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Author: Angie Campbell

  • Chase Briscoe claims upset victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington, advances to the Playoffs

    Chase Briscoe claims upset victory in the Southern 500 at Darlington, advances to the Playoffs

    DARLINGTON, S.C. — Darlington Raceway lived up to its reputation Saturday night to a sold-out crowd as the track “Too Tough to Tame” delivered all the twists and turns we’ve come to expect.

    The Southern 500 was the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season and emotions ran high in anticipation of the upcoming series Playoffs. When the checkered flag waved, Chase Briscoe crossed the finish line first in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford to win the Southern 500, secure his spot in the Playoffs and emerge as the regular season champion. It was Briscoe’s second career win in the series.

    But it wasn’t easy one as he held off a hard-charging Kyle Busch in the final closing laps. Busch was also fighting for a spot in the Playoffs but came up short finishing 0.361 seconds behind Briscoe.

    “I was sideways, countersteering. I felt like I was in a Sprint Car,” Briscoe said. “Yeah, this night just literally went perfect. The pit crew did an incredible job and I was crying after the checkered because I just won the Southern 500.

    “This is a crown jewel and what makes this race so special is all you race fans. Every time we come here it’s sold out. It’s awesome and we love you guys. The last time I won here was during COVID, so I didn’t get the experience with the fans, so I’m grateful you guys are here and I can’t wait to celebrate.”

    After the race, a disappointed Busch described the final laps as he raced Briscoe for the win.

    “I’m proud of everyone on the No. 8 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet team today for finishing second. We didn’t have much speed throughout the majority of the race. We were just mired in traffic, and we weren’t able to get up through the field. Once we did get up there, I felt like we were going to have a shot at running in the top five during those last three or four restarts. But then we had a shot for the win and just couldn’t make it up there.

    “We needed Chase Briscoe to have about three more laps on his tires, maybe. If his tires would have been just a little bit more used up, I could have gotten there. I got within his wake, and as soon as I got within his wake I felt my car come out of the racetrack and I didn’t have enough to overpower that. I really hate it for everybody at RCR because we’ve put a lot of effort and work into our Chevrolets.

    “We didn’t have much speed there through a majority of the race,” Busch said. “We were just mired in traffic, and we weren’t able to get up through there. “But once we got up there, I felt like those last three or four restarts, we were going to have a shot running in the top-5. But then we had a shot for the win and just couldn’t make it up there.”

    It will be the first time Busch has missed the Playoffs since 2012,

    Christopher Bell finished third, followed by Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Corey LaJoie and Tyler Reddick to complete the top 10.

    Kyle Larson led 263 laps and won the first two stages but his fourth-place finish left him one point short of claiming the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season title which went to 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick. Larson will, however, start the Playoffs as the No. 1 seed with 40 Playoff points.

    Buescher’s sixth-place finish, unfortunately, was not enough to advance him to the Playoffs as Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs advanced based on points earned throughout the season even though both were involved in wrecks.

    Playoff Standings:

    1. Kyle Larson (2,040 points)
    2. Christopher Bell (2,032 points, -8)
    3. Tyler Reddick (2,028 points, -12)
    4. William Byron (2,022 points, -18)
    5. Ryan Blaney (2,018 points, -22)
    6. Denny Hamlin (2,015 points, -25)
    7. Chase Elliott (2,014 points, -26)
    8. Brad Keselowski (2,008 points, -32)
    9. Joey Logano (2,007 points, -33)
    10. Austin Cindric (2,007 points, -33)
    11. Daniel Suárez (2,006 points, -34)
    12. Alex Bowman (2,005 points, -35)
    13. Chase Briscoe (2,005 points, -35)
    14. Harrison Burton (2,005 points, -35)
    15. Ty Gibbs (2,004 points, -36)
    16. Martin Truex Jr. (2,004 points, -36)
  • Christopher Bell claims hard-fought victory in Xfinity Series race at Darlington

    Christopher Bell claims hard-fought victory in Xfinity Series race at Darlington

    Christopher Bell won Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 in an overtime finish at Darlington Raceway.

