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Nationwide to end Hendrick sponsorship

Image by Nigel Kinrade/LAT


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By: Kelly Crandall | June 12, 2019 1:51 PM


Alex Bowman will lose one of the co-primary sponsors on his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at the end of the season as Nationwide has announced it is ending its team sponsorship.

The insurance company, alongside Axalta, sponsors a bulk of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. A personal service partner of Dale Earnhardt Jr. for many years before becoming a Cup Series sponsor, the company continued its support of the team when Bowman took over the car upon Earnhardt’s retirement at the end of the 2017 season.

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Here is the full statement from Nationwide:

“Since 2015, Nationwide has had the pleasure of being the primary sponsor of the No. 88 team — first with Dale Earnhardt Jr. as the driver and then with Alex Bowman. In that time, the platform has played a valuable role in building the Nationwide brand, sharing with NASCAR fans our noble purpose of protecting what matters most to our members and raising money and awareness for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

“As Nationwide’s business needs evolve, we are adjusting our marketing resources to ensure that we are aligning to those new business priorities. With that in mind, we have informed Hendrick Motorsports of our decision to step away from our sponsorship of the 88 team at the end of the year. We have not made this decision lightly, given our 20-plus year involvement in NASCAR and our deep appreciation for Rick Hendrick, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports, and the millions of NASCAR fans we have engaged with over the years.

“Nationwide will continue to leverage our sponsorship for the rest of 2019 and have many special activations planned. In 2020, we will host partners at select NASCAR races and continue our relationship with Dale Earnhardt Jr. We thank Mr. Hendrick for a wonderful five years and wish him and the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization the very best in their future endeavors.”

Last August it was announced that Bowman had been signed through 2020. In the same announcement, it was said that Nationwide going to extend its relationship for two more years.

Nationwide was also the entitlement sponsor of what is now the Xfinity Series from 2008-14.

Team owner Rick Hendrick said in a statement: “We understand the changing dynamics of business, and we’re grateful to the entire team at Nationwide for their wonderful partnership over the past five years. Whether it’s been winning races, competing in the NASCAR playoffs or our recent on-track performance, we have accomplished so much together. Off the track, we have been just as successful, from collaborating on national advertising campaigns to supporting the important mission of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. It has been a pleasure to work with all of their people and to help drive Nationwide’s business forward.

“Alex is having a breakout season and showing the world just how talented he is. He’s signed through next year (2020) and will be a big part of our future. The momentum we’re building as a sport is due in large part to NASCAR’s leadership and a unique combination of emerging personalities like Alex, established stars and the exciting shows our racing is putting on. There’s tremendous confidence in the product we have to offer our fans and partners.”

Added Bowman: “I owe a lot to Nationwide. They wanted me as their driver and have supported me from the beginning, which I can’t thank them enough for. I’m proud to represent them and have a lot of appreciation for all the awesome people I’ve met and worked with. I couldn’t be more positive about my No. 88 team and what the future holds for us this year and beyond. I know we’re just scratching the surface, and I’m pumped for what’s ahead. We appreciate the role Nationwide has played in our success.”




Alex Bowman, Nationwide, NASCAR

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INSIGHT: Sage Karam, and second chances

Image by IndyCar


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By: Marshall Pruett | July 10, 2019 1:13 PM


Sage Karam is hoping to kickstart his NTT IndyCar Series career this weekend on the streets of Toronto.

Drafted in for a one-race deal with Carlin Racing as teammate to Max Chilton, the native of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, wants to prove he’s more than an Indy-only specialist.

It’s remarkable to consider that Karam, with all he’s done in the sport since winning the 2010 USF2000 championship with Andretti Autosport, is only 24 years old. He won the Indy Lights championship in 2013, and after finishing ninth on his Indy 500 debut in 2014, the door opened at Chip Ganassi Racing, where he’d contest the majority of the 2015 season in a car co-entered by AFS Racing.

That fleeting glimpse of Karam’s potential, highlighted by an Ed Carpenter-angering podium run in Iowa, and a fifth on the big Fontana oval, disappeared when AFS went elsewhere in 2016. In the last four years, Karam has contested four IndyCar races, all at the Indy 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

And with a number of street course wins to draw from during his Mazda Road To Indy days, including Toronto, Houston, and Baltimore, getting a second shot in IndyCar – outside the confines of an oval – is where Karam has focused his energies. Rather than continue to wait for a call that hasn’t come, he’s taken a proactive approach in finding a sponsor to create an opportunity to reshape his reputation which, with a vacant seat at Carlin, is now a possibility in Canada.

