Author: Angie Campbell

Playoffs – Who’s in, who’s out, with 4 to go

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Michigan International Speedway this weekend with only four races remaining in the regular season.

There are currently nine contenders who have won this year and are locked into the Playoffs which will consist of 16 drivers. They include Kyle Busch (4 wins), Joey Logano (2 wins), Kevin Harvick (1 win), Denny Hamlin (3 wins), Martin Truex Jr. (4 wins), Brad Keselowski (3 wins), Kurt Busch (1 win), Chase Elliott (2 wins) and Alex Bowman (1 win).

This leaves seven spots up for grabs. In the unlikely event that the final four races are won by drivers who have not already been to victory lane, that will leave a minimum of three drivers who can advance to the Playoffs based on points.

The drivers who are in the most precarious positions include Stewart-Haas Racing’s Clint Bowyer, Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson and Roush-Fenway Racing’s Ryan Newman.

Johnson and Newman are tied in the standings with 544 points each after last week’s race at Watkins Glen. Johnson, however, wins the tiebreaker for the final spot in the Playoffs with a best finish of third this year while Newman’s best finish was fifth.

Clint Bowyer is ranked 15th, only 12 points ahead of Johnson and Newman.

Bowyer won at Michigan in June 2018 but it was the only top-10 he has earned in his last eight starts. He is, however, off to a good start this week after qualifying fifth for Sunday’s race, and says it’s “go time.”

“There’s pressure in everything you do in this sport and that’s kind of the way we like it. That’s what makes it fun. We are getting to the point in the season when the pay window is starting to open and it’s go time. That’s when it’s fun for the drivers, teams and especially the fans. As the tension goes up, the sport gets more and more interesting.”

Johnson won at Michigan in 2014 and also has five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes at the 2-mile track with a sixth-best driver rating of 94.3. He qualified 10th for the Consumers Energy 400.

As each week passes, the pressure mounts for the seven-time champ who has never missed the postseason playoffs since the format was implemented in 2004.

“Our season is on the line right now with these next four weeks,” Johnson said.

Newman has been to victory lane twice at Michigan, in 2003 and 2004, and he finished eighth in the June race at Michigan this season. After qualifying 20th, he will face a tough battle this weekend but he has no intention of giving up.

“If I thought that I wasn’t capable of winning at each race track I go to, I wouldn’t show up,” Newman told NASCAR.com.

As time runs out each position earned and each stage point gained will become more crucial as they battle for the chance to compete for the coveted Cup Series championship title. Be sure to tune in as the action intensifies with one goal – win and you’re in.

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

Playoff Outlook – Top 20

1) Kyle Busch	851 points	In on wins
2) Joey Logano	838 points	In on wins
3) Kevin Harvick	777 points	In on wins
4) Denny Hamlin	771 points	In on wins
5) Martin Truex Jr.	753 points	In on wins
6) Brad Keselowski	728 points	In on wins
7) Kurt Busch	679 points	In on wins
8) Chase Elliott	676 points	In on wins
9) Alex Bowman	623 points	In on wins
10) Aric Almirola	640 points	96 above cutline
11) Ryan Blaney	633 points	89 over cutline
12) William Byton	604 points	60 over cutline
13) Erik Jones	598 points	54 over cutline
14) Kyle Larson	590 points	46 over cutline
15) Clint Bowyer	556 points	12 over cutline
16) Jimmie Johnson	544 points	0
17) Ryan Newman	544 points	0
18) Daniel Suarez	521 points	23 below cutline
19) Paul Menard	483 points	61 below cutline
20) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	466 points	78 below cutline

August 10, 2019

NASCAR Schedule for Michigan and Mid-Ohio

This weekend the Monster Energy Cup Series and the Gander Outdoors Truck Series head to Michigan International Speedway while the Xfinity Series travels to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Kevin Harvick is the Cup Series defending race winner at the 2-mile track with only four races remaining in the regular season. Brett Moffitt returns to defend his Truck Series victory at Michigan in the final race to determine the regular season champion. Justin Allgaier won the previous Xfinity Series race at Mid-Ohio and with six races left in the Xfinity Series regular season will be looking for his first victory this season.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, August 9

Michigan:

