Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Category: Race Central

Race Central Stories

  • Johnny Sauter Holds Off Kaz Grala For Win At Dover

    Johnny Sauter Holds Off Kaz Grala For Win At Dover

    Johnny Sauter held off Kaz Grala to win Friday’s Bar Harbor 200 presented by Sea Watch International at Dover International Speedway. It was the defending Truck Series champion’s first victory this season and his 14th career win.

    It was the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’s sixth race of the 2017 season. The race included three stages. Stage 1 and 2 were 45 laps each with a final stage of 110 laps. Chase Briscoe and Ryan Truex set the front row in qualifying.

    As Stage 1 began, Truex immediately set a blistering pace. However, a few cautions slowed the pace. A wreck took place on Lap 21, where Austin Hill, Stewart Friesen and Cody Coughlin got into each other to bring out the first caution. Another incident took place on Lap 35, when Christopher Bell cut down a left rear tire and hit the wall. This would end Bell’s day.

    Barring a few cautions, Ryan Truex held on to win the first stage.

    Stage 2 began on Lap 53 with Matt Crafton and Justin Haley on the front row after staying out under yellow.

    Just like Stage 1, multiple cautions were once again a factor. The first one was on Lap 73, when Haley spun off Turn 4 followed by a second caution on Lap 84 by Jordan Anderson who stalled just before the entry of pit road. Under the caution, Parker Kligerman and Chase Briscoe made pit stops to try a different pit strategy.

    With two to go for the restart in Stage 2, Crafton set sail, but a caution came out on the final lap for Kligerman and John Hunter Nemechek who got together on the frontstretch. With the caution taking place on the final lap of Stage 2, the stage ended under caution with Crafton as the leader. Crafton would end up winning Stage 2.

    Stage 3 began on lap 99 with Ben Rhodes out in front. Rhodes was dominating early, but another caution slowed the pace with 84 laps to go for Todd Gilliland who had a wheel issue and smacked the wall in Turn 2. Gilliland’s day would be cut short.

    With 79 laps to go for the restart, Rhodes and Jesse Little set the pace. Rhodes went to the point once the green flag went back out. As laps clipped by, pit stops began to happen with 47 laps to go with Little pitting. However, Little stalled the truck and this would end any shot for him to win the race. Stage 1 winner, Ryan Truex, made his pit stop with 42 laps to go.

    The race leader, Rhodes, pitted with 36 to go, while Crafton entered the pits a few laps later. Sauter stayed out, gambling that clean air would play a factor. With all the pit stops taking place, a caution came out with 30 laps to go for Chase Briscoe, whose left front tire came off.

    The final restart of the race came with 25 laps to go. Sauter and Daytona Truck winner, Kaz Grala, were out in front. The race was winding down and with that, Grala was trying his all to catch Sauter. However, the gamble paid off for Sauter and he went on to win the Bar Harbor 200 at Dover.

    “Some days when you wake up, you don’t think it’s going to be your day and things don’t seem to be clicking and I felt like we were just off a little bit all weekend,” Sauter said after the race. “But so proud of everyone at GMS Racing, a 1-2 finish today.  Joe Shear (Jr., crew chief), what a great call that was to try and make it on fuel. Pit stops were great today.”

    “Unbelievable, after three second-place finishes to get a win. Definitely struggled today in traffic, just really, really tight. Just so proud of these guys. Man, they really executed today.”

    There were eight cautions for 43 laps and five leaders among five lead changes. Sauter took the lead on lap 168 and never looked backed, leading once for 33 laps.

    The next NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race is scheduled for Friday, June 9.

     

  • Austin Cindric Captures First Top Five at Dover

    Austin Cindric Captures First Top Five at Dover

    Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 19 LTi Printing Ford for Brad Keselowski Racing was looking for his first career win of the season. However, a few challenges would be thrown the team’s way during Friday’s Bar Harbor 200 presented by Sea Watch International at Dover International Speedway.

