TC Daily Pit Stop: Jenson Button, Jonathan Davenport Set to Make Cup Debuts; Alfredo Nabs Two Cup Races; Byron Running Trucks for KBM.

TC Daily Pit Stop: Friday, March 10th, 2023

Mar 10, 2023

Photo Credit: Stewart-Haas Racing

The NASCAR Cup Series event at Circuit of The Americas is poised to have a STACKED field, with the addition of F1 World Champion Jenson Button, who will drive the No. 15 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing.

Button, will have a technical and marketing partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing, and will drive the entry at COTA, Chicago’s Street Course and Indy’s Road Course, all with sponsorship from long-time Stewart-Haas Racing partner Mobil 1.

“I won the world championship with Mobil 1, and 14 of my 15 wins in Formula One were with Mobil 1, as well as winning the Super GT championship with them. We’ve had a really close relationship over the years and I can’t think of a better partner,” Button said. “Mobil 1 has been a big part of making these NASCAR races happen for me, so I’m very thankful to them for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working alongside the brand to get the best out of every race weekend.”

Jonathan Davenport Running NASCAR Cup Bristol Dirt Race for Kaulig in No. 13 Entry

Photo Credit: Kaulig Racing

Jonathan Davenport, a prominent dirt racer, will get his shot at the NASCAR Cup Series when the division returns to Bristol Motor Speedway’s purpose-built dirt track, driving the No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing.

The organization announced the news on Thursday, that Davenport, a dirt racer with a long-lasting relationship with Nutrien Ag Solutions would get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete at NASCAR’s top-level.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this pairing with Jonathan Davenport and Kaulig Racing to represent Nutrien Ag Solutions,” said David Elser, Senior Vice President of Retail North America at Nutrien Ag Solutions. “He connects well with the grass roots racing family and our growers. We are excited to see him represent our brand and share this experience with our dirt racing fanbase for this special weekend of racing. We look forward to cheering him and the team on all weekend along with our partner AJ Allmendinger.”

Anthony Alfredo Set for Two NASCAR Cup Races With Live Fast Motorsports

PHOTO CREDIT: Craig White, TobyChristie.com

Anthony Alfredo, who competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for BJ McLeod Motorsports, will make his return to the NASCAR Cup Series this season, driving for Live Fast Motorsports.

Alfredo, who ran the full season at NASCAR’s top-level for Front Row Motorsports in 2021, will make his first start of the year at Richmond Raceway in April, with sponsorship, as well as the second scheduled event to be announced at a later date.

William Byron to Run Three NASCAR Truck Races for Kyle Busch Motorsports

PHOTO CREDIT: Kyle Busch Motorsports

Coming off a NASCAR Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, William Byron is set to drop down to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season, partnering with Kyle Busch Motorsports for three events.

Byron, who used to compete for Kyle Busch Motorsports under the Toyota banner, will debut his No. 51 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado at Bristol Dirt, before returning to the series at Darlington and North Wilkesboro.

The last time the Charlotte, North Carolina-native stepped into a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entry was last season at Martinsville, where he secured the victory while driving the No. 7 for Spire Motorsports.

NASCAR Adds Practice Time for COTA; Choose Rule Added to All Road Courses Going Forward

PHOTO CREDIT: Logan Riely / Getty Images

On Thursday, NASCAR announced that it would add an additional 50 minutes of practice time for the NASCAR Cup Series at Circuit of The Americas, as a result of the event being the first road course on the schedule that will utilize the new aero package.

Additionally, the sanctioning body indicated that after discussions within the industry, they have elected to add the choose rule to all road course events, beginning at COTA. Now, the choose rule is in effect for every single track we visit on the schedule.