12:35 p.m.-1:25 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/MRN
1:35 p.m.-2:25 p.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series First Practice – No TV
3:05 p.m.-3:55 p.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Final Practice – No TV
5:05 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Qualifying – Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions – NBCSN/MRN

Mid-Ohio:

1:35 p.m.-2:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series First Practice – NBC Sports App
4:05 p.m.-4:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series Final Practice – NBC Sports App

Saturday, August 10

Michigan:

8:35 a.m.-9:25 a.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Second Practice – NBC Sports App/MRN
9:35 a.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Qualifying – Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions – FS2
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Final Practice – NBC Sports App/MRN
1 p.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 – (Stages 20/40/100 Laps = 200 Miles) – FS1/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/MRN

Mid-Ohio:

11:40 a.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds – NBC Sports App
3 p.m.: Xfinity Series B&L Transport 170 – (Stages 20/40/75 Laps = 169.35 Miles) – NBCSN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/MRN

Sunday, August 11

Michigan:

3 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 – (Stages 60/120/200 Laps = 400 Miles) NBCSN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/MRN

August 8, 2019
NASCAR Schedule for Eldora and Watkins Glen

The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series heads to Eldora Speedway this week for the Eldora Dirt Derby. This will be the seventh race at the half-mile dirt track for the series. Chase Briscoe, coming off an Xfinity Series victory last weekend at Iowa Speedway, will return to Eldora with ThorSport Racing in his first start in the Truck Series this season to defend last year’s win.

The Monster Energy Cup Series and the Xfinity Series travel to Watkins Glen this weekend. Chase Elliott will return to defend his Cup Series win. Joey Logano won last year’s Zippo 200 at the Glen but will not be competing in this year’s Xfinity race.

All times are Eastern.

Wednesday, July 31 – Eldora Speedway

7:05 p.m.: Truck Series First Practice – No TV
9:05 p.m.: Truck Series Final Practice – No TV

Thursday, August 1 – Eldora Speedway

7 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – Five qualifying races, 10 laps each – Last Chance Race, 15 laps – FS1 (caution laps do not count)

The top five trucks in each heat race will transfer into the Dirt Derby. Those that did not advance to the feature will compete in the Last Chance Race to determine the remaining positions in the lineup.

9 p.m.: Eldora Dirt Derby Truck Series Race – Stages 40/90/150 Laps = 75 Miles – FS1/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Friday, August 2 – Watkins Glen

12:35 p.m.: Xfinity Series First Practice – No TV
2:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Final Practice – No TV

Saturday, August 3 – Watkins Glen

10:35 a.m.: Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/MRN
11:40 A.M.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds – NBCSN
1:05 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/MRN
3 p.m.: Xfinity Series Zippo 200 Race – NBC/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
6:40 P.M.: Cup Series Qualifying – Multi-Vehicle/Two Rounds – NBCSN/MRN

Sunday, August 4 – Watkins Glen

3 p.m.: Cup Series Go Bowling at the Glen Race – NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

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

July 31, 2019
Chase Briscoe claims first win of the season at Iowa

Chase Briscoe out-dueled Christopher Bell to earn his first Xfinity Series win of the season at Iowa Speedway Saturday night.

It was the second career win in the series for the 24-year-old Stewart-Haas Racing driver and his eighth top five this year. Briscoe only led the last seven laps of the U.S. Cellular 250 in his No. 98 Ford, but they were the ones that mattered.

“It’s nice, for sure, to finally silence everybody,” Briscoe said. “We definitely still aren’t near where we need to be, but I feel like we’ve been way closer, these past couple of weeks especially.”

“We’ve still got to get better if we’re going to beat the big three (Bell, Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer)But we’re slowly getting into the conversation to be that fourth guy,” he added.

Christopher Bell dominated most of the race after starting on the pole and leading 234 of the 250 laps. But he had to settle for a second-place finish after losing the lead on the final restart with only 22 laps remaining.

“To be able to hold him off as long as I did and not win the race stings,” Bell said, “It’s kind of damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

John Hunter Nemechek finished third and led six laps. Noah Gragson and Tyler Reddick rounded out the top five.

Justin Allgaier, Shane Lee, Justin Haley, Zane Smith and Michael Annett finished sixth through 10th.

Cole Custer started the race in sixth place, finishing second in Stage 1 and fourth in Stage 2. But his car suddenly hit the outside wall and crashed with 90 laps remaining, relegating him a 29th place finish. It was his fourth DNF of the season. Custer, however, with five wins this year, retains his third-place ranking in the points standings.

