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Race Central NASCAR XFINITY Series news and information

  • CRAFTSMAN® Joins Joe Gibbs Racing for 2018 Season

    CRAFTSMAN® Joins Joe Gibbs Racing for 2018 Season

    HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (July 26, 2018) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today CRAFTSMAN® will join the team as a primary sponsor for Erik Jones in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Ryan Preece in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for multiple races in 2018.

    Stanley Black & Decker added the iconic CRAFTSMAN brand to their portfolio in 2017. In their fourth season with Joe Gibbs Racing, Stanley Black & Decker uses their NASCAR partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing to showcase the DEWALT® brand on the No. 20 Toyota Camry with Jones and the STANLEY® brand on the No. 19 Toyota Camry with Daniel Suarez, both in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

    “It’s really cool to represent an iconic brand with CRAFTSMAN,” said Jones. “CRAFTSMAN is a brand that I’ve used throughout my entire racing career from when I first started with go-karts, through late models and still have in my shop today. We’ve had a great relationship with Stanley Black & Decker this year through the DEWALT brand and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow our partnership with the CRAFTSMAN brand. The car looks great and I can’t wait to get on track with it in the coming months.”

    Preece added, “I’m very excited to be racing and representing the CRAFTSMAN brand. I grew up watching what was then the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and as I grew older, I started using CRAFTSMAN tools. To represent an iconic tool company like CRAFTSMAN is very special to me and I know we will have the same reliability in our Camry’s that they have in their tools.”

    To kick off the new partnership, CRAFTSMAN will launch the “What’s Your Craftsman Story?” campaign to share real, human moments of pride. “Your CRAFTSMAN story” could be a memory or a project well done. The goal is not to focus on the tool, but what can be done with the tools and the pride and memories it evokes in each person. Fans can share their story at www.CRAFTSMANstory.com beginning August 1 through September 7, 2018. Three deserving fans will win a garage full of CRAFTSMAN tools and one lucky fan will win a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Coach Joe Gibbs and Joe Gibbs Racing, including a shop tour and a VIP experience at the NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway on October 20 and 21, 2018.

    Team owner and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Coach Joe Gibbs, will help launch the “What’s Your Craftsman Story?” campaign and the new partnership with CRAFTSMAN by participating in a Satellite Media Tour on August 1, 2018.

    “It’s a thrill for us to be a part of bringing the CRAFTSMAN brand back into the sport,” said Gibbs. “When you mention CRAFTSMAN to somebody it always seems they have a story to tell about how they used CRAFTSMAN tools growing up or around their own home or shop. That’s why the “What’s Your Craftsman Story?” campaign will be so much fun when we get a chance to hear everyone’s personal experiences with the brand.”

    2018 Race Schedule

    Watkins Glen International – Xfinity Series – August 4

    Richmond International Raceway – Xfinity Series – September 21

    Richmond international Raceway – Cup Series – September 22

    Dover International Speedway – Xfinity Series – October 6

    Dover International Speedway – Cup Series – October 7

    Talladega Superspeedway – Cup Series – October 14

    Kansas Speedway – Xfinity Series – October 20

    Kansas Speedway – Cup Series – October 21

    About CRAFTSMAN:

    CRAFTSMAN is the American icon that homeowners, home builders, auto enthusiasts and master mechanics have trusted since 1927 – and today’s CRAFTSMAN continues that legacy. With a focus on reliable, high-performance tools, storage and equipment, CRAFTSMAN has revived its long-established pride in superior quality. Now it’s easier than ever to get the tools trusted for generations at more places than ever. For more information visit www.craftsman.com or follow CRAFTSMAN on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

    About Joe Gibbs Racing:

    Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR with four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams, three NASCAR Xfinity Series teams and a driver development program. Its 2018 driver lineup will consist of Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Daniel Suárez, and Erik Jones in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Meanwhile Christopher Bell and Brandon Jones will each run fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, joining Kyle Busch, Daniel Suárez, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Preece, and Kyle Benjamin, all of whom will run partial schedules. In addition, Riley Herbst and Ty Gibbs are currently in JGR’s driver development program. Based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by Joe Gibbs — a three-time Super Bowl winner as head coach of the Washington Redskins and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, winning four Cup Series championships, and five Xfinity Series owner’s championships along with more than 300 NASCAR races, including four Brickyard 400s and two Daytona 500s.

