Ben Beshore adapting to the pressure of being Kyle Busch’s crew chief

Being selected to serve as a crew chief for one of NASCAR’s top organizations would no doubt be a dream come true for many aspiring team members. But at the same time, there is immense pressure that comes along with that role. And more, being named as the pit boss for one of the biggest stars in the sport’s history adds even more to the weight of the assignment. That is the position Ben Beshore has found himself in since being named as the team leader for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota. Heading up any of the crews…

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Matt DiBenedetto remaining focused and not stressing over 2022 status

Some NASCAR Cup Series drivers are uncertain as to whether or not they will be returning to their current rides in 2022. However, Matt DiBenedetto does not find himself in that situation as he knows he will not return to the seat he now occupies. At the same, however, the 29-year-old racer does not know exactly where he will be next season. DiBenedetto is currently the driver of the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, which has an alliance with powerful Team Penske Racing. But at the end of this campaign, the Grass Valley, CA native will yield that…

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Christopher Bell seeking more consistency as season progresses

Christopher Bell came to the NASCAR Cup Series with as much fanfare as any rookie driver in recent memory. However, the 2020 season spent in the Leavine Family Racing Toyota did not pan as many had thought it would. The driver who had amassed 16 career wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series during the early part of his career was only able to manage a 20th place result in the final standings in the No. 95 car with no wins and only seven top-10 finishes. But for his second full season at the NASCAR Cup Series level, the 26-year-old racer…

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Mike Marlar explains the challenges and fulfillment of racing in NASCAR

For the second time in his career, Mike Marlar parlayed his racing skills into a NASCAR opportunity on dirt. The Winfield, TN native scored a top-5 finish in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway back in 2019 driving a Camping World Truck Series entry for Josh Reaume. Two weekends ago, the 43-year-old driver not only competed in the NCWTS event at the Bristol Motor Speedway but also made his first start in the NASCAR Cup Series main event on his home state track. Marlar has also made one NASCAR start on pavement when he took the green flag…

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Kyle Larson wowed by first trip to Tazewell Speedway

Most people are quite amazed when they see the Tazewell Speedway for the first time. The third-mile dirt track which features incredibly steep banking has long been loved by fans for its high speed excitement. At the same, some competitors also love the facility referred to as ‘The Bad Fast Taz’ while others who race there have a very different opinion of the clay oval. Count NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson among those who loves racing on the track located in the upper northeastern corner of Tennessee. The Elk Grove, CA driver made his first trip to Tazewell on…

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Larson, Busch offer thoughts on Bristol’s racing surface

With the NASCAR Cup Series race on the dirt covered Bristol Motor Speedway fast approaching, one of the major concerns will be how the racing surface will hold up with heavy machines that have not raced on dirt in decades ripping around it for 250 laps. To prepare for the Food City Dirt Race, several NASCAR drivers entered last week’s Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals to get a feel for the half-mile speedway. Among those drivers were Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. On Friday night, Larson set the fast time in qualifying then went on to win his heat race…

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Bloomquist, Davenport praise NASCAR stars for their dirt efforts

The fact that the NASCAR Cup Series will race on what is now a dirt covered Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend has driven numerous stars who normally spend most of their time on pavement to seek out opportunities on clay surfaces for the sake of gaining experience before racing in a points-paying contest. That led several top stars from NASCAR to the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals to hone their skills in the various classes that were in competition in that week-long event. Among those who competed in the Super Late Model division at the Bristol Motor Speedway were former…

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Stewart Friesen ready for Bristol and return of trucks to dirt

Few drivers who compete regularly in any of the top NASCAR divisions are more accomplished at dirt racing than Stewart Friesen. The native of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada is a veteran of Big Block Modified racing and has won many of the top events contested in that form of competition on clay surfaces. So needless to say, when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes to the track on the dirt covered Bristol Motor Speedway later this week, the 37-year-old driver will be counted among the favorites to hoist the winner’s trophy. Aside from his prowess on dirt, there is ample…

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Mixed results for Cup regulars on Friday night in Bristol Dirt Nationals

Three NASCAR Cup Series regulars entered the Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals for Super Late Model machines on Friday night at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Each of those three competitors made it to the 25-lap feature out of the field of 53 cars that attempted to qualify and heat race with mixed results among them at the end of the evening. The most noteworthy NASCAR star with dirt racing experience is likely Kyle Larson. After competing almost exclusively on dirt last season following a suspension by NASCAR and a release from his ride with Chip Ganassi Racing, the Elk Grove,…

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