ONE AWAY FROM 100

ONE AWAY FROM 100

Already the winningest manufacturer in NASCAR history at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), Chevrolet has the opportunity to add yet another monumental feat to that legacy – entering the 2024 season-opening weekend with 99 points-paying victories across NASCAR’s three national series at the “World Center of Racing”.

Chevrolet made its presence known early at DIS courtesy of Bob Welborn, who drove his 1959 Chevrolet to the win in NASCAR’s first-ever race held at the Florida superspeedway (Feb. 20, 1959). Throughout the series’ more than 60-year history at the track, the Bowtie brand has earned 50 all-time NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) victories. Exactly one-half of those triumphs have come in the Daytona 500, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. delivering Chevrolet its 25th victory in the crown jewel event last season.

The manufacturer’s success in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at DIS is unmatched – earning 46 victories in 64 races held at the track; a winning percentage of 72 percent. Chevrolet has posted a near-dominant performance in the series at DIS in recent years – collecting the victory in 12 of the series’ past 13 races at the track.

Having a much shorter history at the Florida superspeedway, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) joined the DIS scene in 2000. Three of Chevrolet’s series-leading all-time DIS victories have come in the NCTS – all of which were recorded in consecutive seasons (2016-2018).

DEFENDING THE CROWN
One of the most prestigious events in motorsports, the Daytona 500, carries a rich history dating back to its inception to NASCAR in 1959. To date, 18 different drivers have delivered Chevrolet a combined 25 Daytona 500 victories – most recently one year ago with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Camaro ZL1 team. Stenhouse Jr. and fellow Chevrolet driver Austin Dillon are among just the seven active NASCAR Cup Series drivers with a Daytona 500 victory to their name.

 

Chevrolet’s Daytona 500 Victories:

Date                           Driver

February 19, 2023        Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

February 18, 2018        Austin Dillon

February 23, 2014        Dale Earnhardt Jr.

February 24, 2013        Jimmie Johnson

February 14, 2010        Jamie McMurray

February 18, 2007        Kevin Harvick

February 19, 2006        Jimmie Johnson

February 20, 2005        Jeff Gordon

February 15, 2004        Dale Earnhardt Jr.

February 16, 2003        Michael Waltrip

February 18, 2001        Michael Waltrip

February 14, 1999        Jeff Gordon

February 15, 1998        Dale Earnhardt

February 16, 1997        Jeff Gordon

February 19, 1995        Sterling Marlin

February 20, 1994        Sterling Marlin

February 14, 1993        Dale Jarrett

February 17, 1991        Ernie Irvan

February 18, 1990        Derrike Cope

February 19, 1989        Darrell Waltrip

February 16, 1986        Geoffrey Bodine

February 19, 1984        Cale Yarborough

February 20, 1977        Cale Yarborough

February 16, 1975        Benny Parsons

February 14, 1960        Junior Johnson
 

 

FRONT-ROW FRONT-RUNNERS

Chevrolet has set an unrivaled bar in what is arguably the most important qualifying session of the NASCAR Cup Series season – to claim the pole position for the Daytona 500. A Chevrolet-powered machine has led the field to the green-flag of the “Great American Race” 31 times in the event’s 65-race history – a record more than double the next highest manufacturer competitor. One year ago, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman extended Chevrolet’s active Daytona 500 pole win streak to 11-straight. Taking it one step further, Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson posted the second-fastest qualifying lap to give the Bowtie brand its 21st all-time front-row sweep for the crown jewel event.
 

CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY SEASON

In 1984, Rick Hendrick took his passion for automobiles and auto racing and turned it into a business venture by starting Hendrick Motorsports. Now 40 years later, Hendrick Motorsports has become the sport’s most successful organization, with every win and championship recorded in partnership with Chevrolet.

Geoffrey Bodine put Hendrick Motorsports on the map in its founding season – giving the organization its first NASCAR Cup Series win at Martinsville Speedway in April 1984. Fast forward 39 seasons, the Chevrolet organization leads NASCAR’s top division in nearly all major statistical measures with 14 championships, 301 points-paying wins, 246 poles and 1,318,526 laps led. Hendrick Motorsports earned the title as the winningest organization in NCS history in May 2021 when Kyle Larson’s victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway took the team’s all-time win count past the record previously held by Petty Enterprises for more than 60 years. The organization reached its most recent milestone victory last season with William Byron’s playoff win at Texas Motor Speedway giving Hendrick Motorsports its 300th all-time NCS win.
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Camaro ZL1

Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 30, 2021

Hendrick Motorsports breaks Petty Enterprises’ all-time NASCAR Cup Series win record – becoming the winningest organization in series’ history.
William Byron, No. 24 Camaro ZL1

Texas Motor Speedway – Sept. 24, 2023

Hendrick Motorsports’ most recent milestone victory – the organizations 300th all-time NASCAR Cup Series win.
 

