NASCAR THIS WEEK 8 - THE DERRICK. / The News-Herald Wednesday, January 23, 2019

QUESTIONS & ATTITUDE

Compelling questions ... and Allmendinger latest driver maybe a few actual answers heading to the TV booth By Godwin Kelly [email protected]

J Allmendinger won’t get much sleep this week- end because he will be Christopher Bell has built pulling double duty at Day- quite a collection of hardware tonaA International Speedway. the past two years in the The former NASCAR Cup Series driver Trucks and Xfinity Series. [AP will be making his debut with NBC FILE] Sports as an announcer, plus co-driving the No. 86 Why doesn’t Christopher NSX GT3 in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Bell have a Cup ride? Don’t be surprised if he shows up on television wearing a helmet or gets into Short answer: It’s a very tight his race car wearing TV makeup. job market. Bell made off-sea- “I’m with NBC Sports full-time for son headlines this past week IMSA,” he said during a recent interview by winning the Chili Bowl in Daytona. “That’s my real job. Cover- for the third straight year, ing IMSA, the only race I can do is the and doing so in dramatic Rolex 24. fashion — he passed Kyle “When I’m not in the car I’ll be doing Larson on the final turn of the something in the booth or on pit road final lap in the main event. A during the race. NBC Sports has done a three-year run of brilliance at great job with NASCAR, choosing new dirt-racing’s marquee event angles to show the fans.” doesn’t necessarily suggest Allmendinger, who started life as an a big-league NASCAR career, open-wheel driver then transitioned but two years of dominance into Cup Series racing in 2007, was in NASCAR’s minor leagues released by JTG-Daugherty Racing fol- does. Bell has 12 wins and 33 lowing the 2018 season. top-fives over the past two The 37-year-old driver made 371 years in the Trucks (2017) and starts and scored one win during his Xfinity Series (2018). decade in NASCAR. Even when he was running a full stock-car schedule, he So, what’s the holdup? would almost always show up at Day- tona and run the 24-hour race with car There’s no room at the inn. He owner . races for , and the “I don’t know if they made the right coach’s Cup team is full of decisions over there on the NASCAR proven (, Kyle side, but it is what it is,” Shank said. Busch, Martin Truex Jr.) and “The beauty of that is that we can bring promising () talent. him over here and there for differ- Hamlin’s 2018 season might ent projects in the next year or two. It’s indicate a possible downturn great.” and potential seat for Bell, This will be the 13th time over the except Hamlin and his spon- last 14 years Allmendinger has raced at sor (FedEx) are reportedly Daytona with Shank. They captured the signed through 2020. Some- overall win in 2012 with Allmendinger at thing eventually has to give; the wheel for the checkered flag. it’s highly unlikely we have The Rolex 24 is a one-race driving deal this same conversation next for Allmendinger. NBC is his top prior- year. ity and the network is taking racing very seriously. — Ken Willis, ken.willis NBC Sports has been gobbling up @news-jrnl.com motorsports TV rights and talent for everything in sight. In addition to IMSA racing, NBC will be the home for the WHAT’S ON TAP IndyCar Series and Supercross in 2019. “They have basically taken over,” All- At Daytona mendinger said. “They have become the Jan. 25: BMW Endurance home to motorsports.” Challenge (four hours). He said NBC is bringing “all the Jan. 26-27: Rolex 24 IMSA big guns” for its IMSA WeatherTech sports-car race. SportsCar Championship debut. Feb. 9: Lucas Oil 200 (ARCA “ Jr. will be here for the Series). Rolex 24,” Allmendinger said. “It will Feb. 10: pole be fun. I’m going to enjoy it to my full AJ Allmendinger was a NASCAR Cup Series driver in 2018. This year he will compete in the qualifying, Advance Auto extent. Rolex 24 At Daytona and begin his new career at NBC Sports. [AP/BEN MARGOT] Parts Clash. “I’ve always loved auto racing, so Feb. 14: Duel 150-mile qualify- being able to paint a picture for a race more relaxed and a better teammate to summer. ing races. fan, maybe a little different than the his co-drivers. “That’s kind of cool to see. I’m think- Feb. 15: NextEra Energy 250 next guy can tell, will be something I will “He’s doing everything he can to fur- ing you got a vise on your head when you (Truck Series). get into.” ther the team, and not just his car,” are in NASCAR and when that comes Feb. 16: Daytona 300 (Xfinity Without the stress of the Cup Series, Shank said. “He tested the No. 57 car off, it makes you feel slightly better and Series). Shank says Allmendinger has become (all female team) in the middle of the less consumed.” Feb. 17: Daytona 500.

2019 CUP SERIES April 7: Food City 500 at Bristol June 30: Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland Sept. 15: at SCHEDULE April 13: Owners 400 at July 6: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Sept. 21: at Feb. 10: Clash at Daytona Richmond July 13: Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Richmond Feb. 14: 150-mile qualifying races for April 28: Geico 500 at Talladega July 21: Foxwoods 301 at New Sept. 29: Bank of America 500k at Daytona 500 May 5: Hampshire Charlotte Feb. 17: Daytona 500 May 11: Kansas 400 July 28: Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Oct. 6: Delaware 400 at Dover Feb. 24: Folds of Honor 500 at Atlanta May 18: All-Star Race at Charlotte Aug. 4: Go Bowling at Watkins Glen Oct. 13: 1000Bulbs.com 500 Talladega March 3: at Las Vegas May 26: Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Aug. 11: at Oct. 20: at Kansas March 10: TicketGuardian 500 at Phoenix June 2: Pocono 400 Michigan Oct. 27: First Data 500 at Martinsville March 17: at Fontana June 9: FireKeepers Casino 400 at Aug. 17: Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Nov. 3: AAA March 24: STP 500 at Martinsville Michigan at Bristol Nov. 10: Can-Am 500k at Phoenix March 31: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at June 23: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sept. 1: at Darlington Nov. 17: Ford EcoBoost 400 at Texas Sonoma Sept. 8: Brickyard 400 at Homestead-Miami

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