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Race Central NASCAR XFINITY Series news and information

NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kentucky

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series all travel to Kentucky Speedway this week. The on-track activity begins Wednesday with Truck Series Practice. Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

Wednesday, July 5:

On Track:
3-4:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice (Results)
5-6:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice (Results)

Thursday, July 6:

On Track:
2- 2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
4- 4:50 p.m.: XFINITY Series Second Practice – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
5 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1 – CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
6- 6:50 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN – POSTPONED
7:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 (150 laps, 225 miles) – FS1
(Delayed approx. three hours due to rain) Results

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
1 p.m.: Erik Jones
1:15 p.m.: William Byron, Cole Custer and Brendan Gaughan
1:30 p.m.: Ben Rhodes
Post-Camping World Truck Series press conference on NASCAR.com after race

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series

Friday, July 7:

On Track:
8:30-9:55 a.m.: XFINITY Series Practice (Follow live) (Canada: TSN GO)
10-11:55 a.m.: Cup Series Practice – NBC Sports App (Follow live) (Canada: TSN GO)
1-2:25 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
4:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
6:15 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
8 p.m.: XFINITY Series Alsco 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2) – POSTPONED TO SATURDAY

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
9:15 a.m.: Matt Kenseth
12:20 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
3:30 p.m.: Quaker State
7:30 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Qualifying
11 p.m.: NASCAR.com – Post-XFINITY Series Race

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
9:30 a.m.: Cup Series

Saturday, July 8:

On Track:
Noon: XFINITY Series Alsco 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – NBCSN
11 p.m.: Cup Series Post-Race Show on NBCSN
11:30 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap on NBCSN

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
2:45 p.m.: Richard Petty
11:30 p.m.: NASCAR.com – Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

Race Details:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race: Buckle Up in Your Truck 225
Date: Thursday, July 6
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET – Delayed approx. three hours due to rain
TV: FS1
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 225 miles (150 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 35), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on lap 150)

NASCAR XFINITY Series
Race: Alsco 300
Date: Friday, July 7 – Postponed to Saturday
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Race: Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts
Date: Saturday, July 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: Stage 1 (Ends on lap 80), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 160), Final Stage (Ends on lap 267)

Complete TV Schedule

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

July 5, 2017
Byron Goes Back to Back in XFINITY at Daytona

William Byron is now a two-time race winner in the NASCAR XFINITY Series after surviving two late Big One’s in the day-late Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

Restarting in overtime, Byron led the field onto the backstretch when Spencer Gallagher was turned into the wall, triggering a multi-car pileup on the final lap. While the wreck itself started prior to the overtime line, the caution wasn’t thrown until after race leader Byron crossed the line, ending the race.

“It’s just a credit to all these guys,” Byron said in victory lane. “We’re extremely blessed to be here and it’s just a lot of hard work from these guys to be here.”

It’s his second XFINITY Series win in 15 starts.

Teammate Elliott Sadler brought his car home second while Dakoda Armstrong rounded out the podium.

Jeb Burton and David Starr rounded out the top-five. Brennan Poole, Joey Logano, Joey Gase, Brendan Vaughan and BJ McLeod rounded out the top-10.

Poole led the field to the green flag last night at 7:49 p.m. He and Ben Kennedy battled for the lead the first three laps, with Kennedy taking control on the fourth. Blake Koch powered by Kennedy on the high side, dropped down in front and took the lead on the fifth lap.

Caution flew for the first time on the eighth lap for rain, and the race was eventually pushed back to Saturday at noon.

After another short delay, we returned to green the following day on Lap 14.

Koch swapped the lead with Daniel Suarez for a lap, on Lap 17, before taking it back on Lap 18 and winning the first stage.

Justin Allgaier opted not to pit and assumed the race lead, which he lost to Poole on the ensuing restart.

Lightning brought out the third caution on lap 37, halting the race for roughly two and a half hours.

Resuming racing on Lap 41, the lead turned into a frenzy, with it going from Kennedy to Ty Dillon and Poole.

Caution flew on lap 50 for a six-car wreck on the frontstretch.

Elliott Sadler took the lead under the caution when the leaders pitted and drove on to win the stage.

