Alex Palou has reached glory, winning the NTT IndyCar Series Championship on Sunday after finishing fourth at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. Palou is the first Spaniard to win the championship and the second straight Chip Ganassi Racing driver to win.

Palou, 24, is also the first NTT IndyCar Series champion uncer 25 since current teammate Scott Dixon in 2003. Palou is the seventh-youngest champion in IndyCar Series history.

“What a race, what a year, what a season,” Palou said. “This team is amazing. I’m super proud to be a part of Chip Ganassi Racing. I’m super proud to be a champion and for the opportunity these guys gave me.”

Palou had a dominant lead in the standings before the second half of the season kicked off in Nashville for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. He had three wins all season and finished with 549 points just ahead of Nashville native Josef Newgarden who finished second in the standings with 511 points.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re seeing a young man that’s going to set a lot of records in this business, and he’s already starting,” said team owner Chip Ganassi. “What a great year we’ve had. I’ve got to be honest with you: It has surprised us when he came in the door and the job he’s done. My hat’s off. Congratulations.”

Palou needed to finish 11th or better to win the championship, so finishing fourth was the icing on the cake. Colton Herta won the Long Beach Grand Prix with Newgarden finishing second and Dixon finishing third.

IndyCar has dropped its schedule for 2022 and will be returning to the streets of Downtown Nashville on Aug. 7 after an extremely successful inaugural race this past August. The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix was the most watched IndyCar Race on NBC in the sports’ history.

“This schedule continues to build on the growth and momentum the NTT IndyCar Series has achieved, especially in 2021,” says Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles. “Our terrific partnership with NBC Sports has led to a fantastic opportunity to place an unparalleled 14 events on broadcast television while completing the rest of the schedule with USA Network and Peacock.

Next season, a record 14 events will air on the NBC broadcast network, one more than previously announced in July. It is the most single-season appearances on network television in IndyCar Series history. Two additional races will appear on USA Network while Peacock Premium will provide live coverage of all 17 races in addition to practices and qualifying.

“We’re incredibly excited about our 2022 NTT IndyCar Series schedule, highlighted by the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 and a record 14 IndyCar races on the NBC broadcast network that will bring added exposure to the series,” says Mike Perman, VP, Programming, NBC Sports. “With more races than ever on NBC, plus comprehensive live coverage of every minute of the 2022 season on Peacock with practices, qualifying and race simulstreams, we look forward to continuing to grow the sport and super-serve IndyCar fans across the country.”

The IndyCar season will begin at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which will host the series’ season opener for the 11th time on Feb. 27. It is the first February start for the IndyCar Series since 2004 and the earliest the season has started since the opener on the Streets of St. Petersburg on Feb. 23, 2003.

For more information and the 2022 IndyCar season, click here.

JR Motorsports announced that Harrison’s will join Josh Berry and the No. 8 team as primary partner for eight races during the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. A long-time supporter of regional short track racing in the Carolinas, this marks Harrison’s debut in one of NASCAR’s top three series.

Harrison’s is a family-owned chain of retail stores serving as the Southeast’s largest Ariat and Carhartt dealer. For the last 30 years, the company has offered a wide variety of clothing and footwear with the most in-stock casual and safety boots in the area.

“We’ve always felt a lot pride in having a family-owned business,” says Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM general manager. “Danny [Harrison] and his family share those same values. They’ve seen and believe in Josh’s potential. We’re looking forward to helping Harrison’s expand its brand next year and into the future.”

“For the Harrison’s brand and family, this was just a perfect combination,” says Kevin Harrison, vice president of Harrison’s. “As we looked for new and engaging ways to expand our brand and footprint, working with JR Motorsports and helping Josh with the next chapter in his career were ideal scenarios. This isn’t just sponsorship, we see this as the beginning of a long relationship with Josh, the Earnhardt family and all of JR Motorsports.”

On Aug. 16, JR Motorsports announced that Berry will enter his first full-time NXS season in 2022 on the strength of one win (Martinsville Speedway), four top-five and six top-10 finishes during a 12-race stint in the No. 8 Chevrolet in 2021.

Berry is a veteran of JRM’s Late Model program, where he has notched 89 wins. He is the only driver in team history to have earned multiple championships for the organization, claiming the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series championship in 2020, a CARS LMSC driver title in 2017, the CARS owner title in 2016 and the track championships at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Motor Mile (Radford, Va.) Speedway.

“I’ve known the Harrison family for a while now,” says Berry. “I’ve raced against Late Models carrying the Harrison brand many times over the years. Now, it’s great to finally have them on our racecars. Family is very important to them, so it’s a great fit. I can’t thank Danny [Harrison] and his son, Kevin, enough for believing in me and giving me the chance to represent them.”

Nashville-native Josh Berry will drive full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports beginning in 2022. The 30-year-old driver will pilot the No. 8 Chevrolet in pursuit of the NXS championship. Berry gave up his seat to up and coming driver Sam Mayer after the Tennessee Lottery 250 at the Nashville Superspeedway.

“This moment is something we’ve been working toward for a long time,” says Dale Earnhardt Jr., JRM team owner. “Josh took full advantage of the opportunity he had this year in the No. 8 car. He went out, raced hard, and earned every bit of this. With all he’s accomplished on a limited schedule, I can’t wait to see what he can do in this series full time.”

Berry made a significant splash on the NXS circuit this season, earning a storybook victory in the No. 8 at Martinsville Speedway this past April. In 16 NXS starts (13 with JRM) in 2021, he’s padded his resume with four top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Most recently, Berry substituted for an injured Michael Annett in the team’s No. 1 entry at New Hampshire Motor Speedway where he wheeled it to an eighth-place finish.

“It’s difficult to put into words what this means,” says Berry, who has made 23 career NXS starts since 2014. “I’m just a local short track racer, so saying this is a dream come true seems like an understatement. I’m so grateful to Dale, Kelley, L.W. [Miller] and everyone at JR Motorsports. They have always believed in me. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m ready and focused on 2022.”

Berry is expanding on an 11-year tenure in JRM’s late model program where he lays claim to 89 wins, including the 2019 ValleyStar Credit Union race at Martinsville. Berry took home the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series championship in 2020, a CARS LMSC driver title in 2017, the CARS owner title in 2016 and the track championships at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Motor Mile (Radford, Va.) Speedway. He is the only driver in JRM history to have earned multiple championships for the organization.