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Tag: NASCAR Xfinity Series

  • Erik Jones Nabs the XFINITY Pole at Bristol

    Erik Jones Nabs the XFINITY Pole at Bristol

    BRISTOL, Tenn. — Erik Jones will lead the field to the green flag of tonight’s XFINITY Series race at Thunder Valley.

    The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota scored the pole for the Food City 300 after posting a new track record time of 15.002 and a speed of 127.903 mph. It’s his 10th pole in 48 career XFINITY Series starts, seventh of the season and third in four starts at Bristol Motor Speedway.

    Kyle Busch will start second in his No. 18 JGR Toyota after posting a time of 15.041 and a speed of 127.571 mph. Daniel Suarez will start third in his No. 19 JGR Toyota after posting a time of 15.173 and a speed of 126.461 mph. Brandon Jones will start fourth in his No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet after posting a time of 15.191 and a speed of 126.312 mph. Austin Dillon will round out the top-five starters in his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet after posting a time of 15.244 and a speed of 125.872 mph.

    Darrell Wallace Jr. will start sixth in his No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Kyle Larson will start seventh in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Justin Allgaier will start eighth in his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Regan Smith will start ninth in his No. 88 JRM Chevrolet. Ty Dillon will round out the top-10 starters in his No. 3 RCR Chevrolet.

    Brad Keselowski will start 11th. Jeremy Clements will round out the 12 drivers that made the final round of qualifying.

    With 41 cars entered, Timmy Hill was the lone driver that failed to qualify.

    Twenty-five Chevrolet’s, one Dodge, six Ford’s and eight Toyota’s will comprise the 40-car field for tonight’s race.

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  • Suarez Fastest in First XFINITY Practice at Bristol

    Suarez Fastest in First XFINITY Practice at Bristol

    BRISTOL, Tenn. — Daniel Suarez topped the chart in first XFINITY Series practice at Bristol Motor Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 15.223 and a speed of 126.046 mph. Regan Smith was second in his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet with a time of 15.255 and a speed of 125.782 mph followed by Kyle Busch who was third in his No. 18 JGR Toyota with a time of 15.263 and a speed of 125.716 mph. Austin Dillon was fourth in his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with a time of 15.310 and a speed of 125.330 mph while Erik Jones rounded out the top-five in his No. 20 JGR Toyota with a time of 15.346 and a speed of 125.036 mph.

    Brad Keselowski was sixth in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford and Justin Allgaier was seventh in his No. 7 JRM Chevrolet. Ty Dillon was eighth in his No. 3 RCR Chevrolet. Blake Koch was ninth in his No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet as JJ Yeley rounded out the top-10 in his No. 44 TriStar Motorsports Toyota.

    Busch posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 124.005 mph. Suarez was second at an average speed of 123.858 mph. Jones was third at an average speed of 123.654 mph.

    The XFINITY Series is back on track later today at 3:30 p.m. for final practice.

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  • Hendrick Adds Byron to his Portfolio

    Hendrick Adds Byron to his Portfolio

    BRISTOL, Tenn. — Hendrick’s stock might go even higher after the news that starting next season, William Byron will be racing under the Hendrick umbrella.

    Hendrick Motorsports announced today that they signed the current driver of the No. 9 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota to a multi-year agreement. The agreement has him racing for JR Motorsports in a full-time XFINITY Series ride starting in 2017.

    “William is a special person and a special talent,” said team owner Rick Hendrick. “It’s been impressive to watch him come up through the ranks and have success at every level. What he’s already accomplished this season has been remarkable. On top of all his ability, he’s a terrific young man from a great family, and we think he has a very bright future with our organization.”

    Byron says that it was always “a dream of mine to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. I have so much respect for the way Mr. Hendrick supports his people and encourages everyone to work together. This is the biggest announcement and biggest opportunity of my life, and I will do everything I can to make the most of it. I’m proud to be part of this team.”

    Byron is no stranger to the Hendrick umbrella as he drove for JRM’s late model program in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, he scored a victory and 11 top-10 finishes on his way to finishing second in points to teammate Josh Berry.

    “I owe so much to Dale Jr. and everyone at JRM for taking a chance on me in 2014,” Byron said. “Looking back, I know none of this would’ve happened without that opportunity.”

    He continued on with HScott Motorsports in K&N East Series competition where he won the championship.