     

  • Full weekend schedule for Pocono and Iowa

    Full weekend schedule for Pocono and Iowa

    Staff Report | NASCAR.com

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will both be in action at Pocono Raceway this week and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be at Iowa Speedway. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

    Note: All times are ET

    POCONO
    Friday, July 27
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, No TV (Follow live)
    2-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, No TV (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    11 a.m.: Kids Drive NASCAR
    11:15 a.m.: Grant Enfinger, Justin Haley and Brett Moffitt

    IOWA
    Friday, July 27
    5:05-5:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
    6:35-7:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)

    POCONO
    Saturday, July 28
    9-9:50 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
    10 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1 (Follow live)
    11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
    1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Gander Outdoors 150 (60 laps, 150 miles), FS1 (Follow live)
    4:10 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    8:15 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    8:30 a.m.: Aric Almirola
    10:30 a.m.: Bubba Wallace and Richard Petty
    10:45 a.m.: Jeffrey Earnhardt
    2:30 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race
    5 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

    IOWA
    Saturday, July 28
    3:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
    5:20 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by The Rasmussen Group (250 laps, 218.75 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)

    POCONO
    Sunday, July 29
    2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400 (160 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live) 
    11:30 a.m.: Gander Outdoors
    5:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

    MORE: How to find NBCSN 

  • Bell Holds Off Keselowski for Xfinity Win At Loudon

    Bell Holds Off Keselowski for Xfinity Win At Loudon

    Christopher Bell held off Brad Keselowski and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Ryan Preece to win Saturday’s Lakes Region 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, scoring his third XFINITY Series win for 2018 and fourth career win overall. Bell, who started second, led 93 of the 200 scheduled laps and crossed the line .416 seconds ahead of Keselowski’s Team Penske Ford.

    John Hunter Nemechek finished fourth and Matt Tifft took fifth to round out the top-five. Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, Elliott Sadler, Cole Custer, and Austin Dillon rounded out the sixth through 10th positions.

    “You hope to race those guys at one point, so I’m thankful that I get the opportunity here in the Xfinity Series to race with them and proud that I’m able to compete with them, let alone beat them,” Bell said.

    The win is Bell’s second straight, both wins coming ahead of Cup champions as Bell also defeated series regular Daniel Hemric and a dominant Kyle Busch at Kentucky a week ago.

    The win makes Bell the winningest XFINITY Series regular in 2018 after 18 events, with Allgaier (two wins), Tyler Reddick (one win), and Spencer Gallagher (one win) being the only other regulars to win this season. Preece, despite having one win this season (Bristol) is only competing part-time this season. Bell still remains second in points to Hemric, who despite remaining winless in 2018 leads the standings by six points over Bell by virtue of finishing 11th Saturday.

    Bell’s win over Keselowski also reignited the discussion of whether or not Cup regulars should race in the XFINITY Series. His victory was seen as a win for the up-and-comers of the sport with Bell saying that he believes that Cup drivers should be allowed in the division so he could race against the best drivers in NASCAR.

    Bell also spoke highly of his Joe Gibbs Racing equipment, pointing out the expectation to win with the team.

    “Whenever you come to here, you step in this equipment at Joe Gibbs Racing, you’re expected to win,” he said. “Pressure’s on for you to deliver and thankfully I’ve been able to deliver, at least some of the time. They’ve won before me, they’re going to win after me. It’s my job to make sure they win with me.”

    The XFINITY Series stops next at Iowa Speedway, where Allgaier won back in June, leading 182 laps on the way to victory. Preece scored his first career win in the event a year ago for JGR, whose Toyotas have won three times at the speedway.

    The U.S. Cellular 250 airs Saturday, July 28, at 4 p.m. on NBCSN.

     

  • Full schedule for Eldora and New Hampshire

    Full schedule for Eldora and New Hampshire

    Staff Report | NASCAR.com

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will all be in action at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this week and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be at Eldora Speedway. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

    Note: All times are ET

    ELDORA
    Tuesday, July 17
    7:05-7:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, No TV (Results)
    9:05-9:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, No TV (Results)

    Wednesday, July 18
    4:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1
    7 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying races (Five 10-lap races to set lineup), FS1 (Results)
    8:15 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last chance qualifying race (15 laps), FS1 (Results)
    9 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Eldora Dirt Derby (150 laps, 75 miles), FS1 (Results)

