Frontstretch Newsletter: Sept. 1, 2021
Volume: XV, Edition CLVI
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- Today is a work day at NASCAR shops as work for this weekend's action in Darlington continues. If anything of note breaks, we'll have it for you at Frontstretch.
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Around the World in Motorsports: Aug. 31-Sept. 1
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- Aprilia Racing Team Gresini announced Wednesday that Maverick Vinales will ride for the team for the remainder of the 2021 season, starting this weekend in Aragon. Vinales replaces Lorenzo Savadori, who was injured at the Red Bull Ring during the Grand Prix of Styria.
Vinales comes to Aprilia after a rather unusual circumstance in which he was indefinitely suspended by Yamaha and not replaced after he put himself and his bike at risk during the aforementioned Grand Prix of Styria. Vinales was apparently unhappy with his bike and tried to intentionally overrev the bike, which could have damaged the engine and endangered
others on the high-speed course. Vinales had been on the shelf since the suspension and officially left Yamaha for good last week.
- The Super DIRTcar Series announced Tuesday that the race scheduled for tonight at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds Speedway in Pennsylvania
has been cancelled due to heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The race will not be rescheduled, but they will try to schedule another race there for 2022.
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| | JTG Daugherty Racing Plans Move Back to 1-Car Team for 2022
JTG-Daugherty Racing announced Tuesday that they will shut down the unchartered No. 37 team at the end of the 2021 season. Starting next year, the team will once again compete as a single-car
entry.
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| | Ryan Blaney Rolls Off From Cup Pole at Darlington
The good times continue for Team Penske's Ryan Blaney. After two consecutive victories, Blaney will start the Cook Out Southern 500 from the pole Sunday night. Denny Hamlin starts second, then Kurt Busch, Chase
Elliott and Alex Bowman.
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| | NASCAR Holding Next Gen Tire Test at Daytona
Next week, NASCAR will hold a very important tire test at Daytona International Speedway. Eight teams will test Goodyear tires with their own NextGen chassis for the first time.
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| | Noah Gragson Returning to JRM for 2022
JR Motorsports announced Tuesday that Noah Gragson will return to the No. 9 Chevrolet full-time in 2022. Current sponsors Bass Pro Shops, True Timber and Black Rifle Coffee will be back as well.
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| | Josh Williams Adds WORKPRO Sponsorship
DGM Racing announced Tuesday that WORKPRO Tools will serve as primary sponsor of Josh WIlliams' No. 92 Chevrolet in six of the final 10 races of the Xfinity Series season.
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| | Daniel Hemric Claims Pole for Darlington Xfinity Race
Joe Gibbs Racing's Daniel Hemric will start Saturday's Sport Clips VFW Help A Hero 200 from the pole. Points leader AJ Allmendinger starts second, then Justin Haley, Justin Allgaier and Jeb Burton.
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| | Sheldon Creed Snags Darlington Truck Pole
After a dominant race at Gateway, GMS Racing's Sheldon Creed will start on the pole for Sunday afternoon's In It To Win It 200 at Darlington. ThorSport teammates Matt Crafton and Ben Rhodes start second and third, followed
by Stewart Friesen and Carson Hocevar.
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| | Bobby Zalenski Steals Victory from Mitchell DeJong at Darlington
Bobby Zalenski used pit strategy Tuesday night to jump over Mitchell DeJong. Once the pitting was over, Zalenski was able to hold to win Round 15 of the Coca-Cola iRacing Series at the virtual Darlington Raceway.
DeJong was second, then Casey Kirwan, Ryan Luza and Jimmy Mullis.
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Photos are courtesy of Nigel Kinrade Photography, NASCAR Media via Logan Riley of Getty Images and iRacing.
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