NASCAR is enhancing its NASCAR Mobile app experience by launching a new In-App Stories product from WSC Sports, the global leader in AI-powered sports video content.
In-App Stories offers NASCAR fans a user-friendly, multi-clip vertical video experience in a format they are familiar with seeing on other social media platforms. Fans can tap into the new experience on race weekends and beyond, as the Stories will provide live in-race highlights for NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races. Additionally, In-App Stories will have a prominent place on the NASCAR Mobile homepage throughout the week, so fans can continue to engage with the best on-track action and additional stories centered around their favorite drivers.
“NASCAR’s unique style of close, side-by-side racing delivers plenty of highlight-reel moments each week and In-App Stories are an ideal way for us to deliver the type of compelling content fans crave on mobile,” said Wyatt Hicks, Vice President of Digital Media at NASCAR. “We’re eager to continue collaborating with WSC Sports and building deeper connections with NASCAR fans around the world.”
The new integration comes as part of an expanded partnership between NASCAR and WSC Sports, in which NASCAR has been using the WSC Sports platform to quickly ingest and create highlight content from a multitude of video sources. The expansion coincides with NASCAR’s continued brand resurgence and growth the past several years, including increases in unique users, visits and page views inside the NASCAR Mobile app to start 2024.
“We are thrilled to be growing our partnership with NASCAR,” said Aviv Arnon, Chief Business Development Officer at WSC Sports. “Together, WSC Sports and NASCAR have taken initial steps towards giving fans even closer access to racing content and I am certain the path of innovation will continue. For this racing season, fans will be able to connect with their favorite NASCAR drivers on a scale like never before.”
The In-App Stories solution is beneficial for media rights holders like NASCAR in augmenting owned and operated platforms with vertical video content in a seamless, technologically forward way. It allows rights holders to instantly update their website and mobile app to fit fan consumption behaviors driven by other social media platforms. For NASCAR specifically, the In-App Stories SDK paired with WSC Sports’ content automation will allow the league to promote personalized content specific to each driver or what is currently happening in that weekend’s race within dedicated content widgets. In-App Stories bring valuable opportunities for media rights holders to share their content on a more intimate level in a more immersive experience to a global audience while also retaining important user data.
For more information, visit wsc-sports.com and nascar.com.
Pocono Raceway has been nominated by an expert panel at USA TODAY in the “Best NASCAR Track” category of the national media outlet’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards.
The four-week voting window is now open and fans can vote for the “Best NASCAR Track” by clicking HERE or by visiting https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-nascar-track-2024/. Individuals can vote daily through the length of the contest that officially closes Monday, April 29. The “Best NASCAR Track” winner, along with other various category winners, will be announced on 10Best Wednesday, May 8, at Noon ET.
Pocono Raceway, which has hosted NASCAR events since 1974, is coming off an extremely successful race weekend last season. The “Tricky Triangle” sold out its main frontstretch grandstand and all premium seating and suites at the NASCAR Cup Series race for its largest race-day crowd since 2010. The raceway also sold out all of its weekend camping for the event. In recognition of that success, the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association named the NASCAR weekend as its “2023 Event of the Year.”
“The crowd was just amazing - they did a phenomenal job,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said after winning last season’s Cup race at Pocono. “Camping, full! That place is revived - slam packed. They are spending money to make the fan experience better. Well done by Pocono this weekend.”
NASCAR returns to Pocono Raceway for a July 12-14weekend featuring all three national series. The weekend opens with the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series CRC Brakleen 175 on Friday, July 12, at 5:30 p.m. ET and followed by the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 on Saturday, July 13, at 3 p.m. The race weekend culminates Sunday, July 14, with the running of the Cup Series Pocono 400 at 2:30 p.m.
For more ticket information and news, please visit www.poconoraceway.com
NASCAR says work continues on short track package according to NBC Sports.
Two-time Cup champion Joey Logano has implored NASCAR to “do something now” with tires to improve short track races after the recent event at Martinsville Speedway.
“Bristol was good because the tire came apart,” Logano told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “And that was good. Richmond and Martinsville, gosh, we got to swing the bat. We’ve got to do something big to fix it. I hate saying it, but we’re not an aero package away anymore. We’ve tried that. We’ve hit that button a few times.
“We’ve got to do something to make the tires fall off. I get it. Listen, here’s the deal, Goodyear has built a tire that is too good. If you’re looking to buy a tire on the street. That’s the tire you want. You want the tire that is going to last forever. … But that’s not what we want as racers.
