Lower than a month earlier than the 2021 Daytona 500

Excessive velocity motion has already began on the Daytona Worldwide Speedway. About 55 ARCA Menards Collection (AMS) drivers ran observe laps, some logged as many as 85 laps, across the 2.5-mile oval superspeedway throughout a 2-day check session (January 15-16) in preparation for the AMS Feb. 13th season-opener on the observe.
Now, solely 27 days stay earlier than the inexperienced flag drops to begin NASCAR’s Cup Collection season-opening Daytona 500. Here’s a temporary have a look at Cup Collection Fifth-placed Kevin Harvick’s spectacular 2020 season and snapshots on a couple of different drivers who completed within the Prime-20 throughout NASCAR’s three premium collection. The tentative record of 2021 Cup Driver/Workforce lineups hooked up exhibits solely these groups who plan on getting into all occasions. Since some have but to announce their 2021 plans, observe NASCAR Headlines and “Participant” Information on this website for the most recent driver/workforce updates.

NASCAR Cup Collection (NCS)

2020: Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports #88 Chevrolet Camaro) – In 36 races, the Tucson, Arizona native scored 1 win, 6 top-fives, 15 top-tens, had an 8.9 common begin, a 14.72 common end and led 440 laps. On the finish of the common season, Bowman’s March 1st victory within the Auto Membership 400 on the Fontana, California Auto Membership Speedway earned him a spot within the NCS Playoffs Spherical of 16. He superior to the Spherical of 12, additionally into the Spherical of Eight however was reduce earlier than the season-ending Championship four at Phoenix Raceway. He closed out the season sixth within the NCS standings.
2021: Now that HMS teammate Jimmie Johnson retired from NASCAR and moved to open-wheel IndyCar racing in 2021, Bowman takes over the wheel of Johnson’s #48. Greg Ives will proceed as his crew chief. Ally Monetary will stay major sponsor of the #48 workforce. The #88 will probably be retired and changed with Hendrick Motorsports’ #5, Rick Hendrick’s authentic Cup automotive quantity, with Kyle Larson driving in 2021.

2020: Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing #four Ford Mustang) – In 36 races, the Bakersfield, California native scored 9 wins, 20 top-fives, 27 top-tens and led 1,531 laps (all collection highs). He had a 7.7 common begin, a collection excessive 7.33 common end. With all these “collection excessive” stats, Harvick undoubtedly earned a spot within the NCS Playoffs Spherical of 16. He superior to the Spherical of 12, additionally into the Spherical of Eight however, after a few poor finishes, was reduce earlier than the season-ending Championship four at Phoenix Raceway. He closed out the season Fifth within the NCS standings. The Nationwide Motorsports Press Affiliation named Harvick the 2020 Richard Petty Driver of the Yr for his dominance all through a lot of the 2020 season. He additionally gained the award in 2001, 2014 and 2018.
2021: Harvick is signed by way of 2023 with Stewart-Haas Racing and can return within the #four Ford. Rodney Childers continues as crew chief. Main sponsors Busch/Busch Mild, Mobil 1 and Hunt Brothers Pizza return as effectively.

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NASCAR XFINITY Collection (NXS)

2020: Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing #19 Toyota Supra) – In 33 races, the Atlanta, Georgia native scored three wins (March seventh at Phoenix Raceway, July 25th at Kansas Speedway and Sept. Fifth at Darlington Raceway), 10 top-fives, 19 top-tens, had a 7.1 common begin, a 12.82 common end and led 160 laps. Jones’ wins earned him a spot within the NXS Playoffs Spherical of 12. He made it by way of the Spherical of 12, superior to the Spherical of Eight however was eradicated earlier than the beginning of the collection season-ending Championship four occasion at Phoenix. He closed out the season sixth within the NXS standings. Jones additionally drove Kyle Busch Motorsports #51 Toyota Tundra in four Truck Collection races. He scored a victory on June 28th at Pocono Raceway.
2021: Jones returns for an additional full season in JGR’s #19 Supra. Jeff Meendering additionally continues as crew chief for the workforce. No bulletins on sponsorship.

2020: Noah Gragson (JR Motorsports #9 Chevrolet Camaro) – In 33 races, the Las Vegas, Nevada native scored 2 wins (season opener on Feb. 15th at Daytona and June 1st at Bristol Motor Speedway), 17 top-fives, 25 top-tens, had a 6.zero common begin, an 8.79 common end and led 622 laps. Gragson’s wins earned him a spot within the NXS Playoffs Spherical of 12. He made it by way of the Spherical of 12, superior to the Spherical of Eight however was eradicated earlier than the beginning of the collection season-ending Championship four occasion at Phoenix. He closed out the season Fifth within the NXS standings.
2021: Gragson is signed by way of 2021 to drive JRM’s #9 Camaro. Dave Elenz continues as crew chief. Bass Professional Outlets, True Timber Camo and Black Rifle Espresso will sponsor the #9 workforce. Gragson will even try the Daytona 500 in Beard Motorsports #62 Chevrolet. If he makes the sphere (by way of qualifying or racing in through one of many February 11th Daytona “Duels”) it is going to be his NASCAR Cup Collection debut.

NASCAR Tenting World Truck Collection (NTS)

2020: Austin Hill (Hattori Racing #16 Toyota Tundra) – In 23 races, the Winston, Georgia native scored 2 wins (July 24th at Kansas Speedway and Sept. 25th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway), 11 top-fives, 17 top-tens, had a 5.7 common begin, a 9.zero common end and led 348 laps. On the finish of the common season, his wins earned him a spot within the NTS Playoffs Spherical of 10. He made the reduce for the Spherical of Eight however was eradicated from the playoffs earlier than the collection season-ending Championship four occasion. He closed out the season sixth within the standings. Hill additionally made 9 begins within the XFINITY Collection driving the #61 Toyota Supra in a partnership between Hattori Racing and MBM Motorsports. His greatest end was a Fifth within the Oct. 17th Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.
2021: Hill will return for an additional full season driving Hattori Racing’s #16 Tundra. Scott Zipadelli will proceed crew chief duties for the workforce. United Leases have signed on as major sponsor once more this season. No phrase on XFINITY Collection races, if any, on Hill’s schedule.

2020: Matt Crafton (ThorSport Racing #88 Ford F-150) – In 23 races, the Tulare, California native scored 1 win, 9 top-fives, 15 top-tens, had a 9.2 common begin, a 10.65 common end and led 86 laps. On the finish of the common season, his July 15th win within the E.P.T. 200 at Kansas Speedway earned him a spot within the NTS Playoffs Spherical of 10. He made the reduce for the Spherical of Eight however was eradicated from the playoffs earlier than the collection season-ending Championship four occasion. He closed out the season Fifth within the standings.
2021: The one information thus far is that this assertion on ThorSports web site: “In 2021 Matt (Crafton) as soon as once more joins ThorSport homeowners Duke and Rhonda Thorson with the workforce’s No. 88 Ford F-150.”

2021 Tentative NCS Collection Workforce Chart