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Author: Angie Campbell

NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series head to Daytona International Speedway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

All times are Eastern.

Thursday, June 30:

On-Track:
2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – NBCSN
3-3:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN
4-4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN – Canceled Due to Rain
5-5:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN – Canceled Due to Rain

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series
2:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
12:15 p.m.: Joe Gibbs Racing
2:15 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4:20 p.m.: Denny Hamlin

Friday, July 1:

On-Track:
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN
2:10 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN
4:10 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN
7:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (100 laps, 250 miles) – NBCSN

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
12:45 p.m.: Bobby Labonte
1:35 p.m.: Aric Almirola
5:15 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Qualifying (time approx.)
9:45 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

Saturday, July 2:

On-Track:
7:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola (160 laps, 400 miles) – NBC

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
11 p.m.: NBC America Post-Sprint Cup Race Show (time approx.)

*Complete NASCAR TV Schedule*

NOTES – NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES:

NASCAR to Honor Victims of Orlando Tragedy

Following the recent attack in the Orlando community, NASCAR has shared plans to remember the victims of this tragedy during the race weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

An #ORLANDOUNITED decal will be placed on the A-Post of all cars in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

NBC to Air First NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Broadcast of Season

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to NBC for the second straight season of NASCAR and NBC’s 10-year landmark broadcast agreement on Saturday, July 3 with the airing of the Coke Zero 400 presented by Coca-Cola.

Coverage starts with the pre-race show at 7 p.m. ET and the race broadcast begins at 7:45 p.m. ET.

Rick Allen (play-by-play), 21-time NSCS winner Jeff Burton (analyst) and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte (analyst) will commentate from the booth while Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast will report from pit road.

Krista Voda will host the pre-race show with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and eight-time NSCS winner Kyle Petty providing analysis.

NASCAR: An American Salute™

(#NASCARSalutes) is the industry’s collective expression of reverence, respect and gratitude for those who have served and continue to defend the United States today.

“NASCAR’s long-standing tradition of honoring the U.S. Armed Forces will never waver – it is woven into the fabric of our sport,” said Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer. “We have a unique opportunity with the NASCAR XFINITY Series to pay tribute to the military units and bases integral to preserving our country’s freedom.”

The race track will again host and recognize three recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest award given to military service members, continuing a tradition dating back several years. The Medal of Honor recipients in attendance this weekend will include Staff Sergeant Ty Carter, Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell and Captain Florent Groberg, each representing the U.S. Army.

NASCAR together with Daytona International Speedway and race teams will host hundreds of active military and veterans, and their families, during the race weekend. Among them will be the 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, nicknamed “The Bourinqueneers,” a Puerto Rican regiment that was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in April.

Several active military members present for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola will take part in a special moment of recognition for the U.S. Armed Forces before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Pre-race activities will also feature a flyover of four F-16s from the 93rd Fighter Squadron from Homestead Air Reserve Base during the national anthem, which will be performed by the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Band from Fort Benning, Georgia. The national anthem will be performed as 200 military members unfurl a giant American flag in the infield.

Retired U.S. Air Force Sergeant Kelly Miller will be grand marshal for Friday’s Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola. A Subway franchisee, Miller served as an aeromedical service specialist, responsible for the healthcare of Air Force pilots and flight crews. Retired Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Fred Gardner, also a Subway franchisee, will serve as the honorary starter. Gardner operated the Terrier missile first control system during Mediterranean tours.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith will serve as the race’s honorary pace car driver. A former Florida State standout, Smith owns the NFL’s longest active streak of 16 straight games with six-plus tackles.

NOTES – NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

NASCAR XFINITY Series Salutes U.S. Military Units With Tribute At Daytona

In a show of appreciation for the United States Armed Forces, NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers will bear the names of active military units and installations on their race car windshields during Friday’s Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)

June 29, 2016
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Sonoma and Gateway
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series travels to Sonoma Raceway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series will compete at Gateway Motorsports Park. The XFINITY Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, June 24:

On-Track – Sonoma:
3-4:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – FS1
6:30-7:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
2:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
2 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson
2:15 p.m.: Kyle Larson
5:30 p.m.: Joey Logano
5:45 p.m.: Kyle Busch

Saturday, June 25:

On-Track – Gateway:
9:30-10:25 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice
11:30 a.m.-12:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
5:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS2
8:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Drivin For Linemen 200 Brought to you by Altec (160 laps, 200 miles) – FS1 – Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

On-Track – Sonoma:
2:15 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
12:30 p.m.: Jeff Gordon
3:30 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Qualifying (time approx.)