    He was dominant during the race, starting on the pole and leading 108 laps of 150, but Bell was passed by his Joe Gibbs racing teammate, Sheldon Creed, who led 30 laps. But, with only three laps remaining, a caution came out when AJ Allmendinger hit the outside wall on Lap 143.

    Bell was first off pit road and maintained the lead to score his 19th Xfinity Series victory as Creed finished third due to a slow pit stop.

    “That was wild, for sure,” Bell said. “I thought I was headed nose-first into the inside wall… It’s a tough race track, and off of (Turn) 2, whether you’re on the bottom of the top, it flushes you to the wall, and then you kind of get a little bit of a wiggle coming down.

    “Once again, I feel terrible for Sheldon, to essentially win the race on the long run there and then lose it on pit road. It’s a big bummer … It seemed like our car was really good on the short runs. Obviously, the 18, Sheldon, was really good on the long runs.

    “Unfortunately for him, the race played out differently, and fortunately for us, we got another shot at it.”

    Creed was understandably disappointed.

    “I lost one the same way a few years ago here,” he said. “This has been a really good place for me. I’ve always loved racing here. Man, I don’t know if we could be any better than that.

    “I felt like I put in one of my best performances today, man, it’s a bummer. I’m so proud of everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing on this 18 team. I took a chance on myself and brought all the money we could. I’m literally not even making a dollar this year.”

    Cole Custer finished in second place, Chase Elliott was third and Sammy Smith rounded out the top 5. Jesse Love, Shane van Gisbergen, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill and Justin Allgaier finished in the top 10.

    The Xfinity Series heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway next Saturday for the Focused Health 250 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network with radio coverage provided by PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Bubba Wallace captures third career Cup Series pole at Darlington

    Bubba Wallace captures third career Cup Series pole at Darlington

    Bubba Wallace was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, winning his third career pole in the 23X1 Racing No. 23 Toyota with a 167.146 mph lap and will lead the field to green for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500.

    His starting position could prove pivotal as he is currently the first driver below the cutoff for the series Playoffs.

    “Looking at us coming in, being on the bubble, 21 points out, a ton of pressure, well I think the pressure just switched,” Wallace said after qualifying. “We’re not here to mess around. I showed up with a more open and calm demeanor, free and relaxing demeanor, but at the same time, I don’t want to be messed with. So it’s a fine balance you have to walk.

    “We’ve been really good here in qualifying and we’ve also given up a really good race car trying too hard from what I’m hearing from data and just not getting back to the basics. So today, I’ve determined that Darlington is probably one of the, if not the hardest places to qualify. Just the way you have to approach practice to the qualifying trim, it’s totally different.”

    Wallace is currently in 17th, one spot below the 16-driver cutoff for the Playoffs. His strategy in preparing for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 is to focus on every aspect of the process, as he explains below.

    “Anything can happen so we have to run our own race,” he said. “It makes it a lot easier for us. Having that first pit stall and as long as long as we execute and make the right calls, be great on pit road then — all I want is every single person a part of this team, including myself, is to go to bed tomorrow night saying, ‘We did whatever we could. We did all we could.’ And maybe it was good enough, maybe it wasn’t so that’s the lottery ticket we’ll find out tomorrow after the race.”

    Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar (167.010 mph) was second quickest, followed by Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (166.270 mph) and Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (167.015 mph). Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. (166.236 mph) completed the top five drivers in the qualifying session.

    Tyler Reddick (167.004 mph), Ryan Blaney (166.040 mph), William Byron (166.540 mph), Christopher Bell (165.743 mph) and Chris Buescher (165.855 mph) completed the top 10.

    Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway is set for Sunday at 6 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on USA with radio coverage provided by MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Christopher Bell wins Xfinity Series pole at Darlington, joined by teammate Sheldon Creed on front row

    Christopher Bell wins Xfinity Series pole at Darlington, joined by teammate Sheldon Creed on front row

    Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series races this weekend, won the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 race with a 164.865 mph qualifying lap, earning his 13th career pole in the series. Teammate Sheldon Creed will start beside him for an all-JGR front row.

