July 2017 News Archives
News from July 30, 2017
Pocono overnight TV ratings: NBCSN’s coverage of the Cup Series race from Pocono earned a 2.01 overnight rating.[More](7-31-2017)
Entry List for the I LOVE NEW YORK 355 at The Glen Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
36 teams with Charters are guaranteed to make the field. No Open teams are currently entered.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Klutt, #23-LaJoie, #33-JEarnhardt.
Since only 36 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
Commercial breakdown and links related to the 2017 Overton’s 400:For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 3:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 6:11 PM (all times are EDT). Did not keep records for the pre- and post-race coverage.
[More](7-31-2017)
Devin Jones to make XFINITY debut at Watkins Glen: Veristor Systems, Inc., a leading provider of transformative business technology solutions, today announced its sponsorship of Devin Jones’ NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in partnership with SS Green Light Racing at Watkins Glen. Jones, a regular in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge series, will bring his road course expertise to the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the first time on August 5.[More](7-31-2017)
XFINITY Entry List: There are 41 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International.
See the complete list on the Watkins Glen entry list page.(7-31-2017)
Auto Club Speedway ticket renewals open August 1: NASCAR fans who attended the 2017 NASCAR Auto Club 400 race in March at Auto Club Speedway can lock in their seats and/or RV spot for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 Race between August 1-September 5, 2017 before tickets go on sale to the public on October 9.[More](7-31-2017)
Pocono willing to hold a Cup race on road course: What would Pocono call itself if it ditched its tri-oval shape for a Cup race on the road course? Track CEO Nick Igdalsky said he would be willing to hold one of the track’s two Cup races on the road course .[More](7-31-2017)
News from July 30, 2017
Kyle Busch breaks 36-race winless drought with Pocono victory:Barely more than three hours after the Pocono crowd greeted Kyle Busch with a chorus of boos during driver introductions, Kyle Busch made converts of the fans in the grandstands – at least a large portion of them – with a spectacular burnout after his long-awaited victory in the Overton’s 400. Benefitting from a splendid pit call by crew chief Adam Stevens, Busch charged through the field after his final stop and pulled away to beat runner-up Kevin Harvick to the finish line by a whopping 6.178 seconds, breaking a career-long 36-race drought and giving Toyota its 100th victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.[More](7-30-2017)
Kyle Busch won the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway for his 1st win of 2017, 1st win at Pocono, and 39th career win. He started from the pole, won the first stage, led 53 laps on the day and broke the longest winless streak of his career. It had been 36 races since he won at Indianapolis last July.
#4-Harvick finished 2nd then #78-Truex, Jr., #11-Hamlin, #2-Keselowski, #14-Bowyer (won the second stage), #19-Suarez, #77-Jones, #20-Kenseth, and #24-Elliott.
#78-Truex Jr. driver points lead increases to 85 points over #42-Larson.
There were 16 lead changes among 9 drivers and a record 5 cautions for 21 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 141.080mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Race Fast Facts – Pococo
Kyle Busch won the 44th Annual Overton’s 400, his 39th victory in 447 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and 11th top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and 11th top-10 finish in 26 races at Pocono Raceway.
Kevin Harvick (second) posted his 15th top-10 finish in 34 races at Pocono Raceway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2017.
Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 24 races at Pocono Raceway.
Daniel Suarez (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
Martin Truex Jr. leads the point standings by 85 points over Kyle Larson.
Busch’s victory marked the 100th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win for Toyota
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-30-2017)
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings:
[after Pocono, race 21 of 36]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr [3 wins], 823
2) #42-Kyle Larson [2], 738, -85
3) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 726, -97
4) #18-Kyle Busch [1], 723, -100
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [2], 649, -174
See full standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Pocono, race 21 of 36, 5 more races until the playoffs]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 3 wins
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3 wins
3) #42-Kyle Larson, 2 wins
4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2 wins
5) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2 wins
6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 1 win
7) #18-Kyle Busch, 1 win
8) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win
9) #21-Ryan Blaney, 1 wins
10) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win
11) #31-Ryan Newman, 1 win
12) #5-Kasey Kahne, 1 win
13) #3-Austin Dillon, 1 win
currently in on points
14) #24-Chase Elliott, 616, +39 ahead of 17th
15) #1-Jamie McMurray, 615, +38
16) #20-Matt Kenseth, 594, +17
currently outside the playoffs
17) #14-Clint Bowyer, 577, -17 behind 16th
18) #22-Joey Logano, [1 win but can’t be used for playoffs], 525, -69
19) #77-Erik Jones, 469, -125
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 100) of the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway (lap 100/160):
#14-Bowyer, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#2-Keselowski, 9pts
#10-Patrick, 8pts
#41-Busch, 7pts
#31-Newman, 6pts
#5-Kahne, 5pts
#17-Stenhouse, Jr., 4pts
#6-Bayne, 3pts
#95-McDowell, 2pts
#47-Allmendinger, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 50)of the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway (lap 50/160):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#78-Truex Jr., 9pts
#4-Harvick, 8pts
#2-Keselowski, 7pts
#21-Blaney, 6pts
#1-McMurray, 5pts
#11-Hamlin, 4pts
#14-Bowyer, 3pts
#42-Larson, 2pts
#24-Elliott, 1pt
#18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light pole for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway with speed of 179.372mph for his 5th pole of 2017, 3rd at Pocono and 24th of his career. Busch has won 4 times from the 23 previous poles.
#78-Truex, Jr. will start 2nd followed by #1-McMurray, #11-Hamlin, #21-Blaney, #4-Harvick, #14-Bowyer, #19-Suarez, #77-Jones, #22-Logano, #2-Keselowski, and #5-Kahne.
#11-Hamlin was fastest in the second round with a speed of 177.845mph, will start 4th.
#78-Truex, Jr. was fastest in the first round with a speed of 176.915mph, will start 2nd.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 38 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(7-30-2017)
Pocono Raceway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 44th Annual Overton’s 400 with a lap of 50.175 seconds, 179.372 mph.
This is his 24th pole in 447 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his fifth pole and 18th top-10 start in 2017.
This is his fourth pole in 26 races at Pocono Raceway.
Martin Truex Jr. (second) posted his 17th top-10 start of 2017 and his sixth in 24 races at Pocono Raceway.
Jamie McMurray (third) posted his eighth top-10 start at Pocono Raceway. It is his 17th in 21 races this season.
Daniel Suarez (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-30-2017)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#11-Hamlin 177.845
#18-Busch 177.764
#78-Truex, Jr. 177.413
#21-Blaney 177.158
#19-Suarez 176.970
the rest of the top 12: 4 1 14 22 5 77 2
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 24 48 42 20 95 41 6 31 17 10 88 37
(7-30-2017)
First Round of Qualifying for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#78-Truex, Jr. 176.915
#19-Suarez 176.651
#21-Blaney 176.512
#1-McMurray 176.460
#77-Jones 176.039
the rest of the top 24: 42 41 5 2 11 4 31 14 20 6 22 17 24 10 95 88 48 37 18;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 43 3 27 47 32 13 34 72 38 23 15 83 55 33
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 38 entered
(7-30-2017)
Pocono Sunday Pre-Race Schedule:
2:30pm: Driver introductions
3:00pm: Invocation by Nick Terry from MRO
3:01pm: National anthem by Robin Smith
3:02pm: Flyby by KC-135 from the 108th New Jersey ARW, McGuire AFB
3:07pm: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by Peter Hagemann, Vice President of E-Commerce Overton’s
3:18pm: Green Flag – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 – NBCSN MRN
News from July 29, 2017
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway have been made.
With qualifying held on Sunday this week, pit selection was based on qualifying results from Indianapolis.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (8,17,41) have been eliminated, are not in play and don’t count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Indianapolis pole sitter #18-Busch chose pit stall 1, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
The second pit stall was taken by #4-Harvick, who started 2nd at Indianapolis.
#1-McMurray, who started 3rd last week, took the 31st stall, with an opening in front of it.
The final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who started 4th at Indianapolis.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(7-30-2017)
Saturday Pocono Notebook: Earnhardt looks to Pocono and Michigan as best winning chances; Addition of Blaney will add depth to Team Penske; Truex rues losing tire changers to suspension[More](7-29-2017)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is over, after 505 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 176.824
#42-Larson 175.908
#1-McMurray 175.647
#11-Hamlin 175.415
#24-Elliott 175.261
slowest: #55-Cope 163.538 & #83-Leicht 163.041
Top 10 consecutive lap average (of 7 drivers): #18-Busch, 173.058mph
notes: no accidents or incidents
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (7-29-2017)
Saturday 1st practice for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five and notes:
#20-Kenseth 176.077
#42-Larson 175.957
#77-Jones 175.415
#18-Busch 175.360
#37-Buescher 174.774
slowest: Leicht 162.934 & #55-Cope 162.922
most laps run: $24-Elliott, 27
Top 10 consecutive lap average (of 3 drivers): #1-McMurray 172.280.
#83-Leicht spun during practice but did not hit anything.
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf)(7-29-2017)
Ryan Preece finds Victory Lane at Iowa in pressure-packed performance: Ryan Preece’s short-lived, but ambitious 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule began three weeks ago at his de facto home track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It ended Saturday in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway – as confetti swirled and soared to highlight his first career series triumph in Victory Lane.[More](7-29-2017)
Ryan Preece wins Iowa XFINITY race: #20-Ryan Preece won the US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway. It is his 1st XFINITY Series win. He dominated most of the race, leading all 60 laps in the first stage and 142 laps in total.
#18-Kyle Benjamin finished second (a career best), followed by #3-Brian Scott, #48-Brennan Poole, #00-Cole Custer, #14-J.J. Yeley, #21-Daniel Hemric, #11-Blake Koch, #9-William Byron, and #33-Brandon Jones.
The race ended under NASCAR overtime after a late accident.
There were 7 cautions for 40 laps and 4 lead changes among 4 leaders.
The average speed was 96.900mph.
Complete results are on the Iowa race results page (pdf).
(7-29-2017)
Race stage winners:
Stage 1 – lap 60 – Winner, #20-Ryan Preece
Stage 2 – lap 120 – Winner, #7-Justin Allgaier
Stage 3 – lap 250 – Race winner, #20-Ryan Preece
Iowa XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Ryan Preece won the 9th Annual U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by American Ethanol, his first victory in 38 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in three races at Iowa Speedway.
Kyle Benjamin (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Iowa Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2017.
Brian Scott (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 12 races at Iowa Speedway.
Cole Custer (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 54 points over William Byron.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-29-2017)
XFINITY Driver standings following Iowa:
1) Elliott Sadler, 707
2) #9-William Byron, 653, -54
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 564 , -143
4) #48-Brennan Poole, 518, -189
5) #21-Daniel Hemric, 488, -219
6) #00-Cole Custer, 474, -233
7) #19-Matt Tifft, 436, -271
8) #16-Ryan Reed, 424, -283
9) #28-Dakoda Armstrong, 388, -319
10) #11-Blake Koch, 374, -333
11) #5-Michael Annett, 371, -336
12) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 353, -354
13) #14-JJ Yeley, 339, -368
14) #39-Ryan Sieg, 337, -370
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(7-29-2017)
Ryan Preece on XFINITY pole at Iowa: #20-Ryan Preece won the Coors Light pole for the US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 130.857mph. It is his first career pole. #18-Kyle Benjamin will start second. The rest of the top 10: #21-Daniel Hemric, #22-Sam Hornish, Jr., #00-Cole Custer, #1-Elliott Sadler, #11-Blake Koch, #48-Brennan Poole, #60-Ty Majeski, and #18-Matt Tifft.
Did Not Qualify: #13-Bobby Earnhardt.
The starting lineup is posted on the Iowa starting lineup page (pdf).(7-29-2017)
Iowa XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Ryan Preece won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 9th Annual U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by American Ethanol with a lap of 24.072 seconds, 130.857 mph.
This is his first pole in 38 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2017.
This is his first pole in three races at Iowa Speedway.
Kyle Benjamin (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of 2017 and his second in two races at Iowa Speedway.
Daniel Hemric (third) posted his first top-10 start at Iowa Speedway. It is his 15th in 19 races this season.
Daniel Hemric (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-29-2017)
Indianapolis XFINITY TV ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from the Brickyard earned a 1.1 rating and 1.7 million viewers on NBCSN last Saturday, up a tick in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (1.0, 1.6M) but down 29% and 28% respectively from 2015 on the NBC broadcast network (1.6, 2.3M). It was the most-watched Xfinity Series race on cable since the season-opener at Daytona (2.3M).[Sports Media Watch](7-29-2017)
Bell wins Pocono: #4-Christopher Bell won the Overton’s 150 at Pocono Raceway on Saturday after taking the lead following a restart with just over five laps to go. #27-Ben Rhodes, #16-Ryan Truex, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #21-Johnny Sauter, #88-Matt Crafton, #19-Austin Cindric, #13-Cody Couhlin, #29-Chase Briscoe, and #24-Justin Haley were the remainder of the top-10.
There were four caution flags for 15 laps and four lead changes among four leaders.
See results on the Pocono race results page(7-29-2017)
Stage Information:
Stage 1 – 15 laps, winner, #51-Kyle Busch
Stage 2 – 30 laps, winner, #51-Kyle Busch
Stage 3 – 60 laps, winner, #4-Christopher Bell
Pocono Truck Series Race Fast Facts:
Christopher Bell won the 8th Annual Overton’s 150, his sixth victory in 42 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 11th top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway.
Ben Rhodes (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway. It is his sixth top-10 finish in 2017.
Ryan Truex (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one race at Pocono Raceway.
Austin Cindric (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
Christopher Bell leads the point standings by 18 points over Johnny Sauter.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-29-2017)
Truck Series point standings following Pocono:
1) #4-Christopher Bell, 528
2) #21-Johnny Sauter, 510, -18
3) #29-Chase Briscoe, 470, -58
4) #88-Matt Crafton, 464, -64
5)#8-John Hunter Nemechek, 396, -132
6) #27-Ben Rhodes, 387, -141
7) #16-Ryan Truex, 386, -142
8) #98-Grant Enfinger, 382, -146
9) #18-Noah Gragson, 345, -183
10) #19-Austin Cindric, 324, -204
See complete standings on Driver points standings page and the owner’s standings are posted on the Owner points standings page.(7-29-2017)
Free Pass – Who got a lap back on each caution at Pocono: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #63-Kvapil, 26th
Caution 2: #18-Gragson, 24th
Caution 3: #10-Cobb, 18th
Caution 4: #6-Benning, 21st
(7-29-2017)
Rhodes on pole at Pocono: #27-Ben Rhodes won the pole for Saturday’s Overton’s 150 at Pocono Raceway with a speed at 170.033mph. #51-Kyle Busch will start second. #4-Christopher Bell, #16-Ryan Truex, #29-Chase Briscoe, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #21-Johnny Sauter, #18-Noah Gragson, #88-Matt Crafton, and #02-Austin Hill were the remainder of the top-10.
Failed to qualify: none.
The starting lineup is posted on the Pocono starting lineup page(7-29-2017)
Pocono Qualifying Fast Facts:
Ben Rhodes won the Keystone Light 21 Means 21 Pole Award for the 8th Annual Overton’s 150 with a lap of 52.931 seconds, 170.033 mph.
This is his second pole in 39 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and ninth top-10 start in 2017.
This is his first pole in two races at Pocono Raceway.
Kyle Busch(i) (second) posted his fourth top-10 start of 2017 and his third in three races at Pocono Raceway.
Christopher Bell (third) posted his second top-10 start at Pocono Raceway. It is his 11th in 12 races this season.
Chase Briscoe (fifth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-29-2017)
News from July 28, 2017
Pocono/Iowa Friday Notebook: When it comes to patience, Ryan Truex has an excellent role model; The turns at Pocono are always a compromise; Ryan Preece hopes to ride momentum at Iowa[More](7-28-2017)
Target will not renew sponsorship of Larson: The company will exit motorsports completely.[More](7-28-2017)
JTG Daugherty unveils Darlington throwback scheme: A.J. Allmendinger’s throwback scheme will honor Terry Labonte’s 1986 Piedmont Airlines car.[More](7-28-2017)
Go Fas releases Darlington throwback scheme: Matt DiBenedetto’s #32 throwback scheme will honor Bobby Allison’s 1988 Daytona 500 winning car.[More](7-28-2017)
Gary Klutt to make Cup debut at Watkins Glen with Premium Motorsports: Premium Motorsports announced that Canada native Gary Klutt will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut August 6 at Watkins Glen behind the wheel of the #15 Color Compass Chevrolet. Klutt is currently in his third season driving in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series .[More](7-28-2017)
Chase Elliott’s Darlington throwback to honor his father Bill: When Chase Elliott hits the track at Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500, he’ll do so in a paint scheme special to the Elliott family. The driver’s #24 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet SS will have a retro look — a throwback to NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott’s ride in 1976.[More](7-28-2017)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms on the #23 at Pocono: Professional ice hockey team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, will be on board the #23 Toyota Camry of Corey LaJoie for this Sunday’s Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway. Based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are the proud American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL) Philadelphia Flyers.[More](7-28-2017)
Sam Hornish, Jr. fastest in first XFINITY practice: #22-Sam Hornish, Jr. was fastest during opening practice at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 127.422mph.
The rest of the top 10: #7-Justin Allgaier, #20-Ryan Preece, #9-William Byron, #60-Ty Majeski, #18-Kyle Benjamin, #1-Elliott Sadler, #00-Cole Custer and #3-Brian Scott.
All 41 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Iowa practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-28-2017)
Kennedy paces final XFINITY practice: #2-Ben Kennedy was quickest in final practice at Iowa Speedway with a speed of 129.929mph.
#20-Ryan Preece was second, followed by: #22-Sam Hornish, Jr., #18-Kyle Benjamin, #11-Blake Koch, #21-Daniel Hemric, #48-Brennan Poole, #00-Cole Custer, #3-Brian Scott, #1-Elliott Sadler.
40 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Iowa practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-28-2017)
Bell paces final Pocono Truck practice:#4-Christopher Bell was fastest during the rain-shortened final practice for Saturday’s Overton’s 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway with a speed of 168.647mph. #51-Kyle Busch, #21-Johnny Sauter, #33-Kaz Grala, #18-Noah Gragson, #52-Stewart Friesen, #24-Justin Haley, #88-Matt Crafton, #16-Ryan Truex, and #29-Chase Briscoewere the top-10. 24 trucks practiced during the session. See complete results on the Practice 2 speeds (pdf)(7-28-2017)
Haley fastest in opening Pocono Truck practice: #24-Justin Haley was fastest during the opening practice for Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway at 169.632mph. #51-Kyle Busch, #33-Kaz Grala, #4-Christopher Bell, #18-Noah Gragson, #21-Johnny Sauter, #27-Ben Rhodes, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #16-Ryan Truex, and #29-Chase Briscoe were the remainder of the top-10. 23 drivers practiced during the session. #19-Chase Briscoe hit the wall early in the session and the team pulled out the backup truck.
