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Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • Ford Performance NASCAR: Richmond Advance

    Ford Performance NASCAR: Richmond Advance

    FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: RICHMOND NOTES

    After races at Martinsville Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway in the
    last month, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series continues its recent
    short track run this weekend at Richmond Raceway. Ford Mustang
    drivers make up half of the Top 10 in the series point standings, led
    by Joey Logano, who moved from fifth to third after his third-place
    effort on Sunday.

    FORD IN THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES AT RR

    · Ford has 32 all-time series wins at Richmond.

    · Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch have Ford wins
    at Richmond while Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer also have series
    victories.

    · Logano is tied with seven other Ford drivers for most
    victories at Richmond with two.

    FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT RR

    · Ford has 18 series wins at Richmond.

    · Brad Keselowski has Ford’s last three wins at the track
    (2013 sweep and last Fall).

    · Mark Martin leads Ford with five series wins at Richmond.

    GOLDSMITH GOLDEN

    The first time Ford went to victory lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR
    Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway was on May 5, 1957 when
    Paul Goldsmith started seventh and won the Richmond 250. That was his
    second win of the season and came on a day that Ford dominated from
    start to finish by leading all 200 laps. Pete DePaolo fielded three
    cars under his DePaolo Engineering sponsorship and watched as Fireball
    Roberts jumped to the lead and held it for the first 159 laps before
    Goldsmith came on and passed him with 41 laps remaining. Goldsmith
    went on to win the race by one lap with Roberts finishing second and
    Marvin Panch third to give Ford and DePaolo a sweep of the top three
    spots. Goldsmith ended up winning a career-high four races with Ford
    that season, which included victories in Greensboro (NC), Lancaster
    (SC), and Raleigh (NC).

    KYLE PETTY’S FIRST WIN

    The Wood Brothers have 99 all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
    victories and many of those have been first-time wins for whoever was
    lucky enough to be behind the wheel. Kyle Petty was that man in the
    mid-1980s and on Feb. 23, 1986 found himself in the right place at the
    right time. Driving the No. 7 Ford for Glen Wood – the car carried
    that number because of sponsor 7-Eleven – Petty was the beneficiary of
    an ongoing battle between Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt. After
    Waltrip passed Earnhardt to take the lead with two to go, Earnhardt
    made contact with Waltrip and both cars went spinning into the wall.
    Others got collected in the aftermath, but Petty was able to get
    through unscathed and took the checkered flag under caution for his
    first series triumph.

    BURTON WINS BATTLE OF THE JEFFS

    Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon waged a memorable battle at RIR on Sept.
    12, 1998 in the Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400 in which Burton
    emerged victorious. The two drivers exchanged the lead eight times
    during the middle stages of the 400-lap feature until Jimmy Spencer
    joined them. Those three combined to lead the final 259 laps, but the
    winner was in doubt until the very end as Gordon steadily chased down
    Burton, who grabbed the top spot from Spencer with 40 to go. Gordon
    was on Burton’s bumper as the two took the white flag, and he dove to
    the inside as they entered turn three. Burton maintained his high
    line and got enough momentum off turn four to win by half-a-car length
    (.051 seconds).

    A PENSKE SEASON SWEEP

    Thanks to Team Penske, Ford dominated the 2014 season at RIR as both
    Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski made it to victory lane. Keselowski
    clinched the top seed for the ensuing Chase with a dominating
    performance that saw him lead all but 17 of the 400 laps, including
    the final 274 circuits. The win was his fourth of the season and
    marked the third time Ford swept both MENCS races at the
    three-quarter-mile track, and the first since 1997. Logano won the
    first RIR race after passing Matt Kenseth with four laps to go to
    claim his fifth career series victory.

    FORD MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP WINNERS AT RICHMOND

    1957 – Paul Goldsmith

    1959 – Tom Pistone and Cotton Owens

    1960 – Speedy Thompson (2)

    1963 – Ned Jarrett (2)

    1965 – Junior Johnson (1)

    1968 – David Pearson (1)

    1969 – David Pearson (1)

    1970 – James Hylton (1)

    1979 – Bobby Allison (2)

    1980 – Bobby Allison (2)

    1981 – Benny Parsons (2)

    1984 – Ricky Rudd (1)

    1986 – Kyle Petty (1)

    1988 – Davey Allison (2)

    1990 – Mark Martin (1)

    1992 – Bill Elliott (1)

    1993 – Davey Allison (1)

    1994 – Ernie Irvan (1)

    1995 – Rusty Wallace (2)