“It’s been a whirlwind, a lot of ups, a lot of downs, and there’s been a lot of times where we’ve been really, really close on landing some races after Indy,” he tells RACER.

“I’ve had some sponsor interest, team interest and then last-minute things where it just would kind of not work out, so I’d get my hopes … I’d get them really far up and then all a sudden the hopes would be crushed. I was getting kind of down on myself, honestly, just because it’s hard to keep getting knocked down like that and keep the faith, but I knew I had to do it.

“I wasn’t ready just to pack it in yet, so we stuck with it and I started working with a guy here in Nazareth, who is a close friend of mine and has done a lot of sponsor deals with fighters in MMA. [Toronto sponsor] SmartStop were on my helmet as a personal deal for the last two Indy 500s. Then they stepped up to come into the Toronto weekend, so I think they’re wanting to get into IndyCar on a bigger scale, which is great. They’re opening a hub to their company out there, so this is one they definitely had on their radar, and I’m just really happy that Carlin gave me the opportunity and we could get it all worked out.”

By the numbers, Karam will have waited 1440 days between road and street course activity in an IndyCar, drawing back to his run with Ganassi at Mid-Ohio in 2015 and his first laps of practice on Friday in the Carlin Chevy formerly occupied by Pato O’Ward. Outside of IndyCar, Karam kept his road racing skills in tune while driving for the factory Lexus IMSA GT team from 2016-2017, but there’s no denying he’ll be stepping into deep and unforgiving waters this weekend in Toronto.

Prior to this weekend, Karam’s last non-oval IndyCar start came with Ganassi at Mid-Ohio in 2015. Image by Abbott/LAT


“Well, I think that’s actually a benefit for me; what everybody is expecting is that I’m going to go in there and be well off the pace and basically be a write-off all weekend, and I’m going to be the guy that’s going to be the first one a lap down and stuff like that,” he says.

“Whatever, but that doesn’t really add pressure. That kind of just takes it away and then anything else you do better than that is a plus, but that’s just not the type … I guess that’s just not the type of competitor or driver that I’ve always been. I’ve always wanted to go in and do the best job possible, no matter what race car I’m in, or any race I’m in.”

With all of that being said, Karam also knows that with no opportunities to test prior to Toronto, he’ll have to adapt quickly or risk running at the back of the field.

“I can tell you; do I expect to be towards the bottom of the charts the first session? Probably,” he says. “Even though I kind of think that’s how it will be the first session, I’m not going to be happy with that, obviously.

“So I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that doesn’t happen, but by the same token, I’ve waited so long for an opportunity to race another IndyCar race on a road course after the 500 that I want to make the absolute best of this opportunity, and I’ve been doing everything in my power to make sure that I’ve been ready for this call.

“I’m going to try and go in there and open up some eyes, because this is an opportunity that I don’t get much of, and it could turn into something bigger down the road if you perform at a high level. I’m going to need to learn really, really quickly, but I’m confident with the resources around me, and the experience now that I have with just racing in general. I feel confident going in that I’m not going to be a laughing stock by any means.”

Karam is emboldened by the fact that in the hands of O’Ward, his Carlin car was plenty fast at previous road and street course events. Once he gets a feel for two significant technical changes since the 2015 season – a switch to lower-downforce bodywork, and a brake vendor change from Brembo to PFC – he knows similar performances are possible.

“Pato qualified inside the top 10, so that’s obviously a big confidence boost as far as going into a team knowing that it can produce good results,” he says.

“I’m just going to have to figure it out, but that’s just the main thing of this whole deal. Basically this is going to be something completely different to me. I haven’t sat in an IndyCar with road course wings on it in so long. I think the hardest thing for me is going to be figuring out the brakes.

While Karam is keeping his expectations in check, he’s encouraged by what Pato O’Ward was able to achieve with the Carlin Chevy. Image by IndyCar


“When I drove an IndyCar (in street course spec) in 2015, we had so much more downforce, so it was basically brake as late as possible and the thing would stick. The car is a lot different nowadays. It looks like tire deg is a bit bigger this year from what I’ve been used to. So, there’s definitely a lot of things that I’m going to have to just learn on the fly. Unfortunately, it’s not like you have two full days of just turning as many laps as you want to figure it out. You’ve got to learn it pretty quick.”

