Tony Stewart takes his responsibilities as dirt master/groomer at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals very seriously.
As such, it’s been a long week with some highs and lows.
But you can bet the now-retired three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion is ready for a big and successful finale at tonight’s A-Main feature that will decide the 31st Chili Bowl champion.
Stewart took to Twitter earlier today to capsulize the week in only the way he can do it:
GMS Racing has announced its full-time driver-crew chief lineup for the 2020 Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season and number assignments for its trucks:
– Chad Norris has been named crew chief for Brett Moffitt and the No. 23 Chevrolet team. Moffitt drove the No. 24 in his first season with the team. Norris has been with GMS Racing for two years and directed the effort that delivered the team its 2018 Xfinity Series win at Talladega.
– Chad Walter will lead Tyler Ankrum and the No. 26 team. 2020 will be Ankrum’s first season with GMS Racing. Walter served as an engineer for Ankrum this season at DGR-Crosley. Walter has five wins and 42 top fives in 208 Xfinity Series starts as crew chief.
– Kevin “Bono” Manion is paired with Zane Smith on the No. 21 Chevrolet. 2020 will be Smith’s first full-time Trucks season after competing part-time for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series. Manion has 24 wins as crew chief across all three national series since 2003. He led Martin Truex Jr. to his two Xfinity Series titles.
– Jeff Stankiewicz will remain as the crew chief for the No. 2 team piloted by Sheldon Creed.
NASCAR’s Champion’s week is now behind us and we are firmly in the offseason.
Well, sort of.
The NASCAR world never really stops, which is evident simply due to the continued announcements for the 2020 season.
But with Joey Logano testing the Next Gen car at Phoenix earlier this week and Dale Earnhardt Jr. helping clean up North Wilkesboro Speedway for iRacing, it’s been anything but quiet.
Here’s a look at what else happened in the NASCAR community this week.
–
Someone needs to check in on Jimmie Johnson, he could be in his own version of Mr. Mom.
I’m not sure how other households are doing this cold & flu season but half of my squad is down…
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) December 13, 2019
Chris Buescher is home again.
The 2015 Xfinity Series champion is back at Roush Fenway Racing for the 2020 Cup season and he’s got the firesuits and cars to prove it.
Sup, 2020.@Chris_Buescher | @roushfenway pic.twitter.com/RjZYeADq2q
— No. 17 Team (@17RoushTeam) December 12, 2019
Brad Keselowski recently became father to a second daughter.
He’s now learning some important life lessons.
Today’s epiphany
When you have your first child-
you start to understand your parents.When you have your second child- you learn to appreciate them.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) December 12, 2019
Former Front Row Motorsports driver Matt Tifft is now off the market after getting married to his fiance, Jordan. Now they’re on their honeymoon.
12.7.2019 💒 pic.twitter.com/tOwbWDw7ti
— Matt Tifft (@matt_tifft) December 9, 2019
Honeymoon time! pic.twitter.com/zGX9r4lmM9
— Matt Tifft (@matt_tifft) December 11, 2019
Matt DiBenedetto showed off one of the perks of being a Wood Brothers Racing employee.
Christmas came early!! This is all too freakin cool 🥳 pic.twitter.com/St3TAEpCrh
— Matt DiBenedetto (@mattdracing) December 13, 2019
Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace went somewhere warm to start their holiday.
So it begins. pic.twitter.com/hgkKiTCzws
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) December 8, 2019
Xfinity Series driver Joey Gase and his wife Caitlin are now parents to twin boys
The babies were born on Wednesday. Their names are Jace and Carson.
More: Brad and Paige Keselowski welcome second daughter
Caitlin and I would like to introduce Jace and Carson Gase! They were born yesterday afternoon. Carson is 4lbs 11 oz and Jace is 4lbs 7oz. Mom and babies are all doing well! pic.twitter.com/UklaKRuNMy
— Joey Gase Racing (@JoeyGaseRacing) December 12, 2019
Front Row Motorsports filled one of the last major vacancies in the NASCAR Cup Series when it announced Thursday John Hunter Nemechek will compete for the team full-time in the No. 38 Ford.
With the announcement also came the news the team is retracting to two cars after fielding three in 2019.
As a rookie, Nemechek will have Michael McDowell as a teammate.
Here’s how the rest of NASCAR’s Silly Season has played out so far.
ANNOUNCED CUP RIDES FOR 2020
No. 00: Quin Houff will race for Star Com Racing full-time. Announced Nov. 27.
No. 1: Chip Ganassi Racing announced on Nov. 1 a multi-year extension with Kurt Busch.
