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Author: Angie Campbell

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Bristol

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Bristol

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series travel to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, April 15:

    On Track:
    11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    3-3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final 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
    2:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences:  (Watch live)
    9:30 a.m.: Chase Elliott
    10 a.m.: Ryan Reed
    10:15 a.m.: Ryan Blaney
    10:30 a.m.: Kyle Busch
    12:30 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    1:30 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    3:30 p.m.: Todd Gilliland
    5:30 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Qualifying (time approx.)

    Saturday, April 16:

    On Track:
    8:30-9:25 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – FS1
    9:30 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    11-11:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    12:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 Heat #1 (50 laps, 26.65 miles) – FS1
    1:10 p.m. (approx): XFINITY Series Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 Heat #2 (50 laps, 26.65 miles) – FS1
    1:45 p.m. (approx): XFINITY Series Fitzgerald Glider Kits 300 main race (200 laps, 106.6 miles) – FS1

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

    Sunday, April 17:

    On Track:
    1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Food City 500 (500 laps, 266.5 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4:30 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Race (time approx.)

    Additional Info:

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Special NASCAR Programming:

    • Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Dude Perfect” – Thursday, April 14 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CMT
  • For Kyle Busch, Winning is Everything

    For Kyle Busch, Winning is Everything

    We’ve all heard the adage, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. For racers, nothing could be further from the truth. Winning is everything.

    And no matter how fervently they insist that they couldn’t have done it without the entire team, the reality is much simpler. The owner may have given him the best equipment, the crew chief may have executed the perfect strategies and the pit crew may have performed flawlessly to get their driver in position to win.

    But, when the green flag waves and everything is on the line, it all comes down to one thing…the driver. How badly does he want it and what is he willing to risk?

    As Dale Earnhardt once said, “The winner ain’t the one with the fastest car; it’s the one who refuses to lose.”

    No current driver embodies this competitive spirit more so than Kyle Busch.

    After an injury in the season-opening NASCAR XFINITY Series race in 2015 left Busch sidelined for 11 races, he came back to capture five checkered flags, including the season finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway and won the Sprint Cup championship.

    It seemed as if the time away spent with wife, Samantha, and the birth of his son, Brexton, had given him a new perspective. We saw a more mature and focused driver. And while he is still prone to the occasional bursts of temper when things don’t go his way, Busch is slowly shedding his role as villain and embracing his reign as Champ.

    He hasn’t lost any steam this year.

    Busch has won four straight NASCAR national touring races, scoring the victory at last week’s Camping World Truck Series race as well as the Sprint Cup race at Martinsville. He followed that up with another sweep at Texas Motor Speedway, winning the XFINITY Series race and his second consecutive Cup race.

    His 36th Sprint Cup Series victory ties him with Matt Kenseth for 20th place on the all-time wins list. Additionally, Busch gained two spots to lead the points standings, six points ahead of Jimmie Johnson in second place.

    Add to that, 80 XFINITY wins and 45 in the Camping World Truck Series, and you begin to grasp the enormity of what he has accomplished.

    Busch is enjoying his success and life in general.

    “It’s pretty darn good, I’ll tell you that,” he said after the Cup race at Texas. “I’ve got a great wife, a great son and I’m having a blast, living the dream.”

    While he’s savoring this year’s success, Busch is also looking ahead to the future and the possibilities are endless.

    “There are plenty of things that are out there to achieve,” Busch recently said. “Building that win column, to be able to build that to 100 or something like that. That would be pretty special. Now whether 100 is reachable or not, I doubt it, but we’ll give it our best shot.”

    Hero or villain, Busch’s talent on the track is undeniable. The ride may sometimes get bumpy but it is always compelling.

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Texas

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Texas

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series travel to Texas Motor 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, April 7:

     On Track:
    4-5:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    5:30-6:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    7-7:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1

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

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    3 p.m.: Brian Vickers
    3:15 p.m.: Daniel Suarez
    3:30 p.m.: Brendan Gaughan
    4:15 p.m.: Chris Buescher
    4:30 p.m.: Matt Kenseth
    4:45 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson

    Friday, April 8:

    On Track:
    2:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    4:45 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    6:30-7:50 p.m.: Sprint Series Final Practice – FS1
    8:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – (Green Flag: 8:46 p.m. approx.) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    2 p.m.: Eddie Gossage
    3:45 p.m.: Joey Logano
    11 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Race (time approx.)

    Saturday, April 9:

    On Track:
    7:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 (334 laps, 501 miles) (Green Flag: 7:46 p.m. approx.) – FOX

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

    Additional NASCAR Programming

  • Kyle Larson Captures Season Best Third Place at Martinsville

    Kyle Larson Captures Season Best Third Place at Martinsville

    Kyle Larson drove his Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Target Chevrolet to a third place finish in the STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway, earning his best result of the season. It’s a track where Larson has struggled in the past which made this top five even sweeter.

    His four previous starts at Martinsville resulted in finishes of 42nd, 27th, 30th and 19th.