    Last October, he was signed by Kyle Busch to drive full-time in the Camping World Truck Series for 2016. In 13 races, he’s set a NASCAR record for most wins by a rookie in the Truck Series with five wins, seven top-fives, eight top-10’s, 414 laps led and currently leads the points.

  • No Timing Zone Increase for Bristol

    No Timing Zone Increase for Bristol

    BRISTOL, Tenn. — The trend of increased timing zones won’t include this weekend’s events at Thunder Valley.

    As first reported by Dustin Long of NBC Sports, NASCAR will not increase the number of timing zones for this week’s events at Bristol Motor Speedway. The number will remain at 14 instead of 18. NASCAR decided not to increase them because it’s comfortable with the number of zones in place.

    NASCAR has experimented with increased timing zones since the Brickyard 400 race weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The additional timing lines were also used at Pocono Raceway and Watkins Glen International for the Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Truck Series races.

    Speeding penalties in the last three races are up 375 percent compared to the previous three races of Daytona, Kentucky and New Hampshire.

    In spite of the decision to not increase the timing zones, Bristol is notorious for speeding penalties. The last four Sprint Cup races have averaged roughly 11 speeding penalties issued. The Food City 500 this past April had 17 speeding penalties issued, which remains the highest number of speeding penalties issued in one race this season.

  • Mid-Ohio Event Proof That NASCAR Needs More Road Courses

    Mid-Ohio Event Proof That NASCAR Needs More Road Courses

    Following yesterday’s NASCAR XFINITY event at Mid-Ohio, it was depressing to check Twitter and see people bashing the event instead of congratulating an unsuspecting Justin Marks on a surprise win. Sure, those people were in the very minor minority. Still, the race was exciting, fun, and definitive NASCAR. Kyle Busch wasn’t there to dominate, and considering the series is relatively new to Mid-Ohio it was a given that this race belonged to anyone.

    With a true underdog in Marks taking the checkered flag coupled with the absolute insanity that was the race, it’s a simple fact that NASCAR needs more road courses. It’s been pointed out repeatedly that the Sprint Cup Series is over-saturated with cookie-cutter tracks and the Camping World Truck Series is loafing around with the lone road course at MoSport. Add more road courses to diversify the competition.

    Each road course in the continental United States, from Sonoma to Watkins Glen, from Road Atlanta to Road America, from Lime Rock to Virginia International Raceway, has its own individual personality. There’s no worry about confusing Charlotte with Texas or Chicagoland with Kansas. The fact that each road course is a bit different from each other makes it clear that each race could be anybody’s. Doesn’t that define good competition – the unpredictability of a race’s outcome? It’s why true fans watch the sport.

    Strategies, techniques, maneuvers, everything like that is amplified on a road course. That’s why we see some of the names that we do at the top of the board once a road course race is over. Names like Andy Lally, who finished seventh at Mid-Ohio. Lally, who piloted the No. 90 for Mario Gosselin, is also a three-time IMSA champion. Also up at the front was Israeli-born Alon Day, who finished 13th after running as high as fourth. The NASCAR Whelen Euro standout drove the No. 40 for MBM Motorsports.

    Also, it would be easier for NASCAR to run events in the rain. Now considering the events of Mid-Ohio, a lot of people would be happy if they never ran in the rain again. But being able to compete in the rain would be a convenience for fans, plus it would help get a scheduled event in on time as well as cut down on yellows and red flags. Plus, it could open the door to a whole new learning curve for some of NASCAR’s growing drivers and teams. Fans and competitors could bear witness to the possible growth of some of NASCAR’s up-and-coming underdogs, like Marks, who prior to winning at Mid-Ohio, had a season-best finish of 11th at Talladega.

    All that and more is why we need more road courses. Granted, ovals are what put NASCAR on the national map and sets the sport apart from other forms of racing. But road courses these days are producing definitive NASCAR racing, a good product that represents what’s great about stock car racing. NASCAR needs to drop these silly second dates on some of the 2.5-mile race tracks and start adding in more road courses.

     

  • Erik Jones Checks Out On Field, Wins XFINITY Series Race At Iowa

    Erik Jones Checks Out On Field, Wins XFINITY Series Race At Iowa

    Erik Jones continued the dominance of Joe Gibbs Racing in the XFINITY series on Saturday by winning the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway in his No. 20 DeWalt Toyota. Jones won his third career race and his third of the season by passing Ty Dillon’s No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for the lead with 16 laps to go and won the race having led 154 of 250 laps.