No. 6: Roush Fenway Racing announced Oct. 30 that Ryan Newman would return to the car as part of the news that Oscar Mayer would sponsor the No. 6 through 2021.
No. 8: Richard Childress Racing made it official Oct. 2 that Tyler Reddick will move to Cup in 2020 and drive the No. 8 car.
No. 10: Aric Almirola confirmed Oct. 11 he signed an extension to race for Stewart-Haas Racing.
No. 13: Ty Dillon posted a video Sept. 6 on Instagram refuting rumors that he would retire after this season. He has a contract with Germain Racing through 2020.
No. 14: Clint Bowyer was announced Oct. 17 as returning to Stewart-Haas Racing for a fourth season.
No. 15: Brennan Poole will make his Cup debut and will drive for Premium Motorsports full-time. Announced Dec 11.
No. 17: Chris Buescher will take over the Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 ride in 2020 after the team announced Sept. 25 that it would part ways with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after this season.
No. 20: Joe Gibbs Racing announced Sept. 6 that it had signed Erik Jones to an extension. It is a one-year extension for the 2020 season.
No. 21: Matt DiBenedetto replaces Paul Menard at Wood Brothers Racing (announcement made Sept. 10). DiBenedetto’s deal is for 2020 only.
No. 32: Corey LaJoie will return for a second straight full season with Go Fas Racing and the No. 32 Ford. The team announced on Nov. 1 it would enter a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing next year.
No. 37: Ryan Preece moves over from the No. 47 to the No. 37. He will have a new crew chief, Trent Owens, who has been crew chief on the No. 37 for the past three seasons.
No. 38: John Hunter Nemechek replaces the now retired David Ragan for Front Row Motorsports. Announced Dec. 12.
No. 41: Stewart-Haas Racing announced Nov. 15 Cole Custer will replace Daniel Suarez.
No. 47: JTG Daugherty Racing announced Oct. 16 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will join Ryan Preece at the two-car team, essentially swapping seats with Chris Buescher. On Dec. 2, the team announced Stenhouse will drive the No. 47, with Brian Pattie serving as his crew chief.
No. 95: Christopher Bell moves to Cup in 2020 and will drive for Leavine Family Racing (announcement made Sept. 24).
Rick Ware Racing: JJ Yeley will drive one of the team’s three full-time rides.
YET TO ANNOUNCE DEALS FOR 2020
Daniel Suarez — The driver revealed Nov. 14 he would not return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2020 after one season driving the No. 41.
ANNOUNCED PLANS IN OTHER NASCAR SERIES
Xfinity Series
Ross Chastain – Kaulig Racing announced Oct. 15 he would compete full-time for the team in 2020 driving the No. 10 Chevrolet, joining Justin Haley.
Joe Gibbs Racing — Announced Oct. 17 Harrison Burton will drive its No. 20 Toyota full-time in 2020. Announced Oct. 31 Brandon Jones would return for a third year in the No. 19. Revealed Nov. 5 it would field a third full-time entry with Riley Herbst in the No. 18.
JR Motorsports — Justin Allgaier will return to the team for a fifth year in the No. 7 Chevrolet. The No. 8 car will be driven by Daniel Hemric for 21 races, Jeb Burton 11 races and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for one race. Noah Gragson will also return for a second season in the No. 9 car, while Michael Annett returns for a fourth year with the team in the No. 1 car.
Richard Childress Racing — Will field a part-time car in the No. 21, which will be shared by Myatt Snider and Anthony Alfredo.
Stewart-Haas Racing – The team has not announced plans for the No. 00 Ford with Cole Custer moving to Cup or whether Chase Briscoe will return to the No. 98.
JD Motorsports — Jesse Little will compete full-time for the team.
Truck Series
GMS Racing – Driver lineup will include Brett Moffitt, Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed and Tyler Ankrum
Kyle Busch Motorsports — Raphael Lessard will drive the No. 4 full-time while Christian Eckes will drive the No. 18 full-time.
Halmar Friesen Racing — Stewart Friesen will return for a third full-time season in the No. 52 Truck. The team will also switch from Chevrolet to Toyota Trucks in 2020.
Hattori Racing Enterprises – Austin Hill will return to the No. 16 Toyota for a second year.
Niece Motorsports: Ty Majeski will drive the No. 45 truck full-time, taking the place of Ross Chastain. Announced Dec. 10.
DGR-Crosley: Has not made any driver announcements, but will switch from Toyota to Ford. Announced Dec. 11.