Kyle Busch Motorsports announced Thursday that Drew Dollar will drive the No. 51 Toyota in eight Camping World Truck Series races in
2021. The truck will be sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals, Dollar's sponsor for half of 2020 with Venturini Motorsports.
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| | Andy Lally Driving for Our at Daytona Road Course
Our Motorsports announced Wednesday that Andy Lally will be back with the team, this time in the No. 03 Chevrolet, for the 188-mile Xfinity
race at the Daytona International Speedway road course on Feb. 20.
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| | eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series Returning for 2021
NASCAR announced Tuesday that the popular eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series will return for 2021. This year, it will be a 10-race
series on Wednesday nights, split between FOX Sports 1 and NBCSN.
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| | James Hinchcliffe Returning to Full Time With Andretti in 2021
Andretti Autosport announced Tuesday that James Hinchcliffe will drive the No. 29 full-time in INDYCAR competition in 2021. This
team will be run by Andretti Harding Steinbrenner Racing, which previously fielded the No. 88 for Colton Herta.
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| | Ed Jones to Compete for Dale Coyne Racing in 2021
Dale Coyne Racing announced Wednesday that Ed Jones will drive the Sealmaster-sponsored No. 18 full-time in the NTT IndyCar Series in 2021,
replacing Santino Ferrucci.
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| | Dale Coyne Racing, Rick Ware Racing Partnering for 2021 IndyCar Season
Dale Coyne Racing and Rick Ware Racing jointly announced that they partner to field the No. 51 full-time (formerly No. 55) in the NTT IndyCar
Series in 2021.
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| | Ryan Hardwick Out Of Rolex 24 At Daytona Due To Concussion
Wright Motorsports' Ryan Hardwick crashed Wednesday in the opening practice session for Michelin Pilot Challenge exiting the bus stop
chicane. He was hospitalized and diagnosed with a concussion, forcing him to miss the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
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| | IMSA to Drop GT Le Mans Class After 2021; GTD Pro to Replace
IMSA announced Thursday that 2021 will be the final year for the GT Le Mans class in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. For
2022, it will be replaced by a GTD Pro class with GT3 cars and all-pro driver lineups.
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| | AWA Wins BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona From Pole
Andrew Wojteczko Autosport (AWA) recovered from an avoidable contact penalty in order for Kuno Wittmer and Orey Fidani to win the IMSA
Michelin Pilot Challenge season opener from the pole. JDC-Miller MotorSports' Chris Miller, Dr. William Tally and Mikey Taylor won in TCR.
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| | Jesse Love Running Part Time in ARCA No. 25
Venturini Motorsports announced Friday that 2020 ARCA Menards Series West champion Jesse Love will join the team for a part-time ARCA Menards
Series schedule in the No. 25 Toyota in 2021.
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Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography, Joe Skibinski of INDYCAR Media, IMSA, Porsche AG and NASCAR Media.
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