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Tag: Chicagoland

  • NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview-Chicago

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Preview-Chicago

    The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Chicagoland Speedway this week for the final race of the regular season. On the entry list, there are currently 32 Trucks entered for the TheHouse.com 225.

    Kyle Busch has won in 2016, 2014 and 2013. However, due to the NASCAR rule not letting drivers race in the XFINITY/Trucks playoffs, Busch, among other cup drivers are not allowed to race in other series, if they have five or more years of experience. Therefore, we can expect a new winner in 2017.

    1. John Hunter Nemechek – Nemechek can end the regular season on a high note with a win. In 2015, he won the race after leading just two laps of the scheduled 147. Sure, Nemechek only has two starts at Chicago, but he has an average finish of 7.5.
    2. Johnny Sauter – If Sauter wants to keep rebounding and possibly get a win, Chicago might just be the place. He has four top fives and six top 10s. Sauter finished fifth in last year’s race. He might just get a win this Friday night.
    3. Matt Crafton – Crafton, just like Sauter, has competed in all eight races at Chicago, however, he’ll have to step up his average finish. In eight starts, Crafton has three top fives and five top 10 finishes, with an average finish of 9.9, but one DNF which came in the 2016 race. Crafton could erase last year’s disappointing finish by winning and start the playoffs on a high note.
    4. Christopher Bell – It would be a mistake to count Bell out of competing for a win. In his only start which came in 2016, he started 12th and finished fourth. Bell is also hungry for a win as he hasn’t won since over a month ago at Kentucky. Watch for Bell to be a strong contender Friday night.
    5. Austin Cindric – Cindric is coming off a momentum win at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park from Labor Day weekend. He may be peaking at just the right time before the playoffs start. Two practices are scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The first practice takes place at 3:30 p.m. ET with the final practice at 6:30 p.m. ET.Qualifying is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. ET on FS1.The race is slated for 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on FS1 and MRN Radio.
  • Chase Rookie Larson Sweeps Saturday Chicago Practices

    Chase Rookie Larson Sweeps Saturday Chicago Practices

  • Hamlin Survives Spin, Steals Win in First Chase Race at Chicagoland

    Hamlin Survives Spin, Steals Win in First Chase Race at Chicagoland

    By Reid Spencer
    NASCAR Wire Service    JOLIET, Ill. – In the theater, using the expression “Break a leg” is a way to wish an actor good luck on opening night.Twelve days before Sunday’s opening Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, Denny Hamlin tore the ACL in his right leg playing basketball.Late in the myAFibRisk.com 400 at the 1.5-mile track, Hamlin found his good fortune in the form of a serendipitous pit call on the part of crew chief Dave Rogers.

    Staying out on old tires, Hamlin grabbed the lead moments after a restart with five laps left and streaked away to a .963-second victory over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards, who surged from sixth to second during that restart on Lap 263 of 267.

    Hamlin saw an opening as the cars roared toward Turn 1 on the restart.

    “It was ballsy, but I’d been stuck so many times three-wide in the middle,” Hamlin said of the winning move. “The front cars almost have a disadvantage to the back cars the way it all plays out.

    “We got a great restart, and I just held it wide open through (Turns) 1 and 2, and it stuck. We were able to get in that clean air and take off.”

    Remarkably, Hamlin won from the 29th starting position, rallying from a spin on Lap 2 that left him a lap down. Hamlin didn’t get back on the lead lap until he took advantage of a wave-around before a restart on Lap 129.

    “Luckily, that one caution (for debris on the backstretch on Lap 122) came out that allowed us to get the wave-around and get back on the lead lap,” Hamlin said. “We had a fast car, and that was the most important thing. We stretched out there at the end even with no tires.

    “I’m proud of this effort. The pit crew did a phenomenal job again and now we’re looking forward to the next round.”

    Hamlin’s first victory at Chicagoland, his second of the season and the 16th of his career ensured the driver of the No. 11 JGR Toyota will advance from the Challenger Round to the Contender Round of the Chase, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to New Hampshire and the second race of the postseason.

