Sportsmen's Racing Team of Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's and TRACKER Boats drivers gears up for NASCAR® Speedweek
Countdown to Daytona continues with Speedweek events featuring star-studded lineup of Truex Jr., Newman and Dillon
The countdown to the Great American Race continues as the Sportsmen’s Racing Team representing Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and TRACKER Boats prepares for Speedweek; beginning with a doubleheader on Sunday, February 11—the Daytona 500 pole qualifying followed by the 75-lap Advance Auto Parts Clash. Pole qualifying will lock in the front row for the Daytona 500 and determine the starting lineup for the Can-Am Duel qualifying races on Thursday evening, February 15. The duel races will in turn determine the Daytona 500 starting field.
Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. begins his title defense as driver of the No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry. Truex led the Cup series last year in a number of statistical categories, including eight wins, 19 top fives, 26 top 10s, 2,253 laps led and 19 stage wins. Bass Pro Shops will be prominently featured on the hood of the No. 78 Toyota Camry for 16 races (including the Daytona 500) during the 2018 campaign as part of an orange-hued paint scheme while the remaining 14 races of the 30-race partnership will showcase Bass Pro Shops prominently on the side panels.
Both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s iconic outdoor brands will be featured on the hood of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Ryan Newman’s No. 31 Bass Pro Shops/CABELA’S Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 during the 60th running of the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2018 — the first time the brands will be featured together since Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s joined forces last September to establish North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company.
The season-opening weekend will also see racing action from Austin Dillon in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/ CABELA’S Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Powershares QQQ 300—the NASCAR XFINITY Series opener at Daytona on Saturday, February 17. The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s partnership with RCR includes several races as primary sponsor in the XFINITY Series with both Dillon brothers—Austin and Ty—and a season-long associate sponsorship in both the Cup and XFINITY Series.
The Daytona 500 pole qualifying begins February 11 at 11:15 a.m. CT on FOX followed by the 75-lap Advance Auto Parts Clash at 2 p.m. CT on Fox Sports. The Can-Am Duel qualifying races can be seen on Thursday evening, February 15 at 6 p.m. and approximately 8 pm. CT on FS1.
# # #
About Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.”