The lead went to Byron, who decided not to pit under the stage break.

The action in the third stage was briefly toned down, with the outside line vanishing for three laps. But Dillon, who got shuffled out of the bottom from third, pulled the outside line back toward the front and reclaimed the lead with 16 laps to go.

A two-car wreck in the tri-oval brought out the sixth caution with 14 to go.

The race returned to green for two laps with 10 to go before a two-car wreck in the tri-oval, this time collecting race leader Dillon and Poole, and brought out the seventh caution.

With Logano leading the way, the race resumed with four to go. Racing down the backstretch with three to go, he was bumped out of line and traveled over the grass (but didn’t damage the splitter).

Caution flew for the eighth time with two to go for a 16-car wreck on the backstretch, setting up the run to the finish.

The race lasted two hours, 13 minutes and 56 seconds at an average speed of 116.476 mph. There were 18 lead changes among 19 different drivers and nine cautions for 35 laps.

Sadler leaves with a 59-point lead over Byron.

[pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Firecracker-250-results-Daytona-7-1-17-N1715_UNOFFRES.pdf” title=”Firecracker 250 results Daytona 7-1-17 N1715_UNOFFRES”]

July 1, 2017
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series travels to Daytona International Speedway this weekend for the Coke Zero 400 while the XFINITY Series will hit the track for the Coca-Cola Firecracker 250.

Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

Thursday, June 29:

On Track:
2- 2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – NBCSN
3- 3:55 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – NBCSN
4- 4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN
5- 5:55 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series
2:30 p.m.: Cup Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
1 p.m.: Sam Flood and NBC Talent Season Preview
1:45 p.m.: Kurt Busch
2:15 p.m.: Chase Elliott
4:15 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Friday, June 30

On Track:
2:10 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN
4:10 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN
7:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) – NBCSN – Postponed to Saturday

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
1 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
1:30 p.m.: Matt Tifft, Peter Intermaggio, Carol Eggert
3:30 p.m.: Brad Keselowski
3:45 p.m.: Richard Petty
5:30 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Qualifying

Saturday, July 1

On Track:
Noon: XFINITY Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) – CNBC – (Find CNBC on your TV)
7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola (160 laps, 400 miles) – NBC
11 p.m.: Cup Series Post-Race – NBCSN

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
2:30 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race
4 p.m.: Andrew Lumish, The Good Cemetarian
4:15 p.m.: Gen. Wesley Clark, Richard Childress, Austin Dillon
11 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Race

Race Details:

NASCAR XFINITY Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250
Date: Friday, June 30 – Postponed to Saturday – See above for complete details
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 miles (100 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 30), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on lap 100)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola
Date: Saturday, July 1
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, 7:30 p.m. ET, NASCAR America Saturday, NBCSN, 5 p.m.
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (160 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 160)

Complete TV Schedule

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

June 28, 2017
William Byron Gets First Career XFINITY Win at Iowa Speedway

NEWTON, Iowa — Last week, a blink-of-an-eye moment weighed heavily on William Byron.

Saturday, the driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet lifted his head and shouted out a pent-up yelp that formed the suitable soundtrack the rookie’s first career NASCAR XFINITY Series victory.

“I feel it all kind of comes around in racing and last week we were so close,” said Byron, who finished a mere .012 seconds behind Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin last Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. “You’ve got to have a little bit off luck to win every race that we win and I feel like we got one back for last week.”

The final restart with 10 laps to go came just 11 laps after the previous one during which Byron pitted and capped off fuel while taking tires.

Good fortune finally found Byron again, who never was seriously challenged down the stretch, but only had four or five laps of fuel left before his last pit stop helped set the stage for victory.

“We definitely got a huge break the way the caution fell right there,” Byron’s crew chief, Dave Elenz, told FS1 pit reporters during a caution period with 15 laps to go.

Byron made the most of it. He won last year at Iowa, but in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“It’s awesome just to kind of come this far,” said Byron, who received a congratulatory call from Rick Hendrick after the win.

The ninth caution of the night also benefitted some less familiar top-10 finishers, including Ryan Sieg, who ran second to notch his fourth career top-five finish in 117 series starts. Tyler Reddick took third.

