TMW: JR Motorsports Attempting Cup Debut
Justin Allgaier will represent the longtime NASCAR Xfinity Series organization in the Great American Race.
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Jan. 17, 2025
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Today’s Top Stories
1) JR Motorsports set for Cup debut at Daytona with Justin Allgaier (NASCAR Cup)
For years NASCAR fans have clamored for the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned JR Motorsports to go racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Next month they’ll get their wish - for one week, at least.
JR Motorsports (JRM) announced Wednesday that it plans to make its Cup debut in the Daytona 500, fielding defending Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier. The Illinoisan will pilot the No. 40 Chevrolet, running with sponsorship from Traveller Whiskey, a label created by 10-time Grammy winner Chris Stapleton. Greg Ives will serve as the crew chief.
“We’ve been waiting for the right moment for JR Motorsports,” Earnhardt Jr. said in a press release. “With Justin winning the Xfinity Series Championship and Chris Stapleton’s undeniable star power, the planets aligned for this perfect opportunity to enter this year’s Daytona 500.”
Without a charter, JRM will have to qualify for the Daytona 500 either through its qualifying time or finish in one of the Duel qualifying races. It will run with an engine from Hendrick Motorsports, whose owner Rick Hendrick helped make the deal happen.
From the Associated Press:
The deal came together when Stapleton, who has a friendship with Rick Hendrick, approached Hendrick about a NASCAR collaboration with Traveller Whiskey. Hendrick put Stapleton in touch with Earnhardt as he also has an ownership stake with JRM.
“We had this whiskey and I always have ”pie in the sky” dreams of things to do and we knocked on the door a little bit,” Stapleton told The Associated Press. “If I’m being 100% honest, I just thought it would be cool to see whiskey on a car. And he brought up Dale Jr. and I was like ‘Why wouldn’t we do that if we can?’ This is a lot of my audience, for both whiskey and country music, and what (Earnhardt) does in auto racing.”
JRM has become a fixture of the Xfinity Series, securing 88 victories in a 23-year run thus far that’s included title runs for future Cup stars including Chase Elliott, William Byron and Tyler Reddick. Earnhardt and sister Kelly Earnhardt-Miller have voiced interest in the Cup Series, but struggle to justify the heavy investment needed to acquire charters and field a competitive full-time entry.
The team has no Cup plans beyond the one-off Daytona run at this time.
(Source(s): Jenna Fryer / Associated Press)
2) Truex, Johnson confirmed for Daytona 500 attempts (NASCAR Cup)
JR Motorsports wasn’t the only team to make noise with Daytona 500 plans in the midweek. A pair of former Cup Series champions were announced for their own planned runs in the Great American Race.
Martin Truex Jr. confirmed his plans for the Daytona 500 on Thursday, with Craftsman Truck Series regulars Tricon Garage announcing its intention to field the 2017 Cup champ in the No. 56 Toyota. It will mark Tricon’s Cup debut, coming with technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing.
Truex retired from full-time Cup competition at the end of the 2024 season. But the New Jersey native voiced intention to race sporadically, including in the Daytona 500. It’s the biggest missing piece of his Cup resume, with Truex having come just .01s shy of winning the race in 2016 but never actually claiming the event. He’ll be reunited with title-winning crew chief Cole Pearn for the effort.
“It’s going to be a really cool deal to be able to work with Cole and have the number 56 again,” Truex Jr. said in a team release. “I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun.
Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson also plans to contest the Daytona 500, making one of two planned starts for the Legacy Motor Club team he co-owns. Johnson will also contest the Coca-Cola 600 on May 25, driving the No. 84 with Carvana sponsorship in both events.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to competition in 2025,” Johnson said in a team statement. “These two races hold a special place in my heart, and I’ve always loved the energy and excitement that surrounds them.
“The Daytona 500 is a crown jewel of NASCAR -- there’s nothing like it. Charlotte Motor Speedway is where I made my first start in the NASCAR Cup Series, and it’s always felt like ‘home’ to me.”