Sunday, June 26:

On-Track – Sonoma:
3 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Toyota – Save Mart 350 (110 laps, 218.9 miles) – FS1
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
6 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Race (time approx.)

Notes:
- Actor Luke Wilson will serve as the official pace car driver for the Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Best known for his comedic roles in “Old School,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “Legally Blonde,” the Texan currently stars in Showtime’s new series “Roadies,” premiering on June 26.
- Patrick Carpentier of Ville LaSalle, Quebec, Canada will make his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start since 2011 in the No. 32 GO FAS Racing Ford. A five-time winner in the CART Series, Carpentier’s last NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start came at Kansas where he finished 30th. His top career finish was an 11th-place showing at Sonoma in 2009. Carpentier won the Coors Light Pole at New Hampshire in 2008.
- Tony Stewart and Ernie Irvan will join Sonoma Raceway’s Wall of Fame this weekend, joining fellow NASCAR figures, Rusty Wallace (2005), Mark Martin (2005), Jeff Gordon (2006), Ricky Rudd (2007) and Rick Hendrick (2010). Stewart and Irvan each won twice at Sonoma. Stewart will go for his third victory in his final race at the 1.99-mile track on Sunday.
*Complete NASCAR TV Schedule*
June 23, 2016
Ryan Preece – Fueling his Passion to Win

Ryan Preece is the consummate racer. It’s not only his career choice, it’s the driving force that fuels his passion for winning.

The NASCAR Next alum began racing full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2007. The following year, he became the youngest driver in the series history to capture a pole. Preece won the championship in 2013 and claimed another first as the youngest champion in NWMT history. No stranger to winning, he moved up to the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2016, driving the No. 01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports, where he faces the biggest challenge of his career.

Accustomed to winning, he moved up to the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2016, driving the No. 01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports, where he faces the biggest challenge of his career.

His season has been one of ups and downs and Preece is currently 18th in the XFINITY Series point standings. In 12 starts, his best finish was at Talladega where he finished 15th. It was his fourth top 20 finish this year.

I spoke to Preece about the different aspects of transitioning from the NWMT to competing in the XFINITY Series and why he still continues to race modifieds at every opportunity.

The trick, he says, is “managing expectations. Every week, we’re pretty much in that bubble where it’s 24th–18th. When you’re racing against teams that have quite a huge budget, our goal is, with everything we’re doing, maximizing what we can.“

“That’s why I still race my modifieds quite often, to manage the part of me that’s a racer and wants to win races. At the end of the day, racing against JGR, Roush and a lot of teams that have a lot of manufacturer support; I wouldn’t say we don’t have manufacturer support because we do. Chevy’s been really great to us, but their budgets are probably 10 times what ours is. It’s kind of hard to race against that.

“But like I said, that’s why I race modifieds, to fuel the fire in me that wants to win.”

Preece also explained how racing modifieds is a way for him to keep his confidence level high.

“Because it’s my first year full time, every time you get out of the car you’re looking at the speed charts and saying ‘hey, what can I do here? What am I doing wrong?’ Every race car I’ve ever been in my entire life, it’s usually been one of the quicker cars to winning races. Right now, not having that, you sit back, you look back and wonder, ‘Where are we missing this, what am I doing wrong?’

“That’s why I have to keep racing. I have to keep racing modified, I’ve got to keep racing whatever I can to keep winning races because it’ll mentally beat me up if I don’t.”

While racing on a limited budget against cars with more horsepower is not ideal, Preece maintains that being competitive on the track is a combination of several factors.

“To be honest with you,” he says, “I’m more of a person that’s going to say car goes 100 times further than motor. With the tapered spacer they run, horsepower is almost irrelevant. You’re on the throttle for so long especially with how much aero plays, you’re not out of the gas very much so that’s really the big thing.

