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Tag: NASCAR Xfinity Series

  • Weekend Schedule for Texas Motor Speedway

    Weekend Schedule for Texas Motor Speedway

    This weekend the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series head to the 1.5-mile oval at Texas Motor Speedway. The defending race winners are Kevin Harvick in the Cup Series and Cole Custer in the Xfinity Series. The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series is off but will return on Nov. 8 at ISM Raceway.

    Only two races remain in the Playoffs Round of 8 to determine who will make it to the Championship 4 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

    See the current standings listed below for both series.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, November 1

    2:05 – 2:55 p.m. – Xfinity Series First Practice (NBCSN)

    3:05 – 3:55 p.m. – Cup Series First Practice (NBCSN)

    4:05 – 4:55 p.m. – Xfinity Series Final Practice (NBC Sports App)

    5:05 – 5:55 p.m. – Cup Series Final Practice (NBC Sports App)

    Saturday, November 2

    5:35 p.m. – Xfinity Series Qualifying (Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – CNBC

    7:05 p.m. – Cup Series Qualifying impound (Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – CNBC/ PRN

    8:30 p.m. – Xfinity Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 Xfinity Series race (Stages 45/90/200 Laps) – NBCSN/PRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Sunday, November 3

    3 p.m. – Cup Series AAA Texas 500 Cup Series race (Stages 85/170/334 Laps) – NBCSN/PRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Playoff standings prior to Texas Motor Speedway

    Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series:

    1. Martin Truex Jr. – 4102 points

    2. Denny Hamlin – 4082 points

    3. Kyle Busch – 4075 points

    4. Joey Logano – 4072 points

    5. Kevin Harvick – 4058 points

    6. Ryan Blaney – 4057 points

    7. Kyle Larson – 4048 points

    8. Chase Elliott – 4028 points

    NASCAR Xfinity Series:

    1. Christopher Bell – 3106 points

    2. Cole Custer – 3095 points

    3. Tyler Reddick – 3094 points

    4. Justin Allgaier – 3059 points

    5. Chase Briscoe – 3057 points

    6.Michael Annett – 3047 points

    7. Noah Gragson – 3042 points

    8. Austin Cindric – 3029 points

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

  • Opinion: NASCAR should fine crew members who interfere in driver scuffles

    Opinion: NASCAR should fine crew members who interfere in driver scuffles

    It’s one thing to witness a scuffle following a race, and there’s no doubt it can often times be some of the best excitement following a race weekend. Remember Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski at Texas in 2014? Kyle Busch and Joey Logano at Las Vegas in 2017? Or even Logano and Tony Stewart at Fontana in 2013?

    Those are just a few scuffles where excitement was drawn due to the drivers who race on a weekly basis getting heated and throwing hands. What always manages to screw things up, though, is when the crew gets involved. That’s not to say it’s not fun to watch them exchange fists, but it can get out of hand sometimes. Case in point: The Tyler Reddick/Cole Custer scuffle following Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race.

    It wasn’t even much of a scuffle at first. First words and a couple of stiff shoves were exchanged. No harm yet. But once the crews came bounding in to pull the drivers apart the emotions were high enough that Reddick ended up taking a few shots to the face and ended up with a bloody patch above the eye.

    It’s not the first time it’s happened, but it isn’t necessary. Whatever happened on the track is between the drivers. They’re the ones who usually bring about the carnage and the heated emotions. Sure, it’s up to the crew to have their driver’s back, but they also need to make it a point to save their drivers from themselves. Otherwise on-track issues should always remain between those who are actually on-track: The drivers.

    In the NHL a player is ejected and suspended if they leave the bench to join a fight. This could be a useful approach in NASCAR and an effective way to remind the crews to keep their emotions in check. For every crew member who lands an errant punch on a driver, that’s a one-race suspension effective immediately.

    That would be an effective way to keep the crews in check and send a reminder to the teams that their crew better be on their best behaviors. The fights aren’t about the teams, they’re about the drivers and should be settled as such. If the drivers are going to be settling issues with their fists instead of their bumpers (as should be the case), then the only things crews should be worried about is separating the drivers.

    That said, the Reddick/Custer scuffle was otherwise handled the way it should have been. The drivers didn’t use their cars as instruments of anger, they used their words and fists. That’s the way a disagreement between drivers should always be handled. The crews need to stay out of it and should only be looking out for their drivers, which doesn’t constitute swinging on the other driver.