    1996 – Ernie Irvan (2)

    1997 – Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett

    1998 – Jeff Burton (2)

    1999 – Dale Jarrett (1)

    2001 – Ricky Rudd (2)

    2002 – Matt Kenseth (2)

    2005 – Kurt Busch (2)

    2013 – Carl Edwards (2)

    2014 – Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski

    2017 – Joey Logano

    FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS AT RICHMOND

    1987 – Mark Martin

    1993 – Mark Martin (Sweep)

    1994 – Kenny Wallace (2)

    1995 – Kenny Wallace (1) and Dale Jarrett (2)

    1996 – Kenny Wallace (2)

    1997 – Mark Martin (1)

    1998 – Jeff Burton (1)

    1999 – Mark Martin (1)

    2000 – Jeff Burton (2)

    2002 – Jason Keller (1)

    2005 – Carl Edwards (1)

    2008 – Carl Edwards (2)

    2009 – Carl Edwards (2)

    2013 – Brad Keselowski (Sweep)

    2017 – Brad Keselowski (2)

  • FedEx Racing Express Facts – Richmond

    FedEx Racing Express Facts – Richmond

    Denny Hamlin
    #11 FedEx Ground Toyota
    Joe Gibbs Racing

    Race Info:
    Race: Toyota Owners 500
    Date/Time: April 13/7:30 p.m. ET
    Distance: 400 laps/300 miles
    Track Length: 0.75 miles
    Track Shape: Oval
    Banking: 14 degrees
    2018 Winner: Kyle Busch

    Express Notes:

    Press Kit: Download the 2019 FedEx Racing press materials at www.fedexracing.com/presskit, including bios for Denny Hamlin, Chris Gabehart and Joe Gibbs Racing leadership, program highlights and statistics.

    Bristol Recap: Denny Hamlin overcame adversity to register a strong finish once again, finishing fifth at Bristol Motor Speedway after a speeding penalty knocked him out of the lead and sent him to the rear of the field. Hamlin started fifth in the FedEx Freight Toyota and ran in positions from first to 15th in the first half of the 500-lap race. A strategic, two-tire pit stop call by crew chief Chris Gabehart in Stage 3 had Denny positioned to take the lead on a restart with fewer than 100 laps to go, but a pit-road speeding penalty forced him to the rear of the field. Relegated to 15th, Denny and the #11 FedEx team went to work to get back toward the front. Gabehart gave his driver fresh tires at every opportunity for the remainder of the race, including under a caution when none of the leaders came to pit road. The strategy paid off, with Denny passing his way up to a fifth-place finish.

    Richmond Preview: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads next to Denny Hamlin’s home track of Richmond Raceway for a Saturday night race on April 13. The Chesterfield, Va., native has three wins at the three-quarter mile speedway and has led a career-best 1,659 laps around the Virginia oval. With two wins to his name already this season, Hamlin and team will be seeking their third victory, potentially moving them into first in the Cup Series standings.

    Hamlin Statistics:

    Track: Richmond Raceway

    Races: 25

    Wins:  3 (2009, 2010, 2016)

    Poles: 3 (Series-best among active drivers)

    Top-5: 11

    Top-10: 15

    Laps Led: 1,659

    Avg. Start: 9.4

    Avg. Finish 9.6

    Hamlin Conversation:

    Despite facing some adversity at Bristol, how did your team respond to secure a top-five finish?

    “We didn’t really have a top-five car for much of the race, but my crew chief gave me options that helped us finish in the top five. I’m mad at myself for speeding, but I’m proud of this team for grinding and having a strategy that allowed me to be aggressive at the end.”

    How does it feel to be heading home next weekend for the race at Richmond?

    “It’s always a thrill getting to race in front of my hometown fans. I’ve been fortunate to have had success at Richmond, and I know my team and I are excited for the challenge ahead this weekend.”

    FedEx Ground Northeast District Along for the Ride at Richmond Raceway: For the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway, the FedEx #11 will feature the letters “NEST” on its B-Post to recognize the FedEx Ground Northeast district for excelling in metrics that reflect strong employee retention.

  • The Final Word – Bristol, we have a problem

    The Final Word – Bristol, we have a problem

    Bristol is not Las Vegas, Phoenix, Fort Worth or Charlotte. There are reasons to go to the Virginia-Tennessee border. The country is beautiful. On Sunday, it appears a lot of people were taking in the scenery. They sure in hell were not at the race track.

