Tag: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

  • Sprint Cup Qualifying Rained Out at Chicagoland

    Sprint Cup Qualifying Rained Out at Chicagoland

    Qualifying for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race has been rained out.

    Kyle Busch will lead the field to the green flag for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway following rain washing out the first practice which led to qualifying this afternoon being canceled. This is in line with NASCAR’s custom of not sending cars out for qualifying if practice is rained out.

    The Sprint Cup Series will be back on track for their first practice session following the Camping World Truck Series pole qualifying. Their remaining two practice sessions start Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

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  • Johnson: ‘I’d rather be dominating and be on top’

    Johnson: ‘I’d rather be dominating and be on top’

    When asked if he relishes being the “underdog,” Jimmie Johnson said he’d rather be on top dominating.

    Speaking to the media on Chase Media Day at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, the driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet responded to the question of liking the idea of being overlooked to prove everybody wrong.

    “No,” Johnson said plainly. “Hell, I’d rather be dominating and be on top and be the top pick. I don’t like where we’re at. We’re working hard. There’s a lot of optimism and a lot of great things happening. We just need to deliver consistently and execute at the track.

    The 2016 season for the six-time Sprint Cup Series champion is on pace to be his worst career season to date in terms of statistics. After 26 races, he’s amassed only two wins, seven top fives and 10 top-10 finishes. He’s on track to finish with the fewest top 10s in a season of his career, his 266 laps led have been the fewest of any season in his career, his finishing average for the season is teetering on being the lowest in his career and he finished a race in last place for the first time in his career this season with a 40th place finish at Watkins Glen International.

    It’s also been three years since his sixth championship, he’s yet to win the title in the elimination format of the Chase, has yet to advance past the second round, didn’t advance out of the first round last year and hasn’t won more than a single race in the Chase since 2013.

    Despite the stat of not making it past round 2 during the time of year that’s historically been his playground, Johnson isn’t worried.

    “Well, it’s only two years,” he said. “Everybody makes a big deal out of I haven’t won a championship in a while. I guess it’s 10 years since my first championship, so there’s only four years I’ve missed. I don’t think that’s too bad of a stat.”

  • Chase Elliott Says his Rookie Season has had Ups and Downs

    Chase Elliott Says his Rookie Season has had Ups and Downs

    Asked to describe his rookie season, Chase Elliott said it’s had ups and downs.

    Speaking to the media on Chase Media Day at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was asked to size up his first year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

    “It’s had its ups and downs, for sure,” Elliott said. “I’m proud of some moments, not so proud of others. But, you know, we’ve given ourselves a couple opportunities to contend for a couple wins, which I think is good. Not so good to not be able to capitalize on those opportunities. As I’ve said before, that’s disappointing.

    “I think you have to look at the positives of the fact that we were able to, you know, be a contender some this year, which I think is good. Other weeks, we’ve had our struggles, like anybody else. But I think we’ve got to put the positives together and get ready for these next few weeks.”

    Elliott’s rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series has been above average in terms of stats. While he’s still searching for his first win, he’s amassed two poles, seven top fives and 13 top 10s in 26 starts. He’s been as high as sixth in points this season and starts the Chase 14th. His best race came back in Pocono in June where he led a race-high of 51 laps before he was caught behind a gaggle of cars on different pit strategies and finished fourth.

    When asked if he thought he’s exceeded expectations in his rookie season, he said “It’s hard to say or for me to judge. It’s not really for me to judge.

    “But for us, I’m definitely proud to be here. I’m excited about it. I think it’s a great opportunity. You know, we want to try to do the best job we can each week like we always say. But I’m proud of it nonetheless.”

  • Buescher: ‘We are going one round at a time right now’

    Buescher: ‘We are going one round at a time right now’

    Asked what his strategy is now that he’s in the Chase, Chris Buescher says he’s taking it one round at a time.

    Speaking to the media during Chase Media Day at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago, the driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford was asked what’s his plan of attack now that he’s in the Chase.

    “We are going one round at a time right now,” Buescher said. “We are trying to look ahead to the next three races. We have been so focused on getting into the Chase that now that we are here we haven’t thought too much past that. I feel like we are prepared to go into this next couple.”

    Buescher made his way into the Chase with a win in the rain-shortened Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. In the five races since, he’s finished 30th, fifth, 35th, 17th and 24th for a 22.2 finishing average, which is four and a half spots better than his season finishing average.

    Despite the stats, the reigning 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion believes he can make it into the second round of the Chase.

    “I think we can make it into the second round. Consistency was a huge part of our championship last year,” Buescher said referring to his 2015 championship in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. “We were able to get a couple wins and be right there with the guys we were racing every week. That was a big part of it. For this first three races, I definitely think consistency will play a really big part of it. You can’t have that one bad week and expect to recover in the two remaining. You really need to be smooth throughout all of it and make sure you are there after Dover. Then you can reevaluate and decide how you will treat the next couple of rounds.”

  • NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

    NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Richmond

    Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

    1. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished fifth at Richmond and will start the Chase For The Cup with 2006 points, six behind first place.

    “We were much better in the pits,” Harvick said. “Fortunately, our lug nuts were the only thing that was ‘screwed’ in the pits at Richmond.

    “Now, it would be negligent of me if I didn’t address the Ryan Newman-Tony Stewart issue. I’m employed by Tony, so you can guess where I stand. I guess what I’m saying is that lawyers aren’t the only people who defend Tony.”

    2. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished fourth in the Federated Auto Parts 400, posting his 12th top 10 of the year.

    “The action didn’t really start until Tony Stewart wrecked Ryan Newman, Keselowski said. “Newman then had some choice words for Stewart. If implied accusations of a 2014 incident are the measuring stick for Newman’s vitriol, then he absolutely murdered it, or at least manslaughtered it.”

    3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started on the pole at Richmond and dominated the closing laps to win the Federated Auto Parts400. It was his third win of the season.

    “I had to survive one final restart after a caution with three laps to go,” Hamlin said. “That was the last of 16 cautions on the night. After the race, I approached the flag stand and asked for the yellow flag and not the checkered flag.”

    4. Kyle Busch: Busch started ninth and finished ninth at Richmond. With four wins this year, Busch will start the Chase atop the standings alongside Brad Keselowski.

    “I wouldn’t be surprised if Brad or myself fall out of first after one race,” Busch said, “because neither of us can stand to be in the same place for very long.”

    5. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished third at Richmond, and will start the Chase For The Cup with 2006 points, six out of the lead.

    “The No. 78 Toyota failed the post-race laser inspection,” Truex said. “You never want to fail an inspection right before the Chase For The Cup begins, because you’re likely to get ‘pointed’ in the wrong direction.”

    6. Joey Logano: Logano finished 10th at Richmond, logging his 18th top 10 of the year.

    “The Chase field is wide open,” Logano said. “You have household names, and you have some drivers who are not very well known. Let’s face it, when the Chase ends, you could hear the words ‘Chris Buescher’ and ‘2016 Sprint Cup champion,’ but probably not in the same sentence.”

    7. Kurt Busch: Busch led two laps and took eighth in the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond.

    “There were a whopping 16 caution flags during Saturday’s race,” Busch said. “That’s just about how many red flags go up when I’m on a date.”

    8. Carl Edwards: Edwards struggled at Richmond, finishing 32nd, 41 laps off the pace.

    “How about the Virginia Tech-Tennessee football game at Bristol Motor Speedway,” Edwards said, “There were over 156,000 people in attendance. Tire wear must have been an issue at Bristol because it was a blowout.”

    9. Kyle Larson: Larson recorded his third consecutive top-5 finish with a second at Richmond.

    “Tony Stewart has intentionally wrecked two drivers in two consecutive weeks,” Larson said. “First, it was Brian Scott. Then, it was Ryan Newman. But, at least he just wrecked them.”

    10. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 11th at Richmond, rebounding from a 33rd the previous week at Darlington.

    “I’m looking for No. 7,” Johnson said. “Based on my mediocre performance this season, most people say the only ‘No. 7’ I could find is Regan Smith.”

  • Newman: ‘I just got Tony Stewarted’

    Newman: ‘I just got Tony Stewarted’

    RICHMOND, Va. — Ryan Newman had choice words for Tony Stewart following a Chase-ending late race wreck at Richmond.

    The 14th caution of the Federated Auto Parts 400 flew with 36 laps to go for a multi-car wreck in turn 3 that brought out the red flag for 20 minutes and 23 seconds. It started when Tony Stewart came down across the nose of Newman and got hooked into the inside wall. The wreck collected Carl Edwards in the process.

    As the two continued back up the track, Newman was hit in the rear by David Ragan and sent into the path of Dylan Lupton. Lupton’s N0. 83 Toyota ended up climbing up the side of Newman’s car.

    Brian Scott also suffered major damage in the wreck after slamming into Ragan’s No. 23 Toyota.

    “I just got Tony Stewarted,” Newman said. “It’s unfortunate we were rebounding from a tough day and then he cut across my nose in Turn 1. I had a good run on him and then I bumped him a little bit in Turn 2, but that is because he took both of us loose. And then he just drove across my nose on the back straightaway.

    “He has got issues. We all know he’s got issues. He proved it again tonight. I was clearly inside of him getting into Turn 1, he cut across my nose, I was on the brakes, on the apron and I hit him coming off of Turn 2, but only because I got loose, I was on the apron. The next thing I know he is driving across my nose on the back straightaway because he’s Tony Stewart and he thinks he owns everything. It’s unfortunate, but shouldn’t expect anything less from him.”