Karam is searching for direction in his life. Vast racing experience, earned at such a young age, has value when drives in IndyCar or IMSA appear, but without a steering wheel to turn, he isn’t sure where, at least outside of the Indy 500 each May, his path will lead.

“It’s been hard with [having] full-time [rides], and I just wanted to be in racing and be around the paddock, and I’ve been thinking about what it would take, how I could do it, of just trying to start up a USF2000 team or something like that. I think that would be something really cool and something I’d really enjoy,” he says.

“So, we’ll see what the future holds. Right now the main focus is just going in, doing my job to the best of my ability and just hopefully I can leave that weekend and people can say, ‘Wow, he’s come a long way maturity-wise, and just didn’t really expect for that to happen after being out of the car for so long.’ That’s the main goal.”

As many folks are prone to do, Karam places too much value in how he’s received on social media. Repairing or improving his reputation within the IndyCar paddock, which could carry significant and lasting returns, is another goal for the weekend.

“I have a really strange group that follows me,” he says. “It’s like I’ve got my people that are diehard for me and will have my back ‘til the day I die, and then I’ve got the people that really want nothing to do with me. It’s cool, though, because it starts a lot of talk and a lot of publicity for people that are involved. I want the general perception to be a bit better, obviously. Just across the board. Obviously, as an athlete, you want everybody to like you, but you can’t have that, so I get it.

“There’s some opinions of me… my goal the last few years has been just trying to change the perception and be somebody that when the little kid in the stands is there watching, or is in the paddock and asking for autographs, I just want that kid to just be like, ‘I want to be like him when I grow up.’ So that’s been my goal. And to do that, I’ve got to be racing more. So, I’m doing my best to get more races.”


Carlin Racing, Sage Karam, Toronto, IndyCar, Insights & Analysis

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DiBenedetto, LFR to part ways

Image by Gavin Baker/LAT


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By: Kelly Crandall | 5 hours ago


Matt DiBenedetto will not be the driver of the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota after this season.

“I got the devastating news that I will not be able to return to Leavine Family Racing next season,” DiBenedetto said in a statement posted via Twitter.

“Nonetheless, I can’t express how thankful I am for Bob, Sharon, Matt Diliberto, and everyone at LFR and Toyota for allowing me to do exactly what I set out to do, which was showcase my talent. It has been exciting for us as a team to get top fives, top 10s, and lead the most laps in the Daytona 500.

“I have every intention of driving my heart out the rest of the season to not only get more of these kinds of finishes, but to get them their first win. I would love to do that for them.

“Although this is a difficult time for me, nothing is going to stop me from winning in the NASCAR Cup Series. I’m hopeful there is a team out there that will give me the chance to continue my dream and allow me to win for them. Thank you so much to all my fans for supporting me through this journey.”

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This was the first season DiBenedetto and LFR had worked together.

DiBenedetto has four top-10 finishes this season with LFR’s No. 95. Image by Russell LaBounty/LAT


DiBenedetto took over the ride from Kasey Kahne, who retired at the end of the last season. DiBenedetto had announced early in the summer of 2018 he wasn’t going to return to Go Fas Racing because he wanted to look for bigger opportunities.

Together, LFR and DiBenedetto entered the season looking to take the next step. The organization had switched manufacturers, hired a new crew chief in Mike Wheeler, and entered a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. DiBenedetto called the opportunity to compete for Bob Leavine the best opportunity he had received in NASCAR’s Cup Series.

DiBenedetto started the year by leading 49 laps in the Daytona 500 and was running inside the top 10 when he was spun on Lap 192. His average finish this year is 20.4 with four top-10 finishes – the most both he and LFR have earned in a single season – and he sits 23rd in the point standings.

“We have chosen to move in another direction for 2020,” read a statement from LFR. “Matt has been an important part of our team this year, putting together strong runs. He’s a talented young driver and we look forward to closing out this season with him behind the wheel of the No. 95 Camry. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

DiBenedetto reveals he is not returning to Leavine Family Racing

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Staff Report NASCAR.com August 15, 2019 at 10:58 AM


Matt DiBenedetto revealed Thursday on social media that he will not return to Leavine Family Racing for the 2020 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

This is DiBenedetto’s fifth full-time season in the Monster Energy Series, but his first with LFR. The Grass Valley, California, native had 163 Monster Energy Series starts at the time of his announcement.