    NASCAR is in serious trouble. Sure, we have commented on the dropping ratings and crowds for years. The pretty people who once made it the thing to be part of have all disappeared and even the sponsors rarely do anything special in their commercials as they did a decade or more ago. We knew things were not great. Then we saw the grandstands at Bristol on Sunday.

    They were “optimizing the stadium configuration for the spring race only” the track folks announced, taking “a more frontstretch and backstretch approach.” That was their way of explaining why not a single soul was sitting in the large stretches at either end of the facility. Not a soul. No doubt the buses arrived to take the sight seers out on their tour and off they went. Not a candy wrapper to be found.

    “To create a more energetic atmosphere” was what was to be enjoyed by the token few left behind. I can smell the bovine excrement from here. In a stadium that is built for 146,000 fans, only an estimated 38,000 bothered to show up for the prizes and to be revved up during the cautions and stage breaks. When one of your most iconic tracks, one that can be counted on to serve up some great action, looks as abandoned as North Wilkesboro, you have a problem. An Apollo 13 kind of problem.

    Sometimes a race can be highly entertaining. Daytona was. Bristol was. Everything in between was not. They actually sucked. I wager that the “action” presented in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, California, Martinsville, and Texas earned the sport not one single new fan. Not one. Instead, they probably sent a few more former fans packing. When they quit turning out at a track like Bristol, disaster looms on the horizon.

    Want a quick easy fix? How about announcers who entertain you in a fashion the race is not. NBC finally got it, with the style of broadcasting delivered by Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte, Rick Allen and company keeping us tuned in just to hear what those boys and girls might say. On FOX, their style depends on the race being worth to watch, as their commentary does not provide a diversion for when it is not. Thus far, six of the eight have not.

    Now, take that NBC-style commentary with his broadcasters who might tell you what is happening, who might make you think, who certainly will make you laugh, and pipe it through as a channel on the scanners worn by those in the crowd. I am sure it would add to the experience a whole lot more than massive sections of empty seats and a few prizes. If they can not fix the racing, at least fix the experience.

    After 15 years of watching the sport closely, of commenting on it weekly, it simply became a chore for me. I am not the only one. Next year, NASCAR once again attacks its own tradition. For 11 seasons (2004-2014) they moved the Southern 500 out of its usual Labor Day spot. They even dropped the Southern 500 moniker for a time. When they finally returned to tradition, we thought they might have learned something. They did not. Next season, the former Firecracker 400 July race at Daytona moves to the fall, to be replaced by the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. The track at Indy is iconic, the NASCAR racing there is always horrid. Almost unwatchable,

    They keep saying the current schedule is stagnant. Who in hell are “they?” Are “they” people who actually go to the races, who are continuing family traditions with an annual trek to Daytona in the summer on their own dime? I sincerely doubt it. The tracks are not stagnant. The dates are not stagnant. The damn racing experience and the television commentary are what is stagnant. If you want to do something, fix that.

    Next week it is Richmond. Not bad. Two weeks after that, it is Talladega. Always great. After the shock we got at Bristol, I just hope they have enough fans left to fill at least half of the seats. I am taking nothing for granted.

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Bristol

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Bristol

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kyle Busch: Busch outpaced big brother Kurt on the final restart at Bristol and took the win in the Food City 500.

    “We both gambled by staying out on the final caution,” Busch said. “We’re from Las Vegas, so gambling is in our blood. By the way, I’m their ‘favorite son.’ And when I say ‘their,’ I’m referring to Las Vegas, and our parents.”

    2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished fifth at Bristol as Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch won for the third time this season.

    “Between Kyle and me,” Hamlin said, “we’ve got five wins this year. So, for JGR, Kyle and I are carrying our weight. Our teammates, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez, they’re carrying our jock straps.”

    3. Joey Logano: Logano and Penske teammate Brad Keselowski were set to battle for the win at Bristol until a late caution changed their fortunes. Both opted to pit for tires, while Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch stayed out. Kyle Busch won the race; Logano finished third.

    “It sucks to lose,” Logano. “And trust me, I hate losing to the Busch brothers, but not nearly as much as I hate being outsmarted by them.”

    4. Kevin Harvick: Harvick had to start at the back of the field after failing inspection three times, but salvaged a 13th at Bristol. He is third in the Monster Energy Cup points standings, 33 out of first.

    “I finished 13th in qualifying,” Harvick said. “And three failed inspections say I finished first in ‘dis-qualifying.’”

    5. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski was penalized late at Bristol for failing to line up properly on a restart, and finished 18th, spoiling what easily could have been a top five finish.