    Newman comes up 40 points short of making the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

  • Edwards knows what to expect if there’s a role reversal from April

    Edwards knows what to expect if there’s a role reversal from April

    RICHMOND, Va. — Carl Edwards says if there’s a reversal of roles from Richmond in April, he knows exactly what to expect.

    Speaking to the media just after the first practice session for the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway yesterday, the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was asked if he would have any reservations about making his race-winning move from April again if circumstances dictated.

    “I can still feel Coach (Joe) Gibbs’ (team owner) presence here from last time I was sitting here after the race,” Edwards said. “Kyle (Busch) and I talked. We actually talked about it last night – Denny (Hamlin) was nice enough to give me a ride here and we joked around about it a little bit, but I think right now both of us having wins I think we all know that right now this is an opportunity for us to go race, have as much fun as we can, race each other as hard as we possibly can, so I don’t know.”

    This past April in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond, Edwards tapped the rear bumper of Kyle Busch in turn 4 on the last lap to score the victory. Edwards said in victory lane that, while it was a big question for him, he decided to give Busch a nudge since Busch took the line he was going to take.

    “Well, yeah, it was a huge question,” he said after the race in April. “Kyle’s (Busch) an amazing teammate and it’s like he got really slow there at the end. Something happened that last lap. It was like his rear tires went off or something. He went down into (turn) one and I dove it in and I got to him and I thought, ‘Man, I’ve got something.’ And he went to get down to the bottom and park it in three and four and I had already decided to go down there so I thought, ‘Man, I’m going to give him a little nudge,’ and we both have got wins and we’re racing for fun getting these trophies and just an awesome day.”

    He acknowledged that he knows what’s coming if the circumstances dictate.

    “I know if I were put in the position and the roles were reversed, I know exactly what to expect tomorrow night, but I plan on racing as hard as I can for the victory,” he added.

  • Austin Dillon Rates his Season as 6.5/10

    Austin Dillon Rates his Season as 6.5/10

    When asked to rate his season on a scale of 1 to 10, Austin Dillon gave himself a 6.5/10.

    Speaking to the media earlier this afternoon at Richmond International Raceway, Dillon was asked to rate his season on a scale of 1 to 10.

    “I would say it’s a 6.5/7, let’s say 6.5 because I feel like we could get the half point back with some mistakes we made throughout the center of the year,” Dillon said. “We would be at a 7 and I think that would have us locked in the Chase right now. We are pretty close to locked in, but you never know what happens when it comes to race day.”

    Twenty-five races into the 2016 season, the driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet has had a career season with four top fives, up 300 percent from 2015, 10 top 10’s, up 100 percent from 2015, a pole position and a 14.8 finishing average. While he’s only led eight laps this season, down from 39 the year before, he currently sits 12th in points and nine points ahead of the Chase cutoff.

    Despite all this, Dillon says mistakes have prevented him from being in a more comfortable position going into the final race of the regular season.

    “I would have liked to have been at the 7 at this point, so there is a half point or a point that I would like to have back just because of mistakes that we made as a group and as a company that put us behind,” he added. “I really think we had a solid year starting and in the middle we just kind of dropped off because of certain things, we had brake failures, we had different things that happened that didn’t go our way, but we have learned from them and able to capitalize and have that 6.5 at this point.”

  • Mears Fastest in Final Cup Practice at Richmond

    Mears Fastest in Final Cup Practice at Richmond

    Casey Mears topped the chart in final Sprint Cup Series practice at Richmond International Raceway.

    The driver of the No. 13 Germain Racing Chevrolet was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 22.396 and a speed of 120.557 mph. Kyle Larson was second in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet with a time of 22.482 and a speed of 120.096 mph. Martin Truex Jr. was third in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota with a time of 22.536 and a speed of 119.808 mph. Jamie McMurray was fourth in his No. 1 CGR Chevrolet with a time of 22.563 and a speed of 119.665 mph. Tony Stewart rounded out the top-10 in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet with a time of 22.573 and a speed of 119.612 mph.

    Greg Biffle was sixth in his No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Denny Hamlin was seventh in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Jimmie Johnson was eighth in his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Kurt Busch was ninth in his No. 41 SHR Chevrolet. Joey Logano rounded out the top-10 in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

    Carl Edwards, whose fastest single lap was 20th fastest in his No. 19 JGR Toyota, posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 116.652 mph.

    The Sprint Cup Series is back on track at 5:45 p.m.

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  • Four Gears: Kevin Harvick, John Hunter Nemechek, Winston Millon/No Bull 5 and Toyota

    Four Gears: Kevin Harvick, John Hunter Nemechek, Winston Millon/No Bull 5 and Toyota

    It’s time to cycle through the transmission for another edition of Four Gears.

