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  • Ryan Preece to Join JTG Daugherty Racing

    Ryan Preece to Join JTG Daugherty Racing

    Preece to drive No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

    HARRISBURG, N.C. (September 28, 2018) – JTG Daugherty Racing announced today a new driver to their two-car lineup, signing 27-year-old Ryan Preece in a multi-year contract. Preece will join JTG Daugherty Racing for his first full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season starting in the 2019 DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway driving the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

    “Tommy Lasorda says, ‘The difference between impossible and possible lies in a man’s determination,’ and I feel that JTG Daugherty Racing has just that,” Preece said. “It’s been many years of fighting for opportunities to compete and win races at NASCAR’s highest level, and it is nice to officially say that JTG Daugherty Racing is my new home for 2019. I look forward to not only racing, but working with the team as well to build speed and create a name for myself here. I can’t thank Tad and Jodi Geschickter, Brad Daugherty and Gordon Smith enough for the opportunity.”

    Preece joins JTG Daugherty Racing from a recent stint with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, where to date he ran nine races with one win, four top five finishes and six top-10 finishes in 2018. Out of a total of 49 NXS races, he has two wins (Iowa Speedway, 2017 and Bristol Motor Speedway, 2018), eight top-five finishes, 11 top-10 finishes and one pole award. Preece also ran five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2015 in the No. 98 car for Mike Curb.

    Aside from his accomplishments in one of NASCAR’s premier series, the Berlin, Connecticut native is most well known in the Northeast, racing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour since 2007. In 155 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour starts, he has 22 wins, 76 top-five finishes and 102 top-10 finishes, winning the championship in 2013. Preece was also named to NASCAR’s elite “NASCAR NEXT” Class in 2013 and 2014.

    “We’re really looking forward to having Ryan join our team for the 2019 season,” team owner Tad Geschickter said. “Ryan has an impressive list of accomplishments in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series and is now being given a great opportunity to compete at NASCAR’s highest level full-time. We really believe in him and think he’s a great addition to the team.”

    Preece is set to finish out the season with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2018, becoming a permanent fixture of JTG Daugherty Racing in 2019. He will start the season with the 2019 DAYTONA 500 on February 17, 2019.

  • NASCAR’s ‘Rocket Man’ to Pilot Jack Roush’s Iconic No. 6 Ford in 2019

    NASCAR’s ‘Rocket Man’ to Pilot Jack Roush’s Iconic No. 6 Ford in 2019

    RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 22, 2018) – Roush Fenway Racing announced today that veteran NASCAR driver Ryan Newman will take the reins of its iconic No. 6 Ford Mustang, competing full-time for Jack Roush in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2019. During his celebrated career, Newman has accumulated 18 victories, 51 poles, 112 top-fives and 246 top-10 finishes competing at NASCAR’s highest level.

    “I am excited about getting behind the wheel of the No. 6 car and working with Jack Roush and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Newman, who holds an engineering degree from Purdue University.

    “I’ve always respected what Jack Roush has brought to the sport,” added Newman. “I can remember some intense battles with the No. 6 back when Mark Martin was in the car. There is a lot of history there and I am excited about getting behind the wheel of the No. 6 Mustang to compete for wins and the playoffs next year.”

    “I’m pleased to announce that Ryan Newman will be joining our team as the new driver of the No. 6 Ford,” said team co-owner Jack Roush, a 2019 inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “Ryan’s accomplishments and achievements speak for themselves. He is a fierce competitor and one of the top drivers in NASCAR.”

    Newman, a native of South Bend, Indiana, becomes the sixth driver to pilot the No. 6 for Roush, who launched his NASCAR team with fellow Hall of Famer Mark Martin behind the wheel of the No. 6 in 1988. Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne and future Hall of Famer and NASCAR Cup Champion Matt Kenseth most recently piloted the No. 6, sharing the ride for the 2018 season. The No. 6 Ford has visited victory lane 36 times, captured 41 poles and led over 11,400 laps under the Roush Fenway umbrella.