“These cars have come so far as far as how they’re set up. Ten years ago, 15 years ago, everybody used to call them taxi cabs because they used to roll over, drive different. Now they’re pretty immaculate right off the truck. You’re really nitpicking for everything you can get.

“These cars that are top five, they’re nearly perfect. When you got a perfect race car, it’s hard to beat them. It’s the little things you got to start looking for.”

Preece compares it to a puzzle and he’s quickly learning how all the pieces fit together.

“There are always things I need to work on. I’d say right now it’s a lack of going to the racetracks experience. Even though I’m getting better with mile-and-a-half tracks, that’s something I’ve probably only gone to about six or seven times my entire racing career. I like them a lot but right now it’s just trying to find the feel we need. We’re getting closer, still just trying to find that feel because if you can’t find that feeling, if you don’t know what you’re searching for, it’s a struggle to find what you want and what you need.

“I’m starting to learn that with these cars. The way these cars are set up, how I would go about it in my modifieds is totally different than this. So understanding the pieces of the puzzle, to break down what I’m feeling on the racetrack and relate it to what Zach (McGowan, crew chief) needs to do in the garage, you’ve got to break through that barrier and understand all the different pieces of the puzzle.”

This year will certainly be a season of learning and growth for Preece and his team. But there should be little doubt that Preece will return to his winning ways; he simply won’t accept anything less.

June 18, 2016
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Iowa

The NASCAR XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series head to Iowa Speedway this weekend while the Sprint Cup Series takes a week off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

All times are Eastern.

Friday, June 17:

On-Track:
3-4:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice – FS2
4:30-5:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – FS2, moves to FS1 at 5 p.m.
6-6:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
7-7:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1

Saturday, June 18:

On-Track:
4:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS2
6:45 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2, moves to FS1 at 7 p.m.
8:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Speediatrics 200 (200 laps, 175 miles) – FS1

Sunday, June 19:

On-Track:
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250 Presented by Enogen (250 laps, 218.75 miles) – FS1

Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

June 16, 2016
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Michigan and Texas
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series travel to Michigan International Speedway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

All times are Eastern.

Thursday, June 9:

On Track – Texas:
6-6:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice
7:30-9 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice

Friday, June 10:

On Track – Michigan:
11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – FS1
12:30-1:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – FS1
3-3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Second Practice – FS1
4:15 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series
Noon: XFINITY Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
9:45 a.m.: AJ Allmendinger
10 a.m.: Kurt Busch
10:15 a.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
1:30 p.m.: Brad Keselowski
2:15 p.m.: Brendan Gaughan
5:15 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

On Track – Texas:
6 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – WThis will air tape delayed on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. ET
9 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Rattlesnake 400 (167 laps, 250.5 miles) – FS1

Saturday, June 11:

On Track – Michigan:
9-9:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – FS1
10 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
Noon-12:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Menards 250 Presented by Valvoline (125 laps, 250 miles) – FS1

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
3:30 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

Sunday, June 12:

On Track – Michigan:
1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 (200 laps, 400 miles) – FS1

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
4 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race (time approx.)

Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

Additional NASCAR Programming:
- Brendan Gaughan and Brandon Jones on “Annoying Orange” – Friday, June 10 on YouTube
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on American Ninja Warrior – Monday, June 13th at 8 p.m. on NBC
June 8, 2016
Mark Martin Returns Home to his Racing Family

During his career, Mark Martin exemplified the best of NASCAR. He was a rare combination of an intense competitive spirit tempered with a moral code that garnered respect both on and off the track. When he retired in 2013, the sport lost one of its most esteemed ambassadors.

Martin, however, will soon return to NASCAR in a different role.

On May 25, he was announced as one of five inductees into the 2017 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. To celebrate the occasion, Martin traveled to a racetrack for the first time in two and a half years to drive the pace car for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a place Martin refers to as “my favorite racetrack.” While there, he spoke about the importance of safeguarding the history of NASCAR.

“The NASCAR Hall of Fame, I’ve been a big supporter of from the get-go,” Martin said. “It is so important to our sport as we move forward to preserve the history and the people that were there before us and the people that paved the way for the current competitors and the future competitors and fans, as well.