The addition of Truex and Johnson brings the total number of potential open entries for the Daytona 500 to eight, with four spots up for grabs. Others include Allgaier, Helio Castroneves (Trackhouse Racing), JJ Yeley (NY Racing), Anthony Alfredo (Beard Motorsports), BJ McLeod (Live Fast Motorsports). MBM Motorsports also hopes to bring an entry, though its plans to field Mike Wallace were undone when Wallace wasn’t approved to compete by NASCAR. Rick Ware Racing has yet to confirm plans for its No. 15 Ford.
Of those eight, only Castroneves has a guaranteed spot in the field due to NASCAR’s new Open Exemption Provisional for high-caliber, ‘celebrity’ appearances. The others will have to make the race through either qualifying pace of their result in one of two Duel qualifying races.
(Source(s): Jordan Bianchi / The Athletic, Dustin Long / NBC Sports)
3) Rick Ware Racing confirms Cody Ware for full-time run (NASCAR Cup)
Rick Ware Racing’s (RWR) lone chartered ride will be filled by the boss’ son for the 2025 Cup Series season.
The company announced Wednesday that Cody Ware will pilot the No. 51 entry, completing the full season for the first time in his Cup career. He’ll be joined by crew chief Billy Plourde for the effort.
“The NASCAR Cup Series is where every driver wants to be and I’m grateful to be back fulltime,” Ware said. “I’ve improved as a driver and RWR has improved as a team, and this is, by far, the best opportunity I’ve had in NASCAR. I aim to make the most of it and earn the respect of my competitors.”
Ware made a handful of starts for the team in 2024, finishing a career-best fourth at Daytona International Speedway and notching two other top-20 runs at Talladega Superspeedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Justin Haley previously drove the No. 51 before trading rides midseason with Spire Motorsports’ Corey LaJoie, who the team elected not to bring back in 2025.
“Cody made a lot out of the nine races he ran for us last year and proved that he was deserving of a full-time opportunity,” Rick Ware said. “Running a part-time schedule isn’t easy because it’s hard to develop consistency when you’re out of the car for weeks on end. But Cody made it work and he and crew chief Billy Plourde developed a good rapport.
“It made sense to see what could come of their collective efforts when they’re working alongside one another week in and week out. A full season together provides the best chance for everyone to succeed.”
RWR’s other car, the No. 15, is no longer a chartered entry. The company is leasing its second charter to RFK Racing, who will field Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Ford. RWR plans to field Bowman Gray Stadium legend Tim Brown in the Clash, with the rest of the season’s lineup TBA.
(Source(s): Toby Christie / Racing America)
Race Recaps
Dirt
One sidenote:
Corey Day came up one spot short of a transfer after a tricky Wednesday prelim night. (Chase Folsom / Frontstretch)
Rally
Dakar Rally: With just one day left to contest, Yazeed Al-Rajhi is closing in on another Dakar title. Mattias Ekstrom was fastest in Thursday’s penultimate stage. (Rachit Thukral / Motorsport)
Sim Racing
World of Outlaws Pro Series: Another new winner emerged Monday at virtual Fairbury Speedway, with Robbie Buchanan Jr. scoring his maiden series victory. (Justin Melillo / iRacing.com)
News and Notes
NASCAR
The trio of Alex Labbe, Patrick Emerling and Nick Leitz will split SS-Green Light Racing’s No. 07 in the Xfinity Series this year. (Kevin Rutherford / Frontstretch)
Notable YouTuber Garrett Mitchell, who you might know as Cleetus McFarland, is going ARCA Menards Series racing with Rette Jones Racing in the Daytona International Speedway opener. (Matt Weaver / Sportsnaut)
Former series champ Mason Mitchell is coming back to the ARCA Menards Series, contesting three races with Venturini Motorsports in 2025. (Toby Christie / TobyChristie.com)
The dreadful Los Angeles fires have a NASCAR crossover. Capt. R.K. Smithley, father of Xfinity Series driver Garrett Smithley, is helping to fight them in an airplane. (Jordan Bianchi / The Athletic)
IndyCar
Two-time IndyCar champion Will Power doesn’t want to go anywhere just yet. He’s hired an agent for the first time in his career as a sign of his ambitions to stay at Team Penske. (Michael Marot / Associated Press)