    NEW HAMPSHIRE
    Friday, June 20
    Noon-12:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    1:05-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3:05-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    4:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    10:45 a.m.: :Joey Logano
    11:15 a.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    11:30 a.m.: Kaz Grala, Daniel Hemric and Ryan Truex
    11:45 a.m.: Ryan Preece
    1:20 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    1:45 p.m.: Kyle Larson
    5:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

    Saturday, July 21
    10:05-10:55 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App
    11:05 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, CNBC/NBC Sports App
    12:35-1:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    2 p.m.: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Eastern Oil & Propane 100 (100 laps, 105.8 miles)
    4 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Lakes Region 200 (200 laps, 211.6 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Follow live)
    6:45 p.m. NASCAR K&N Pro Series East United Site Services 70 (70 laps, 74.06 miles)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    6:15 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race

    Sunday, July 22
    1 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 (301 laps, 318.46 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App – Update: Green flag set for 4:15 p.m. ET after delay at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

    MORE: How to find NBCSN 

  • Friday the 13th Proves Lucky for Christopher Bell with the Xfinity Win at Kentucky

    Friday the 13th Proves Lucky for Christopher Bell with the Xfinity Win at Kentucky

    Friday the 13th is a day known for superstition. For Christopher Bell, however, it would turn out to be his lucky day.

    Bell drove his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to victory in the Xfinity Series ALSCO 300 at Kentucky Speedway Friday night to score his third series career win in only 25 starts. He started out his day, however, with a little bad luck when he spun during qualifying and had to start the race from the rear of the field. But he battled the entire race so that he could be in contention for the win at the end.

    “Your job is to just go out there and drive the race car as fast as you can,” Bell said. “My guys have been doing a great job all night picking up spots. I’m just really proud of this team. It’s a ton of fun to be here and I am thankful I get to stand in Victory Lane one more time.”

    Stage 1 would go flag to flag green without any cautions. Pole sitter Cole Custer led at the start of the stage but it didn’t take driver Kyle Busch long to make his way into the top spot, and he would go on to be the stage winner.

    Stage 2 also ran flag to flag without any caution periods. John Hunter Nemechek had a great run going and took the top spot from Busch. Driver Ty Majeski tapped the wall but it did not bring out the yellow flag and Nemechek would go on to win this stage gaining his first Xfinity stage win.

    The final stage, unlike the first two, would see several cautions. Busch had a good pit stop which put him back into the top spot for the start of the stage. It was looking as if Busch would be the car to beat but as the saying goes, “cautions breed cautions,” which is primarily what happened. Restarts were crazy with drivers trying to gain any advantage they could. The cautions consisted mainly of two car incidents with one driver making contact with another and that driver ending up tapping the wall. Late in the race, Daniel Hemric was able to get around Busch for the lead and he would not lead again. Justin Allgaier was able to get up to the front to lead as well but with 16 laps to go Bell took the lead and won the race. Hemric brought his No.21 Richard Childress Racing Chevy home in second place.

    “Unbelievable, frustrated on my end. I’m just not getting the job done for everybody at RCR,” a disappointed Hemric said after the race. “I wish I had the opportunity to undo a couple of things there on my end, but I just didn’t do my job.”

    Taking third place was Busch in his No.18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

    “Good for a teammate to win, obviously for Christopher and those guys for their chances this year,” he said. “The NOS Energy drink Camry was a top three car all day today, I thought it was a top one car. The No. 42 car was probably the best car overall. We came home third, but that’s not what we are here for. We need to win these things so, next time.”

    Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer would round out the top five. Tyler Reddick, Nemechek, Ryan Reed, Paul Menard, and Austin Cindric finished sixth through 10th, respectively.

    Elliott Sadler leads the Xfinity Series standings with 608 points while Hemric is shown in second, also with 608 points. Custer is in third with 605 followed by Bell in fourth with 591 points and Allgaier rounds out the top five with 569 points.

    The Xfinity Series heads next to New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 21.

  • Full schedule for Kentucky tripleheader

    Full schedule for Kentucky tripleheader

    Staff Report | NASCAR.com

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be in action for a national series tripleheader at Kentucky Speedway. Check out the full schedule below, subject to change.

    Note: All times are ET.

