Frontstretch Newsletter: Alex Bowman Extends With Hendrick Motorsports; Chandler Smith Fastest in Truck Practice

Published: Fri, 06/18/21

Frontstretch Newsletter: June 18, 2021
Volume: XI, Edition C

What to Watch: Friday

- NASCAR teams are in Lebanon, Tenn. and raring for action. Camping World Truck Series teams have already wrapped up practice. They have qualifying and 200 miles of racing later today. Xfinity Series teams will be practicing at 4 p.m. on NBCSN. Cup teams will be loading in today.

- In Wisconsin, NTT IndyCar Series teams have one practice session at 5 p.m. That will be streamed live on Peacock.

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Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin)

ROAD AMERICA:

Christopher DeHarde (@CDeHarde)

Also, don't forget to follow our Twitter page, @Frontstretch as well for updates!!

TV Schedule: Here

Around the World in Motorsports: June 17-18

- Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was fastest overall in the opening practice session at Circuit Paul Ricard with a lap at 139.842 mph. Bottas' lap was a full one-third of a second faster than Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third, then Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon.

The session had multiple incidents. A number of drivers went off course at turn 2, most notably Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr., who spun exiting turn 2 and ripped off his tires.

The biggest incident of the session saw Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel spin and back into the barrier at turn 11. The car suffered a damaged rear wing, but Vettel was able to drive away without the need for a red flag.

- Verstappen was fastest in the second free practice session at 140.710 mph. This lap was just eight-thousandths of a second faster than Bottas. Hamilton was third, then Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc.

There was a brief spin early in the session for Haas F1's Nikita Mazepin, but the real issue had to do with plastic bumps being ripped up by cars and thrown into the middle of the track. This caused at least one Virtual Safety Car during the session.

- Kasey Kahne Racing's Brad Sweet snatched the lead away from Carson Macedo on lap 23 Thursday night and held on to take his 10th win of the season at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. Macedo was second, then David Gravel, Kerry Madsen and Gio Scelzi. Through 31 races, Sweet has a 54-point lead over Gravel, then Macedo, Donny Schatz and Sheldon Haudenschild.

- Dave Hess swept the evening Thursday night, setting quick time in qualifying, winning his heat and leading all 40 laps to win the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series race at Stateline Speedway near Jamestown, N.Y. Brandon Sheppard was second, then Max Blair, Boom Briggs and Chris Madden.

Through 22 races, Sheppard has a 52-point lead on Madden. Tyler Bruening is third, then Ricky Weiss and Cade Dillard.

- The Nurburgring announced Friday that they are naming a corner on the Nordschleife after the late Sabine Schmitz, the multiple-time 24 Hours Nurburgring winner who died at 51 after a cancer battle back in March. The new Sabine-Schmitz-Kurve will be the left hander immediately after the old pit lane that plunges into the Hatzenbach section at the beginning of the Nordschleife.

Today's Top News:

Alex Bowman, Ally Re-Up With Hendrick Through 2023

Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday that Alex Bowman has signed a contract extension that will see him stay in the No. 48 with Ally sponsorship through the end of 2023.

GMS Racing Plans to Compete in NASCAR Cup Series in 2022

GMS Racing announced Thursday that the team plans to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022. To what extent remains to be seen.

Ryan Eversley to Make Cup Debut at Road America for Rick Ware Racing

Rick Ware Racing announced Friday morning that Ryan Eversley will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the Jockey Made in America 250 presented by KwikTrip at Road America on July 4.

Chandler Smith Tops Nashville Practice Charts in Trucks

Kyle Busch Motorsports' Chandler Smith was quickest overall in Camping World Truck Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway with a lap at 161.489 mph. William Byron was second, then Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger and Chase Purdy.

Landon Cassill Will Be Paid in Cryptocurrency in Sponsorship Deal

JD Motorsports announced Thursday that the Voyager service will be sponsoring Landon Cassill for the remainder of the 2021 season. Cassill will be paid in Litecoin for the deal.

Austin Dillon Running 2 Races for Our

Our Motorsports announced Friday that Austin Dillon will drive the team's No. 23 Chevrolet in the upcoming Xfinity road races at Watkins Glen and Indianapolis.

Doug Coby Joins GMS Racing at Bristol

More good news for Doug Coby. GMS Racing announced Friday morning that he will make his Camping World Truck Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in September.

Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography, Stafford Speedway and our own Phil Allaway.