“There are so many people that are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame that are my heroes that it’s pretty incredible to think that I’m going to join them in that Hall. It’s something that I didn’t expect to happen in my lifetime so it’s happened sooner than I would have ever dreamed if it would happen at all.”

“It’s an incredible privilege, an honor and I’m extremely humbled by the opportunity to be a part of the NASCAR Hall of fame.”

Martin also admitted that while he has been enjoying his life since retirement, he has begun to miss his family at the track.

“I want to explain that for me, looking out my windshield is very exciting right now,” he said. “When I look in my rearview mirror it is a very, very foggy view of driving racecars. I’m cool with what’s in my windshield right now, really cool, really excited. That being said, I’m saying I don’t miss driving racecars, but I have missed the people. The longer it’s gone, the more I’ve missed.

“In the last two months, I’ve really noticed that I miss the fans, I miss the competitors and I miss the members of the media, the journalists and all that were around the racetrack that were my family.”

When asked about the greatest moment of his career, Martin went back to the start of his career before joining Jack Roush’s team.

“The greatest sense of pride I have is not what I accomplished when I started driving for Jack Roush to the day I hung the helmet up in 2013, it is really what happened before I got the ride at Jack Roush,” Martin explained.

“In 1981, the IROC Series, some of the crown jewels that made that possible especially the 1981 five Cup races, the car that we built. There are a lot of good old stories there that I like to tell because it’s fascinating. It’s quite different now because you don’t have the leeway.

“A guy from Indiana that was living and racing in Indiana could not do that today, build a Cup car and make it special and make it fast enough that it could sit on the pole in the third race they entered. That’s an interesting story and it’s something I’m really proud of.”

From those humble beginnings, Martin’s career in the Sprint Cup Series spanned 31 years and included five runner-up finishes in the championship standings. Although he never achieved championship status, Martin is proud of what he accomplished throughout three decades in the sport. He has 40 Cup wins, 49 XFINITY wins, seven victories in the Truck Series and he captured 13 checkered flags in the IROC Series.

“Look, I don’t have a Daytona 500 trophy,” Martin said, “and I don’t have a championship trophy, and I said many times that when people would complain about my not having one of those, I would ask the question, ‘How would my life be different if I had one?’ And, I truly believe that my life would not be very different. But my life will be different from now on because I’m in that Hall because that is my crown jewel.

“That speaks of not one year worth of success, not one great achievement, but a body of work, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

He may not have the hardware, but he is a champion in every sense of the word. Welcome home, Mark Martin, you have been missed.

June 3, 2016
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Pocono
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series head to Pocono Raceway this weekend. The Camping World Truck Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

All times are Eastern.

Thursday, June 2:

On Track:
2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice
4-4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Second Practice

Friday, June 3:

On Track:
11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – FS1
12:30-1:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Third Practice – FS1 (Canceled)
3-3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1 (Canceled)
4:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series
Noon: XFINITY Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
9:30 a.m.: Chase Elliott
10:15 a.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
10:30 a.m.: Brennan Poole
10:45 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
1:20 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1:40 p.m.: Brad Keselowski
5:15 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

Saturday, June 4:

On Track:
9:05 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
1 p.m.: XFINITY Series Pocono Green 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) – FOX

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
11 a.m.: Pocono Raceway President & CEO Brandon Igdalsky
3 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

Sunday, June 5:

On Track:
1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Axalta ‘We Paint Winners’ 400 (160 laps, 400 miles) – FS1 (Postponed until Monday, June 6 at noon on FS1)

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
4 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race

Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

Special NASCAR Programming:
- Chase Elliott on “Ridiculousness” – Thursday, June 2 at 10 p.m. ET on MTV
June 2, 2016
Denny Hamlin Wins XFINITY Race in Overtime at Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. — Denny Hamlin won the Hisense 4K TV 300 XFINITY Series Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, moving up through the field and making the pass during overtime to claim the checkered flag.