    “That’s what NASCAR calls ‘putting me in my place,’” Keselowski said.

    6. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 17th at Bristol, one lap down, and is now seventh in the Monster Energy Cup points standings.

    “We didn’t have a car capable of winning,” Truex said. “Of course, I wasn’t too pleased with the car and its setup. At the ‘Bull Ring,’ it was a case of ‘running of the b.s.‘”

    7. Kurt Busch: Busch finished second to younger brother Kyle at Bristol after Kyle nailed the final restart.

    “I should have wrecked Kyle and taken the win,” Busch said. “But Kyle got a great jump on the restart and I couldn’t catch him. In other words, he beat me to the punch, as opposed to some other drivers, who have beaten me with a punch.”

    8. Chase Elliott: Elliott started on the pole at Bristol and posted an 11th-place finish.

    “I received a free pass midway through the race,” Elliott said, “despite the fact that I was involved in the spin that caused the caution. That clearly goes against what’s written in the NASCAR rule book. At this point, who knowswhat’s written in the NASCAR rule book? What is known is that it’s written in pencil.”

    9. Ryan Blaney: Blaney led a race-high 158 laps at Bristol and finished fourth, his fourth top five of the season.

    “I had a spirited battle with Ryan Newman late in the race,” Blaney said. “There was a lot of contact. Luckily, we were able to laugh about it afterwards. Which is amazing in itself, because Newman is hardly ever in ‘good humor.’” 

    10. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer finished seventh in the Food City 500.

    “Darrell Waltrip is retiring from the FOX broadcast booth at the end of the season,” Bowyer said. “It’s gonna be sad to see DW go, and we all plan to send him off with a show of respect. So, Boogity! Boogity! Let’s go embracing boys!”

  • Darrell Waltrip’s five most memorable calls from the booth

    Darrell Waltrip’s five most memorable calls from the booth

    Darrell Waltrip announced his retirement as a broadcaster in an exclusive interview on Thursday in the Tennessean.

    When I read the announcement, my mind immediately flashed back to my countless memories of hearing his voice through my television set. As a kid, I still recall his K-Mart No. 66 Ford as he raced in his final two years for Travis Carter Enterprises. And then, he hung up his racing helmet, replaced it with a suit and tie, and grabbed the mic. After 19 years in the FOX broadcast booth, Waltrip will retire at the end of FOX Sports’ 2019 NASCAR race coverage on June 23 at Sonoma Raceway.

    There had been some speculation and rumors of his potential retirement last year, but Waltrip assured everyone on Twitter at the start of the year that he was still in the booth for one more year.

    “FOX Sports is putting together an amazing group of young and enthusiastic journalists,” shared Waltrip over his Twitter account in January 2019. “But they still need “old guy” wisdom, I’m happy to say that for another year that “old guy”will be me!”

    Waltrip had what he called an “old school” style that he felt may have clashed with Jeff Gordon’s younger crowd style. Gordon’s retirement from driving to continue his involvement in the sport was an exact replica of Waltrip’s footsteps 15 years later. As social media developed over the years, it seemed that some fans shared controversial opinions about Waltrip’s remarks, either in the booth, on pit road or during the week.

    But that didn’t stop him from calling racing as it was.

    “Race fans are very intelligent. They know what happens,” Waltrip stated just days before his retirement from driving in 2000. “How are you going to try to tell them something didn’t happen when they saw it? You can’t try to fool them. You’ve just got to tell it like it is.”

    So after getting the green light from former head of Fox Sports David Hill, Waltrip used his personality to create his most well-known catchphrase: “Boogity, boogity, boogity – let’s go racing, boys!”

    So as a former champion and race winner aspiring to become a lap-by-lap announcer myself, here are my five favorite calls by Darrell Waltrip.

    #5 – Darrell’s First “Boogity”

    The story goes that Waltrip grew tired of the same calls for each race.

    “I hated the way a race started on the radio,” said Waltrip in 2017 to Scott Fowler with The Charlotte Observer. “The announcer would say, ‘The green flag is in the air, and the cars race off into Turn 1.’ Are you kidding me? That’s the best we can do?”

    Waltrip recalled listening to Ray Stevens’ ‘The Streak’ on country radio. He and Ray were great friends and golfed often, so he was already familiar with a lot of his music. However, the idea dawned on him during one section of the song: “Here he comes – Boogity, boogity! There he goes – boogity, boogity!” That’s when he caught it.

