Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Tag: XFINITY Series

  • Blaney Takes Second at Texas in XFINITY, ‘Learns a lot’ for Sunday’s Cup Race  

    Blaney Takes Second at Texas in XFINITY, ‘Learns a lot’ for Sunday’s Cup Race  

    Ryan Blaney drove his No. 22 Ford to a second-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway in Saturday’s My Bariatric Solutions 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race. It was his second race in the series this year and his second top-two result.

    Erik Jones won the event scoring his second win at Texas and his seventh career victory. He led 112 of the 200 laps and beat Blaney to the checkered flag by .512 seconds. Blaney, who led 43 laps, was pleased with his team’s overall performance but said that Jones got such a lengthy lead on the last run that he “couldn’t run him down.”

    “I thought our car was pretty good all day,” Blaney said after the race. “The 20 seemed to be a little better than us for 35 or 40 laps. Then I feel like we could start running him down. We passed him before the last pit stop and I thought our car was pretty decent right there. I needed to turn a little better early in a run. I knew it wasn’t going to be that long for the next stint. We didn’t come out with the lead and that hurt us. I think if we would have come out with the lead I don’t know if I could have held him off.

    “He was pretty good right away but we kind of over adjusted and got too free that last run. I felt like we were kind of even with them 10 laps into a run but then he got so far out ahead that we couldn’t run him down. Just couldn’t get there. I thought it was a solid weekend overall for the 22 group. I felt the way the car has been running on that side is promising. It has been second a lot this year and that team deserves a win. They have been working hard the past six months to get competitive again and be in position to win races. We just need to have one go our way.”

    As Blaney was winding down after the XFINITY Series race, his focus soon shifted to Sunday’s Cup Series race and how he could transfer what he had learned to the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500.

    He is currently seventh in the points standings with three top 10s this season and one top five at Daytona where he finished second. Blaney is looking to rebound at Texas after getting caught up in a wreck last week at Martinsville Speedway that resulted in a 25th place finish. With the newly repaved surface at Texas, the extra track time he gained during the XFINITY Series race will be invaluable.

    Blaney described what he learned, adding that he would “have some comments” for the team during the post-race debrief.

    “The track changed a lot in the second half of the race. The beginning of the race was treacherous at the top. I think me and Erik fell back to eighth and ninth from 2nd and 4th just trying not to go anywhere and wreck. I feel like that came in a little to where it wasn’t as deadly up there from passing lap cars. You get stuck behind a lap car and you can’t pass them for a lap or so and that part was tough. They don’t want to leave the line and get in the dust either so you have to kind of wait and just time it right. Personally, I learned a lot for tomorrow’s race. I think it will be very helpful. I was really thankful to run this race to get some laps. That part was good.”

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

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Auto Club Speedway

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Auto Club Speedway

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series head to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California for the final stop of “NASCAR Goes West.” First up is the NXS Service King 300 on Saturday at 4 p.m. on FS1. The MENCS Auto Club 400 wraps up the weekend’s activities on Sunday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

    Saturday’s Service King 300 will consist of three stages. Stages 1 and 2 will be 35 laps each in length with a final stage of 80 laps (150 total laps). The Cup Series Auto Club 400 is also comprised of three stages. Stages 1 and 2 will be 60 laps each while the final stage will be 80 laps (200 total laps).

    Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 24:

    On Track:
    1:30-2:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice – FS1
    3-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    5-5:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    7:05 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    1 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
    2:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11:45 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    12 p.m.: Daniel Suarez
    12:15 p.m.: Danica Patrick
    12:45 p.m.: Chase Elliott
    1 p.m.: Cole Custer and Ryan Reed
    3:35 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    4 p.m.: Ryan Blaney
    4:30 p.m.: Ryan Newman
    6:15 p.m.: Kyle Larson
    8 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying

    Saturday, March 25:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice – FS1
    12:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    2:30-3:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    4 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series NXS 300 (150 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    6:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, March 26:

    On Track:
    3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 (200 laps, 400 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    2 p.m.: Auto Club Speedway Announcement
    2:30 p.m.: Justice Brothers/Shav Glick Award
    7 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race (time approx.)