Erik Jones brought out the eighth and final caution of the event, forcing it into overtime, after contact with the wall due to a blown tire. Hamlin chose to pit for fresh tires while leader Kyle Larson and second-place Joey Logano decided to stay out on the track during the yellow flag.

The gamble paid off for Hamlin who overtook both Larson and Logano for the win.

“It was a second opportunity, obviously,” Hamlin said. ”I was hoping for that caution there at the end, and we got it and we were able to get four tires on this Hisense Camry and took off. A little closer than what I thought. I mean, we were just really tight those last couple laps, but what a great day.”

It was Hamlin’s first XFINITY victory of the season in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and his only start in the series this year. It was the fifth win of the season for the JGR entry, which includes four previous wins by Kyle Busch.

Austin Dillon, who had taken right-side tires only on his last pit stop, finished second in his No. 2 Chevrolet, relegating Logano, who led 58 laps, to a third place result in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

Dillon felt as though, with a little luck, he could have taken home the checkered flag.

“We were definitely a fourth or fifth-place car today. We fired off tight and had decent track position, but after the second caution, we had to start pretty deep in the field. I’m not sure what happened there. That forced Danny (Stockman, crew chief) to call for two tires on the next few stops so we could gain our spots back. I think if we would have had a little extra luck on our side on the final restart, we could have won,” he explained. “Overall, it was a good day for this Rheem team. We have a few things to figure out, but we’ll get there.”

Logano was disappointed with his result but was pleased with the speed they showed.

“The Discount Tire Ford was the fastest it’s been all year,” Logano said post race. “We can’t hold our heads down about it. We had a car that was capable of winning if circumstances went right. I felt like I was gonna have a good restart next to Kyle. I felt my restarts were a little better than his all day, and I thought, ‘OK if I can clear him,’ which we did I was like, ‘Alright, we’ve got a shot,’ but it was really hard to hold off those four tires.”

Cole Custer finished fourth in the No. 88 Chevrolet with Justin Allgaier rounding out the top five in his No. 7 Chevrolet. Larson, after leading 46 laps, finished sixth.

Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Daniel Suarez, finished 12^thand currently leads the XFINITY Series point standings.

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – Hisense 4K TV 300 – Complete Results

1. (3) Denny Hamlin(i), Toyota, 206.
2. (4) Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 206.
3. (7) Joey Logano(i), Ford, 206.
4. (11) Cole Custer(i), Chevrolet, 206.
5. (8) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 206.
6. (5) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 206.
7. (12) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 206.
8. (10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 206.
9. (14) Brennan Poole #, Chevrolet, 206.
10. (17) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 206.
11. (27) Jeb Burton, Ford, 206.
12. (2) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 206.
13. (19) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 206.
14. (18) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 206.
15. (31) Garrett Smithley #, Chevrolet, 206.
16. (13) Ryan Blaney(i), Ford, 205.
17. (16) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 205.
18. (20) Drew Herring, Toyota, 205.
19. (15) Ryan Reed, Ford, 204.
20. (21) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 204.
21. (23) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 204.
22. (26) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 203.
23. (25) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 203.
24. (40) Harrison Rhodes, Chevrolet, 203.
25. (30) BJ McLeod #, Ford, 202.
26. (35) Martin Roy, Chevrolet, 202.
27. (9) Darrell Wallace Jr., Ford, 201.
28. (6) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 200.
29. (22) Spencer Gallagher(i), Chevrolet, 200.
30. (34) Carl Long, Toyota, 200.
31. (1) Erik Jones #, Toyota, Accident, 197.
32. (37) Derrike Cope, Chevrolet, 183.
33. (36) Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, Suspension, 130.
34. (29) Jeff Green, Toyota, Fuel Pump, 127.
35. (38) Mike Harmon, Dodge, Accident, 91.
36. (33) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, Transmission, 84.
37. (32) Ray Black Jr. #, Chevrolet, Oil Line, 27.
38. (39) Cody Ware #, Ford, Accident, 12.
39. (28) Josh Wise(i), Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 5.
40. (24) Matt DiBenedetto(i), Toyota, Vibration, 3.