    “It’s a great day,” Jones said after the race. “We had a great car. One that definitely deserved to win the race. The fastest car I feel like won tonight, which is always a good feeling. It was an awesome day for us.

    “I feel like we deserved to win when we came here earlier this year, we had a really fast car. It was nice to get some redemption for that one.”

    It’s the 13th win in the first 19 races of the season for JGR.

    Jones led most of the race from his start on the front row in second before the final caution with 100 laps to go. Jones had a mediocre pit stop and was beaten off pit road by Dillon and Elliott Sadler. Dillon was able to keep a comfortable lead for the next 60 or so green flag laps before fading away to being 3.533 seconds behind Jones in second at the finish.

    “I want the win so bad,” said a disappointed Dillon, who has not won since 2014 at Indianapolis. “That was all I had. They (Joe Gibbs Racing) are good right now. That was all I had.

    “I’m proud of my guys. They gave us a great opportunity tonight. My heart’s been broken every race since Indy. I want to get in victory lane again. We’re close; we just have to get a little better.”

    Sadler finished third and took over the points lead after Daniel Suarez struggled after that last caution. First, Suarez got into Josh Berry on the last restart. Then, he was forced to retire from the race with 76 laps to go due to engine problems. The Monterrey, Mexico native ended the night 30th after starting from the pole.

    Brennan Poole roared his way through the field from his starting position of 25th to fourth by the time the checkered flag waved. It’s just the second top five in the young Chip Ganassi Racing driver’s career. Dakoda Armstrong, in the No. 18 Toyota for JGR this week instead of his usual ride with JGL Racing, rounded out the top five in fifth.

    All told there were seven lead changes among four leaders, with the field being shown the yellow caution flag six times. Darrell Wallace Jr. had two accidents during the race and ended the night in 27th.

    Sam Hornish Jr., the part-time driver who led 183 of 250 laps en route to a victory at Iowa in June for JGR, finished sixth in this race for Richard Childress Racing. Brad Keselowski was the only Sprint Cup series regular in the field and returned to Pocono with a finish in eighth for his efforts.

    Complete Results:

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  • Kyle Busch Puts on XFINITY Clinic in Kentucky

    Kyle Busch Puts on XFINITY Clinic in Kentucky

    SPARTA, Ky. — The odds-on favorite thoroughbred Kyle Busch put on a classic domination clinic on his way to winning in the Bluegrass State.

    “This is a great effort by this team and everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing,” Busch said of his feelings on winning at Kentucky. “Everything was really, really good about this race car since we unloaded. NOS Energy Drink Camry had really good speed and Chris Gayle (crew chief) and the guys did an awesome job each and every week, this 18 Camry is always the best, always the one to beat. I think that’s just a true testament to everyone at Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) and this XFINITY Series program. I want to thank the fans as well with everyone out here and everyone at home watching on TV. It was a new repave and it probably wasn’t one of the best races from the visual, but a couple of odd things were definitely happening at the end when (Erik) Jones got me on the restart then he kind of got back when his motor didn’t re-fire there. That last restart there, I heard three-wide for a second and I don’t know what to do here but I tried to give a little bit of room and then I heard clear and I turned down. It was enough excitement from my vantage point.”

    He led 185 of the 201 laps on his way to scoring his 81st career victory in 320 XFINITY Series starts in his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. It’s his fifth victory and ninth top-10 finish of the 2016 season. It’s also his second victory and seventh top-10 finish in nine races at Kentucky Speedway.

    Austin Dillon posted his fifth top-10 finish in five races at Kentucky and 10th top-10 finish of the season with a runner-up finish in his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Daniel Suárez earned his second top-10 finish in three races at Kentucky as he rounded out the podium in his No. 19 JGR Toyota. Erik Jones led three laps on his way to a fourth-place finish in his No. 20 JGR Toyota. Darrell Wallace Jr. rounded out the top-five in his No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.

    Elliott Sadler finished sixth in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Ty Dillon led 10 laps on his way to a seventh-place finish in his No. 3 RCR Chevrolet. Ryan Blaney finished eighth in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford. Brennan Poole finished ninth in his No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Brad Keselowski rounded out the top-10 in his No. 22 Penske Ford.

    Ray Black Jr., who led one lap, finished 19th. Ross Chastain, who led one lap, finished 22nd. Jeff Green, who led one lap, exited the race with transmission failure prior to halfway and finished 33rd.