    Sam Mayer, AJ Allmendinger, Chandler Smith, Austin Hill, Brandon Jones, Riley Herbst, Parker Retzlaff, and Parker Kligerman will round out the top 10 starting grid for Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.

    Joining the list of full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers who are running both races this weekend are Chase Elliott (HMS No. 17), Joey Logano (AM Racing No. 15), Ross Chastain (DGM Racing No, 92) and Noah Gragson (Rette Jones Racing No. 30).

    The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 will air on the USA Network at 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Preview: NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington

    Preview: NASCAR Xfinity Series at Darlington

    The NASCAR Xfinity Series will compete at Darlington Raceway on Saturday afternoon in the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200. There are only four races remaining in the regular season. In 68 previous races at the track “Too Tough to Tame, there have been 36 different race winners and 32 different pole winners.

    JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier is the most recent race winner at the 1.366-mile track with his victory in May earlier this season and has already clinched a spot in the 12-driver playoff field, along with Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith and Shane van Gisbergen. That leaves seven spots up for grabs.

    Notable Cup Series drivers who will be competing in the Xfinity Series race include Joey Logano in the No. 15 AM Racing Ford, Chase Elliott in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Noah Gragson in the No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford.

    Clinch Scenarios:
    The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by any driver that already has a win:

    • Cole Custer: Would clinch regardless of finish
    • Riley Herbst: Would clinch regardless of finish
    • Jesse Love: Would clinch regardless of finish

    The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by AJ Allmendinger, Sheldon Creed, Parker Kligerman, Ryan Sieg or Sammy Smith:

    • Cole Custer: Would clinch with 14 points

    The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by Brandon Jones or a driver lower in the standings:

    • Cole Custer: Would clinch regardless of finish

    Cole Custer, Riley Herbst and Jesse Love could clinch with a win at Darlington.

    The following drivers could clinch with a win:

    • AJ Allmendinger: Could only clinch with help

    The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 will air on the USA Network at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Preview: Cup Series season finale at Darlington

    Preview: Cup Series season finale at Darlington

    With one race to go in the regular season, everything is on the line for the NASCAR Cup Series drivers at Darlington Raceway’s Southern 500 on Sunday evening.

    Who will tame the Lady in Black and advance to the Playoffs in the regular season finale and who will be crowned as the regular season champion? With only three spots remaining in the Playoffs, one thing is certain; the on-track action will be intense.

    23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick is poised to earn the regular season championship, leading the standings over Hendrick Motorsports drivers, Kyle Larson (-17) and Chase Elliott (-18). Larson, the defending race winner, is hoping to give Reddick a

    “I love racing at Darlington, and it was cool to get that first (Cup) win there last year in the Southern 500,” he said. “We’re 17 points down, but we’re going to race hard for stage points and hopefully be able to battle for the Regular Season Championship at the end of the race.” 

    Thirteen drivers have already earned the opportunity to compete in the 16-driver Cup Series Playoff field by virtue of wins – Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Harrison Burton, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Daniel Suarez.

    Of the winless drivers, and currently ranked in 14th place, Martin Truex Jr. (+58) is in the best position to advance to the Playoffs. But he acknowledged the demanding nature of the track and the obstacles he will face.

    “The challenge is that it’s a long race, a lot of pit stops and a lot of chances for things to go wrong,” he said. “Track position is obviously really important. To go through 13 sets of tires or whatever it is, and track position and what it means there, and to keep track position, it’s tough to stay up front and be consistently really strong. It’s tough to do there, and we hope we can do that on Sunday night.”

    He’s followed by Ty Gibbs (+39) in 15th, and Chris Buescher (+21) in 16th place. But that can quickly change if there is a new winner.

    The following drivers can clinch with a win at Darlington – Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, Todd Gilliland, Carson Hocevar, Michael McDowell, Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Preece, Daniel Hemric, Austin Dillon, Justin Haley, John Hunter Nemechek, Corey LaJoie and Zane Smith.

    Although Austin Dillon won at Richmond Raceway, he was denied an automatic berth in the Playoffs after a ruling by NASCAR that his actions at the end of the race when he made contact with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin, were deliberate and unacceptable.

