TC Daily Pit Stop: Chicago Street Race Nets NBC Most-Watched Race in Six Years; Custer Tapped for Three-Race Cup Schedule; Entry Lists for Atlanta/Mid-Ohio
TC Daily Pit Stop: Tuesday, July 4th, 2023
Inaugural Chicago Street Race Nets NBC Most-Watched NASCAR Race in Six Years
Since last July, when it was officially announced that NASCAR would be hosting a race on the streets of Chicago in 2023, the Grant Park 220 has been one of the most anticipated NASCAR Cup Series events in quite a while.
An entire year later, that hype never actually fizzled out, as Fast National data provided by Nielsen shows that Sunday’s inaugural Chicago Street Race for the NASCAR Cup Series set several viewership milestones.
NBC Sports’ coverage of the first-ever Chicago Street Course event – spanning from 6:32 to 9:45 PM ET – averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 4.795 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.
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Cole Custer Tapped for Three-Race Stint with Rick Ware Racing Starting at Atlanta
Cole Custer, a 12-time winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will return to the NASCAR Cup Series for a three-race deal with Rick Ware Racing, starting at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The 25-year-old driver will get behind the wheel of the No. 51 Jacob Companies Ford Mustang in Sunday’s Quaker State 400 at the 1.5-mile superspeedway, before returning to one of the organization’s two full-time entries at New Hampshire and Pocono.
“It’s great to be getting back into a Cup car again,” Custer said. “I can’t thank Rick Ware Racing enough for this opportunity. RWR is building a solid program and I’m happy to help keep it growing in the right direction. It’s fun to be part of their group and hopefully, we’ll have some solid runs together.”
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Caleb Costner Making Truck Series Debut at Mid-Ohio with Reaume Brothers Racing
Caleb Costner, a part-time competitor in the ARCA Menards Series this season, is set to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
A native of Dallas, North Carolina, Costner will partner with Reaume Brothers Racing for this weekend’s event to pilot the No. 34 Ford F-150 for the two-truck organization. Lickety Lew’s will serve as the primary marketing partner of the entry.
“Racing since I was 12 years old, becoming a NASCAR driver and competing at this level of racing was always a dream of mine as a kid growing up,” said Costner. “Through the years I’ve maintained a never give up mentality and over the last few years it’s definitely paid off.
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Preliminary Entry List: NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta
There are 37 cars on the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Notables include #15 Yeley, #51 Custer, #51 Hill, and #78 McLeod.
ENTRY LIST
Preliminary Entry List: NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 250 at Atlanta
There are 39 cars [for 38 spots] on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco Uniforms 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Notables include #07 Maggio, #08 Massey, #4 Smithley, #10 Haley, #19 Gibbs, #24 Chase, #28 Sieg, #35 TBA, #36 Weatherman, #44 Van Alst, #53 Ogata, #66 Finchum, #91 Bilicki
ENTRY LIST
Preliminary Entry List: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio
There are 38 trucks [for 36 spots] on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Notables include: #02 Rodgers, #04 Lewis, #1 Sawalich, #7 TBA, #20 Mills, #22 Self, #30 Vargas, #33 Reaume, #34 Costner, #41 Daly, #51 Wood, #66 Jones