Four of DiBenedetto’s eight career top-10 finishes have come this season with LFR, including his only two top-five finishes in NASCAR’s premier series. The top fives came at Sonoma Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Plus, he finished sixth at Watkins Glen International earlier this month.

Leavine Family Racing is affiliated with Joe Gibbs Racing, an alliance that began this season with LFR switching manufacturers to Toyota.

JAYSKI: Bell moving to No. 95?




Leavine Family Racing, Matt DiBenedetto, Monster Energy Cup, NASCAR

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DiBenedetto leads second Bristol practice

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images


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By: Kelly Crandall 2 hours ago


Matt DiBenedetto was quickest in final NASCAR Cup Series practice at Bristol with a lap of 128.848 mph (14.892 seconds).

Second quick was Ryan Blaney at 128.245 mph. Blaney also brought out a caution late in final practice, causing NASCAR to extend the session for cleanup. Smoke poured from the rear of Blaney’s No. 12 Ford when he lost the power steering pump. He was able to keep the car off the wall and exit the racetrack.

Completing the top five in practice were Aric Almirola at 128.228 mph, Chase Elliott at 128.219 mph, and Alex Bowman at 128.168 mph.

The rest of the top 10 were Kyle Larson at 127.997 mph, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at 127.843 mph, Martin Truex Jr. at 127.614 mph, Austin Dillon at 127.520 mph, and Ryan Newman at 127.512 mph.

At 13th quickest, Joey Logano ran the most laps in final practice at 113.

Chase Briscoe practiced the No. 36 for Front Row Motorsports after Matt Tifft had symptoms of vertigo following opening practice. Tifft made a visit to the infield care center and will be re-evaluated before qualifying.

In the best 10 consecutive lap average it was Blaney over Erik Jones, DiBenedetto, Elliott, Logano, Hamlin, Harvick, Truex, Suarez, and Byron.

UP NEXT: Qualifying at 5:45 p.m. ET.

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DiBenedetto reflective after LFR split

Image by Thacker/LAT


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By: Kelly Crandall

DiBenedetto said he doesn’t want anyone to be upset or hard on those at Leavine, Toyota, or Joe Gibbs Racing.

“Because without every single one of them I wouldn’t even be here today,” he said. “It’s just a tough sport where unfortunately talent and passion and hard work isn’t quite everything. It’s gotten me this far, and I think it’ll keep getting me to where I want to go, which is to win.

“We’re really close already, but there’s just a lot of elements that go into this sport, and it’s extremely expensive and at the end of the day, they spent a lot of money out of their pocket for me to be the one that drove that race car, so you can never be upset with someone who invested a ton of money into you being the driver, even if it’s just for the year. Obviously I want to do it much longer.”

This has been a career year for DiBenedetto. A fourth at Sonoma and a fifth-place in New Hampshire were his first career top-five finishes in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. His four top-10 finishes are not only the most he’s earned in one season, but tie the top-10 finishes he’d earned in his first four years in the series combined.

DiBenedetto started the year on a high note by surprising many when he led the most laps in the Daytona 500 (49), only to have the day end in disappointment when he was wrecked late. His performance this year has also been an improvement for Leavine Family Racing by setting a single-season mark in top-10 finishes and laps led. DiBenedetto is in a position to earn a career-best finish in the point standings as he’s 23rd going into Bristol, which would also be a career-best for LFR.

Given that it has only been a few days, DiBenedetto didn’t have anything to share about his future, but he said he’s already begun reaching out, even to fellow drivers.

“Heck, even Kurt Busch put in a word for me to get to LFR,” he said. “Not a lot of people know that or would expect that he went out of his way to help and call me. The predicament I’m in is, I’ve always taken steps forward my whole life up to this date. I can’t afford to take a step backward, because that can just be the kiss of death in your career, so I just want to keep taking steps forward.

“That’s why in my statement I was so adamant about saying winning, winning, and winning in the Cup Series because that’s my goal, and that’s what I want to do this year… I came here to win. I worked my whole life to get to this point and win and not to make a paycheck.”


Matt DiBenedetto, NASCAR

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'I wanted it so bad. We were so close' - DiBenedetto

Image by Matthew Thacker/LAT


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By: Kelly Crandall August 17, 2019 9:18 PM


Matt DiBenedetto came dressed to fight at Bristol Motor Speedway. Literally.

He walked out at driver introductions Saturday night in a boxing robe and gloves, with the theme song from “Rocky” playing in the background. The Leavine Family Racing driver then put up a real fight for his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win, but was KO’d by Denny Hamlin with 11 laps to go.

