Ben Kennedy sponsored by Wheelwell for Iowa truck race; making Xfinity debut

Ben Kennedy‘s No. 33 Truck will have a new primary sponsor for this weekend’s Speediatrics 200 at Iowa Speedway.

Kennedy, who will be in his fifth race with GMS racing, will be sponsored by Wheelwell, a San Francisco-based website that “brings together automotive enthusiasts, service professionals and brands in a uniquely visual way that enables consumers to find the very best products for their cars.”

Kennedy is currently ninth in the Camping World Truck Series point standings following a fourth-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway. It was Kennedy’s first top five and his second top-10 finish of the season. Kennedy’s best result in three starts a Iowa is sixth in 2014.

“I am looking forward to introducing Wheelwell to millions of NASCAR fans and fellow car enthusiasts,” said Kennedy. “Like many others in the racing community, I have a few ongoing vehicle projects and Wheelwell.com allows me to keep organized, seek help and learn from other members who are building, restoring or enhancing their vehicles.”

Wheelwell joins JACOB Companies and Weber Grills in sponsoring the No. 33 since Kennedy signed with GMS Racing in May.

Kennedy will also make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. The No. 2 is the car usually driven by Austin Dillonor Paul Menard.

“I’m really looking forward to practice on Friday,” Kennedy said in a press release. “It’s been a little while since I’ve been behind the wheel of a car. I’m used to racing trucks, but I’ve spent some time with (crew chief) Danny (Stockman) and the guys this week getting the car ready and it makes me confident we’ll roll off the truck fast.”

Watch LIVE: NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET: Ganassi Racing report, ThorSport update and more

Today’s episode of NASCAR America airs from 6 – 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and continues breaking down stories from last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Today’s show is hosted by Krista Voda, Steve Letarte, Jeff Burton from Stamford, Connecticut, and are joined by
Dale Jarrett from Burton’s Garage.

Included in today’s show:

–Report from Chip Ganassi Racing by Dave Burns on Kyle Larson, who finished third Sunday at Michigan.

— NBC Sports’ Dustin Long gives an update on ThorSport Racing, which had a fire ravaged its headquarters in Sandusky, Ohio, over the weekend.

— We bring you the sights and sounds of the weekend in Scan All Michigan.

— With NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One all racing last weekend, there were many unexpected moments across the world of racing. Catch all the strange, funny, and even furry moments on the track in “Expect the Unexpected”!

· The youth movement is growing bigger and bigger in NASCAR, and it hit a new level in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race with the youngest top three finishers in the history of the sport. We’ll have “The Mayor,” our own Jeff Burton, weigh in on how far this movement can take the sport in years to come.

If you’re not near a TV, you can watch online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.

If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.

Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.

Click here at 6 p.m. ET to watch live via the stream.

NASCAR America: Jeff ‘The Mayor’ Burton on why youth movement is happening

Jeff Burton is fascinated at how much success the young drivers are having this season in NASCAR. Why is 2016 such a turning point in the sport that seems to make if feel like a changing of the guard?

Sam Hornish Jr. filling in for injured Matt Tifft in Iowa Xfinity race

Sam Hornish Jr. will make his return to NASCAR racing a little bit sooner with Matt Tifft having to sit out this weekend’s Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway due to a “disc condition” in his back.

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Tuesday that Tifft, who was supposed to drive the No. 18 Toyota in the American Ethanol E15 250, would be replaced by Hornish. Hornish hasn’t raced anything since the 2015 Sprint Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Last week, Richard Childress announced Hornish would drive its No. 2 Xfinity car for the July race at Iowa and at Kentucky Speedway in September.

Of Hornish’s three Xfinity wins, one was at Iowa in 2014.

Tifft also was supposed to drive in the Camping World Truck Series’ Speediatrics 200 at Iowa in Red Horse Racing’s No. 11. The team has not yet announced plans for a substitute driver.

Tifft, a member of the current NASCAR Next class, has competed in six Xfinity race this season, including three in the No. 18 car. His best result is eighth at Talladega and Dover.

Fourteen teams testing Monday and Tuesday at Kentucky Speedway

Fourteen teams will take part in a test at the repaved Kentucky Speedway today and Tuesday.

NASCAR is allowing a car from each organization to test at Kentucky because next month’s race will be the first on the repaved surface. Teams also will use the same lower downforce package at Kentucky as they did this past weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Teams scheduled to test at Kentucky:

• Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing)
• Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing)
• Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports)
• Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing)
• Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing)
• Ryan Blaney (Wood Brothers Racing)
• Joey Logano (Team Penske)
• Paul Menard (Richard Childress Racing)
• Chris Buescher (Front Row Motorsports)
• Aric Almirola (Richard Petty Motorsports)
• Michael Annett (HScott Motorsports)
• AJ Allmendinger (JTG Daugherty Racing)
• Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing)
• Matt DiBenedetto (BK Racing)

Jacksonville Jaguar named pace car driver for July Daytona race

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith will serve as the honorary pace car driver for the 58th annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Sprint Cup race July 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

The race will be broadcast by NBC.

Smith played at Florida State before being selected by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He started all 14 games he played in 2015 for the Jaguars. Smith owns the NFL’s longest streak of 16 consecutive games with at least six tackles per game.

“I’m looking forward to this great experience,” Smith said in a statement from the track. “I’ve never been to a NASCAR event before, so the opportunity to attend my first race, as well as drive the pace car, will make for an unforgettable evening.”

Watch LIVE: NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET has exclusives with Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez

NASCAR America moves to its new permanent 6 p.m. time slot today on NBCSN, recapping a weekend of strong finishes by young drivers.

Krista Voda hosts with analysts Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty in Stamford, Connecticut, and Steve Letarte at NBC Sports Charlotte.

Today’s show features:

–An interview with Joey Logano, who will call from testing at Kentucky Speedway to talk about his victory Sunday at Michigan International Speedway;

–An interview with Daniel Suarez, who will stop by the NBC Sports Charlotte to discuss becoming the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race with Saturday’s Xfinity victory at Michigan;

–A report from Stewart-Haas Racing by Marty Snider.

–A recap of the Michigan weekend, including another near-miss at victory lane by Chase Elliott.

If you’re not near a TV, you can watch online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.

If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.

Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.

Click here at 6 p.m. ET to watch live via the stream.