    Cindric started the race in the fourth position. He would lose a few spots on the initial start and that would eventually cost him playoff points in the first stage. Cindric ended up finishing 11th in Stage 1. With a solid pit stop by the pit crew, Cindric restarted in the fourth position in Stage 2.

    After a somewhat disappointing Stage 1, Cindric made up for it by finishing fifth in the second segment, giving him six playoff points. Cindric would remain there for the rest of the race and wound up finishing in the top five. It was his first career top five finish and his second top 10 of his rookie season.

    Cindric was please with his top five run, saying, “Well I leave that up to Doug Randolph (crew chief), for good reason. I was really lucky to be out there contending for a win on the lead lap. I got a bit tough restart there. I had guys all over my door and I think we were tight firing off, tighter than we thought we were going to be. There’s a reason they call it the “Monster Mile.”

    “I’m definitely worn out and it was a whole lot of fun and I hope I can come back here and have another good run.”

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Dover

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Dover

    NASCAR travels to Dover International Speedway for a full weekend of competition with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series events. Please check below for the complete schedule. All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, June 1:

    On Track:
    2- 2:55 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – No TV (Follow live)
    4- 4:55 p.m.: Truck Series Final Practice – No TV (Follow live)

    Friday, June 2

    On Track:
    9:30- 10:25 a.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS2
    10:30- 11:55 a.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS2
    1:30- 2:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    2:35 p.m.: Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    3:50 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    5:30 p.m.: Truck Series Bar Harbor 200 Presented by Sea Watch International (200 laps, 200 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: Watch Here
    9 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    9:15 a.m.: Chase Elliott
    9:30 a.m.: Jeffrey Earnhardt
    9:50 a.m.: Matt Kenseth
    Noon: NASCAR XFINITY Seris Dash 4 Cash Drivers Elliott Sadler and Daniel Hemric
    12:30 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    12:45 p.m.: Austin Dillon
    4:30 p.m.: Post Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)
    7:30 p.m.: Post-Truck Series Race (time approx.)

    Saturday, June 3:

    On Track:
    9- 9:55 a.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    10:05 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    11:30 a.m.- 12:20 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    1 p.m.: XFINITY Series OneMain Financial 200 (200 laps, 200 miles) – FS1

    Press Conference:
    3 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.) Watch Here

    Sunday, June 4:

    Pre-Race Schedule:
    12:30:00 p.m.: Driver Introductions
    12:59:00 p.m.: “God Bless America” by Cassidy Daniels, Nashville Recording Artist
    1:00:00 p.m.: Aerial Adventures parachute teams lands on track
    1:00:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by The Dover Air Force Base Color Guard
    1:00:20 p.m.: Invocation by Dan Schafer Pastor of Calvary Assembly of God from Heightstown, NJ
    1:00:50 p.m.: Intro National Anthem
    1:01:00 p.m.: National Anthem by Cassidy Daniels, Nashville Recording Artist (pyro from backstretch during “rockets’ red glare”)
    1:01:30 p.m.: Three Parachutists land on track
    1:02:30 p.m.: Flyover: A-10 Warthogs from the 104th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard (Turn 4 to Turn 1)
    1:07:00 p.m.: “Driver’s Start Your Engines” by Gordon Ramsay
    1:15:00 p.m.: Start of the AAA Drive for Autism 400 (400 Laps / 400 Miles)

    On Track:
    1 p.m.: Cup Series AAA 400 Drive for Autism – FS1

    Press Conference:
    4:30 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Race (time approx.) Watch Here

    Race Details:

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
    Friday, June 2
    Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
    TV: FS1, 5 p.m. ET
    Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 200 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90),
    Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

    NASCAR XFINITY Series
    Date: Saturday, June 3
    Time: 1 p.m. ET
    TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET
    Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 200 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 120),
    Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

    Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
    Date: Sunday, June 4
    Time: 1 p.m. ET
    TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET
    Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
    Distance: 400 miles (400 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 120), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 240),
    Final Stage (Ends on lap 400)