See complete results on the Practice 1 speeds (pdf)(7-28-2017)
News from July 27, 2017
Pocono/Iowa Weekend Preview: Dale Earnhardt Jr. attempts to secure playoff spot at Pocono; Byron hopes to continue dominant run at Iowa; Consistent Gragson making playoff push.[More](7-27-2017)
What to watch for: Pocono: Can Kyle Get 1st at Pocono? Will Hendrick Win 250? Another First-Time Winner at Pocono? Another Upset in the Works at Pocono? Who’s Hot and Who’s Not – Pocono Edition[More](7-27-2017)
NASCAR Foundation appoints four new members to board of directors: The NASCAR Foundation today announced the appointment of four members to the organization’s board of directors. The multi-faceted group represents business community experience and leadership at the local and national levels, positioning the Foundation for future growth in its mission to improve the quality of life for children in need.[More](7-27-2017)
Joe Gibbs Racing suspends #78 team pit crew members: Front-tire changer Chris Taylor and rear-changer Lee Cunningham were suspended for three races after a post-race incident with #18 crew chief Adam Stevens at Indianapolis.[More](7-27-2017)
New York City Fire Department Foundation returns to the #95 at Pocono: Michael McDowell and Leavine Family Racing (LFR) are thrilled to return to Pocono Raceway with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Foundation back on board the No. 95 Chevrolet SS. The FDNY Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to support fire and safety education, professional development, and training of members of the FDNY, first came on board with LFR in June for the first race at Pocono Raceway.[More](7-27-2017)
Kaz Grala and ChargeCords.com team up for multi-race partnershipKaz Grala and GMS Racing are proud to welcome ChargeCords.com on board for the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season. Making their first appearance on the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado as an associate sponsor for the Overton’s 150 at Pocono Raceway this weekend, ChargeCords.com will also step up as the primary sponsor for the LTI Printing 200 at Michigan International Speedway next month. They will then return for additional races later in the year.[More](7-27-2017)
News from July 26, 2017
Team Penske/Wood Brothers Teleconference: A transcript of Wednesday’s teleconference following the news that Ryan Blaney will move to Team Penske next year and Paul Menard will move to Wood Brothers Racing.[More](7-26-2017)
A look at many new, notes and story lines for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway- , see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes — Pocono
Indianapolis TV ratings: NBC earned a 3.3 overnight for yesterday’s Brickyard400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s up 18% from a 2.8 for last year’s race, though that was on NBCSN.(7-24-2017)
UPDATE: The NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 earned a 3.4 final rating and 5.6 million viewers on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 10% in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year.[More](7-26-2017)
Unique Pretzel Bakery joins Whitt at Pocono: Cole Whitt, driver of the TriStar Motorsports #72 entry will return to Pocono Raceway this weekend to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) with Unique Pretzel Bakery as primary sponsor. Unique Pretzel Bakery, a six-generation, family-owned and operated business based in Reading, Pennsylvania is an official partner of Pocono Raceway.[More](7-26-2017)
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Pocono, see the stats on the Statistical Advance – Analyzing Pocono page
Childress plans three teams in 2018: “Our entire RCR organization is 100 percent focused on getting all three of our Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series programs in the playoffs this year, and bringing another Cup championship to RCR in 2017. We will be announcing our plans for a third Cup team and our overall 2018 team lineup at a later date.”[More](7-26-2017)
Team Penske to expand to three car team in 2018..with Blaney Team Penske announced that Ryan Blaney will join the organization as a full-time driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) beginning in 2018 as the team returns to a three-car operation in NASCAR’s premier series. The 23-year-old Blaney, who also signed a multi-year contract extension with the team, will pilot the #12 Ford Fusion, beginning with the annual non-points “Clash” event at Daytona International Speedway in February. Team Penske has not competed as a full-time, three-car team since the 2010 season with Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. More details surrounding the #12 team, including sponsorship and crew chief, will be announced in the near future.(Team Penske)[Read More Here](7-26-2017)
Wood Brothers Racing and Paul Menard Team Up Beginning in 2018Wood Brothers Racing, the oldest active NASCAR team and one of the winningest teams in series history, and veteran driver Paul Menard, will join forces for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENSC) season. The new partnership will see the team continue to compete full time for the coming seasons with Menard driving the legendary #21 Ford Fusion. Menards, the industry-leading home improvement store company, will sponsor the #21 Ford for 22 MENCS races. Additional sponsorship, including plans for long-time partner Motorcraft/Quick Lane, will be announced at a later date. The team’s relationship with Roush-Yates Engines and the technical partnership with fellow Ford Performance organization, Team Penske, will also continue in 2018. In addition, Menard will run a handful of NXS races for Team Penske beginning in 2018.(Wood Brothers Racing)[Read More Here](7-26-2017)
Indianapolis post-race penalty: Joe Gibbs Racing’s #20 team crew chief Chris Gabehart has been fined $5000 following the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a violation of Sections 10.9.10.4: Tires and Wheels – Lug nut not properly installed.[NASCAR](7-29-2017)
Bit-O-Honey to sponsor Majeski at Iowa: In his second start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, Roush Fenway Racing development driver Ty Majeski will carry the Bit-O-Honey colors on the iconic No. 60 Ford Mustang. This is not the first time that Bit-O-Honey has teamed up with Roush Fenway in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The brand adorned Chris Buescher’s No. 60 Ford once in 2014 at Texas Motor Speedway and twice in 2015 (Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway) during Buescher’s Championship season. [More](7-26-2017)
Charlotte Motor Speedway offering Dale Jr. bobblehead for Bank of America 500: Fans feeling mixed emotions about Dale Earnhardt Jr. making his final Monster Energy Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway have reason to smile with news of the speedway’s latest promotion, which is sure to leave avid supporters shaking their heads in delight. For every two adult tickets purchased for the Oct. 8 Bank of America 500 – Earnhardt Jr.’s final chance at an elusive Monster Energy Cup series victory at his home track – buyers will receive a commemorative keepsake bobblehead of NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver, while supplies last.[More](7-26-2017)
Cody Jinks to perform pre-race concert at Bristol: Emerging star Cody Jinks will bring his unique outlaw country and classic Southern rock sound to the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race pre-race concert. Jinks, whose latest album “I’m Not the Devil” was released last August and debuted at Number Four on Billboard’s Country Albums chart, will perform Saturday, Aug. 19 on the backstretch prior to Bristol’s wildly popular driver introductions.[More](7-26-2017)
“First Responder Appreciation” ticket program at Talladega:Talladega Superspeedway is pleased to honor all active and retired First Responders with its new “First Responder Appreciation” ticket program, which will debut during the track’s NASCAR Playoff “Wildcard” weekend Oct. 13-15, featuring the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500. The program allows First Responders to take advantage of excellent savings of up to a remarkable 50% on a 2-day ticket option (which features Saturday’s fred’s 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and Sunday’s Alabama 500), a Sunday Only ticket option and Pre-Race Pit Passes (Sunday’s Alabama 500).[More](7-26-2017)
News from July 25, 2017
Goodyear conducts tire test at Dover: Five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers took their turns registering laps around Dover International Speedway on Tuesday as part of a Goodyear Tire Test session at the one-mile, concrete oval. Chris Buescher, Landon Cassill, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Joey Logano made dozens of laps in front of hundreds of fans as part of the Goodyear test, in advance of the upcoming NASCAR tripleheader weekend at the Monster Mile on Sept. 29-Oct. 1.[More](7-25-2017)
Clint Bowyer’s Darlington throwback honors Mark Martin: When you make a list of the most successful NASCAR drivers in the last three decades, it doesn’t take long for Mark Martin’s name to rise to the top. The Batesville, Arkansas-native won 40 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races, finished second in the championship standings five times and notched five titles in the IROC Series during the course of his 31-year career. The 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee was also incredibly proficient in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, winning 49 races and 30 poles. Clint Bowyer and his #14 Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) team will tap into that proficiency in the Sept. 3 Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series event at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway when they honor Martin with a throwback paint scheme from when he drove a Carolina Ford Dealers Ford Thunderbird for Bill Davis Racing in 43 XFINITY Series races between 1988 and 1991.[More](7-25-2017)
Sundance Vacations and the United Way of Northeast Pennsylvania join Cope at Pocono: To raise awareness of the importance of early childhood education, Sundance Vacations and the United Way of NEPA are partnering to sponsor the #55 with Premium Motorsports Driven by Derrike Cope in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in a Race for the Kids initiative. In addition to the awareness, Sundance Vacations’ goal is to raise money for the organization via public support.[More](7-25-2017)
Keselowski signs contract extension with Penske: Team Penske announced today that the organization has reached an agreement with Brad Keselowski to remain with the team as the driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion well into the future. The multi-year extension ensures that the 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Champion and 23-time MENCS race winner will continue to be an integral part of Team Penske – the only team he has driven for full-time over the course of his 10-year MENCS career. The announcement follows the news that #2 team crew chief, Paul Wolfe, has also agreed to a multi-year extension with Team Penske.[More](7-27-2017)
Phoenix engaged in naming-rights talks: Phoenix Raceway is engaged in naming-rights talks as the ISC-owned track is in the midst of a $178M renovation that is slated for completion late next year.[More](7-25-2017)
Christmas in July with Phoenix Raceway: There are only 110 days left until the Can-Am 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race weekend and what better way to celebrate the second half of the NASCAR season than with unbeatable ‘Christmas in July’ offerings exclusively at Phoenix Raceway. The popular fall race features a full weekend of NASCAR action, including semifinal racing from the top-three series in NASCAR.[More](7-25-2017)
News from July 24, 2017
Sad News – Mark Smith: Mark C. Smith, 63, of Mooresville, NC, passed away peacefully in his home on July 22, 2017 surrounded by loved ones after a long and private battle with cancer.[More](7-24-2017)
Dick Stevens Jerky joins Go Fas Racing: Fresh off of their best-ever finish, an eighth-place run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Go Fas Racing is proud to announce that Dick Stevens Jerky will be joining Matt DiBenedetto and the Go Fas Racing team as a partner, beginning this weekend for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400.[More](7-24-2017)
Kyle Larson set to launch racing-themed children’s book: Not long ago a 7-year-old was strapped into a racecar in advance of his first-ever dirt track event; ready to chase his dreams of making it to the big time. Fast-forward to the present day, and Chip Ganassi Racing driver Kyle Larson is now a top contender in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS). Larson, who was raised on racing, jumped at the chance to work on a children’s book to help teach kids about the sport he loves. The picture book project, titled “Kyle Loves Racing”, is being created in conjunction with Chris Workman and Apex Legends, an established motorsports children’s book publisher.[More](7-24-2017)
Indianapolis TV ratings: NBC earned a 3.3 overnight for yesterday’s Brickyard400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s up 18% from a 2.8 for last year’s race, though that was on NBCSN.[More](7-24-2017)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. joining NBC in 2018: Dale Earnhardt Jr., the motorsports icon voted by fans as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years (2003-16), will join NBC Sports Group’s NASCAR coverage beginning in 2018, it was announced Monday. Earnhardt will be utilized in a number of capacities on NBC’s NASCAR coverage, with specifics to be announced in the coming months. In addition, the agreement with NBCUniversal allows Earnhardt a wide range of opportunities in the company’s media businesses, including movies, television, podcasts, and other areas.[More](7-24-2017)
Entry List for the Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is posted, 38 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
36 teams with Charters are guaranteed to make the field. The rest need to make the field via qualifying / qualifying races / rules book (owners attempts/points).
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Sorenson, #23-LaJoie, #33-JEarnhardt, #55-Cope*, #83-TBA*.
The #51 team is not entered.
Since only 38 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
Brickyard 400 commercial breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 2:25 PM, stopped for a Red Flag rain delay at 3:06 PM; began again at 4:43 PM; then stopped at the waving of the caution flag at 8:55 PM (all times are EDT).[More](7-24-2017)
Sunday Indianapolis Notebook: Earnhardt exits Brickyard early after chain-reaction crash; Restart wreck eliminates the two fastest cars; Trevor Bayne comes tantalizingly close to victory[More](7-24-2017)
Clements unveils A.J. Foyt inspired Darlington throwback scheme:Jeremy Clements Racing is excited to announce their throwback car for Darlington, A.J. Foyt’s (SuperTex) 1964 Daytona Firecracker 400 winner. Www.RepairableVehicles.com will power the #51 Camaro SS to honor not only Foyt but, also Jeremy’s Grandfather Crawford Clements. [More](7-24-2017)
XFINITY Entry List: There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s US Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway.
See the complete list on the Iowa entry list page.(7-24-2017)
Truck Series entry list: There are 30 trucks entered for Saturday’s Overton’s 150 at Pocono Raceway. See the complete list on the Pocono entry list page (pdf).(7-24-2017)
Indianapolis ticket renewals now available: Race fans can renew their tickets now for the 2018 Big Machine Brickyard 400 and Lilly Diabetes 250 – at 2017 prices – as the annual NASCAR race weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway enters an exciting new era next year.[More](7-24-2017)
News from July 23, 2017
Kasey Kahne snatches improbable victory at the Brickyard: In semi-darkness, as the sun set behind the frontstretch grandstand at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kasey Kahne did all he could to dispel the shadow overhanging his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season and his racing career. With a phenomenal restart in the second overtime of Sunday’s Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400, Kahne cleared race leader Brad Keselowski through the first two corners and crossed the overtime line on the backstretch before NASCAR called the record 14th caution of the race.[More](7-23-2017)
NASCAR explains end of Indianapolis race: NASCAR defended its action on when the caution was called during the second overtime in Sunday night’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Denny Hamlin began wrecking on the backstretch before leader Kasey Kahne crossed the overtime line in the middle of the backstretch. NASCAR didn’t call the caution until after Kahne crossed the overtime line, ending the race under caution.[More](7-23-2017)
Kasey Kahne won the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his 1st win of 2017, 1st win at Indianapolis, and 18th career win. It is his first win since Atlanta in August of 2014.
#2-Keselowski finished 2nd then #31-Newman, #22-Logano, #20-Kenseth, #4-Harvick, #19-Suarez, #32-DiBenedetto, #37-Buescher, and #47-Allmendinger.
The race ended under caution during the second attempt at overtime and with it getting darker at the track. There was a wreck on the backstretch, but the leader had already passed the overtime line when the caution came out.
Kahne got into postion for the win by pitting with 11 laps to go, only to have a caution with 10 laps remaining. When most other drivers pitted, he took the lead. Keselowski lead on the final restart, but Kahne passed him in turn one.
Pole sitter, #18-Busch dominated the first half of the race, winning both stage 1 and stage 2 and leading 87 laps. However with 50 laps to go, Truex got loose on a restart and slid up into Busch, sending them both into the wall. Busch finished 34th, while Truex finished 33rd.
#78-Truex Jr. driver points lead increases to 48 points over #42-Larson.
There were 10 lead changes among 7 drivers and a record 14 cautions for 55 yellow flag laps.
Thee race was red flagged for 1 hour, 47 minutes on lap 13 because of rain and again on laps 190 and 163 for track cleanup after accidents.
The average speed of the race was: 114.384mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
Race Fast Facts – Indianapolis
Kasey Kahne won the 24th Annual Brickyard 400, his 18th victory in 488 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 14 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Brad Keselowski (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in eight races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2017.
Ryan Newman (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in 17 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Daniel Suarez (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
Martin Truex Jr. leads the point standings by 48 points over Kyle Larson.
Kahne’s victory today is Hendrick Motorsport’s 10th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Jeff Gordon 5, Jimmie Johnson 4 and Kasey Kahne 1) – series-most.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-23-2017)
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings:
[after Indianapolis, race 20 of 36]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr [3], 780
2) #42-Kyle Larson [2 wins], 732, -48
4) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 683, -97
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 673, -107
5) #11-Denny Hamlin [1], 612, -168
See full standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Indianapolis, race 20 of 36, 6 more races until the playoffs]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr., 3 wins
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3 wins
3) #42-Kyle Larson, 2 wins
4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2 wins
5) #17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2 wins
6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 1 win
7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 1 win
8) #21-Ryan Blaney, 1 wins
9) #41-Kurt Busch, 1 win
10) #31-Ryan Newman, 1 win
11) #5-Kasey Kahne, 1 win
12) #3-Austin Dillon, 1 win
currently in on points
13) #18-Kyle Busch, 673 points
14) #1-Jamie McMurray, 599, +66 ahead of 17th
15) #24-Chase Elliott, 588, +55
16) #20-Matt Kenseth, 566, +33
currently outside the playoffs
17) #14-Clint Bowyer, 533, -33 behind 16th
18) #22-Joey Logano, [1 win but can’t be used for playoffs], 515, -51
19) #77-Erik Jones, 440, -126
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 100) of the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (lap 100/160):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#78-Truex, Jr., 9pts
#21-Blaney, 8pts
#77-Jones, 7pts
#4-Harvick, 6pts
#20-Kenseth, 5pts
#22-Logano, 4pts
#11-Hamlin, 3pts
#2-Keselowski, 2pts
#1-McMurray, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 50) of the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (lap 50/160):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#78-Truex Jr., 9pts
#21-Blaney, 8pts
#4-Harvick, 7pts
#22-Logano, 6pts
#20-Kenseth, 5pts
#1-McMurray, 4pts
#42-Larson, 3pts
#48-Johnson, 2pts
#88-Earnhardt, Jr., 1pt
Hendrick, Earnhardt, Jr., Bowman press conference transcript:Following the announcement that Alex Bowman would drive the #88 next season, Rick Hendrick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Alex Bowman met with the media Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.[More](7-23-2017)
Goodyear’s Campbell set to retire after Brickyard race: Rick Campbell, Goodyear’s Project Manager for NASCAR Programs, will retire after the Brickyard 400 race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Campbell is in his 39th year with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, entirely in the Racing Division.[More](7-23-2017)
News from July 22, 2017
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (41,42,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don’t count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #18-Busch chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #4-Harvick took pit stall 10, with an opening in front of it.
#1-McMurray, who starts 3rd, took the 17th stall.
The final pit stall was taken by #10-Patrick, who starts 23rd.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(7-29-2017)
Kyle Busch wins pole to start quest for third straight Indianapolis win: Kyle Busch’s quest for an unprecedented third straight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway couldn’t have gotten off to a better start on Saturday evening. Streaking around the 2.5-mile track in 48.051 seconds (187.301 mph), Busch won the pole position for Sunday’s Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 by .250 seconds over Kevin Harvick (186.332 mph).[More](7-22-2017)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#18-Busch 186.660
#11-Hamlin 186.324
#4-Harvick 186.116
#78-Truex, Jr. 186.058
#22-Logano 185.904
the rest of the top 12: 1 77 48 2 31 41 21
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 88 20 19 24 27 14 5 3 6 10 95 17
(7-22-2017)
First Round of Qualifying for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#1-McMurray 187.395
#18-Busch 186.753
#48-Johnson 186.606
#88-Earnhardt, Jr. 186.594
#4-Harvick 186.587
the rest of the top 24: 22 2 31 77 21 24 6 11 41 20 3 19 78 27 14 17 10 95 5;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 42 37 32 13 43 38 34 23 7 72 51 55 33 66 15 47
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 40 entered
(7-22-2017)
NASCAR Racing Experience, Richard Petty Driving Experience to merge: NASCAR’s leading fan driving experience partners – NASCAR Racing Experience and Richard Petty Driving Experience – announced today they will consolidate the two organizations and their operations to deliver the ultimate on-track fan experience at more than 20 racetracks around the country.[More](7-22-2017)
Saturday Indianapolis Notebook: Dale Earnhardt Jr. preoccupied with staying competitive in his final season; Denny Hamlin sees the light-at the end of the tunnel; Kyle Larson has a recommendation for the #77 car .[More](7-22-2017)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#77-Jones 185.854
#4-Harvick 185.824
#21-Blaney 185.816
#48-Johnson 185.487
#1-McMurray 185.460
slowest: #15-Gase 167.489
most laps run: #20-Kenseth, 34 laps
best 10 consecutive lap avg (of 12 drivers ): #48-Johnson 180.951.
notes: no accidents or incidents
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (7-22-2017)
Richard Petty Motorsports searching for sponsorship for Wallace UPDATE: The team is also still working on renewal with Smithfield for the #43 team.(7-18-2017)
UPDATE: If RPM could secure sponsorship for a second squad, team owner Richard Petty would like to see the 23-year-old racer return the fold.[More](7-22-2017)
Saturday 1st practice for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five and notes:
#11-Hamlin 187.414
#78-Truex, Jr. 185.559
#20-Kenseth 185.200
#5-Kahne 185.151
#42-Larson 185.002
slowest: #15-Gase 168.190
most laps run: #5-Kahne & #24-Elliott, 23 laps.
Only drivers to run 10 consecutive laps: #5-Kahne 182.792 & #1-McMurray 180.857.
notes: no accidents or incidents
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf)(7-22-2017)
New Hampshire XFINITY TV ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from New Hampshire earned a 0.8 final rating and 1.2 million viewers on NBCSN last Saturday, exactly even with last year but down a tick and 13% respectively from 2015 (0.9, 1.3M). It was the most-watched Xfinity Series race on cable since Fontana on FS1 in March (1.5M).[Sports Media Watch](7-22-2017)
XFINITY rookie William Byron holds off Paul Menard in Brickyard debut: With a new competition package that produced a race-record 16 lead changes and the closest NASCAR XFINITY Series finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, William Byron threw more blocks than an NFL fullback in holding off charging Paul Menard to win Saturday’s Lilly Diabetes 250. Byron made the decisive pass for the lead on Lap 85, surging past JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler into the top spot. Menard gained two spots, from fourth to second over a six-circuit stretch from Laps 90 to 96 but couldn’t overtake Byron, who blocked each of Menard’s attempts to make a winning pass.[More](-2017)
William Byron wins Indianapolis XFINITY race: #9-William Byron won the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his 3rd XFINITY Series win. #2-Paul Menard finished second, followed by #22-Joey Logano, pole sitter #1-Elliott Sadler, #00-Cole Custer, #16-Ryan Reed, #48-Brennan Poole, #21-Daniel Hemric, #3-Ty Dillon, and #33-Brandon Jones.
There were 5 cautions for 22 laps and 17 lead changes among 9 leaders.
The average speed was 126.227mph.
Complete results are on the Indianapolis race results page (pdf).
(7-22-2017)
Race stage winners:
Stage 1 – lap 30 – Winner, #9-William Byron
Stage 2 – lap 60 – Winner, #1-Elliott Sadler
Stage 3 – lap 100 – Race winner, #9-William Byron
Indianapolis XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
William Byron won the 6th Annual Lilly Diabetes 250, his third victory in 18 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in his first start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Paul Menard(i) (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in six races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2017.