    Newman has led over 4,800 laps and his 51 poles are the ninth most in NASCAR history. He was named the Cup Series rookie of the year in 2002 and won the 2008 Daytona 500 and the 2013 Brickyard 400. He has finished inside the top 10 of the final Cup standings on seven occasions; including a second-place finish in 2014. He has qualified for the NASCAR Cup playoffs on eight different occasions since its inception in 2004 and he was named NASCAR Driver of the Year in 2003.

    About Roush Fenway Racing

    Roush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series competition. Moving into its 30th season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and producing multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by Jack Roush, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

  • NASCAR announces important leadership change; Phelps promoted to President of NASCAR

    NASCAR announces important leadership change; Phelps promoted to President of NASCAR

    Phelps Promoted to President of NASCAR; Dewar to Transition to Advisory Role

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 20, 2018) – NASCAR today announced that Steve Phelps has been named NASCAR President, effective October 1, 2018. Brent Dewar has elected to step down and will remain with the company through the end of the 2018 racing season, transitioning to a senior consulting and advisory role in 2019.

    Phelps will assume the duties held by Dewar and will report to Jim France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. As President, Phelps will have responsibility over all competition and business operations for the sanctioning body.

    “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Steve Phelps as our leader,” France said. “His passion for NASCAR and proven ability to work with our partners has been unparalleled over the years. We thank Brent for his service and leadership to our sport. His energy and vision have been of tremendous benefit to our employees and our industry.”

    Joining NASCAR in 2005, Phelps has played a key role in significant initiatives, such as negotiating key partnership agreements with Coca-Cola, Monster Energy, Comcast and Camping World, the acquisition of NASCAR’s digital and social rights and leading industry collaborative efforts such as the Industry Action Plan and industry-wide marketing platforms. Phelps brings more than three decades of experience to the role, including senior leadership roles at the National Football League and Wasserman.

    “As a life-long fan of NASCAR, the opportunity to provide league-wide leadership is something I am looking forward to,” Phelps said. “I am confident that the strong team of leaders here at NASCAR and across the industry will accelerate the necessary changes to grow the sport and engage our passionate fans.”

    Dewar joined NASCAR in 2013, serving as Chief Operating Officer and later as NASCAR President. “It has been a privilege to serve this sport these past five years,” said Dewar. “NASCAR is a close-knit family and I have been blessed to be part of a great team and industry, working collaboratively to deliver great racing for our fans. I look forward to continuing to work with the industry and the France family.”

    About NASCAR

    The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States. NASCAR consists of three national series (Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), three regional series, one local grassroots series, three international series and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. Based in Daytona Beach, Fla., with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

  • Jack Roush: Trevor Bayne will not return to No. 6 in 2019

    Jack Roush: Trevor Bayne will not return to No. 6 in 2019

    Staff Report | NASCAR.com

    Team owner Jack Roush told SiriusXM Radio host Claire B. Lang on Wednesday night that he is in negotiations to fill his team’s No. 6 Ford next year, and Trevor Bayne will not return to the car.

    “We’re making a search,” Roush said in the interview. “We’re in negotiations with drivers right now that would drive the 6 car next year. I think the decision’s been made. I don’t want to be breaking the story here, but I think the decision’s been made.

    “Trevor is not going to be in the car next year. Who we’re talking to and how close we are in those negotiations, I’m not inclined to say.”

    Bayne had driven the Roush Fenway Racing No. 6 Ford full time since the start of the 2015 season, logging four top-five finishes and 13 top-10s in three full-time seasons from 2015-17.

    Earlier this year, Roush brought back veteran Matt Kenseth on a part-time basis to split seat time with Bayne. Kenseth had retired following the 2017 season after Erik Jones slid into the No. 20  Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing.

    “Matt is one of the guys who really put us on the map of the racing landscape,” Roush said at the time. “He’s one of the most talented drivers to ever sit inside a race car and his will to win, drive and determination have always embodied what we strive for as an organization.”

    Roush did not confirm whether the team was bringing Kenseth back full time, or if it had targeted another driver.

