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Tag: Round of 16

  • Johnson Fastest in First Practice at Chicagoland

    Johnson Fastest in First Practice at Chicagoland

    Jimmie Johnson posted the fastest time in the first Sprint Cup Series practice at Chicagoland Speedway.

    The driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 29.383 and a speed of 183.780 mph. Carl Edwards was second in his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with a time of 29.460 and a speed of 183.299 mph. Denny Hamlin was third in his No. 11 JGR Toyota with a time of 29.520 and a speed of 182.927 mph. Brad Keselowski was fourth in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford with a time of 29.564 and a speed of 182.655 mph. Chase Elliott rounded out the top-five in his No. 24 HMS Chevrolet with a time of 29.578 and a speed of 182.568 mph.

    Alex Bowman was sixth in his No. 88 HMS Chevrolet. Martin Truex Jr. was seventh in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota. Kyle Larson was eighth in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. Ryan Blaney was ninth in his No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Kyle Busch rounded out the top-10 in his No. 18 JGR Toyota.

    Austin Dillon was 11th, Kevin Harvick was 12th, Matt Kenseth was 13th, Kurt Busch was 15th, Joey Logano was 17th, Tony Stewart was 20th, Jamie McMurray was 21st and Chris Buescher rounded out the Chase drivers in 33rd.

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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.”