Joey Logano(i) (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in five races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
William Byron (first) was the highest finishing rookie.
Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 40 points over William Byron #.
Today’s race produced a series track record 16 lead changes – previous record was nine (twice, most recently 2014)
Today’s race produced a series track record of eight different leaders – previous record was six (three times, most recently 2015)
Byron becomes the youngest series winner at IMS at the age of 19 years, 7 months and 23 days – previous record was held by Ty Dillon at 22 years, 4 months, 29 days.
Today’s Margin of Victory of 0.108 second is the series record for the closest MOV at IMS – previous record was 0.411 second (2016).
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-22-2017)
XFINITY Driver standings following Indianapolis:
1) #1-Elliott Sadler, 665
2) #9-William Byron [3 wins], 625, -40
3) #7-Justin Allgaier [1 win], 532, -133
4) #48-Brennan Poole, 473, -192
5) #21-Daniel Hemric, 458, -207
6) #00-Cole Custer, 435, -230
7) #19-Matt Tifft, 414, -251
8) #16-Ryan Reed [1 win], 408, -257
9) #28-Dakoda Armstrong, 368, -297
10) #5-Michael Annett, 367, -298
11) #11-Blake Koch, 344, -321
12) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 329, -336
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(7-22-2017)
Elliott Sadler on XFINITY pole at Indianapolis: #1-Elliott Sadler won the Coors Light pole for the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 165.283mph. #20-Erik Jones will start second. The rest of the top 10:
#9-Wiliam Byron, #7-Justin Allgaier, #5-Michael Annett, #00-Cole Custer, #19-Matt Tifft, #39-Ryan Sieg, #96-Ben Kennedy, and #16-Ryan Reed.
Did Not Qualify: None.
The starting lineup is posted on the Indianapolis starting lineup page (pdf).(7-22-2017)
Indianapolis XFINITY Qualifying Notes:
Elliott Sadler won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 6th Annual Lilly Diabetes 250 with a lap of 54.452 seconds, 165.283 mph.
This is his 17th pole in 347 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his first pole and eighth top-10 start in 2017.
This is his first pole in six races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones(i) (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2017 and his third in three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
William Byron (third) posted his first top-10 start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is his 14th in 18 races this season.
William Byron (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-22-2017)
Elliott Sadler on XFINITY pole at Indianapolis: #1-Elliott Sadler won the Coors Light pole for the Lilly Diabetes 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 165.283mph. #20-Erik Jones will start second. The rest of the top 10:
#9-Wiliam Byron, #7-Justin Allgaier, #5-Michael Annett, #00-Cole Custer, #19-Matt Tifft, #39-Ryan Sieg, #96-Ben Kennedy, and #16-Ryan Reed.
Did Not Qualify: None.
The starting lineup is posted on the Indianapolis starting lineup page (pdf).(7-22-2017)
News from July 21, 2017
Friday Indianapolis Notebook: Kyle Busch hopes to win the race-and the numbers game-at Indianapolis; NASCAR optimistic about XFINITY rules package for the Brickyard.[More](7-21-2017)
NASCAR considering further limits to Cup drivers in XFINITY Seriess: NASCAR has talked with Xfinity teams about further limiting Cup drivers in Xfinity races, series managing director Wayne Auton said Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. One possibility would be for Cup drivers to be limited to five Xfinity races only regardless of their experience level, which could be a significant cut for some drivers.[More](7-21-2017)
Justin Allgaier paces final XFINITY practice: #7-Justin Allgaier was quickest in final practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 166.485mph.
#19-Matt Tifft was second, followed by: #18-Kyle Busch, #1-Elliott Sadler, #9-William Byron, #2-Paul Menard, #96-Ben Kennedy, #3-Ty Dillon, #21-Daniel Hemric, and #11-Blake Koch.
All 40 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Indianapolis practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-21-2017)
Elliott Sadler fastest in first XFINITY practice: #1-Elliott Sadler was fastest during opening practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with a speed of 166.420mph.
The rest of the top 10: #7-Justin Allgaier, #18-Kyle Busch, #20-Erik Jones, #2-Paul Menard, #9-William Byron, #42-Tyler Reddick, #48-Brennan Poole, #00-Cole Custer, and #19-Matt Tifft.
37 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Indianapolis practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-21-2017)
NASCAR weekend provides big win for SCC, nonprofits at New Hampshire: Another NASCAR race weekend has sped through New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Tens of thousands of fans walked through the gates last week, where they were treated to five races in three days, culminating with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 301. Denny Hamlin was Sunday’s big winner, but it was also a successful weekend for the New Hampshire Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities and close to 70 volunteer groups, which combined to raise more than $280,000.[More](7-21-2017)
News from July 20, 2017
Indianapolis Weekend Preview: Winless Kyle Busch goes for third straight victory at Indy; Byron prepared to continue breakout at Brickyard[More](7-20-2017)
East Carolina University will not appear on the #51 at Indianapolis:East Carolina’s foray into NASCAR sponsorship has hit a wall. Sunday’s Monster Energy Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was slated to be the second of a three-race deal in which Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 Chevrolet featured ECU’s colors and logos. The race team informed the university Wednesday that it is going in a different direction because the sponsorships it expected the purple and gold car to generate did not materialize.More](7-20-2017)
Alex Bowman to replace Earnhardt, Jr. in the #88 next season One year after his impressive debut with Hendrick Motorsports, the team has named Alex Bowman full-time driver of the #88 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series with a 19-race majority sponsorship from Nationwide beginning in 2018. Bowman, 24, piloted the #88 Chevrolet SS in 10 of the final 18 Cup races last season in place of injured driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Tucson, Arizona, native debuted July 17, 2016, at New Hampshire and went on to earn three top-10 finishes with the team including a sixth-place result at Phoenix, where he won the pole position and led a race-high 194 laps.[More](7-20-2017)
Gase partners with The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation for the Brickyard 400 UPDATE: Gase and The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation are excited to announce they are teaming up together to spread awareness for brain aneurysms; which Gase’s mother, Mary, suddenly passed away from in April 2011. Lisa Colagrossi, a well-known TV journalist for ABC News, suffered a sudden brain aneurysm while on assignment in New York City in March 2015. Lisa’s husband, Todd Crawford, started the foundation to bring awareness and has emerged as the leader of awareness and education of brain aneurysms in the United States. Being Gase’s first Brickyard 400, he is excited to have The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation on the car. He will also be honoring those who have suffered a brain aneurysm, including his mom and Lisa, on the car with colored ribbons. Konrad Reuland, former NFL player for the Ravens and Jets, will have his picture adorn on the hood of Gase’s #15 Premium Motorsports Chevy. Reuland was 29 years old when he suffered a fatal brain aneurysm on November 28, 2016. The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation (TLCF) is a non-profit organization that has emerged as the leader in awareness and education for brain aneurysms in the United States since it was founded in 2015, months after the death of its namesake.(7-18-2017)
UPDATE: This weekend, along with primary partner, The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation, Gase and Premium Motorsports welcomes DURATECH to the #15 team as an associate partner for the historic Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, ‘Brickyard 400’ at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.(Premium Motorsports)[Read More Here](7-20-2017)
Brett Moffitt joins GMS Racing at Iowa Speedway: GMS Racing officially announced today that Iowa native, Brett Moffitt will fill the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) #96 Northland Foundations Inc. Chevrolet Camaro entry at Iowa Speedway. This event will mark Moffitt’s second NXS event at his hometown track of Iowa Speedway. In his first NXS start, Moffitt collected a top-10 finish at the 7/8-mile track in 2012.[More](7-20-2017)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from Eldora scores viewership increase The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from NASCAR champion Tony Stewart’s dirt track at Eldora Speedway aired on FOX Business Network on Wednesday night, and the 9:30-11:45 PM ET race window averaged 660,000 viewers, up 2% from last year’s race on FS1 (644,000), according to Nielsen Media Research. It is the third-best streaming performance of an NCWTS race this season, behind Daytona and Atlanta.[More](7-20-2017)
“Two for $88” ticket package back to honor Dale Earnhardt, Jr. for his final Talladega start: With just 88 days until Talladega Superspeedway’s Alabama 500, the popular “Two for $88” ticket package is back in celebration of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s much-anticipated final scheduled start at NASCAR’s Most Competitive track – the place he calls a “second home.” The special “Two for $88” Dale Jr. ticket package – which salutes the six-time Talladega winner and NASCAR’s 14-time Most Popular driver during his JR Nation Apprici88tion Tour – offers fans an incredible $42 savings off the regular price for two Lincoln Grandstand tickets for the Alabama 500, set for Sunday, Oct. 15.[More](7-20-2017)
Jason Wonderly joins Texas Motor Speedway: Veteran motorsports marketing executive Jason Wonderly has been named Vice President of Sales for Texas Motor Speedway. Wonderly joins Texas Motor Speedway after spending the past nine years with Team Penske as the director of marketing partnerships and new business at the racing organization’s headquarters in Mooresville, N.C. He will manage an 11-person business development team for one of the world’s premier motorsports facilities that annually plays host to marquee NASCAR and INDYCAR events[More](7-20-2017)
Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 fans encouraged to plan ahead: Fans attending the 24th annual Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 and sixth annual Lilly Diabetes 250 on July 21-23 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are encouraged to “Plan Your Visit” through an interactive web page that serves as a home base for those headed to the track during this exciting NASCAR race weekend.[More](7-20-2017)
News from July 19, 2017
Moen sponsoring Whitt at Indianapolis: Moen, the number-one faucet brand in America, has committed to serve as the primary sponsor of the #72 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entry with driver Cole Whitt for this weekend’s race at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).[More](7-19-2017)
A look at many new, notes and story lines for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes — Indianapolis
La Colombe joins Gray Gaulding and Premium Motorsports at Pocono: La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster and ready-to-drink coffee disruptor, is proud to announce a partnership with Gray Gaulding and the Premium Motorsports team. Gaulding will drive the #15 La Colombe Draft Latte Chevrolet in the upcoming Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30.[More](7-19-2017)
http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2017/story/_/id/20098747/indianapolis:Junior’s last trip to Indy; Trucks hit the dirt; and more[More](7-19-2017)
New Hampshire post-race penalties: Two penalties were issued following the Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16, 2017. The crew chiefs for Daniel Suarez and Kurt Busch were each fined $10,000 for lugnut violations.[More](7-19-2017)
Sad News – Clyde Ritchie: Mr. Clyde Marshall Ritchie, age 86 passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at Tucker Hospice House, surrounded by his loving wife and co-workers. Clyde was a 1950 graduate of Hartsell High School and served our country in the US Air Force from 1950 to 1953. He retired from Pilot Freight Carriers and was currently employed with Hendrick Motor Sports. Clyde always had a love for NASCAR and NHRA racing, and his job with Hendrick was a dream come true. He had 28 years of service with Hendrick until his illness disallowed him to work.[More](7-19-2017)
TMC Transportation sponsoring Annett at Indianapolis: For the first time this season, Annett will have the black and gold colors of TMC Transportation on the #5 JRM Chevrolet.[More](7-19-2017)
Crafton wins Eldora: #88-Matt Crafton won the Dirt Derby 150 at Eldora Speedway on Wednesday night after he took the lead with 16 laps to go following a restart. He held on to the top spot following another caution flag and final restart with 10 laps remaining. It was Crafton’s first race win of the season, his 14th of his career. Pole-sitter #52-Stewart Friesen led 93 of the 150 laps and finished second despite valiant efforts. The dirt racing veteran Friesen and eventual third place finisher, #29-Chase Briscoe, had an intense battle for the runner-up spot in the closing laps. #98-Grant Enfinger, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #63-Bobby Pierce, #18-Noah Gragson, #24-Justin Haley, #4-Christopher Bell, and #19-Austin Cindric were the remainder of the top-10.
There were 10 caution flags for 59 laps and seven lead changes among four leaders.
See results on the Eldora race results page(7-19-2017)
Stage Information:
Stage 1 – 40 laps, winner, #88-Matt Crafton
Stage 2 – 90 laps, winner, #52-Stewart Friesen
Stage 3 – 150 laps, winner, #88-Matt Crafton
Eldora Truck Series Race Fast Facts:
Matt Crafton won the 5th Annual Eldora Dirt Derby 150, his 14th victory in 395 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and fifth top-10 finish in five races at Eldora Speedway.
Stewart Friesen (second) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Eldora Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2017.
Chase Briscoe (third) posted his first top-10 finish at Eldora Speedway.
Grant Enfinger (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Johnny Sauter leads the point standings by 7 points over Christopher Bell.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-19-2017)
Truck Series point standings following Eldora:
1) #21-Johnny Sauter, 478
2) #4-Christopher Bell, 471, -7
3) #29-Chase Briscoe, 431, -47
4) #88-Matt Crafton, 427, -51
5) #98-Grant Enfinger, 356, -122
6) #8-John Hunter Nemechek, 354, -124
7) #27-Ben Rhodes, 337, -141
8) #16-Ryan Truex, 336, -142
9) #18-Noah Gragson, 329, -149
10) #19-Austin Cindric, 292, -186
See complete standings on Driver points standings page and the owner’s standings are posted on the Owner points standings page.(7-19-2017)
Free Pass – Who got a lap back on each caution at Eldora: (and their finish)
Caution 1: none
Caution 2: none
Caution 3: #63-Pierce, 6th
Caution 4: none
Caution 5: #1-Hightower, 24th
Caution 6: #63-Pierce, 6th
Caution 7: #1-Hightower, 24th
Caution 8: #13-Coughlin, 11th
Caution 9: none
Caution 10: #99-Dillon, 12th
Heat race winners: #52-Friesen, #88-Crafton, #33-Grala , #4-Bell, #99-T Dillon, and Pierce, last chance qualifier winner.
Heat race results:
Heat race 1
Heat race 2
Heat race 3
Heat race 4
Heat race 5
Friesen fastest in qualifying at Eldora: #52-Stewart Friesen was fastest in single-truck qualifying for the Dirt Derby 150 at Eldora Speedway. Friesen ran a fast lap in 20.000 seconds at 90.000mph. #29-Chase Briscoe was second quick, followed by #33-Kaz Grala, #4-Christopher Bell, #18-Noah Gragson in the top-five.
The qualifying session set the lineup for the qualifying races to determine the starting order.
The #44-JR Heffner withdrew from the event with a blown engine.(7-19-2017)
Qualifying race 1: #52-Friesen, #40-Shipley, #8-Nemechek, #45-Abbey, #63-Pierce, #98-Enfinger, #6-Benning
Qualifying race 2: #29-Briscoe, #88-Crafton, #27-Rhodes, #19-Cindric, #02-Johnston, #49-Chavous, #13-Coughlin
Qualifying race 3: #33-Grala, #16-Truex, #51-Burton, #24-Haley, #10-Ciccarelli, #83-Yeley, #57-Regan
Qualifying race 4: #4-Bell, #75-Holman, #21-Sauter, #20-Creed, #66-Schrader, #0-Forrister, #44-Heffner
Qualifying race 5: #18-Gragson, #89-Abreu, #36-Windom, #99-TDillon, #1-Hightower, #50-Harmon
Last chance race: #63-Pierce, #13-Coughlin, #10-Ciccarelli, #1-Forrister, #50-Harmon, #6-Benning, #49-Chavous, #57-Regan
Eldora Qualifying Fast Facts:
Stewart Friesen won the Keystone Light Pole Award for the 5th Annual Eldora Dirt Derby 150 with a lap of 20.000 seconds, 90.000 mph.
This is his first pole in 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2017.
This is his first pole in two races at Eldora Speedway.
Chase Briscoe (second) posted his eighth top-10 start of 2017 and his first at Eldora Speedway.
Kaz Grala (third) posted his first top-10 start at Eldora Speedway. It is his fifth in 11 races this season.
Kaz Grala (third) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-19-2017)
Allison Grandstand at Dover to be open for Goodyear Tire Test on Tuesday, July 25: Dover International Speedway will open one section of grandstands for fans on Tuesday, July 25 as four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers are scheduled to participate in a Goodyear Tire Testing Session at the Monster Mile. Drivers scheduled to participate are Landon Cassill, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Joey Logano. The Allison Grandstand will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the session and seats are free to all fans.[More](7-19-2017)
The Struts to play free concert at Dover on Oct. 1: The Struts, an English rock band that has opened for acts such as The Rolling Stones, Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses, will perform a free concert on the AAA Stage at Victory Plaza.[More](7-19-2017)
News from July 18, 2017
NASCAR Confiscates Part from Logano’s Car UPDATE: Joey Logano’s playoff hopes took another blow Sunday in the Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Logano’s #22 Team Penske Ford began to spew smoke on lap 174, sending him to the pits and then the garage area. The team diagnosed a suspension issue and after more than thirty laps, he returned on track. Now Logano may face the wrath of NASCAR even more after the New Hampshire outing. Officials confiscated a suspension part from his car, which will be reviewed and evaluated at the R&D Center in Concord, NC.(Motor Racing Network)(7-17-2017)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced Tuesday that there would be no penalties.[Read More Here]
Brandon Igdalsky joins NASCAR: NASCAR announced today that Brandon Igdalsky has joined the organization as Managing Director of Event Marketing and Promotion, Evan Parker has been appointed Managing Director of Content Strategy, Scott Warfield has been named Managing Director of Digital and Social Content and Jeff Wohlschlaeger has been appointed Managing Director of Series Marketing. Igdalsky joins the organization after serving as president and CEO of Pocono Raceway. He will report to Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell, overseeing the team dedicated to working with track partners on a number of event-related initiatives. Igdalsky will lead the NASCAR-Track Council and will be based out of NASCAR’s Daytona Beach offices.[More](7-18-2017)
Richard Petty Motorsports searching for sponsorship for Wallace:The team is also still working on renewal with Smithfield for the #43 team.[More](7-18-2017)
New Hampshire TV Ratings: The Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway drew 3.2 million viewers on Sunday, 1.95 rating.[More](7-18-2017)
Gray Gaulding Ready to ‘Hit the Bricks’ with ‘Low T Center’: Gray Gaulding is excited to get behind the wheel of the No.#55 car with Premium Motorsports once again and this time, he’ll get to ‘hit the bricks’ at one of NASCAR’s the most notorious tracks on the circuit, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He’ll do this with ‘Low T Center’ as his primary partner for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, ‘Brickyard 400’.[More](7-18-2017)
Earnhardt, Jr. unveils Darlington throwback scheme: The scheme is patterned off the ACDelco scheme Earnhardt, Jr drove to his first XFINITY win in 1998.[More](7-18-2017)
Kenseth doesn’t expect to drive #88 next season: He tells SiriusXM Radio that he has nothing lined up for next year and is not concerned at this point.[More](7-18-2017)
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Indianapolis, see the stats on the Statistical Advance – Analyzing Indianapolis page
FAME expands NASCAR presence with Garrett Smithley at Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Indiana FAME has partnered with NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) driver, Garrett Smithley for the July 22 NXS Indianapolis 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This relationship stems from Garrett’s involvement with Kentucky FAME, and the organization’s effort to include all FAME chapters across the country.[More](7-18-2017)
Holman paces final Eldora Truck practice: #75-Caleb Holman was fastest during final practice for Wednesday’s Dirt Derby 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway with a speed of mph. #
#4-Christopher Bell, #99-Ty Dillon, #88-Matt Crafton, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #21-Johnny Sauter, #29-Chase Briscoe, #27-Ben Rhodes, #33-Kaz Grala, and #63-Bobby Pierece were the remainder of the top-10.
#21-Sauter was involved in a spin near the end of the session, collecting #51-Harrison Burton. Both teams are attempting to repair their trucks.
#29-Briscoe made heavy contact with the wall, forcing NASCAR and the track to make fast repairs to the wall following the impact. Briscoe’s crew pulled out the backup.
34 trucks are entered and all 34 practiced during the session. See complete results on the Practice 2 speeds (pdf)(7-18-2017)
Friesen fastest in opening Eldora Truck practice: #52-Stewart Friesen was fastest during the opening practice for Wednesday’s Camping World Truck Series race on the dirt at Eldora Speedway at 92.086mph. #99-Ty Dillon, #4-Christopher Bell, #27-Ben Rhodes, #89-Rico Abreu, #21-Johnny Sauter, #29-Chase Briscoe, #88-Matt Crafton, #18-Noah gragson, and #75-Caleb Holman were the remainder of the top-10. 31 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Practice 1 speeds (pdf)(7-18-2017)
Carly Pearce to sing National Anthem at Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400: Breakthrough singer-songwriter Carly Pearce will perform the national anthem before the start of the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 on Sunday, July 23 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Fueled with passionate vocals and effortless drive, Kentucky native Pearce is on the rise as her Big Machine Records’ debut single “Every Little Thing” ascends at Country radio. The feat solidifies her as the only solo female currently ranking into the Top 20 for airplay.[More](7-18-2017)
News from July 17, 2017
Entry List for the Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is posted, 41 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
36 teams with Charters are guaranteed to make the field. The rest need to make the field via qualifying / qualifying races / rules book (owners attempts/points).