    “I want a driver that can be fast,” he said when asked what he’s looking for in the next driver of the No. 6.

    Roush also fields the No. 17 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

  • Darlington Raceway has the answers that NASCAR is seeking

    Darlington Raceway has the answers that NASCAR is seeking

    When Furniture Row Racing announced that they would cease operations Tuesday, my first reaction was shock. But as the news sunk in I realized that it should not have come as a surprise but rather another indication that NASCAR’s efforts to reduce the cost of operating a team at the premier Cup Series level are failing miserably.

    I won’t pretend that I have any answers. To say that NASCAR needs to cut costs is simplistic at best. What I do know is that the current system isn’t working and hasn’t been for some time. Fans aren’t attending races and we don’t need the track records to verify this. All we have to do is view the television broadcast on any given Sunday and it’s impossible to miss the empty seats. Television ratings are down and the only competitive teams are those that are funded by the owners with the deepest pockets.

    But as I pictured those empty seats I immediately thought about this past weekend at Darlington Raceway. I remembered standing outside and looking at the grandstands and realizing that they were packed with enthusiastic fans. So enthusiastic that when the threat of severe weather forced the track to announce that everyone should leave their seats and find shelter, hardly anyone moved. Those fans were not about to miss one minute of the upcoming Southern 500.

    Maybe Darlington has found at least some of the answers that have eluded NASCAR. Their throwback weekends have certainly been a success although it’s not a formula that would work anywhere else. But the ideals behind it just might. It may not address the main issue of cutting costs but it’s a place to start and a step in the right direction.

    What they do best is give fans what they want and it starts with tradition. Past winners include the men who laid the foundation for NASCAR, names like Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Herb Thomas,  David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, and Bill Elliott, to name a few.

    And each year, Darlington continues to pay tribute to its storied history. This weekend Richard Petty, one of NASCAR’s most iconic and influential ambassadors and winner of the 1967 Rebel 400  held court at the track. He was joined by others such as Jeff Burton, Ward Burton and Ricky Craven, all past winners at the “Track Too Tough to Tame.” Local dignitary, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, an ardent supporter of Darlington Raceway, was there as well.

    The track itself adds another distinctive element to the race’s appeal with its unique design, making it a standout among the newer cookie-cutter venues that are almost interchangeable. While adjusting the schedule to include a more diverse selection of tracks is not something that can be done overnight, it’s an issue that needs to be addressed, sooner rather than later.

    As for the next step, consider this tweet from Michael Waltrip, as he suggests a way to address risings costs.

    “Listen people closely and I will tell why making a NASCAR team work financially is nearly impossible. NASCAR stands for National Association for STOCK Car Auto Racing. The Stock piece of our name is gone. Bring back Stock and you might fix a broken business model.”

    Waltrip’s idea may sound good in theory but it is also unfeasible.

    Although it’s impossible to turn back time, it is never a good idea to forget the past. It’s time to embrace what drew people to NASCAR in the first place – competitive racing, passionate drivers who aren’t afraid to speak their minds, a sense of community and tradition. Focus on the basics; the fans will come and the sponsors will follow.

    What steps should NASCAR take to get back on course? That is the million dollar question.

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

     

  • Brad Keselowski sweeps weekend at Darlington, wins Bojangles’ Southern 500

    Brad Keselowski sweeps weekend at Darlington, wins Bojangles’ Southern 500

    DARLINGTON, SC — Brad Keselowski took advantage of the final caution in Sunday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, winning the race off pit road to ultimately claim the trophy.

    It was the break he needed, leading the remaining 22 laps and driving the No. 2 Ford to victory lane for his first win of the season, his 25th Monster Energy Cup Series victory and Team Penske’s 498th win, the first at the 1.366-mile track since 1975 when Bobby Allison swept both races.

    Keselowski was excited to win one of the series crown jewels, particularly in the Rusty Wallace scheme he ran in honor of the Throwback weekend.