“It was fun racing with Tyler at the end,” Sieg said. “We had a little bit of a battle.”

Christopher Bell — in the second leg of his first double-duty weekend — started on the pole and remained on point the entire first stage, fending off an early challenge from teammate Kyle Benjamin, and a late charge from Sam Hornish, Jr., who made his first start in nine months.

Hornish led 183 laps while winning last season at Iowa, but misfortune struck 19 laps into stage two as Bell made contact with his rear fender — an encounter that sent Hornish careening into the wall.

It also ended the veteran stock car and open-wheel racer’s first night back with Team Penske.

“He came up pretty hard when he got loose and hit me,” said Hornish, who is slated to run a limited schedule this season. “Of course, we got the brunt of it. I’m disappointed. This is one of my favorite places to come to.”

Points leader Elliott Sadler shares that sentiment — even though mostly bad luck plagued his night.

He qualified fourth, but was sent to the rear after an unapproved pre-race adjustment was made on his car. No matter. He’d ascended to fifth by the end of the first stage and ended up eighth.

Bell settled for 16th after he was collected in an incident involving Brennan Poole and Ryan Reed — the very caution that benefitted Byron and others.

Bell led 152 laps to Byron’s 78, but as both drivers know, it’s the last lap that counts.

Especially Byron, who vocally and visually celebrated this week after enduring quiet disappointment the last.

“To get second last week kind of hurt, just because we were that close,” Byron said. “But I feel like it gave us extra motivation, and I feel like last year the beginning of the summer was when I kind of hit my stride and I think we won back-to-back, so to now have a second and a first feels really good.”

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen

Iowa Speedway – Newton, Iowa – Saturday, June 24, 2017

               1. (6) William Byron #, Chevrolet, 250.

               2. (22) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 250.

               3. (15) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 250.

               4. (14) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 250.

               5. (7) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 250.

               6. (20) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 250.

               7. (18) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 250.

               8. (4) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 250.

               9. (5) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 250.

               10. (31) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 250.

               11. (30) Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, 250.

               12. (27) Quin Houff, Chevrolet, 250.

               13. (25) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 250.

               14. (32) David Starr, Chevrolet, 250.

               15. (28) Dylan Lupton, Toyota, 250.

               16. (1) Christopher Bell(i), Toyota, 250.

               17. (26) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 250.

               18. (37) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 250.

               19. (17) Ryan Reed, Ford, 250.

               20. (21) Ben Kennedy #, Chevrolet, 249.

               21. (11) Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 249.

              22. (9) Matt Tifft #, Toyota, 249.

               23. (23) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 249.

               24. (24) Cole Custer #, Ford, 249.

               25. (13) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 249.

               26. (16) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 249.

               27. (8) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 249.

               28. (38) Timmy Hill, Dodge, 247.

               29. (34) Ray Black II, Chevrolet, 246.

               30. (19) Spencer Gallagher #, Chevrolet, 244.

               31. (2) Kyle Benjamin, Toyota, 241.

               32. (12) Scott Lagasse Jr., Chevrolet, 236.

               33. (33) Dexter Bean, Chevrolet, Accident, 161.

               34. (10) Ty Majeski, Ford, Accident, 143.

               35. (40) Mike Harmon, Dodge, Engine, 121.

               36. (29) Harrison Rhodes, Chevrolet, Engine, 118.

               37. (3) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, Accident, 78.

               38. (39) Carl Long, Toyota, Brakes, 18.

               39. (36) Morgan Shepherd, Chevrolet, Vibration, 16.

               40. (35) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, Electrical, 6.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 85.859 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 32 Mins, 52 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.140 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 9 for 65 laps.

