Race Weekend Central

Sage Karam Moving to APR for Part-Time Schedule

2021 IndyCar Indianapolis Sage karam face Karl Zemlin INDYCAR Media

(Photo: Karl Zemlin/INDYCAR Media)

Sage Karam will compete in a part-time NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule for Alpha Prime Racing in 2022, he tweeted Jan. 6. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities that 2021 provided and am equally as excited to join Alpha Prime Racing for 2022,” Karam said in a team release. “I can’t thank (team co-owner) Tommy Joe …

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Matt DiBenedetto Running Full Truck Schedule for Rackley WAR

Matt DiBenedetto at 2021 Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte NASCAR Cup race NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Matt DiBenedetto will move to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Rackley WAR in 2022, Rackley announced Jan. 6. DiBenedetto takes over the No. 25 in the team’s second season. “We are honored to have Matt DiBenedetto join Rackley WAR full-time for the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season driving the [No.] 25 …

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Rheem Sponsoring Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch in Cup in 2022

Christopher Bell at Phoenix spring race 2021, NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Rheem will return to Joe Gibbs Racing as a sponsor for a 15th season in 2022, JGR announced Jan. 6. The company’s colors adorn the Nos. 18 and 20 of Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell in the NASCAR Cup Series. “Rheem has been a great supporter of mine going from [the NASCAR] Xfinity [Series] to …

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Blake Harris New Crew Chief for Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell poses with his Daytona 500 trophy. Photo NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Michael McDowell‘s new crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022 will be Blake Harris, FRM announced Jan. 6. Harris replaces the departing Drew Blickensderfer, who moved to Stewart-Haas Racing earlier this week. His previous role was car chief. He did, however, serve as crew chief for one race in 2020, guiding Martin Truex …

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Ryan Preece Joins SHR as Reserve Driver

Ryan Preece celebrates his first NASCAR Truck win with a woohoo, holding up the guitar at Nashville. Red Hunt Brother Pizza firesuit. NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Ryan Preece has joined Stewart-Haas Racing as a reserve driver in 2022, SHR announced Jan. 6. As part of the arrangement, Preece will fill in for SHR’s drivers in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series on an as-needed basis due to absences such as COVID-19 protocol. He’ll also do simulator work for the team. Additionally, …

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Conner Jones Joining Venturini for Limited Schedule

2021 ARCA Bristol Conner Jones, No. 42 Cook-Finley Racing Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Conner Jones will drive a limited schedule for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series in 2022, Venturini announced Jan. 5 Jones will make his main-series ARCA debut with the team at Iowa Speedway, followed by a race at Salem Speedway. He’ll also drive for the team in the ARCA Menards Series East at Dover …

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Jonathan Shafer Making ARCA Debut for Venturini

2021 ARCA Phoenix Drew Dollar, No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Toyota (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Jonathan Shafer will make his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2022 for Venturini Motorsports in 2022, Venturini announced Jan. 4. Shafer will drive multiple main-series ARCA races for Venturini, starting at Iowa Speedway, where he’ll pilot the No. 15. “This is such a great moment in my career,” Shafer said in a team release. “A …

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Noah Gragson Picks Up Luke Lambert as Crew Chief

2021 Xfinity Phoenix Noah Gragson, No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (Credit: NKP)

Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography

Noah Gragson will have a new crew chief in Luke Lambert in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2022, JR Motorsports announced Jan. 4. Lambert replaces Dave Elenz, who announced last year that he was moving to Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series. Lambert joins Gragson and the No. 9 from RFK Racing. “I’m …

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Drew Blickensderfer Crew Chief for Aric Almirola in 2022

2021 Nashville Cup Aric Almirola car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Drew Blickensderfer has joined Stewart-Haas Racing as Aric Almirola‘s crew chief for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, SHR announced Jan. 4. Blickensderfer replaces Mike Bugarewicz, who moves to a performance director role within the team. “With the Next Gen car being brand new, there will be continuous development on it every time it turns …

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Bubba Wallace, Leidos Team for 2022

2021 Michigan Cup Bubba Wallace NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Leidos has been added as a primary sponsor for Bubba Wallace in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, 23XI Racing announced Jan. 4. The No. 23 will carry Leidos’ colors first at Circuit of the Americas. According to Leidos’ website, the other races include Dover Motor Speedway and the second events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, …

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Jesse Love, Corey Heim Splitting Venturini’s No. 20

2021 ARCA Winchester Racing Corey Heim, No. 20 Venturini Motorsports Toyota (Credit: Emilee Chinn/ARCA Racing used with permission)

Photo: Emilee Chinn/ARCA Racing used with permission

Jesse Love and Corey Heim will split Venturini Motorsports’ No. 20 in the ARCA Menards Series in 2022, Venturini announced Jan. 3. Love is scheduled for 14 races in the car beginning at Phoenix Raceway, largely at tracks at which the soon-to-be 17-year-old can compete. Heim, meanwhile, will fill in for the other six events, …

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Amber Balcaen Running Full ARCA Schedule for RJR

2021 ARCA West Irwindale Amber Balcaen (Credit: Meg Oliphant/ARCA Racing used with permission)

Photo: Meg Oliphant/ARCA Racing used with permission

Amber Balcaen will run the full 2022 ARCA Menards Series season for Rette Jones Racing, the team announced Jan. 3. ICON Direct will sponsor Balcaen’s 20-race effort in the No. 30 Ford. “It is really special for me as a Canadian competing in the United States to be representing all Canadian companies on my car …

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