Some of the drivers entered include: #7-Yeley*, #15-Gase, #23-LaJoie, #33-JEarnhardt, #51-BJ McLeod*, #55-Gaulding*, #66-Long*, #83-Sieg*
Drivers who drive for an Open Team* (no Charter) and need to race into the field: #7-Yeley*, #51-BJ McLeod*, #55-Gaulding*, #66-Long*, #83-Sieg*
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): #66-Long*
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
Earnhardt Jr. to reveal #88 Darlington at NASCAR HOF Dale Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to be at the NASCAR Hall of Fame (in Charlotte, NC) on Tuesday, July 18 at 2:00pm/et to reveal the #88 Nationwide Chevy throwback paint scheme for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. NASCAR Hall of Fame guests are invited to enjoy this exclusive first look of Earnhardt’s throwback paint scheme and to listen in as he takes questions from members of the media.(NASCAR Hall of Fame)[Read More Here](7-17-2017)
Darlington Tire Test, July 18th, FREE & open to public Fans who want to experience the sights and sounds of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series roaring around Darlington Raceway before the Bojangles’ Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend might want to pay a visit to the famed South Carolina track on Tuesday, July 18. On that day, Darlington Raceway is hosting a Goodyear tire test session from 9:00 am – 5:00pm/et. The test is free and open to the public, giving fans the opportunity to see NASCAR’s stars race around the high banks of the track Too Tough To Tame. Drivers currently scheduled to participate in the Goodyear tire test are #77-Erik Jones, #2-Brad Keselowski, #42-Kyle Larson and #31-Ryan Newman.(Darlington Raceway)[Read More Here](7-17-2017)
NASCAR Confiscates Part from Logano’s Car: Joey Logano’s playoff hopes took another blow Sunday in the Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Logano’s #22 Team Penske Ford began to spew smoke on lap 174, sending him to the pits and then the garage area. The team diagnosed a suspension issue and after more than thirty laps, he returned on track. Now Logano may face the wrath of NASCAR even more after the New Hampshire outing. Officials confiscated a suspension part from his car, which will be reviewed and evaluated at the R&D Center in Concord, NC.(Motor Racing Network)[Read More Here](7-17-2017)
#20 crew chief Ratcliff will not return to that role in 2018 Crew chief Jason Ratcliff will be following driver Matt Kenseth on the way out of the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyota in 2018. Ratcliff confirmed to NBC Sports after Kenseth’s fourth place finish Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that he won’t be returning atop the pit box next season when Erik Jones replaces Kenseth. Ratcliff said he isn’t sure if he will stay at Joe Gibbs Racing (“We’ll see,” he said with a smile), but he expects all of the car’s team members are secure at the organization.(NBC Sports)[Read More Here](7-17-2017)
NHMS Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2017 Overton’s 301For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Sunday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 3:00 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 6:23 PM (all times are EDT). NBCSN was the broadcast team for this event. Total number of commercials: 103.(CawsnJaws.com / Cheryl Walker)[Read More Here](7-17-2017)
Sunday New Hampshire Notebook Logano now must test his “do-or-die” theory; Truex runs third on a day that could have been better; Speeding penalties ruin Kyle Busch’s winning chances
Joey Logano is firm believer that his #22 Team Penske outfit is at its best with backs against the wall. After Sunday’s Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Logano will have a chance to prove that premise.
For Coors Light Pole winner Martin Truex Jr., Sunday’s Overton’s 301 had a similar feel to the #78 Furniture Row Racing team’s dominating run last weekend at Kentucky-at least for a while. Truex captured the first stage comfortably, increasing his series-best playoff points total to 29 and led the first 78 laps. But there the domination ended. Kyle Busch can take a lot of positives from the Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire.
He led 95 laps, second only to Martin Truex Jr.’s 137. He won the second stage, earning his fifth playoff point of the season. A pair of pit road speeding penalties, both in Segment 5 on the way to his pit box, cost him dearly in track position and dropped him to 12th at the finish.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-17-2017)
News from July 16, 2017
Denny Hamlin breaks frustrating drought with New Hampshire victory In a thrilling finish fraught with suspense, and in a backup car after a Friday crash in practice, Denny Hamlin held off a charging Kyle Larson to win the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Before the race, Hamlin and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization was in desperation mode, but when Hamlin took the checkered flag .509 seconds ahead of Larson, the picture changed dramatically. Hamlin secured a spot in the 10-race postseason playoff, which is now seven races away. In winning for the third time at the Magic Mile and the 30th time in his career, the driver of the #11 Toyota broke a personal 20-race drought, dating to last year’s playoff event at Texas Motor Speedway. That was also the last time any of the four JGR cars had won a race. Taking the green flag for the final time from the fourth position in the outside lane at a track treated with traction compound before the race, Hamlin passed teammate Matt Kenseth for the lead on Lap 268 and pulled out to an advantage of more than 2.5 seconds before Larson began to run him down. Kenseth had passed eventual third-place finisher Martin Truex Jr. for the top spot on Lap 261, one lap before Ryan Newman’s spin in Turn 2 caused the seventh caution and set up the final restart. Kenseth took right-side tires only under the yellow and was no match for Hamlin and Larson, who had fresh rubber on all four corners. Martin Truex Jr. led the first 78 laps and picked up his 14th stage win of the season in the first 75-lap segment, but a caution on Lap 67 for Cole Whitt’s blown engine divided the field on strategy. Truex stayed out under the yellow with 10 other drivers and collected the playoff point for the stage victory, while Kyle Busch led the rest of the field to pit road.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-16-2017)
#11-Denny Hamlin won the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in a backup car for his 1st win of 2017, 3rd win at New Hampshire and 30th career win.
It is Joe Gibbs Racing’s first win of 2017.
Stage 1 was won by #78-Truex Jr., finished 3rd
Stage 2 was won by #18-Busch, finished 12th
#42-Larson (for 7th time this season) finished 2nd followed by #78-Truex Jr. (pole winner and led the most laps), #20-Kenseth, #4-Harvick, #19-Suarez, #14-Bowyer, #41-Busch, #2-Keselowski & #48-Johnson.
#78-Truex Jr. increases the Driver Points lead to 38 points over #42-Larson.
There were 11 lead changes among 6 drivers and 7 cautions for 34 yellow flag laps and one short red flag for track repairs.
The average speed of the race was: 105.800mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Pit Times (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings:
[after New Hampshire, race 19 of 36]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr [3], 758
2) #42-Kyle Larson [2 wins], 720, -38
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 650, -108
3) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 639, -119
5) #11-Denny Hamlin [1], 589, -169
See full standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Race Fast Facts – New Hampshire
#11-Denny Hamlin won the 25th Annual Overton’s 301, his 30th victory in 417 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and 10th top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his third victory and 14th top-10 finish in 23 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
#42-Kyle Larson (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in seven races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 12th top-10 finish in 2017.
#78-Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 23 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
#19-Daniel Suarez (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
#78-Martin Truex Jr. leads the point standings by 38 points over #42-Kyle Larson.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-16-2017)
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 150) of the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (lap 150301):
#18-Busch, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#11-Hamlin, 9pts
#4-Harvick, 8pts
#41-Busch, 7pts
#48-Johnson, 6pts
#78-Truex Jr., 5pts
#20-Kenseth, 4pts
#21-Blaney, 3pts
#42-Larson, 2pts
#14-Bowyer. 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 75) of the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (lap 75/301):
#78-Truex Jr., 10pts, 1 playoff point
#20-Kenseth, 9pts
#42-Larson, 8pts
#1-McMurray, 7pts
#18-Busch, 6pts
#5-Kahne, 5pts
#31-Newman, 4pts
#21-Blaney, 3pts
#11-Hamlin, 2pts
#24-Elliott, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #23-LaJoie, 31st
Caution 2: no driver a lap down
Caution 3: #55-Gaulding, 35th
Caution 4: #33-JEarnhardt, 33rd
Caution 5: #51-Bilicki, 36th
Caution 6: #34-Cassill, 23rd
Caution 7: #3-Dillon, 15th
(7-16-2017)
New Hampshire Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pre-Race Schedule for Sunday, July 16: (eastern time)
1:00pm: Driver Crew Chief Meeting
2:30pm: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Introductions
2:58:30pm: Canadian Anthem by: Kyle Masterson
3:00pm: Presentation of Colors by: Combined Services Color Guard
3:00:20pm: Invocation by: Pastor Joshua Johnson
3:01pm: National Anthem by: Jodie Cunningham
3:02:50pm: Fly by A-1E Skyraider and F4U Corsair from The Collings Foundation
3:07:50pm: Command to Start Engines by: Parker Overton, Founder of Overton’s
3:15:20pm/et: Green Flag
W2W4: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not – New Hampshire Edition Nobody Can Handle the Truex; 8 Races Until the Playoffs, Logano in Danger; Despite 0 Wins, Kyle Busch Still Among Title Favorites; Kenseth’s Final Year at Gibbs. Martin Truex Jr. failed to finish back-to-back races at Sonoma and Daytona, but he turned it around last weekend at Kentucky, leading 152 of 274 laps to pick up his 3rd win of the season, all on 1.5-mile tracks. Truex has won 7 times in 54 races over the last 2 seasons, after winning 3 times in 369 career starts entering 2016. Joey Logano won the April race at Richmond, and usually that would be enough to lock up a playoff spot. However, due to rules violations found after the race, Logano’s win won’t count toward playoff consideration, and the playoff points he earned won’t carry over. Since then, Logano has struggled. 10 drivers have earned wins that will get them into the playoffs, meaning that there are 6 spots available now for the top non-winners in points, but those spots could dwindle if there are new race winners in the final 8 races before the playoff field is set. Logano, who led the series with 6 wins in 2015 and finished 2nd in points (with 3 wins) last season, is the 1st driver outside looking in. Despite leading 112 laps from the pole last week at Kentucky, Kyle Busch came home 5th, his 7th top-5 finish this season, with 0 wins. Busch sits 11th in the playoff standings because he’s yet to win, but is 3rd in the traditional points and 2nd in laps led this season. Last week in a surprise announcement, Matt Kenseth said that he didn’t expect to have the option to race for Joe Gibbs Racing next season. On Tuesday, Joe Gibbs Racing formally announced that Erik Jones would run the #20 car next season. Jones, a rookie driving for Furniture Row Racing, actually replaced Kenseth for 2 races in the 20 car in 2015, when Kenseth was suspended following an incident with Joey Logano.(ESPN)[Read Full Report Here](7-16-2017)
Saturday New Hampshire Notebook: Despite precarious position in standings, Logano exudes confidence; Good stretch of races coming for Toyota teams; Larson frustrated by lack of long-run speed. Joey Logano isn’t letting his status on the standings bubble bother him. Never mind that Logano is in a marginal position when it comes to making the postseason playoff in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Never mind that he lost the benefit of his April victory in Richmond when NASCAR discovered an impropriety with his #22 Team Penske Ford. Through 18 races this season, only one driver Toyota driver has been to Victory Lane. Martin Truex Jr. has three wins, the most recent coming last Saturday at Kentucky. Joe Gibbs Racing, which fields Camrys for veterans Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth and Sunoco rookie Daniel Suarez, has yet to score a victory. The same goes for Sunoco rookie Erik Jones, Truex’s teammate at Furniture Row Racing. A day after seeing his pole-winning time disallowed because of a non-conforming rear decklid fin, Kyle Larson started Saturday’s final practice at New Hampshire motor Speedway in the penalty box-thanks to a 30-minute hold for inspection failures the previous week at Kentucky Speedway. Accordingly, Larson got only one long run in Happy Hour, and he was anything but happy with the result.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-16-2017)
News from July 15, 2017
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (26,42,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don’t count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
With only 39 cars entered, one is not being used, stall 6 is closed BUT counts towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #78-Truex Jr. chose pit stall 1, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #48-Johnson took pit stall 41, the final pit stall.
#20-Kenseth, who starts 3rd, took the 7th stall, right behind the close stall 6.
The final pit stall was taken by #48-Johnson, who starts 2nd.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(7-15-2017)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#18-Busch 130.950
#78-Truex Jr. 130.568
#11-Hamlin 130.568
#42-Larson 130.514
#24-Elliott 130.474
best 10 consecutive lap ave: #78-Truex Jr. 130.094 (32 drivers)
slowest: #51-Bilicki 124.332 & #33-Earnhardt 125.446
no laps run: #83-Sieg, #55-Gaulding
most laps run: #2-Keselowski 55
notes: no incidents.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (7-15-2017)
First Saturday practice for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 55 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#78-Truex Jr. 131.338
#42-Larson 131.333
#48-Johnson 131.184
#24-Elliott 131.162
#2-Keselowski 131.071
best 10 consecutive lap ave: #42-Larson 130.624 (25 drivers)
slowest: #51-Bilicki 124.650 & #33-Earnhardt 125.624
no laps run: #83-Sieg
most laps run: #48-Johnson 60
notes: no incidents.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Practice 2 speeds page (pdf) (7-15-2017)
How did #42 car pass inspection before qualifying but fail after? Kyle Larson was removed from the pole position Friday because his #42 Chevy failed inspection after qualifying with an improper rear decklid fin. But the same part was found to be in compliance in inspection before qualifying. How did that happen? NBCSN analyst Steve Letarte explained during practice Saturday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway how a part that isn’t supposed to be adjusted apparently was between the first and second inspection. Watch the video here for Letarte’s analysis of the penalty, which will drop Larson to the rear at Sunday’s green flag for the second consecutive race.(NBC Sports)(7-15-2017)
C.N. Wood and Komatsu join Ragan at Loudon on #38 as associatesNew England construction equipment dealer C.N. Wood and equipment manufacturer Komatsu America Corp. will partner with Front Row Motorsports as associate sponsors on David Ragan’s #38 Ford this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The Woburn, Mass.-based C.N. Wood sells, rents and services heavy equipment through its six locations in four states. Komatsu, the world’s second largest manufacturer and supplier of earth-moving equipment, is among the top brands offered by C.N. Wood. Elgin Sweeper, a name fans will recognize as the sweeper truck used at NASCAR tracks, is another primary product line offered. Ragan’s #38 Overton’s Ford will showcase C.N. Wood on the rear quarter panels and Komatsu on the C-posts for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, the Overton’s 301.(Front Row Motorsports)[Read More Here](7-15-2017)
Friday New Hampshire Notebook After turning 26 laps in opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday, Aric Almirola said he felt as good as he did before the crash at Kansas that broke his T5 vertebra. Back in the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford after missing eight races as he recovered from the May 13 injury, Almirola can thank his diligent attention to his rehabilitation for a return to action as early as possible.
Emblematic of the spirit of cooperation between various stakeholders in the NASCAR industry was the solicitation of driver opinion before the application of PJ1 (a compound designed to provide more grip to the racing surface) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Accordingly, in consultation with NASCAR and the track, the drivers recommended treating the bottom lane and the third lane with PJ1, leaving the primary racing groove alone.
Kyle Busch has always had an eye for talent. He just hopes his acumen in identifying and nurturing future stars doesn’t come back to bite him. Busch “discovered” current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie Erik Jones at the 2012 Snowball in Pensacola, Fla., where Jones found the perfect way to make Busch notice-by beating him. After a year at Furniture Row Racing, Jones will move to Joe Gibbs Racing next season as Busch’s teammate, supplanting Matt Kenseth in the #20 Toyota. Kenseth has not announced his plans for 2018, saying last week at Kentucky last weekend that he does not yet have a deal for next year. Daniel Suarez is a rookie with JGR this season, having jumped into the #19 Toyota after Carl Edwards abruptly announced his departure during the offseason. That leaves Busch and Denny Hamlin as the two drivers with the most seniority. Busch hired both Jones and Suarez as drivers for his Kyle Busch Motorsports NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, and as of next year, both will be his teammates at JGR. That circumstance is enough to make Busch wary, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. “If you look at it now, that’s me, Denny, Daniel and Erik, so either myself or Denny are the next two out, if I continue to feed them through KBM as quickly as I have been, so we’re watching our backs,” Busch quipped. “That’s for sure.”(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-15-2017)
Kyle Busch says he will retire from the XFINITY Series after 100 wins: Retirement is not that far off for Kyle Busch. Xfinity Series retirement, that is. Busch revealed on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after winning the Overton’s 200 Saturday afternoon he will be done with Xfinity competition when he hits a magic number. Right now, Busch is the winningest driver in the series with 89 career wins.[More](7-15-2017)
Kyle Busch wins, and Ryan Preece impresses at New Hampshire:Kyle Busch’s celebratory burnout produced a cloud of smoke over the frontstretch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but Ryan Preece’s first run in top-of-the-line equipment made an even bigger impression in Saturday’s Overton’s 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race. After a major snafu on pit road took a potential win away from Brad Keselowski, who had arguably the fastest car at the Magic Mile, Busch cruised to a 10.425-second victory, collecting his third win in six starts this season, his sixth at NHMS and the 89th of his career, extending his series record.[More](7-15-2017)
Kyle Busch wins New Hampshire XFINITY race: #18-Kyle Busch won the Overton’s 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 89th XFINITY Series , 3rd of the year, and 2nd consecutive race win (both from the pole). #20-Ryan Preece, making his first start of the year, finished a career-best second, followed by #9-William Byron, #42-Kyle Larson, #22-Brad Keselowski, #2-Ben Kennedy, #1-Elliott Sadler, #3-Ty Dillon, #00-Cole Custer, and #48-Brennan Poole. The 3rd stage was caution free. Just 6 cars finished on the lead lap. Busch’s margin of victory was 10.425 seconds. #22-Keselowski lead until final green flag pit stops when he was penalized for removing equipment from the pit box and had to serve a stop and go penalty.
The race was red flagged for just under an hour on lap 32 because of rain.
There were 3 cautions for 15 laps and 13 lead changes among 7 leaders.
The average speed was 109.276mph.
Complete results are on the New Hampshire race results page (pdf).
(7-15-2017)
Race stage winners:
Stage 1 – lap 45 – Winner, #42-Kyle Larson
Stage 2 – lap 90 – Winner, #2-Brad Keselowski
Stage 3 – lap 200 – Race winner, #18-Kyle Busch
XFINITY Driver standings following New Hampshire:
1) #1-Elliott Sadler, 620
2) #9-William Byron, 575, -45
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 530, -90
4) #48-Brennan Poole, 428, -192
5) #21-Daniel Hemric, 421, -199
6) #00-Cole Custer, 396, -224
7) #19-Matt Tifft, 387, -233
8) #16-Ryan Reed, 377, -243
9) #5-Michael Annett, 355, -265
10) #28-Dakoda Armstrong, 351, -269
11) #11-Blake Koch, 324, -296
12) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 321, -299
13) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 298, -322
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(7-15-2017)
Kyle Busch on XFINITY pole at New Hampshire: #18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light pole for the Overton’s 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a speed of 129.353mph. #22-Brad Keselowskil will start second. The rest of the top 10: #42-Kyle Larson, #19-Matt Tifft, #21-Daniel Hemric, #20-Ryan Preece, #9-William Byron, #1-Elliott Sadler, #48-Brennan Poole and #00-Cole Custer..
Did Not Qualify: None.
The starting lineup is posted on the New Hampshire starting lineup page (pdf).(7-15-2017)
News from July 14, 2017
Truex wins New Hampshire pole when Larson’s time is disallowed:Inspection issues continued for Kyle Larson and his Chip Ganassi Racing team, whose pole-winning time was disallowed in Friday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series knockout qualifying session because his rear decklid fin was outside specifications. The infraction handed the top starting spot to series leader Martin Truex Jr. Larson dominated Friday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series knockout qualifying session at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, posting the fastest lap in each of the three sessions. Because of the penalty, Larson will start last for the second straight race — the #42 failed to clear pre-qualifying inspection last week at Kentucky. After qualifying second for the sixth time this year, Truex won his first Coors Light Pole Award of the season, his first at New Hampshire and the 13th of his career, touring the one-mile track in 28.621 seconds (133.077 mph) to warn the right to lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s Overton’s 301. Jimmie Johnson qualified second, followed by Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne. Driving a backup car after crashing off Turn 4 in opening practice, Denny Hamlin advanced to the final round and qualified eighth. Aric Almirola will start 21st in his first race since suffering a compression fracture of his T5 vertebra on May 13 at Kansas Speedway.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-14-2017)
#78-Martin Truex Jr. won the Coors Light pole for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with speed of 133.324mph for his 1st pole of 2017, 1st at New Hampshire and 13th of his career. #42-Larson had won the pole but the car didn’t past post-qualifying inspection, so the speed was disallowed. Larson will start 39th.