One of the most successful manufacturer-team partnerships in NCS history, Hendrick Motorsports has been a pivotal part in making Chevrolet the winningest manufacturer in NASCAR’s premier series. With 851 all-time victories in the series, a Hendrick Motorsports driver has delivered Chevrolet its past five milestone victories in the NCS:

400th NCS win: Sept. 9, 1994 – Terry Labonte (Richmond Raceway)

500th NCS win: Aug. 12, 2001 Jeff Gordon (Watkins Glen International)

600th NCS win: March 25, 2007 – Kyle Busch (Bristol Motor Speedway)

700th NCS win: Nov. 4, 2012 – Jimmie Johnson (Texas Motor Speedway)

800th NCS win: May 23, 2021 – Chase Elliott (Circuit of The Americas)

 

 

BUSCH’S CONTINUED QUEST FOR DAYTONA 500 TRIUMPH

Kyle Busch, one of the most accomplished drivers in NASCAR history, still has one crown jewel win left to add to an already storied career – the Daytona 500. The two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion is on the horizon of his 19th career start in the “Great American Race” this weekend, making Busch even hungrier to earn his spot on the prestigious Harley J. Earl trophy.

The 38-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native came oh-so-close to the crown jewel win last season. Despite sitting in the top position on lap 200, Busch got caught up in a crash during a double overtime finish, relinquishing his hopes of becoming the Daytona 500 Champion for another year. Another former Richard Childress Racing driver shared the same anguished pursuit for the Harley J. Earl trophy – Dale Earnhardt Sr., who finally captured his first and only Daytona 500 victory in his 20th attempt.

Busch has won every other crown jewel event in NASCAR’s top division, including the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2015 and 2016), the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (2008) and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (2018).
FACES IN NEW PLACES

Coming off yet another stellar season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Chevrolet looks to continue that momentum with an even more bolstered driver lineup for the 2024 season.
New to the Team Chevy family, Sammy Smith will take over the driving duties of the No. 8 JR Motorsports Camaro SS this season. At just 19-years-old, the Iowa native has already been a proven force in the NASCAR national ranks. In his rookie NXS season (2023), Smith claimed his first-career win in the series at Phoenix Raceway – becoming the series’ youngest winner in the track’s history. Securing a berth into the playoffs, Smith wrapped up his rookie campaign with six top-fives, 15 top-10s and a sixth-place finish in the final points standings. Smith joins Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Brandon Jones to complete the four-car JR Motorsports lineup.
Also new to the Bowtie brigade is Jesse Love, who will pilot the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Camaro SS for his rookie season in the NXS. The 18-year-old California native competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, where he notched 10 wins in 20 races en route to the series’ championship title. Love also holds the title as the youngest champion in NASCAR history with his two ARCA Menards Series West Championship (2020, 2021). Love will be joined by the 2023 NXS Regular-Season Champion Austin Hill, who will return to the RCR stable to drive the No. 21 Camaro SS.
Kaulig Racing will field three full-time NXS entries this season. Series’ veteran AJ Allmendinger will make his return to full-time NXS competition this season – returning to the wheel of the No. 16 Camaro SS. The 42-year-old California native was a winner in two of NASCAR’s top series last season – earning two NXS victories (Circuit of The Americas, Nashville Superspeedway) and one victory in NASCAR’s premier series (Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course). Allmendinger’s NXS resume includes back-to-back NXS Regular-Season Championships, 17 wins, 50 top-five and 68 top-10 finishes.

Completing the Kaulig Racing trio will be Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Williams. Van Gisbergen took the NASCAR world by storm when he claimed the checkered-flag in the NCS’ inaugural Chicago Street Race – becoming the first driver since 1963 to win in his first career start in NASCAR’s top division. Josh Williams will make the transition from DGM Racing to drive the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Camaro SS. All three drivers will also make select starts in the NCS this season – sharing the seat of the organization’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1 entry.
CARRYING CONSISTENCY

Chevrolet’s drivers and teams put the manufacturer back on the map in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series last season. Five drivers from five different Chevrolet teams recorded a combined 14 NCTS wins in 2023 – a record nearly triple its win count from the previous season. Limited changes to the Team Chevy NCTS driver lineup during the offseason will provide for a sense of consistency to carry the momentum into the new season.