    Odds To Win NASCAR AAA 400
    Martin Truex Jr +550
    Kevin Harvick +551
    Kyle Busch +615
    Kyle Larson +632
    Jimmie Johnson +650
    Brad Keselowski +800
    Matt Kenseth +800
    Chase Elliott +850
    Joey Logano +1200
    Denny Hamlin +1500
    Clint Bowyer +3500
    Erik Jones +4000
    Ryan Blaney +4000
    Kurt Busch +4500
    Jamie McMurray +4500
    Dale Earnhardt Jr +5500
    Daniel Suarez +6500
    Ryan Newman +8000
    Ricky Stenhouse Jr +8500
    Austin Dillon +8500
    Kasey Kahne +8500
    Field (Any Other Driver) +3113

    Complete TV Schedule

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

     

  • Austin Dillon Puts the No. 3 Back in Victory Lane at Charlotte

    Austin Dillon Puts the No. 3 Back in Victory Lane at Charlotte

    CONCORD, N.C. — Austin Dillon scored his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking the legendary Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet back to Victory Lane.

    Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson was leading the Coca-Cola 600 but with two laps to go, he ran out of gas, handing off the lead to Dillon. Dillon was also running on fumes with Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch closing fast, but, as it turned out, he had just enough for those final two laps.

    Dillon is the 10th driver to post their first Cup Series win at Charlotte joining David Pearson (5/28/1961), Buddy Baker (10/15/1967), Charlie Glotzbach (10/20/1968), Jeff Gordon ( 5/29/94), Bobby Labonte  (5/28/1995), Matt Kenseth ( 5/28/2000), Jamie McMurray (10/13/2002), Casey Mears ( 5/27/2007) and David Reutimann (5/25/2009).

    Dillon was ecstatic but said, “It hasn’t sunk in truthfully. I’m just so proud of all the effort that all these guys put in. I really feel like I have the best team and the best pit crew. I have no doubt in them.

    “My grandfather has done everything he can to give us the best we can get. Sometimes I feel like we’re the small team out there trying to get everything we can. Tonight proved that 600-mile race when it came down to it, we had everything we needed. It just feels amazing.”

    Dillon’s grandfather and team owner Richard Childress was almost as thrilled as Dillon and spoke about the emotional impact of seeing the No. 3 car claim the checkered flag in NASCAR’s premier series. Dale Earnhardt won his last race in the No. 3 on Oct. 15, 2000, at Talladega. After Earnhardt’s death in 2001, Childress decided to retire the number from Cup Series competition. It wasn’t until Dillon’s first full season in the series, in 2014, that the No. 3 was brought out of retirement.

    “I’m so proud…it’s just unbelievable,” he said. “Having my grandson just made it that much more special. I know Dale is up there smiling down because he would want this win, he’d want to see it with Austin.”

    “I didn’t want to put just anyone in the 3 car. I probably never would have brought it back. We kept the number with NASCAR throughout the whole time. We ended up, when the opportunity was there, to put Austin back in it. He started in the Truck Series. He won races there. He won races in the XFINITY with it. Ty has won with it.

    “Today is special. Here in Charlotte, on Memorial Day, such a special day for all the people that have gave so much to this country for us all to be here tonight. To be able to enjoy what we’re doing, I’m just honored to be here.

    Dillon also gave special credit for the win to his crew chief, Justin Alexander, who made the tough call not to pit when all but eight drivers (including Dillon) headed to pit road on Lap 368. This was Alexander’s first race as crew chief for the No. 3 team, replacing Richard “Slugger” Labbe, who had been with Dillon since mid-2015.

    Alexander discussed his decision, saying, “We had a good car all race. We run top 10 all race. Austin did a heck of a job, the whole team did. We were right there in position on that last stop when the caution came out. We were two or three laps short. Just right in that window where you have the option to stretch it, but there’s a risk with that. You give up a little track position early on trying to stretch it on fuel.

    “We got good fuel mileage all day. It really didn’t make much sense to do anything but that. He didn’t really have to back off that much. We didn’t give up that many spots on the racetrack doing it. I think we were around 10th when we started saving.

    Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch won Stage 1 of the Coca-Cola 600 and finished in the runner-up position, followed by Martin Truex Jr. in third. Truex won Stage 2 and led a race-high 233 laps, leading the most laps in the Coca-Cola 600 for the straight year.  He clearly had the dominant car but lost the race when Dillon’s fuel strategy paid off with a trip to Victory Lane.

    Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin (winner of Stage 3) rounded out the top five, giving the JGR team three drivers in the top five but still searching for their first win this season.

    Race contenders Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski exited the race early after getting caught up in the first caution of the night. On Lap 20 the No.  33 car of Jeffrey Earnhardt suffered a mechanical failure which left debris and fluid on the track. Elliot, who was running fifth, slowed to avoid the fluid but was hit by Keselowski who slid into the back of Elliott’s No. 24 car.

    “Somebody broke and there was just oil everywhere and I couldn’t turn,” Keselowski said of the incident.”

    The 400-lap race was red-flagged during the second segment due to heavy rain and the threat of lightning which resulted in a one hour, 39 minutes and 56 seconds delay. There were nine cautions for 53 laps during the event.

    Truex leads the points standings followed by Kyle Larson (-5), Brad Keselowski (-82), Kevin Harvick (-103) and Kyle Busch (-102). Check the link below for the complete driver standings.

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

    Driver Standings

    Coca-Cola 600 Race Results:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Coca-Cola-600-Results-C1712_UNOFFRES.pdf” title=”Coca Cola 600 Results C1712_UNOFFRES”]

     

  • Inclement weather brings out red flag at Coca-Cola 600

    Inclement weather brings out red flag at Coca-Cola 600

    By Staff Report – NASCAR.com

    The Coca-Cola 600 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway is in a delay because of inclement weather in the area around the 1.5-mile track in Concord, North Carolina.

    A storm moved over the track after 143 of a scheduled 400 laps, bringing out the red flag when lightning was reported in the area. The race was under caution at the time due to an on-track incident.

    NASCAR Air Titans are at the ready to dry the track when it is safe to do so, and NASCAR.com will be your source for updates.

    At nearly the midway point of Stage 2, Martin Truex Jr. is your leader. Truex, who led 392 laps and won this event last year, has led a race-high 53 laps. Second at the time of the red flag is Jimmie Johnson, followed by Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth.

  • Blaney Surges in Final Laps to XFINITY Win at Charlotte

    Blaney Surges in Final Laps to XFINITY Win at Charlotte

    CONCORD, N.C. — With two laps to go, Ryan Blaney executed the move of the race, powering by Kevin Harvick in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford to reclaim the lead and capture the XFINITY Series Hisense 4K TV 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    Justin Allgaier led the field to green in the XFINITY Series race Saturday afternoon but his lead in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevy was short-lived, as the race came down to a battle between Blaney and Kevin Harvick with some surprise runs thrown in by Austin Dillon and Darrell Wallace Jr. just to keep things interesting.

    Harvick won Stage 1 and led three times during the race for 58 total laps while Stages 1 and 2 went to Blaney who led four times for 107 laps. Though Harvick led fewer laps overall, he put himself in position to win as the race neared its conclusion, leading from Lap 181-197 after Blaney got blocked in his stall on his last pit stop and lost the lead. A final caution on Lap 195 and the subsequent restart on Lap 198, gave Blaney the opportunity he needed to pass Harvick and capture the checkered flag.

    It’s his fifth XFINITY Series career win and the second victory for Team Penske this year. It also has special meaning for Blaney and his father, Dave Blaney as they became the first father-son duo to win a XFINITY Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    Blaney spoke about the significance of the win for Team Penske.

    “It means a ton,” he said. “Anytime you can win for Mr. Penske is huge. That’s super-special to me. He’s given me my opportunity. It was a combination of Brad’s truck team and Mr. Penske giving me a shot in 2012 and I’ve been really lucky to drive great race cars for him, so you want to do the best job you can for him, especially on this weekend, where he has the Indy 500. That’s such a huge race for them and he’s been so dominant in that race. To deliver for him early, hopefully, that will put him in a good mood for tomorrow and get those guys going.”