    Reigning champion Kevin Harvick wasn’t as fortunate. The driver who vowed to pound the JGR drivers into the ground three days before the Chase began instead pounded the Turn 3 wall with the rear of his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Chevrolet after contact with Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Chevy during a Lap 135 restart flattened Harvick’s left rear tire.

    “I got a pretty good restart, and obviously, the 22 (Joey Logano) and 48 got a good run, and I just held my line and the 48 just slammed into the side of my door,” Harvick said. “That was pretty much it.”

    Johnson had a simple explanation for the contact.

    “He was pinning me down, and I’ve got to get back up on the track,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t say that what he did is any different than other situations I’ve been in like that. When you’re in Kevin’s situation, you want to give that inside car a bad angle, so they’ve got to lift.

    “I was fine with lifting, but I had to get back on the race track. So I worked my way back onto the track… I pulled down inside of him, and then we were door-to-door, and then, as I moved back into the racing groove, that’s when we touched door-to-door, tire-to-tire.”

    Now last in the Chase standings, Harvick feels he must win one of the next two races to advance to the Contender Round. That’s not a new position for the driver of the No. 4 Chevy. Last year he triumphed in a must-win situation at Phoenix before taking the checkered flag at Homestead to secure his first premier series title.

    “We can win anywhere,” Harvick said after the race. “We could have won today. It’s just a matter of putting a couple of days together and being able to come back to Victory Lane. Same thing as last year.”

    After the race, Harvick, who finished 42nd, confronted Johnson and pounded the six-time Sprint Cup champion with a blow to the chest. Kept apart by one of Harvick’s lieutenants, the drivers then went their separate ways without further incident.

    Kurt Busch, who like Hamlin stayed out on old tires, led the field to green on Lap 263 after the sixth caution for debris in Turn 1 slowed the race. Busch fell to third at the finish, followed by 2014 Chase runner-up Ryan Newman, who posted his first top-five finish since April at Bristol.

    Matt Kenseth ran fifth and assumed the series lead, bolstered by 12 bonus points earned for four victories in the 26-race regular season.

    Notes: In a manner of speaking, history repeated itself where Hamlin is concerned. In 2010, he won at Texas, just 10 days after surgery to repair the torn ACL in his left leg… With 12 of 16 drivers slated to advance to the Contender Round, Jamie McMurray (16th on Sunday), Paul Menard (17th), Clint Bowyer (19th) and Harvick are currently below the cut line.

    NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race – myAFibRisk.com 400
    Chicagoland Speedway
    Joliet, Illinois
    Sunday, September 20, 2015

    1. (29) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267, $306315.
    2. (14) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 267, $213655.
    3. (9) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 267, $195005.
    4. (6) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 267, $180280.
    5. (12) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 267, $170641.
    6. (2) Joey Logano, Ford, 267, $162903.
    7. (18) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 267, $144478.
    8. (3) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267, $158111.
    9. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267, $163361.
    10. (20) Aric Almirola, Ford, 267, $146381.
    11. (11) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 267, $152321.
    12. (19) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 267, $122025.
    13. (4) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 267, $131670.
    14. (10) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 267, $148986.
    15. (28) David Ragan, Toyota, 267, $131664.
    16. (13) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 266, $138141.
    17. (16) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 266, $110350.
    18. (27) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 265, $110250.
    19. (26) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 265, $135108.
    20. (24) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 265, $126903.
    21. (17) Greg Biffle, Ford, 265, $131078.
    22. (21) Brian Scott(i), Chevrolet, 265, $115003.
    23. (31) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 265, $120278.
    24. (8) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 264, $112320.
    25. (23) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 264, $124034.
    26. (25) Danica Patrick, Chevrolet, 264, $104095.
    27. (36) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 263, $95495.
    28. (30) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 263, $136470.
    29. (33) Cole Whitt, Ford, 263, $105853.
    30. (22) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, 262, $119290.
    31. (38) Brett Moffitt #, Ford, 262, $92745.
    32. (35) David Gilliland, Ford, 262, $108592.
    33. (40) Josh Wise, Ford, 261, $90845.
    34. (37) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 261, $90645.
    35. (34) JJ Yeley(i), Toyota, 261, $90410.
    36. (15) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 260, $108220.
    37. (32) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 259, $89953.
    38. (41) Jeb Burton #, Toyota, 259, $84528.
    39. (39) Matt DiBenedetto #, Toyota, 258, $80465.
    40. (42) Reed Sorenson, Ford, 258, $76465.
    41. (43) Timmy Hill(i), Chevrolet, 255, $72465.
    42. (1) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 209, $126690.
    43. (5) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 198, $101901.

