NASCAR THIS WEEK Q&A THROUGH THE GEARS Isn’t Silly Season supposed to be earlier? Racing’s normal Silly Season, where owners and drivers play a form of musical chairs, takes place several months before the next racing season arrives, since a variety of contracts and marketing plans need to be put in place way in advance. But then there’s Secondary Silly Season, which involves the off­Broadway teams who are sim­ ply struggling to hang on or battling to gain ground and join the upper­tier teams. Secondary Silly Season also has many moving parts, but rarely involves the heavy corporate lifting of regular Silly Season, so it comes closer to Actual Racing Season, which ex­ plains the past few weeks. Which explains Anthony Alfredo? Yes, and Alfredo’s recent addition to Front Row Motorsports, where he’ll be a teammate of Michael McDowell’s. And Kaz Grala’s signing with Kaulig Racing, Noah Gragson’s Daytona 500 deal with Beard Motorsports, Ty Dil­ lon’s part­time move to Gaunt Broth­ ers, and James Davison’s signing with Rick Ware Racing, where Joey Gase has announced he’ll remain as Davi­ son’s teammate. Hey, somebody has to drive those cars in the second and third waves, but remember, at least Kyle Larson, suspended from NASCAR last spring, will pilot the No. 5 Hendrick Chevy in 2021. CHRIS O’MEARA/ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE one of those listed above will have a shot at Daytona, because that’s what plate­racin’ provides. — Ken Willis Redemption tour rolls on for Larson Zach Dean Third gear Daytona Beach News­Journal USA TODAY NETWORK Trackhouse Racing, which will make its debut at next month’s Daytona 500 If Kyle Larson keeps this up, look out. with Daniel Suarez driving the No. 99 Ever since the 28­year­old was fired Chevy, will have one of the most recog­ from Chip Ganassi Racing last spring af­ nizable names in music backing the ter using a racial slur during an iRacing team. Last week, Grammy award­win­ Kaz Grala's name was tossed around event, he’s been a man on a mission, ning global superstar Pitbull became a during Secondary Silly Season. winning over 30 times in his sprint­car co­owner of the team, joining forces with CHARLIE NEIBERGALL/AP FILE PHOTO last season and setting records along the founder and co­owner Justin Marks. way. “I’ve been a fan of the NASCAR story Last fall, Larson was reinstated by since the movie ‘Days of Thunder,’ “ said NASCAR after months of sensitivity Pitbull. “As soon as I met Justin, (Team training, and he was signed by Hendrick Kyle Larson poses with his race team President) Ty Norris and Daniel, we DAYTONA MOTOR MOUTHS Motorsports in October to drive the No. 5 after winning the USAC Silver Crown were on the same page. They welcomed Chevy starting this season. Champ Car Series Bettenhausen 100 at me aboard, and now we’re going to show Zach Dean and Ken Willis cover However, before jumping back into a the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State the world NASCAR is not only a sport NASCAR and other forms of Cup car, Larson had one more checkered Fairgrounds Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020. but it’s a culture.” motorsports for the Daytona Beach flag left to take. TED SCHURTER/THE STATE JOURNAL­REGISTER News­Journal. Reach them at Fourth gear zach.dean@news­jrnl.com and First gear ken.willis@news­jrnl.com. Second gear This weekend marks the beginning of Over the weekend, the Elk Grove, the 2021 racing season at Daytona Inter­ California native picked up where he left Larson led the way in the main event, national Speedway, with the annual off in 2020, winning the prized Chili but there were Cup guys scattered all Roar Before the Rolex 24 testing week­ Bowl Nationals for the second year in a over the field in various features. end bringing the tracK back to life. row. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who was also in The IMSA haulers arrive on Wednes­ Larson, who was 0­13 in Chili Bowl the main A­Feature, finished 7th, while day, with engines firing for the first time tries up until last year, led the 55­lap Bell finished 14th. Chase Elliott finished on Friday. There is a pole qualifying race championship event from start to finish, 7th in the F­Feature in his first Chili Bowl on Sunday that will set the Rolex 24 and held off three­time champion week, while Kasey Kahne (remember (Jan. 30­31) field. Christopher Bell in the closing laps. him?) finished 20th in the C­Feature af­ If the sports cars don’t do anything “To get two of these feels awesome,” ter a wreck. for you, there will be plenty of big NAS­ Larson said. “It was a different race than Ryan Newman took home 6th in the CAR names in the race, including seven­ last year, but just thankful to get the G­Feature, while Chase Briscoe, who time champion Jimmie Johnson, de­ chance to even come race here ... it’s the will be replacing Clint Bowyer at Stew­ fending Cup champion Chase Elliott, greatest event in the world, and (I’m) art­Haas this season, finished 9th in the and former Daytona 500 winner Austin very lucky to be a part of it.” B­Feature. Dillon. WHAT’S ON TAP Jan. 22­24: Three­day test for Rolex 24 at Daytona Jan. 30­31: Rolex 24 at Daytona SPEED FREAKS NASCAR Speedweek at Daytona: Chase Elliott’s goal is to “not mess up” in the Rolex Pitbull? Feb. 9: Busch Clash 24. Can he (not) do it? KEN’S CALL: Yep, he’s part of the No. 99 team’s Feb. 10: Daytona 500 pole qualifying KEN’S CALL: I have faith in ol’ Billy Clyde Elliott, but just the ownership group now, with Daniel Suarez driv­ Feb. 11: “Duel” Daytona 500 qualifying same, if it’s raining, hide the keys on him. If it’s raining at ing. Only downer is, due to current fan restric­ races Feb. 12: Truck Series season opener night, tether him to the hauler. tions, NASCAR won’t be able to fully utilize his Feb. 13: Xfinity Series season opener DEAN’S DIRT: I remember when Jeff Gordon was in this charisma for a while. Mine either, of course. thing a few years ago, they made sure to pick and choose his DEAN’S DIRT: I see we’ve officially reached Feb. 13: ARCA Series season opener Pitbull Feb. 14: 63rd Daytona 500 spots. Chase will probably get the same treatment, but he’s the one­word­question portion of the offsea­ Feb. 21: Daytona Road Course race also a good little road­racer, so maybe he surprises us. son. Is it February yet? 2021 CUP SERIES SCHEDULE April 18: Richmond June 27: Pocono Sept. 18: Bristol April 25: Talladega July 4: Road America (Wisconsin) Playoffs Round of 12 Feb. 9: Busch Clash at Daytona May 2: Kansas July 11: Atlanta Sept. 26: Las Vegas Feb. 14: Daytona 500 May 9: Darlington July 18: New Hampshire Oct. 3: Talladega Feb. 21: Daytona Road Course May 16: Dover Aug. 8: Watkins Glen Oct. 10: Charlotte Roval Feb. 28: Homestead May 23: Austin Aug. 15: Indianapolis Playoffs Round of 8 March 7: Las Vegas May 30: Charlotte Aug. 22: Michigan Oct. 17: Texas March 14: Phoenix June 6: Sonoma Aug. 28: Daytona Oct. 24: Kansas March 21: Atlanta June 13: Texas All­Star Playoffs Round of 16 Oct. 31: Martinsville March 28: Bristol (dirt) June 20: Nashville Sept. 5: Darlington Championship Round April 10: Martinsville June 26: Pocono Sept. 11: Richmond Nov. 7: Phoenix.