Gearing up for the Desert, Other NASCAR News- March 11, 2022

After Alex Bowman getting the win at Las Vegas, NASCAR heads next to Phoenix Raceway for the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Cup Series. Here are some storylines throughout the week:

Team Stange Racing Announces Cup Series Team

Earlier this week, Team Stange Racing announced that they will attempt select NASCAR Cup Series races with former Brazillian F1 driver, Tarso Marques. The team will run Fords and will be the #79 sponsored by Dignity Gold LLC, and its DIGau Coin. The team will debut July 3rd at Road America and then race at Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, Daytona 2, The Roval, Las Vegas 2, Homestead, and the season finale at Phoenix. According to Bob Pockrass, Tarso Marques will most likely have to run in Xfinity/Truck before getting Cup approval. The 46-year old does have IndyCar and F1 experience. Team Owner, John Stange Jr, has told sources that he would like to go Full-Time in the Cup Series in 2023 and expand to two cars by 2024. The team was interested in joining the Cup Series because of the NextGen chassis, as they would also like to form a truck series and maybe even an Xfinity Series team at some point.

O’Donnell, Kennedy With New Roles

Steve O’Donnell was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and now oversees all NASCAR-owned track properties and track presidents. Ben Kennedy is now the Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Technology and will work with O’Donnell, as well as having immediate oversight of racing operations/innovations. Ben Kennedy will also continue to oversee the schedule development and now adds immediate oversight of racing operations, track services/transportation/officiating, industry relations, and the NASCAR touring and weekly series. The decision is effective immediately.

Atlanta’s New Layout

Atlanta Motor Speedway was reconfigured since its last race in July 2021 and will possibly give the feel of a mini-Daytona. All Series will have their Daytona/Talladega Engine packages with Cup having their Daytona brake and aero packages, while Xfinity and Truck will have their intermediate aero package. Steve O’Donnell also said that Atlanta will most likely have the double yellow line much like Daytona and Talladega. With the repave, the banking was increased to 28 degrees, making it the highest banked intermediate track, as well as the racing surface now being 40’ wide instead of 55’ wide. Many configurations were tested in iRacing and this configuration was the one that was chosen. The reconfiguration also was revealed to have zero driver input, which left drivers like Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin displeased. Regardless, in a couple of weeks, we’re going to see racing at AMS like we have never seen before. How will it go? Only time will tell.

Phoenix Preview

The NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and ARCA Menards Series will make the trip out to the track that will crown a champion in November. Many teams and drivers want to get their setups well-tuned in if they want to get the championship four and have a shot of winning the championship.  For ARCA, this will be the second race of the season and the first of the season for ARCA Menards Series West. The 150 lap race on the one-mile circuit will drop the green flag at 7:30 pm EST on MAVTV and FloRacing. In terms of notable entries, Josh Berry will pilot the No. 17 Chevrolet for Steve McGowan, Derek Kraus will drive the No. 19 for Bill McAnally, and two-time West Champion Jesse Love will pilot the No. 20 for Venturini Motorsports. Ty Gibbs won this race a year ago.

General Tire 150 Picks to Win:

Jesse Love

Derek Kraus

Nick Sanchez

Sammy Smith

For the NASCAR Xfinity Series, this will be the fourth race of the season as Ty Gibbs came off winning last week’s race at Las Vegas, after a small feud with Ryan Seig on the track. Trevor Bayne will make his second start with Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 18, Nick Sanchez will make this first Xfinity start in the No. 5 for B.J. McLeod Motorsports, and Jeffrey Earnhardt will drive the No. 35 for Emerling-Gase Motorsports. 42 cars are entered for the race and Austin Cindric won this race a season ago. Daniel Hemric won at this track back in November to score his first career win and the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. Could we see another thrilling finish at Phoenix again?

United Rentals 200 Picks to Win:

Ty Gibbs

Noah Gragson

Justin Allgaier

Daniel Hemric

Lastly for the NASCAR Cup Series, all 36 charter teams are entered with no open cars attempting. Certain things to keep an eye on for Sunday’s race will involve leg numbness problems, like what Tyler Reddick has struggled with at Auto Club and Las Vegas. At Auto Club, Reddick lost feeling in one of his legs, while he lost feeling in both of his legs at Vegas. At a track that will require more brakes, it’ll be something to keep an eye on to see if the crew can figure out this issue and Reddick can race with less discomfort. Another thing to keep an eye on will be Trackhouse Racing. Daniel Suarez nearly won at Auto Club and Ross Chastain picked up Trackhouse’s first stage win in team history as he went on to finish third. So far, this team is proving they are the real deal heading into its second season. Could we see a Chastain or Suarez win in the near future? Lastly is Brad Keselowski as he has had a struggling start to his 2022 season with this new team, as he finished 9^th at Daytona, it was met with two wrecks at Auto Club and Las Vegas. Is Keselowski pushing the car too much? The season is still early and Keselowski can still turn things around. Martin Truex Jr won this race a year ago.

Ruoff Mortgage 500 Picks To Win:

Martin Truex Jr

Kyle Larson

Joey Logano

Kyle Busch