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Category: NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR Cup Series

  • Martin Truex Jr. claims first Cup pole of 2024 at Martinsville

    Martin Truex Jr. claims first Cup pole of 2024 at Martinsville

    In his penultimate start as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series competitor, Martin Truex Jr. notched his first Busch pole position of the 2024 season and for this weekend’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, November 2.

    The 2017 Cup Series champion from Mayetta, New Jersey, commenced the weekend by being the fastest during the series’ lone practice session earlier on Saturday. He then was one of 10 from a total of 37-entered competitors to transfer to the final qualifying round following two qualifying group rounds. During the final qualifying round, he posted his best qualifying lap at 96.190 mph in 19.686 seconds, which was enough to claim the top-starting spot over Playoff contender Chase Elliott, who clocked in his best qualifying lap at 95.840 mph in 19.758 seconds.

    With this accomplishment, Truex is currently ranked in 10th place in the standings by notching his 24th career pole in NASCAR’s premier series. Additionally, it was his third at Martinsville and his first since he started on the pole in the fall Martinsville event in late October 2023. Overall, the 2024 season marks Truex’s 11th season where he has achieved a pole position in the Cup Series as he strives to record a victory while down to his final two races as a full-time Cup competitor with Joe Gibbs Racing.

    “I felt great about our car on stickers [tires],” Truex said. “You never want to get too optimistic, but [the car] fired off really good in practice, especially that second run with the track rubbered in. I was like, ‘Alright, if we can just hit the balance here for qualifying, it should be really fast.’ Proud of [crew chief] James [Small] and all the guys. We haven’t had a whole lot of good going for us lately. This feels awesome. Anytime you’re first in anything in this series, it’s special and it’s exciting. We got some work to do for tomorrow, but hopefully, we can make a gain on it and have a good day.”

    Highlights

    Joining Truex on the front row will be Chase Elliott, who emerged as the highest-starting Playoff contender in the field. This weekend’s event at Martinsville is the third and final race in the Round of 8, Elliott is currently ranked in eighth place in the Playoff standings and is 43 points below the top-four cutline to make the Championship 4 round and contend for his second Cup title.

    William Byron, Elliott’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, will start in third place ahead of Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs. Rounding out the top-10 starting spots are Harrison Burton, Alex Bowman, Ryan Preece, Playoff contender Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon. With three of eight Playoff contenders starting in the top 10 for Sunday’s main event, the remaining Playoff contenders that include Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin will start 12th, 14th, 16th, 31st and 37th, respectively.

    Notably, Hamlin will start in 37th place, dead last, after opting not to post a qualifying lap due to wrecking his primary car during Saturday’s practice session. Despite Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team managing to repair the car, Hamlin, who is 18 points below the top-four cutline, will have to navigate his way through the field from the rear to maintain his title hopes.

    Currently, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick are the only two Playoff contenders to be guaranteed berths to the Championship 4 field after winning the Round of 8 events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway, respectively. Christopher Bell and William Byron occupy the remaining two vacant spots above the cutline while Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott trail.

    All 37 competitors entered for Sunday’s event at Martinsville earned a starting spot.

    Qualifying position, best speed, best time:

    1. Martin Truex Jr., 96.190 mph, 19.686 seconds
    2. Chase Elliott, 95.840 mph, 19.758 seconds
    3. William Byron, 95.951 mph, 19.735 seconds
    4. Chase Briscoe, 95.796 mph, 19.767 seconds
    5. Ty Gibbs, 95.912 mph, 19.743 seconds
    6. Harrison Burton, 95.603 mph, 19.807 seconds
    7. Alex Bowman, 95.908 mph, 19.744 seconds
    8. Ryan Preece, 95.487 mph, 19.831 seconds
    9. Kyle Larson, 95.593 mph, 19.809 seconds
    10. Austin Dillon, 95.367 mph, 19.856 seconds
    11. Josh Berry, 95.752 mph, 19.776 seconds
    12. Joey Logano, 95.661 mph, 19.795 seconds
    13. Todd Gilliland, 95.738 mph, 19.779 seconds
    14. Ryan Blaney, 95.656 mph, 19.796 seconds
    15. Daniel Hemric, 95.670 mph, 19.793 seconds
    16. Christopher Bell, 95.632 mph, 19.801 seconds
    17. Michael McDowell, 95.593 mph, 19.809 seconds
    18. Brad Keselowski, 95.622 mph, 19.803 seconds
    19. Bubba Wallace, 95.492 mph, 19.830 seconds
    20. Daniel Suarez, 95.612 mph, 19.805 seconds
    21. Erik Jones, 95.487 mph, 19.831 seconds
    22. Ross Chastain, 95.516 mph, 19.825 seconds
    23. Kyle Busch, 95.434 mph, 19.842 seconds
    24. Austin Cindric, 95.237 mph, 19.883 seconds
    25. Noah Gragson, 95.362 mph, 19.857 seconds
    26. Chris Buescher, 95.036 mph, 19.925 seconds
    27. Carson Hocevar, 95.319 mph, 19.866 seconds
    28. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 95.032 mph, 19.926 seconds
    29. Shane van Gisbergen, 95.180 mph, 19.895 seconds
    30. Justin Haley, 94.680 mph, 20 seconds
    31. Tyler Reddick, 95.146 mph, 19.902 seconds
    32. John Hunter Nemechek, 94.354 mph, 20.069 seconds
    33. Kaz Grala, 94.237 mph, 20.094 seconds
    34. Corey LaJoie, 94.162 mph, 20.110 seconds
    35. Josh Bilicki, 93.299 mph, 20.296 seconds
    36. Zane Smith, 93.947 mph, 20.156 seconds
    37. Denny Hamlin, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds

    The 2024 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway is set to occur on Sunday, November 3, and air at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

  • B. FORCE, PROCK, ANDERSON & M. SMITH GET PROVISIONAL NO. 1 POSITIONS AT FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS

    B. FORCE, PROCK, ANDERSON & M. SMITH GET PROVISIONAL NO. 1 POSITIONS AT FORD PERFORMANCE NHRA NATIONALS

    LAS VEGAS (Nov. 1, 2024) – With John Force returning to the track on Friday for the first time since his crash in June, team drivers Brittany Force and Austin Prock both went to the top in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, securing the provisional No. 1 spots at the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 19th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

    B. Force powered to an impressive run of 3.675-seconds at 336.74 mph in her 11,000-horsepower Chevrolet Accessories dragster, putting the two-time world champion in line for her fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 51st in her career. Las Vegas has treated the standout driver well over the years and a win this weekend would certainly be a memorable one.