    Average Speed of Race Winner: 140.117 mph.
    Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 51 Mins, 30 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.962 Seconds.
    Caution Flags: 6 for 28 laps.
    Lead Changes: 17 among 10 drivers.

    Lap Leaders: K. Harvick 1-5; J. Logano 6; M. Truex Jr. 7-45; Kyle Busch 46-128; K. Harvick 129-133; Kyle Busch 134-143; J. Gordon 144-183; Kurt Busch 184; Kyle Busch 185; K. Larson 186-187; C. Edwards 188-193; Kyle Busch 194-220; Kurt Busch 221-239; D. Hamlin 240-243; M. Kenseth 244; Kurt Busch 245-261; J. Gordon 262; D. Hamlin 263-267.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Busch 4 times for 121 laps; J. Gordon 2 times for 41 laps; M. Truex Jr. 1 time for 39 laps; Kurt Busch 3 times for 37 laps; K. Harvick 2 times for 10 laps; D. Hamlin 2 times for 9 laps; C. Edwards 1 time for 6 laps; K. Larson 1 time for 2 laps; M. Kenseth 1 time for 1 lap; J. Logano 1 time for 1 lap.

    Top 16 in Points: M. Kenseth – 2,052; D. Hamlin – 2,050; C. Edwards – 2,049; Kyle Busch – 2,049; Kurt Busch – 2,048; J. Logano – 2,048; J. Johnson – 2,045; R. Newman – 2,040; B. Keselowski – 2,039; D. Earnhardt Jr. – 2,038; M. Truex Jr. – 2,035; J. Gordon – 2,031; J. Mcmurray – 2,028; P. Menard – 2,027; C. Bowyer – 2,025; K. Harvick – 2,009.

     

  • Issue with Helmet Cooling System to Blame for Jimmie Johnson’s Dehydration at Richmond

    Issue with Helmet Cooling System to Blame for Jimmie Johnson’s Dehydration at Richmond

    Jimmie Johnson’s team found a problem with his helmet’s cooling system that led to his dehydration following the race at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night. After an eighth place finish, as Johnson exited his car, he began experiencing leg cramps and dizziness. He was assisted to the infield care center where he received five liters of intravenous fluids.

    “This afternoon just before I left for New York for my media obligations for NASCAR, the team found an issue with the cooling system for my helmet,” Johnson explained. “Basically, it was blowing warm air. It’s nice to have a good idea as to what went wrong and why I got so hot in the race car. It’s a newer system that we’ve implemented, so we’re just going back to our old faithful system that’s worked for years and years. We should have the problem rectified.”

    The six-time champion is considered one of the fittest drivers in the garage, incorporating exercise and proper nutrition into his training regimen to stay at the top of his game.

    “I’m always looking at different ways to adjust my routine and nutrition going into a race and coming out of a race,” he said. “I really felt like everything was in line (at Richmond) and still do after reviewing everything. Now after finding the helmet cooling issue, I’m confident in my plan going into races. We found the issue.”

    “I feel much better,” Johnson continued. “I felt a lot better Saturday evening after the infield care center. I attended the triathlon that my foundation put on Sunday morning and then headed down to Charleston for a buddy’s wedding. But I’m doing much better and feeling good.”

    He’s already looking ahead to the Chase and the media tour promoting it including appearances on NBC’s “Today” show and NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

    “I’m excited to get started with the Chase and head to New York to do all the appearances that I have up there and make my way to Chicagoland for more appearances and media on Thursday,” he stated. “It’s an exciting time for our sport and an exciting time for the Lowe’s team.”