May 28, 2016
Kurt Busch Quickest in Second Sprint Cup Practice at Charlotte

May 28, 2016
NASCAR Continues Tradition of Honoring United States Armed Forces at Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. — For many, Memorial Day weekend is a holiday spent with family and friends, highlighted by cookouts, trips to the beach and lighthearted fun. But for those who have lost loved ones in the service of our country, it is both a time of somber reflection and a celebration of their lives.

NASCAR has an established tradition of honoring these fallen ones in the days leading up to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and this year is no exception.

For the second straight year, the “600 Miles of Remembrance” will pay tribute to those who died defending the United States. The driver’s names that normally appear on the windshield of each race car will be replaced with the names of fallen soldiers. Many of these names were chosen by the teams because of a special connection and each has a unique story. Some of the drivers took a moment to speak about the soldiers represented on their cars.

Ryan Blaney emphasized the importance of the military, saying, “Military does so much for our sport. They’re the reason we can race and be in NASCAR, and that it’s even possible. We have a huge military program at the race tracks each weekend and this just adds to that. We make the 600 really special which is great. It’s so cool that we can have them on our windshield and honor them the best we can that way. I am honored to have Cherone L. Gunn and to represent him. We will have two of his family members there, so hopefully we can show them a memorable time, and show them some of our world. He’s from Norfolk Virginia, which is close to where the Wood Brothers shop is in Stuart. It’s really neat what NASCAR does allowing us to honor the fallen soldiers.”

Austin Dillon said that these soldiers are his heroes. He selected the name to be displayed on his car by reaching “out to some of the guys in the NAVY and some of my friends in the SEALS. I asked them if there was anyone they’d like me to represent in Charlotte, and they all came up with a name and that was Mark Carter, “The Badger”. It’s very special to be carrying on someone’s legacy. Especially someone that gave their name for our freedom and to allow us to be Americans that fight out there on Sunday for a race. It’s very special to me, I even went out with my guys and we did a workout after Mark Carter which was really special to do. It was special to do a workout that was named after him. It was one of the toughest workouts I’ve ever done. So hopefully I can be as tough as him on Sunday. My heroes are soldiers and those guys fighting for our freedom.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s car will feature someone who was a childhood friend of JackRoush.

“Charlotte always does a great job with remembering the veterans and military that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Stenhouse said. “I think our sponsor Fastenal does a great job with it as well and is something that’s very important to them, too. Whether it be hiring the heroes or remembering the ones that gave everything. For us, that week, we’re going to have Jim Woolard on our car, which was one of Jack’s childhood friends growing up. He grew up two doors down from Jack. He died in Vietnam in the Army when he was only 20-years-old. It’ll be a special weekend for us, especially with Jack being our owner. He will want to watch that car run really well. We are going to give it everything we got. It’s very humbling watching the reenactments on pit road before the races. I think that’s one of the special moments everyone comes to see at the Coca-Cola 600.”

US Army 82nd Airborne Prepares for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo Credit: Noel Lanier

For David Ragan, it’s also a way to honor family members that have served.

“Memorial Day is an important day for our entire nation, but certainly for our industry. The Coca-Cola 600 has a lot of history and heritage in our sport. Memorial Day is an important day in our country to honor all of our soldiers that lost their lives fighting for our country. I have had a couple of grandfathers and uncles that served in our nation’s military, so it’s a certainly an important day in my family as well to pay tribute for those that served. One of my favorite memories about Memorial Day Weekend is all of the soldiers and pre-race festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway over the years. It’s always been a lot of fun.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is proud of NASCAR’s continued commitment to the military and said, “NASCAR has always had a close relationship with the military of our country, and honors a family weekly who has lost someone. We always have service men and women out to the track as guests. That’s always been an important addition to the weekend. I like that we ramp it up for this particular weekend. It’ll be great to meet Lance Corporal Aaron Reed’s family and the other members of his squad. That’ll be an experience that I probably won’t forget – it will be pretty weighted. I’m looking forward to it.”

The “600 Miles of Remembrance” is only a small part of planned activities that will span the entire weekend of events to show support for the military as part of a program called, NASCAR: An American Salute.

You can see a gallery of all the fallen soldiers that will appear on the Sprint Cup Series cars during Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 by visiting www.NASCAR.com/salute.

May 27, 2016