    When asked about his Dad’s influence, Blaney began by saying, “He’s the best race car driver ever,” adding, “That’s how I’ve always looked at him and that’s how I’ve always thought of him, not only as my father but the way he drives car – and not only his driving ability, but his mindset towards things. I think he’s one of the smartest people I know, personally, in the race car, outside the race car, building parts, coming up with inventions and ideas.

    “He always just supports me and it was cool to have him here today. That’s really special to me to have him at the race track through the good and bad times of getting a stern talking to or helpful support and it’s usually support. I’ve been lucky to have somebody like that to help me through these weekends to try to get myself better, whether it’s restarts or long runs or just communication. He’s been the best person, so in my mind, I’ll never be half the race car driver he is, personally. I think he’s the greatest one ever and that’s how I’ll always think of him.”

    Harvick finished second, posting his 18th top-10 finish in 28 races at Charlotte and his third top-10 finish this season. He talked about the last restart and the decision to start on the outside.

    “It was a tough decision for our Hunt Brothers Ford team. I knew that we had the 22 behind us if we were on the top and he pushed me a little bit and then kind of laid off there, getting into one. The 12 had the best car on the restart getting going. He’s the one who helped us get the lead and I knew I was gonna have my hands full, but he just beat me there at the end and we wound up getting second.”

    Austin Dillon, who led 20 laps during the race, placed third in his No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet.

    Although he didn’t get the finish he wanted, Dillon said, “We did a really good job adjusting the car over the course of the race. The Rheem Chevrolet really came to us at the end when the clouds came in. I hate that we weren’t able to visit Victory Lane today for our pit crew, especially. They did such a good job today.

    “So did my new crew chief, Randall Burnett. We had a few good restarts there but we were in a Penske sandwich and couldn’t do much about it. I got hit on the restart and it just wasn’t enough to carry me into Turn 1. I had a lot of fun today. I’m proud of this RCR XFINITY Series program.”

    Christopher Bell drove his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to fourth place in his debut start in the XFINITY Series. Denny

    “I’m glad it was 200 laps, because we used every single bit of it,” Bell said after the hard-fought fourth place finish. “We didn’t have a lot of luck on the restarts at the beginning of the race, starting on the bottom, but we got the luck (starting on the top) when we needed it at the end.”

    Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five in the No. 20 JGR Toyota but thought the team should have finished stronger.

    “I thought our car handled pretty decent all day and it definitely hurt with that one pit stop where we had a lugnut hang up on us. I felt we were as good as the 41 (Harvick) and the 2 (Dillon),” Hamlin said, “for sure and it all comes down to those last restarts. It just took too long for us to battle back there.”

    Elliott Sadler remains the series points leader despite a 35th place result, after getting caught up in an accident late in the race.

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

    Unofficial Results:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/NXS-Charlotte-results.pdf” title=”NXS Charlotte results”]

     

  • Justin Allgaier Captures XFINITY Coors Light Pole in Charlotte

    Justin Allgaier Captures XFINITY Coors Light Pole in Charlotte

    CONCORD, N.C. — Justin Allgaier topped the speed charts during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 4K TV 300 with a lap of 182.488 mph in his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to earn the Coors Light Pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    It’s his fifth career pole in 217 XFINITY Series starts, his first pole this season and his first ever at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Allgaier’s pole award is also the third for JRM, who won one with Chase Elliott in 2014 as well as a truck pole by Kasey Kahne in 2015.

    Austin Dillon posted the second-fastest time in his No. 2 Rheem Chevrolet with a lap of 181.519 mph followed by Ryan Blaney in the No.12 Snap-On Ford (181.378 mph). Daniel Hemric, the fastest qualifying rookie, will start fourth (181.324 mph) in his No. 21 Chevy as Kevin Harvick rounds out the top five in the No. 41 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford.

    Cole Custer, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Reed and Tyler Reddick will start, sixth through 10th, respectively.  This race will mark Bell’s debut in the XFINITY Series.