A heartbreaking ending to what DiBenedetto had called a “devastating” week. He was informed Tuesday he would not be back in the No. 95 Camry.

“We tried. We gave it everything we had,” said DiBenedetto. “This team gave it everything they had. I’ve been an emotional basket case here the last little bit, I’m not going to lie. I hope I’ve gotten it together in the last few minutes, but, God, I wanted it so bad. We were so close.”

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DiBenedetto took the lead from Erik Jones on Lap 396. Building a comfortable cushion on Chase Elliott, who took the runner-up spot when Jones bounced off the wall, it wasn’t until Hamlin made it to second that things got dicey.

DiBenedetto navigated traffic near-perfectly until inside 15 laps to go. The lead was already shrinking when DiBenedetto made contact with Ryan Newman, crinkling the left front fender.

“After the damage with Newman there trying to get around him, I got tight,” said DiBenedetto, who didn’t blame Newman for costing him the race. “It flipped a switch, and I got too tight.

“Denny was strong. I thought before that I could hold him off, but after that I got tight. But man, I’m thankful for this team. I want everyone to be thankful for my team and for Toyota, and all my sponsors. … Without them I wouldn’t have been able to have this performance. I wanted to win, but it’s coming. It’s coming. I think we’re just getting started.”

Swarmed at his car by reporters and other interested parties, DiBenedetto was in near tears as he did an interview over the track’s public address system. The crowd ate up everything he said, continually reacting with loud cheers. Even four-time champion Jeff Gordon — the driver DiBenedetto rooted for as a kid — stop stopped by to chat.

Hamlin first challenged DiBenedetto for the lead with 14 laps to go by trying the bottom lane. DiBenedetto held him off, but then Hamlin again dove down low with 12 laps to go, and, side-by-side off Turn 2, the two drivers made slight body contact on the backstretch before Hamlin pulled clear.

“Just hard racing,” said DiBenedetto. “That was Bristol. That’s hard racing. Denny was strong, and that’s a guy that, one, I’ve asked advice from; and two, I’ve been a fan of since I was kid; and three, to be racing door-to-door with him for the win at Bristol with a few laps to go — crazy. I’m sad I didn’t win, but still something I’ll remember and build on.”

Once he lost the lead, DiBenedetto lost touch with Hamlin. Over the radio after the checkered flag, crew chief Mike Wheeler told his team that while it was disappointing now, they had come a long way and to enjoy it.

“I try and race respectfully, but for the win at Bristol, I’d do anything possible for this team to get me the win,” DiBenedetto said. “Bumping and banging is a part of racing at short tracks, and that’s why I love short tracks; so if I could have gotten to him .. I mean, I wouldn’t wreck him; but yeah, I would do anything in my power to give this team the best shot at us getting to victory lane. Move him. Whatever I’d have to do.”

In addition to earning his career-best finish Saturday night, DiBenedetto has racked up five top-10 finishes in the last month.

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Hemric released by RCR

Image by Thacker/LAT


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By: Kelly Crandall | September 17, 2019 10:44 AM


Richard Childress Racing will release Daniel Hemric at the end of the season, the organization announced Tuesday.

Hemric is leading the Rookie of the Year points driving the No. 8 Chevrolet, moving up to the Cup Series this season after two years driving for Childress in Xfinity.

“Richard Childress Racing (RCR) has exercised its option and will release Daniel Hemric as driver of the No. 8 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camaro ZL1 effective at the conclusion of the 2019 NASCAR race season,” read a statement from the team. “Daniel is a very talented driver and an outstanding person. We’d like to thank him for his commitment and dedication to RCR the past three years, and wish him continued success in the future endeavors. Additional information on RCR’s Cup program will be announced at a later date.”

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Hemric has two top-10 and one top-five finish through 27 races, and is 25th in the standings.

With the quick success of Tyler Reddick, who joined the company this year in the Xfinity Series, Hemric has been a topic of silly season fodder, which only sped up when he said last month he was “iffy” on his plans for next season.

On his Twitter page, Hemric wrote, “Forever grateful to Richard & everyone @RCRracing for the opportunity. I’m disappointed it ended like this, but we’ve got nine more races together & some team goals that are still within reach. I’m going to do all I can to make sure we get those & finish the season strong.”


Daniel Hemric, Richard Childress Racing, Monster Energy Cup, NASCAR