    If you’ve watched a NASCAR race for the past decade or so, you would fall into one of two categories. You love it, or you hate it. But for FOX Sports and NASCAR, it became their signature sound clip. Waltrip subtly said it over the air at the start of the 2001 Coca-Cola 600 after Mike Joy announced the green flag. Throughout FOX’s share of broadcasting the first half of the season, Waltrip would say the iconic phrase sporadically, but would lock it in starting at Sonoma in 2001.

    #4 – McDowell’s Massive Qualifying Crash at Texas

    Waltrip had a distinctive ability to catch things mere seconds before they actually took place. His championship experience behind the wheel allowed him to show fans and his colleagues what exactly to look out for as they watched on television. As each driver would make their way around the circuit, his body language would translate through the broadcast as if he were behind the wheel himself.

    The first major test of the Car of Tomorrow was during qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway in 2008 when Michael McDowell was fighting a tight race car. In most cases, if the car got loose into a turn, it was common to see drivers overcorrect to compensate for what would be a loose condition. That’s exactly what happened to McDowell heading into Turn 1. The car got light going into the turn, slid sideways ever so slightly, and Waltrip caught that from the booth to bring immediate attention to what would be a disastrous crash that would test both the SAFER barrier and the new COT package.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5MrquaBBXQ

    #3 – Sharing a Hall of Famer’s Insight on Racing

    Starting in 2006, NASCAR started to see big changes across the sport. Some of those changes were fantastic and even influential to other racing series across the world. SAFER Barriers and the mandatory HANS device has helped save many lives in vicious crashes. The investment and technology installed at tracks within the schedule have already been tested many times, but other changes have not been taken as well.

    The Car of Tomorrow made its debut at Bristol in 2007, and Kyle Busch, the winner of the race, said the new car “sucked”. The year before, Waltrip called the car “ugly” and even gave a perspective as a team owner wondering why the designers couldn’t take the technology in the Car of Tomorrow and put them into their current generation cars to save teams “$2 to $4 million dollars a year”.

    The biggest controversy for today’s package in the 2019 season has been the high downforce, high drag and low horsepower racing. Qualifying sessions have been all about drafting for the best run instead of the fastest lap and the practice sessions have given teams little information about race day. And during the races, while we have seen more passes in the middle of the pack, there has been a “catch the leader and stall” style of racing. Fans across social media have been controversial about the new package, but they weren’t the first to say something negative. Waltrip, during the 2009 Auto Club 500, said that restrictor plates, or a draft-focused style of racing, would “destroy racing of any kind.” NASCAR had tried this before at New Hampshire, resulting in Jeff Burton leading every lap in 2000.

    #2 – The Closest Finish in Cup History

    The year before the Chase was introduced into NASCAR, there was a lot of scuffle about many things regarding NASCAR. One was the debate of taking the iconic Labor Day race weekend away from Darlington, and fans fought hard to keep the grassroots tradition with the Southern 500. The Lady in Black had bigger plans when the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first visited the egg-shaped raceway in March of 2003.

    The battle between Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch would not only be one of the most exciting and closest finishes in the history of NASCAR, but would subtly have fans remember the most classic of lines in motorsports history; “Have you ever? No, I’ve never!”

    #1 – From Tearful Joy to Tear-Filled Sorrow

    Who would have ever guessed that Waltrip’s first race from the booth would be one that would change NASCAR as my generation would know it. NASCAR on FOX kicked off the season with the 2001 Daytona 500, and what would be a special day for the Waltrip family would quickly be overshadowed by the death of Dale Earnhardt. As Michael Waltrip crossed the line to win his first Daytona 500, televisions across the nation would hear the cheer of older brother Darrell proclaiming, “Mikey! Mikey!”

    A few brief moments later, Waltrip would look to the left and say the sorrowful words, “I just hope Dale’s okay. I guess he’s alright, isn’t he?”

    And one week after NASCAR’s darkest hour, Waltrip stood on the front stretch at Rockingham Speedway to share a prayer for fans in the stands (or in attendance) and around the globe.

    “Lord, our hearts are hurting. We’ve lost a great friend, and it all seems so unfair. People ask us how can we go out and race today. We can do that first of all because we know that’s what Dale would want us to do, and second of all, because Lord we know without a doubt that he is dwelling in your house and will forevermore. Amen.”

    It’s not just Waltrip’s calls from the booth, his memories of racing history or his race wins and championships that made him a NASCAR Hall of Fame member. It is also his personal care and attention to every single member in the garage and to all the fans across the world on a weekly basis. All of this and more will be be missed when Waltrip calls his last race.