    Thursday, July 12
    9:05-9:55 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, No TV (Follow live)
    11:05-11:55 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, No TV (Follow live)
    4:05-4:50 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App only (Follow live)
    5:10 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1 (Follow live)
    6:05-6:50 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity final practice, NBC Sports App only (Follow live)
    7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 (150 laps, 225 miles), FS1 (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    12:30 p.m.: Justin Haley, Bo LeMastus, Brett Moffitt
    12:45 p.m.: Ben Rhodes
    3:15 p.m.: Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Reddick
    9:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

    Friday, July 13
    12-12:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Follow live)
    2-2:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Follow live)
    5:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN (Follow live)
    6:40 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Follow live)
    8 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 (200 laps, 300 miles), NBCSN (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    10:45 a.m.: Ryan Blaney
    11 a.m.: Erik Jones
    11:15 a.m.: Alex Bowman
    1:15 p.m.: Kyle Busch
    3:15 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    7:15 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
    10:15 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race

    Saturday, July 14
    7:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart (267 laps, 400.5 miles), NBCSN (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    10:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

  • Kyle Larson Shocked by Xfinity Win at Daytona

    Kyle Larson Shocked by Xfinity Win at Daytona

    Kyle Larson brought home the victory in a wild finish at the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Driving his No.42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet he crossed the finish line mere inches from Elliott Sadler, who came in second place.

    This is Larson’s third Xfinity victory this season and his first Xfinity win at Daytona. He survived not only the “Big One” but also watching driver Justin Haley take the checkers ahead of him making him believe he didn’t win. Haley, however, went below the yellow lines which is against the rules and NASCAR ruled Larson the race winner.

    “I didn’t even think I’d won until I got to the lug nut check, and they had a big screen down there,” Larson said. “And I saw a little bit of the replay and saw that he went a clipped the yellow line, so I asked about it, and they said NASCAR was talking about it, and about 10 seconds later we were declared the winner.”

    He added, “It’s a little bit of a shock for me, this is awesome, to win both stages and win the race, it means a lot for me and DC Solar.”

    Haley commented on NASCAR’s decision, saying, “I just wish NASCAR would tell us how much of the car we could have below the yellow line. It’s not how we wanted it to end, but I’m extremely blessed to get the opportunity. It’s amazing to be here at Daytona even though I didn’t win.”

    Stage 1 of the race went caution free making for a very fast stage. The frontrunners broke away from the pack leaving the rest of the field to fight for 10th on back. The only hiccup would be from Christopher Bell who slid sideways into his pitbox when making his pit stop at the end of the stage. Larson won this stage easily.

    “We got a third-place finish,” Bell said, “so I’m really proud of my team and hope we can build on this and create some momentum.”

    Stage 2 would see pole sitter Ryan Preece’s day come to an early end with a mechanical failure.

    “We must have got a piece of debris go through the radiator, and we lost all of the water,” Preece explained. “It cooked the motor down. Unfortunate. I felt like we were starting to make our way forward and start to work the draft.”

    During the remainder of the stage, the cars pretty much stayed in two lines with the inside line being the fastest of the two. This stage, like the first, Larson would also win without really being challenged. There was one spin but the caution was already out for the end of the stage.

    The final stage of 40 laps is where you held your breath and waited for what everyone knew would happen…”The Big One.”

    The drivers began to lose patience in their bid to the front and started going three and four wide. On Lap 81, it happened, when Matt Tifft and Austin Cindric triggered a 17-car pileup that would bring out the red flag. Cindric would get the worst of it when his No. 60 started to barrel-roll. Luckily Cindric was treated and released from the infield care center. With three laps to go, there was another multi-car wreck and the race would go into NASCAR overtime.

    A very frustrated Elliott Sadler finished in second place.

    He remarked, “I just didn’t know the 24 was coming, miscommunication between my spotter and myself. I was just trying to key in on the 42. I feel like it was Daytona February all over again. I just hate it for my guys, they work way too hard for me to keep finishing second here at Daytona. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

    Bell overcame his hiccup at the end of the first stage and finished third in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

    “We got a third-place finish,” Bell said, “so I’m really proud of my team and hope we can build on this and create some momentum.”

    Ryan Blaney and Kaz Grala would round out the top five finishers. Shane Lee, Timmy Hill, Daniel Hemric, Justin Allgaier, and Ross Chastain finished sixth through 10th respectively.

    Sadler leads the Xfinity Series standings with 582 points. Hemric is in second and Cole Custer in third followed by Bell in fourth and Justin Allgaier is in fifth.

    The Xfinity Series heads next to Kentucky Speedway on Friday, July 13.

  • Full Schedule for Daytona

    Full Schedule for Daytona

    Staff Report | NASCAR.com

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be in action for a holiday weekend at Daytona International Speedway this week. Check out the full schedule below, subject to change.

