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Author: Angie Campbell

  • Weekend schedule for Kentucky

    Weekend schedule for Kentucky

    This weekend NASCAR heads to Kentucky Speedway. The Xfinity Series will feature a double-header, competing on Thursday and Friday. The Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series will provide Saturday’s racing action preceded by the ARCA Menards Series General Tire 150. The Cup Series closes out the weekend Sunday afternoon with the Quaker State 400.

    In the nine previous Cup Series races at Kentucky, there have been five different race winners. Brad Keselowski leads with three victories at the 1.5-mile tri-oval (2012, 2014, 2016). Kyle Busch (2011, 2015) and Martin Truex Jr. (2017, 2018) have won twice while Matt Kenseth (2013) and Kurt Busch (2019) have one win each at the track.

    Kevin Harvick leads the Cup Series driver standings by 85 points over Chase Elliott.

    All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, July 9

    8 p.m.: Xfinity Series Shady Rays 200
    Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps)
    Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
    FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Friday, July 10

    8 p.m.: Xfinity Series Alsco 300
    Distance: 300 miles (200 Laps)
    Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
    FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Saturday, July 11

    Noon: ARCA Menards Series final practice – No TV
    2:30 p.m.: ARCA General Tire 150 on FS1/MRN

    6 p.m.: Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225
    Distance: 225 miles (150 laps)
    Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)
    FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    2019 Race Winner: Tyler Ankrum

    Sunday, July 12

    2:30 p.m.: Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart
    Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps)
    Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 80), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 267)
    FS1/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    2019 Race Winner: Kurt Busch

  • Weekend schedule for Indianapolis

    Weekend schedule for Indianapolis

    The world’s most famous 2.5-mile oval track, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), will host the first-ever NASCAR/INDYCAR triple-header this weekend. The 2-day event that kicks off with NTT INDYCAR SERIES (NTTICS) GMR Grand Prix on the track’s road course at noon on Saturday followed by NASCAR’s Xfinity Series (NXS) Pennzoil 150 at 3 p.m. on NBC. Then on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series will race the 27th running of the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 at 4 p.m. on NBC and broadcast live on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network.

    All times are Eastern.

    NASCAR Cup Series

    The Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 race will be 400 miles (160 laps) and broken up into three stages. The first two stages will be 50 laps each and the final stage will be 60 laps.

    Five former Indianapolis race winners are entered in this weekend race. Seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson with four wins (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012), Kevin Harvick (2003, 2019), Kyle Busch (2015, 2016), Brad Keselowski (2018) and Ryan Newman (2013).

    NASCAR Xfinity Series

    The NASCAR Xfinity Series will race the road course for the first time in series history this weekend. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course is a 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course that will provide a whole new set of challenges for drivers and teams. Saturday’s race will be 62 laps for 151.22 miles with the first two stages being 20 laps each and the final stage is 22 laps.

    For the first time since the break from the COVID-19 pandemic, the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be allowed to practice prior to race. The teams and drivers will get two practice sessions on Friday, July 3 at 1:30 p.m. ET and at 3 p.m. ET.

    All times are Eastern.

    NASCAR:

    Friday, July 3

    1:30 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.: First Xfinity Series practice – NBC Sports App

    3 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.: Final Xfinity practice – NBC Sports App

    Saturday, July 4

    3 p.m.: Xfinity Series Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard (road course) – 62 laps/151.22 miles – Stages: 20/40/62 (NBC, NBC Sports App, PRN/IMS Radio Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

    Sunday, July 5

    4 p.m.: Cup Series Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records – 160 laps/400 miles – Stages: 50/100/160 (NBC, NBC Sports App, PRN/IMS Radio Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

    NTT IndyCar:

    Friday, July 3

    11:30 a.m.: 1 p.m. IndyCar practice (NBC Gold)

    4:30 – 5:45 p.m.: IndyCar qualifying (NBCSN)

    Saturday, July 4

    Noon: IndyCar GMR Grand Prix – 80 laps/207.32 miles (NBC, IMS Radio Network)

  • Earnhardt Jr., Stefanik, Farmer voted into NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021, Ralph Seagraves to receive Landmark Award

    Earnhardt Jr., Stefanik, Farmer voted into NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021, Ralph Seagraves to receive Landmark Award

    Dale Earnhardt Jr., Mike Stefanik and Red Farmer were voted into the 2021 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Tuesday evening. Earnhardt and Stefanik were chosen from the Modern Era ballot while Farmer will represent the Pioneer Era.