  • AMS announces more affordable ticket pricing for 2020 NASCAR weekend

    AMS announces more affordable ticket pricing for 2020 NASCAR weekend

    For the second improvement in its “20 in 20” initiative, Atlanta Motor Speedway has reduced the cost of tickets for Georgia’s NASCAR weekend, which now start at $39.

    HAMPTON, Ga. (April 8, 2019) – Atlanta Motor Speedway is making the NASCAR experience more affordable for its 60th anniversary.

    The Speedway has adjusted pricing for the vast majority of its Sunday grandstand seating options, which means the unrivaled sightlines of fans’ favorite seats will now be available at a better price.

    Standard reserved seating starts at $39 for the March 15 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Cup series race. In addition, seats spanning sections of the Winners, Earnhardt, and Petty grandstands are now available for $49.

    “Our goal is to make the fun and excitement of NASCAR racing at our historic facility accessible to everyone,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “With these changes, I’m proud to say we’re doing exactly that.”

    Fans who attended the 2019 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 have the opportunity to benefit even more from the new ticket prices. Any fan that renews their tickets by June 7, 2019, will receive exclusive Insiders Club benefits, which include race weekend experiences and discounts. That includes a discount on the price of a standard ticket.

    On top of the new ticket prices, free kids tickets for Friday and Saturday as well as $10 Sunday kids tickets, all favorites among AMS fans, remain available for children 12 and under.

    The budget-friendly ticket prices are the second improvement to come from Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “20 in 20” initiative. All told the Speedway will be announcing 20 individual enhancements to increase fan value and the overall enjoyments of the Speedway’s 2020 NASCAR event.

    The first big step in the “20 in 20” initiative came in the form of Atlanta Motor Speedway’s new spring race date of March 15, 2020.

    Tickets and camping locations for the 2020 NASCAR weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available now. Call 877-9-AMS-TIX or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com to buy at the best price today.

  • Blake Koch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Form New Partnership In FilterTime

    Blake Koch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Form New Partnership In FilterTime

    Air Filter Subscription Company Brings Breath of Fresh Air to Customers

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (April 8, 2019) – Former NASCAR drivers Blake Koch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. today announced a new partnership in FilterTime®, a company that provides homeowners and business owners an easy and affordable path to receiving and replacing air filters.

    The brainchild of Koch, FilterTime® is a subscription-based service that delivers customized air filters straight to the customer, essentially removing the arduous planning, shopping and hassle of air-filter replacement.

    To get started, FilterTime® customers simply log on to FilterTime.com to complete a one-time process of choosing their filters and setting their delivery schedule. They’ll begin receiving new filters every one, two or three months, depending on their preference and average life cycle of a filter. Shipping is free.

    “Air filters are so important to your heating and cooling systems, but they can also be a pain,” said Koch. “FilterTime® eliminates the hassle of remembering to replace these filters. We remind you to replace them by delivering them to you when you need them. Also, keeping them changed at the proper time saves an average of five to 15 percent on heating & cooling bills, so this is not only a necessary service but also a cost-efficient one.”

    Koch, who had 213 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and six starts in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2009-17, became passionate about this new business endeavor shortly after his racing career. It was Koch’s passion and strategy that became interesting to Earnhardt, already an established business owner with JR Motorsports, Whisky River, Dirty Mo Media, and his automotive dealerships. Earnhardt retired from full-time racing in 2017 after 20 years in NASCAR’s top two touring series, a successful stretch that included 50 victories, two Daytona 500 wins and 15 consecutive Most Popular Driver awards.

    “I’m a homeowner, and I know how hard it can be to remember to change your filters on a regular basis,” said Earnhardt. “FilterTime® is a great concept, and Blake has a lot of enthusiasm for it, so I look forward to watching it grow and being partners with him on it.”

    In approaching Earnhardt with the idea, Koch gained a partner whose reach will immediately impact the growth of the company as well as its potential reach among consumers.

    “Dale was the partner that I wanted,” Koch said. “His fan base is the typical FilterTime® customer, the everyday person who works hard at maintaining his/her home. He’s the best at branding and marketing and has resources in Dirty Mo Media and JR Motorsports. He has a desire to win at everything he does.”