“It’s a fine line. Think about it. If you are Goodyear and the storyline is these tires are coming apart or they’re wearing out quickly, well, then you would say ‘I don’t want to put that on my car.’ We have to somehow separate our street wants vs. our racecar wants.”
The long off-season is quickly coming to an end. Race shops and engine builders are abuzz with activity in preparation. May 3, the roar of 800-horsepower Big Blocks returns to Brewerton Speedway with the 2024 season opener.
Tim Sears, Jr. captured his first ever Brewerton Speedway Tracey Road DIRTcar Modified Championship a season ago, besting one of the deepest weekly Modified fields in the Dirt Modified landscape. Sears will have his hands full this year, as a pit area full of Modifieds will make the D-Shaped Dirt Demon home again in 2024. Look for a field approaching thirty cars to be pitside when the track opens the first weekend in May.
The DIRTcar 358-Modified bonus will continue for 2024 with $300, $200, and $100 posted for the three highest finishing Small Blocks across the line in each modified main.
Oneida Lake Walleye Fest and Derby will be the presenting sponsor of opening night. In a unique partnership, Brewerton’s opening night will serve as the kickoff party to the 45th edition of the spring tradition on Oneida Lake before the first lines drop in the water at midnight.
Joining the mighty Modifieds on the opening night card will be DOT Foods DIRTcar Sportsman, AmeriCU Credit Union Mod Lites, and the Mirabito Four Cylinder Super Stocks.
A Test & Tune will precede opening night, on Tuesday, April 30. Pits will open at 5:00 PM, with cars on track at 6:00 PM. Grandstands are free, with pit admission $25.
Friday, May 3rd event info:
Adult Admission: $15
18 Years & Younger: Free
The NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series will open on Tuesday night, May 28 at the Grandview Speedway when the Levan Machine & Truck Equipment present the Rich Mar Florist Kubota High Limit 410 Sprints invade the hill with a high-profile event paying $20,000 to win the 35-lap sprint car feature. Also, on the program with be the Vintage Modifieds and Vintage Sportsman each competing in a 15-lap feature event. As part of this big event, Thunder on the Hill and Kubota High Limit Racing will honor the Keystone State Quarter Midget Racing Club that races in Schnecksville, PA.
The Keystone State Quarter Midget Racing Club will be in the house on Tuesday night May 28 at the Grandview Speedway with three to four quarter midgets on display and as many as thirty Keyston State Quarter Midget drivers on hand to meet and greet the race fans.
The Keystone State Quarter Midget Racing Club races on a 1/20th of a mile dirt track located in Schnecksville, PA and was designed and built by local racer Larry Grim. The drivers range in ages from 5 to 17 years old. The organization’s focus is teaching kids the fundamentals or racing, sportsmanship and just having fun at the track. They race on Tuesday nights in the summer and run on Sundays in the Spring and Fall. There is no admission for spectators.
The members of the Keystone State Quarter Midgets Racing Club are the future of our sport, and we expect to see many of them eventually compete in a future Thunder on the Hill racing event.
Be sure to stop by their display at Grandview on Tuesday night, May 28 and provide your encouragement to developing the future stars of our sport. On race night, Thunder on the Hill and Kubota High Limit Racing will provide these future stars a pre-race pit tour, a spot to take part in the Inside/Out promotion when they may watch the warm-ups from the infield of turn 4. In addition, these future stars will be part of our opening ceremonies at 7:30 PM.
Tuesday, May 28 the top 410 sprint drivers will chase the $20,000 first prize to win the 35-lap Kubota High Limit 410 sprint feature. Rico Abreu won his last two starts at the one-third mile high-bank Grandview Speedway and will be in the hunt once again.
Tommy Baldwin Racing announced today that Justin Bonsignore will drive the historic No. 7NY for the 52nd running of the NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway on April 27-28. Bonsignore will wheel the entry for both the NAPA Duel Race on Saturday and the prestigious 100-lap, $20,000 to win event on Sunday.
The three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion has one Stafford win to his credit on the Tour, sealing the championship with a victory in 2021. He will be looking for his first Sizzler victory at the end of the month in a partnership with Tommy Baldwin Jr. and the team.
“We’re happy to have Justin in the car,” Tommy Baldwin Jr. said. “The NAPA Spring Sizzler has become such a marquee race in the Modified community with a lot of buzz and a lot of money on the line. We’ve had success at Stafford in the last few years and look forward to having Justin behind the wheel to chase the big trophy.”