    His primary focus, however, appears to be on the upcoming race as Johnson ended his remarks by saying, “I’m hoping to get started this weekend in Chicago with a win.”

     

  • History Says That Title Hopes May Be Over For Earnhardt & Logano

    History Says That Title Hopes May Be Over For Earnhardt & Logano

    Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were both having respectable runs at Chicagoland until their races went up in smoke…literally. Engine failures ended their days prematurely and the pair brought home disappointing results of 35th and 37th in the chase opener. The rain delay that forced NASCAR to finish at night definitely had a deleterious effect on the engines which may have consequently ended the dreams of two championship hopefuls very early in this chase…the nose damage to the No.88 may have been the reason for Dale’s motor giving up though. Whatever the reason, the fact is that these two are now 52 and 53 points back of the leader which is a margin that will certainly be difficult to make up. Can it be done? Of course it can; especially with Talladega on the schedule but history says that they can’t do it.

    Last Place In Points After Chase Race #1

    2012: Jeff Gordon was 47pts out and went on to finish 10th in the standings

    2011: Denny Hamlin was 41pts out and went on to finish 9th in the standings

    2010: Clint Bowyer went on to finish 10th in the standings with the old points system

    2009: Kasey Kahne went on to finish 10th in the standings

    2008: Matt Kenseth went on to finish 11th in the standings

    2007: Kurt Busch went on to finish 7th in the standings

    2006: Kyle Busch went on to finish 10th in the standings (10 Driver Chase Field)

    2005: Kurt Busch went on to finish 10th in the standings

    2004: Jeremy Mayfield went on to finish 10th in the standings

    If the pattern continues, these two will most likely finish 9th or worse in points this year. The deficit they now face is more than a race’s worth of points but if they can be spot on the rest of the season while others use up their mulligans; they can definitely work their way back into contention. Unfortunately, I don’t see Earnhardt or Logano being able to put together nine consecutive perfect races although a large contingent of the NASCAR fan base, aka JR Nation would argue otherwise.

    Eventual Champion’s Points Position After Chase Race #1

    2004: 1st

    2005: 1st

    2006: 9th

    2007: 1st

    2008: 1st

    2009: 2nd

    2010: 6th

    2011: 2nd

    2012: 1st

    History also tells us that Matt Kenseth or Kyle Busch will most likely come away with the championship this year. Only twice in the chase’s nine year history has the eventual champion left the first race worse than 2nd in points. On both occasions, it was 5-time champ Jimmie Johnson. That 9th place in ’06 really stands and it was only a ten person chase at that time so how did Jimmie come back to win the title after that? He had five consecutive top two finishes at the end of the year; that’s how. With six races to go; he was still back in 8th spot. It would take an incredible run like the one Johnson had to put yourself back into contention for the championship after a dismal start to the chase.

    We used to talk about mulligans in the chase and how everyone has one that they can use. That’s no longer the case. With how competitive the Sprint Cup Series has become, you have to be perfect with no mistakes in every single race from Chicagoland all the way to Homestead. In 2011, Carl Edwards finished 2nd in the final three races of the year, led laps in eight of the ten chase races, put together seven top five’s, nine top 10’s and his worst finish in those ten weeks was 11th but it still wasn’t enough to win the championship!

    I think this year’s chase is going to be the most competitive one ever. I feel that there are about ten drivers with a legitimate shot at the title but Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Johnson are the obvious favorites. Those three also dominated the regular season but when we left Richmond; it was Carl Edwards leading the points so it’s anyone’s guess who will hoist the Cup in November. I believe that this chase will be about survival and winning will be a necessity to keep your title hopes alive. It will come down to the final race, the final laps and maybe even the last corner of the last lap.

  • The Final Word – Matt takes Chicago, Jimmie to take Loudon, leaving Junior and Joey to split the final eight?

    The Final Word – Matt takes Chicago, Jimmie to take Loudon, leaving Junior and Joey to split the final eight?