    “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my pit crew,” he said. “We were running second and that last stop they nailed it and got us out in the lead. I thought Kyle (Larson) was really good, and he was flat-out flying. I know how it goes. In 2015 we led a bunch of laps and lost it on the last pit stop and today my team won it on the last pit stop. Then it was just about me hitting all my marks and not screwing it up.

    “How cool is this winning in Rusty Wallace’s Throwback car, the Southern 500, Throwback Weekend?”

    Rusty Wallace was almost as thrilled as Keselowski, joining in the celebration.

    “It means a lot to me, it really does,” Wallace said.” The last time we won with this paint scheme, we won the Coke 600 and the Sears Point race out in California with this paint scheme. This was Miller Brewing Company’s return to NASCAR. So, when I saw that he was gonna run this scheme I got really excited, obviously, and I felt like I was watching my own kid tonight.

    Penske teammate, Joey Logano, finished second after leading 18 laps late in the race.

    “We had a good car,” said Logano. “We were like a third-place car and whether it was a short run or a long run it didn’t really matter. We made some adjustments there at the end to take off a little bit better, but I didn’t get by the 42 in time to try to run down the 2. We were just matching lap times, so I couldn’t catch him enough. I was just hoping lap traffic would screw it up enough to try to catch him, but one-two for Team Penske, that’s pretty cool. Brad sweeping the weekend, that’s awesome for him to do at Darlington. That’s no easy feat, so congratulations to them.

    Kyle Larson finished third after leading 284 laps and was clearly disappointed. He is winless this season after a career-high four wins in 2017.

    “It stings for sure to not get a win in a prestigious race like this,” he said. “I want to win every race but I want to win the Southern 500 really bad so it would have been cool to win that but at the same time, to bring a car to the race track like we did this weekend is something to be proud of and a big confidence booster going into the next 11 weeks.”

    Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five finishers at Darlington Raceway. Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Jamie McMurray and Denny Hamlin finished sixth -10th, respectively.

    Fourteen drivers are now locked into the Playoffs with only one more regular season race next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Those drivers are Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Keselowski, Logano, Elliott, Kurt Busch, Jones, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Larson, Hamlin and Aric Almirola. Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman will lock themselves into the final two Playoff positions if there isn’t a new winner at Indianapolis who is currently below the 16-driver cutoff line.

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

     

  • Denny Hamlin wins pole for Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

    Denny Hamlin wins pole for Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway

    DARLINGTON, SC — Denny Hamlin won the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Busch Pole Award Saturday afternoon at Darlington Raceway with a 173.571 mph lap in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, scoring his 29th career pole and his third this season. He has won twice at the 1.366-mile track and is the defending race winner.

    “The No. 1 pit stall obviously is very important here, and I’m excited about that,” Hamlin said. “Really, the team has done a very good job with the car all weekend. So I’m optimistic, and I’m hopeful we have a good smooth race on Sunday and continue to build some momentum here over the next few weeks.”

    Kyle Larson will join Hamlin on the front row after qualifying second–fastest in the final round, with a lap speed of 173.411 mph in the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.

    He shared his thoughts after qualifying, saying, “It was pretty good there every round. The first round I was a little bit on the free side and ran a really good lap. The second round, I felt like my balance was pretty good and fell off a few tenths, but was still good. And then the third round there I was just a little too loose to carry the speed I needed to get the pole. I would have liked to have gotten the pole, but hopefully, we can keep our car up front tomorrow and get a good finish for our team and DC Solar.”

    Martin Truex Jr. will start third in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota with the No. 88 Chevrolet of Alex Bowman beside him in fourth place.

    Bowman was somewhat disappointed in his qualifying effort and said, “I was a little surprised. We mocked up that in first practice there and we weren’t very good. So, Greg (Ives, crew chief) and the guys did a good job getting it a lot better today.

    “I thought I left a little bit on the table there in the third round, a little disappointed in myself, but better than overdriving it and smacking the fence or whatever. Not a terrible qualifying effort obviously being fourth, it’s way better than I’ve ever started here before. We have a really good race car. Just wish I had done a little better job there.”

    Photo by Stephanie McLaughlin for Speedway Media.com.

