1. Chicago Street Course is a stunning success
The 2023 NASCAR Cup season had plenty of firsts and perhaps none was bigger than the series’ inaugural street course race, held around historic Grant Park in downtown Chicago. While the weekend faced numerous weather challenges, the racing proved superb and with a surprise winner. Making his first ever start, three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen dominated the field to secure the victory for Trackhouse Racing. Van Gisbergen is moving to NASCAR competition full-time in 2024, running a full Xfinity Series schedule with Kaulig Racing along with a partial Cup schedule with Trackhouse.
2. New NASCAR media rights deal finalized
Late last month, NASCAR announced it had reached agreement on a new seven-year, multi-billion-dollar TV rights deal for its Cup Series that includes a streaming component for the first time. The deal is reportedly worth approximately $1.1 billion total a year – about a 40 percent increase over NASCAR’s current package, which expires at the end of the 2024 season. Joining current TV partners Fox and NBC in the new deal will be TNT and streaming partners Prime Video and Max (formerly HBO Max). NASCAR also secured a seven-year deal with the CW Network to televise its Xfinity Series races beginning with the 2025 season. That package is reportedly worth over $115 million a year.
3. NASCAR’s Garage 56 entry turns heads at Le Mans
In addition to van Gisbergen’s victory, NASCAR got additional positive international exposure with its Garage 56 entry in the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours. The entry’s trio of drivers – seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2010 Le Mans 24 overall winner Mike Rockenfeller and 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button – had a productive stint competing in a modified version of the Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race car. The NASCAR entry, a collaboration among the sanctioning body, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, IMSA and Goodyear, was running at the finish, completing 285 laps on the 8.4-mile circuit and finished 39th in the 62-car field.
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
#65 Panis Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson of Manuel Maldonado, Tijmen Van Der Helm, Job Van Uitert, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller, Jenson Button
4. North Wilkesboro revived
The historic .625-mile short track received rave reviews this year after hosting NASCAR competition in May for the first time since…
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