    Wallace improved his chance of making the Playoffs after winning the pole for Sunday’s Southern 600.

    “Anything can happen so we have to run our own race,” he said. “It makes it a lot easier for us. Having that first pit stall and as long as long as we execute and make the right calls, be great on pit road then — all I want is every single person a part of this team, including myself, is to go to bed tomorrow night saying, ‘We did whatever we could. We did all we could.’ And maybe it was good enough, maybe it wasn’t so that’s the lottery ticket we’ll find out tomorrow after the race.”

    The Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 is set for 6 p.m. ET Sunday and will be broadcast on USA with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Weekend schedule for Darlington: August/September 2024

    Weekend schedule for Darlington: August/September 2024

    This weekend NASCAR travels to Darlington Raceway. The Cook Out Southern 500 is the final race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season for the first time since the Playoffs began in 2004.

    Thirteen drivers have already earned a spot in the 16-driver Cup Series Playoff field – Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Harrison Burton, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick and Daniel Suarez.

    The regular season Cup Series Champion will also be decided at Darlington. Tyler Reddick can clinch with 44 points, while Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott can only clinch with help.

    The Xfinity Series will compete on the 1.366-mile track on Saturday afternoon. There are only four races remaining in the Xfinity Series regular season with 12 drivers advancing to the Playoffs. Five drivers have already clinched a spot – Justin Allgaier, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Hill, Sam Mayer and Chandler Smith.

    The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series takes a break from competition before the series Playoffs resume at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 16.

    NASCAR Press Pass will be available throughout the weekend.

    All times are Eastern.

    Saturday, August 31
    10:30 a.m.: Xfinity Series Practice
    Timed-Groups 1 and 2-15 minutes each
    NBC Sports App

    11:10 a.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying
    Impound-All Entries/Single Vehicle-1 Lap
    NBC Sports App

    12:35 p.m.: Cup Series Practice
    Timed-Groups A & B-20 minutes each
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM/ NBC Sports App 1:20 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying
    Impound-Groups A & B-Single Vehicle-1 Lap-2 Rounds
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM/ NBC Sports App

    3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200
    Stages end on Laps 45/90/147=200.8 Miles
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM/ NBC Sports App
    Purse: $1,303,907

    Sunday, September 1
    6 p.m.: Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500
    Stages end on Laps 115/230/367=501.32 Miles
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM/ NBC Sports App
    Purse: $8,644,143

  • NASCAR weekend schedule for Daytona and Milwaukee – August 2024

    NASCAR weekend schedule for Daytona and Milwaukee – August 2024

    The NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series head to Daytona International Speedway as the Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series travel to Milwaukee Mile Speedway for a full weekend of competition.

    Sunday’s event is the opening race for the Truck Series Playoffs. The Cup Series and Xfinity Series have two races remaining (Daytona and Darlington) in their respective regular seasons.

    Press Pass is available post-race for the Xfinity and Cup Series.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, August 23 – Daytona
    3:00 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying
    Impound/Single Vehicle/1 Lap/2 Rounds
    USA

    5:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying
    Impound/Single Vehicle/1 Lap/2 Rounds
    USA/SiriusXM/MRN

    7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Wawa 250 Powered by Coca–Cola
    Stages end on Laps 30, 60, 100 = 250 miles
    Purse: $1,886,123
    USA/SiriusXM/MRN

    Saturday, August 24
    Milwaukee
    2:00 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Practice – No TV
    3:00 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Qualifying – No TV

    4:00 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – No TV
    Timed/All Entries/20 Minutes
    4:30 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – No TV
    Impound/All Entries/Single Vehicle/1 Lap

    Daytona
    7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400
    Stages end on Laps 35/95/160 = 400 Miles
    Purse: $9,193,568
    NBC/Peacock/MRN/SiriusXM

    Sunday, August 25
    Milwaukee
    1:00 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Sprecher 150
    150 Laps, 152.25 Miles
    FS1/MRN

    4:00 p.m.: Truck Series Liuna! 175
    Stages end on Laps 55/110/175 Laps = 177.625 Miles
    Purse: $672,572
    FS1/MRN

  • NASCAR Weekend Schedule for Michigan – August 2024

    NASCAR Weekend Schedule for Michigan – August 2024

    The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series travel to Michigan International Speedway this weekend with only three races to go in the Cup Series regular season and six to go in the Xfinity Series.