When asked what happened, he told NBCSN, “I honestly couldn’t exactly tell you. I got really loose going into three and guess I over-corrected it into the fence. I’m really frustrated. I hate that we’re out (of the race).”

Three are seven races remaining in the regular season. Next Saturday the Xfinity Series heads to Watkins Glen International for the Zippo 200 at The Glen.

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

July 27, 2019
Kevin Harvick scores his first Busch Pole Award at Pocono

Kevin Harvick claimed the Busch Pole Award at Pocono Raceway Saturday afternoon, leading the way in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford with a 174.058 mph lap in 51.707 seconds.

It was his fourth pole of the season and his first at the 2-5-mile track. Harvick has 12 top fives and 17 top 10s at the “Tricky Triangle” but is still searching for that elusive Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Pocono.

The qualifying order is unofficial until the final inspection which will take place Sunday morning before the Gander RV 400.

Harvick is hoping to carry the momentum from his victory last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and capture his first Pocono checkered flag.

“It has been a really good track for me and my guys and really the whole company knows that we’d love to cross this one off – one of the last two of tracks that we haven’t won at,” Harvick said.

“it’s been a successful race track and the first race this year we had a great car and the right strategy and jacked it up and the steering box broke. It’s just kind of been one thing after another like that and tomorrow it’s gonna take a fast car, but it’s also gonna take everything falling your way so that you can get the strategy right. It’s restarts and pit strategy and all the normal Pocono things that you have to battle are still going to be the things you have to overcome.”

Current points leader Joey Logano will start on the outside pole after a qualifying lap at 173.377 mph followed by Aric Almirola in third (173.164 mph).

Almirola was happy with his lap but thought he could have done more.

“I might have left a little bit on the table, but I felt good about our lap,” he explained. “We made a lot of changes to our race car after practice. We weren’t really happy with our race car in final practice, so we made a lot of changes going into qualifying for the impound race procedure, so I wasn’t really sure what we were gonna have there and it kind of surprised me. I’m really happy with that. Our Smithfield Ford Mustang has got a lot of speed and now we’ve got to go race for 400 miles. Track position is really, really important here.”

Erik Jones (173.110 mph) will start fourth as Austin Dillon (172.659 mph) rounds out the top five.

“We have had good speed,” Jones said. “I thought with that lap we would have it. That’s kind of frustrating. We have a fast car and I thought we had a shot at the pole. It’s kind of frustrating, but we are starting up front, either way, so we will make a good day of it.”

Jimmie Johnson qualified sixth while defending race winner, Kyle Busch, will start sixth. William Byron, Kurt Busch and Daniel Suarez rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.

The Gander RV 400 is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday and will be broadcast live on NBCSN with radio coverage by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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

July 27, 2019
Weekend schedule for Pocono-2 and Iowa-2

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the Gander Outdoors Truck Series travel to Pocono Raceway this weekend while the Xfinity Series heads to Iowa Speedway.

Kyle Busch is the defending Cup Series race winner and has won three of the last four races at the 2.5-mile triangular track, including this season’s June race. Another victory would put him in an elite group that includes Hall of Famer Bobby Allison (1982-83) and Tim Richmond (1986-87), the only drivers to win three consecutive races at Pocono.

Christopher Bell returns to defend his Xfinity win. Busch also won the 2018 Truck Series event.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, July 26th

Pocono:
10:35 a.m.–11:25 a.m.: Truck Series First Practice – No TV
12:35 p.m.–1:25 p.m.: Truck Series Final Practice – No TV
6:05 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – Impound/Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions – FS1

Iowa:
5:05 p.m.-5:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series First Practice – NBCSN
7 p.m.-7:50 p.m.: Xfinity Series Final Practice – NBC Sports App

Saturday, July 27th

Pocono:
9:05 a.m.–9:55 a.m.: Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/MRN
11:05 a.m.–11:55 a.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/MRN
1 p.m.: Truck Series Gander RV 150 – Stages 15/30/60 Laps – FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
4:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – Impound/Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions -NBCSN/MRN

Iowa:
12:05 p.m.: Xfinity Qualifying – Impound/Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions -NBCSN
5 p.m.: Xfinity Series US Cellular 250 – Stages 60/120/250 – NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Sunday, July 28th

Pocono:
3 p.m.: Cup Series Gander RV 400 – Stages 50/100/160 Laps – NBCSN/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

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

July 25, 2019
Jeremy Clements captures sixth consecutive top 15 at New Hampshire

Jeremy Clements finished 15th Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning his sixth consecutive top 15 finish this year. Even more encouraging, in his last eight races, his lowest result has been a 16th place finish at Pocono Raceway.