    “Coming into this weekend, we knew it was going to be special, because my dad had planned to come out, and I think everyone was really looking forward to seeing him, especially me,” B. Force said. “I’m so excited for him. I think it’s great for him. This is just the best medicine for him.

    “We’re always excited to come back to Las Vegas where we’ve had so much success in the past. We’re really looking to close out the season strong and get into the winner’s circle for our sponsors.”

    Shawn Langdon is currently second after going 3.706 at 333.74 and reigning world champ Doug Kalitta is third with a pass of 3.707 at 330.96.

    In Funny Car, Prock delivered a standout run of 3.843 at 333.33 in his 11,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet Camaro SS, as John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman ran a stellar 3.859 at 332.43 in the lane next to him. With J. Force looking on, the two drivers put on a thrilling side-by-side show, with Prock going to the top.

    Should Prock, who held a commanding 147-point lead over Beckman heading into the weekend, qualify No. 1, he would break J. Force’s single-season record with his 14th No. 1 spot.

    “That was a great way to welcome him back,” Prock said. “All three John Force Racing cars made tremendous runs and it was a good way to say, ‘Welcome back, boss.’ It’s just nice to have John back at the racetrack for the first time since Richmond. I’m glad that he’s back. I wanted to cry when I saw him this morning.

    “That first run was really stout, obviously low of the session. We’ve got two more shots at it tomorrow, and conditions are going to be probably better. I don’t believe that 3.84 will hold. I think we’re going to have to improve on that”

    Following Beckman in third is Ron Capps, who went 3.860 at 330.96.

    Calling it a must-win weekend in Las Vegas, Pro Stock veteran Greg Anderson enjoyed a strong start in qualifying, taking over the No. 1 spot in the second session with a run of 6.597 at 207.02 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. That would give Anderson seven No. 1 qualifiers this season if it holds and 131 in his career, but Anderson knows he needs a victory to stay in championship contention.

    He entered the weekend third overall and 90 points back of KB Titan Racing teammate Dallas Glenn. Anderson, a five-time world champ, picked up a handful of points on Glenn on Friday, but knows he’ll need much more this weekend to stay alive.

    “Without a doubt I need to win this race,” Anderson said. “That’s all I can do at this point. Even if I do win the last two races that might not be enough to get [the championship] done. Our plan is to set the ladder up so it’s favorable but there is no happy spot on a Pro Stock ladder. At least I still have a shot and that’s all you can ask for.

    “Things could change if I drop the ball. If that happens, I’ll do everything I can to help Dallas with the championship. I’ll do what’s best for the KB Titan team. That pole is not safe. The conditions figure to be a little better tomorrow and it’s supposed to be overcast so it’s not safe.”

    David Cuadra’s 6.605 has him second, while Aaron Stanfield’s 6.609 at 205.66 puts him third. Glenn is in fourth after running 6.615 at 205.29.

    Need a big result to stay in the championship hunt, Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith couldn’t have asked for a better Friday, making the best run in both sessions on his Denso Auto Parts/Matt Smith Racing Buell, including a run of 6.822 at 198.70 in the second session. It would be Smith’s sixth No. 1 qualifier this season, but more importantly, he gained four points on leader and defending world champ Gaige Herrera.

    That puts him 58 points back of Herrera heading into Saturday and the six-time world champ will look to make another move before a likely must-win situation on Sunday in Las Vegas.

    “Our mindset this weekend is to just have no bad luck because we’ve had a lot of it lately,” Smith said. “In Reading I had a bad fuel pump and then in St. Louis we lost a crank trigger and in Dallas the bike wouldn’t shift. Those are three races we should have won and that would have been 60 points. We should be leading right now so I’m not asking for good luck. I just don’t want any more bad luck.

    “We never quit. I know that I’m No. 2 and we’ve got the second best bike but we’re still in this. I do see this race as must win unless Gaige has some bad luck, which hasn’t happened yet.”

    Herrera, the defending event winner in Vegas, is currently second after going 6.846 at 196.99 and Angie Smith took third with a run of 6.850 at 197.59.

    Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday at the Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

    LAS VEGAS — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 24th annual Ford Performance NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 19th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

    Top Fuel — 1. Brittany Force, 3.675 seconds, 336.74 mph; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.706, 333.74; 3. Doug Kalitta, 3.707, 330.96; 4. Steve Torrence, 3.714, 333.74; 5. Justin Ashley, 3.726, 332.26; 6. Spencer Massey, 3.728, 324.12; 7. Antron Brown, 3.735, 321.65; 8. Clay Millican, 3.738, 331.53; 9. Shawn Reed, 3.751, 324.75; 10. Tony Stewart, 3.781, 327.98; 11. Billy Torrence, 3.787, 328.70; 12. Josh Hart, 3.852, 326.08; 13. Travis Shumake, 3.897, 309.20; 14. Lex Joon, 3.902, 268.01; 15. Jasmine Salinas, 3.943, 253.99; 16. Will Smith, 4.053, 285.65. Not Qualified: 17. Scott Palmer, 4.315, 194.72; 18. Ida Zetterstrom, 4.607, 166.48; 19. Tony Schumacher, 4.680, 161.81.

    Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.843, 333.33; 2. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.859, 332.43; 3. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.860, 330.96; 4. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.866, 322.04; 5. Blake Alexander, Ford Mustang, 3.887, 322.42; 6. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.898, 327.82; 7. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.899, 331.61; 8. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.904, 321.04; 9. Alexis DeJoria, GR Supra, 3.922, 296.31; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.936, 321.73; 11. Dave Richards, Mustang, 3.970, 317.27; 12. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 3.996, 318.62; 13. Steven Densham, Mustang, 4.017, 291.19; 14. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.033, 253.37; 15. Jeff Diehl, Toyota Camry, 4.039, 273.61; 16. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.207, 275.34. Not Qualified: 17. Tim Gibbons, 4.245, 238.85; 18. Chris Morel, 5.758, 125.78; 19. John Hale, 8.014, 90.64; 20. Chad Green, 8.446, 82.58.

    Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.597, 207.02; 2. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.605, 206.51; 3. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.609, 205.66; 4. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.615, 205.29; 5. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.618, 205.41; 6. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.621, 206.89; 7. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.631, 205.57; 8. Camrie Caruso, Camaro, 6.633, 203.55; 9. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.636, 205.94; 10. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.637, 205.29; 11. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.638, 205.85; 12. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.640, 205.69; 13. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.657, 206.99; 14. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.659, 206.61; 15. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.663, 205.38; 16. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.669, 204.70. Not Qualified: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.671, 206.10; 18. Derrick Reese, 6.673, 205.19; 19. Joey Grose, 6.702, 204.60.

    Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.822, 198.70; 2. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.846, 196.99; 3. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.850, 197.59; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.864, 195.90; 5. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.870, 197.48; 6. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.876, 196.33; 7. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.878, 196.76; 8. John Hall, Beull, 6.899, 196.64; 9. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.949, 196.33; 10. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.959, 191.21; 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.960, 194.18; 12. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.961, 192.58; 13. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 6.980, 188.44; 14. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.991, 192.17; 15. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 7.093, 189.42; 16. Kahea Woods, Suzuki, 7.213, 187.76.

  • Martinsville Showdown: One Last Push for the Championship 4

    Martinsville Showdown: One Last Push for the Championship 4

    NASCAR heads to Martinsville Speedway for the final races in the Round of 8 to determine the four drivers in each series who will contend for the 2024 Championship.

    Tyler Reddick (Homestead) and Joey Logano (Las Vegas) are locked into the Championship 4 with wins followed by Christopher Bell (+29) and William Byron (+7).

    Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series drivers Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are looking at an uphill battle at Martinsville Speedway. Elliott only has one win in 18 races at Martinsville and needs nothing short of a victory to advance. Larson, however, has fared somewhat better than Elliott at the 0.526-mile track with two runner-up finishes in the past four races.

    Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney came up short last weekend at Homestead with a heartbreaking runner-up finish followed by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin in third. Both drivers are at risk of missing the cut for the championship battle.

    Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill (Homestead) and AJ Allmendinger (Las Vegas) are locked in with wins as Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer complete the top four heading to the cut-off race at Martinsville.

    Grant Enfinger leads the Truck Series standings with wins at Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

    Cup Series – Playoff Drivers

    Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing): Advances with the win at Homestead
    Joey Logano (Team Penske): Advances with the win at Las Vegas
    Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing): +29
    William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports): +7
    Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports): -7
    Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing): -18
    Ryan Blaney (Team Penske): -38
    Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports): -43

    Xfinity Series – Playoff Drivers:

    Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing): Advances with the win at Homestead
    A.J. Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing): Advances with a win at Las Vegas
    Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports): +35
    Cole Custer (Stewart-Haas Racing): +28
    81 Chandler Smith (Joe Gibbs Racing): -28
    Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing): -35
    Sam Mayer (JR Motorsports): -47
    Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports): -95

    Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Drivers:

    Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports): Advances with wins at Talladega and Homestead
    Corey Heim (Tricon Garage):+49
    Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing): +38
    Ty Majeski (ThorSport Racing):+22
    Rajah Caruth Spire Motorsports):-22
    Taylor Gray (Tricon Garage): -24
    Tyler Ankrum (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing): -41
    Nick Sanchez (Rev Racing):-43

    The Craftsman Truck Series headlines the racing action Friday evening in the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 as the Xfinity Series Series National Debt Relief 250 takes center stage Saturday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon the Cup Series closes out the weekend with the XFINITY 500.

  • Weekend Schedule for Martinsville Playoff Race

    Weekend Schedule for Martinsville Playoff Race

    NASCAR travels to Martinsville Speedway for the final races in the Round of 8 of the Playoffs this weekend. Four drivers in each series will advance to contend for the coveted 2024 championship title at Phoenix Raceway.

    The Craftsman Truck Series headlines the racing action Friday evening in the ZIP BUY NOW, PAY LATER 200 followed by the Xfinity Series NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF 250 Saturday afternoon. On Sunday afternoon the NASCAR Cup Series closes out the weekend with the XFINITY 500.

    Friday, Nov. 1 Schedule

    1:36 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – FS2
    2:10 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – FS2

    3:35 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice – NBC Sports App
    4:10 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – NBC Sports App

    6:0 p.m.: Truck Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200
    105.2 miles (200 Laps)
    Stages end on Lap 50, Lap 100, Lap 200
    FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
    Purse: $672,417
    Post Truck Series Race: NASCAR Press Pass

    Saturday, Nov. 2 Schedule

    1:00 p.m.: Cup Series Practice
    NBC Sports App/MRN/SiriusXM

    2:05 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying
    NBC Sports App/MRN/SiriusXM
    Post Cup Series Qualifying: NASCAR Press Pass

    4:00 p.m.: Xfinity Series National Debt Relief 250
    131.5 miles (250 Laps)
    Stages end on Lap 60, Lap 120, Lap 250
    CW/MRN/SiriusXM
    Purse: $1,441,088
    Post Xfinity Series Race: NASCAR Press Pass