  • Gragson and Allgaier leave Kansas with solid runs

    Gragson and Allgaier leave Kansas with solid runs

    Kansas City, KS – Justin Allgaier was still looking for his first career Xfinity Series win of the 2019 season heading into Saturday’s race at Kansas Speedway. He came close a couple of weeks ago at Dover, dominating the race before losing it late. The JR Motorsports driver had high hopes coming into Kansas looking to get that elusive victory to get him into the Championship 4.

    Allgaier qualified seventh, ran strong most of the day, finished fifth in Stage 1 and fourth in Stage 2. However, Allgaier ultimately brought home the No.7 Trademark Nitrogen/Brandt Chevy Camaro in the fifth position.

    “To be honest with you, we weren’t a top-five car today,” Allgaier said. “We struggled all day and didn’t have the speed we were looking for. Some timely cautions and some cars that had some trouble really helped us out to get our top five. The guys worked hard, we battled. At one point, we were way off of where we needed to be at. We were able to come back and had a good finish out of it.”

    “It helps in the points, we scored stage points in both stages. It’s not over by any stretch of the imagination. There’s a lot of guys right there on our tail, but it makes you feel better going into Texas in a few weeks.”

    Playoff driver and Allgaier’s teammate Noah Gragson had an up and down day, finishing third in Stage 1 before ultimately finishing 13th. With Gragson sitting seventh in the standings after Kansas, he still believes that he is not in a must-win situation going forward.

    “Not a bit,” Gragson said. “The way we picked up stage points, the speed we had today definitely not. We have the car to do it and I don’t think we’re in a must-win situation. We’re a contender and we can win. I’m really proud of the effort at JR Motorsports and ready to get on to Texas.”

  • John Hunter Nemechek earns top-10 finish at Kansas

    John Hunter Nemechek earns top-10 finish at Kansas

    Kansas City, KS – By finishing seventh at the Charlotte Roval and eighth at Dover, John Hunter Nemechek came into Kansas looking to keep that consistency going into Kansas.

    Nemechek has faced an up and down season throughout most of the Xfinity Series season in 2019, earning four top fives and 16 top-10 finishes but with five DNFs along the way. He had some especially bad luck in July at Daytona that continued through Loudon.

    Nemechek was once again hoping for a solid effort with his No. 23 Fire Alarm Services Chevrolet. The GMS Racing driver started 15th and finished ninth in the first stage. However, things got interesting for Nemechek during the second stage.

    A few laps after the restart on Lap 74, Austin Cindric accidentally made contact with Nemechek which almost sent Nemechek spinning but he did get sideways coming out of Turn 4. As a result of the contact, Nemechek was unable to earn a top-10 finish in Stage 2 and barely missed out on getting stage points.

    The No. 23 GMS Racing team fought their way back up after changes made to the car and ultimately came home with another top-10 finish by finishing eighth.

    “We needed more speed,” Nemechek said. “We fought handling all day, spun out and went a lap down and recovered from that. That’s about the way our season has gone, just trying to rebound from things. It’s a good day to rebound to eighth. We didn’t really think we were going to finish there. Overall, a solid day. Thanks to all the Fire Alarm Services people that are here. All of our GMS Racing crew for giving me this opportunity.”

  • Brandon Jones breaks through for first career Xfinity win at Kansas

    Brandon Jones breaks through for first career Xfinity win at Kansas

    Kansas City, KS – Brandon Jones scored his first career Xfinity Series win today after race leaders Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell took each other out late in the race. Jones took the lead on Lap 191, never looked back and went on to win at Kansas for the first time.

    “This is incredible,” Jones said. “I knew this was going to happen – that we were going to come here and have an amazing run like we did today. It’s only because of those guys here. They have fought with me for a long time and this feels way better because it has been tough to get to this point. Everyone that has been a part of my career to this point – Flow was on today, a new sponsor with us, we have had Menards in the past, iK9, Toyota, for all they do. I don’t think I could have done this without the manufacturer. I wish my parents were here. They have been through a bunch of wins with me. All in all, I cannot wait to celebrate with these guys.”