    Ralph Seagraves, an official with the R.J. Reynolds Company and instrumental in the Winston brand sponsorship, was named as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

    Earnhardt is a two-time Daytona 500 winner, claiming the checkered flag in 2004 and 2014 and was voted as NASCAR’s most popular driver from 2003 until 2017 when he retired from driving full-time and transitioned to a broadcasting career with NBC Sports. He won two Xfinity Series titles in 1998 and 1999 and had 26 victories during his Cup Series career. His JR Motorsports Xfinity team has earned three championships with 48 wins.

    Earnhardt shared his thoughts on being nominated and the events leading up to Tuesday’s announcement.

    “When that list of nominees came out I was so honored to be on that sheet,’’ Earnhardt said. “I couldn’t believe my name was on that sheet to be honest with you. I know those guys and their body of work. I was good with just being on the sheet and was going to be happy with that,’’ he continued.

    “It’s such a great feeling that someone feels like I made an impact on the sport,’’ Earnhardt said. “And I know my numbers, the wins, the lack of a championship; I know what my numbers are. And I feel like I was chosen based on that but also based on the impact off the race track and being an ambassador for the sport.” 

    Early in his career, Earnhardt realized that he would always be compared to his father but he also knew that it was an impossible legacy to live up to and that he would have to carve his own path.

    “There was a point in my career where I started to think, okay I’m not going to win seven championships, I’m not maybe even going to win one championship,’’ Earnhardt said. “I’m not going to win 100 races, might not even win 40 races. So what can I do? 

    “If I can’t do that, and there were a lot of people that wanted me to be Dale Earnhardt, not just be the Intimidator but they wanted me to be as successful as he was and to drive like him, aggressively, spinning people out. Whatever they thought dad was, that’s what they wanted me to emulate.

    “And when I realized that I’m not going to be able to win those races, I’m not going to be able to win a championship, I started to think of what I could do outside of that. What else could I control that would help the sport and be a good ambassador for the sport.

    “I wasn’t always perfect, but I started focusing in those areas and being accessible, being available, being accountable and I feel like I did a decent job at that. I don’t want to sit here and measure it, that’s up to someone else, but I’m pretty happy with that part of my career when it comes to the impact I had on the sport. I’m very happy with it considering the fact I didn’t have that success my father did but yet I was able to move the needle a little bit in the mainstream media.’’


    Mike Stefanik, who died in a plane crash on Sept. 15, 2019, won nine championships during his career, seven in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and two in the NASCAR East Series. He holds the Whelen Modified series record in championships, wins, poles, top fives and top 10s and is tied for ninth on the all-time series wins list.

    Red Farmer, a member of the Alabama Gang, has a win total that is uncertain but estimates put it at more than700. At almost 90-years-old, he is still competing on short tracks. He claimed three consecutive championships from 1969-71 in the Late Model Sportsman division and ran 36 races in the Cup Series with a best finish of fourth (twice). In 1998 he was named as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.

    He has raced against the best in NASCAR in a career that began in 1953 and was thrilled to be included in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

    “I had to catch my breath there for a minute,’’ he said, “This is the biggest honor you could ever get. I started down there on the beach in 1953. I’ve been in NASCAR a long time and got to run against a lot of great drivers.’’

    Details for the 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony have yet to be announced.

  • Together we stand

    Together we stand

    As a journalist, we are taught to always remain objective and to report the news without injecting our personal opinion.

    Today I am breaking that rule.

    It has taken me some time to absorb everything that has transpired in recent weeks precipitated with the killing of George Floyd. And even more time to understand that this wasn’t an isolated incident but rather an indication of a much deeper problem in our country.

    I struggled to understand how we as a society have continued to ignore the continued trend of violence and racial inequality that is still pervasive in our society. And on a more personal level, how had I become blinded to the reality of it?