    This week, our resident NASCAR journalists were asked if other drivers should be as up front as Kevin Harvick was about his pit crew to affect change. They also considered whether John Hunter Nemechek deserves all the flak he’s gotten for his last lap move at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and if he could’ve handled his last turn differently.  Another topic up for discussion was what programs like the old Winston Million and the No Bull 5 NASCAR could do to put emphasis on the crown jewel events and the odds of another Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota title victory at Homestead.

    FIRST GEAR: Kevin Harvick was blunt in his criticism of his pit crew at Darlington. Now there’s going to be a big change in the pit crew of the No. 4. In order to affect proper change, should more drivers be as up front and critical as Harvick was?

    Yes. Too much “toeing the line” in the sport, and to speak up and affect change on any level in NASCAR is a must. — Joseph Shelton

    It all depends on the situation. When it happens once, there’s no need to make a stink about it. After a couple of times, maybe it’s time to talk to the team in private. When it’s a constant thing, it needs to be addressed in public. Harvick has thrown away at least two wins this year because of terrible pit stops and didn’t get a major change until he made it public. — Michael Finley

    I would say yes, but I don’t think anyone could match Kevin Harvick’s bluntness from this past week. Sitting in the media center at Darlington Raceway, I had a front-row seat for the show or one question show. When he was asked if he would considering swapping pit crews with another one of his teammates, he got up and left.

    But in all seriousness, sometimes you need to chastise someone to get results. If this doesn’t serve as a wake-up call to his crew, then they need to be replaced. — Tucker White

    SECOND GEAR: John Hunter Nemechek was subjected to a ton of hate on social media following his MoSport win. Was it justified? Could he really help what happened in that final corner?

    Nemechek drove in over his head a bit, but he aggressively went for a win and got it. That’s what a driver is supposed to do, and considering NEMCO doesn’t have the financial cushion of JR Motorsports he’s fighting to keep the team competitive.

    As for the hate he was subjected to, it was ridiculous. It was a double-standard among peers and fans for sure. — Joseph Shelton

    When you are a young, hungry driver, you do anything to win. Nemechek didn’t just straight up dump Custer like he could have. And unlike a lot of kids coming up today, Nemechek knew when and where to be aggressive like that. It’s smarter when it’s for the win and dumber when it’s for 11th. — Michael Finley

    I’m not going to be hypocritical and say the hate wasn’t justified. I also took John Hunter Nemechek to task for his move on the final lap.

    But being just two years older than him, I also understand that he’s young and he’s going to make mistakes. I believe it was a heat of the moment decision that he’ll learn from and not be as over the line going for the win again. — Tucker White

    THIRD GEAR: With Martin Truex Jr.’s win Sunday, he now has two wins in 2016, both in two of the sport’s crown jewel events. What could NASCAR do to resurrect the Winston Million/No Bull 5 programs of the ’90s and 2000s?

    It’d be neat to have a similar program make its return, especially something like the No Bull 5, where a fan also won a cool million. Let’s see what the next series title sponsor has in mind. — Joseph Shelton

    A better title sponsor next season could be awesome. The No Bull was dumb to me (Although I did like the fan component of it) but the Winston Million was amazing. Just make the tracks Daytona, Charlotte, Indy, and Darlington and you’ve made important races even more so. — Michael Finley

    I’ve always wanted NASCAR to reboot the Winston Million and put more emphasis on the crown jewel races. Other than the Daytona 500, the other three crown jewel events are usually just another race.

    Other than a name change, just bring back the Winston Million as it was with the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, the Brickyard 400 (although it’s hard to consider it a crown jewel event when only 30-50,000 people are in attendance at a track that sits over 200,000) and the Bojangles’ Southern 500. — Tucker White

    FOURTH GEAR: What are the odds of another JGR Toyota winning the championship at Homestead?

    92 percent. Stewart-Haas Racing has been in the picture, and Team Penske is still right on JGR’s bumper, but as successful as Toyota has been this year I could see a JGR championship again at Homestead. — Joseph Shelton

    50/50. Yeah, they have run great all season. But Brad Keselowski has been strong, Joey Logano has been tough. After Dover last season, you cannot count out Kevin Harvick at any time. And all three are higher in driver points right now than any one Gibbs driver. — Michael Finley

    According to Las Vegas, Kyle Busch is 5/1, Carl Edwards is 10/1, Denny Hamlin is 10/1 and Matt Kenseth is 12/1 (odds are from Vegas Insider).

    What odds I’d give JGR to win? I’d say they’re pretty good. But I’m not going to rule out Team Penske or Stewart-Haas Racing. — Tucker White