    Jeff Green (No.78) and Jordan Anderson (No. 74) failed to qualify.

    The  Hisense 4K TV 300 will begin Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET and will be televised on Fox Sports 1.

    Hisense 4K TV 300 Starting Lineup:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Charlotte-NXS-Starting-Lineup-May-2017.pdf” title=”Charlotte NXS Starting Lineup May 2017″]

     

     

     

  • Kevin Harvick Wins First Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 Pole

    Kevin Harvick Wins First Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 Pole

    CONCORD, N.C. — Kevin Harvick scored the fastest lap time in Round 3 of qualifying in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday with a speed of 193.424 mph, winning his first pole for the Coca-Cola 600.

    It’s his third Coors Light Pole this season and the 20th of his career. Harvick also has two previous victories in the event in 2011 and 2013 and is one of three active Cup Series drivers who have multiple Coca-Cola 600 wins (Jimmie Johnson has three, Kasey Kahne has four).

    Harvick credited his team with giving him the car to beat, saying, “The cars in qualifying were a lot looser than they were in practice and just based on past experience here it was a handful through one and two. I just about lost it the first run, but the car was so good in three and four I didn’t want to over-adjust on it and make it too tight down there because you get tighter as the lap runs, so the guys did a good job of making adjustments, but not making it so tight that I couldn’t carry the throttle like I needed to in three and four. So they just did a great job on our Mobil 1 Ford.”

    Kyle Busch, winner of last week’s All-Star race, will join him on the front row, posting the second-fastest lap at 192.513 mph in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. If he can capture the checkered flag this Sunday, he would become the eighth driver who has won the All-Star race and followed it up with a win the following week in the Coca-Cola 600.

    Chase Elliott will start third in his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet after a qualifying lap of 192.260, with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Kenseth in fourth (192.130). Erik Jones rounds out the top five in his Furniture Row Racing Toyota (191.782).

    Kyle Larson, the series points leader, and Corey LaJoie missed the first round of qualifying when they were unable to pass inspection before the round ended. Larson will start 39th in his Chip Ganassi Chevrolet and LaJoie will start 40th in his No. 83 Toyota.

    Larson, while disappointed, isn’t overly concerned.

    “It happened to us at Texas and we rebounded from that and finished second,” he said. “I’m not too worried about it. I know the teams are frustrated with the tech process. I know nothing about how it all works. I don’t really have much to say about it other than I know my crew chief hates it.”

    The Coca-Cola 600 will be broadcast Sunday, May 28, at 6 p.m. on FOX.

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

    Coca-Cola 600 Starting Lineup:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Coca-Cola-600-Starting-Lineup-C1712_STARTROW.pdf” title=”Coca Cola 600 Starting Lineup C1712_STARTROW”]

     

     

  • Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 – Did You Know?

    Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 – Did You Know?

    CONCORD, N.C. — This Sunday the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series celebrates the Memorial Day weekend with the 58th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Sunday evening, on the FOX network. The XFINITY Series will be on track Saturday for the Hisense 4K TV 300 on FS1.

    The inaugural Coca-Cola 600, originally named the World 600, was held in 1960 and won by Joe Lee Johnson, the 1959 NASCAR Convertible Series champion. It was his second victory and the final win of his Cup career. But did you know he was the first of 32 different drivers to capture what has become one of NASCAR’s most sought-after trophies?

    While some drivers would be content with one victory, Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with four Coca-Cola 600 wins in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2014.  His teammate, Kasey Kahne, isn’t far behind with three. Other three-time winners include David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon. But did you know that Darrell Waltrip has the most all-time victories with five, in 1978, 1979, 1985, 1988 and 1989?

    Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. is the defending race and pole winner. But did you know that last year he dominated the Coca-Cola 600, leading 392 of 400 laps? It was the most laps led in any race in the history of NASCAR. Truex enters the event with the 11th-best driver rating (84.5) at Charlotte with one win, three top fives, seven top 10s and one pole.