Lead Changes: 11 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   C. Bell(i) 1-64; R. Black II 65; W. Byron # 66-86; J. Allgaier 87-91; W. Byron # 92-103; C. Bell(i) 104-114; B. Gaughan 115-123; W. Byron # 124-142; C. Bell(i) 143-219; W. Byron # 220-224; D. Lupton 225-229; W. Byron # 230-250.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): C. Bell(i) 3 times for 152 laps; W. Byron # 5 times for 78 laps; B. Gaughan 1 time for 9 laps; J. Allgaier 1 time for 5 laps; D. Lupton 1 time for 5 laps; R. Black II 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 20,22,9,7,1,18,14,3,16,21

Stage #2 Top Ten: 62,9,20,1,51,2,39,7,16,28

June 24, 2017
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Sonoma and Iowa

The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series travels to Sonoma Raceway this weekend while the XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series head to Iowa Speedway. There are 38 cars on the entry list for the Cup Series Toyota / Save Mart 350. Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

Friday, June 23:

On Track – Sonoma Raceway:
3-4:55 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice – FS1 (Canada: TSN 2)
6:30-7:55 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)

On Track – Iowa Speedway:
10 a.m.-11:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice – FS1
12:15-1:15 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
5-5:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
6:05 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying
8:30 p.m.: Camping World Series M&M’s 200 presented by Casey’s General Store (200 laps, 175 miles) – FS1

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
2:30 p.m.: Cup Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
10:30 a.m.: Alon Day (No. 23 Earthwater Toyota)
11 a.m.: Clint Bowyer (No. 14 Cars 3 Ford)
11:15 a.m.: Kyle Larson (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
2:15 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr. (No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota)
2:30 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet)

Saturday, June 24:

On Track – Sonoma Raceway:
2:45 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Qualifying – FS1 (Canada; TSN 5)

On Track – Iowa Speedway:
6:15 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Qualifying – Airs taped delayed at 7 p.m. on FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
8:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen (250 laps, 218.75 miles) – FS1 (Canada: TSN 2)

Sunday, June 25

On Track – Sonoma Raceway:
3 p.m.: Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 (110 laps, 218.9 miles) – FS1 (Canada; TSN 2)

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
9 a.m.: Cristela Alonzo (Grand Marshal) and John Lasseter (Official Pace Car Driver)

Race Details:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race: M&M’s 200 presented by Casey’s General Store – Iowa Speedway
Date: Friday, June 23
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 175 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

NASCAR XFINITY Series
Race: American Ethanol E15 250 presented by Enogen – Iowa Speedway
Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 218.75 miles (250 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on lap 250)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Race: Toyota/Save Mart 350
Place: Sonoma Raceway
Date: Sunday, June 25
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 218.9 miles (110 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 25), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on lap 110)

Complete TV Schedule

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

June 21, 2017
Denny Hamlin Wins a Race of Inches

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 17, 2017) – Denny Hamlin used a pass coming off of turn four on the last lap to win the Irish Hills 250. He beat rookie William Byron to the line by just 0.012 seconds. It was the closest NASCAR XFINITY Series finish ever at Michigan International Speedway.

Matt Tifft spun off of turn four bringing out the seventh caution of the day with five laps left. It gave everybody one final chance to take a deep breath for an intense restart.

Byron led the field to the green flag with just two laps to go, but Denny Hamlin stayed right on his door the final two circuits. On the last lap, Hamlin got Byron a little loose and then it was just a drag race to the checkered flag.

Hamlin used side drafting to his advantage to slow the momentum of Byron. And that was just enough to win the Irish Hills 250.

“He (Byron) did a great job and really I knew he had a really good car,” Hamlin said. “That last long run that we had, he was about to pass me, so he’s done a great job. Obviously, he’s one of NASCAR’s next future superstars and I wanted to race him clean. I wasn’t going to turn him around or anything like that, so I stayed low below him and got him a little bit loose through 1 and 2 that allowed me to get position and then into turn 3 we both got sideways, he slid up just enough to let me barely get to that left rear and it was just enough to drag race past him.”

The margin of victory tied the 2010 Montreal race as the sixth-closest margin of victory since the advent of electronic scoring in XFINITY Series.

“We were so close,” Byron said. “It really hurts to be that close and not win. He side drafted me off of turn four and that is the run he needed to the line and I just could not get enough back to him to get to the line fast enough. It hurts, but we will get one soon.”

The action started early and involved the front row. Kyle Busch won the pole with a qualifying speed of 193.564 mph earlier in the morning. He got a quick jump on the field, but before he got to turn one he had to fend off a challenge.