    After the week’s worth of who is in, who is not, who has been naughty, who has been wronged, we got back to racing. Sadly, the most exciting thing about the day was watching Kyle, Larry, and Kenny discuss the week that was. The race, for me, turned out to be a bit of a let down.

    One lap kind of looked like the last one, that looked like the next one. The contenders moved into the front half of the pack and other than an official messing up Jimmie Johnson’s pit stop and Kurt Busch caught speeding, there was not much drama in the proceedings.

    Then the rains came. Five hours went by before things got back on track, by which time we caught the PGA event taking place about 70 miles north of Chicagoland, at least until they got washed out. We got to view some NFL action, at least when lightening was not delaying things in Tampa and Seattle. We had time to see the Yankees taking on the Red Sox. Well, not enough time, as I had to watch that game finish before they returned to the race track.

    I could have watched it live on computer or got Sirius about it, but I thought I would wait for the tape delayed version after the ball game. I should have known better, but like Clint I just sat there and scratched my arm. The race returned, live and in progress and with just 50 laps left.

    I know, I should dwell on the fact Matt Kenseth increased his points lead by winning his career high sixth race of the season. With his 30th career triumph he now sits eight points up on Chicago runner-up Kyle Busch. There was Jimmie Johnson, just 11 points out, after recovering from a failed jack as well as the official problems on pit road, to bring it home fifth. I could seek happiness at the discovery Joey Logano had blown up and would finish 37th, but then Karma bit my butt.

    Dale Earnhardt Jr was leading when the action returned to my screen. He then pitted and was buried way, way back, but not for long. He blew up spectacularly in a huge white plume to finish 35th and, like Logano, sits more than 50 points out.

    For the rest of the Chasers, they took the top six positions, ten of the top dozen, with Greg Biffle bringing up the rear among those who did not explode in 16th spot. The Biff is 11th in the standings, 31 points in arrears. Still, nobody is out of it yet if history tells us anything.

    Rating Chicago – 6/10 – Maybe it just rained on my parade. Kenseth fans no doubt thought it one heck of a great contest.

    In 2006, Jimmie Johnson started the Chase by finishing 39th at Chicago, though his 10.8 average Chase finish that year was the worst of the nine among series winners. Over the past six seasons, the eventual champion has averaged 3 Chase wins, 8 Top Tens, and 9 Top Twenties and an average finish of better than seventh. For Junior and Joey fans, that means a Top Five next Sunday would not be good enough.

    Now that we have put the controversy of the past week behind us, I wonder if the boys at Michael Waltrip Racing get it just yet? The boss seems to, saying they now know what they can do and what they can not. Clint Bowyer might, though his reputation takes a hit for the perception he can do one thing then lie about the circumstances surrounding what happened. To be honest, he would have been some kind of idiot to confess right after Richmond what he had done. It is like the teacher asking you about your homework assignment, and you reply how the family pet digested it. Clint didn’t raise a stink in his car, the dog did it. We have all been there. He will be forgiven, in time. Just not in enough time to see many wanting him to take the title this year.

    Martin Truex Jr does not get it. He figures if Ryan Newman gets in, he should, too. Wrong. He might not have done something wrong, but his organization did. It is the same as when a car has an illegal set up and the team gets sanctioned. The driver may have been an angel, but he gets penalized just the same. To be honest, with MWR being something of a pariah at the moment, no one really gives a damn what they want. As for Brian Vickers, he says he would do the same thing again if asked, which only means he does not mind running for negative points. What they did was fix the outcome of the race, and no professional sport allows that. If he did not get the memo, NASCAR has just reminded everyone that they will no longer tolerate it. End of story.

    Thus Sunday, it is off to Loudon and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Chasers have done well there. Three time winners include Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch. Bowyer has won there twice, while victory has been celebrated by Logano, Biffle, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch. If fact, the only ones who have never done so are Carl Edwards, Junior, and Kenseth. As for having the best average finish there over his career, it could be a good day for Jimmie Johnson. Enjoy the week.