    As someone who grew up in the south, I am no stranger to stereotypes. We are often perceived as ignorant rednecks and closeted racists with a naïve view of the world. But as with most stereotypes, there is only a small grain of truth in these assumptions.

    Though I am a southerner my closest ties to my heritage are with my Native American ancestors. If anyone should understand the realities of persecution and injustice, it should be me.

    I had to ask myself again, how had I become so blind?

    As many have come forward lately with their stories, particularly Bubba Wallace, the answer suddenly dawned on me. When others look at me, they don’t see a southerner or a Native American. All they see is a white person.

    From that point on, it became clear that there is no way that I could understand the reality of being Black. I can never fully grasp the complexities of their lives. All I can do now is listen and learn.

    That is my promise. I will listen to their stories and learn from their experiences. I will look at the world from their viewpoint, not my own.   

    If we stand together as one, there is nothing that we can’t accomplish.

  • Denny Hamlin on pole for Cup Series race at Homestead

    Denny Hamlin on pole for Cup Series race at Homestead

    Denny Hamlin will start from the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is the first pole this season for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and the 34th of his Cup career.

    Team Penske driver Joey Logano will join him on the front row with his teammate Brad Keselowski starting in third. Kyle Busch will start fourth in the No. 18 JGR Toyota and Hendrick Motorsport’s Chase Elliott will round out the top-five.

    The lineup was determined by a random draw as explained below.

    Positions 1-12: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner points.

    Positions 13-24: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points.

    Positions 25-36: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points.

    Positions 37-39 will be filled out by open, non-chartered teams in order of owner points.

    The Dixie Vodka 400 will be televised Sunday on FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The stages are 80/160/267 laps for 400.5 miles.

    The Dixie Vodka 400 will close out a full weekend of racing that also includes an Xfinity Series doubleheader and a Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series race.

    Complete Starting Lineup:

    1) Denny Hamlin

    2 Joey Logano

    3 Brad Keselowski

    4) Kyle Busch

    5) Chase Elliott

    6) Martin Truex Jr.

    7) Kevin Harvick

    8) Alex Bowman

    9) Jimmie Johnson

    10) Kurt Busch

    11) Ryan Blaney

    12) Clint Bowyer

    13) Chris Buescher

    14) Ryan Newman

    15) Erik Jones

    16) Austin Dillon

    17) Bubba Wallace

    18) John Hunter Nemechek

    19) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

    20) Matt Kenseth

    21) Aric Almirola

    22) William Byron

    23) Matt DiBenedetto

    24) TylerReddick

    25) JJ Yeley

    26) Corey LaJoie

    27) Josh Bilicki

    28) Brennan Poole

    29) Joey Gase

    30) Michael McDowell

    31) Quin Houff

    32) Ty Dillon

    33) Ryan Preece

    34) BJ McLeod

    35) Cole Custer

    36) Christopher Bell

    37) Daniel Suarez

    38) Timmy Hill

    39) Reed Sorenson

  • Weekend Schedule for Homestead-Miami Speedway

    Weekend Schedule for Homestead-Miami Speedway

    This weekend NASCAR travels to Homestead-Miami Speedway for a full weekend of completion that includes a double-header for the Xfinity Series, a Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series race and the Dixie Vodka 400 Cup Series event Sunday afternoon.

    Denny Hamlin will start on the pole for the Dixie Vodka 400 and Harrison Burton scored the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity Series Hooters 250, both based on a random draw. The Xfinity pole for Sunday’s Contender Boats 250 will be based on the race results of the Hooters 250 with an inverted top-15. The pole winner for the Truck Series was chosen by a random draw as well, based on the owners’ point standings, with Austin Hill claiming the top spot.

    All times are Eastern.