    Sunday, Nov. 3 Schedule

    2:00 p.m.: Cup Series Xfinity 500
    263 miles (500 Laps)
    Stage end on Lap 130, Lap 260, Lap 500
    NBC/MRN/SiriusXM
    Purse: $8,991,338
    Post Cup Series Race: NASCAR Press Pass
    Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR Cup Series

    Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR Cup Series

    Tyler Reddick-win
    Joey Logano-win
    Christopher Bell +29
    William Byron +7

    Kyle Larson -7
    Denny Hamlin -18
    Ryan Blaney – 38
    Chase Elliott -43

    Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR Xfinity Series

    Austin Hill – win
    AJ Allmendinger – win
    Justin Allgaier +35
    Cole Custer +28

    Chandler Smith -28
    Jesse Love -35
    Sam Mayer -47
    Sammy Smith -95

    Current Playoff Standings – NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

    Grant Enfinger – win
    Corey Heim +49
    Christian Eckes +38
    Ty Majeski + 22
    Rajah Caruth -22
    Taylor Gray 24
    Tyler Ankrum -41
    Nicholas Sanchez -43

  • What went down in the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

    What went down in the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

    23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick passed Denny Hamlin with two laps to go and then moved up into the high groove up against the wall to pass Ryan Blaney in the final corner on the final lap to win the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday.

    “I couldn’t believe it,” Riddick said. “I just knew I needed to get even with him on his right side door, and he raced me clean, and I appreciate it. I’m just really, really excited having a shot at the championship.”

    Riddick led 97 of the 267 laps for his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series win and third of the season. With this win, Reddick secured his position in the Championship Four in two weeks at Phoenix Raceway.

    “Little kid drove his ass off, and I’m proud of him,” said team owner Michael Jordan. “He didn’t let go; he just went for it, and we needed it. We needed it.”

    Despite good finishes, Blaney and Hamlin are in must-win positions heading into Martinsville Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell finished fourth and now leads the series points standings by 22 points over William Byron, who finished sixth.

    “Obviously, it’s disappointment – had a great shot to win, and didn’t have a very good last lap,” Blaney said. “Man, I thought I got into [turn] three hard, and the 45 just blitzed up in there, and it stuck for him, which is very impressive. ”

    Standings after the Straight Talk Wireless 400 – Sunday, October 27, 2024

    RankDriverCarStartsGLPointsLdrNxtRace WinsStage WinsPlayoff Pts
    1Christopher Bell (P)2034041320031132
    2William Byron (P)243414110-22223223
    3Kyle Larson (P)533-14103-29761252
    4Tyler Reddick (P)453424098-3453629
    5Denny Hamlin (P)113404092-4063715
    6Ryan Blaney (P)123414072-60202419
    7Joey Logano (P)2234-34070-6223212
    8Chase Elliott (P)93404067-6531114

    Race Notes

    • The Margin of victory was 0.241 seconds.
    • Six caution periods for 30 laps.
    • Average Speed was 129.379 mph.
    • The race lasted 3 hours, 5 Mins, 44 Secs
    • Six caution flags for 30 laps.
    • 33 lead changes among 11 drivers.

    What went down behind Riddick in the Straight Talk Wireless 400

    Hendrick Motorsports Alex Bowman finished seventh, Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger eighth, Spire Motorsports rookie Carson Hocevar ninth, and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Preece rounded out the top ten.

    Kyle Larson, Hamlin, Blaney, and Chase Elliott are below the cutline with one race remaining.

    What’s Next

    The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, November 3rd, for the XFINITY 500 at 2 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

  • Charles Denike replacing Bootie Barker as Bubba Wallace’s Cup crew chief in 2025

    Charles Denike replacing Bootie Barker as Bubba Wallace’s Cup crew chief in 2025

    Charles Denike has been named crew chief for Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE team for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

    The news comes as Denike is currently in his second consecutive full-time season as a crew chief for the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet Silverado RST team currently piloted by Christian Eckes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Since last season, Denike and Eckes have tallied a total of seven victories and two Playoff appearances, including this season as they contend for a Championship 4 berth.

    “I am excited for the 2025 season with the No. 23 team and to work with Bubba [Wallace] and all of 23XI Racing beginning in the offseason,” Denike said in a released statement. “Bubba is a proven winner, and I believe we will bring out the best in each other. Thank you to Michael [Jordan], Denny [Hamlin], and Dave [Rogers, 23XI Racing’s Director of Competition] for the opportunity to join the 23XI family.

    “They have built an incredible culture at Airspeed. I am a believer that winning is a process. When you step foot into Airspeed, you see the tools and resources that it takes to win and are surrounded by people with the same vision and mindset. I am looking forward to this next chapter and to be able to contribute to 23XI’s growth and journey to winning championships.”

    Denike is a former engineer officer in the U.S. Army who earned both a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science degree in engineering management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. From 2012 to 2019, he transcended his way from being a team manager to ARCA Menards Series East crew chief and race engineer between the Truck and Xfinity Series divisions, where he was with Precision Performance Motorsports and GMS Racing.

    In 2020, Denike debuted as a crew chief within NASCAR’s top three national touring series for GMS Racing’s No. 24 “all-star” Truck Series program. He earned his first career victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway with Chase Elliott and would rack up another victory with Sam Mayer at Bristol Motor Speedway. Midway into the 2022 Truck season, he transitioned from GMS Racing to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing to work atop the pit box of the team’s No. 19 Chevrolet entry, a role he currently assumes.

    Denike’s upcoming role atop the No. 23 pit box for the 2025 season will mark his first season as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier level: the Cup Series. It also means that veteran Robert “Bootie” Barker, who was hired by 23XI Racing as Bubba Wallace’s crew chief midway into the 2021 season, will call his final two Cup events with Wallace, beginning this weekend at Martinsville Speedway before concluding his crew chief tenure at Phoenix Raceway the following weekend and just as the 2024 season concludes.