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

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Odds To Win Nascar Auto Club 400
    https://www.bookmaker.eu/live-lines/motor-racing/nascar-pick-winner
    Jimmie Johnson +700
    Kevin Harvick +700
    Joey Logano +700
    Kyle Larson +700
    Kyle Busch +800
    Brad Keselowski +800
    Martin Truex Jr +900
    Chase Elliott +900
    Matt Kenseth +1518
    Dale Earnhardt Jr +1621
    Denny Hamlin +1826
    Kasey Kahne +2032
    Ryan Blaney +2342
    Kurt Busch +2653
    Clint Bowyer +3595
    Daniel Suarez +4000
    Ryan Newman +4000
    Erik Jones +4500
    Austin Dillon +6000
    Jamie McMurray +6000
    Field (Any Other Driver) +3071

    Auto Club 400 Entry List:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-entry-list-C1705_PREENTNUM.pdf” title=”Auto Club 400 entry list C1705_PREENTNUM”]

     

  • Restrictor Plates at Indianapolis Motor Speedway May Be Less than Ideal

    Restrictor Plates at Indianapolis Motor Speedway May Be Less than Ideal

    As recently confirmed by Nate Ryan at NBC Sports, NASCAR will be utilizing restrictor plates at Indianapolis for the XFINITY race on July 22. This comes after a test last year with the plates, where NASCAR was reportedly pleased with the results. According to the article, if all goes well, the plates could be used in 2018 for the Brickyard 400. The package is also being considered for Pocono and Michigan as well.

    On one hand, this could be a way to inject life into a series of less than stellar events by slowing the cars down and encouraging more action on the track. NASCAR is doing what they can to bring about parity in these events as well as encourage a better product in an otherwise failing division.

    Yet at the same time, it’s a risky matter. With the restrictor plates being used at another speedway besides Daytona and Talladega since 2000, it could showcase why the plates should only be used on superspeedways where pack racing is prevalent.

    On one hand, recall the Fall 2000 race at New Hampshire where Jeff Burton won after leading all 300 laps. Of course, this was the year that saw two fatalities in a matter of months at the speedway, and the plates were used as a precautionary method. Still, it was one of the most boring, if not the safest, NASCAR race in history. Same goes for the restrictor plates used by IROC at Indianapolis, which were nothing more than high-speed freight trains, with hardly any passing and zero action.

    That’s not to say this experience couldn’t be fruitful, but at the same time, the precedent previously set all those years ago does not bode well now. Sure, many things have changed, and it’s not to say that it isn’t a touch gratifying to see drivers dominate a race every so often.

    But as previously mentioned, there has been a lack of parity in the XFINITY Series, with some drivers dominating more than others. This experiment could be a way to fix the XFINITY Series product and possibly revitalize the division. Time will tell, but although the rules package is different, and stage racing is now a thing, it’d still be wise not to go into July’s race with high hopes regarding the racing product.

     

  • Allgaier Triumphs at Phoenix, Wins Dash 4 Cash Prize

    Allgaier Triumphs at Phoenix, Wins Dash 4 Cash Prize

    By Reid Spencer | NASCAR Wire Service

    AVONDALE, Ariz. — Justin Allgaier popped a tire during his celebratory burnout after Saturday’s DC Solar 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.

    But you can forgive the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet if he was a trifle rusty with his donuts — Allgaier hadn’t been to Victory Lane in the NASCAR XFINITY Series since August in 2012 at the road course in Montreal.

    On a blistering afternoon that brought emotions to a boil at the 1-mile race track in the Sonoran Desert, Allgaier sailed away with a magnificent restart with four laps left and finished .741 seconds ahead of runner-up Ryan Blaney, who started 33rd after inspection issues kept him off the grid during qualifying earlier in the day.

    “You have no idea how proud I am of you,” Allgaier radioed to his team after he crossed the finish line and broke an 80-race drought.