Bonsignore has driven the No. 7NY before - competing in an Open Modified event at Riverhead Raceway last year, scoring a top-10 finish - and is excited to have the opportunity to drive for Baldwin again.
“Driving the No. 7NY in the Spring Sizzler at Stafford is an honor,” Bonsignore said. “Tommy has been such a major part of the Modified community for so many years and it’s great to have the chance to work with him and his team for this big race. There is going to be a lot of competition at the Sizzler and it should be fun to go out there and contend for the win.”
The NAPA Spring Sizzler at Stafford Motor Speedway includes two, 40-lap NAPA Duel qualifying races on Saturday, April 27, both worth $3,500 to win. On Sunday, the 100-lap race pays $20,000 to win and $4,000 for second - part of a purse that extends over $125,000 for a 32-car field. For more information on the race, or to see the full schedule, visit StaffordMotorSpeedway.com.
For the latest information on three-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, fans are encouraged to visit JustinBonsignore.com and follow his Athlete page on Facebook for updates. For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, visit TommyBaldwinRacing.com and follow the team on social media.
BetRivers, powered by Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (NYSE: RSI) (“RSI”), a leading US-based online betting and gaming company, has proudly announced its partnership as the title sponsor for the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race at Dover Motor Speedway. The BetRivers 200, set for Saturday, April 27, is being undertaken with the Delaware Lottery and marks the beginning of a thrilling new chapter in NASCAR history, as RSI commits to the long-term support of this top tier sporting event. With the recent online launch in Delaware of online sportsbooks powered by BetRivers, this will be the first time in Delaware history where fans can place mobile sports wagers from inside a sporting event, elevating the excitement surrounding race weekend.
The BetRivers 200 (1:30 p.m., FS1, PRN, SiriusXM) promises to deliver an electrifying experience for fans, drivers and sponsors alike. Inside the Fan Zone, RSI will have an activation team on site with exclusive offers for BetRivers Delaware players. BetRivers will add to the excitement by hosting special events for VIP players throughout the race weekend. With Dover Motor Speedway serving as the backdrop for this adrenaline-fueled competition, spectators can anticipate edge-of-the-seat action and unforgettable moments on the track.
"We are thrilled to join forces with Dover Motor Speedway as the title sponsor for this prestigious NASCAR event," said Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of RSI. "We have worked in collaboration with the Delaware Lottery to bring this partnership to life. As BetRivers is dedicated to providing top-notch entertainment and experiences, this partnership is a natural fit and we are excited to see this important hometown event grow even bigger as we continue to invest in the community for years to come. The BetRivers 200 will showcase the pinnacle of racing excellence and provide fans with an unmatched spectacle."
For more than five decades, Dover Motor Speedway has been a cornerstone of NASCAR racing, known for its high-speed thrills, passionate fanbase, and one-of-a-kind venue. The collaboration with BetRivers adds a new dimension to the event, blending the excitement of motorsports with the innovation and dynamism of the gaming industry. The BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race is the 78th NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the World’s Fastest One-Mile Oval.
"With the recent launch of RSI’s award-winning online sportsbook in Delaware, we are delighted to welcome BetRivers as our title sponsor for the upcoming race," remarked Dover Motor Speedway President & General Manager Mike Tatoian. "BetRivers commitment to excellence and passion for delivering exceptional experiences align perfectly with our values. Together, we look forward to creating memorable moments for fans and the drivers at the BetRivers 200 for years to come."
The BetRivers 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash race at Dover Motor Speedway promises to captivate audiences with its blend of speed, skill, and sheer excitement. As fans eagerly anticipate raceday, the partnership between BetRivers and Dover Motor Speedway sets the stage for an unforgettable event that will feature local casinos: Delaware Park Casino & Racing, Harrington Raceway & Casino, and Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, and will leave a lasting impression on motorsports enthusiasts worldwide”
Through our continued conversations with Rush Street Interactive, the topic of the importance of community involvement and local economic impact has surfaced many times,” said Helene Keeley, Director, Delaware Lottery. “Investing in the local community is important and Rush Street Interactive has done just that, including partnering with the Xfinity Series NASCAR Race at Dover Motor Speedway with the newly named BetRivers 200, we continually confirm our relationship with BetRivers is right for Delaware."
For more information about the BetRivers 200 and ticketing details, visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com.
NASCAR returning to streets of downtown Chicago July 6-7 with plans to improve the show on and off the track.
