TC Daily Pit Stop: Teams Disappointed by Jim France Declining Meeting at Daytona; Derek Kraus to Run Six Cup Races for Kaulig; Carson Kvapil to Make Xfinity Debut at Martinsville; Friday's TV Schedule
TC Daily Pit Stop: Friday, February 23rd, 2024
‘It’s Disappointing’: Denny Hamlin on Jim France Declining a Meeting with Cup Series Teams at Daytona
On his weekly podcast, ‘Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin’ Denny Hamlin gave a peek into the frustration of the NASCAR Cup Series team owners, who had called a meeting at Daytona with Jim France to talk about the stalled Charter Agreement negotiations — a meeting that France declined to join.
“The invitation was extended to Jim France, who was in town, but he declined that invitation. It’s disappointing, certainly,” Hamlin explained. “I can’t think of a league, or an owner of a league, or a commissioner that would decline meeting with his team owners. That’s very disappointing. And all I think the teams are wanting is, you said no over, and over, and over to us, and we’re just looking for an explanation of why and we haven’t gotten that why yet. Other than it just is.”
According to the Associated Press, following the declined meeting, teams hired Jeffrey Kessler, an antitrust lawyer, to represent them on Sunday night.
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Derek Kraus Lands Six-Race NASCAR Cup Series Schedule with Kaulig Racing
Do you hear that? That’s opportunity knocking for Derek Kraus. The 22-year-old driver will run a total of six NASCAR Cup Series events for Kaulig Racing in the team’s No. 16 entry this season, beginning with his series debut next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
“I’m really excited to make my first Cup Series start with Kaulig Racing, the team that I also made my Xfinity Series debut with!” said Kraus in a Kaulig Racing press release. “I’m thankful to Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice for believing in me, as well as Western States Flooring, a partner that has supported me throughout my career. I can’t wait to get to work with Travis Mack’s group and see what we can do in Las Vegas.”
In addition to Vegas, Kraus will also run at Phoenix Raceway (March), Kansas Speedway (May), Darlington Raceway (May), Gateway (June), and Phoenix Raceway (November).
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Carson Kvapil to make Xfinity Debut for JR Motorsports at Martinsville
Two-time zMAX CARS Tour champion Carson Kvapil will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on April 6 at Martinsville Speedway. The youngster made his NASCAR Truck Series debut a season ago and finished 12th in that event at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kvapil will pilot the No. 88 entry for JR Motorsports in the race.
“I’m really looking forward to making my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Martinsville,” said Kvapil in a press release from JR Motorsports. “My dad made his NASCAR Cup Series debut there back in 2004, so it’s cool to make my first Xfinity start at the same track. I’ve run there in the Late Models for JR Motorsports and done well, and hopefully, I’ll be able to use that experience to hit the ground running again with JRM in April.”
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GEARWRENCH Sponsoring Corey Heim, Sam Hunt Racing in Three Xfinity Races
GEARWRENCH will officially serve as a three-race primary sponsorship partner for Corey Heim during his part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule with Sam Hunt Racing in 2024.
The black and orange colors of GEARWRENCH will adorn the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra at Las Vegas next weekend, Phoenix Raceway on March 9, and Richmond Raceway on March 30.
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NASCAR TV Schedule: NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Trucks at Atlanta
Friday, February 23 TV Schedule:
3:00 PM ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying at Atlanta (FS1)
4:30 PM ET: NASCAR RaceHub (FS1)
5:00 PM ET: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying at Atlanta (FS1)
6:30 PM ET: NASCAR RaceHub: Best of Radioactive Atlanta (FS1)