Truex Jr. has won one time from the 12 previous poles.
#48-Johnson will start 2nd followed by #20-Kenseth, #1-McMurray, #5-Kahne, #77-Jones, #18-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #41-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #24-Elliott & #4-Harvick
#42-Larson was fastest in the second round with a speed of 133.436mph, will start 39th
#42-Larson was fastest in the first round with a speed of 133.189mph, will start 39th
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 39 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(7-14-2017)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
#78-Martin Truex Jr. won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 25th Annual Overton’s 301 with a lap of 28.621 seconds, 133.077 mph.
This is his 13th pole in 424 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series races.
This is his first pole and 15th top-10 start in 2017.
This is his first pole in 23 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
#48-Jimmie Johnson (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2017 and his 21st in 31 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
#20-Matt Kenseth (third) posted his 10th top-10 start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 12th in 19 races this season.
#77-Erik Jones (sixth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
(NASCAR Statistics)(7-14-2017)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#42-Larson 133.436
#18-Busch 132.706
#77-Jones 132.370
#78-Truex Jr. 132.287
#1-McMurray 132.222
the rest of the top 12: 5 48 11 20 24 2 41
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 4 22 19 21 32 17 88 14 95 43 37 47
(7-14-2017)
First Round of Qualifying for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#42-Larson 133.189
#77-Jones 132.172
#1-McMurray 132.149
#24-Elliott 131.906
#2-Keselowski 131.856
the rest of the top 24: 22 18 21 14 48 32 19 5 17 88 43 4 11 41 78 20 47 37 95
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 31 13 3 6 34 27 10 23 38 72 55 15 83 33 51
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 39 entered
(7-14-2017)
Qualifying Order for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted.
The first driver to be lined up on pit road will be #23-LaJoie.
The final driver lined up on pit road will be #55-Gaulding.
The order is set by a random draw, how cars park on pit road before they qualify, held about an hour before the first practice.
After the first round, the cars lined up by speed.
For the qualifying order, see the Qualifying Order page (pdf).(7-14-2017)
Friday practice for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is over, after 85 scheduled minutes, the top-five, slowest and notes:
#42-Larson 133.971
#78-Truex Jr. 133.217
#18-Busch 133.142
#21-Blaney 132.840
#1-McMurray 132.697
best 10 consecutive lap ave: #11-Hamlin 130.047 (but wrecked)(12 cars)
slowest: #51-Bilicki 124.296 & #83-Sieg 127.138
most laps run: #13-Dillon, 38 laps
notes: with 20 minutes left in practice, #11-Hamlin got loose and spun, nosing into the inside front stretch wall. The team will bring out a backup car.
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Practice 1 speeds page (pdf) (7-14-2017)
IndyCar driver Hinchcliffe considers a jump to NASCAR Don’t be surprised to see Canadian IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, who’s in town to compete in this weekend’s Honda Indy Toronto, racing in a stock car sometime in the near future. Although he’s committed to his open wheel Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) team, the 30-year-old from Oakville would like to get his feet wet on a road course in NASCAR’s second tier Xfinity Series sooner rather than later.(Toronto Star)[Read More Here](7-14-2017)
Report: Dodge Won’t Return to NASCAR It was ostensibly a press conference for Ferrari’s 2016 Finali Mondiali at Daytona International Speedway last December 4, but perhaps the biggest revelation to come out of that presser concerned NASCAR, with Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, saying he was interested in getting Chrysler, most likely Dodge, back into NASCAR.
This came as a surprise to Dodge employees at the highest level. But given Marchionne’s revelation, the company did its due diligence, researching what a return to NASCAR would involve. Company executives met with NASCAR officials more than once, including a meeting at this year’s North American International Auto Show. Unfortunately for Dodge loyalists, the analysis regarding a return to the sport showed that it would be too complex and, more importantly, too expensive. Part of the problem would be finding a team with top-tier engine-building capability-and there just aren’t many choices now that the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series has consolidated engine-building among a handful of teams (Or in Toyota’s case, the company itself.) Dodge would prefer to supply the engine specifications and have the engines built by the team, like they were at Penske. But there are minimal options. Also, re-creating the infrastructure to race at NASCAR’s highest level-which Dodge did gradually starting with the NASCAR Camping World truck series before entering the Cup series in 2001 with the help of then-flush Dodge dealers-would be prohibitively expensive. The bottom line: perhaps the company could afford to return to NASCAR, as Marchionne suggested, but that doesn’t mean it would make financial sense.(TheDrive)[Read More Here](7-14-2017)
Eleven teams to lose practice time at NHMS #42-Kyle Larson and #14-Clint Bowyer each will sit out 30 minutes of Saturday’s final Cup practice for failing inspection before last weekend’s race at Kentucky.
All told, eleven Cup teams will miss practice time this weekend because of inspection issues at previous events. Four Cup drivers – #34-Landon Cassill, #55-Gray Gaulding, #72-Cole Whitt and #95-Michael McDowell – will each miss 15 minutes of Friday’s practice for being late to inspection before last weekend’s event at Kentucky. Five Cup drivers – #4-Kevin Harvick, #77-Erik Jones, #24-Chase Elliott, #33-Jeffrey Earnhardt and #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. – each will miss 15 minutes of Saturday’s final practice session for failing inspection before last weekend’s race at Kentucky.(NBC Sports)(7-14-2017)
NASCAR National Series News & Notes #78-Martin Truex Jr. was the class of the field at Kentucky, leading a race-high 152 laps and winning every stage on his way to Victory Lane. He is now tied with Jimmie Johnson for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins lead with three. Truex leads second-place Kyle Larson in the points standings by 34 points. One year after winning a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series-high 12 races, Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to have a driver visit Victory Lane this season. Most pundits expected Chase Elliott to get his first win by now. Although that hasn’t happened yet, the 21-year-old Chevrolet driver has quietly secured five top-eight finishes in his last six starts. Kyle Larson notched his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series-best sixth runner-up finish of the season, yet trails Martin Truex Jr. by 34 points in the standings. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has reached its halfway point. The first half has featured three first-time winners, parity, youngsters giving fans a glimpse into the sport’s future, dominant performances from some familiar faces and the enhanced racing format elevating the competition. Eight races remain for drivers to earn berths in NASCAR’s playoffs. Two months after injuring his back in an incident at Kansas Speedway, Aric Almirola returns to pilot the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford this weekend at New Hampshire.(NASCAR)[Read More Here](7-14-2017)
Jimmie Johnson to take bike tour of Detroit Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and seven-time champion on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will participate in the Slow Roll bike tour in Detroit on Thursday, July 13. The 45-minute tour will take place from 3:25 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. and will cover approximately seven miles. It will begin and end at Brew Detroit, 1401 Abbott Street and will travel through Corktown, downtown Detroit and along the Detroit River. Johnson will start his tour of the Detroit area at the Michigan State Police – Metro South Post where he will gain hands-on experience operating tactical units. He will speak to the youth about physical fitness at the Detroit Police Athletic League before starting the bike tour, according to a news release. In 2017, Slow Roll is focusing on continuing to educate people about Detroit, engage riders with local businesses and charities, and create the cohesive and peaceful community we all strive for, according to its website.(Michigan Live)(7-13-2017)
UPDATE Johnson took about a 5.5 mile bike ride through the heart of Detroit, led by members of the city’s own Slow Roll bike club and the Detroit Police Department. The trip took Johnson through Detroit with about 70 fellow cyclists as he took in the scenes of the Detroit Riverfront, Heart Plaza and much more. After the ride ended, Johnson had a lot of positive thoughts about the Motor City. With the bike ride starting and ending at Brew Detroit on Abbott street just a couple blocks east of Rosa Parks Ave., Johnson enjoyed taking in the architecture and the and the new vibrancy that Detroit has to offer.(Michigan Live)[Read More Here](7-14-2017)
Childress back to two car team? Richard Childress Racing is preparing for the possible departure of Paul Menard’s at the end of the season [from the #27 team]. At least a dozen employees were laid off in the last week coming on the heels of the departure of RCR veteran crew chiefs Slugger Labbe and Gil Martin.(Motorsport)
AND Richard Childress Racing has been considering its options for ’18 should primary sponsor Menards leave after this season, according to sources, an indication that the home improvement chain is eyeing a move elsewhere. Menards is said to be eyeing a move from RCR to the Team Penske/Wood Brothers Racing.(Sports Business Journal)(7-14-2017)
Kyle Busch paces final XFINITY practice: #18-Kyle Busch was quickest in final practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a speed of 128.554mph. The session was cut short by rain.
#22-Brad Keselowski was second, followed by: #20-Ryan Preece, #42-Kyle Larson, #19-Matt Tifft, #00-Cole Custer, @3-Ty Dillon, #2-Ben Kennedy, #1-Elliott Sadler, and #33-Brandon Jones.
37 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the New Hampshire practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(7-14-2017)
Kyle Busch fastest in first XFINITY practice: #18-Kyle Busch was fastest during opening practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a speed of 128.667mph.
The rest of the top 10: #19-Matt Tifft, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #21-Daniel Hemric, #22-Brad Keselowski, #7-Justin Allgaier, #42-Kyle Larson, #00-Cole Custer, #9-William Byron, and #48-Brennan Poole.
37 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the New Hampshire practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(7-14-2017)
News from July 13, 2017
Buescher plans to be back with JTG Daugherty in 2018 Chris Buescher anticipates he will be back with JTG Daugherty Racing next season, which would remove his name from NASCAR’s free agent feeding frenzy that began this week. While Matt Kenseth won’t return to Joe Gibbs Racing and Erik Jones will take his place next year, the driver of the #37 Chevy told “The Morning Drive” on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that his own “silly season” should be stress free.(NBC Sports / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s The Morning Drive)[Read More Here](7-13-2017)
NASCAR Promotes Brent Dewar to President NASCAR announced that Brent Dewar is being elevated to the position of President of NASCAR effective immediately. Dewar, who joined NASCAR as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2014, becomes only the fourth person in the sport’s history to hold the designation of President of NASCAR. Dewar’s promotion to President is in following with NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France’s vision for a more inclusive and strategic NASCAR. As COO, Dewar led several monumental initiatives and drove strategic development and opportunity at every turn, while developing a strong leadership team centered on industry collaboration and metric-driven results. As President, Dewar will continue to serve on the NASCAR Board of Directors and will work closely with France, Lesa France Kennedy and Vice Chairman Mike Helton in setting the strategic course of the business in continued collaboration with key industry leaders. Steve Phelps, Executive Vice President and Chief Global Sales and Marketing Officer, Steve O’Donnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer will continue to report into Dewar.(NASCAR)[Read More Here](7-13-2017)
Jimmie Johnson to take bike tour of Detroit Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and seven-time champion on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, will participate in the Slow Roll bike tour in Detroit on Thursday, July 13. The 45-minute tour will take place from 3:25 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. and will cover approximately seven miles. It will begin and end at Brew Detroit, 1401 Abbott Street and will travel through Corktown, downtown Detroit and along the Detroit River. Johnson will start his tour of the Detroit area at the Michigan State Police – Metro South Post where he will gain hands-on experience operating tactical units. He will speak to the youth about physical fitness at the Detroit Police Athletic League before starting the bike tour, according to a news release. In 2017, Slow Roll is focusing on continuing to educate people about Detroit, engage riders with local businesses and charities, and create the cohesive and peaceful community we all strive for, according to its website.(Michigan Live)[Read More Here](7-13-2017)
Petty confident that Smithfield will return as sponsor Car owner Richard Petty told NBC Sports that he’s confident that sponsor Smithfield will return to the team after this season and would like to have Darrell Wallace Jr. back if they have a place for him. Smithfield is in the final season of a three-year extension announced in January 2014. The executive who oversees the motorsports program recently left the company, but Petty said that won’t impact the team’s discussions with Smithfield. If Smithfield remains at the same level – the company has sponsored the #43 car in 15 of the first 18 points races this season – then the focus will be on RPM’s second car.(NBC Sports)[Read More Here](7-13-2017)
Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Overton’s 301 a look at some of the top statistical performers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire going into the Overton’s 301 on July 16
Top 10 Driver Rating at New Hampshire:
Denny Hamlin……………………… 102.7
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 101.0
Brad Keselowski……………………. 99.3
Kyle Busch…………………………… 98.1
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 97.5
Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 97.4
Chase Elliott…………………………. 92.9
Matt Kenseth………………………… 91.9
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 90.6
Kasey Kahne………………………… 90.4
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (24 total) among active drivers at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Groundbreaking for New Hampshire International Speedway, as New Hampshire Motor Speedway was originally named, was Aug. 13, 1989.
173 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; 139 in more than one.
Mark Martin won the inaugural Coors Light pole at New Hampshire in 1993 with a speed of 126.871 mph.
24 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway; led by Jeff Burton with four victories.
Five different manufacturers have won at New Hampshire; led by Chevrolet with 19 victories; followed by Ford (13), Toyota (seven), Dodge (three) and Pontiac (two).
Four of the 44 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions(NASCAR)[Read Stats Analysis Here](7-13-2017)
Sanel Auto Parts and Parts Plus sponsoring Chastain at New Hampshire: Sanel Auto Parts and Parts Plus will sponsor driver Ross Chastain and the # 4 JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet in Saturday’s Overton’s 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.[More](7-13-2017)
News from July 12, 2017
Kentucky Penalties; Larson docked 35 pts & crew chief suspended:#42-Kyle Larson, the points leader in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, was fined 35 driver points and crew chief Chad Johnston suspended three races and fined $75,000 after NASCAR found that the #42 Chevy from the Kentucky race had an illegal rear brake cooling assembly. The 2nd place race finish is encumbered per Section 12.10 Encumbered Race Finishes. Ductwork or other devices are not allowed to pass from one area of the interior of the vehicle to another or to the outside of the vehicle. The team was assessed with the loss of 35 owner points. The loss of points drop Larson from 1st in the drivers points standings to 2nd, now 34 behind #78-Truex Jr. Also fined was #18-Kyle Busch’s crew chief, Adam Stevens, was fined $10,000 for one loose lugnut.(NASCAR)[More](see full report here)
Statement on penalty assessed by NASCAR to the #42 team and Crew Chief Chad Johnston. “We accept the penalty and will move forward”(Chip Ganassi Racing Twitter)(7-12-2017)
Almirola and STP Throwback to 1984 and Richard Petty’s Historical 200th Win Richard Petty was already “The King” in 1984. Beyond being the sport’s most approachable and popular driver, Petty’s 198 wins was the most of any driver, by 93 over David Pearson. He was already “The King”, but he wanted more. In July of 1984, Petty scored his 200th, most historic, and final, NASCAR victory at Daytona International Speedway. This September, STP and Aric Almirola will be honoring Petty’s record-setting 200th win at the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, September 3 with the throwback paint scheme mirroring Petty’s 1984 STP Pontiac. Beyond the paint scheme, Almirola, his crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, and the Richard Petty Motorsports #43 team will also wear throwback firesuits and uniforms throughout the Bojangles’ Southern 500 race weekend. STP’s tribute to Petty’s 200th win will extend past the throwback paint scheme. As a combination with Petty’s 80th birthday, STP’s Director of Marketing Katina Wall, announced at the unveiling that STP will donate engraved benches to each active track where Petty has recorded one of his record-setting wins. The benches will be engraved with Petty’s career-wins at each specific track.(Richard Petty Motorsports)[Read More Here](7-12-2017)
Bilicki returns to the #51 at New Hampshire: Officials from Rick Ware Racing announced that Richfield, WI native, Josh Bilicki, will compete in this weekend’s NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire, driving the #51 Prevagen Chevrolet SS. Fresh off his NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series debut at Sonoma Raceway nearly three weeks ago, Bilicki has this to say about this weekend. “I’m very excited and thankful to get the call from Rick to race this weekend’s NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series race at New Hampshire. While I’ve never been to the track, I’ve watched hours of onboard videos and have logged hundreds of laps on iRacing. The track seems flat, so I think I will be able to relate a lot of techniques I learned in my road course racing days to conquer this one-mile oval. I also feel more comfortable with driving these cars and I’m confident that Rick will guide me through the weekend so we get a respectable result!” Bilicki and Rick Ware Racing would like to welcome two new marketing partners to the team for the New Hampshire race weekend, Prevagen and CNC Swiss Inc.(Josh Bilicki Racing)[Read More Here](7-12-2017)
Aric Almirola to Return to #43 Smithfield Ford at NHMS: Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) driver Aric Almirola, who suffered an acute compression fracture to his T5 Vertebra after a multi-car accident at Kansas Speedway in May, will return to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The injury, which has a standard healing time of eight to 12 weeks, took eight weeks for Almirola to recover. Throughout the recovery process, Almirola did physical therapy, swam and tested in a simulation and on track environment. A test yesterday at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the final step in a multi-step process to return to the #43 Smithfield Ford. Almirola will return to the seat of the “Petty Blue” #43 Smithfield Ford Fusion at the one-mile track where he has scored one Top-Five and two Top-10 finishes.(Richard Petty Motorsports)[Read More Here](7-12-2017)
Weirs Motor Sales Leads Local Companies supporting Go Fas Racing at NHMS: Go Fas Racing will be sporting a local flavor this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a home-race for Go Fas Racing’s team owner, Archie St. Hilaire and team manager Mason St. Hilaire. Weirs Motor Sales, Bentley’s Saloon, Carl R. Perkins Paving, Bangor Truck Equipment, Mike’s Clam Shack, and The Rod Father will all be represented on driver Matt DiBenedetto’s Ford Fusion as he takes the green flag in New Hampshire this Sunday. Each sponsor has worked with the Go Fas Racing family in the past, and has returned for the 2017 season. (Go Fas Racing)[Read More Here](7-11-2017)
Darrell, Michael Waltrip’s mother dies at 90: Margaret Waltrip, the mother of former NASCAR Cup Series drivers Darrell, a Franklin resident, and Michael died Wednesday morning, the family announced on social media. She was 90. “Mom went home to be with Jesus this morning, we had her for 90 wonderful years, we were all there this morning, thanks for your prayers,” Darrell Waltrip tweeted. Margaret Waltrip was born in Owensboro, Ky. Darrell Waltrip was named one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers of all time in 1998. He is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame and now an analyst for Fox Sports. Michael Waltrip is a two-time Daytona 500 winner and also an analyst for Fox Sports. Margaret Waltrip’s third son, Bobby, died in 2014.(Tennessean)(7-12-2017)
Kentucky XFINITY penalty announced: The #01-Harrison Rhodes team has been penalized following the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway Sections 10.9.10.4: Tires and Wheels. Note: Lug nut(s) not properly installed. Crew chief (Thomas Machek) has been fined $10,000 and suspended from the next NASCAR XFINITY Series championship points race. [More](7-12-2017)
Ken Schrader driving for Bolen at Eldora: During a recent interview, racing legend Ken Schrader mentioned that he’d like to run the 5th annual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race at Eldora Speedway. Schrader has participated in the summer classic each year since its inception. Eldora is the only dirt race scheduled among NASCAR top-tier series.[More](7-12-2017)
Jeffrey Abbey to join Niece Motorsports at Eldora Speedway: Jeffrey Abbey will make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on July 19 at Eldora Speedway in the #45 Silverado for Niece Motorsports. The 18-year-old driver got his start behind the wheel racing go-karts at the age of six.[More](7-12-2017)
News from July 11, 2017
Erik Jones to drive #20 Toyota in 2018 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced that driver Erik Jones will drive the #20 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camry for the organization beginning in 2018.
Matt Kenseth, who currently pilots the #20 Toyota Camry for JGR, will not return to the organization following the 2017 season. Currently competing full time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Furniture Row Racing, Jones sits 14th in the point standings and leads the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings.(Joe Gibbs Racing)
The Following Statement is Attributed to Barney Visser, Owner of Furniture Row Racing “Regarding today’s announcement that Erik Jones will drive in the NASCAR Cup Series for Joe Gibbs Racing starting in 2018, Furniture Row Racing’s commitment to Jones and the #77 team remains the same for the remainder of the season. Our goal is for Jones to qualify for the playoffs, make a run for the championship and capture Rookie of the Year honors. We are working on our team plans for 2018 but don’t have anything concrete to report at this time except that Martin Truex Jr. will continue to drive the #78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.”