    Saturday June 13

    3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Hooters 250 (Stages 40/80/167 Laps = 250.5 miles) FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    7:30 p.m.: Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Baptist Health 200 (Stages 30/60/134 Laps = 201 Miles) FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Sunday June 14

    Noon: Xfinity Series Contender Boats 250 (Stages 40/80/167 Laps = 250.5 miles) FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 (Stages 80/160/267 Laps = 400.5 Miles) FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

  • Keselowski says ‘NASCAR has struck gold’ with current racing format

    Keselowski says ‘NASCAR has struck gold’ with current racing format

    Brad Keselowski won the tumultuous Supermarket Heroes 500 race at Bristol Motor Speedway in an action-packed event that included 17 cautions and 21 lead changes among seven drivers.

    The win was his second this season and his 32nd Cup Series career victory. It was also unexpected.

    With only two laps remaining, Joey Logano and Chase Elliott were racing each other for the lead and collided. Keselowski was in the perfect position to take advantage of the mishap and drove his No. 2 Team Penske Ford to the front to claim the checkered flag.  

    In an interview after the race, Keselowski discussed the current one-day format that precludes any practice or qualifying sessions and whether that has led to more mistakes during the races.

    While many may look at this situation as bad for the sport, he had a different perspective.

    “Well, mistakes make for great racing,” Keselowski said. “When you watch rookies run at some of these tracks, it’s a lot of fun. I think you look at the lower tiered series, they’re some of the most fun races to watch because the drivers make a lot of mistakes; that creates a lot of action.”

    He further explained why we don’t typically see mistakes in the Cup Series.

    “I think sometimes you get to the Cup level, whether it’s the setup, drivers’ experience, you don’t see a lot of mistakes”, he said, “People misinterpret that as the cars are really easy to drive. It’s really just the opposite of that. These guys are pros, really good.”

    And though he offered several possibilities as to why there have seemingly been more miscues on the track, he is convinced that it has made NASCAR more competitive and exciting to watch.

    “For whatever reason, whether it’s not having a chance to work on the cars, practice, the drivers not getting those experiences, we’re seeing more mistakes with this format, this style of racing, the no-practice type stuff,” Keselowski suggested. 

    “I don’t think that’s a bad thing.  I think that makes for better racing in a lot of different ways. So I hope we keep it up.

    “I said earlier this week that I feel like NASCAR struck gold with these formats. I stand by that. These are great formats. We’ve seen some of the best racing we’ve ever seen in NASCAR accordingly. I’m not just saying that because I’m in Victory Lane. I think a lot of people would say this was a tremendous race, and I hope they enjoyed it.”

    You could argue that Keselowski’s opinion is biased. But there is no question that Bristol Motor Speedway delivered short track racing at its best.

  • Tyler Reddick earns top 10 at Charlotte, moves into playoff contention

    Tyler Reddick earns top 10 at Charlotte, moves into playoff contention

    After qualifying fifth, rookie Tyler Reddick scored an eighth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday night in his No. 8 Richard Childress Chevrolet.

    This continues a strong showing since the season resumed at Darlington Raceway where he finished seventh and 13th giving him two top-10 finishes and a top-15 in the last three races. It also moved him to 16th place in the standings, the cutoff for inclusion into the Playoffs.

    The Richard Childress Racing driver spoke about his goals last week as he looked ahead to Charlotte.  

    “We’re right on the bubble (for 16-member playoff) so I’m going to stay focused and try to stay inside the top 16 or go for a win. That’s going to be my focus,” he said. “We probably could have had a top 10 (on Wednesday) if the race would have gone back to green (after Elliott’s crash), but we fought back from being as far back as 30th and when you’re running against the best of the best you’re not going to pass them all.”

    Mission accomplished.

    At the conclusion of the Coca-Cola 600, Reddick said, “I’m proud of the effort our No. 8 Alsco Uniforms Chevrolet team gave tonight. We fought hard all night to make our car better, and we took a gamble at the end, which almost paid off for us. The track just didn’t do quite what I hoped it would do tonight, but we still found a way to get a top 10 out of the race.”

    While making the Playoffs may seem unlikely for the 24-year-old in his first season in the series, he is no stranger to winning. He has earned two Xfinity Series championships, one with JR Motorsports in 2018 and one with RCR last year.

    Reddick is also aware that he has much to learn but is determined to make the most of each opportunity.

    “I learned a lot tonight that I think we can take into account when we return to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday to help with our long run handling and speed. This is definitely a finish we can build on; 400 laps and 600 miles are done, and we’ll be ready to come back on Wednesday night.”