For the small family-owned team with only three full-time employees in the road crew and two at the shop, it’s a testament to what dedication and hard work can accomplish. But for Clements, it’s not enough. I spoke to him about his finish at Loudon and what has contributed to his increased consistency this season.

“For the race at Loudon, I would say we practiced good and thought we had a better car than what we raced. In the race, we just couldn’t get it balanced right. Would start off too loose and it would come in for a few laps and then get pretty tight. Could have been from the track changing with the PJ1 with the modified race before ours and all the Cup practice. But we ran with good cars,” he said, “just disappointed we weren’t better.”

While the beginning of the year had its challenges with a couple of engine issues, the team has experienced a resurgence in the second half of the season. Clements credits their current consistency to the preparation that takes place before the No. 51 Chevrolet hits the track.

“I would say the consistency is just getting the cars in the ballpark and not trying crazy setup stuff,” Clements explained. “We have run 3 of the same springs every week from short track to intermediate. It took us some races to get a hold on these cars, as well.

“We have a new guy in the shop that is one of the main guys that puts them together as well as not having a full-time crew chief. We’ve had Andrew Abbott from Tyler Young’s Truck Series team come in on the weekends and crew chief so us working together has been good and fun but the more we do it the better we seem to get. There’s been a couple of races my dad had to do it as well since Andrew couldn’t be there.

“But it’s just all about preparation at the shop and getting the cars tuned up there. If you unload good off the truck it makes your weekend way smoother than just throwing stuff at it to get it in the ballpark.”

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Iowa Raceway Saturday, July 27. Clements, who finished 12th at Iowa in June, will undoubtedly be looking for more.

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

July 21, 2019
Weekend Schedule for New Hampshire

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series head to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend. The Truck Series is taking the week off with its next race scheduled for July 27 at Pocono.

Christopher Bell is the defending Xfinity race winner while Kevin Harvick will be back to defend his Cup Series victory. Denny Hamlin has the series-best driver rating of 102.7. He also has three Cup Series wins at the 1.058-mile oval speedway but he is not alone. Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman each have three victories at New Hampshire.

Please see the complete schedule below.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, July 19

12:05 p.m.–12:55 p.m.: Cup Series first practice – NBCSN

1:05–1:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series first practice – NBCSN

3:35 p.m.– 4:25 p.m. – Xfinity Series final practice – NBCSN

4:35 p.m.: Cup Series qualifying (single vehicle/two laps/all positions) – NBCSN/PRN

Saturday, July 20

10:05 a.m.–10:55 a.m. – Cup Series second practice – CNBC

11:15 a.m. – Xfinity qualifying (single vehicle/two laps all positions) – NBCSN

12:35 p.m.–1:25 p.m.: Cup Series final practice – NBCSN

4 p.m. – Roxor 200 Xfinity Series race (Stages 45/90/200 laps = 211.6 miles) -NBCSN/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Sunday, July 21

3 p.m. – Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 Cup Series race (Stages 75/150/301 laps = 318.46 miles) – NBCSN/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

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

July 18, 2019
Daniel Suarez wins pole for Quaker State 400 at Kentucky

Daniel Suarez will lead the field to green for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Saturday night after running the fastest qualifying lap at Kentucky Speedway and claiming the pole.

The driver of the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford was the last to qualify Friday evening and his 184.590 mph lap knocked his teammate, Aric Almirola, off the pole, besting his speed by .126 seconds. It was his first Busch Pole Award this year and the second of his career.

“The car’s been very fast the entire day,” Suarez said. “We had probably the fastest car in last practice and the fastest car in qualifying, so I’m very proud of my guys, Ford Performance, Haas Automation and everyone who makes this program possible.”

In his third year of competition in the Cup Series, Suarez is impatiently anticipating his first series win.