(Furniture Row Racing)[Read More Here](7-11-2017)
Richard Petty & Bill Elliott to pace Southern 500 Two legendary NASCAR Hall of Famers, Richard Petty and Bill Elliott, will pace the field for the 68th running of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 3 at Darlington Raceway. Petty will lead the field in his 1967 Plymouth, followed by Elliott, who will serve as the honorary pace car driver, piloting a Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang pace car, as the field goes green for the iconic race. Darlington Raceway will be honoring Petty and Elliott during its award-winning throwback weekend as the two legends of the sport are being recognized by the track for two specific moments that helped shape the history of the Lady in Black. Petty’s win in the 1967 Southern 500 turned out to be his one and only victory in the famed Labor Day weekend classic. Petty led an astounding 345 of a possible 364 laps in a dominant victory. Only three other drivers led laps in the entire race – David Pearson (12 laps), Buddy Baker (6) and Donnie Allison (1). The 2017 season marks the 50th anniversary of Petty’s win in a career that culminated with 200 NASCAR Cup Series victories overall. Petty also recently celebrated his 80th birthday on July 2, which was recognized with much fanfare during the Coke Zero 400 race weekend at Daytona International Speedway.(Darlington Raceway)[Read More Here](7-11-2017)
Richmond International Raceway now known as Richmond Raceway: Richmond International Raceway officially rebrands as Richmond Raceway (Richmond) reflecting a bold brand identity to forge a greater connection to the local roots of racing in RVA and the Commonwealth of Virginia. The new brand logo unites the past and present to showcase the vibrant future of the sport at Richmond Raceway. The new Richmond Raceway brand identity has a simplified color palette of red and black. Pantone Black represents the track’s iconic Richmond night racing experience. Red (Pantone 185C) signifies the red stripes that are part of the past and present of the track walls and logo. The double RR’s in the logo are inspired by the organization’s Richmond International Raceway logo introduced in 1988 designed by Sam Bass, who is NASCAR’s first officially licensed artist. Bass is a Hopewell, V.A. native and Virginia Commonwealth University graduate. To learn more about the new Richmond Raceway brand, visit richmondraceway.com/rebrand. The webpage includes additional information about the rebrand as well as a downloadable style guide and logo assets.(Richmond Raceway)[Read More Here](7-11-2017)
Goodyear New Hampshire Fast Facts Being a relatively “flat” track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway produces minimal load on right-side tires compared to more high-banked tracks. Because of that, grip needs to be generated through the compounds selected in this Goodyear tire set-up. Both the left- and right-side compounds run at New Hampshire are in the top-three highest performing used in the 2017 tire lineup. One other factor in play this weekend is that because of a lack of banking for cars to lean on, teams look to gain grip in other ways, namely by going below Goodyear’s recommended tire pressures. The left-side pressure recommendation for New Hampshire is 12 PSI, and there have been times that teams have dipped into single digits.
Teams in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series will run the same tire set-up this weekend . . . these teams have run this left-side tire (D-4564) at New Hampshire since 2012 . . . this right-side tire (D-4706) debuted at this track in July 2016 . . . New Hampshire is the only track at which teams in either of these series will run these two tire codes . . . as on most NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, teams will not run inner liners in their tires at New Hampshire.(Goodyear)[Read full notes here](7-11-2017)
News from July 10, 2017
Kentucky overnight TV ratings: NBCSN earned a 1.6 rating and 2.7 million viewers for the Quaker State 400.[More](7-10-2017)
NASCAR talking to new manufacturers: NASCAR is in “aggressive conversations” with manufactures to join the sport, Steve O’Donnell told “The Morning Drive” on Monday. “We are aggressively pursuing new (manufacturers),” O’Donnell said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio without divulging details. “We want to make sure that they come in similar to how Toyota did and it’s really changed the sport. They’ve done a tremendous job and really helped the industry.[More](7-10-2017)
WIX Filters sponsoring Truex at New Hampshire: WIX Filters, celebrating 50 years in motorsports, will carry the primary paint scheme on Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Toyota in this weekend’s Overton’s 301 NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. A leading global manufacturer of filtration products, WIX Filters joined Furniture Row Racing this season as a key technical partner.[More](7-10-2017)
Entry List for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is posted, 39 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
36 teams with Charters are guaranteed to make the field. The rest need to make the field via qualifying / qualifying races / rules book (owners attempts/points).
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Sorenson, #23-LaJoie, #33-JEarnhardt, #43-Almirola, #51-Bilicki*, #55-Gaulding*, #83-Sieg*
Since only 39 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
XFINITY Entry List: There are 39 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s Overton’s 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
See the complete list on the New Hampshire entry list page.(7-10-2017)
Daytona XFINITY ratings: Postponed a day due to rain, NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Daytona pulled a 0.5 final rating and 829,000 viewers on CNBC last Saturday afternoon. As one would expect given the postponement, it was the least-watched race of the season. Last year’s race, which was run as scheduled on a Friday night on NBCSN, had 1.4 million viewers.[Sports media Watch](7-10-2017)
New Hampshire to treat track: The surface at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be treated with both PJ1 TrackBite and the “tire dragon” in advance of this weekend’s on-track action in the Granite State.[More](7-10-2017)
Overton’s Marine Partners with Pocono Raceway: Pocono Raceway and Overton’s, America’s Marine and Watersports Superstore, have announced a multi-year partnership that includes title sponsorship rights through 2019 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series July races. For over 40 years, Overton’s has provided the top products from leading marine and watersports suppliers to make your time on the water memorable. Today, Overton’s offers over 50,000 products and accessories online at Overtons.com and is aggressively adding more products to specifically address the growing and expanding marine market.[More](7-10-2017)
News from July 9, 2017
Future of #77 team uncertain: Furniture Row Racing could be one-and-done when it comes to fielding two entries in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. In the afterglow of Martin Truex Jr.’s win Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway, team owner Barney Visser said “we have nothing concrete pulled together right now” when it comes to the future prospects of its #77 Toyota. The car is currently driven by rookie Erik Jones.[More](7-9-2017)
Sherry Pollex has cancer recurrence: Pollex has had a recurrence – not a surprise, as Pollex has said 80 percent of people with her type of cancer have a recurrence and die within five years. “We found out a while ago about it,” Truex said. “She went in this weekend to have some surgery done.[More](7-9-2017)
Kentucky commercial breakdown: For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race.[More](7-9-2017)
How much is a Cup race sponsorship? When race fans attend the I Love New York 355 at Watkins Glen in August, they’ll be greeted with multiple billboards and signage promoting the state’s tourism brand. The signs are part of a $463,500 agreement between the state and Watkins Glen International that’s highlighted by the state’s sponsorship of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at the track. The race had corporate sponsorships in the past, including Budweiser and, most recently, Cheez-It.[More](7-9-2017)
News from July 8, 2017
Martin Truex Jr. survives overtime restart on old tires to win at Kentucky: After all was said and done, the dominant car won the race – but not without extreme complications. With just over a lap to go in Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky, Martin Truex Jr. held a lead of more than 15 seconds over second-place Larson.[More](7-8-2017)
Martin Truex, Jr. won the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway for his 3rd win of 2017, 1st win at Kentucky and 10th career win. Truex dominated the race, leading 151 of the 274 laps and winning all three stages. He had a more than 15 second lead with 2 laps to go when a late caution bunched up the field and forced an Overtime finish. He got a great restart and held on to win when the race went back under caution on the final lap.
#42-Larson, who started the race in 40th, drove to 3rd by the end of the first stage, but was penalized for speeding and sent back to the tail end of the field. He came back through the field to finish 2nd.
#24-Elliot finished 3rd followed by #11-Hamlin, #18-Busch, #77-Jones, #1-McMurray, #22-Logano, #4-Harvick, and #21-Blaney.
Pole winner #18-Busch led 112 laps.
#48-Johnson was caught in an early accident and finished 40th. It was only the second last place finish of his career.
#42-Larson maintains the driver points lead by 1 point over #78-Truex Jr.
There were 9 lead changes among 4 drivers and 9 cautions for 39 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 138.604mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
Kentucky Recap from ESPN Research
– Martin Truex Jr.: 60th driver in Cup Series history to win at least 10 races; ties Donnie Allison and Sterling Marlin for 58th on all-time wins list (with 10)
– Truex Jr.: led race-high 152 laps; leads Cup Series with 1,115 laps led this season and 2,924 over last 2 seasons
– Truex Jr.: 2nd time this season winning both stages and race, only driver to do so (earned max 60 points and 7 playoff points)
– Truex Jr.: leads all drivers with 13 stage wins (next-most is 4) and 28 playoffs points (2nd-most is 16) this season
– Truex Jr.: 3rd race win this season, 7th over last 2 seasons in 54 races (3 wins in 369 races to start Cup Series career from 2004-15)
– Kyle Larson: finished 2nd; 6th 2nd-place finish this season (2 wins)
– Kyle Busch: finished 5th (started on the pole and led 112 laps); 858 laps led this season are 2nd-most in series (has not won race)
– Joe Gibbs Racing: winless in 1st 18 races this season; furthest into season without win since 1997 (didn’t win until 32nd race, was a 1-car team)
– Darrell Wallace Jr.: finished 11th; best finish by black driver in Cup Series since 1971 (Wendell Scott finished 11th at Islip Speedway)
– Brad Keselowski: finished 39th; was trying to become 5th driver in series history to win 4 of first 7 races run at a track (the 4 are Ned Jarrett, Richard Petty, Dan Gurney and Herb Thomas)
– Jimmie Johnson: finished 40th; wrecked out of last 2 Kentucky races after having top-10 finish in first 5
[ESPN Stats & Info](7-8-2017)
Race Fast Facts – Kentucky Speedway
Martin Truex Jr. won the 7th Annual Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts, his 10th victory in 423 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and fourth top-10 finish in seven races at Kentucky Speedway.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his first top-10 finish in four races at Kentucky Speedway. It is his 11th top-10 finish in 2017.
Chase Elliott (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Kentucky Speedway.
Erik Jones (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Kyle Larson leads the point standings by 1 points over Martin Truex Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-8-2017)
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings:
[after Kentucky, race 18 of 36]
1) #42-Kyle Larson [2 wins], 710
2) #78-Martin Truex Jr [3], 709, -1
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 609, -101
3) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 599, -111
5) #24-Chase Elliott, 560, -150
See full standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Unofficial Playoff Standings:
[after Kentucky, race 18 of 26, then the playoffs]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr [3 wins], 2038
2) #42-Kyle Larson [2], 2028
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3], 2018
4) #2-Brad Keselowski [2], 2016
5) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 2015
the other 11 playoff drivers would be: 17 21 41 31 3 18 24 1 11 14 20
(reset to 2000, add playoff points accrued, then playoff points for driver standings)
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 160) of the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway (lap 160/267):
#78-Truex, Jr., 10pts, 1 playoff point
#18-Busch, 9pts
#20-Kenseth, 8pts
#4-Harvick, 7pts
#77-Jones, 6pts
#1-McMurray, 5pts
#41-Busch, 4pts
#14-Bowyer, 3pts
#11-Hamlin, 2pts
#24-Elliott, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 80) of the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway (lap 80/267):
#78-Truex, Jr., 10pts, 1 playoff point
#18-Busch, 9pts
#42-Larson, 8pts
#1-McMurray, 7pts
#4-Harvick, 6pts
#20-Kenseth, 5pts
#11-Hamlin, 4pts
#77-Jones, 3pts
#48-Johnson, 2pts
#24-Elliott, 1pt
Lucky Dogs, drivers that got a lap during the cautions (and their finish):
Caution 1: #10-Patrick, 15th
Caution 2: #47-Allmendinger, 20th
Caution 3: #10-Patrick (2), 15th
Caution 4: #27-Menard, 21st
Caution 5: #37-Buescher, 16th
Caution 6: #3-Dillon, 19th
Caution 7: #3-Dillon (2), 19th
Caution 8: #22-Logano, 8th
(7-8-2017)
Keselowski comments after Kentucky wreck #2-Keselowski fell out of the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway after an accident on lap 87. He had strong comments onafterwards.
[More](7-8-2017)
Saturday Kentucky Notebook: The Tire Dragon is the lap leader at Kentucky Speedway; Byron scores fourth straight top 10; Larson’s versatility impresses Stenhouse.
[More](7-8-2017)
Stenhouse and Fifth Third Bank Stand Up to Cancer with special scheme at Kentucky: Forty-seven names of brave individuals who are currently fighting or have fought a battle with cancer will be featured on the No. 17 Fifth Third Ford for tonight’s MONSTER Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Kentucky Speedway.
[More](7-8-2017)
Kentucky Saturday Pre-Race Schedule:
7:30pm/et Presentation of Colors by Boone County Sheriff’s Department
7:30pm/et Invocation by Larry Campbell, Track Chaplain, Kentucky Raceway Ministries
7:31pm/et National Anthem by Linkin’ Bridge, From America’s Got Talent and Louisville’s Own
7:32pm/et Fly-by performed by C-130, 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky National Guard
7:37pm/et Command for “Driver’s, Start Your Engines” delivered by Tom Greco, President and CEO, Advance Auto Parts
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway have been made.
With the field downsized to 40 cars, three pit stalls (1,42,43) have been eliminated, are not in play and don’t count towards driving through more than three pit boxes.
Pole sitter #18-Busch chose pit stall 2, the first stall available [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #78-Truex, Jr. took pit stall 14, with an opening in front of it.
#20-Kenseth, who starts 41st and final pit stall.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on Jayski.com’s Pit Stall Selection chart.(7-8-2017)
Kyle Busch outruns charging Ryan Blaney for 88th NASCAR XFINITY win: As Kyle Busch spun his #18 Toyota wildly during his celebratory burnout at Kentucky Speedway, the right rear tire exploded with an audible pop after it hit the drain below the apron. It was an astute call by crew chief Eric Phillips that enabled Busch’s tires to survive long enough to win Saturday afternoon’s rain-delayed Alsco 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at the 1.5-mile track.[More](7-8-2017)
Kyle Busch wins Kentucky XFINITY race: #18-Kyle Busch won the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday. It is his 88th XFINITY Series win and 2nd of the year. #12-Ryan Blaney finished second, followed by #20-Erik Jones, #41-Kevin Harvick, #3-Ty Dillon, #22-Joey Logano, #9-William Byron, #7-Justin Allgaier, #21-Daniel Hemric, and #42-Tyler Reddick.
The race was postponed Friday night because of severe weather at the track.
There were 8 cautions for 44 laps and 7 lead changes among 4 leaders.
The average speed was 119.258mph.
Complete results are on the Kentucky race results page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Kentucky Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-7-2017)
Race stage winners:
Stage 1 – lap 45 – Winner, #20-Erik Jones
Stage 2 – lap 90 – Winner, #12-Ryan Blaney
Stage 3 – lap 200 – Race winner, #18-Kyle Busch
Kentucky XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
Kyle Busch(i) won the 17th Annual Alsco 300, his 88th victory in 333 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second victory and fifth top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his third victory and eighth top-10 finish in ten races at Kentucky Speedway.
Ryan Blaney(i) (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in eight races at Kentucky Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2017.
Erik Jones(i) (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Kentucky Speedway.
William Byron (seventh) was the highest finishing rookie.
Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 45 points over Byron.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-8-2017)
XFINITY Driver standings following Kentucky:
1) #1-Elliott Sadler, 578
2) #9-William Byron [2 wins], 533, -45
3) #7-Justin Allgaier [1 win], 520, -58
4) #21-Daniel Hemric, 396, -182
5) #21-Brennan Poole, 395, -183
6) #00-Cole Custer, 368, -210
7) #19-Matt Tifft, 357, -221
8) #16-Ryan Reed [1 win], 354, -224
9) #28-Dakoda Armstrong, 338, -240
10) #5-Michael Annett, 334, -244
11) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr. [not eligible for playoffs], 321, -257
12) #11-Blake Koch, 300, -278
13) #62-Brendan Gaughan, 278, -300
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(7-8-2017)
Taste of the Speedways returns at New Hampshire: Thousands of fans will be flooding the gates of New Hampshire Motor Speedway next weekend to watch more than 700 miles of racing. But the largest sporting event in New England will also have fans hungry for more than just the on-track competition. The speedway announced that it’s bringing back the Taste of the Speedways, a diverse and gratifying off-track food options feature food items from each of the eight Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) racetracks across the country.[More](7-8-2017)
News from July 7, 2017
Harvick’s throwback scheme a blast from Busch Beer’s past Busch Beer will pay homage to its past with Kevin Harvick’s throwback paint scheme for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
The Sept. 3 race will see Harvick pilot a #4 Ford with a design inspired by the Busch Beer look from the 1980s.(NASCAR.com)(7-7-2017)
Almirola cleared to test in the next two weeks UPDATE: The driver of the #43 Petty Enterprises Ford, who crushed his T5 vertebra in a wreck at Kansas Speedway on May 13, received a positive report from his doctors following a CT scan on Wednesday. “Good news from the docs,” Almirola said in a text. “My CT scan shows really good bone growth in the damaged vertebrae. Doctors were pleased and have cleared me to test in the next two weeks. “As long as that goes well and I have no pain, I will be cleared to resume competition.” Almirola, 33, hopes to return to competition in time for the Monster Energy Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16.(full post at Motorsport)(6-29-2017)
UPDATE: Aric Almirola will take the next step in his return to racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series by participating in a test at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Almirola, who suffered a compression fracture to his T5 Vertebra in a multi-car crash at Kansas Speedway on May 13, will test on Tuesday at the 1.5-mile track.[More](7-7-2017)
Kyle Busch wins Kentucky pole with record-setting lap: For Kyle Busch, the second time was the charm on Friday at Kentucky Speedway – because there was no third time. With the threat of a lightning storm imminent at the 1.5-mile track, NASCAR shortened knockout qualifying from three rounds to two, putting Busch on the pole for Saturday’s Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. By the time NASCAR opted to cancel the final round, Busch had already run a track-record lap, touring the repaved speedway in 28.379 seconds (190.282 mph). That put him .013 seconds ahead of Martin Truex Jr, who will start second for the fifth time in 18 races this season and second to Busch for the third time.[More](7-7-2017)
#18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light pole for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway with a track speed of 190.282mph for his 3rd pole of 2017, 1st at Kentucky and 22nd of his career. Busch has won 4 times from the 21 previous poles.
#78-Truex, Jr. will start 2nd followed by #20-Kenseth, #1-McMurray, #11-Hamlin, #21-Blaney, #4-Harvick, #48-Johnson, #19-Suarez, #2-Keselowski, #22-Logano, and #24-Elliott.
Qualifying was canceled after the second round was completed, due to lightning in the area.
#24-Elliott was fastest in the first round with a speed of 189.434mph and will start 12th.
Driver(s) who will miss the race: none as 40 were entered for 40 spots
See round-by-round qualifying results on the Qualifying results page (pdf) and the complete starting lineup on the Starting Lineup page (pdf).(7-79-2017)
Second Round of Qualifying for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway is over, after 10 scheduled minutes.
#18-Busch 190.282
#78-Truex, Jr. 190.194
#20-Kenseth 189.740
#1-McMurray 189.713
#11-Hamlin 189.687
the rest of the top 12: 21 4 48 19 2 22 24
out of the top 12 and not advancing to round 3: 88 77 41 14 43 17 6 95 37 5 27 10
(7-7-2017)
First Round of Qualifying for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway is over, after 20 scheduled minutes.
#24-Elliott 189.434
#20-Kenseth 189.029
#5-Kahne 188.904
#48-Johnson 188.646
#22-Logano 188.646
the rest of the top 24: 11 21 4 41 78 17 6 1 77 18 19 88 43 2 37 10 27 14 95;
out of the top 24 and not advancing to round 2: 38 13 47 31 32 83 72 15 23 34 33 66 55 42
Drivers who will miss the race: none, 40 entered
(7-7-2017)
Friday Kentucky Notebook: Matt Kenseth out at Joe Gibbs Racing with no job for 2018 – yet; Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalls the anniversary that changed his life; Short strokes.[More](-2017)
NASCAR increasing inspection penalties: Scott Miller didn’t mince words when he put the Monster Energy Cup teams on notice. NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition told Motorsport.com last week that the sanctioning body was upping the ante if the teams did not make a better effort at expediting the inspection process. At Kentucky Speedway on Friday, 11 teams discovered that Miller wasn’t making idle threats.[More](7-7-2017)
Kentucky responds to driver complaints about surface treatment UPDATE: Responding to driver complaints about how the surface of Kentucky Speedway was treated this week, track officials said they merely are doing what drivers said worked last year.(7-6-2017)
UPDATE: Kentucky Speedway plans to drag tires in the middle lane for a couple of hours after tonight’s NASCAR Xfinity race, following the advice of drivers. “We listened,” a Speedway Motorsports Inc. official told NBC Sports on Friday.[More](7-7-2017)
Happy Hour (final) practice for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway is over, after 85 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and notes:
#42-Larson 188.186
#78-Truex, Jr. 187.188
#24-Elliott 186.903
#21-Blaney 186.458
#18-Busch 186.265
slowest: #55-Gaulding 172.778 & #66-Hill 171.663
most laps run: #88-Earnhardt, Jr, 49 laps; #42-Larson 41 laps
best 10 consecutive lap ave.: #42-Larson 181.516mph.
notes: no accidents or incidents
See the fastest speeds, best 10 consecutive lap average, laps run on the Happy Hour Practice speeds page (pdf) (6-17-2017)
Fox sees 12% decline over last year’s ratings: Fox and FS1 for its package of 15 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races this season averaged 4.9 million viewers, down 12% from 5.6 million last year and down 14% from 5.7 million in ’15, which was the first deal under a new media rights agreement.[More](7-7-2017)
First Friday practice for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway is over, after 85 scheduled minutes, the top-five and notes:
#1-McMurray 186.780
#78-Truex, Jr. 186.445
#42-Larson 186.098
#21-Blaney 186.059
#18-Busch 185.938
slowest: #23-Gase 174.070 & #66-Hill 173.863
most laps run: #24-Elliott, 66 laps; #18-Busch, 65 laps.