    ABOUT FILTERTIME®: 
    Formed in 2018 by former NASCAR driver Blake Koch with partner Dale Earnhardt Jr., FilterTime® offers a subscription-based air filter-replacement service for discerning homeowners. FilterTime® allows its subscribers to take control of their air-filter needs and never miss a replacement by shipping the products directly to the homeowner at no additional cost. The filters are made to order in partnership with NC Filtration of Belmont, N.C. and assembled, packaged and shipped anywhere in the country.

  • Kyle Busch recovers from early wreck and captures his eighth Bristol victory

    Kyle Busch recovers from early wreck and captures his eighth Bristol victory

    An early wreck was not enough to prevent Kyle Busch from winning another race.

    Busch was involved in a multi-car wreck to start the race, but he worked his way through the field and took the lead for the first time on Lap 384.

    The team snookered the field by choosing not to pit during the final caution of the Food City 500 and held off his older brother, Kurt Busch, for the final 14 circuits to earn his eighth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

    “It’s pretty awesome to be able to snooker those guys, get our win today here at Bristol. Love this place. It was fun to battle out with the brother there at the end,” Busch said.

    “We’re crazy,” Busch said. “We’ll do anything to get a win.”

    Busch led 71 laps, including the final 19 of 500 for his third win of the season and the 54th of his career.

    “It ain’t 12, that’s for sure (referring to Darrell Waltrip).” So, I got more to go, Busch said.

    Kurt Busch could taste victory but saw his chances evaporate when he tagged the wall with three laps to go in hot pursuit of Kyle’s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

    “I know we didn’t quite get side‑by‑side racing it out. I saw him working the top. I’m like, ‘I better go.’ I got up there, was able to make some ground,” Kyle Busch said.

    Brad Keselowski was black-flagged for lining up improperly on the final restart and wound up 18th.

    Of the eight races run this season, all eight have been won by drivers from either Joe Gibbs Racing or Team Penske.

    Kurt Busch admitted that he was going to give his younger brother more than just a tap.

    “I really wanted to beat him,” Busch said. “I was going to wreck him. He already won (this year). I figure he could give a little love to his brother. I wanted that one bad.

    “I’m happy that we were in position to do it. This group of guys, we’re not quite ready to win yet, but that was close.”

    Joey Logano finished third, Ryan Blaney came home fourth, and last week’s winner Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five.

    Paul Menard, Clint Bowyer, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman, and Jimmie Johnson completed the top 10.

    Ty Dillon edged Clint Bowyer in a photo finish to take the first stage, while Logano won the second stage.

     

    Monster Energy Cup Series Race Number 8
    Race Results for the 59th Annual Food City 500 – Sunday, April 7, 2019
    Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, TN – 0.533 – Mile Concrete
    Total Race Length – 500 Laps – 266.5 Miles

    FinStrNoDriverTeamLapsS1PosS2PosPtsStatus
    11718Kyle BuschSkittles Toyota5006551Running
    2271Kurt BuschMonster Energy Chevrolet5000640Running
    3722Joey LoganoAutotrader Ford5004151Running
    4312Ryan BlaneyPPG Ford5007246Running
    5511Denny HamlinFedEx Freight Toyota5000032Running
    6921Paul MenardMenards/Sylvania Ford5008034Running
    7814Clint BowyerHaas Automation Ford5002842Running
    82041Daniel SuarezHaas Automation Ford50001030Running
    9116Ryan NewmanWyndham Rewards Ford5000336Running
    101048Jimmie JohnsonAlly Chevrolet5005033Running
    1119Chase ElliottNAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet50010027Running
    122195Matt DiBenedettoLFR Pro League Toyota5000025Running
    13134Kevin HarvickHunt Brothers Pizza Ford5000024Running
    14153Austin DillonSymbicort Chevrolet5000925Running
    152413Ty DillonGEICO Chevrolet5001032Running
    16224William ByronAxalta Chevrolet5000021Running
    172319Martin Truex Jr.Auto Owners Insurance Toyota4999022Running
    18122Brad KeselowskiDiscount Tire Ford4993434Running
    191642Kyle LarsonCredit One Bank Chevrolet4990018Running
    202843Bubba WallaceBlue-Emu Chevrolet4990017Running
    212238David RaganMDS Transport Ford4980016Running
    222537Chris BuescherBush’s Beans Chevrolet4980719Running
    231488Alex BowmanNationwide Chevrolet4970014Running
    24420Erik JonesCRAFTSMAN Racing for a Miracle Toyota4970013Running
    253047Ryan Preece #Kroger Chevrolet4960012Running
    26310Landon CassillStarCom Fiber Chevrolet4950011Running
    272936Matt Tifft #Surface Sunscreen/Tunity Ford4940010Running
    281834Michael McDowellLove’s Travel Stops Ford493009Running
    293715Ross Chastain(i)Rim Riderz Chevrolet491000Running
    30268Daniel Hemric #Caterpillar/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet490007Running
    313452Bayley Currey #Belmont Classic Cars Chevrolet488000Running
    323677Quin HouffFALCI Adaptve Motorsports Chevrolet476005Running
    331917Ricky Stenhouse Jr.SunnyD Ford395004Running
    343232Corey LaJoieDUDE Wipes Ford308003Accident
    353566* Timmy Hill(i)Toyota239000Suspension
    363351Gray Gaulding(i)Jacob Companies Ford142000Engine
    37610Aric AlmirolaSHAZAM!/Smithfield Ford3001Accident
  • FRM Post-Race Report: Bristol