    The ARCA Menards Series will get the racing action started Friday evening with the Henry Ford Health 200.

    Six active Cup Series drivers have previous wins at the 2-mile track:
    Joey Logano – 3
    Kyle Larson – 3
    Denny Hamlin – 2
    Chris Buescher – 1
    Kyle Busch – 1
    Ryan Blaney – 1

    Only two previous Xfinity Series winners are competing at Michigan – AJ Allmendinger (2021) and John Hunter Nemechek (2023). But it’s much more likely that we will see a new driver in Victory Lane as there have been 13 different drivers in Victory Lane, dating back to 2010.

    The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is off and returns to competition on August 25 at Milwaukee Mile Speedway.

    NASCAR Press Pass will be available throughout the weekend.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, Aug. 16
    1:30 – 2:15 p.m.: ARCA Practice/All Entries/No TV
    2:30 – 2:50 p.m.: ARCA Qualifying/All Entries/No TV – Canceled due to rain
    Impound/Timed/20 Minutes

    3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Practice (NBC Sports App)
    All Entries/Group 1 and 2 – 15 Minutes Each Group
    4:10 p.m.: Xfinity Qualifying (NBC Sports App)
    Impound/All Entries/Single Vehicle /1 Lap

    6 p.m. — ARCA Henry Ford Health 200 race
    100 laps, 200 miles
    FS1, FloRacing, MRN, SiriusXM

    Saturday, Aug. 17
    12:35 p.m.: Cup Series Practice
    Group A & B/20 Minutes Each Group
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM

    1:20: Cup Series Qualifying (Impound)
    Group A & B: Single Vehicle /1 Lap /2 Rounds
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM

    3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Cabo Wabo 250 race
    Stages 30/60/125 Laps = 250 Miles
    Purse: $1,367,917
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM

    Sunday, Aug. 18
    2:30 p.m.: Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 race
    Stages 45/120/200 Laps = 400 Miles
    Defending Race Winner: Chris Buescher
    Purse: $7,902,750
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM

  • NASCAR Weekend Schedule for Richmond – August 2024

    NASCAR Weekend Schedule for Richmond – August 2024

    This weekend the NASCAR Cup Series and the Craftsman Truck Series head to Richmond Raceway for some short-track racing on the 0.75-mile asphalt oval. The NASCAR Xfinity Series has a week off and returns to competition on August 17 at Michigan International Speedway.

    Noteworthy: For the first time in a points-paying race, the Cup Series teams will have 2 tire options. The Prime tire will have yellow lettering on the sidewalls and the Option tire will have red lettering.

    1) Prime tire: A harder rubber compound designed for longevity but less grip
    2) Option tire: A softer rubber compound with more short-term grip but less longevity

    Each team will have six sets of Prime tires, including one set from qualifying, and two sets of Option tires. The two options cannot be mixed.

    The Cup Series teams will also have an extended practice and can use one set of each tire type during the 45-minute session.

    NASCAR Press Pass will be available post-qualifying and post-race for both series.

    All times are Eastern.

    Saturday, August 10
    2:30 p.m.: Truck Series Practice (FS1)
    3:00 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying (FS1)

    4:30 p.m.: Cup Series Practice (NBC Sports App/MRN)
    5:35 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying (NBC Sports App/MRN)

    7:30 p.m.: Truck Series Race: Clean Harbors 250
    Stages 70/140/250 Laps = 187.5 miles
    FS1, MRN, SiriusXM
    Purse: $744,784

    Sunday, August 11
    6:00 p.m.: Cup Series Race: Cook Out 400
    Stages 70/230/400 Laps = 300 miles
    USA/MRN/SiriusXM
    Purse: $7,925,121