Have news for Frontstretch? Don't hesitate to let us know; email us at frontstretcheditors@googlegroups.com with a promising lead or tip.

Newsletter Exclusive:

Frontstretch Folio: Ally 400

by Phil Allaway

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Central Tennessee for the first time since 1984. As opposed to the now-Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway will host the series for the very first time. Coverage of the Ally 400 begins with Countdown to Green at 2:45 p.m. on NBCSN, depending on when the NTT IndyCar Series REV Group Grand Prix at Road America ends. Race coverage starts at 3:30 with a green flag around 3:40. The race can also be heard on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Records and facts

The NASCAR Cup Series has never raced at Nashville Superspeedway, so there is no previous data on Cup races there.

However, the track has hosted 21 Xfinity Series races in the past from 2001-2011. Carl Edwards is the winningest driver there with five victories, including three in a row at one point. Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Scott Riggs have two a piece. Among Cup drivers, Harvick, Keselowski and Kyle Busch each have wins there.

There have also been 13 Camping World Truck Series races on the concrete tri-oval. Johnny Benson and Kyle Busch each had two victories, while nine other drivers each scored one. Austin Dillon won the most recent truck race there.

Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 1.33-mile tri-oval, 300 laps (399 miles)
Banking: 14 degrees

Frontstretch: 2,250 ft., banked 9 degrees

Backstretch: 1,330 ft., banked 6 degrees

Grandstand Seating: 38,000

Pit Road Speed: 45 mph
Pace Car Speed: 55 mph
Opened: 1997

Website: http://www.nashvillesuperspeedway.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleSuperspeedway/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NashvilleSuperS

Say What?!

"I’ve tested there before – a couple times in a Xfinity car and I think once in a Cup car. It’s a track where very few drivers have any experience. We will have practice and qualifying before this Sunday’s race, so I’m looking forward to the challenge of getting up to speed quickly. This team and Hendrick Motorsports as a whole have been strong on intermediate-type tracks this year, so I hope we can have another strong finish in the Valvoline Chevrolet." - Kyle Larson

"It’s special. For me, in my rookie season, every track I go to in the Cup Series is special, but to be a part of the first one is going to be cool. There’s only a first race at a racetrack one time – and then the second time, not that it’s not special, but it’s not as special as the first time – so to be able to experience that as a rookie is going to be super cool. There’s a lot of great racing history and heritage in the Nashville area. I remember running ARCA in Nashville at the fairgrounds and just how many people come out and how special it is to get a run in that area, so I’m excited. It’s one of the relatively closer racetracks to my hometown, so I know I’ve got a lot of people from Southern Indiana driving down to watch this race, and it’s just going to be special to be a part of it, and to have a sold-out crowd. That’s something that on the Cup side a lot of the guys are used to, but a sold-out crowd is something I’ve never gotten to experience because of COVID and everything else, so I’m excited to experience that this weekend, for sure." - Chase Briscoe

"The size itself is not that common and only somewhat similar to Darlington, but the shape and surface is totally different. I actually have a small handful of laps at Nashville from my very first outing with Brad Keselowski Racing when I was just getting into the Truck Series. We did a rookie test there, but I unfortunately had a tire cord and completely come apart on me, causing the truck to receive some day-ending damage to it. So, it was a short test for me, and it has been such a long time that I had even forgotten it is a concrete surface there. That’s how green I was when I originally tested there; I didn’t even know the difference in track surfaces. Obviously, I’ve learned a lot since then and have a lot more experience, but there is still a lot for me to figure out at Nashville this weekend. I’ll be running double-duty and competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race to help give me some extra on-track time, which should hopefully help us out a lot on the Cup side with our No. 8 Joe Nichols / Quartz Hill Records Chevrolet on Sunday." - Tyler Reddick

Phil Allaway is the Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Photo is courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography.

Today at Frontstretch:

Friday Faceoff: How Many Cup Venues Should 1 City Get?

by the Frontstretch Staff

4 Burning Questions: Should NASCAR Take Cues From SRX?

by Michael Finley

Fire on Fridays: Sam Mayer Discusses 4 Obstacles of Replacing Josh Berry

by Michael Massie

Stock Car Scoop: What Should We Expect at Nashville?

by Adam Cheek and Bryan Nolen

Tomorrow at Frontstretch.com:

We'll have recaps and breakdowns of all the action from Nashville, Road America and Paul Ricard.

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