The 2024 NCTS field will see a former NCS regular make a run for the series’ title, with Ty Dillon taking over the driving duties for the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Silverado RST. The 31-year-old North Carolina native brings experience to the table with three wins, 20 top-five and 36 top-10 finishes in the series to his name. This will mark the first time in over a decade that Dillon will compete full-time in the NCTS, with his last title bid in 2013 bringing the Team Chevy driver a pair of wins and a runner-up finish in the points standings.

As a part of Spire Motorsports’ expansion in the NASCAR national ranks, the Chevrolet organization will field two full-time NCTS entries this season – tabbing Team Chevy’s Rajah Caruth (No. 71 Silverado RST) and Chase Purdy (No. 77 Silverado RST). The 2023 NCTS Rookie of the Year, Nick Sanchez, will return to the seat of the No. 2 Silverado RST for Rev Racing, with the organization now in a technical alliance with Spire Motorsports. After a runner-up finish in last season’s title hunt, series’ veteran Grant Enfinger has a new home with CR7 Motorsports to pilot the No. 9 Silverado RST. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has also expanded its lineup to field three full-time entries with Christian Eckes, Tyler Ankrum and Daniel Dye, as well as a part-time entry with Jack Wood.
BOWTIE BULLETS:

·  Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona International Speedway:

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – two wins (July 2017 & Feb. 2023)

Austin Dillon – two wins (Feb. 2018 & Aug. 2022)

William Byron – one win (Aug. 2020)

Kyle Busch – one win (July 2008)

·   Active Chevrolet drivers with a Daytona 500 victory:

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – one Daytona 500 Win (2023)

Austin Dillon – one Daytona 500 Win (2018)

·    In 153 NASCAR Cup Series races at Daytona International Speedway, Chevrolet has recorded a series-leading 50 wins, with 25 of those triumphs coming in the “Great American Race”.

·    Chevrolet has 99 points-paying wins at Daytona International Speedway across all three NASCAR national series, making Chevrolet the winningest manufacturer in NASCAR history at Daytona International Speedway.

·    Chevrolet has captured the Daytona 500 pole a manufacturer-leading 31 times, including an active streak of 11-straight (most recent: Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman – Feb. 2023).

·    Chevrolet has swept the Daytona 500 front-row 21 times in the event’s history, including 11 of the past 13 years (most recent: Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson – Feb. 2023).

·    Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman is the only driver in series’ history to sit on the front-row of the Daytona 500 for six consecutive years (2018-2023).

·    All behind the wheel of a Chevrolet-powered machine, Hendrick Motorsports has won a series-leading 16 Daytona 500 poles: Ken Schrader (1988, 1989, 1990), Jeff Gordon (1999, 2015), Jimmie Johnson (2002, 2008), Mark Martin (2010), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2011), Chase Elliott (2016, 2017), Alex Bowman (2018, 2021, 2023), William Byron (2019), Kyle Larson (2022).

·    Since the debut of the Next Gen Cars in 2022, Chevrolet has won eight of the 12 superspeedway-style races in the NASCAR Cup Series – recorded by six drivers from four different Chevrolet teams.

·    With its 42 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 851 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.
FOR THE FANS

•     Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway, Chevrolet Injector and Chevrolet Experience Center at Daytona International Speedway.

•     Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles at each display location including:

Chevrolet Racing Display in Fan Midway: Traverse Z71, Corvette E-Ray 3LZ Convertible, Silverado EV RST, Blazer EV RS, Colorado ZR2 Bison, Silverado 1500 Trailboss, Silverado 2500 Crew ZR2 Bison Diesel, Camaro ZL1 Convertible, Trax Activ, Equinox Premier.

Chevrolet Injector: Blazer RS, Camaro ZL1, Corvette 3LT Z51 Convertible, Corvette Stingray Coupe, Equinox RS, Silverado 2500 HD ZR2 Bison Diesel, Silverado 1500 ZR2, Tahoe RST, Trax 2RS, Blazer RS, Corvette Stingray Coupe 1LT, Silverado 1500 Crew 2LT Trailboss, Suburban Z71, Tahoe High Country.