The inside-the-helmet camera system used by both NASCAR and Formula 1 in recent years will be coming to IndyCar for its debut season on FOX. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
FOX also plans to bring drone footage to the series when the season kicks off. (Marshall Pruett / RACER)
With Michael Andretti out as CEO, Andretti Global’s new look is beginning to take shape. (Joey Barnes / Motorsport)
F1
Cadillac Racing has options for its 2026 Formula 1 debut. But which drivers will it sign? Here’s a look at six potential candidates. (Luke Smith & Madeline Coleman / The Athletic)
McLaren has ambitions of acquiring Red Bull strategy chief Will Courtenay, having signed him in September. But Red Bull’s making him see out his contract through 2025. (Jon Noble / The Race)
Sauber managing director Alessandro Alumni Bravi is expected to leave the company after eight years at the end of January. (Chris Medland / RACER)
Change can be good. But James Vowles feels Williams was doing too much change at once in 2024. (Ben Vinel & Alex Kalinauckas / Motorsport)
His team’s star driver, Alex Albon, is ready for the challenge that comes with comparing against ex-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in 2025. (Chris Medland / RACER)
There’s been a weird rumor of a Max Verstappen leap to Aston Martin. The team has made a point to deny its’ validity. (Thomas Maher / Planet F1)
Supercars
Supercars plans to drop the controversial Full Course Yellow regulations from its rulebook ahead of the 2025 season. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)
Series officials plan to utilize some track time during Bathurst 12 Hour weekend to test the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)
Walkinshaw Andretti Racing is making an engineering shift heading into the 2025 season, with Richard Harris slated to work with rising prospect Ryan Wood. (Connor O’Brien / V8 Sleuth)
Given time to ruminate on it, Shane van Gisbergen admits that he and former rival - and fellow United States transplant - Scott McLaughlin were hardly friends in Supercars. (Simon Chapman / Speedcafe)
Livery reveal season is just around the corner for Supercars organizations. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)
The 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series grid has taken shape a month before the start of its 25th anniversary season. (Stefan Bartholomaeus / Speedcafe)
Sports Cars
NBC has released its planned 2025 broadcast schedule for IMSA. (RACER)
There have been many additions in the updated full-season FIA World Endurance Championship entry list ahead of the Qatar Prologue. (Daily Sportscar)
Lamborghini has appointed BMW LMDh manager Maurizio Leschuitta as its new motorsport boss heading into the 2025 season.
Indy NXT race winner and three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick will serve as grand marshal for the Rolex 24 at Daytona next weekend. (Daily Sportscar)
Some drivers have voiced early displeasure with the curbing changes to the Le Mans Chicane at Daytona International Speedway, predicting damaged cares stemming from the change. (Nate Ryan / NBC Sports)
Who’s the favorite to take home IMSA’s GTP title this year? Defending champion Felipe Nasr feels everyone is in the mix. (John Dagys / Sportscar365)
Wayne Taylor Racing has a new look in its return to Cadillac. (R.J. O’Connell / RACER)
SunEnergy1 Racing is coming back for another run at the Bathurst 12 Hour. (Daily Sportscar)
Ex-Formula 1 racer Roberto Merhi and Team LeMans are after a title in Super GT’s GT300 class this year. (Jamie Klein / Sportscar365)
Dirt
You can add Sye Lynch to the roster for High Limit Racing heading into its second season as a full-time, national tour. (HighLimitRacing.com)
The 2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series roster has been revealed. Here’s a breakdown of everyone contending of the title in 2025. (Kevin Kovac / FloRacing)
Christopher Bell is back at home on dirt in Tulsa. But he plans to be smart about the balancing act with NASCAR with his new opportunity. (Nick DeGroot & Joey Barnes / Motorsport)
Cup Series star Ty Gibbs has been prioritizing fun and learning in his Chili Bowl Nationals debut. (Chase Folsom / Frontstretch)