    Qualifying was held prior to the race and playoff driver Christopher Bell captured the pole. The stages were 45/45/110 laps to make up the 200-lap race that began the Round of 8 for the Xfinity Series Playoffs.

    Stage 1: Lap 1 – Lap 45

    It wasn’t all Brandon Jones when the race began. In fact, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bell had the best car of anyone for Stage 1. However, playoff driver Austin Cindric had his troubles early. Cindric bounced off the wall a couple of times and had to come down pit road on Lap 36. Tyler Reddick also slightly scraped the wall just 10 laps before Cindric did. Ryan Truex who was making his final Xfinity start of the year blew up early and finished last.

    There were no cautions during the first stage and it remained green the whole way. Bell led all 47 laps to win Stage 1 followed by Cole Custer, Noah Gragson, Reddick, Justin Allgaier, Ross Chastain, Chase Briscoe, Jones, John Hunter Nemechek and Michael Annett rounded out the top-10 finishers.

    Stage 2: Lap 51- Lap 90

    While Stage 1 did not see much action, the intensity picked up for Stage 2. Custer took the lead on Lap 64 after slight contact with Bell in Turn 1. The third caution flew on Lap 71 for the No. 18 of Harrison Burton after contact with Cindric in Turn 4. The contact was major enough that Burton had to go to the garage and wound up a disappointing 34th.

    Numerous drivers also had incidents in this stage. Cindric continued to have his own problems making slight contact with Nemechek and then having a flat tire, causing him to pit on Lap 79 to fix the damage. The Team Penske driver was back on pit road again on Lap 87 for another flat tire.

    Custer took the lead on Lap 62 and for the final time in Stage 2 on Lap 75. Then the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing driver went on to take the stage win that ended on Lap 90. Bell, Reddick, Allgaier, Briscoe, Gragson, Annett, Chastain, Jones and Justin Haley completed the top-10 finishers in Stage 2.

    Stage 3: Lap 96- Lap 200

    The lead was swapped between Bell and Custer once more before Custer went on to lead from Lap 102 to Lap 151. Then Chase Briscoe came into the mix and took the lead on Lap 152. At this point in the race, Briscoe was the dominant car. Even two cautions for Michael Annett on Lap 146 wouldn’t slow him down.

    Under that caution, the race leaders came down pit road but Annett stayed out to assume the lead. However, the strategy didn’t quite work out for the JR Motorsports driver as he would fall back quickly and Briscoe took the lead once again.

    A major turning point in the race happened for the leaders on Lap 185. Briscoe and Bell came up on a lap car off Turn 4 and made contact with each other. Both Bell and Briscoe had heavy damage with Bell spinning in the grass. Another caution was also seen with just a few laps left between Noah Gragson and Joey Gase in Turn 1.

    Then enter Jones who had never won a NASCAR Xfinity Series race in his career. But, the caution set up a late-race restart that saw Jones on the front row. He took the lead with just 10 laps left and scored his first career Xfinity Series victory in his 134th career start.

    “I had a conversation with my dad before this weekend. Dover was a big hit to the head, not even making a lap at that track,” Jones added. “I said to myself, you watch, we’re going to come to this race or even Texas, I know it’s a great track for me as well. We’re going to win one of these races and have a shot to go to Homestead. It doesn’t matter though. This is what we’re trying to do every single week is win these races and run consistent, not have bad things happen to us. It’s unfortunate, but it still shows if we go back and look, we could have made it there. I know the ability is there and the drive is there.”

    Jones led one time for 10 laps en route to his first career Xfinity Series victory. There were eight cautions for 41 laps and 12 lead changes among five different drivers.

    Points Standings

    1. Christopher Bell
    2. Cole Custer, -11
    3. Tyler Reddick, -12
    4. Justin Allgaier, -47
    5. Chase Briscoe, -49
    6. Michael Annett, -59
    7. Noah Gragson, -64
    8. Austin Cindric, -77