    After climbing from the car, Allgaier began to digest what he had just accomplished, not the least of which was claiming the $100,000 bonus in the first Dash 4 Cash race of the season. The victory was Allgaier’s fourth in the series.

    “Last year was tough,” Allgaier said of a winless 2016, his first year with JRM. “We had really good runs all year but we weren’t able to get to Victory Lane. This was the same group of guys we had last year, and to be able to do it here in Phoenix and win the first XFINITY Dash 4 Cash race. …

    “This is a team effort. We had four really good JR Motorsports hot rods out there.”

    In fact, with polesitter William Byron running fourth and series leader Elliott Sadler coming home fifth, JRM put three cars in the top five and four in the top nine (with Michael Annett finishing ninth).

    With 10 laps left, contact from Cole Custer’s Ford sent Austin Dillon’s No. 2 Chevrolet hard into the outside wall, collecting Ryan Sieg’s Chevrolet in the process. After caution flew on Lap 191, Dillon rode Custer’s car into the outside wall, earning a summons to the NASCAR hauler for Dillon and crew chief Justin Alexander.

    “He over-drove the corner and took us out with it,” Dillon said after exiting the infield care center.

    Dillon wasn’t particularly apprehensive about the meeting with NASCAR.

    “We’ll probably just have a Coke and discuss things,” he said optimistically.

    Custer took full responsibility for the incident.

    “It was 100 percent my fault,” said the Sunoco rookie driver. “I got in there too deep, got really loose going in and couldn’t put any wheel into it. That was pretty much it. Just all my fault, something that won’t happen again. We had a great race leading up to that.

    “We didn’t start out at all how we wanted to, but by the end, we were probably a fifth to eighth-place car. I thought that was a really good sign for us. I thought we had a really good Haas Automation Ford.

    It’s unfortunate I cost us and the 2 car there.”

    Under the circumstances, Custer wasn’t surprised at Dillon’s retaliation.

    “It definitely sucks for us points-wise, but I guess you can kind of expect that when he gets taken out,” Custer said. “I can understand how frustrated he is about it. It is what it is. I will try not to have that happen again.”

    Full race results | Series standings

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Phoenix

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Phoenix

    NASCAR heads to Phoenix Raceway this weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series compete at the one-mile oval. Saturday’s XFINITY Series DC Solar 200 will be broadcast at 4 p.m. on FOX. The Cup Series Camping World 500 will be televised on FOX at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

    The Camping World 500 will be comprised of three stages. Stages 1 and 2 will consist of 75 laps each with a final stage of 162 laps. Saturday’s XFINITY Series DC Solar 200 will also have three stages. Stages 1 and 2 will consist of 60 laps each with a final stage of 80 laps.

    Kevin Harvick is the defending race winner and has the second-best driver rating (110.7) at Phoenix with eight wins, 13 top fives, 17 top 10s and one pole. Jimmie Johnson has the best driver rating (111.2) at the track and has earned four wins, 15 top fives, 19 top 10s and three poles. Chase Elliott, still looking for his first Cup win, has the third-best driver rating of 103.9. 

    Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 17:

    On Track:
    1-1:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    2-3:25 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    4-4:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    6-6:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    7:45 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    1:30 p.m.: Cup Series
    3:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    12 p.m.: Daniel Suarez
    12:15 p.m.: XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash: Justin Allgaier, Brennan Poole, Matt Tifft
    3:40 p.m.: Kyle Larson
    5:15 p.m.: Ryan Blaney
    5:30 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    5:45 p.m.: Joey Logano
    Approx. 8:45 p.m.: Post-qualifying press conferences

    Saturday, March 18:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS2
    1:05 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2
    2:30-3:20 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS2
    4 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series DC Solar 200 (200 laps, 200 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    6:30 p.m.: Post-Race Press Conference (time approx.)

    Sunday, March 19:

    On Track:
    3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 (312 laps, 312 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    7 p.m.: Post-Race Press Conference (time approx.)