The duo of Kyle Larson and Tyler Courtney are working together in a rare two-car entry for Paul Silva, with hopes of bringing Silva a Golden Driller. (Chase Folsom / Frontstretch)
Short Tracks
Here’s a look at the entry list for today’s SpeedFest festivities at Cordele Motor Speedway. (Scotte Sprinkle / Short Track Scene)
Moto
Next up for Supercross: San Diego. Here’s a guide for this weekend’s races. (Dan Beaver / NBC Sports)
Jorge Martin’s No. 1 plate was revealed as part of Aprilia’s bike launch for the 2025 MotoGP season. (Valentin Khorounzhiy / The Race)
Defending Isle of Man Senior TT winner Davey Todd will reunite with Padgetts Racing for the 2025 edition of the event in both supersport and supertwin competition. (Simon Patterson / The Race)
With Levi Kitchen shifting to the 250 East division in Supercross, Ty Masterpool is moving over to the 250 West class. (Dan Beaver / NBC Sports)
Work is underway on the 2026 Formula 1 car. But the machines likely won’t look like we or the FIA anticipate. (Gary Anderson / The Race)
Rally
Could Indonesia return to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar? The country has declared interest in bringing the tour back for the first time since 1997. (Tom Howard / Motorsport)
Kalle Rovanpera figures to be a contender in his full-time WRC return with Toyota. But team boss Jari-Matti Latvala believes it will also help Elfyn Evans become a title threat. (Tom Howard / Motorsport)
Electric Racing
Drag Racing
The Wilkesboro Dragway has joined the World Drag Racing Alliance with a multi-year sanction agreement. (Drag Illustrated)
Sim Racing
iRacing is launching year-long tours for both Dirt Super Late Model and 410 Sprint Car racing on the platform. (Chris Leone / iRacing.com)
On Track This Weekend
All Times ET
Friday, Jan. 17
Dirt
Chili Bowl Nationals (SageNet Center): 4:30 p.m., FloRacing
Lucas Oil Late Models (Golden Isles Speedway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Chilly Willy (Tucson Speedway): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Rally
Dakar Rally (Saudi Arabia): 8:00 p.m., Highlights on Peacock
Other
World Championship Snowmobile Derby (World Championship Derby Complex): 11:30 a.m., FloRacing
-
Saturday, Jan. 18
Dirt
Chili Bowl Nationals (SageNet Center): 11:00 a.m., FloRacing
Lucas Oil Late Models (Golden Isles Speedway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Chilly Willy (Tucson Speedway): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Other
World Championship Snowmobile Derby (World Championship Derby Complex): 11:30 a.m., FloRacing
-
Sunday, Jan. 19
Dirt
Lucas Oil Late Models (Golden Isles Speedway): 5:30 p.m., FloRacing
Short Tracks
Chilly Willy (Tucson Speedway): 7:45 p.m., FloRacing
Other
World Championship Snowmobile Derby (World Championship Derby Complex): 11:30 a.m., FloRacing
Number of the Day: 82
Justin Allgaier has made just 82 Cup starts in his lengthy NASCAR career, showing talent but often being overlooked for other drivers when competitive rides become available. But his last start and next one will be arguably the two most high-profile of his career. Allgaier ran in place of Kyle Larson when he chose to contest the rain-delayed Indianapolis 500 over the Coca-Cola 600 last May, finishing 13th. Now the veteran will be involved in the much-anticipated Cup debut for Earnhardt as a car owner, an effort that’ll thrust him into the spotlight regardless of how the run pans out.
Resources
Series Websites
Schedules
Media Outlets
Associated Press (NASCAR, F1)
The Athletic (F1, NASCAR)
Catchfence (NASCAR)
DIRTRACKR (Dirt Racing)
Dirt on Dirt (Dirt Late Models)
Dirt Track Digest (Dirt Racing)
DirtVision (Dirt Racing)
Drag Illustrated (Drag Racing)
Dragzine (Drag Racing)
FloRacing (Dirt, Short Tracks)
FOX Sports (Primarily NASCAR, IndyCar likely in 2025)
Frontstretch (NASCAR, Open Wheel, Sports Cars, Short Tracks)
Kickin’ the Tires (NASCAR)
Motorsport (General, wide-ranging racing coverage).
NBC Sports Motorsports (Dirt, MotoGP, SuperMotocross)
Ohio Dirt (Dirt Racing)
Outside Groove (Dirt Racing)
RACER (Open Wheel, Sports Cars, NASCAR, Drag Racing,Off-Road/Rally)
The Race (Open Wheel, MotoGP)
Short Track Scene (Short Tracks)
Speedcafe (Australian Motorsports)
Sportsnaut (NASCAR)
Sprint Car Unlimited (Dirt Sprint Cars)
TobyChristie.com (NASCAR)
Traxion (Sim Racing)
V8 Sleuth (Supercars)