Is it the offseason? It sure doesn’t feel like it thus far. I mean there may not be any cars circling any race tracks in hot conditions, but that’s not stopping any shortage of off track news for circulating so far.
I wrote that last week. Well, here we are again with news every day this week thus far as that comes after news on all three business days last week. That comes on the heels of news coming out literally every day the week prior.
There’s been Corey LaJoie’s announcement on Monday. Chip Ganassi’s for a sponsorship deal announced on Tuesday morning. Then comes Kaulig’s news after. Between that, Lewis Hamilton has tested positive for COVID and Haas F1 signed Nikita Mazepin for next year for one of their two seats.
On Wednesday, we had George Russell replacing Hamliton in the No. 44 Mercedes this weekend, Jack Aitken stepping in Russell’s Williams seat, Mick Schumacher joining Mazepin at Haas next year, Juan Pablo Montoya joining MSR for the endurance races in IMSA, Rick Ware Racing announcing a new sponsor in Cup and more.
It’s just Wednesday. It’s been previously a slow news drip of announcements coming out literally every day until a flurry of them on Wednesday. Here’s what you may have missed so far –
Monday (11/16):
- Burton to Kaulig In 2021
- Nemechek won’t be returning to Front Row Motorsports In 2021 Now
- Ganassi going back to IMSA In 2021
- NASCAR transforming to a new era
Slow news cycle. Sarcasm.
The next day, the Busch Clash eligibility requirements came out. Then, ARCA announced that their season opener would take place on the Saturday before the Daytona 500 now as a doubleheader with the Xfinity Series. After that, Joe Gibbs Racing announced some crew chief changes which included Adam Stevens and Kyle Busch breaking up with Busch getting Ben Beshore and Stevens moving to Christopher Bell’s pit box.
Tuesday (11/17):
- Busch Clash Eligiblity Requirements
- ARCA season opener moved to Daytona 500 weekend
- JGR Crew Chief Changes for 2021
- Montoya to DragonSpeed for WEC
Wednesday featured some Indy Lights news with Kyle Kirkwood racing for Andretti Autosport in 2021. That comes a day after a new partnership among an existing team and a new team took place to form a four car operation for 2021. Eldora revealed that they’d not be on the NASCAR schedule in 2021 as they said that they were dropped from the Truck Series calendar. Also, you had the 2022 car testing on the Charlotte oval this time and the Awards Banquet on Wednesday night.
Wednesday (11/18):
- Kirkwood, new teams formed for Indy Lights for 2021
- Eldora not on 2021 Trucks schedule
- Oval test didn’t give good feedback for new car, why that’s not a big deal yet
Thursday featured the full Truck Series 2021 schedule coming out with.
Thursday (11/19):
- Truck Series 2021 schedule unveiled, my 5 main takeaways from it
- Bass Pro Shops, other sponsors return to Gragson’s No. 9 Chevrolet for 2021
Then on Friday, the new Matt Tifft/BJ McLeod Cup Series team and details were announced with a third different new team being formed for NASCAR’s top level for 2021.
Friday (11/20):
This week started off with Tony Kanaan and Chip Ganassi Racing teaming up for a return for the popular Brazilian driver to share the No. 48 Honda with Jimmie Johnson. Kanaan, will drive on ovals only for the next couple of years.
Then, right when we were about to hop on the zoom call with Kanaan, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced the signing of John Hunter Nemechek for the No. 4 Toyota in 2021. By time we were done with the zoom call, Andretti Autosport revealed that Danial Frost will drive one of their Indy Lights cars for them.
Monday (11/23):
- How the Kanaan deal came about
- Frost to Andretti Autosport for 2021 Indy Lights Season
- Nemechek to KBM for 2021 Trucks season
Tuesday (11/24):
Wednesday (11/25):
After a break for Thanksgiving, it all started back up this week with Corey LaJoie set to drive for Spire in 2021. That was announced on Monday.
Monday (11/30):
Tuesday (12/1):
- Lewis Hamilton tests positive for COVID
- Haas F1 signs Nikita Mazepin for 2021 season
- CGR has the No. 48 Honda fully funded now for 2 years
- Allmendinger set for a full time return with Kaulig in 2021
- Steinbrenner returns to Indy Lights
Wednesday (12/2):
- Russell to replace Hamilton this weekend
- Aitken to replace Russell at Williams this weekend
- Schumacher gets other Haas F1 seat
- Montoya to drive for MSR in Endurance Races in IMSA
- Rick Ware Racing gets new sponsor for No. 51 entry in Cup, hopes to have 4 cars in 2021
- Hawksworth/Telitz back with Vasser-Sullivan in IMSA next year
- Limited Fans at the 2021 Daytona 500
- Moffitt to race full time in Trucks still in 2021
Friday (12/3):