    Kyle Busch rounded out the top five qualifiers with a fast lap of 173.064 mph in the No. 18 Skittles Toyota. Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and William Byron will start in sixth – 10th, respectively.

    Of note, Jimmie Johnson was the only Hendrick Motorsports driver who did not advance out of the second round of qualifying and will start the race in 20th.

    Tune into the 69th annual Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sunday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. ET. It will be televised on NBC with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

     

     

     

    Complete Starting Lineup
    1. Denny Hamlin
    2. Kyle Larson
    3. Martin Truex Jr.
    4. Alex Bowman
    5. Kyle Busch
    6. Ryan Newman
    7. Erik Jones
    8. Joey Logano
    9. Kurt Busch
    10. William Byron
    11. Chase Elliott
    12. Aric Almirola
    13. Brad Keselowski
    14. Paul Menard
    15. Matt Kenseth
    16. Daniel Suarez
    17. Clint Bowyer
    18. Austin Dillon
    19. Chris Buescher
    20. Jimmie Johnson
    21. Ryan Blaney
    22. Kevin Harvick
    23. David Ragan
    24. AJ Allmendinger
    25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    26. Michael McDowell
    27. Bubba Wallace
    28. Ty Dillon
    29. Kasey Kahne
    30. Matt DiBenedetto
    31. Jamie McMurray
    32. J.J. Yeley
    33. Ross Chastain
    34. Corey LaJoie
    35. Landon Cassill
    36. Timmy Hill
    37. B.J. McLeod
    38. Derrike Cope
    39. Joey Gase
    40. Jeffrey Earnhardt

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

     

  • Monster Energy Cup Series Playoff Preview/Clinch Scenarios–Darlington

    Monster Energy Cup Series Playoff Preview/Clinch Scenarios–Darlington

    With only two regular-season races remaining in the season, drivers who have not clinched a spot in the Playoffs, have everything to gain and nothing to lose this Sunday in the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

    Sixteen drivers will compete for the championship after the season finale at Indianapolis on Sept. 9. Twelve drivers have already secured a spot, leaving only four positions up for grabs.

    Kyle Bush, the current points leader with six wins, will be joined by Kevin Harvick, a seven-time winner. Martin Truex Jr. is in with four wins and Clint Bowyer raced his way in by capturing two checkered flags. Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Erik Jones have all visited victory lane once this season and will move on to contend for the championship.

    Three drivers have clinched their spot based on points – Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson. That leaves only four open positions.

    Currently, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman make up the rest of the championship 16-driver field. Will they be able to hold on to those spots? Let’s take a look at what each competitor must do at Darlington.

    Denny Hamlin only has to score eight points and he will clinch a spot in the Playoffs. If there is a repeat winner, he will automatically advance to the Playoffs, regardless of points. Hamlin has an impressive history at the track with 10 top-10 finishes in 12 career starts and the best driver rating (110.3). He’s the defending race winner and he also won in 2010.

    Aric Almirola can clinch if there is a repeat winner and he accumulates 25 points during the race. If there is a new winner, he could still secure a spot but would need help.

    Jimmie Johnson could clinch if he wins the Southern 500. He could also claim a position in the Playoffs if there is a repeat winner but he would also need help. Johnson has three previous wins at Darlington.

    For 14 drivers there is only one way to move up into the top 16 and that’s with a win on Sunday. This includes Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Newman, Daniel Suarez, Paul Menard, William Byron, Jamie McMurray, Chris Buescher, AJ Allmendinger, David Ragan, Darrell Wallace Jr., Kasey Kahne, Michael McDowell and Ty Dillon. Matt DiBenedetto could clinch with a win but he would have to maintain a position in the top 30.

    Tune into the Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sunday at 6 p.m. on NBCSN to catch all the racing action as the countdown to the Playoffs continues.

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

     

  • Elliott Sadler heads to Darlington Raceway with confidence

    Elliott Sadler heads to Darlington Raceway with confidence

    After a hard fought fifth place finish at Road America last week, Elliott Sadler clinched a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. As he heads to Darlington Raceway this week he has a new goal – to win.