Chevrolet Experience Center: Blazer RS, Colorado ZR2, Corvette Z06, Silverado EV RST, Firebird 1.

•     Fans can also view William Byron’s No. 24 Camaro ZL1 show car at the Chevrolet Racing Display in the Fan Midway.

 

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Thursday, February 15

•     Nick Sanchez: 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

•     Rajah Caruth: 3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, February 16

•     Ty Dillon: 12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

•     Grant Enfinger: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

•     Christian Eckes: 1 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

•     Chase Purdy: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

•     Tyler Ankrum and Jack Wood: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

•     Austin Hill & Jesse Love: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

 

Saturday, February 17: 8 AM – 5:30 PM

•     Josh Williams: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

•     Dawson Cram: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

•     AJ Allmendinger: 2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

•     Sam Mayer: 2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

•     Justin Allgaier & Sammy Smith: 2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

•     Brandon Jones: 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

•     Jeremy Clements: 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Sunday, February 18

•     Zane Smith: 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

•     Daniel Suarez: 10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

•     Ross Chastain: 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

•     Carson Hocevar: 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

•     Alex Bowman: 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

•     Chase Elliott & William Byron: 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

•     Kyle Busch: 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

•     Shane van Gisbergen: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

•     Kyle Larson: 12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

 

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

Thursday, February 15: 3 – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 16: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 17: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 18: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

Tune In:

NASCAR Cup Series

66th running of the Daytona 500

Sunday, February 18, 2:30 p.m. ET

FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

NASCAR Xfinity Series

United Rentals 300

Saturday, February 17, 5 p.m. ET

FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Fresh From Florida 250

Saturday, February 16, 7:30 p.m. ET

FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Camaro ZL1

How does the Daytona 500 make you feel?

“Daytona has all of this buildup but as soon as you hit the track, it all goes away. Once I’m on the track, it’s just another race to me that I’m trying to win. The introductions for the Daytona 500 are unique because you have that long runway that goes out in between the fans and you walk out with another driver past the Daytona 500 trophy. I remember walking out for my first Daytona 500 introduction and every one since. The fact that I’m one of the 40 drivers who has a shot to win the Daytona 500 is an incredible feeling. I was a kid sitting in the grandstands not that long ago. Now, I have a shot to win it. There’s only 39 others. I haven’t won it yet but if I do, it will be incredible.”

What is your 2024 season outlook?

“Sustaining what we’ve accomplished but we also want more. We’ve been able to sustain in 2022 and 2023. So for 2024, we’ll need to evolve. We’ve added more employees, more engineers, Daniel has a new crew chief and we continue to evolve in the Cup Series.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro ZL1

Larson on racing on superspeedways:

“We’ve run well but we just don’t have the results to back it up – whether it was running out of fuel or getting involved in an accident late in the race battling for the win. I watched a lot of video to see what others are doing to make it to the end and hopefully I can do that and battle for the win on Sunday.”

Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Camaro ZL1

“It’s the granddaddy & we’re ready to race our Chili’s Chevy Camaro ZL1. It’s really a track position game all day. The cars don’t punch as big of a hole in the air as the old ones, so the runs don’t come as quickly. You can see them coming from further away with the rear-view camera. So, if someone wants to make a move on you, you can cover it easier than with the old mirrors. Spotters can see energy building. That’s why you don’t see a whole lot of moving and shaking, because everyone knows how we’re trying to get positions. We need to have the same mentality about the track at Daytona as we do Martinsville. We want good track position early and need to maintain it all day long. If you happen to be in a position where a wreck catches you up, that’s just part of the deal. We will put our Camaro in position to win the race from the first lap.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Camaro ZL1

How special is the Daytona 500?

“Obviously the Daytona 500 is the biggest race of our season, our Super Bowl, so it’s a huge deal. It’s certainly a race that’s high on my bucket list. We were leading last year at mile marker 500 but it didn’t work out. I’ve been so close to winning that race. Maybe one of these days we can check the box and bring home the Harley J. Earl trophy.”

What can you learn in the Duel that will help you in the 500?

“I think one of the biggest things you can learn in the Duel for the 500 is just how fast your car is, working on the balance making sure it’s not too tight, it’s not too loose, and that it drives good. But I think the other thing is working around other cars, seeing how well your car drafts, how well it sucks up to others, how well it pushes, how well it does getting pushed, all of those things. You’re just trying to build the notebook and build the confidence in the car for Sunday.”

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