Last year’s inaugural NASCAR street race in Chicago race famously (or infamously) was held during one of the worst weather weekends of the NASCAR season.
There were many doubters and naysayers last year, in large part because many streets in the city were shut down for an extended period.
Lessons learned, organizers say, from the 2023 experience are expected to reduce build time of the track and improve the overall fan experience.
There were many who said it would never happen, and many who said if it did it would be a colossal failure.
Yet, despite everyone and everything, last year’s inaugural Chicago Street Race indeed did occur. The wacky worst of the social media predictions did not happen. No iconic Chicago buildings were damaged by race cars. No drivers were shot at they raced down Michigan Avenue. The Willis Tower, once the world’s tallest building, still stands.
And, yes, they’re going to do it again. The second NASCAR Chicago Street Race weekend is scheduled July 6-7 on the same street course that includes iconic Chicago streets Columbus Drive, Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.
And this time organizers hope to do it without rowboats.
Last year’s Chicago race famously (or infamously) was held during one of the worst weather weekends of the NASCAR season. Near-biblical rain pounded the city, drenching drivers, cars and fans, creating rivers along the course and in the pit area and forcing officials to cancel three of the four major music concerts scheduled as a core piece of the weekend.
Despite the weather (and several flash flood warnings), the race eventually was run, and it became a particularly newsworthy event when first-time driver Shane van Gisbergen rolled into victory lane.
The success of the unique event has opened the door for NASCAR to look into scheduling races in other urban centers and also reportedly has aroused interest from other motorsports series in possibly racing in the Windy City.
NASCAR Chicago event president Julie Giese is the former president at Phoenix Raceway.
Now, act two. Julie Giese, the event president, is counting down the days—less than 100 now—and hopes umbrellas won’t be part of the fashions along Michigan Avenue this year. Although last year’s event drew high marks for NASCAR’s first street race, Giese’s biggest regret is that fans didn’t get the full impact of the weekend because of weather disruptions.
“For us, this was a racing and music festival, and it is a racing and music festival,” Giese said. “We didn’t get to have as much music as we wanted last year.”
Also dumped last year, because of the rain, was an event planned to introduce the Cup drivers on the huge festival ground. “There would have been thousands of people on the field at their first race, so let’s introduce the stars of our sport to them,” Giese said. “We want to see that festival experience and racing experience come together with the skyline in the background.”
Keith Urban, the Black Keys, the Chainsmokers and Lauren Alaina are scheduled to perform this year. The Chainsmokers were on last year’s program and agreed to return this year.
“We do have unfinished business,” Giese said. “There’s a lot that we wanted to do last year that we weren’t able to do. In spite of everything, it was a pretty special weekend.”
There were many doubters and naysayers last year, and there was pushback from some city businesses and residents, in large part because many streets in the city were shut down for an extended period to accommodate the building of the race course and the associated facilities. Giese said lessons learned from last year’s “build” will enable officials to trim six days—three days before the race period and three days after—from the build and teardown process.
NASCAR officials and race fans will be hoping for better weather at Chicago this year after dealing with downpours at last year’s event.
“I think last year it was that unknown and not knowing what it was, how it was going to look, what it meant,” Giese said. “The road disruptions are real. Obviously, we’re racing on the streets. For us, we’re trying to tighten that as much as possible. This year we’re able to take six days off the build schedule. The road impacts are much smaller.”
Officials have added reserved seats for this year’s event and have expanded the availability of single-day tickets for Sunday’s featured program. Some ticket prices are much higher, a $150 general admission ticket for Sunday includes the concerts and race-course viewing.
With the 52nd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® just over a month away from taking the green flag at Stafford Motor Speedway, the entry list is taking shape. Stafford has received 24 entries thus far with four former race winners in the forms of Doug Coby, Matt Hirschman, Woody Pitkat, and Ronnie Silk highlighting the early entry list. Coby, Hirschman, Pitkat, and Silk represent 7 Sizzler® wins between themselves with Hirschman (2022), Pitkat (2015), and Silk (2023) each holding one Sizzler® victory while Coby leads all active drivers with 4 career Sizzler® wins (’06, ’12, ’16, 19).
For the 2024 edition of the “Greatest Race in the History of Spring”, Coby has joined forces with the Lawney Tinio owned #44ma team that has won the Sizzler® twice before (2013, 2014) with Bobby Santos, III as the driver. Coby’s 4 Sizzler® victories ties him with Mike Stefanik for second place on the all-time Sizzler® winners list, trailing only Ted Christopher, who won the Sizzler® a record 6 times. But the former race winners aren’t the only talent already signed up for the NAPA Spring Sizzler®.