Top 10 lap average (of 9 drivers): #18-Busch 183.148
See fastest speeds, laps run on the Practice 1 Speeds page (pdf)(6-9-2017)
Matt Kenseth doesn’t expect to race for Joe Gibbs next season: Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion who has 38 career Cup race victories, doesn’t expect to return to Joe Gibbs Racing next season. “I do not think I will have the option to race for JGR next year, unfortunately,” Kenseth said prior to practice at Kentucky Speedway. [More](7-7-2017)
What to watch for: Kentucky: Information and stats on interest as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kentucky Speedway.[More](7-7-2017)
XFINITY race postponed: Due to inclement weather, NASCAR has postponed the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway until Saturday, July 8 at 12:00pm/et. It will still be televised by NBCSN.(7-7-2017)
Kyle Busch on XFINITY pole at Kentucky: #18-Kyle Busch won the Coors Light pole for the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway with a speed of 181.935mph. #20-Erik Jones will start second. The rest of the top 10: #12-Ryan Blaney, #22-Joey Logano, #9-William Byron, #42-Tyler Reddick, #48-Brennan Poole, #00-Cole Custer, #2-Paule Menard, and #21-Daniel Hemric.
Did Not Qualify: #46-Quinn Houff, #89-Morgan Shepherd, #90-Brandon Brown.
The starting lineup is posted on the Kentucky starting lineup page (pdf).(7-7-2017)
Kyle Busch fastest in XFINITY practice: #18-Kyle Busch was fastest during the only practice at Kentucky Speedway with a speed of 182.389mph.
The rest of the top 10: #12-Ryan Blaney, #33-Brandon Jones, #42-Tyler Reddick, #20-Erik Jones, #48-Brennan Poole, #21-Daniel Hemric, #3-Ty Dillon, #22-Joey Logano, and #41-Kevin Harvick.
All 43 drivers practiced during the session.
See complete results on the Kentucky practice speeds page (pdf).(7-6-2017)
Quaker State extends title sponsorship of Kentucky’s Cup race: The Quaker State 400 has gone by the same name since the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series started coming to Kentucky Speedway in 2011, and that’s not about to change. Officials from Kentucky Speedway and Quaker State announced a new event sponsorship agreement on Friday that will see Quaker State continue to sponsor the race through 2022.[More](7-7-2017)
Major capital improvements at Gateway Motorsports Park: Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois has launched a major capital improvement project designed to improve the race day experience for fans and provide an enhanced competition environment for race teams. This is the third phase of a plan implemented in 2012 to completely update and upgrade the venue. The primary focus of this phase is to replace the track’s 20-year-old asphalt and dramatically improve GMP’s parking capacity.[More](7-7-2017)
Richmond to host driver/crew chief meeting at the Classic Amphitheater: Richmond International Raceway’s commitment to providing innovative and engaging fan experiences is rising to a new level as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series pre-race Driver/Crew Chief Meetings will move to The Classic Amphitheater beginning with the upcoming NASCAR race weekend presented by Who’s Your Driver on Sept. 8-9, 2017.[More](7-7-2017)
News from July 6, 2017
Thursday Kentucky Notebook: Fresh pavement at Kentucky Speedway is another variable for drivers; Blaney is at the vanguard of NASCAR’s new generation; Joe Nemechek out as rain washes out NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying.[More](7-6-2017)
Nationwide Children’s Hospital scheme for Earnhardt, Jr. at Kentucky: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the #88 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Chevrolet SS this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. The special paint scheme features the Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) logo as well as more than 315 names on the hood of people who donated to the hospital through a special fundraising platform.[More](7-6-2017)
Truex, Johnson nominated for ESPY: Martin Truex Jr. has received a 2017 ESPY nomination in the Best Driver category. Joining Truex on the ESPY BEST Driver ballot are Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR), Simon Pagenaud (IndyCar), Ron Capps (NHRA Funny Car) and Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1).[More](7-6-2017)
Angela Ruch (Cope) in the #78 at Kentucky: While McLeod returns to the team’s #8 Chevrolet this weekend, the team is happy to welcome Angela Ruch (Cope) who will drive the team’s #78 Chevrolet in Saturday’s Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Ruch’s return to the XFINITY Series for the first time since 2012 will be backed by Give a Child a Voice.[More](7-6-2017)
Sauter on pole at Kentucky: #21-Johnny Sauter inherited the pole for Thursday’s Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway after rain knocked out qualifying and forced NASCAR to set the field based on the rulebook. #4-Christopher Bell will start second with #29-Chase Briscoe, #88-Matt Crafton, #27-Ben Rhodes, #51-Myatt Snider, #98-Grant Enfinger, #16-Ryan Truex, #8-John Hunter Nemechek, #24-Justin Haley closing out the top-10 starters.
Failed to qualify: #87-Joe Nemechek.
The starting lineup is posted on the Kentucky starting lineup page(7-6-2017)
Bell wins Kentucky: #4-Christopher Bell held off #99-Brandon Jones in the rain delayed Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on Thursday night to win his third race of the year. #24-Justin Haley, #19-Austin Cindric, #18-Noah Gragson, #46-Kyle Busch, #75-Parker Kligerman, #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Johnny Sauter, and #02-Austin Hill were the remainder of the top-10.
There were eight caution flags for 42 laps and10 lead changes among 8 leaders.
See results on the Kentucky race results page(7-6-2017)
Stage Information:
Stage 1 – 35 laps, winner, #27-Ben Rhodes,
Stage 2 – 70 laps, winner, #18-Noah Gragson
Stage 3 – 150 laps, winner, #4-Christopher Bell
Kentucky Truck Series Race Fast Facts:
Christopher Bell won the 7th Annual Buckle Up In Your Truck 225, his fifth victory in 40 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
This is his third victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Kentucky Speedway.
Brandon Jones(i) (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Kentucky Speedway. It is his third top-10 finish in 2017.
Justin Haley (third) posted his first top-10 finish in one race at Kentucky Speedway.
Haley (third) was the highest finishing rookie.
Johnny Sauter leads the point standings by 28 points over Bell.
NASCAR Statistics)(7-6-2017)
Truck Series point standings following Kentucky:
1) #21-Johnny Sauter, 464
2) #4-Christopher Bell, 436, – 28
3) #29-Chase Briscoe, 390, -74
4) #88-Matt Crafton, 375, -89
5) #27-Ben Rhodes, 330, -134
6) #98-Grant Enfinger, 316, -148
7) #16-Ryan Truex, 315, -149
8) #8-John Hunter Nemechek, 306, -158
9) #18-Noah Gragson, 299, -165
10) #33-Kaz Grala, 266, -198
See complete standings on Driver points standings page and the owner’s standings are posted on the Owner points standings page.(7-6-2017)
Kentucky responds to driver complaints about surface treatment:Responding to driver complaints about how the surface of Kentucky Speedway was treated this week, track officials said they merely are doing what drivers said worked last year.[More](7-6-2017)
News from July 5, 2017
Kentucky Weekend Preview: Truex tries to dig into points gap at Kentucky; Byron goes for third straight win; Nemechek tries for trifecta at Kentucky. [More](7-5-2017)
Sorenson returns to the #15 at Kentucky:Reed Sorenson will climb back in his familiar #15 Chevrolet SS this weekend for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, “Quaker State 400” at Kentucky Speedway after piloting the #55 car last week in Daytona. This week, Premium Motorsports and Reed Sorenson introduce Losers Bar & Grill to the team Losers Bar & Grill is one of the best known bars in all of Nashville. [More](7-5-2017)
A look at some of the top statistical performers and top-10 driver ratings at Kentucky, see the stats on the Statistical Advance – Analyzing Kentucky page
Nature’s Bakery returns to the #10 at Kentucky: When Danica Patrick and the #10 team visit Kentucky this year, her Ford Fusion will carry the light blue of Nature’s Bakery, as well as the orange hue of Feeding America. Nature’s Bakery, a snacks and food brand that supports health-conscious living and active lifestyles, recently announced a partnership with Feeding America that will see the company donate funds to provide 1.65 million meals for families struggling with hunger.[More](7-5-2017)
Gaulding to return to NASCAR Cup at Kentucky: Premium Motorsports welcomes Gray Gaulding to the seat of the #55 Toyota Camry for this weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway. Gaulding is anticipating getting back behind the wheel in Kentucky for the “Quaker State 400”. Along for the ride on the #55 is #CheckIt4Andretti to help raise awareness about colon cancer, which John Andretti, beloved former NASCAR/Indy driver, is currently battling.[More](7-5-2017)
A look at many new, notes and story lines for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway, see the stats on the NASCAR National Series News & Notes — Kentucky
Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman to honor Dale Earnhardt at Darlington: Both race cars will be decked out in the blue and yellow colors of Earnhardt’s famous Wrangler Chevy[More](7-5-2017)
Brandeis Machinery partners with Ragan at Kentucky: Brandeis Machinery will be a new partner of Front Row Motorsports when it joins David Ragan’s No. 38 team for Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. The Louisville-based company sells, services and rents heavy-duty equipment for industries including construction, mining, forestry, and scrap and waste material handling. Brandeis has partnered with Ragan in the past, but the Kentucky Monster Energy Cup Series event will be the first time the company will team up with Front Row Motorsports.[More](7-5-2017)
Ron Jon Surf Shop and Surface Sunscreen sponsoring Tifft at Darlington: Ron Jon Surf Shop and Surface Sunscreen team up for a one race deal with Matt Tifft on September 2 at Darlington (SC) Raceway in the NASCAR XFINITY Series race. Local market partner Ron Jon Surf Shop will be carrying Surface Sunscreen products and will be on the throwback scheme. Ron Jon has two locations in the Myrtle Beach (SC) area, only a few hours from Darlington Raceway.[More](7-5-2017)
Ryan Preece to drive two races for Joe Gibbs: Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announces today that Berlin, Connecticut native, Ryan Preece will become the latest young star to become a member of the JGR stable of drivers to run in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) for the 2017 season. Preece will make his NXS debut with JGR in the No. 20 Toyota Camry. Preece will make his JGR debut at his hometrack, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS), in front of his home crowd, family and friends in the No. 20 Toyota Camry on July 15. His second race with JGR will be the July 29 race at Iowa Speedway.[More](7-5-2017)
Busch paces final Kentucky Truck practice:#46-Kyle Busch was fastest during final practice for Thursday’s Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway with a speed of 180.886mph. #4-Christopher Bell, #33-Kaz Grala, #88-Matt Crafton, #21-Johnny Sauter, #99-Brandon Jones, #02-Austin Hill, #18-Noah Gragson, #24-Justin Haley, and #8-John Hunter Nemechek. 32 trucks practiced during the session. #29-Chase Briscoe cut a tire and hit the wall. He will qualify in a backup truck. See complete results on the Practice 2 speeds (pdf)(7-5-2017)
Enfinger fastest in opening Kentucky Truck practice: #98-Grant Enfinger was fastest during the opening practice for Thursday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway at 182.020mph. #46-Kyle Busch, #99-Brandon Jones, #18-Noah Gragson, #27-Ben Rhodes, #21-Johnny Sauter, #19-Austin Cindric, #88-Matt Crafton, #4-Chritopher Bell, and #33-Kaz Grala were the remainder of the top-10. 29 drivers practiced during the session. See complete results on the Practice 1 speeds (pdf)(7-5-2017)
NASCAR weekend in Sonoma raises record $271,000 for Sonoma County youth groups: Charitable programs combined to raise record amounts for local youth groups during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Sonoma Raceway, June 23-25. More than $271,000 was raised during the race weekend, the majority of which will benefit Sonoma County youth organizations through the Sonoma chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC). The record amount for the NASCAR weekend marks over $55,000 more than 2016. SCC has distributed more than $5.6 million to youth-serving non-profit groups since 2001.[More](7-5-2017)
Patriots’ Josh McDaniels to drive pace car at New Hampshire: The man calling the plays that helped Tom Brady and the New England Patriots orchestrate the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history will serve as the official pace car driver for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will pace the field before pulling down pit road as 40 cars speed down the frontstretch to start the Overton’s 301 on July 16.[More](7-5-2017)
News from July 4, 2017
Roush Fenway expects to remain at two teams: Roush Fenway president Steve Newmark told SiriusXM’s Tradin Paint that the team will “most likely” be two Cup cars and one XFINITY car in 2018.[More](7-4-2017)
Lawsuit filed by Mike Wallace goes to federal court: A lawsuit former NASCAR driver Mike Wallace and his family filed for injuries suffered in a beating after a Rascal Flatts concert last year has moved to federal court. The lawsuit was filed May 30 in North Carolina Superior Court but moved to federal court in late June.[More](7-4-2017)
Snickers getting ‘Rowdy’ with Busch at Kentucky SNICKERS is bringing back its popular “Hunger Bars,” and one of the new hunger symptoms will be quite familiar to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series fans. Kyle Busch has raced with the SNICKERS brand many times over the years, so it’s only appropriate that the driver nicknamed “ROWDY’ will sport his moniker on his SNICKERS Toyota Camry this weekend at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta as a way to kick off the newest versions of the award-winning “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” campaign.[More](7-4-2017)
Anest Iwata joins Matt DiBenedetto and Go Fas Racing for the 2017 season: Go Fas Racing is proud to announce that Anest Iwata will be teaming up with Matt DiBenedetto, CorvetteParts.net, and the #32 team for multiple races starting at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. Anest Iwata specializes in manual and automatic spray guns guns used across fine art, high end automotive refinish, and industrial markets. Besides being among the top manufacturers of spray guns in the world, Anest Iwata is a leading manufacturer of engineered solutions for air compressors, vacuum pumps, spray and finishing systems.[More](7-4-2017)
Stewart-Haas Racing could look a bit different in 2018 While #4-Kevin Harvick signed an extension with Stewart-Haas Racing last May, and #14-Clint Bowyer is in the first year of his contract, drivers #41-Kurt Busch and #10-Danica Patrick are not locked in for next season. “Contracts are signed – and expire – at all different times,” Haas told motorsport.com. “It’s hard to say when one person’s contract is going to expire because there are options and things like that. I think that’s why they call it silly season. We kind of start looking at what we want to do. The drivers do the same thing. Sponsors do the same thing. In order for all the pieces to fall into place, you have to take all three parties – you’ve got to take the drivers, the owners and the sponsors and see if you can’t align all the stars up and get them to agree on something.” Haas has no plans of eliminating any of his four Cup squads.(Motorsportts.com)[Read More Here](7-4-2017)
Joey Gase back in Cup car at Kentucky Joey Gase backed up an 18th-place finish in the Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway two weekends ago – his career best at his home NASCAR track – with a 10th-place finish on Saturday at Daytona. On the heels of the best two-week stretch of his career, Gase now heads to Kentucky Speedway, where he’ll be back in the #23 Best Home Furnishings Toyota for BK Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Gase said he’ll test on iRacing this week as much as he can, but that only goes so far. He’s tried to stay in touch with the BK Racing guys by stopping by their hauler each week, but getting back in the groove of working with a group he hasn’t been around since February will take time as well.(The Gazette)[Read More Here](7-4-2017)
Gaulding to return to NASCAR Cup at Kentucky: Gray Gaulding, a Colonial Heights (VA) native and candidate for 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year, [was] not on the entry list for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. He could, however, return to the Cup Series with a different race team for the race at Kentucky on Saturday, July 8. Gaulding on Tuesday, June 27 said via Twitter: “Just got a call from @premiummotrspts (PREMIUM MOTORSPORTS) to drive their @ToyotaRacing car at Kentucky & NH. Looking forward to working with them!”(Progress-Index)[Read More Here](7-4-2017)
ISC reports 2nd quarter earnings International Speedway Corp. reported Monday that Cup attendance was down an average of 6.5 percent for the six races it held in the second quarter. Races during the second quarter, which ended May 31, were at Phoenix, Auto Club Speedway, Martinsville, Richmond, Talladega and Kansas.[More](7-4-2017)
Fr8Auctions to sponsor Yeley in two-race deal with Copp Motorsports: NASCAR veteran JJ Yeley has partnered with Copp Motorsports to compete in two Camping World Truck Series races, Kentucky Speedway and Eldora Speedway. Fr8Auctions will serve as the primary sponsor for both races.[More](7-4-2017)
Airflotek to sponsor Self at Kentucky: Officials from AM Racing announced that Airflotek, a distributor of air filtration systems will support driver Austin Wayne Self in Thursday night’s Buckle Up Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Thursday night’s race will mark their debut as a primary partner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.[More](7-4-2017)
News from July 3, 2017
Entry List for the Quaker State 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway is posted, 40 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
36 teams with Charters are guaranteed to make the field. The rest need to make the field via qualifying / qualifying races / rules book (owners attempts/points).
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-TBA, #23-LaJoie (supposed to be Joey Gase), #33-JEarnhardt, #51-TBA*, #55-Cope*, #66-Hill*(Long is currently listed), #83-Sieg*
Gray Gaulding is supposed to be one of the Premium Motorsports cars (15 or 55), no word on Reed Sorenson plans.
Drivers who currently to not drive for a team with a Charter (an Open Team*) and need to race into the field: only 40 entered, all make race
Drivers who would miss the race if qualifying is canceled (least race attempts): none
Since only 40 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
See the full entry list on the Entry List (pdf)
Lewis Hamilton tempted by future NASCAR move Lewis Hamilton says he would relish switching to NASCAR ‘in the future’ but reiterated his sole focus on Formula 1 and his hunt for race wins and world titles.
The Mercedes driver has frequently expressed his passion for other motorsport series outside of F1, including MotoGP and NASCAR, and feels if the opportunity and situation would be right he would be thrilled to ‘have a closer look’ and try his hand at NASCAR. The British driver has repeated his sentiment that he is purely concentrating on his current F1 charge as he hunts a fourth world championship.(Crash.net)[Read More Here](7-3-2017)
Biffle sued for hidden cameras inside home: Channel 9 uncovered allegations of hidden cameras and secret peeping inside a former NASCAR driver’s home. Anchor Allison Latos found a new lawsuit against former driver Greg Biffle. Biffle’s ex-wife and ex-mother-in-law are suing him and Roush Fenway Racing over hidden cameras inside Biffle’s estate on Lake Norman in Mooresville. The lawsuit details visible cameras all over the outside of the home on Doolie Road. But that there were hidden cameras inside the house, including in the master bedroom, bathroom and in the guest bedroom where Biffle’s former mother-in-law stayed.
The lawsuit claims Biffle recorded his ex-wife and ex-mother-in-law on a digital video recorder and showed that video to other people. The lawsuit says Biffle said under oath that the hidden cameras were installed for security because he believed his maids were stealing. He and his wife divorced in 2015.(WSOC TV Charlotte)(7-3-2017)
Hill to run the #66 for Carl Long at Kentucky: Kentucky Speedway: We are doing Dover lineup all over again. The 66 Chevy returns to cup with Timmy Hill. I would like to run the race myself but i need to look after the entire team making sure all people working have whats needed. I will wind up spotting for Timmy in the race.(Carl Long Motorsports Facebook)[Read More Here](7-3-2017)
McDowell & Leavine Family Racing earn best finish Michael McDowell and Leavine Family Racing (LFR) earned their best finish both individually and as a team during the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The race weekend began on a positive note, as the team recorded two solid practice runs before qualifying 23rd. Daytona has been good to LFR and McDowell in the past, as McDowell earned his previous best finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) at the superspeedway. At the beginning of the 400-mile race, McDowell dropped back a few spots, but said his #95 WRL Chevrolet SS was running well and had no issues. The first caution of the night fell on lap nine. Crew Chief, Todd Parrott, made the decision to pit just for tires and pit only for fuel during the competition caution.
