TC Daily Pit Stop: NASCAR Reveals 2024 Short Track Aero Package; Stenhouse Entering Chili Bowl; Rowdy Energy Shutting Down; McLaughlin Joins RSS Part-Time
TC Daily Pit Stop: Thursday, January 11th, 2024
NASCAR Reveals 2024 Aero Package for Short Tracks and Road Courses
NASCAR has made notable changes to the NASCAR Cup Series Rule Book ahead of the 2024 season, pertaining to the rules package that will be utilized for the majority of the short track and road course events.
The major change for the upcoming season is a simplified rear diffuser with fewer vertical strakes. That configuration allows downforce to be cut by keeping the engine panel strake-free and retaining splitter stuffers from last year’s aero package on short tracks.
To counteract the loss of downforce, competition officials have decided to introduce a slightly taller rear spoiler, which will sit at three inches in height for the upcoming season, rather than the two-inch height used in 2023.
The newly-introduced package will be used at all tracks one-mile or under with the exception of Dover and Bristol, plus all road courses.
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Ricky Stenhouse Added to Chili Bowl Entry List; Will Race Friday Prelim
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is another last-minute add to the 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals entry list, with another car fielded by Keith Kunz Motorsports-Curb-Agajanian.
Stenhouse will drive the NOS Energy NO. 71R, as he looks to secure his ninth appearance in the A-Main of the Chili Bowl Nationals in Friday’s preliminary action.
The Olive Branch, Mississippi native isn’t the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to make a surprise appearance on the entry list for the prestigious midget car race, with 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson announcing on Tuesday he’ll compete in Thursday’s Prelim action.
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Kyle Busch Shutters Energy Drink Brand, Rowdy Energy
Rowdy Energy, the better-for-you energy drink brand created by NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, is shutting down after four years in operation, the driver confirmed via social media on Wednesday,
In the statement, addressed to fans in Rowdy Nation, Busch says: “Unfortunately, I’m here to say that Rowdy Energy will be ceasing operations and closing its doors in the coming weeks. Like many other new consumer brands, the headwinds have proven to be too strong and it makes the most sense to end the journey so I can remain focused on my family and my racing career. While the news is sad to announce, I’ll always appreciate what I learned along the way. It was a fun ride and only fueled my passion for better-for-you energy drinks.”
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Corey Heim Returns to Sam Hunt Racing for Partial Xfinity Series Schedule
Corey Heim, a five-time winner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will contest a partial schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing in 2024, the team announced Wednesday.
The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular-season champion will make his first start of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March — with the remainder of his schedule, and number of races left to be determined at a later date.
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CJ McLaughlin Running Partial Xfinity Schedule in RSS No. 38 for 2024
CJ McLaughlin will contest a partial schedule in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, driving the No. 38 Ford Mustang for RSS Racing - a fourth entry for the organization.
The team announced the news on Wednesday, with confirmation that the 31-year-old driver will compete in the season-opener at Daytona alongside full-time teammates Ryan Sieg, Kyle Sieg, and Blaine Perkins.
McLaughlin serves as the Northeast Sales Representative for SciAps, who is expected to once again provide sponsorship of the part-time effort for the multi-season veteran of NASCAR’s National Series.
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Christian Rose Returns to AM Racing for Full-Time ARCA Slate in 2024
Christian Rose will return to the ARCA Menards Series on a full-time basis in 2024, driving the No. 32 Ford Mustang for AM Racing, the team confirmed on Wednesday.
Rose, who comes off a season that concluded with back-to-back top-five finishes, has a career-high result of third-place at Salem Speedway, along with 13 top-10s finishes in the series’ 20-race slate, netting him a third-place points finish.
Ryan London will continue as the crew chief of the effort.