Brad Keselowski, starting from the inside of row one, got a run on Busch and quickly jumped to the outside. Busch slipped up the track and made contact with Keselowski’s front bumper. The slight contact sent Busch into a long slide, but he did not hit anything.

The first caution did not slow the aggression of the drivers. On the restart, they went four wide into turn one.

Stage two turned into strategy and Elliott Sadler was the big winner. Keselowski was leading until a three-car crash brought out a caution flag on lap 39. After pit stops, Cole Custer came out front. He led until Keselowski chased him down.

Just when it looked like Keselowski would win his second stage of the day, a caution flew on lap 58. Keselowski gave up the lead to pit, allowing Sadler to win the stage.

A late race caution bunched up the field. After a round of pit stops, Denny Hamlin led Keselowski out of the pits.

Keselowski got a push from Byron to take the lead, but Byron got a push from Hamlin to take the lead. And then the final caution flew.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series held two practice sessions on Saturday in preparation for the FireKeepers Casino 400. Martin Truex Jr. led the day’s opening practice session with a speed of 198.385 mph. Jimmie Johnson suffered a spin in practice and will be forced to start the race from the back.

Keselowski led the final practice with a speed of 197.401. Busch, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Michigan native Erik Jones rounded out the top five.

The FireKeepers Casino 400 starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Larson will lead the field to the green flag after winning the pole award. Tickets remain for the race.

Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is NASCAR’s fastest racetrack. It has been the love of NASCAR racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike for nearly 50 years.

2017 Michigan International Speedway Schedule
Sunday, June 18      Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400
Friday, Aug. 11        Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice and Qualifying
Saturday, Aug. 12   NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LTi Printing 200
Sunday, Aug. 13      Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pure Michigan 400

[pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Michigan-NXS-IH-250-Results-6-17-17.pdf” title=”Michigan NXS IH 250 Results 6-17-17″]

June 17, 2017
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Michigan and Gateway

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series will compete at Michigan International Speedway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series travels to Gateway Motorsports Park.

Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

Friday, June 16:

On Track – Michigan International Speedway:
11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS2
12:30-1:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS2
3-3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS2
4:15 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2

Garage Cam: (Watch Live)
10:30 a.m.: Cup Series
Noon: XFINITY Series

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
9:15 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
9:30 a.m.: Wood Brothers Racing
10:15 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
10:30 a.m.: Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Tyler Reddick
1 p.m.: Joey Logano
1:15 p.m.: Kyle Larson
1:30 p.m.: Erik Jones
5 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

Saturday, June 17:

On Track – Michigan International Speedway:
9-9:55 a.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS2
10 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2
Noon-12:50 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS2
1:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Irish Hills 250 at Michigan (125 laps, 250 miles) – FS1

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

On Track – Gateway Motorsports Park:
10:30-11:25 a.m.: Truck Series Practice – No TV
12:30-1:25 p.m.: Truck Series Final Practice – No TV
5:45 p.m.: Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying (tape delayed on FS1 at 7 p.m.)
8:30 p.m.: Truck Series Drivin’ for Linemen 200 (160 laps, 200 miles) – FS1

Sunday, June 18

On Track – Michigan International Speedway:
3 p.m.: Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 (200 laps, 400 miles) – FS1

Press Conference:
6:30 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Race (time approx.)  (Watch live)

Race Details:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race: Drivin’ For Linemen 200 – Gateway Motorsports Park
Date: Saturday, June 17
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 200 miles (160 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 35), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on lap 160)

NASCAR XFINITY Series
Race: Irish Hills 250 – Michigan International Speedway
Date: Saturday, June 17
Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 1 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 miles (125 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on lap 125)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Race: FireKeepers Casino 400 – Michigan International Speedway
Date: Sunday, June 18
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 60), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

Complete TV Schedule

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

June 15, 2017
Keselowski Swipes Pocono XFINITY Victory

By Reid Spencer | NASCAR.com

LONG POND, Pa. — With a dramatic last-lap pass — the first of the season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series — Brad Keselowski won Saturday’s Pocono Green 250 at Pocono Raceway, ending a 46-race drought for the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

Keselowski swept the stages in the 100-lap event but couldn’t get past leader Kyle Larson until he reached the Long Pond straightaway on the final circuit. Keselowski powered off the first turn, down-shifted and blew past Larson before the cars reached the Tunnel Turn.

