The 2017 season for NASCAR’s premier series (sponsored by Monster Energy) doesn’t begin for 82 days with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26.
That’s a lot of time and the stars of the sport have to keep themselves busy. Here’s a look at what some NASCAR drivers are doing with 82 days until the first points race.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is busy going through production days for sponsors that will be on his No. 88 Chevrolet when he returns after missing the last 18 races of 2016 with a concussion. When he arrives at Daytona, he’ll also be a married man after he ties the knot with his fiance Amy Reimann on Dec. 31.
So any commercial that debuts next season needs to reflect reality.
Working on 2017 @Unilever with @Amy_Reimann. I dig the script! pic.twitter.com/LEeYvR2VKJ
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 6, 2016
Love these colors. @Unilever pic.twitter.com/2Rdv7w2zNl
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) December 6, 2016
While the Daytona 500 will likely mark Dale Jr.'s return to racing, it will also be the debut of Stewart-Haas Racing with Ford. It will also be the first race for Clint Bowyer with SHR after his lone season with HScott Motorsports (which has announced it wouldn’t compete in NASCAR in 2017)
And Bowyer expressed his excitement and possible shock at how quickly things are changing for him with a picture of a new Ford truck.
💩getting real!!!! 💪. @StewartHaasRcng pic.twitter.com/DmSb80kYUZ
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) December 6, 2016
Keeping it in the Stewart-Haas Racing family, Danica Patrick has officially announced a book she is writing that will be released in January 2018 titled “Pretty Intense.” As part of the project, Patrick has also made available a 90-day health and nutrition plan she has tested herself.
I'm writing a health and fitness book! Go to https://t.co/r10tAmtGyu to sign up for my free trial program! Written and tested by urs truly! pic.twitter.com/Bm4XupRF3E
— Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) December 5, 2016
Meanwhile, Casey Mears still doesn’t have any plans to announce for the next season after he was replaced at Germain Racing by Ty Dillon. Mears spent seven years in the No. 13 Geico Chevrolet.
Thank you for all the support out there 👊🏻
— Casey Mears (@CJMearsGang) December 6, 2016
Working on what's next. Having fun exploring all options and directions. #mearsgang
Greg Biffle doesn’t have any plans announced for next year either, but he’s not sitting around for a phone call. The 19-time Cup winner is hanging out with Kurt Busch in the Glamis sand dunes.
They let everybody out here. Time for some test runs with @gbiffle. #Glamis #doonies3 pic.twitter.com/KFYn6HbvA8
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) December 6, 2016
As the offseason really gets going, a few drivers are taking part in a small basketball league called “The Hoop Group,” which you can follow along with on Twitter. Drivers in the league include Denny Hamlin, Darrell Wallace Jr. and Ryan Blaney.
DH explains opening night and the @hoopgroupclt @SunEnergy1Race @Jumpman23 pic.twitter.com/ITVUmK4LsI
— THE HOOP GROUP (@hoopgroupclt) December 5, 2016
Boom, racer chasers go 2-0 to close out the night!! Great team ball, gonna be a tough league! @hoopgroupclt pic.twitter.com/uGuB1WqWCC
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) December 6, 2016
2 smallest guys combined for 17 rebounds, en route to a 34-31 win for racer chasers! @hoopgroupclt pic.twitter.com/KlOplVdETe
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) December 6, 2016