Frontstretch Newsletter: Feb. 11, 2021
Volume: XV, Edition IX
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Around the World in Motorsports: Feb. 10
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- Ryan Preece had a very interesting Wednesday night. Preece had to qualify on speed for the Daytona 500, which he accomplished with a lap good enough for eighth quickest, fastest of the open teams.
While qualifying at Daytona, he missed qualifying for the John Blewett III 76 at New Smyrna Speedway. Preece proceeded to start 37th and drive through the field to earn the victory.
- So far, so good for Stewart Friesen at the DIRTcar Nationals. The Camping World Truck Series regular passed Erick Rudolph with 10 laps to go Wednesday night to win the Super DIRTcar Series feature for the second night in a row at Volusia Speedway Park. Rudolph was
second, then Michael Maresca, Max McLaughlin and Billy Decker.
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- By 11 p.m. tonight, we will know who will be in the Daytona 500. The Bluegreen Vacations Duels are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on FOX Sports 1. 60-lap sprint races will determine Sunday's starting lineup. Also, remember that the top 10 finishers in each race
will earn points.
- Camping World Truck Series teams are scheduled to practice today for 50 minutes starting at 5:30 p.m. The session will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
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| | Alex Bowman Wins Daytona 500 Pole, William Byron 2nd
Hendrick Motorsports swept the front row Tuesday night for the Daytona 500. Alex Bowman won the pole with a lap at 191.261 mph over
William Byron. JTG Daugherty Racing's Ryan Preece and Front Row Motorsports also locked themselves into the race.
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| | Alex Bowman, William Byron Lead Duel Starting Lineups
Wednesday night's qualifying session set the lineups for tonight's Bluegreen Vacation Duels. Alex Bowman will be on the pole for the
first Duel with Aric Almirola alongside, while William Byron starts on pole in the second Duel with Bubba Wallace alongside.
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| | Martin Truex Jr. Extends Contract With Joe Gibbs Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Wednesday morning that the team has reached a deal on an extension that will keep Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19
Toyota through at least the end of 2022.
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| | Kyle Busch: Former Crew Chief Adam Stevens ‘Quit On Me’
Kyle Busch has never been one to mince words. If he's unhappy, you'll know it. In a recent interview with Graham Bensinger, Busch
alleged that former crew chief Adam Stevens "quit on me" towards the end of last season, which he found unacceptable.
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| | Bubba Wallace Leads Toyota Brigade in Daytona 500 Practice
In Wednesday's sole NASCAR Cup Series practice session, 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace made use of the draft to top the charts with a lap at
199.747 mph. Joe Gibbs Racing's four Toyotas rounded out the top five with Martin Truex Jr. second, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell.
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| | Entry List: Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300
There are 45 teams entered in Saturday's Beef. It's What's For Dinner. 300, the season opener for the Xfinity Series. Tyler Reddick will
drive a second car for Our Motorsports, while Jason White will make his first NASCAR start since 2014.
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| | Jesse Little Adds Shriners Sponsorship
BJ McLeod Motorsports announced Wednesday that Shriner's Hospitals for Children will serve as the primary sponsor of Jesse Little's No. 78 in
multiple races during the 2021 Xfinity Series season.
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| | Entry List: 2021 NextEra Energy 250
46 teams have entered the season-opening NextEra Energy 250 for the Camping World Truck Series. Drew Dollar will make his series debut
for Kyle Busch Motorsports, while Joe Nemechek returns in his own No. 8. David Gilliland will drive his own No. 17 with sponsorship from Black's Tire & Service.
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Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography and Christian Koelle.
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Frontstretch Line of the Week
From Noah Gragson Facing Extra Pressure, Motivation in Daytona
"I don’t know if it’s a make-or-break year, but I just need to focus on doing my job and driving the racecar to the max of its capabilities and going as fast as I can in it and in performing as best I can. I’d like to win as many races as possible, I guess all 33. But if I can
just do the best job I can do, hopefully, it catches some people’s eyes … The goal is to go Cup racing one day, hopefully, in the future. I don’t know when that is." - Noah Gragson on what he wants to do in 2021 in order to assure his future.
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