Justin Allgaier followed Keselowski past Larson and finished second, .615 seconds behind the race winner. Larson came home third, followed by Elliott Sadler and Daniel Suarez.

Keselowski’s victory didn’t come without a fight. On a restart with 16 laps left, after a caution for Brandon Jones’ blown left rear tire and a frontstetch wreck on Lap 78, Keselowski was on the inside of the front row, taking the green flag beside race leader Cole Custer.

A push from Elliott Sadler got Keselowski to the front, but Sadler continued the shove into Turn 1. Keselowski sailed high in the corner, narrowly keeping the no. 22 Mustang off the wall.

“I got a good push, but the push didn’t stop, and I found myself in the third lane in Turn 1, which is somewhere you don’t want to be,” said Keselowski, who fell back to 13th in the running order. “I got down there and my rear tires were off the ground and went straight, trying not to back it into the wall. With fewer than 16 laps to get back to the front, Keselowski began to bully his way through the field. He split the two cars of Brendan Gaughan and polesitter Kyle Benjamin, bouncing off both in the process.

By Lap 97 he had reeled in Allgaier, and when the No. 7 Chevrolet slipped slightly, Keselowski charged past and took off after Larson. Then came the winning pass in Turn 1.

“I drove by a bunch of cars and just pushed as hard as I could,” Keselowski said of his closing. “It looked like Kyle’s car was struggling just a little bit and he was getting tight in the middle, loose off. He was doing a really good job holding it low so I couldn’t get a run. Just on the last lap, I got on his bumper and got him loose.

“He was trying to do the side draft thing down the backstretch and all the way down the apron. That had to look pretty cool. Hell of a race. Really happy for the 22 team. It’s been a while.”

When Keselowski dropped back on the final restart, Larson found himself in a surprising position.

“I was not expecting to get the lead on that restart,” Larson said. “Elliott gave Brad too good a push in Turn 1, and then Elliott overshot the Tunnel Turn.”

After charging past Sadler on the restart lap, Larson protected his position until the first corner of the last lap.

“I couldn’t get back to the gas as quick as I wanted to — my car was just plowing — and Brad got a great run off the corner,” Larson said.

Allgaier was disappointed with second place, but he had the consolation of assuming the series lead by one point over Sadler. Those two drivers are light years ahead of their JR Motorsports teammate, William Byron, who stands third, 62 points behind Allgaier.

On the eve of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut in the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. finished 11th in his last scheduled ride in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Mustang.

Wallace finishes his stint with RFR fourth in the series standings, 88 points behind the leader.

Benjamin led 28 laps in his second NASCAR XFINITY Series race – one fewer than Keselowski’s 29 – but fell back to 16th at the finish after the late contact with the eventual race winner.

Race results | Series standings

June 10, 2017
Pocono Raceway – Did You Know?

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series head to Pocono Raceway this week while the Camping World Truck Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway. The Cup Series “Axalta presents the Pocono 400” headlines the weekend’s competition, Sunday at 3 p.m. on FS1. Thirty-nine drivers are entered in the Cup event.

But did you know that one of those 39 drivers is Darrell Wallace Jr., who will make his Cup Series debut at Pocono in the iconic No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford? On Monday, Wallace was named as the interim driver for Aric Almirola who is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident at Kansas Speedway on May 13.

Wallace is determined to make the most of this opportunity.

“I know I’ll go out there and prove to everybody inside the racetrack, outside the racetrack, on the TV, that I belong in the Cup Series,” he said. “Do the best that I can. Give an extra 200% each and every time I climb in the car for Ford, for Richard Petty, for everybody on the team, for Smithfield, to go out there and make the opportunity the greatest it has been.”

Did you know that the weekend will feature another first during the XFINITY Series Pocono Green 250? FOX will feature a special drivers-only broadcast that will be called by active Cup Series drivers? Kevin Harvick will handle the play-by-play announcing and will be joined by Joey Logano and Clint Bowyers as analysts. Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will cover pit road while Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin host the event coverage from the Hollywood Hotel studio.

While we’re talking about firsts, we can’t forget the winner of the inaugural race in 1974, Richard Petty. But did you know that prior to 2012, all of the Cup races at Pocono were 500 miles? Beginning in 2012 the race length was shortened to 400 miles. There have been 78 Cup Series races at the 2.5-mile track, one race each year from 1974-1981 and two races per year since 1982.

Thirty-five different drivers have won at Pocono with Jeff Gordon leading the way with six wins. Of the active drivers, five have multiple wins at the track including Denny Hamlin (four), Jimmie Johnson (three), and Kurt Busch (three). Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both have two wins.

Kurt Busch is the defending race winner but did you know he has the series-best driver rating (105.7)? The Stewart-Haas Racing driver also has 13 top fives, 18 top 10s and two poles at Pocono. He is currently 16th in the points standings.

Denny Hamlin (105.6) has the second-best driver rating followed by Jimmie Johnson (104.8), Chase Elliott (102.7) and Kyle Larson (95.6). All of these drivers are in the top-10 of the series standings but both Hamlin and Elliott are still searching for their first win this year.

But did you know that the best chance for victory at Pocono begins with qualifying well? The pole is the most proficient starting position, having produced 15 winners while nine races have been won from the second starting position.

Only seven drivers have swept Pocono in a single season. They include Bobby Allison (1982), Bill Elliott (1985), Tim Richmond (1986), Bobby Labonte (1999), Jimmie Johnson (2004) and Denny Hamlin (2006).

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the latest to sweep Pocono in 2014. In his past 11 starts at the track, Earnhardt has nine top-10 finishes including two wins and a runner-up finish last June.

Tune in to FS1 this Sunday at 3 p.m. for the Pocono 400 to find out who will take home the trophy. In the meantime, watch the video below as Earnhardt holds off Kevin Harvick for the Pocono sweep.

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

June 7, 2017
NASCAR Racing Schedule for Pocono and Texas

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series head to Pocono Raceway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway. There are 39 drivers on the entry list for the Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 race.

Please check below for the complete schedule. All times are Eastern.

Thursday, June 8:

On Track – Texas Motor Speedway:
4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice – No TV (Follow live)
6-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice – No TV (Follow live)
8-8:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – No TV (Follow live)

Friday, June 9:
On Track – Pocono Raceway:
11 a.m.- 12:25 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
1- 1:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
3- 3:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
4 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

Press Conferences: (Watch live)
9 a.m.: Ty Dillon
9:15 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
9:30 a.m.: Darrell Wallace Jr.
10:15 a.m.: Kurt Busch
10:30 a.m.: Cole Custer, Brennan Poole, Brendan Gaughan
12:45 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
1:15 p.m.: Chris Buescher
1:45 p.m.: Ryan Newman
5 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Qualifying

Garage Cam: (Watch live)
10:30 a.m.: Cup Series
12:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series

On Track -Texas Motor Speedway:
5:35 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – No TV (Follow live)
8 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series winstaronlinegaming.com 400 (167 laps, 250.5 miles – FS1

Saturday, June 10:

On Track – Pocono Raceway:
9:35 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 Pocono Green 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) – FOX – Special Drivers-Only Broadcast with on-air time of 12:30 p.m. ET

Press Conference: (Watch live)

3:30 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race

Sunday, June 11:
On Track – Pocono Raceway:
3 p.m.: Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 (160 laps, 400 miles) – FS1

Press Conference: (Watch live)
6 p.m.: Post-Cup Series Race

Race Details:

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race: winstaronlinegaming.com 400 – Texas Motor Speedway
Date: Friday, June 9
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250.5 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 167)

NASCAR XFINITY Series
Race: Pocono Green 250 – Pocono Raceway
Date: Saturday, June 10
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: FOX, 12:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 miles (100 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 25), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on lap 100)

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Race: AXALTA presents the Pocono 400 – Pocono Raceway
Date: Sunday, June 11
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (160 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 50), Stage 2 (Ends on lap 100), Final Stage (Ends on lap 160)

Complete TV Schedule

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

June 7, 2017