    “23XI has been good to me, and I hope I have been as good for 23XI,” Barker said. “Loyalty is important to me and I will continue to do all I can in my new role to help everyone here succeed. I was fortunate to be a part of 23XI’s inception, and I look forward to being a part of the team’s continued journey.”

    Barker, who notched his first two Cup career victories as a crew chief with Wallace and 23XI Racing, will remain at 23XI Racing as he assumes a role in the competition leadership aspect that will involve strategizing and preparing the organization’s cars at the organization’s headquarters, Airspeed, in Huntersville, North Carolina.

    “Since joining 23XI, Bootie has provided Bubba and the No. 23 crew with the leadership and confidence they needed to grow into the team they are today,” Dave Rogers, 23XI Director of Competition, said. “As we began to look ahead to next season, we decided that Bootie’s experience would best serve the organization in a different role based at Airspeed. His input will continue to be an asset to our teams. We’re excited to welcome Charles to the organization and look forward to getting started with him at the end of the season. He will be a terrific addition to the No. 23 team and 23XI as we continue to work to be better.”

    “Bootie has meant a lot to me and the No. 23 team,” Wallace added. “We’ve been together for some special moments, and I’m glad he’s still going to be a part of what we’re building at 23XI. I’m excited to work with Charles and see what we can accomplish together.”

    Despite missing the 2024 Cup Playoffs amid a two-year winless drought, Barker and Wallace are currently campaigning in their best Cup season statistically with six top-five results, 13 top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 15.4 through 34 of 36 scheduled races. To go along with a pole in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, they are currently ranked in 18th place in the driver’s standings and are 11 points behind 17th-place Chris Buescher with two races remaining on the 2024 schedule.

    With crew chief Charles Denike’s plans set for the 2025 season, his current campaign in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing and Christian Eckes continues for the upcoming Playoff event at Martinsville Speedway that will occur on Saturday, November 1, and air at 6 p.m. ET on FS1.

    Bubba Wallace’s 2024 Cup Series season continues at Martinsville Speedway this upcoming Sunday, November 3, as the event’s coverage will air at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

  • Michael McDowell to make 500th Cup start at Martinsville

    Michael McDowell to make 500th Cup start at Martinsville

    With the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season down to its final two races on the schedule, Michael McDowell is primed to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Cup Playoff event at Martinsville Speedway, the driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse will make career start No. 500 in NASCAR’s premier series.

    A native of Glendale, Arizona, McDowell, who grew up competing in BMX bicycles before transcending to go-karts, open wheels and the Grand-Am Series, where he claimed the Star Mazda championship in 2004, made his inaugural presence as a Cup Series competitor at Martinsville Speedway in April 2008. By then, he had made four career starts in the Xfinity Series and one in the Craftsman Truck Series. Driving the No. 00 Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR), McDowell started 34th and finished 26th in his series debut after cutting a tire in the closing laps.

    The following weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, McDowell was involved in a harrowing accident while qualifying for the event, where he slipped sideways after breaking a right-front sway bar and veered head-on into the outside wall in Turn 1 at full speed. The impact was enough for McDowell’s No. 00 Toyota to roll over on its roof, which it briefly slid and spun upside down towards the outside wall before the car tumbled seven times towards the bottom of the track and came to rest right-side up. Following the wild ride, McDowell managed to escape uninjured and he would proceed to finish 33rd in the main event while racing in a backup car.

    Following his first two Cup career starts, McDowell would make 18 additional starts in the No. 00 MWR Toyota over the next 21 races of the 2008 season, which started at Phoenix Raceway in April before concluding at Dover Motor Speedway in September as he was then released by the organization. During the span, McDowell achieved a season-best 20th-place result at Richmond Raceway in September. Combined with his first two starts of the 2008 season, he notched a total of 12 top-30 results and recorded an average-finishing result of 30.2.

    In 2009, McDowell made a total of eight Cup starts, all of which occurred in the closing stretches of the season. Driving the No. 36 Chevrolet Impala for Tommy Baldwin Racing in eight of the remaining 11 events on the schedule, he recorded an average-finishing result of 40.3 and a season-best 38th-place run at Dover in September despite retiring due to braking issues. He then competed in 24 events in 2010 between Prism Motorsports and Whitney Motorsports. After finishing in 14th place during the first of two Daytona Duel events, he qualified for the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February, where he would record a season-best 33rd-place result.

    During the 2011 season, McDowell competed in all but two of the 36-race Cup schedule. Thirty-one of his starts occurred with HP Racing, where he recorded a season-best 30th-place finish at Sonoma Raceway in June. His lone other start occurred in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota entry at Texas in November, where he filled in for veteran Kyle Busch after Busch was suspended for the remainder of the Texas weekend due to intentionally wrecking four-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr. during the Truck race earlier in the weekend. Despite starting the event in 17th place, McDowell settled in 33rd place, four laps down.

    Over the next two seasons, McDowell primarily competed for Phil Parsons Racing in the Cup Series. During the 2012 season, where he surpassed 100 Cup career starts, he competed in all but three of the 36-race schedule and recorded a season-best 23rd-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. He then notched his first top-10 career result by finishing in ninth place during the 65th running of the Daytona 500 in February 2013 and he would also record a 15th-place run at Talladega Superspeedway in October. Throughout the 2013 season, he also made a single start with Front Row Motorsports at Watkins Glen International in August and with HScott Motorsports at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September.

    From 2014 to 2017, McDowell made a total of 102 Cup starts with Leavine Family Racing, where he spent the latter season as a full-time competitor. Throughout the four-year span, the Arizona native recorded a total of four top-10 results, 10 laps led and his first top-five career result, which occurred at Daytona in July 2017 by finishing fourth. He also finished in the top 20 a total of 28 times and qualified for the Daytona 500 three times. After cracking the top-30 mark in the final standings in 2016, McDowell settled in 26th place in the final standings in 2017. By then, he boosted his average finishing result up to 22.3 and had surpassed 200 Cup career starts.