“I really want to win so bad,” he explained. “I haven’t been in Victory Lane for a while. The last time I was in Victory Lane was in Brazil, and it was in a go-kart race. I have been looking forward to bring a trophy home for a while.

“We have very fast cars. Now it’s up to me to make it happen tomorrow (Saturday) night.”

Almirola hasn’t been to victory lane since last year at Talladega Superspeedway but has one top five and 10 top-10 finishes this season. He sees starting up front as an opportunity for more.

“It is a great day for us,” he said. “Everybody has been doing a good job of trying to figure out how to bring more speed and more driveability in our cars. I feel like this weekend so far we are off to a good start and the cars are fast and driving good. We have part one done, we have qualified up front and got ourselves good track position and pit stall selection and good clean air. Now we just have to go put a race together.”

Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski qualified third with a speed of 183.443 as Ford claimed the top three spots. Kurt Busch broke up the Ford dominance and will start fourth in his No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with Kevin Harvick rounding out the top five in the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

“That wasn’t bad. That was our best qualifying effort on a mile and a half this year I think,” Keselowski said. “That is something to be proud of. I didn’t quite have the speed to get the pole. I would have liked a later draw. I think there would have been some speed there. Daniel was a tenth-and-a-half ahead. All in all a decent run for our Discount Tire Ford Mustang and I am happy for Doug Yates and all of the Ford guys to have all three of our cars up front with the Fords. We will see what we have tomorrow.”

Daniel Hemric, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch round out the top 10 starting positions.

The Quaker State 400 is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on NBCSN with radio coverage by PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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

Starting Lineup for the Quaker State 400:

1. Daniel Suarez

2. Aric Almirola

3. Brad Keselowski

4. Kurt Busch

5. Kevin Harvick

6. Daniel Hemric

7. Clint Bowyer

8. Martin Truex Jr.

9. Austin Dillon

10. Kyle Busch

11. Joey Logano

12. William Byron

13. Jimmie Johnson

14. Paul Menard

15. Ryan Blaney

16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

17. Michael McDowell

18. Denny Hamlin

19. Kyle Larson

20. Chase Elliott

21. Erik Jones

22. Alex Bowman

*23. Ryan Newman – Failed pre-race inspection once, will start 35th

24. Matt DiBenedetto

25. David Ragan

26. Chris Buescher

27. Ty Dillon

28. Bubba Wallace

29. Corey LaJoie

30. Ryan Preece

31. Matt Tifft

32. Bayley Currey

33. Ross Chastain

34. Landon Cassill

35. BJ McLeod

*36. Quin Houff – Failed pre-race inspection once, will start 36th

July 12, 2019
Weekend Schedule for Kentucky Speedway

NASCAR heads to Kentucky Speedway this weekend as all three national series compete on the 1.5-mile track. The Monster Energy Cup Series will close out the activities Saturday evening with the Quaker State 400.

Ben Rhodes is the defending Truck Series winner, Christopher Bell won last year’s Xfinity Series race and Martin Truex Jr. returns to defend his Cup Series victory.

Please see the complete weekend schedule below.

All times are Eastern

Thursday, July 11

9:35 a.m.-10:25 a.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series First Practice – No TV

11:05 a.m.-11:55 a.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Final Practice – No TV

3:05 p.m.-3:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series First Practice – NBC Sports App

4:05 p.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Qualifying (Impound-Single Vehicle/One Lap-All Positions) – FS1

6:00 p.m.-6:50 p.m.: Xfinity Series Final Practice – – NBC Sports App

7:30 p.m.: Gander Outdoors Truck Series Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 – (Stages 35/70/150 Laps = 225 Miles) FS1/MRN

Friday, July 12

11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN

1:35 p.m.-2:25 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN

4:15 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – NBCSN

6:05 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Qualifying – NBCSN

7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series Alsco 300 – (Stages 45/90/200 Laps = 300 Miles) – NBCSN/PRN

Saturday, July 13

7:30 p.m.: Monster Energy Cup Series Quaker State 400 – (Stages 80/160/267 Laps = 400.5 Miles) – NBCSN/PRN

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

July 11, 2019

Author: Angie Campbell

Friday, August 9

Michigan:

Mid-Ohio:

Saturday, August 10

Michigan:

Mid-Ohio:

Michigan:

Starting Lineup for the Quaker State 400: