Brian Wilson named crew chief for 2022 Cup rookie Harrison Burton

By Chris EstradaNov 11, 2021, 10:42 AM EST

Wood Brothers Racing announced Thursday that Brian Wilson will join the organization as crew chief for Harrison Burton in his rookie NASCAR Cup Series campaign next season.

Wilson recently completed his 18th season with Team Penske, which holds a technical alliance with Wood Brothers Racing.

One year after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship with driver Austin Cindric, they returned to the Xfinity Championship 4, where they narrowly finished runner-up to Daniel Hemric.

Like Burton, Cindric is moving up to Cup next season as driver of Penske’s No. 2 entry.

Along with his crew chief exploits, Wilson contributed to Brad Keselowski‘s 2010 Xfinity and 2012 Cup titles as a Penske engineer. He first joined the Penske organization in 2004.

In 2022, he’ll pair with Burton, who comes off a two-year run as driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 Xfinity entry.

After a four-win season in 2020, Burton went winless in 2021. However, he still reached the Xfinity playoff Round of 8 before being eliminated in the final cut race at Martinsville Speedway.

Burton made his first Cup start this season in the April race at Talladega Superspeedway. He finished 20th for Gaunt Brothers Racing.

Together, Wilson and Burton will seek to give Wood Brothers Racing their 100th win in Cup Series competition.

The organization has been stuck on 99 Cup victories since Ryan Blaney‘s triumph at Pocono in June 2017. Its most recent driver, Matt DiBenedetto, failed to win in two seasons driving the No. 21 entry.

“I don’t think I can put that into words,” Wilson told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Thursday about perhaps claiming the Wood Brothers’ elusive 100th win. “I mean, that would be a huge moment for me, personally. It would be huge for Harrison. It would be huge for our whole team, for the Wood Brothers, for Ford.

“I think it’d be very hard to put it into words but obviously, it would be probably the best moment in my career. So, I can’t wait to try and make that happen.”

Let’s do this! https://t.co/cC9roXdAwL

— Harrison Burton (@HBurtonRacing) November 11, 2021

Justin Haley replaces Kyle Busch in Kaulig car for Xfinity race

By Mike HembreeMay 29, 2023, 7:54 AM EDT

Justin Haley will drive Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 car in Monday morning’s scheduled NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Haley replaces Cup Series regular Kyle Busch, who was scheduled to drive for Kaulig in the 300-miler. The race was postponed from Saturday to Monday because of weather, giving NASCAR a 900-mile doubleheader at the track.

Busch decided to concentrate on the Coca-Cola 600 Cup race, scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.

Haley also will race in the 600.

Ty Gibbs is scheduled to run in both races.

Charlotte Cup race postponed to Monday by weather

By Mike HembreeMay 28, 2023, 6:21 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — All-day rain Sunday forced the postponement of the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race to Monday.

The postponement means that Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled to host 900 miles of stock car racing Monday. A 300-mile Xfinity Series race, originally scheduled Saturday and first postponed to noon Monday, has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. ET Monday (FS1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The Cup race is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. (Fox, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Sunday’s Cup race was scheduled to start at 6:21 p.m. ET, but light rain was still falling at that time in the speedway area near Charlotte. Rain intensified a few minutes later and, despite an evening forecast that showed slight improvement, officials decided at 6:30 p.m. to postpone the race.

Monday’s forecast calls for a 34% chance of rain at the start of the Xfinity race and a 30% chance at the start of the Cup race.

William Byron will start the race from the pole after qualifying was washed out Saturday night.

RFK Racing gains sponsorship from submarine recruiting group

By Mike HembreeMay 28, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR racing and submarines? Yes.

RFK Racing announced Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway that it has entered a partnership with BlueForge Alliance, which is involved in securing workers for the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) program. BuildSubmarines.com will be a primary sponsor for RFK drivers Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher in 10 Cup Series races this year and in 18 races per season beginning in 2024.

The sponsorship will showcase the careers related to the submarine-building program across the nation.

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“I’m proud to support a cause of such vital significance to our country with this new partnership,” Keselowski said. “The synergies between a NASCAR team and our military’s needs to stay on track fast are countless. We hope to inspire the workforce of the next generation across the country when they see RFK race and hear our message.”

The sponsorship will support the mission to recruit, hire, train, develop and retain the SIB workforce that will build the Navy’s next generation of submarines, the team said.

“We are excited and grateful to be teaming with RFK Racing to drive awareness of the thousands of steady, well-paying manufacturing jobs available across the nation. Innovation, working with purpose and service to others are hallmarks of both of our organizations,” said Kiley Wren, BlueForge chief executive. “Together, we aim to inspire NASCAR fans and all Americans to pursue career opportunities that will support our national defense.”

Kyle Larson visits Indianapolis Motor Speedway to survey the scene

By Mike HembreeMay 28, 2023, 3:02 PM EDT

Former NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, who is scheduled to run the Indianapolis 500 in 2024 as part of an Indy-Charlotte “double,” visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway garage area Sunday on Indianapolis 500 race day.

Larson said he wanted to familiarize himself with the Indy race-day landscape before he becomes immersed in the process next year.

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Larson later returned to Charlotte, where was scheduled to drive in the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night. Next year, he’s scheduled to run both races.

“I love racing,” Larson told NBC Sports. “I love competing in the biggest races. In my opinion, this is the biggest race in the world. I wanted to be a part of it for a long time, and I finally feel like the timing is right. It’s pretty cool to have a dream come true.

“I wanted to come here and kind of experience it again and get to experience how crazy it is again before I’m in the middle of it next year. I kind of want as little surprise as possible next year.”

In the 2024 500, Larson will be one of four drivers with the Arrow McLaren team.

Earlier this month, Larson and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon attended an Indy 500 practice day.

Larson said Sunday he hasn’t tested an Indy car.

“I don’t know exactly when I’ll get in the car,” he said. “I’ve had no sim (simulator) time yet. I’ve kind of stayed back. I didn’t want to ask too many questions and take any focus on what they have going on for these couple of weeks. I’m sure that will pick up after today.

“I look forward to the challenge. No matter how this experience goes, I’m going to come out of it a better race car driver.”

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