    Official Results

    1. Brandon Jones, led 10 laps
    2. Tyler Reddick
    3. Chase Briscoe, led 33 laps
    4. Michael Annett
    5. Justin Allgaier
    6. Jeremy Clements
    7. Justin Haley
    8. John Hunter Nemechek
    9. Ryan Sieg
    10. Ross Chastain
    11. Cole Custer
    12. Christopher Bell, won Stage 1 led 69 laps
    13. Noah Gragson
    14. Ray Black Jr.
    15. Alex Labbe, one lap down
    16. Dillon Bassett, one lap down
    17. Gray Gaulding, one lap down
    18. Brandon Brown, three laps down
    19. B.J. McLeod, three laps down
    20. Matt Mills, three laps down
    21. Josh Williams, three laps down
    22. Kyle Weatherman, four laps down
    23. David Starr, four laps down
    24. C.J. McLaughlin, five laps down
    25. Austin Cindric, six laps down
    26. Chad Finchum, six laps down
    27. Stephen Leicht, six laps down
    28. Tyler Matthews, six laps down
    29. Josh Bilicki, six laps down
    30. Vinnie Miller, six laps down
    31. Bobby Earnhardt, eight laps down
    32. Joey Gase, 16 laps down
    33. Garrett Smithley, OUT, Accident
    34. Harrison Burton, OUT, Accident
    35. Bayley Currey, OUT, Suspension
    36. Landon Cassill, OUT, Vibration
    37. J.J. Yeley, OUT, Electrical
    38. Ryan Truex, OUT, Engine

    Up Next: The NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers take one week off before continuing their Round of 8 at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday, November 2.

  • Weekend Schedule for Kansas

    Weekend Schedule for Kansas

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the Xfinity Series head to Kansas Speedway this weekend. It will be the third race in the Playoffs Round of 12 and will trim the field from 12 to eight drivers who will be eligible to move forward and compete for the championship. Chase Elliott is the defending race winner.

    Kansas is the first race in the Xfinity Series Round of 8. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell is the top seed heading into the Kansas Lottery 300. John Hunter Nemechek returns as the defending race winner at the 1.5-mile track.

    All times are Eastern.

     Friday, October 18

    3:05 p.m. –  3:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series First Practice – NBCSN/MRN

    4:05 p.m. –  4:55 p.m.: Cup Series first Practice – NBCSN/MRN

    5:05 p.m. – 5:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series Final Practice – NBCSN

    7:05 p.m. –  7:55 p.m. Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/MRN

    Saturday, October 19

    12:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – Impound (Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – No TV -NBC Sports App

    1:35 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – Impound (Single Vehicle/One Lap All Positions) – NBCSN/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    3 P.M.: Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 (Stages 45/90/200 Laps = 300 Miles) – NBCSN/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Sunday, October 20

    2:30 PM Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 (Stages 80/160/267 Laps = 400.5 Miles) – NBCSN/MRN/ SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

  • Allgaier, Cindric have strong day at Dover

    Allgaier, Cindric have strong day at Dover

    It was almost a picture-perfect day for Justin Allgaier and his No. 7 JR Motorsports team at Dover International Speedway. Allgaier qualified eighth for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race and worked his way up early taking the lead on Lap 27.

    His No. 7 Northeastern Supply Chevy was strong enough to win both the stages. However, pit strategy and late-race cautions cost him late in the going. In the end, Allgaier finished runner up to race winner Cole Custer.

    “Disappointing,” Allgaier told MRN Radio. “I feel like we give Cole (Custer) a gift there. Our Northeastern Supply Camaro was really strong today. I felt like we made decent changes throughout the course of the race. We got track position. Obviously points are what they are and we maximized the points in the stages and that’s all we really could do. But at the end there, I feel like we made the right pit strategy. Those guys went five laps further than what I thought we could on fuel.”

    “Just disappointing to come out first for the cars that had pitted and to be able to show for it. It’s disappointing, but to get Northeastern Supply in their first race under the hood a good finish and moving on to the next round is a big deal.”

    Austin Cindric and his No. 22 Team Penske team had a quiet day for the most part. He raced with Allgaier for parts of the race before racing on his own. Cindric finished third and second in both stages, before coming home third.

    “You feel like when you run all three races and you run 12th, we were the best car,” Cindric described to MRN Radio. “Worst finish is third. Really proud of our MoneyLion team. I don’t think we had a car capable of winning today. In clean air, we could hold our own but once we got behind, we were a third-place car and that’s where we finished. I’m proud of that and proud of that effort. Definitely proud of the recovery we made from practice. Trying to keep bringing this momentum into the next round.”