The entry list is full of former race winners and track champions at Stafford. Among the 24 drivers currently signed up for the NAPA Spring Sizzler®, 9 of them have won a track championship at Stafford with those 9 drivers accounting for 17 total Stafford track championships. Keith Rocco leads the former track champions with 4 SK Modified® titles (2008, 2010, 2017, 2020) with Todd Owen (2021-2023 SK Modified®) and Woody Pitkat (2006, 2012 Late Model, 2013 SK Modified®) each holding 3 track titles. George Bessette, Jr. (2018 Street Stock, 2023 SK Light), Doug Coby (1998 Late Model, 2000 ProStock), and Ronnie Williams (2018-2019 SK Modified®) all have 2 championships to their resumes with the remaining championship drivers each having a single title to their name consisting of Noah Korner (2016 Legend Cars), Marcello Rufrano (2018 SK Light), and Teddy Hodgdon (2019 SK Light).
In addition to the former track champions, 17 of the 24 drivers entered into the NAPA Spring Sizzler® have previously won a feature event at Stafford. The 17 drivers have combined to win a total of 365 feature wins with Woody Pitkat and Keith Rocco accounting for 164 or just short of half of the 365 wins between themselves as Pitkat has 83 career Stafford wins and Rocco has 81 career Stafford victories. Other drivers entered into the Sizzler® who have won previously at Stafford include David Arute, Anthony Bello, Bessette, Michael Christopher, Jr., Coby, Eric Goodale, Matt Hirschman, Hodgdon, Korner, Jon McKennedy, Owen, Rufrano, Chris Pasteryak, Ronnie Silk, and Williams.
Drivers entered who are still in search of their first Stafford victory include Buddy Charette, Nick Halkowicz, William Lambros, Joey Mucciacciaro, Jr., Jacob Perry, Brian Robie, and the #7ny car owned by Tommy Baldwin that has yet to announce who will be behind the wheel for the NAPA Spring Sizzler®.
The 52nd Annual NAPA Spring Sizzler® is set for Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. Saturday, April 27thand will consist of two 40-lap NAPA Duel qualifying races for the Open Modified division. The 40-lap races will each pay $3,500 to win and will set the field for Sunday’s NAPA Spring Sizzler®. Stafford’s Late Model, Limited Late Model, and Street Stock divisions will complete Saturday’s racing program with qualifying and feature racing.
After a pair of Enduro races, one each in February and March, that got things started, Evergreen Raceway will begin in earnest the 2024 season at the paved 1/3-mle oval with action taking place starting the middle of this month and continuing through November.
First up will be Drift Evergreen Presented by Sinister Drift Team. This will be a two-day affair on Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21.
The following weekend, April 27-28, are practice days for the fast approaching season of stock car racing. Practice is open to not only Evergreen’s regular weekly classes but for anyone who would like to come out and shake down their race cars.
Saturday, April 27, practice will take place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. That will be followed by the third Gut-N-Go Enduro of the year which will be a 100-lap contest. Also on the card will be the first appearance this season for the Legends cars plus the JuiceBox Division will be in action as well.
Saturday grandstand general admission is only $5.
On Sunday of that weekend will be another practice session from noon to 4:00 pm or longer if needed. Pit admission both days is $25 per person.
It is highly recommended that teams take the opportunity on either of the practice days to bring their cars out for inspection.
Sunday, May 5 begins the start of weekly events with Opening Day 2024 getting underway. Headlining the day will be the Tour Type Modifieds along with Street Stocks, Four Cylinder Stocks, Rotten and Forgotten plus the traveling East Coast TQ Midgets.
Race time is 2:00 pm. Pits will open at 10:30 am and warmups get underway at 12:30.
Just five days later, Evergreen will be racing under the lights on Friday, May 10, at 6:00 pm. Late Models will be running along with Four Cylinder Stocks, Novice, and the JuiceBox Division.
The Crate 602 Modifieds will see their first on track action on the evening of Saturday, May 25 plus the introduction of the new Bangers class. It will also be Autograph Night and Hazleton Area School District Employees’ Night.
Much more news will be forthcoming.
Evergreen Raceway is a 1/3 mile asphalt oval located in the beautiful mountains of northeast Pennsylvania. The speedway hosts stock car, drifting and ride-along events every weekend from April to November. The track is located 183 Mill Mountain Road, St. Johns, PA.