    Note: All times are ET.

    Thursday, July 5 
    1:05-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
    2:05-2:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN1) (Results)
    3:05-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
    4:05-4:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN1) CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    Noon: Tyler Reddick and Elliott Sadler
    12:15 p.m.: Brandon Jones, Kaz Grala and Ryan Preece
    12:30 p.m.: Austin Dillon
    12:45 p.m.: Bubba Wallace
    1 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    3:30 p.m.: Kyle Larson

    Friday, July 6 
    2:10 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series pole qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
    5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Follow live)
    7:30 p.m. NASCAR Xfinity Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), NBCSN (Canada: TSN2) (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    3 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    5:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
    9:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race

    Saturday, July 7
    7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 (160 laps, 400 miles), NBC (Follow live)

    PRESS PASS (Watch live)
    4:30 p.m.: Medal of Honor Recipients
    10 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

     

  • Kyle Larson rebounds from early setback to win Xfinity Series race at Chicago

    Kyle Larson rebounds from early setback to win Xfinity Series race at Chicago

    Reid Spencer | NASCAR Wire Service

    JOLIET, Ill. – When Kyle Larson crossed the finish line at Chicagoland Speedway 8.030 seconds ahead of runner-up Kevin Harvick, there were no screams of elation from the winner of Saturday’s Overton’s 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race.

    Instead, Larson placed an order.

    “Water, ice and towel at the start/finish line,” Larson radioed to his team, after winning a race in mind-numbing heat that approached 150 degrees in the greenhouse of his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro.

    Larson had won the pole earlier in the day but had to start from the rear of the field because of a flat right front tire that required changing before the race. That proved only a temporary deterrent.

    By the end of the first 45-lap stage, Larson had driven up to sixth place, and on Lap 72, he made a three-wide pass of Harvick and Christopher Bell to take the lead for the first time.

    The 25-year-old Californian went on to lead a race-high 80 laps and took advantage of an 80-lap green-flag run to the finish to win for the first time at Chicagoland, the second time this season and the 10th time in his career.

    “Yeah, it was pretty hot,” Larson said in the understatement of the week. “But the adrenaline was kicking in. I can’t say enough about this race car. We were really bad (Friday in practice), so it’s cool we could win.

    “We were able to get our car better for today. These guys (the No. 42 team) never quit. The pit crew was amazing. That was really a key there, I thought, to get some track position after falling back to fourth (after the restart following the end of Stage 2).”

    In fact, Larson gained two positions on pit road under a caution for debris in Turn 4 on Lap 114 and restarted third on the bottom on Lap 121. He cleared the fourth-place car of Christopher Bell on the restart and took off in pursuit of Harvick, who had assumed the lead.

    “I was able to stay pretty close to Harvick on the bottom,” Larson said. “I felt like, if the race stayed green, I would eat him up.”

    Indeed, after the tires began to wear, Larson moved to the top of the track, where he was unstoppable. On Lap 142 he surged past Harvick into the lead and extended his advantage to more than four seconds before a cycle of green-flag pit stops that started on Lap 166.

    When the cycle ended with Brandon Jones’ stop on Lap 180, Larson was up by 9.490 seconds. From that point on, it was a cruise to the finish—in a steam bath.

    “I needed a short run there, for sure,” said Harvick, who led 38 laps. “The Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford was really good there for about 25 laps, and Kyle would struggle for 25 laps. I just didn’t need it to go green.

    “I just couldn’t run the top. I would slide the front tires, and I didn’t have enough rear grip to throttle through the center of the corners. My car wouldn’t turn but on the bottom.”

    And the bottom lane wasn’t the fast way around the 1.5-mile track when the tires began to wear.

    Cole Custer ran third and took the series lead from sixth-place Elliott Sadler, who fell to third in the standings behind Custer and fifth-place finisher Daniel Hemric. Daniel Suarez came home fourth in his second Xfinity start of the season.

    Justin Allgaier ran seventh, followed by Paul Menard and Chase Briscoe, who scored his first career top-10 in the series. Chase Elliott was 10th and paid a quick visit to the infield care center before Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying for some IV fluids.

    “I feel a lot better now,” Elliott said on his way out of the care center. “Those IVs make you feel like a million bucks.”

    The Xfinity Series returns Friday, July 6 from Daytona International Speedway for the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

    RELATED: Full race results | Xfinity Series standings

     

  • Full weekend schedule for Chicagoland

    Full weekend schedule for Chicagoland