It's party time - or rather a DigiBash - at Chip Ganassi Racing

   Chip Ganassi Racing will be holding a unique social media event for millennials at its  Concord, N.C. race shop on Monday night. And while the event is invitation-only, you can still catch on streaming video.

    NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson (22) and Dylan Kwasniewski (19), along with IndyCar Series driver Sage Karam (19), will host the 'Ganassi Sound Garage': A DigiBash, a private, invitation-only event for young, social media influencers featuring a concert by Cassadee Pop, Big Machine Label Group artist and former winner of the hit NBC show The Voice.

   

   Guests will have the opportunity to walk the red carpet and show off their footwear on the “kicks cam”, be their own paparazzi and take selfies with Cassadee and the drivers, and have their #soundgarage posts shared on the 20-foot tall HP social media wall.

   The event will be hosted by Fox Sports 1 TV personality Kaitlyn Vincie, and will be live-streamed beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on nascar.com, indycar.com and chipganassiracing.com.

Jimmie Johnson treated for dehydration after Richmond race

   Jimmie Johnson, already locked in the Chase for the Sprint Cup with three victories, never got the chance to join his fellow 15 competitors on stage after Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

   After exiting his No. 48 Chevrolet on pit road after his eighth-place finish, Johnson said he began to cramp and slumped to the ground. He stood back up and began to get dizzy, so he laid back on the ground near his car.

   Medics took Johnson to the infield care center where he was released about an hour-and-a-half later after receiving five liters of intravenous fluids.

   "I got dehydrated in the car and I'm not exactly sure what led to it. We need to see what happened," Johnson said. "I started cramping when I got out of the race car and when I was cramping I was trying to stand up and I got dizzy, so I sat back down.

   "I was hot in the car, so I need to make sure the fans were working and stuff like that. It was a scary moment. I'll have to learn from it and make sure it doesn't happen again."

Nationwide is on Dale Junior's side (even more)

   Nationwide Insurance announced Friday it has expanded its three-year relationship with Hendrick Motorsports to become the majority sponsor of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Chevrolet team beginning with the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

   In May, Nationwide announced it would become a part-time primary sponsor of Earnhardt's team but has now increased its sponsorship to 21 Sprint Cup Series events, including the Daytona 500, for each of the next three seasons.

   Nationwide is also sponsoring Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevrolet in Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

   The extra races became available when current sponsor National Guard announced it was discontinuing its motorsports sponsorships in NASCAR and IndyCar next season.

   “Representing the National Guard and its 'Citizen Soldiers' is an extraordinary honor and source of pride for our entire organization. Communication is ongoing with regard to the future of the sponsorship, which is contracted through the 2015 season," HMS said in a statement.  

NASCAR, Xfinity sign 10-year deal to rebrand Nationwide Series

NASCAR and communications company Comcast announced a 10-year partnership Wednesday that will rebrand the Nationwide Series as the Xfinity Series.

Xfinity is the third title sponsor in the history of NASCAR’s secondary circuit. Originally called the
Grand National Series, it was known as the Busch Series from 1986-2006, before Nationwide took over in 2007. Nationwide Insurance announced in 2013 it wouldn’t renew its contract with NASCAR.

Xfinity is Comcast’s residential service brand, including video and high-speed Internet.

“We’re trying to embrace technology and innovation wherever we can to either lower costs or make the experience for our fans a better one,” said NASCAR CEO Brian France at the announcement, which took place at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t announced. The new new goes into effect for NASCAR’s 2015 season. -- David Scott

Is NASCAR team owner Michael Waltrip ready to put on his dancing shoes?

 

   According to the New York Daily News, Michael Waltrip Racing co-owner Michael Waltrip will take part in season No. 19 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” when it debuts on Sept. 15.

   Among the other participants are runner Lolo Jones, comedian Tommy Chong and “Duck Dynasty” star Sadie Robinson.

   A MWR team spokesman said he was not at liberty to comment on the report at this time.

   To ready the full story at the Daily News go here.

 

Humpy Wheeler statement on the death of former motorcycle racer Don Tilley

   H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, former longtime president of Charlotte Motor Speedway and now a racing consultant, issued the following statement Sunday regarding the death of former motorcycle racer Don Tilley:

   "Don was one of the best motorcycle dirt track racers back in the fifties along with the legendary national champion Buck Brigance. Don raced for me on my dirt tracks back in the sixties when the Hayes Brothers out of Tennessee were so strong," Wheeler said.

   "Don turned his racing prowess into one for business and built one of the biggest Harley Davidson dealerships in the Southeast. He was always around the NASCAR garage area because most of the 

racing folk bought their cycles from him."

 

   To read more on the death of Tilley, go here.

 

Statement from Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris regarding Tony Stewart

   Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, whose store chain sponsors Tony Stewart's No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, released the following statement on Saturday regarding Stewart's return to the race track:

   "Today our thoughts are with our friend and fishing buddy Tony Stewart as he prepares to return to racing after what has been a difficult time in his life. Our hearts go out to him and to the family and friends of Kevin Ward Jr., who died in the tragic sprint car event accident on Aug. 9.

   "I was able to spend time with Tony last week and it made my heart ache to see him so devastated by this accident.

   "Like many other race fans, I love Tony's passion and skill on the track and to watch this fierce competitor compete. But the off-track Tony Stewart is the man that I have come to respect. Time and time again, I've witnessed Tony's quiet generosity and compassion as he gives to others. By personally supporting numerous programs like Catch-A-Dream Foundation and Victory Junction, Tony has given many ailing children a chance to experience outdoor sports and have fun opportunities they might not otherwise have.

   "His love of racing goes far beyond his work behind the wheel. It is common for Tony to sign autographs for each and every race fan for hours on end. Behind the scenes, Tony continually steps in to help junior drivers get started in racing because he cares about the sport and its fans.

   "What started as a sponsorship discussion between Tony and I 15 years ago has turned into a long and special friendship. It's a friendship that has given me the opportunity to get to know one of the most compassionate and kind-hearted individuals I have ever met. 

   "On behalf of the Bass Pro Family, and as Tony's friend, we are proud to stand by him as he returns this weekend to the sport he loves so much."