NASCAR: 2021 season starts Feb. 14; [2020 Cup Series/XFINITY Series/Gander RV/Outdoors Truck Series]

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and the 1st sponsorship agreement of 2021 is:

Mike Harmon Racing welcoming Wolfpack Hockey marketing to help on their 47 XFINITY car driven by Kyle Weatherman; Weatherman also confirms he will drive the #47 for a championship in '21

 

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OFFICIAL: Kyle Larson has been reinstated and will be ready for SPEEDWEEKS 2021

 

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another Mike Harmon Racing announcement forthcoming at 9 AM today---LIKELY will be the 74 entry after yesterday's announcement with the 47;

update: CONFIRMED Bayley Currey retained by MHR as driver of the #74

 

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Chris Monez joining the retooled #5 (Larson) as Spotter

 

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6 weeks to the Closing end of Speedweeks 2021; 5 weeks to the opening of Speedweeks 2021 @ Daytona

 

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Diecast Kings joining JCR (Jeremy Clements Racing) starting @ Martinsville.....

 

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Hooked on Blacktop (lifestyle brand) joins Young's Motorsports/20/Spencer Boyd for CWTS opener @ Daytona.

 

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Phoenix Raceway to do same procedure as they did in November for Spring 2021, capped attendance @ 8400 fans

 

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Darian Grubb switching to CGR FROM Hendrick Motorsports as Director of Performance

 

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NY Racing Cup team formed; assigned the #44, supposedly an "open" team, no charter; Johnny Sauter as a driver for Speedweeks?

 

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scratch the announcement of Chris Monez joining Hendrick Motorsports as spotter for Kyle Larson/5

 

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DGR-Crosley ceases to exist as the team will now be referenced simply as David Gilliland Racing.... the Gray family has been added to the ownership end.... they were primarily in the NHRA Pro Stock business before Tanner migrated to the Trucks

 

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CONFIRMED:

Anthony Alfredo to succeed John Hunter Nemechek as driver of the #38 in 2021;

no other changes expected for the #38 truck of Todd Gilliland or the 34 of Michael McDowell;

David Ragan will attempt to make the Daytona 500 for Front Row Motorsports in the #36 (similar to 2020 or past seasons.

 

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Bristol hits grandstand socially distanced capacity for Spring Dirt Derby weekend

 

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CWTS Updates:

Cram Racing Enterprises (#41) will return in '21; it is hopeful that Dawson Cram will not have to run the entire 22 race season;

Raphael Lessard has full backing and will now run the 22 race schedule for GMS

 

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XFINITY/Cup update:

Kaulig Racing to follow the Beard Motorsports(#62) model at Daytona/Talledega while expanding to select events as well as maintaining the three car XFINITY efforts previously announced;

no word as to who will be driving the entry at Daytona..... yet

 

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hearing reports that 44 entries may be submitted for the 2021 Daytona 500

 

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GMS Crew Chief update (CWTS);

Jeff Stankiewicz retains the 2 w/ defending champion Sheldon Creed;
Kevin "Bono" Manion retains the 21 w/ Zane Smith;
Jeff Hensley to the 23 w/ Chase Purdy;
Chad Walter to the 24 w/ Raphael Lessard;
Charles Denike to the 26 w/ Tyler Ankrum

 

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8 events as of now will have practice/qualifying instead of the 2020 schedule where they raced only....Cup venues at this point XFINITY/CWTS TBA/D;

Daytona 500 (unique in its own right, between the Clash/Duels);

Bristol 1 "Dirt Derby";

COTA;

Coca Cola 600 @ CMS;

Nashville;

Road America;

IMS Road Course;

Phoenix 2 (Championship)

 

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Ciccarelli Motorsports update: 3 drivers under discussion for '21; could run all 3 makes of truck; did buy 1 truck from Thorsport

 

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Jake Griffin named to drive Bristol/Knoxville for Reaume Brothers Racing

 

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OFFICIAL:

The XFINITY Series will be a blast for at least 20 races;

starting at Homestead-Miami; Santino Ferrucci, the 22 yr old from Connecticut, who has never competed professionally in a stock car with fenders, has signed with Sam Hunt Racing (#26)for 2021;

Ferrucci, who impressed NASCAR Hall of Fame driver/team owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at the 2019 Indianapolis 500, was originally thought to be linked to the 2nd year Our Motorsports team, before they went official on a 2nd entry and then this just broke.... Ferrucci had been with Dale Coyne Racing in the NTT Indycar Series the past 2 seasons.....

Brandon Gdovic will run at Daytona

 

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Reser's Fine Foods transitioning to the 19 of Truex, Jr. replacing Sirius XM; about 4 races of sponsorship; they had been with the 20 team;

Truex and Sherry Pollex named as fourth quarter honorees for the NMPA Spirit Award

 

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there are reports Driver names will return to the windshield, which was last seen in 2013

 

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Next event Kurt Busch wants to check off his bucket list: Dakar Rally