    Sadler won the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 in 2016 and feels confident that his JR Motorsports team can visit victory lane at the 1.366-mile track once more. On August 15, he announced that this year would be his last full-time season making this his last chance to repeat and tame the “Lady in Black” again.

    His stats at Darlington paint a hopeful picture. In 14 starts, Sadler has five top-five finishes and six top 10s with one pole award in 1997. In his last five races at the track, he has finished second twice (2013, 2014), earned an 11th place in 2015 and scored a win in 2016. Last year he finished 33rd after being involved in a crash.

    Sadler commented on the upcoming race, saying, “This is one of my favorite race weekends of the year. Darlington Raceway has always been a special track for me and seeing all of the retro paint schemes always brings back good memories. My Armour Chili team has one goal this weekend – of course, aside from winning – and that’s to earn as many points as we can.

    “This is a track where I have previously won and, as a team, we’ve run well in the past. I know this will be a key track to make up some points, and hopefully put us back in the lead with only a few races left before the Playoffs.”

    This year will also be his last opportunity to win the Xfinity Series championship. In 10 years of full-time competition in the series, Sadler has finished in the runner-up position four times – in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017.

    There are only three races remaining before the series crowns the regular season champion, awarding that driver 15 playoff points. Sadler is currently third in the standings, 12 points behind leader Justin Allgaier. A win and/or playoff points this weekend could propel him to first place and one step closer to a championship.

    Tune into the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 on Saturday, September 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC with MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR providing radio coverage.

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

  • Robby Gordon and Matthew Brabham Dominate at Road America

    Robby Gordon and Matthew Brabham Dominate at Road America

    This weekend Road America provided racing fans a one of a kind experience with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race plus two SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Truck Series events.

    While the Xfinity drivers took advantage of the complete 4-mile, 14-turn road course, the Stadium SUPER Truck Series raced on the front half of Road America with four 36-inch tall aluminum ramps positioned throughout the course. It’s a series unlike any other with 650 horsepower trucks flying through the air as they also race down the track.

    This was the first time the series has competed at Road America. Robby Gordon and Matt Brabham battled for the lead in the closing laps of Round 13 on Friday but Gordon prevailed, taking the victory. Brabham finished second followed by Gavin Harlien, Blade Hildebrand and Aaron Bambach to round out the top five.

    Former NASCAR Cup Series drivers Casey Mears and Greg Biffle delighted the NASCAR crowd, finishing sixth and seventh. Cole Potts, Matt Nolan, Tommy Dawson, Adam Andretti and Jeff Hoffman finished eighth through 12th to complete Round 13.

    Brabham took the top spot Saturday in Round 14, after overtaking Hoffman on the final lap to capture his third win of the season. He leads the series standings by 30 points over Gavin Harlien.

    “Guys like Robbie Gordon have their IndyCar experience racing here and it was great to go head to head with him in race one. It was also pretty cool to be able to race with the NASCAR guys like Casey Mears and Greg Biffle,” Brabham told NBC Sports after the race.

    Cole Potts at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Photo by David Yeazell for SpeedwayMedia.com.

    Biffle finished second in Round 14, followed by Hildebrand, Hoffman and Harlien, who finished third through fifth, respectively. Gordon finished sixth with Bambach, Potts, Andretti, Nolan, Dawson and Mears completing the finishing order.

    “What a blast running the @SSuperTrucks..today was first time back behind the wheel finished 2nd catching the leader on the last lap!! #fun,” Biffle tweeted after the race.

    Casey Mears was also upbeat about the experience, commenting on Twitter, “Had some fun this weekend in @SSuperTrucks at @roadamerica Bummer to get collected is a wreck early in the race today. Buckled the hood and couldn’t see. If you haven’t been to one of these races get to one fast. Crowd reaction was unreal! Thanks @thethrill57 #mearsgang.”

    There are two race weekends remaining in the season at Gold Coast, Australia  Oct. 19-21 and Glen Helen Raceway in California Nov. 30-Dec. 2.