    The 2018 Cup Series season generated a new beginning for McDowell, who joined forces with Front Row Motorsports to pilot the No. 34 Ford entry as a full-time competitor. Despite recording a ninth-place finish during the 60th running of the Daytona 500, he would tally a total of nine top-20 results for the remainder of the season and tie his previous-best result in the standings in 26th place with an average-finishing result of 24.5. He then commenced the 2019 season by finishing fifth during the 61st running of the Daytona 500 and proceeded to record nine additional top-20 results for the remainder of the season before dropping to 27th place in the final standings and with an average-finishing result of 24.2. By then, he surpassed 300 Cup career starts.

    Then after concluding the 2020 Cup season with a total of four top-10 results and a 23rd-place finish in the final standings, McDowell commenced the 2021 season on a high note by winning the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 after dodging a final lap multi-car accident to escape with the victory with two turns remaining. The victory made McDowell the 40th competitor overall to win the 500 and the eighth to claim a first Cup victory in the Great American Race, with the event marking his 358th career start in NASCAR’s premier series. With the victory, the Arizona native became the 196th competitor overall to win in the Cup Series and he earned a guaranteed spot into the 2021 Cup Series Playoffs as he also delivered the first 500 victory for Front Row Motorsports.

    Following his Daytona 500 victory, McDowell finished in the top eight during his next two Cup starts. He would proceed to finish third at Talladega in April and seventh during the series’ inaugural event at Circuit of the Americas in May for the remainder of the 26-race regular-season stretch before he entered the Playoffs for the first time as a title contender. After finishing no higher than 24th during the Round of 16, however, McDowell’s 2021 title hopes came to an early end as he was one of four Playoff contenders to be eliminated from the title hunt. With four finishes in the top 17 to cap off the season, McDowell settled in 16th place in the final standings. By then, he boosted his average finishing result to 20.5.

    The 2022 Cup Series season generated McDowell’s best result in top 10s, where he tallied a total of 12, including two top-five results as he notched a pair of season-best third-place finishes at Sonoma in June and at Talladega in October. Despite concluding the season winless and missing the Playoffs, McDowell, who settled in 23rd place in the final standings, recorded a career-best average-finishing result of 16.7. By then, he surpassed 400 Cup career starts.

    The following season, McDowell finished in the top 20 six times during the first nine scheduled events. Despite finishing no higher than 22nd during his next five starts, he rallied by finishing in the top 10 four times over his next five. By Michigan International Speedway in August, McDowell was battling for a Playoff spot by points. Then at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in August, he led a race-high 54 of 82-scheduled laps, including the final 30, en route to his second Cup career victory as he also raced his way into the Playoffs for a second time. After capping off the regular-season stretch by finishing as high as 13th over his next two starts, McDowell’s Playoff hopes came to an early end following respective finishes of 32nd, 26th and sixth throughout the Round of 16. Finishing as high as ninth during the final seven events on the schedule, McDowell proceeded to finish a career-best 15th place in the final standings. Despite achieving four fewer top-10 results from his previous season at eight, he led 97 laps throughout the 2023 season and notched an average-finishing result of 19.0.

    This season, which marks his seventh driving on a full-time basis for Front Row Motorsports, McDowell ended up in 36th place during the 66th running of the Daytona 500 despite starting on the front row. He then notched his first Cup career pole position during the following weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he led 27 laps and rallied from being involved in an on-track incident towards the pit road entrance to finish eighth. Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, McDowell recorded a total of four Cup poles, which occurred at Talladega in April, World Wide Technology Raceway in June and at Daytona in August. Amid the qualification success, he notched a strong runner-up result at Sonoma in June, two top-five results and six top-10 results. The results, however, were not enough for him to make the 2024 Cup Playoffs. Nonetheless, he has since achieved two additional poles, the first at Atlanta in September and the other at Talladega in early October, and a seventh-place result, which occurred at Watkins Glen International in September, throughout eight of 10 Playoff events. With a current average-finishing result of 20.7, McDowell is ranked in 22nd place in the driver’s standings. The 2024 Cup Series season is set to mark the Arizona native’s final one with Front Row Motorsports as he is set to join Spire Motorsports in 2025.

    Through 499 previous Cup starts, McDowell has achieved two victories, six poles, 11 top-five results, 44 top-10 results, 534 laps led and an average-finishing result of 26.9.

    Michael McDowell is scheduled to make his 500th Cup Series career start at Martinsville Speedway for the Xfinity 500. The event is scheduled to occur on Sunday, November 3, and air at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

  • Blake Harris to call 100th Cup event as crew chief at Martinsville

    Blake Harris to call 100th Cup event as crew chief at Martinsville

    In his third full-time season as a crew chief in the NASCAR Cup Series division, Blake Harris, who currently works atop the pit box of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team piloted by Alex Bowman, is scheduled to achieve a milestone feat. By participating in this weekend’s Cup Playoff event at Martinsville Speedway, Harris will call his 100th event as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series.

    A native of Maypearl, Texas, Harris, who grew up as a racer competing in go-karts and stock car touring series before transitioning to a mechanical phase in racing, first worked for Evernham Motorsports in the engine and chassis departments, beginning in 2006. Four years later, he joined forces with Furniture Row Racing and worked his way up to be a car chief. Working with notable competitors that included Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr., Harris was a part of the first Cup Series championship for both Truex and Furniture Row Racing in 2017.

    After Furniture Row Racing ceased operations following the 2018 season, Harris followed Truex to Joe Gibbs Racing, where he worked as the car chief for Truex’s No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry team. A year later, the Texan made his debut as a Cup Series crew chief for Truex at Texas Motor Speedway in October 2020, where he filled in for crew chief James Small after Small was ejected before the event and fined $35,000 due to NASCAR confiscating Truex’s rear spoiler during the event’s pre-race inspection process. During the main event, Truex finished in second place behind teammate Kyle Busch.

