JR Motorsports, GMS Racing introduce new driver development program
On Thursday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and GMS Racing president Mike Beam announced the co-formation of a new driver development program, “Drivers Edge Development”.
The program is presented by Chevrolet and was formed with the intent of “grooming the next generation of racing superstars through a tiered competition pipeline coupled with comprehensive off-track education,” according to the team release.
The “pipeline” extends across five different racing series that either JR Motorsports or GMS Racing fields cars in: regional late model racing (JR Motorsports); NASCAR K&N Pro Series (GMS Racing); ARCA Racing Series (GMS Racing); the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (GMS Racing); and the NASCAR XFINITY Series (JR Motorsports).
“We’re emphasizing on-track experience in multiple series while still keeping the drivers under the Chevrolet umbrella,” said JRM general manager, Kelley Earnhardt Miller.
Drivers Edge Development will also include a variety of programs to help drivers with their off-track skill sets and training needs, such as physical, mental, and technical development, media training, social media training, etc.
Drivers Edge Development currently has six different drivers involved: Noah Gragson, John Hunter Nemechek, Zane Smith, Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Adam Lemke.
Gragson will be a full-time driver in the XFINITY Series for JR Motorsports in 2019, joining teammates Michael Annett and Justin Allgaier. Smith will compete in eight races for the team.
Nemechek will be a full-time XFINITY Series driver for GMS Racing along with defending Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt.
Creed will compete full-time in the Truck Series for GMS Racing.
Mayer and Lemke are both late model drivers for JR Motorsports, with Mayer competing in a few other series for GMS as well.
~~~~~~~~~~
NHRA driver Courtney Force steps away from driving
Courtney Force is the winningest female Funny Car driver in NHRA Racing, amassing 12 total victories throughout the course of her career — and she is stepping away from driving “effective immediately”.
The 30-year-old daughter of 16-time world champion John Force said the decision was a “personal choice as I feel I’m ready to see what the next chapter in my life has in store for me.”
“I intend to remain involved in the industry I love and continue to work with a few select partners as I go forward in 2019,” she added.
Courtney’s older sister Ashley Force Hood retired in 2011 at the age of 28 after a successful Funny Car career of her own.
32-year-old Brittany Force will continue to compete in Top Fuel Dragsters. Brittany became only the second female to win the championship in that division in 2017.
~~~~~~~~~~
Alsco sponsoring April XFINITY Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway has signed a multi-year agreement with Alsco for the company to serve as the title sponsor for the April NASCAR XFINITY Series race. Alsco is “a global leader in uniform and linen retail services”, according to the release.
Alsco is the only company with multiple race title sponsorships throughout the XFINITY Series season, as Kentucky Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway have title sponsorship agreements as well.
All three events will be known as the “Alsco 300”.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alsco into the family of sponsors here at Bristol Motor Speedway,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager, BMS. “It’s exciting to be the first race of an Alsco Xfinity Series tripleheader in 2019 along with our sister tracks at Kentucky and Charlotte. We look forward to helping Alsco achieve their marketing objectives and increase their brand awareness while they help us put on one of the most action-packed Xfinity Series races of the season on the high banks of The Last Great Colosseum.”
Bristol’s race with Alsco title sponsorship is scheduled for Saturday, April 6. Charlotte’s race will be Saturday, May 25, while Kentucky’s is Friday, July 12.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jimmie Johnson and crew visit Panthers at Bank of America Stadium
As part of a kickoff event for the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team descended on Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina to visit the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
The HMS race shop is also located in Charlotte and is where Johnson’s No. 48 team and those of his teammates, — Chase Elliott #9; William Byron #24; and Alex Bowman #88 — are housed.
The official start of the 2019 season is the Daytona 500 scheduled for Sunday, February 17th. However, the start of 2019 Speedweeks begins just a week after Super Bowl LIII, which is on Sunday, February 3rd … meaning there are only a couple of weeks left in the NASCAR offseason.
Johnson is coming off of the worst year of his Cup Series career, finishing 14th in points and going the entire season without winning a race. 2019, as a result, ushers in a year of change, with long-time crew chief Chad Knaus moving over to Byron’s car and Kevin Meendering taking over.
His No. 48 will also have a different look for the first time of his career, with Ally Financial taking over as the primary sponsor after Lowe’s left at the end of last season.
“I’m ready to get a new chapter for the No. 48 started and get to work,” said Johnson in a recent media availability. “A lot of work has been going on. As we all know, the off-seasons usually challenging, and this one definitely is with the new rules package. And to see all four teams and crew chiefs and our engineering staff grinding and working as hard as they are together has been very, very inspiring and very cool to see. ”
Johnson will begin his 18th full-time season in the Cup Series when the green flag flies next month.
~~~~~~~~~~
Jarvis sets new track record in Rolex 24 qualifying
As the start of the Rolex 24 at Daytona draws closer and closer, it was time for the official field to be set.
In qualifying on Thursday, Olivar Jarvis drove the No. 77 Mazda Team Joest DPi to the pole position for the start of this weekend’s race, with a lap of 1:33.685, setting a new track record for Daytona International Speedway road racing.
Acura Team Penske’s Ricky Taylor also broke the record, which was originally set by P.J. Jones back in 1993.
Taylor is joined by co-drivers Helio Castroneves and Alexander Rossi.
Acura Team Penske took the third position as well with driver Juan Pablo Montoya wheeling the car for qualifying. His co-drivers will be Dane Cameron and Simon Pagenaud.
Jonathan Bomarito and Felipe Nasr rounded out the top five.
James Allen was fastest in the LMP2 class, driving the No. 81 DragonSpeed ORECA Gibson.
Nick Tandy will start on the pole for GTLM.
~~~~~~~~~~
If you would like to receive this column in your inbox, please e-mail me and let me know: [email protected].
You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.