    Eleven cars finished the race on the lead lap while 32 were running at the finish.

    The race lasted two hours, five minutes and 24 seconds at an average speed of 144.258 mph. There were 11 lead changes among six different drivers and five cautions for 22 laps.

    Suárez leaves Kentucky with a nine-point lead over Sadler in the points standings.

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  • Kyle Busch Scores XFINITY Pole at Kentucky

    Kyle Busch Scores XFINITY Pole at Kentucky

    SPARTA, Ky. — Kyle Busch will lead the field to the green flag in tonight’s race in the Bluegrass State.

    The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota earned the pole for the Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway with a new track record time of 28.828 and a speed of 187.318 mph. It’s his 52nd career pole in 320 career starts in the XFINITY Series, first at Kentucky, fourth of the season and his ninth top-10 start of the season.

    Daniel Suárez will start second in his No. 19 JGR Toyota after posting a time of 28.831 and a speed of 187.298 mph. It’s his 16th top-10 start of the season and third in three starts at Kentucky. Erik Jones will start third in his No. 20 JGR Toyota after posting a time of 28.967 and a speed of 186.419 mph. It’s his 16th top-10 start of the season and third at Kentucky. Austin Dillon will start fourth in his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet after posting a time of 29.085 and a speed of 185.663 mph. Elliott Sadler rounded out the top-10 in his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet after posting a time of 29.100 and a speed of 185.567 mph.

    Ryan Blaney will start sixth in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford. Ryan Reed will start seventh in his No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Cole Custer will start eighth in his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Blake Koch will start ninth in his No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Brad Keselowski will round out the top-10 in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

    Darrell Wallace Jr. will start 11th in his No. 6 RFR Ford. Ryan Sieg will round out the 12 drivers that made the final round of qualifying in his No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet.

    No cars were sent home.

    Twenty-four Chevrolet’s, one Dodge, seven Ford’s and eight Toyota’s will comprise the field of 40 cars in Friday’s race.

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/N1616_STARTROW.pdf”]

  • Suárez Fastest in Final XFINITY Practice at Kentucky

    Suárez Fastest in Final XFINITY Practice at Kentucky

    SPARTA, Ky. — Daniel Suárez topped the chart in final XFINITY Series practice at Kentucky Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 28.901 and a speed of 186.845 mph. Erik Jones was the second fastest in his No. 20 JGR Toyota with a time of 28.918 and a speed of 186.735 mph. Ryan Blaney followed in third in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford with a time of 28.972 and a speed of 186.387 mph. Kyle Busch was fourth in his No. 18 JGR Toyota with a time of 28.973 and a speed of 186.380 mph and Ty Dillon rounded out the top-five in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with a time of 29.116 and a speed of 185.465 mph.

    Blake Koch was sixth in his No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet while Austin Dillon was seventh in his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet. JJ Yeley was eighth in his No. 44 TriStar Motorsports Toyota. Elliott Sadler was ninth in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top-10 in his No. 22 Penske Ford.

    Busch posted the fastest 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 184.768 mph. Blaney was second at an average speed of 183.828 mph. Suárez was third at an average speed of 182.307 mph.

    The XFINITY Series is back on track Friday at 4:45 p.m. for qualifying.

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  • Jones Fastest in Third XFINITY Practice at Kentucky

    Jones Fastest in Third XFINITY Practice at Kentucky

    SPARTA, Ky. — Erik Jones topped the chart in third XFINITY Series practice at Kentucky Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was the fastest in the third practice session with a time of 28.754 and a speed of 187.800 mph. Daniel Suárez was second in his No. 19 JGR Toyota with a time of 28.816 and a speed of 187.396 mph. Kyle Busch was third in his No. 18 JGR Toyota with a time of 28.864 and a speed of 187.084 mph. Ty Dillon was fourth in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet with a time of 29.285 and a speed of 184.395 mph. Ryan Blaney rounded out the top-five in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford with a time of 29.418 and a speed of 183.561 mph.

    JJ Yeley was sixth in his No. 44 TriStar Motorsports Toyota. Brad Keselowski was seventh in his No. 22 Penske Ford. Austin Dillon was eighth in his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet. Darrell Wallace Jr. was ninth in his No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. Justin Allgaier rounded out the top-10 in his No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

    Allgaier was the only driver to post a 10 consecutive lap average at a speed of 181.457 mph.

    The XFINITY Series is back on track one last time Thursday evening at 7 p.m. for final practice.

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