    In January 2022, Harris was named crew chief for veteran Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang team for the upcoming Cup Series season. Commencing the season with a seventh-place result during the 65th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Harris and McDowell recorded two third-place results (Sonoma Raceway in June and Talladega Superspeedway in October) and seven top-10 results in 32 races. During the season, Harris was fined $100,000 and issued a four-race suspension due to McDowell’s No. 34 team being levied an L2 penalty for violating the body and overall vehicle assembly rules involving modifications of a single source supplied part from Pocono Raceway in July. With the duo missing the 2022 Cup Series Playoffs, Harris and McDowell proceeded to settle in 23rd place in the final drivers’ standings.

    A month before the 2022 season’s conclusion, Harris transitioned to Hendrick Motorsports to serve as the crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team piloted by Alex Bowman. In their first event together, Harris navigated Bowman to his third Daytona 500 career pole, where Bowman would proceed to finish in fifth place during the main event. Despite notching three consecutive top-nine results over the following three races, Harris would then be suspended for the following four races from late March through early April. The Texan’s suspension was due to Hendrick Motorsports being hit with a severe penalty both in points and fines due to the team’s hood louvers being confiscated from all four entries during the Phoenix weekend. The suspensions also affected Hendrick’s three crew chiefs that included Cliff Daniels, Rudy Fugle and Alan Gustafson.

    Despite returning by mid-April and working the following two races with Bowman driving the No. 48 Chevrolet, Harris would then spend the next four races, including the non-points All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, working with Josh Berry as Bowman was recovering from a sprint car accident at West Burlington, Iowa, in late April. During the four-race stretch with Berry, Harris navigated the No. 48 team to a victory in the non-points All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway that enabled them to transfer into the All-Star Race. Despite Bowman returning for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, he and Harris recorded only two top-six runs for the remaining 13 regular-season events on the schedule as they missed the 2023 Cup Playoffs. With two additional top-10 results recorded for the final 10 races on the schedule, Harris and Bowman concluded their first campaign in 20th place in the final drivers’ standings.

    Harris and Bowman commenced the 2024 Cup season on a strong note by finishing in second place in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 after being edged by teammate William Byron at the moment of caution on the final lap. They would proceed to record an additional three top-five results and a total of nine top-10 results over their next 18 starts.

    Then during the series’ second annual event at the Chicago Street Course, Harris achieved his first Cup Series career victory as a crew chief when Bowman capitalized on a late pit strategy to lead the final eight of 58-shortened laps and muscle away from the field during a late-race countdown to snap an 80-race winless drought and secure a guaranteed spot into the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs. After capping off the final six races of the regular-season stretch with an additional top-five run, the duo of Harris and Bowman would achieve respective results of fifth, 18th and ninth throughout the Playoff’s Round of 16 that enabled them to transfer into the Round of 12. They then transferred into the Round of 8 with respective finishes of sixth, 16th and 18th throughout the Round of 12.

    Following the Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (Roval), however, Harris, Bowman and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team were disqualified from continuing in the Playoffs as title contenders due to Bowman’s entry being deemed too light and not meeting the minimum weight specifications during the event’s post-race inspection process. Since the Roval, Bowman has achieved two consecutive top-seven results and is currently ranked in ninth place in the driver’s standings with two races remaining of the 2024 season.

    Through 99 previous Cup events, Blake Harris has achieved one victory, two poles, 14 top-five results, and 38 top-10 results while working with four different competitors.

    Blake Harris is scheduled to call his 100th Cup Series event as a crew chief at Martinsville Speedway for the Xfinity 500. The event is scheduled to occur on Sunday, November 3, and air at 2 p.m. ET on NBC.

  • Auto-Owners Insurance Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Martinsville Advance

    Auto-Owners Insurance Racing: Martin Truex Jr. Martinsville Advance

    Martin Truex Jr.
    Martinsville Advance
    No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing

    Event Overview

    ● Event: XFINITY 500 (Round 35 of 36)
    ● Time/Date: 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 3
    ● Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
    ● Layout: .526-mile oval
    ● Laps/Miles: 500 laps/210.4 miles
    ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 130 laps / Stage 2: 130 laps / Final Stage: 240 laps
    ● TV/Radio: NBC / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Notes of Interest

    ● Penultimate Weekend: After a 23rd-place finish last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Truex sits 10th in the driver standings with 2,213 points heading to this weekend’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
    ● All three of Truex’s Martinsville wins in the NASCAR Cup Series have come during his time at JGR, which is in its sixth and final fulltime season. He has a total of four top-five finishes with the team at the .526-mile paperclip-shaped oval.
    ● Truex’s three Martinsville wins are included in his career totals of 10 top-fives and 16 top-10s at the track, and he’s led a total of 1,063 laps in 37 Cup Series outings there. Truex’s average Martinsville finish is 15.9.
    ● The Final Countdown: Martinsville is not only the penultimate race of Truex’s fulltime Cup Series career, but the final race for longtime partner Auto-Owners Insurance. Starting in 2016 when Truex drove for Furniture Row Racing, Auto-Owners has been a fixture on his car for the past nine years. In addition to the longtime partnership, Auto-Owners has been a proud supporter of the charity work Truex does through the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation with its generous support of many key charity initiatives during their time together.
    ● Looking for 35: Truex’s July 2023 win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon was his most recent Cup Series win, the 34th of his career, tying him with 2004 champion Kurt Busch for 25th on the all-time Cup Series win list.
    ● Ahead at this Stage: Truex has accumulated 64 stage wins since the beginning of the stage era in 2017. He is the only driver with 10 or more stage sweeps, with his latest sweep coming at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn in August 2023. Truex scored his fourth stage win of the season last month at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, leading the field across the line at the end of Stage 1.

    Martin Truex Jr., Driver of the No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry XSE

    How much confidence do you have when going to Martinsville?