    However, besting Johnson may be his biggest obstacle. He finished third in the All-Star race and has the best overall driver rating (110.6) at Charlotte. But did you know that in addition to his four Coca-Cola 600 wins, he has four Bank of America 500 trophies, along with 15 top fives, 19 top 10s and four poles?

    Kyle Bush (104.8) has the second best driver rating with 10 top fives, 15 top 10s and two poles. He also has the advantage of winning last week’s All-Star race. Seven times, seven different drivers, have gone on to win the Coca-Cola 600 the following weekend after winning the All-Star race.

    Denny Hamlin (95.6), Matt Kenseth (95.2, two Charlotte wins) and Kasey Kahne (95.1, four Charlotte wins) round out the top five in driver ratings at the 1.5-mile track.

    Kahne discussed what it takes to win NASCAR’s longest race, saying, “The 600 is a difficult race. So many things happen and change during a four or five-hour race depending on cautions. It’s tough mentally and physically. It gets really hot in the car and with each pit stop, you need to be able to get better. Being able to keep your momentum up is really one of the keys to the race.”

    As the drivers compete on the track, they will also honor those who have served our country by displaying a fallen military service member’s name on each windshield in the 40-car field. This will be the third consecutive year of NASCAR’s ”600 Miles of Remembrance.”

    Some of the names chosen have special significance to the teams.

    Truex’s car will display the name of 2nd Lt. John C. Yates, a Marine who served three tours of duty during the Vietnam War. He was killed in action while attempting to save the life of a fellow comrade on Oct. 17, 1968, in the Vietnam province of Quang Tri. He was 26 at the time of his death.

    “I couldn’t be more proud of my cousin for his love of God, family, country and the Marine Corps,” said Woody Boyd, chief operating officer (COO) at Furniture Row. “His commitment and ultimate sacrifice inspired me to become a Marine six years later.”

    The Memorial Day tributes will be an integral part of the weekend. Several drivers, including Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Ryan Reed will have patriotic paint schemes, Goodyear tires will once again have a special sidewall design with “Support Our Troops” messaging and the XFINITY cars will display red, white and blue windshield decals.

    The Coca-Cola 600 broadcast begins Sunday, May 28, at 6 p.m. on FOX. In the meantime, please view the gallery below for a look at the service members who are being honored.

    600 Miles of Remembrance

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

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 Weekend

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Charlotte Coca-Cola 600 Weekend

    CONCORD, N.C. — This Sunday NASCAR celebrates Memorial Day with the 58th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The race will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Sunday evening, on the FOX network. The XFINITY Series will be on track Saturday for the Hisense 4K TV 300 on FS1.

    Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. is the defending Coca-Cola 600 race and pole winner. Kyle Busch, winner of last week’s All-Star race, heads to Charlotte with the second-best driver rating with 10 top fives, 15 top 10s and two poles. Jimmie Johnson has the most impressive stats entering the race with four Coca-Cola 600 wins plus four victories in the Bank of America 500. His driver rating of 110.6 is the series best, evidenced by his 15 tops fives, 19 top 10s and four poles.

    There are 41 drivers entered for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600. Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, May 25:

    On Track:

    2-3:25 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    4-4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    6-6:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    7:15 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)

    1:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
    3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    12:45 p.m.: Ryan Blaney
    1:15 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    1:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers: Christopher Bell and Matt Tifft
    1:45 p.m.: NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Combine
    3:30 p.m.: Ben Kennedy
    3:45 p.m.: Kyle Busch
    4 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    8 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

    SATURDAY, MAY 27:

    On Track:
    9-9:55 a.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    10:05 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    1 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 4K TV 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

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

    SUNDAY, MAY 28:

    On Track:
    6 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 (400 laps, 600 miles) – FOX

    Press Conference: (Watch live)
    10:30 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Race (time approx.)

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

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Hisense 4K TV 300 Entry List

    Coca-Cola 600 Entry List:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Coca-Cola-600-Entry-List-C1712_PREENTNUM.pdf” title=”Coca Cola 600 Entry List C1712_PREENTNUM”]