    The Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday night for the Alsco Uniforms 500 at 8 p.m. on FS1.

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • NASCAR schedule for Charlotte Motor Speedway

    NASCAR schedule for Charlotte Motor Speedway

    Charlotte Motor Speedway will host four races on four consecutive days, beginning with the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 this Sunday. Monday will feature the Xfinity Series Alsco 300 followed by the Gander Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Tuesday. The Cup Series will wrap up the events in Charlotte with the Alsco Uniforms 500 Wednesday evening.

    The track will once again pay tribute to U.S. Armed Forces members who made the ultimate sacrifice with “600 Miles of Remembrance.” Each of the cars will display the name of a fallen soldier across the windshield.

    All times are Eastern.

    Sunday, May 24

    Cup Series
    Race: Coca-Cola 600
    Qualifying: 2 p.m. (no practice)
    Race Time: 6 p.m.
    TV: FOX, 5:30 p.m.
    Radio: PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 600 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 100),
    Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 200), Stage 3 (Ends on Lap 300), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)
    2019 Race Winner: Martin Truex Jr.

    Monday, May 25

    Xfinity Series
    Race: Alsco 300
    Race Time: 7:30 p.m. (no practice or qualifying)
    TV: FS1, 7 p.m.
    Radio: PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 300 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),
    Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
    2019 Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

    Tuesday, May 26

    Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
    Race: North Carolina Education Lottery 200
    Race Time: 8 p.m. (no practice or qualifying)
    TV: FS1, 7:30 p.m.
    Radio: MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
    Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
    2019 Winner: Kyle Busch

    Wednesday, May 27

    Cup Series
    Race: Alsco Uniforms 500
    Race Time: 8 p.m. (no practice or qualifying)
    TV: FS1, 7 p.m.
    Radio: PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 310.6 miles (205 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 55),
    Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 115), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 208)

    Follow @angiecampbell_ for the latest NASCAR news and feature stories.

  • Racing versus reality

    Racing versus reality

    Sometimes in NASCAR, we tend to focus only on the wins and losses. And nothing makes us happier than an all-out rivalry, a good guy to cheer for and a bad guy to heckle.

    But then we are reminded that, in the end, it’s only racing. The significance of what happens on the track diminishes when we are confronted with the stark realities of life.

    Wednesday night, social media was buzzing over the contact between Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott during the Toyota 500 at Darlington Raceway. The argument over whether the contact was intentional or simply bad timing by Busch was debated throughout the night.

    But in the midst of this controversy, we learned that Xfinity Series driver, Chase Briscoe and his wife, Marissa, had lost the child they were expecting. Briscoe shared the heartbreaking news on social media.

    Yesterday was the hardest day of my life,” he posted on Twitter. “Marissa Briscoe and I heard the worst news any soon-to-be parent could hear. That we wouldn’t be welcoming our daughter to the world on December 1st. I know God has a plan and we may not understand it but we seek Him and trust Him.”

    While the NASCAR community grieved with them over their loss, reality took precedence as Briscoe prepared to compete in the Toyota 200 race Thursday afternoon at Darlington. It was the first race for the series since March 7 as the COVID-19 pandemic soon precluded any sporting events.

    It was also Briscoe’s first race since receiving the devastating news. It was time to go back to work. One can only guess at the strength it took to compartmentalize his emotions and concentrate on the task before him.

    As the race wound down and we saw Briscoe fighting to retain the lead with Busch on his back bumper, the NASCAR world held their collective breath until he crossed the finish line to collect the checkered flag.

    When he climbed out of his car, tears streaming down his face, his emotions told the story of unimaginable grief that we hoped was momentarily eased with the joy of winning the race.

    “This is for my wife. This has been the hardest week I’ve ever had to deal with,” Briscoe said. “When I took the lead, I was crying in my car. This is more than a race win. This is the biggest win of my life after the toughest day of my life. To be able to beat the best there is so satisfying.”

    Sometimes in NASCAR, we tend to focus only on the wins and losses. Thanks to Briscoe for reminding us of what is truly important.