NASCAR Rant Report - Thursday, January 16th

JRM in Daytona 500, Driver Signings for 2025, NASCAR at The Chili Bowl Nationals, and more!

Author

Rant Report AI
January 16, 2025

Major headlines out of Wednesday:

JR Motorsports in Daytona 500
Multiple Driver Signings for 2025
NASCAR at The Chili Bowl Nationals

Plus, miscellaneous topics from the day.

JR Motorsports in Daytona 500:

JR Motorsports (JRM), co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, will make its NASCAR Cup Series and Daytona 500 debut with reigning Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier.  The No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro will be sponsored by Chris Stapleton's Traveller Whiskey, a collaboration facilitated by Stapleton's friendship with Rick Hendrick and Dale Jr. Greg Ives will lead the team in the crew chief role.

This entry fulfills a long-time dream for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the JRM team, marking a significant milestone for the organization. While this is currently a one-race effort, this will allow JRM to evaluate future opportunities in the Cup Series. Allgaier, who has previous experience in the Daytona 500 and the Cup Series, expressed excitement and honor at being chosen for this historic entry, aiming to qualify into and compete for a win in the prestigious race.

Stapleton was involved in the car's design, aiming for a retro look that blends JRM and Traveller Whiskey branding, and sees this as a unique opportunity to promote his whiskey brand and create memorable experiences.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Multiple Driver Signings for 2025

Cody Ware will return to full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing in 2025, driving the No. 51 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing (RWR) with Billy Plourde as his crew chief. With 106 Cup Series starts since 2017, Ware last competed full-time in 2022 and participated in nine races in 2024. Ware is eager to make the most of this opportunity and continues to seek respect from his competitors.

Josh Bilicki will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro for DGM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the bulk of the 2025 season. Bilicki has over 200 NASCAR National Series starts, and has been with DGM Racing part-time since 2023, achieving three top ten finishes with the team. Known for his road course racing skills, and is excited to continue with DGM Racing, aiming for greater success in 2025.

Tyler Tomassi will compete in select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with Reaume Brothers Racing and make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with MBM Motorsports. Tomassi will drive the No. 2 Ford F-150 in the Truck Series and the No. 66 Ford Mustang in the Xfinity Series, starting with races at Martinsville and Bristol. The 21-year-old, who has previously competed in the ACT Late Model Tour and made his Truck Series debut in 2024, is focused on building his career and making the most of these opportunities.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

NASCAR at The Chili Bowl Nationals:

On Wednesday at the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals, NASCAR drivers J.J. Yeley and Corey Day competed. Corey Day finished third in the preliminary feature, securing a lock-in spot for Saturday's main event. J.J. Yeley finished 12th in the preliminary feature. Emerson Axsom won the Wednesday night preliminary feature, with Daison Pursley finishing second. These results mean Corey Day will advance directly to Saturday's main event, while J.J. Yeley will need to compete in further qualifying races to secure a spot.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on this topic.

Miscellaneous Topics:

NASCAR has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support the Know2Protect campaign, which aims to combat online child exploitation. The campaign raises awareness and provides resources to protect children from online predators, with NASCAR displaying promotional materials at races and using its platform to educate fans.

Capt. R.K. Smithley, father of NASCAR driver Garrett Smithley, is making trips flying a DC-10 air tanker to combat the devastating wildfires in Southern California. Smithley has been a volunteer firefighter and a pilot since 1983 and spoke about the challenging conditions around continuing to aid the affected areas.

NASCAR legend Kenny Wallace also spent time discussing the wildfires, criticizing California's government strategies in tackling the wildfires, questioning the advice given to residents. Wallace suggests using saltwater to fight the fires, despite concerns about environmental damage and equipment corrosion. Wallace’s opinions are echoes of others who are addressing the wildfires.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more on these topics.

This newsletter is constructed by AI and reviewed by our editorial team.

Check out our Source Materials Page for more.

Thumbnail image credits on our Source Materials Page.

Keeping You Informed, Saving You Time.

Reply

or to participate.