The second caution flag fell on lap 15, which would become the competition caution. McDowell restarted 14th with 21 laps remaining in the stage. He made it as far as sixth place, where he finished stage one, earning LFR their first stage points of the season. McDowell continued to race and avoided multiple incidents before a big caution came out with seven laps to go. Another caution came out at the restart, forcing the field to go into overtime. McDowell restarted in fifth place, and ran as high as second, before going on to earn his career best finish of 4th place.(Leavine Family Racing)[Read More Here](7-3-2017)
Donnie Wingo Named Competition Director at Front Row Motorsports: Effective today, Front Row Motorsports has named Donnie Wingo competition director for the two-car Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team. The veteran crew chief of more than 30 years will lead the team’s efforts to improve the performance of the cars and will serve as the primary liaison in the organization’s technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing. Seth Barbour will replace Wingo atop the #34 pit box as crew chief for Landon Cassill’s team. Barbour is a 13-year Roush Fenway Racing employee, earning two XFINITY Series championships as head engineer for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Barbour was most recently crew chief for Darrell Wallace Jr.’s XFINITY team.(Front Row Motorsports Facebook)(7-3-2017)
Daytona TV Ratings In the Saturday ratings this week, NBC’s broadcast of the NASCAR Coke Zero 400 race won by a landslide with a 1.0 average rating in the night. It was the only program to reach the 1.0 barrier with an average of 5.01 million viewers.(TV by the Numbers and showbuzzdaily.com)
in 2016 the rating was 3.4 with 5.7 million viewers on NBC, per Nielsen fast-nationals. Not sure why the difference in the Rating, but the viewers is not too far off, 13%.(7-2-2017)
AND NBC on Saturday aired its first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season from Daytona, drawing a 3.0 overnight rating for the Coke Zero 400 from 8:15-11:00pm ET. That figure is down from a 3.2 last year. The race in ’15, which was NBC’s first year with the new media-rights package, drew a 2.6 overnight, but that race had a three-hour rain delay, forcing the telecast to air from 11:15pm-2:30am.(Sports Business Daily)(7-3-2017)
XFINITY Entry List: There are 44 cars on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
See the complete list on the Kentucky entry list page.(7-3-2017)
Brian Scott to drive the #3 Daniel Defense Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing: Brian Scott will return to Richard Childress Racing (RCR) to pilot the #3 Daniel Defense Chevrolet for two races in the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) this season. After announcing his NASCAR retirement at the end of 2016 to move home to Idaho with his family, Scott will make a brief return to the sport with his former team to pilot the #3 Chevrolet Camaro for the second NXS race at Iowa Speedway on July 29 and the September 23rd race at Kentucky Speedway.[More](7-3-2017)
Iowa XFINITY TV Ratings: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Iowa earned a 0.6 final rating and 983,000 viewers on Fox Sports 1 last Saturday night, down a third in ratings and 29% in viewership from last year (0.9, 1.4M) and down 28% and 21% respectively from 2015 (0.8, 1.2M). It was the lowest rated and least-watched Xfinity Series race this season.[Sports Media Watch](7-3-2017)
Truck Series entry list: There are 34 trucks entered for Thursday’s Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. See the complete list on the Kentucky entry list page (pdf).(7-3-2017)
News from July 2, 2017
Notebook from Daytona For a few fleeting moments at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed poised to write a miraculous ending to the story almost everyone tuned in to Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola wanted to read. In what was to be Earnhardt’s final ride at Daytona as a full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver, Earnhardt started from the pole but lost the lead to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott on the first lap. But NASCAR’s most popular driver brought the crowd to life on Lap 36 when he passed Brad Keselowski for the lead with a push from Ryan Blaney. Earnhardt’s stint at the front of the field was short-lived, as Keselowski got the top spot back one circuit later and went on to win the first 40-lap stage. On Lap 52, heading into Turn 1 at 190 miles per hour, Earnhardt felt his right front tire losing air, but he was trapped in the outside lane and couldn’t break out of line. Unavoidable contact from Paul Menard’s Chevrolet sent Earnhardt’s Chevy into the outside wall, causing him to lose two laps as he brought the car to pit road for repairs. But Earnhardt persevered, and with two “lucky dogs” (as the highest-scored lapped car), he returned to the lead lap under caution on Lap 90 of a scheduled 160. After restarting 31st on Lap 95, he had driven up to 17th place two laps later. Thenceforth, Earnhardt ran as high as sixth and was holding seventh when Kevin Harvick blew a tire and turned in front of him. The result wreck knocked both Earnhardt and Harvick out of the race, as well as Keselowski.
Both of David Ragan’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victories have come at restrictor-plate tracks, and in Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway, he was two laps away from a third win. Driving the #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ragan led the field to an overtime restart on lap 162, but as the cars approached Turn 3, Ragan realized too late that eventual race winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a strong run to the inside. Stenhouse made the pass and held on for the victory, as Ragan fell back to sixth at the finish.
When Paul Menard clipped the outside wall early in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway, his prospects for victory seemed remote. But Menard worked his way steadily toward the front after the end of the second stage, got a strong push from race runner-up Clint Bowyer in the two-lap overtime and came home third.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-2-2017)
Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2017 Coke Zero 400 For those of you NASCAR fans that like stats and love to hate commercials, here is the breakdown for Saturday’s race. Began recording the times at the Invocation of the race at 7:30 PM, and stopped at the waving of the checkered flag at 11:24 PM (all times are EDT). I did not keep records for the pre- and post-race coverage. NBC was the broadcast team for this event. Total race brdcst time 193 Total comm. brdcst time 41.(CawsnJaws)[Read More Here](7-2-2017)
Daytona Recap from ESPN Research Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 2nd win in last 8 Cup Series races; winless in his first 157 races. Stenhouse Jr.: 5th driver with multiple wins this season. 3rd straight year a driver has won multiple plate restrictor-plate races in a season (2015: Dale Earnhardt Jr.; 2016: Brad Keselowski). Stenhouse Jr.: 126th driver in series history with multiple wins. Stenhouse Jr.: 1st Roush Fenway Racing driver with multiple wins in a season since Carl Edwards in 2014. Clint Bowyer: finished 2nd; 6th runner-up finish since last win in October 2012.(ESPN)[Read More Here](7-2-2017)
News from July 1, 2017
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wins second straight plate race in wild Coke Zero 400 The major story of Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final run at his beloved Daytona International Speedway in the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – turned out to be a footnote to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s masterful victory in a war of attrition that produced a race-record 14 cautions. The driver of the #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, who got his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in his 158th career start two months ago at Talladega, established himself as a restrictor-plate wizard with his second straight superspeedway win, this one after three laps of overtime. Stenhouse lined up behind race leader #38-David Ragan for a restart on Lap 162, after a caution for a backstretch collision involving #1-Jamie McMurray, #11-Denny Hamlin and #77-Erik Jones slowed the action for the 14th time and sent the race to overtime. Ragan pulled out to a two-car-length lead after the restart, but Stenhouse surged past him near the end of the backstretch and protected the top spot the rest of the way. #14-Clint Bowyer charged into the runner-up position at the finish, beating third-place finisher #27-Paul Menard to the stripe.(NASCAR Wire Service / Daytona International Speedway)[Read More Here](7-1-2017)
#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the Coke Zero 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2017, 1st win at Daytona and 2nd career win.
The race was run in NASCAR Overtime and extended 3 laps when #77-Jones and #11-Hamlin spun on the backstretch with two laps left in the race.
#38-Ragan led at the start of NASCAR Overtime, but Stenhouse Jr. went to the lead and held on to the win.
Stage 1 was won by #2-Keselowski (who wrecked and finished 31st)
Stage 2 was won by #20-Kenseth (who wrecked and finished 27th)
#14-Bowyer (for the 2nd race in a row) finished 2nd followed by #27-Menard, #95-McDowell, #31-Newman, #38-Ragan, #75-Gaughan, #47-Allmendinger, #77-Jones and #37-Buescher.
Pole winner #88-Earnhardt Jr. led two laps and ran up front until he lost a tire and hit the wall.
The team made repairs and went down two laps. Earnhardt Jr. made up the two laps and got back on the lead lap and was up into the top-10 when #4-Harvick lost a tire and collected Earnhardt Jr. ending his day.
There was a mini-big one (wreck) that involved eight cars ending the race for #78-Truex Jr., #22-Logano, #3-Dillon.
#42-Larson maintains the Driver Points lead by 18 points over #78-Truex Jr.
There were only 24 cars running at the end of the race.
There were 33 lead changes among 16 drivers and a record 14 cautions for 51 yellow flag laps and one red flag.
The average speed of the race was: 123.986mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, laps led, cautions and more at:
Unofficial Race Results (pdf)
Cumulative Report (pdf)
Penalty Report (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Standings:
[after Daytona, race 17 of 36]
1) #42-Kyle Larson [2 wins], 667
2) #78-Martin Truex Jr [2], 649, -18
3) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 557, -110
4) #18-Kyle Busch, 559, -108
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [2], 536, -132
See full standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings page (pdf) and
Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf)
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Race & Points Report (pdf).
2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Unofficial Playoff Standings:
[after Daytona, race 17 of 26, then the playoffs]
1) #78-Martin Truex Jr [2 wins], 2031
2) #42-Kyle Larson [2], 2028
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3], 2019
4) #2-Brad Keselowski [2], 2019
5) #4-Kevin Harvick [1], 2015
the other 11 playoff drivers would be: 21 41 31 17 3 18 24 1 11 14 20
(reset to 2000, add playoff points accrued, then playoff points for driver standings)
Race Fast Facts – Daytona International Speedway
#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, his second victory in 165 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his second victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and third top-10 finish in 11 races at Daytona International Speedway.
#14-Clint Bowyer (second) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 24 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his seventh top-10 finish in 2017.
#27-Paul Menard (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in 21 races at Daytona International Speedway.
#77-Erik Jones (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
#42-Kyle Larson leads the point standings by 18 points over #78-Martin Truex Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(7-1-2017)
Top-Ten Stage 2 Results (lap 80) of the Coke Zero 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway (lap 80/160):
#20-Kenseth, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#11-Hamlin, 9pts
#48-Johnson, 8pts
#41-Busch, 7pts
#38-Ragan, 6pts
#4-Harvick, 5pts
#5-Kahne, 4pts
#13-Dillon, 3pts
#43-Wallace Jr., 2pts
#21-Blaney, 1pt
Top-Ten Stage 1 Results (lap 40) of the Coke Zero 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway (lap 40/160):
#2-Keselowski, 10pts, 1 playoff point
#88-Earnhardt Jr., 9pts
#21-Blaney, 8pts
#14-Bowyer. 7pt
#22-Logano, 6pts
#95-McDowell, 5pts
#1-McMurray, 4pts
#41-Busch, 3pts
#20-Kenseth, 2pts
#38-Ragan, 1pt
Kurt Busch looking for rare Daytona sweep #41-Kurt Busch led only one lap in this year’s Daytona 500. But it was the most important one – the final lap. The 2004 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion added a win in the sport’s biggest race to his resume. Busch returns to Daytona International Speedway for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola attempting to join Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Allison, LeeRoy Yarborough, Cale Yarborough and Fireball Roberts as the only drivers to sweep the races at “The World Center of Racing.”(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-1-2017)
Keselowski To Host 200 Military Members at Coke Zero 400 Team Penske and its long-time partner, Miller Lite, today announced a unique promotion with Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation charity designed to raise money and awareness for our nation’s veterans around the upcoming Veterans Day weekend of racing at Phoenix Raceway. Beginning at this weekend’s NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), fans and families of service men and women can visit CheckeredFlagFoundation.org to nominate a person that has sacrificed for our country. Nominees will have their name displayed on the #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Phoenix on November 12, Veterans Day weekend across the United States. The special promotion will run through the MENCS regular-season finale at Richmond International Raceway on September 9. The cost is $100 per nomination, which is fully tax deductible, and all proceeds go to the Checkered Flag Foundation. In addition to being recognized on the race car, each nominee will receive a piece of the #2 Ford Fusion’s sheet metal that shows their name, along with a photo of the car and a letter of thanks from Keselowski. Fans can use the social media hashtag, #Tribute2Veterans, to highlight their nominee online as well.(Team Penske)[Read More Here](7-1-2017)
Premium Motorsports welcomes Kennington to the #15 ride at Daytona Premium Motorsports welcomes full time Pinty’s series driver, D.J. Kennington to the team as he will pilot the #15 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Toyota Camry with Xchange of America on board for the ‘Coke Zero 400’. Kennington, who’s been racing since the early 2000’s has worked his way up the ranks and has had success before at the most popular superspeedway on the NASCAR circuit. Earlier this year in February, he qualified his way into the ‘All American Race’, the Daytona 500. This weekend, he won’t have to qualify his way into the race as he has a guaranteed spot in the ‘Xchange of America’, #15 for the ‘Coke Zero 400’. ‘Xchange of America, Inc‘ is a currency exchange company that was founded in December of 2007’ by Robert M. Hoffman, Jr. He is the company’s active Chairman, President and CEO. Their goal is to become the # 1 currency exchanger in America. They intend to do this with their state of the art identity verification & authentication, making their online process very simple. With just a few clicks of a mouse, your currency will arrive within 24 to 48 hours after ordering. Premium Motorsports is seeking partners for continued success on all levels.(Premium Motorsports)[Read More Here](7-1-2017)
Daytona Notebook – News & Notes Could you have imagined the late Dale Earnhardt as the Rowdy Burns character in the 1990 stock car racing film “Days of Thunder?” According to Dale Earnhardt Jr., who on Saturday night will make his last trip around Daytona International Speedway in the # 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, that casting scenario might have been close to the truth. “The rumor was they offered Dad the role of Rowdy Burns,” Earnhardt said on Friday during a question-and-answer session with reporters. “I don’t know if that is really true or not, but that was the rumor. But Dad turned it down because he didn’t want to play the bad guy. Although Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won at Talladega Superspeedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent restrictor-plate race, the driver of the # 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford isn’t definitively locked into NASCAR’s playoffs – but the odds are heavily in his favor. Assuming Stenhouse makes the playoff, however, he’ll start in a deep hole to Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson, who have accumulated 21, 16 and 13 playoff points, respectively. For practical purposes, Kurt Busch is locked into the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Sure, there’s the possibility that a surfeit of race winners – more than 16, to be precise – could eliminate a driver who has been to Victory Lane in the first 26 events. Based on recent history, however, the prospects of that happening are remote, and as the winner of the season-opening Daytona 500, Busch figures to be competing for the championship in the final 10 races. With that in mind, Busch feels his time is best spent preparing for the five 1.5-mile intermediate speedways that populate the playoffs. Only one problem: there’s only one 1.5-mile track on the schedule (July 8 at Kentucky Speedway) between now and the postseason opener at Chicagoland. Before Thursday’s opening Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Daytona International Speedway, Chase Elliott took questions from reporters for the first time announcing a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports. Though the 21-year-old is still looking for his first victory in the series, his message was emphatic. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and the chance to stay at Hendrick Motorsports for another five-and-a-half years,” Elliott said. “It’s been an honor to work with the men and women that make Hendrick Motorsports go around every day. And as I’ve told everyone before, I owe so much to Mr. Hendrick and what he’s done for me and really just kind of believing in me from the time I met him.(NASCAR Wire Service)[Read More Here](7-1-2017)
W2W4 Daytona: Stats and Facts by ESPN Who’s Hot and Who’s Not – Daytona Edition; This is Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final Daytona race as a full-time driver. However, Earnhardt has not ruled out future races in NASCAR or at Daytona, just not as a full-time driver. With 17 wins at the track in all major races (points and non-points events), Junior is 3rd all-time, trailing his father’s 34 wins and Tony Stewart’s 19. But Junior has done something that neither of those 2 did, win multiple Daytona 500s. Among those wins are several that are especially memorable. Dale Earnhardt Jr. sits 22nd in the playoff standings with 10 races remaining in the regular season, with only 16 playoff spots available. Although he’s just 6 spots away from the playoff cutoff, Junior’s 134 points back of Clint Bowyer, 16th in the playoff standings, and any new race winner will grab a guaranteed spot (wins are the first priority for making the playoffs, with the remaining spots going to the non-winners highest in the points). Earnhardt Jr. might be the sentimental pick, but he’s the 2nd-favorite for Saturday’s race at Daytona, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook. Defending winner Brad Keselowski opened as a 7-1 favorite for the race. Keselowski has won 5 restrictor-plate races in his career (Daytona and Talladega), tied with Jimmie Johnson for the 2nd-most among active driver behind Earnhardt Jr., whose win percentage is slightly behind that of Keselowski’s in plate races. Kurt Busch won the season-opening Daytona 500, his first win in 32 career Cup Series starts at Daytona and 64 career restrictor-plate races. He led only the final lap of the race, the first driver to do that in Daytona 500 history. Now he’ll try to become the 6th driver to sweep both Cup races at Daytona in a season. Of the previous 5, only 2 came in the Modern Era (since 1972) and ran for the championship – both finished in the top 2 in points. Since NASCAR began electronic scoring in 1993, 3 of the 10 closest race finishes have taken place at Daytona, all being decided by .01 second or less. The closest at Daytona came in the 2007 July race, when Jamie McMurray beat Kyle Busch by .005 second.(ESPN Stats & Research)[Read More Here](7-1-2017)
NASCAR National Series News & Notes — Daytona Heading into Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, 11 different drivers have visited Victory Lane through the first 16 races of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. With a number of NASCAR’s current and upcoming stars still searching for wins, there’s a realistic chance 16 different drivers will have at least one win at the conclusion of the 26-race regular season. In the modern era, the record for the most different winners through the first 26 races is 16. With win totals of six and four at Talladega and Daytona, respectively, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is NASCAR’s current restrictor-plate wins leader. Last season’s summer Daytona winner Brad Keselowski will attempt to defend his 2016 win on Saturday. A skilled restrictor-plate racer, Keselowski has four wins at Talladega to go along with his one at Daytona. Daytona 500 champion Kurt Busch will go for the first track sweep since Jimmie Johnson won twice at the 2.5-mile track in 2013. Many of the young guns in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series produced strong performances in the Daytona 500. They’ll try to put on a show again in Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 Presented by Coca-Cola. Kevin Harvick picked up his first win of the season, leading 24 laps on his way to Victory Lane at Sonoma. He’s now won at least one race in the last eight seasons. This weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returns to the NBC family of networks for the rest of the season. Rick Allen serves as the lead race announcer and is joined in the booth by 21-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race winner Jeff Burton and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte. (NASCAR)[Read the full set of Notes & Stats](7-1-2017)
William Byron wins long, action-packed NASCAR XFINITY race at Daytona: In a wild race that ended more than 21 hours after it started, William Byron won his second NASCAR XFINITY Series event in seven days, taking the checkered flag in overtime in Saturday’s weather-delayed Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Byron took the lead from Joey Logano on Lap 98 of a scheduled 100, when off-center contact from Byron’s front bumper sent Logano’s No. 22 Ford plowing through the infield grass below the backstretch.[More](7-1-2017)
William Byron wins Daytona XFINITY race: #39-William Byron won the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. It is his 2nd XFINITY Series win and second in a row.
#1-Elliott Sadler finished second, followed by #28-Dakoda Armstrong (career best finish), #24-Jeb Burton (career best finish), #99-David Starr (career best finish), #4-Ross Chastain (2nd best career finish), #48-Brennan Poole, #22-Joey Logano, #62-Brendan Gaughan and #52-Joey Gase (2nd best career finish).
The race finished under caution during the first attempt at NASCAR overtime when a wreck happened on the backstretch, but the leaders had already passed the overtime line.
The race was postponed Friday night after rain hit the track early on Friday with only 11 laps complete. The race resumed later than scheduled on Saturday afternoon because of rain and then was again delayed for 2 hours, 29 minutes on lap 38.
There was an additional red flag in the race with 2 laps remaining after a big wreck involving 16 cars.
There were 9 cautions for 35 laps and 18 lead changes among 10 leaders.
The average speed was 116.476mph.
Complete results are on the Daytona race results page (pdf).
See OFFICIAL race results & points standings on the Official Daytona Race & Points Report (pdf).(7-1-2017)
Daytona XFINITY Race Fast Facts:
William Byron won the 16th Annual Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway, his second victory in 15 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.
This is his second victory and ninth top-10 finish in 2017.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Daytona International Speedway.
Elliott Sadler (second) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 17 races at Daytona International Speedway. It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2017.
Dakoda Armstrong (third) posted his second top-10 finish in eight races at Daytona International Speedway.
Byron was the highest finishing rookie.
Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 59 points over Byron.
(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(7-1-2017)
XFINITY Driver standings following Daytona:
1) #1-Elliott Sadler, 553
2) #9-William Byron, 494, -59
3) #7-Justin Allgaier, 484, -69
4) #62-Brennan Poole, 378, -175
5) #21-Daniel Hemric, 368, -185
6) #16-Ryan Reed, 353, -200
7) #00-Cole Custer, 337, -216
8) #19-Matt Tifft, 334, -219
9) #6-Darrell Wallace Jr., 321, -232
10) #28-Dakoda Armstrong, 318, -235
11) #5-Michael Annett, 313, -240
12) #11-Blake Koch, 286, -267
See complete owner and driver standings on the driver standings(pdf) and owner standings page (pdf).(7-1-2017)