Monday proved to be a busy day for NASCAR news, as we get ready for the first race back after the nine-week hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A lot of different news items came out, and for the fan who hasn’t had to check for the news from the NASCAR world for over two months, it can be pretty back to get into your routine for keeping up to date with everything going on.
If you are in that boat, don’t fear! TobyChristie.com is here to help keep you up to date with everything that went on today.
Monday, May 11th, 2020 – In Case You Missed It
Nick Ollila Hired as Technical Director for Gaunt Brothers Racing
We started the day off with the announcement from Gaunt Brothers Racing, that motorsports veteran Nick Ollila has been hired as the No. 96 Toyota’s technical director, effective immediately.
Ollila has previously worked for Team Penske, DiGard Racing, Rod Osterlund Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Red Bull Racing & Kranefuss-Haas Racing, in a career that spans nearly 50 years.
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Nick Ollila Hired as Technical Director for Gaunt Brothers Racing
Brett Moffitt Cleared to Return to Racing, Two Months After Fracturing Both Legs
Shortly after the NGROTS Race at Atlanta was cancelled over two months ago, it was revealed that Brett Moffitt (driver of the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing) had fractured both of his legs in a motor cross accident.
Today Moffitt revealed via Twitter that he has been cleared to return to competition in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series when the series resumes in two weeks time at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Moffitt incredibly missed no races due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Brett Moffitt Cleared to Return to Racing, Two Months After Fracturing Both Legs
Stewart-Haas Racing Further Expands Partnership with Novant Health
Stewart-Haas Racing has furthered their partnership with healthcare provider Novant Health in order to keep the people in their community safe.
Recently, SHR delivered two million masks to Novant Health in an attempt to replenish their supply, while also making sure that the front line workers stay safe.
More recently, Stewart-Haas Racing has begun construction on Webcam Carts to be used in the Intensive Care Units at Novant Health hospitals.
Stewart-Haas Racing was able to use support from sponsors Axalta, Autodesk & HAAS Automation in order to complete the project, as well as being able to scale up their machine shop.
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Stewart-Haas Racing Further Expands Partnership with Novant Health
In a Stunning Twist, Tommy Baldwin Racing Returns to Cup Series Starting With Darlington
In a shocking move that almost nobody had even remotley on their radar, Tommy Baldwin Racing announced that they would be returning to NASCAR Cup Series competition for the first time since 2017, this Sunday at Darlington Raceway with driver Josh Bilicki. Gravely Mowers and CNC Swiss Machining will sponsor the effort.
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In a Stunning Twist, Tommy Baldwin Racing Returns to Cup Series Starting With Darlington
NASCAR Increases Field Size for Xfinity, Truck Races Without Qualifying
With qualifying not being on the schedule for the NASCAR events taking place over the next two weeks, many were questioning how we would determine who would qualify for events and who would be sent home.
NASCAR put some of those questions to rest, with the announcement today that the field size for the NASCAR Xfinity & NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series races that are not scheduled to have qualifying would increase to 40 cars/trucks.
Both series plan to revert to normal field sizes once qualifying is able to be run again.
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NASCAR Increases Field Size for Xfinity, Truck Races Without Qualifying
City of Joliet, Illinois Confirms Chicagoland Speedway Not Being Sold, Surrounding Land May Be
Despite heightening speculation that the fate of Chicagoland Speedway was grim, the city of Joliet, Illinois released a statement today in order to clarify the purpose of a meeting held on April 16, 2020.
The statement goes on to say that the Chicagoland Speedway would remain intact, and that the speedway would be unaffected by the sale of the approximately 82.3 acres of land surrounding the speedway.
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City of Joliet, Illinois Confirms Chicagoland Speedway Not Being Sold, Surrounding Land May Be
Gene Haas’ Newest Holding ‘Haas Tooling’ Sponsoring Cole Custer at Darlington
Stewart-Haas Racing announced today that ‘Haas Tooling’ Gene Haas’ newest holding, would be the primary sponsor on Cole Custer’s No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang for Sunday’s Darlington 400.
Owned by Gene Haas, Haas Tooling was launched just weeks ago as a way for CNC machinists to purchase high quality cutting tools at great prices, with Haas cutting tools being sold exclusively online at HaasTooling.com.
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Gene Haas’ Newest Holding ‘Haas Tooling’ Sponsoring Custer at Darlington
B.J. McLeod Motorsports Set to Make Maiden Voyage in NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington
Upon the release of the NASCAR Cup Series Entry List for Sunday’s Darlington 400 at Darlington Raceway (S.C), many fans eyes drew immediately to the No. 78 Chevrolet Camaro of B.J. McLeod, with his own race team B.J. McLeod Motorsports.
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B.J. McLeod Motorsports Set to Make Maiden Voyage in NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington
You’re All Caught Up!
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