    “I think we got to a point with the old car that we had some things that really worked for me. We used to have it for a long time, and just did some fine tuning, tweaking here and there. Learning how to race and learning how to win at Martinsville, you learn a lot about the track and what it takes. Then they switched the car and that’s been a challenge for us. Two years ago, we were in trouble there, and then last two races there we were kind of hit-or-miss throughout the day. I feel like we are still trying to get some of that magic back of what I need there, what are things that kind of turn that switch for me there and do the things that I want it to. What I do know is that you really need to be upfront and be dialed in, so hopefully we can make that happen this weekend with our Auto-Owners Insurance Camry.”

    How important is qualifying at Martinsville?

    “It’s very important. All of the short tracks, qualifying has been huge from starting up front and having a good pit stall. You need both of those at Martinsville to be successful and we were able to win the pole there last fall, which is a huge help for the whole race. Track position is going to be everything.”

    What are the challenges of racing at Martinsville as far as navigating it lap to lap and controlling your emotions there?

    “The biggest thing is just the beating and banging that happens there and getting knocked out of the way. For me, I’ve really only had one issue there, which was getting taken out of the race at the end in 2018. It gets like that at Martinsville, it’s just a tough track. When it comes down to a few laps to go, you can go down there and blow the corner and run into somebody and can get the spot. That’s where the frustration comes from there, from a lot of drivers over the years.”

    In recent years, you’ve raced at Martinsville at night as well as during the day. What’s the biggest difference between night and day racing there?

    “It’s really not that different. The biggest change is just when it’s either warmer or cooler. I don’t think nighttime has changed it a whole bunch, maybe just slightly. A lot of it depends on the tire and if it puts rubber down. That’s really the game-changer from our standpoint, it changes the track more than anything. This race usually finishes under the lights, so it could factor into the end of the race and how your car is handling.”

    No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Team Roster

    Primary Team Members

    Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

    Hometown: Mayetta, New Jersey

    Crew Chief: James Small

    Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

    Car Chief: Chris Jones

    Hometown: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

    Race Engineer: Jaik Halpainy

    Hometown: Blockville, New York

    Spotter: Drew Herring

    Hometown: Benson, North Carolina

    Road Crew Members

    Underneath Mechanic: Ryan Martin

    Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Virgina

    Mechanic: Todd Carmichael

    Hometown: Redding, California

    Interior/Tire Specialist: Tommy DiBlasi

    Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

    Engine Tuner: Beau Morton

    Hometown: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

    Transporter Driver: Kyle Bazzell

    Hometown: Fairbury, Illinois

    Transporter Driver: Eddie DeGroot

    Hometown: Baldwinsville, New York

    Over-The-Wall Crew Members

    Gas Man: Matt Tyrrell

    Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

    Jackman: Caleb Dirks

    Hometown: Riverside, California

    Tire Carrier: CJ Bailey

    Hometown: Outer Banks, North Carolina

    Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

    Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

    Rear Tire Changer: Lee Cunningham

    Hometown: Leaf River, Illinois

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Homestead

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Homestead

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Tyler Reddick: Reddick passed Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney on the final lap to win the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead. Reddick joined Joey Logano as drivers who qualified for the championship round.

    “Denny is one of my car owners along with the great Michael Jordan,” Reddick said. “It’s pretty surreal because passing Denny on the final lap is like dunking on Michael Jordan. Of course, I would never dunk on Michael, because I can’t dunk, because I’m white and 5’4.”

    2. Joey Logano: Logano finished 28th at Homestead.

    “I’ve already clinched a spot in the final,” Logano said, “so I didn’t have to deal with the nerves. If you want to tie your stomach in a knot, be a driver in the Round Of 8 with three races left. Or eat some Hunt Brothers Pizza.”

    3. Christopher Bell: Bell started third and finished fourth at Homestead.

    “I haven’t locked in a spot to the championship round,” Bell said, “but I’m in the best position points-wise. I don’t have any children, but I hope to be making a ‘berth’ announcement at Martinsville.”

    4. Ryan Blaney: Blaney led 47 laps and held the lead on the final lap, but Tyler Reddick made a dramatic pass in Turn 4 to steal the win. Blaney settled for second.

    “I’m still very confident I can defend my championship,” Blaney said. “It just might take me until next year.”

    5. William Byron: Byron finished sixth at Homestead.

    “It’s going to be wild at Martinsville,” Byron said. “It’s too bad NASCAR outlawed the wall-hugging Hail Mary move that Ross Chastain did there in 2022. Because it would be really cool to see six drivers do that at once.”

    6. Alex Bowman: Bowman came home seventh at Homestead.

    “That was a heck of a final lap,” Bowman said. “Reddick had such a huge run to pass Ryan Blaney. At Darlington, Reddick just had the huge runs.”

    7. Kyle Larson: Larson finished 13th in the Straight Talk Wireless 400.

    “We just didn’t have our best day,” Larson said. “So, I’ve really put myself behind the eight ball. On the bright side, I’ve been there before.”

    8. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin finished third at Homestead and will most likely need a win at Phoenix to advance to the championship round.

    “It would mean a lot if I could join Tyler Reddick in the championship round,” Hamlin said. “I’m hoping Tyler can give me a little help since I am his car owner. He was looking out for No. 1 at Homestead; I need him to look out for No. 11 at Martinsville.”

    9. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished fifth at Homestead and is now eighth in the points standings.

    “That means I’m in a must-win situation,” Elliott said. “I’m confident I can do it. Anything is possible when the full support of the Dawsonville Pool Room is behind you. Those people are pushing me as much as their livers are pushing on their insides.”

    10. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished 23rd at Homestead.

    “I’ve got two more chances to close out my full-time career with a win,” Truex said. “Two of my Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are looking for spots in the championship round. Would I help one or both at the expense of losing a win? I’m a man of few words, and ‘No’ is the absolute minimum I can use for an answer, and that’s totally on brand.”