    FRM Post-Race Report: Bristol

    Michael McDowell
    No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang
    Started: 18th | Finished: 28th

    “It was a tough day for our Love’s Travel Stops No. 34 team. We struggled to find the right adjustment all day and came home P28. We will take what we learned this weekend, regroup back at the shop and look ahead to Richmond next weekend.”

    Matt Tifft
    No. 36 Tunity/Surface Sunscreen Ford Mustang
    Started: 29th | Finished: 27th

    “I feel like our Surface Sunscreen/Tunity TV Ford had decent speed this weekend. Unfortunately our practice to race changes made our car way too tight to fire off. We chased that tight feeling most of the day, and made some gains at the end but had a hole too deep to recover from. I’m excited to move on to Richmond and see what we can do there after a solid run at ISM Raceway earlier in the year, which is very similar in banking.”

    David Ragan
    No. 38 MDS Trucking Ford Mustang
    Started: 22nd | Finished: 21st

    “It was a hard fought day here at Bristol Motor Speedway for our MDS, Hulsey Environmental Services Ford Mustang. We were having a solid race, running 16th, until I had a right front tire go down and had to pit under green. We tried taking wave-arounds, but in the end we just weren’t able to make up the difference.”

  • Newman Earns Top-10 at Bristol

    Newman Earns Top-10 at Bristol

    BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 7, 2019) — Ryan Newman and the No. 6 team recorded its best finish of the season Sunday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway, crossing the line ninth in the Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang.

    “It was a good run for us,” Newman said. “We had a car better than what we finished. I’m not sure what the call was on pit road there with the penalty, but then I don’t know why we ended up having to start fifth when we were actually sixth. It was a penalty to be moved up a spot, but a good run for our Wyndham Rewards Ford. The guys did a good job today, we just don’t have the total result to show for it, but it’s definitely an improvement and I’m proud of them.”

    Newman rolled off 11th for Sunday’s 500-lap event, his second-best qualifying effort of the season thus far. He found himself in that same spot by the first pit stop at lap 40, before the No. 6 crew sent him off pit road inside the top-10. By lap 75 the 2008 Daytona 500 Champion worked his way to eighth, before a yellow came out just prior to the stage end on lap 117 where he was 10th. After service on pit road, Newman completed the opening stage 11th.

    After gaining track position under the stage break, Newman fired off seventh at lap 135 for the second 125-lap stage. By lap 175 he ran 10th battling tight conditions. The caution flag was displayed again at lap 212 where he ran 13th, when crew chief Scott Graves called Newman to pit road for service and more adjustments trying to free up the No. 6 Ford.

    The South Bend, Indiana, native lined up eighth at lap 220 for the restart, but quickly moved inside the top-five. He maintained that position and picked up valuable stage points, finishing third at the green-checkered at lap 250.

    Following another four-tire stop and adjustments, Newman restarted the final stage in fourth. For the next 150 laps, Newman battled inside the top-10, riding eighth for a large chunk of the green-flag laps. The yellow was again displayed at lap 414 for a spin, which sent the No. 6 Wyndham Rewards Ford to pit road one final time for adjustments. He lined back up sixth with 78 to go, before making contact with a couple other cars, causing a left-rear tire rub and other damage.

    The crew went to work to repair the cosmetic damage, before NASCAR issued the team a penalty for improper fueling, which set Newman back to the tail end of the field for the restart with 61 to go. He worked his way back up to 14th by lap 478 when the final yellow flag flew, but Graves kept him on the track for the final run, which ultimately paid off as he restarted fifth and crossed the line ninth.

    Newman and the No. 6 team return to action next Saturday night under the lights at Richmond Raceway. Race coverage begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.