    “It was really fun this whole weekend to be competitive every time I was on the race track. Normally, I’m very bad here and to finish top three feels like a win for me. Never would I have thought that I’d get a top three here and now I can kind of see a (Grandfather) clock, maybe in my future,” Larson said post race.

    “We were running in the top five and top seven the whole race. I learned a lot,” he continued. “I spent a lot of time behind Jimmie Johnson and I felt like I just followed his track there and got a lot better throughout the race. Chad (Johnson, crew chief) did a good job taking two tires there at the end, we got lined-up on the inside row and we were pretty good there. So, hat’s off to everybody on this Target Chevy and it was cool to get a good finish.”

    Larson also ran in the Camping World Truck Series event this weekend, where he finished fourth. He talked about the advantage of competing in both races and the importance of seat time.

    “Normally, a truck does not drive anything like a Cup car, and this is the only racetrack probably where it does,” he explained, “just getting more laps on this racetrack is the most important part for myself.  In the past, I’ve always struggled with just hitting my marks lap after lap, and I think getting almost twice the amount of laps here this weekend as I normally would here, just helped me become smoother and more patient and maybe get an idea of what I need to feel like going around the racetrack.”

    I definitely think it paid off,” he added. “Hopefully, the next Martinsville I can run both again. I think it helped a lot, and hopefully, it’s something I can do from here on out for a while until I feel like I’m good enough where I don’t need to run it.”

    Larson’s 2016 season has a rollercoaster of highs and lows but he hopes to use his success at Martinsville as motivation going forward.

    “In the past,” Larson said, “it’s (Martinsville) been my worst racetrack on the schedule, so to get a top‑three finish here feels great, feels like a win, to be honest, and hopefully, this is a good momentum shift that we need. We’ve been struggling all year long so far and been working hard, but it hasn’t paid off.”

    The Sprint Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway next week where Larson will try to capitalize on his success at Martinsville as he looks for another “solid finish.”

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Martinsville

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Martinsville

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

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, April 1:

    On Track:
    10-10:55 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    3-3:50 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final 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

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    9 a.m.: Parker Kligerman
    9:15 a.m.: John Hunter Nemechek
    9:30 a.m.: Ryan Blaney
    1 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    1:15 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    5:45 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

    Saturday, April 2:

    On Track:
    10-10:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    11:15 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    1-1:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    2:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (250 laps, 131.5 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    12:15 p.m.: Jamie McMurray
    4:45 p.m.: Post-Camping World Truck Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, April 3:

    On Track:
    1 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series STP 500 (500 laps, 263 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4:45 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Race (time approx.)

    Additional Info:

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • Elliott and Blaney Dominate Rookie of the Year Battle

    Elliott and Blaney Dominate Rookie of the Year Battle

    Five races into the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney have risen to the top of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings leaving the rest of the contenders to play a game of “catch me if you can.”

    Elliott is the current leader, by way of a tie-breaker, having three top-10 finishes, eighth at Atlanta and Phoenix and a sixth-place finish this past weekend at Fontana. Blaney has placed in the top 10 twice, scoring sixth at Las Vegas and 10th at Phoenix.

    Although Elliott was the consensus to win Rookie of the Year honors preseason, Blaney has proven to be a tenacious competitor, leading the standings after three of five races.

    The season began with Elliott becoming the youngest driver to win the pole in the history of the Daytona 500. The 20-year-old was elated, saying, “This is a very, very cool day.”

    His excitement would be short-lived, however, when Elliott lost control of his car only 20 laps into the Sprint Cup race, sliding through the infield grass and sustaining heavy damage to his car. After repairs to his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Elliott was able to resume the race 40 laps down and finished a disappointing 37th.

    By contrast, Blaney was the highest finishing rookie at Daytona, finishing in 19th place. He ran in the top 10 for the first 100 laps but handling issues saw him falling further back as the race continued. It wasn’t the result he wanted but it was enough to begin the year as the leading rookie.

    “No one could go on the top all day,” Blaney said after climbing out of his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. “There was a while where people could go (on top) but then it’s nonexistent. I don’t know if it’s a lack of motor or what. We got behind and we couldn’t get back up there.”

    Blaney was also the highest finishing rookie at Las Vegas while Elliott took the top spot at Atlanta, Phoenix and Fontana.

    Since the first race, the trend has continued as the pair take turns occupying the number one position in the rookie standings. Brian Scott (-14), Chris Buescher (-16) and Jeffrey Earnhardt (-37) are third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

    Scott’s highest finish this year was 12th at Fontana, Buescher’s best was 26th place at Las Vegas while Earnhardt (who has only competed in three of five races) captured his best finish of 33rd at Las Vegas.

    Although the season has barely begun, Blaney and Elliott have clearly established themselves as the frontrunners in the rookie competition. After a week off, the action will continue as NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway and the battle resumes.

    Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/angiecampbell_

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Auto Club Speedway

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Auto Club Speedway

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

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 18:

    On Track:
    1:30-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    3-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    5:30-6:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    7:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    Noon: Brian Vickers
    12:30 p.m.: Kevin Harvick
    1:05 p.m.: Brandon Jones
    1:15 p.m.: Daniel Suarez
    3:30 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    4:30 p.m.: Kyle Larson
    4:45 p.m.: Austin Dillon
    9 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying and Brad Keselowski

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

    Saturday, March 19:

    On Track:
    11-11:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS2
    12:15 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    2:30-3:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    4 p.m.: TreatMyClot.com 300 by Janssen (150 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    6:30 p.m. (approx.): Post-XFINITY Series Race

    Sunday, March 20:

    On Track:
    3:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 (200 laps, 400 miles) – FOX

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

    Additional Info:

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Phoenix

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Phoenix

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

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 11:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    3-4:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    5:30-6:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS2
    6:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2

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

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11:30 a.m.: Kevin Harvick
    11:45 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    2:05 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    2:20 p.m.: Daniel Suarez
    2:40 p.m.: Ryan Blaney
    4:45 p.m.: Austin Dillon
    7:45 p.m. (approx.): Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying and Brad Keselowski

    Saturday, March 12:

    On Track:

    10:30-11:25 a.m.:  Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    11:45 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    1-1:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    2:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Axalta Faster.Tougher. Brighter. 200 (200 laps, 200 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4:30 p.m. (approx.): Post-XFINITY Series Race

    Sunday, March 13:

    On Track:

    3:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 (312 laps, 312 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    6:30 p.m. (approx.): Post-Sprint Cup Series Race

    Additional Info:

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • Blaney Rebounds with Sixth Place Finish at Las Vegas

    Blaney Rebounds with Sixth Place Finish at Las Vegas

    Ryan Blaney drove his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford to a sixth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, capturing his first top-10 of the season. It was especially gratifying after a last-lap crash at Atlanta the previous week relegated him to a discouraging 25th place result.

    The 22-year-old was also the highest finishing Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender and moved up seven spots to 14th in the series standings.

    “It was good to get a good finish after last week’s disappointment,” he said.

    Blaney began the Sprint Cup Series race in 14th but by lap 36, made his way into the top 10, running as high as fourth on lap 150. It was no easy task considering the high winds and rain that delayed the start of the Kobalt 400.

    “If a gust hit you wrong it was ‘hang on tight’ between (turns) three and four,” he explained. “I actually almost caused a big one on a re-start because a huge gust of wind hit us. It was really unpredictable but the spotter does a great job of telling you what’s going on.”

    Blaney described the incident in more detail in the media center following the race, saying, “I got blown into (turn) three  pretty hard one time and almost took the 88 (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) out and that would have been terrible.”

    Joey Logano, who finished second in the race, quipped, “You would have been hated as much as me, maybe more.”

    Amid laughter, Blaney answered, “That was in my mind actually as I was sliding to him.”

    The finish was not only a morale boost for the team but inspires confidence as they head to next week’s event at Phoenix. Blaney spoke about the impact moving forward.

    “(It was) very significant,” he said. “Especially after Atlanta, last week, getting spun out on the last lap, kind of got us down a lot. To come here and have a solid run all day really ups the spirits. This team is working very well together. We kind of had a trial run last year running part-time. Now we brought in some new personnel this year. They’ve done a great job since Daytona.

    “It’s a big, big accomplishment for the Wood Brothers team today,” Blaney continued, “and hopefully gives us some good momentum for Phoenix.

    “We were good all day,” he emphasized after the race. “We were able to drive up through the field early and we made the car better throughout the day. It’s a great day. It’s a good way to get our season back on track after Atlanta. We had a good run and it always makes you feel good going into next week.”

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway next weekend as Blaney and the No. 21 team hope to capitalize on their success as the season progresses.

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Las Vegas

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Las Vegas

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series enjoys a week off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, March 3:

    On Track:
    Noon-2 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Testing – Session 1
    3-6 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Testing – Session 2

    Press Conferences: (Watch Live)
    2:05 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    6:30 p.m.:  Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

    Friday, March 4:

    On Track:
    1:30-2:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    3:30-4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    6-6:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    7:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

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

    Press Conferences: (Watch Live)
    12:30 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    1:15 p.m.: DC Solar announcement with Brennan Poole
    3 p.m.: Tony Stewart with Mobil 1
    8:45 p.m. Post-Sprint Cup Qualifying and Brad Keselowski (time approx.)

    Saturday, March 5:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Practice – FS1
    12:45 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2
    2:30-3:20 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    4 p.m.: XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch Live)
    6:30 p.m.: P0st-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, March 6:

    On Track:
    3:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Kobalt 400 (267 laps, 400 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch Live)
    6:30 p.m.: P0st-Sprint Cup Series Race (time approx.)

    Additional NASCAR Programming: 

    • Darrell Wallace Jr. on “The Lineup” – March 5 at 6 p.m. ET on Fuse
    • Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Party Down South” – March 10 at 9 p.m. ET on CMT
    • Dale Earnhardt Jr. on “Treehouse Masters” – March 11 at 10 p.m. ET on Animal Planet
    • Dale Earnhardt Jr., Greg Biffle and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on “Wahlburgers” – March 16 at 9 p.m. ET on A&E