  • Chase Briscoe earns fifth at Dover after starting in the back

    Chase Briscoe earns fifth at Dover after starting in the back

    It was quite the day for Chase Briscoe and his No. 98 team at Dover International Speedway. Briscoe had qualified on the pole for the race, however, they experienced electrical problems during his qualifying run. Therefore, due to unapproved adjustments, the Stewart-Haas driver had to go the rear prior to the start of the Xfinity Series race.

    Briscoe didn’t take long to get to the front during the first stage and finished seventh in Stage 1. In Stage 2, he improved his finishing position with a third place. It wasn’t until the final stage that began on Lap 96 when Briscoe would take the lead two laps later. He led for 71 laps before making his final pit stop of the day.

    However, late-race cautions and varying pit strategies by everyone else in the field shuffled them back a little. In the end, Briscoe finished fifth for his 11th top five of the season.

    “I think it was certainly a really good day as far as our speed goes,” Briscoe said to MRN Radio. “When you’re in the lead, it’s so tough under green. You never know if the caution is going to come or not.” He continued, “Overall, really proud of our SHR guys. We had a really good Ford Mustang. Like I said, we were able to drive through the field multiple times.”

    “It’s one of those situations where it’s all about when the cautions come and we just missed it today. Going to Kansas, I feel like we got as good a racecar than anybody right now, which is encouraging. I hate how we have the best car and run fifth with it. Kind of the same thing we had last week at the Roval, but hopefully, at Kansas, we can put it all together.”

  • Michael Annett survives and advances to Round of 8

    Michael Annett survives and advances to Round of 8

    Michael Annett and his No. 1 JR Motorsports team started in the back in the Xfinity Series race at Dover International Speedway after an engine change. It resulted in a nerve-wracking start for Annett especially after he had to avoid all the carnage that came within the first few laps.

    However, after the early chaos, it was Annett’s playoff hope to lose. The team ran their race and played strategy hoping to go onto the next round. At one point, all seven drivers were locked into the Round of 8 except Annett.

    Annett’s luck came late as he and his team stayed out during the last round of green-flag pit stops hoping for a caution. His wish came true with a late-race caution with less than 20 to go. During that caution, the team brought the JR Motorsports driver down pit road for fresh tires and fuel.

    Despite another caution toward the end and other playoff drivers up front needing to win to advance to the next round, Annett held on to finish sixth after having a little bit of luck at the end.

    “It’s Dover, you never know what’s going to happen,” Annett said to MRN Radio. “I think we stayed out there, besides the 11 (Justin Haley) and the 00 (Cole Custer), we stayed out there the longest. We never have gone that long on tires without them blowing. We did 40 laps in practice and 45 in the segment, so the second you get past 45, it’s an unknown and you see people blow right fronts.”

    “You start coming on the radio and say, hey when are we coming. I saw that 23 (John Hunter Nemechek) come down pit road so I knew that next lap we would probably come and sure enough the caution came out. It worked out perfect for us. There at the end, you want to be aggressive, you want to go for the win, you’re also realistic knowing how good the 00 was and you’re kind of a 10th place car all weekend. Don’t do anything stupid to not make it to the next round of the playoffs.”

    Annett placed 10th and ninth respectively in both stages, and advances to the Round of 8.

  • Nemechek falls short in advancing to next round

    Nemechek falls short in advancing to next round

    Despite finishing eighth at Dover International Speedway Saturday afternoon, pit stop mistakes prevented John Hunter Nemechek and his No. 23 GMS Racing team from making it to the next round of the playoffs.

    Nemechek qualified the No. 23 Chevy 17th for the Xfinity Series race and had some ground to make up in the beginning. Like other drivers though, it didn’t take him too long to get up there in the top-10 before Stage 1 finished. For the first stage, Nemechek finished ninth and he finished seventh in the second stage. Unfortunately, having to make a few extra pit stops at the end hurt his chances of making it to the next round of the playoffs.

    However, Nemechek was still upbeat even though failing to make the Round of 8.

    “It’s awesome to make the playoffs for Maury Gallagher and the GMS Racing team,” Nemechek said to MRN Radio. “It came down to mistakes. We had a guy down on pit road making a mistake and had a loose wheel. It is what it is, had to pit there again. Came out third or fourth, we were going to be in great shape. It just wasn’t meant to be.”