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

    Complete NASCAR TV  ScheduleOdds To Win NASCAR Camping World 500

    Kevin Harvick +270
    Joey Logano +750
    Chase Elliott +905
    Brad Keselowski +950
    Kyle Busch +1100
    Jimmie Johnson +1100
    Matt Kenseth +1130
    Martin Truex Jr +1210
    Denny Hamlin +1310
    Kyle Larson +1410
    Dale Earnhardt Jr +1885
    Kurt Busch +3045
    Clint Bowyer +3045
    Erik Jones +3045
    Daniel Suarez +3465
    Ryan Blaney +3820
    Austin Dillon +4000
    Ryan Newman +4000
    Kasey Kahne +4020
    Jamie McMurray +4200
    Field (Any Other Driver) +3235

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Las Vegas

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Las Vegas

    NASCAR heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway as it begins a three-race west coast stint. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series will both compete this weekend. The XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 will be televised on FS1 Saturday at 4 p.m. Sunday’s Cup Series Kobalt 400 will be broadcast on FOX at 3:30 p.m. with a scheduled green flag start at 3:46 p.m.

    The Kobalt 400 event will be comprised of three stages. Stage 1 and 2 will consist of 80 laps each with a final stage of 107 laps (267 total laps). Saturday’s XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 will also consist of three stages. Stage 1 and 2 will each be 45 laps in length with a final stage of 110 laps (200 total laps).

    Brad Keselowski has the momentum heading into this weekend’s competition with his win at Atlanta Motor Speedway last week and is also the defending Cup Series race winner at Las Vegas. In eight starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, he has captured two victories (2014, 2016) with three top fives and 10 top 10s.

    Please check below for the complete schedule of events. All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 10:

    On Track:
    2-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice – FS1
    4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    6-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS2
    7:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS2

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    1:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
    3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    12:15 p.m.: Chris Buescher
    12:30 p.m.: Matt Kenseth
    12:45 p.m.: Kurt Busch
    1 p.m.: Brad Keselowski
    1:30 p.m.: Brendan Gaughan and Spencer Gallagher
    3:45 p.m.: Las Vegas Motor Speedway announcement
    5:10 p.m.: Kyle Busch
    9 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)

    Saturday, March 11:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice – FS1
    1:05 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    2:30-3:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    4 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences:  (Watch live)
    6:30 p.m.: Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, March 12:

    On Track/Pre-Race Coverage:
    1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show – FS1
    3 p.m.: NASCAR Sunday FOX Pre-Race Show – FOX
    3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Kobalt 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – FOX

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    7 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race (time approx.)

    Cup Series Kobalt 400 Raceday TV/Radio Coverage:
    Broadcast Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon
    Pit Reporters: Jamie Little, Chris Neville, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum
    In-Race Analyst: Larry McReynolds
    Race / Hollywood Hotel Host: Chris Myers
    Analysts / Hollywood Hotel: Jeff Gordon, Darrell and Michael Waltrip
    Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90

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

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Odds To Win Nascar Kobalt 400 by BookMaker.eu
    Jimmie Johnson +550
    Joey Logano +600
    Brad Keselowski +650
    Kevin Harvick +700
    Kyle Busch +750
    Matt Kenseth +1000
    Chase Elliott +1200
    Martin Truex Jr +1200
    Kyle Larson +1400
    Dale Earnhardt Jr +1700
    Denny Hamlin +2500
    Kurt Busch +3000
    Clint Bowyer +3000
    Austin Dillon +3000
    Kasey Kahne +3000
    Erik Jones +4000
    Daniel Suarez +4000
    Ryan Blaney +5000
    Ryan Newman +5000
    Field (Any Other Driver) +2000

    Kobalt 400 Entry List:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/LVMS-Kobalt-400-entry-list-March-2017-C1703_PREENTNUM.pdf” title=”LVMS Kobalt 400 entry list March 2017 C1703_PREENTNUM”]

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Atlanta

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Atlanta

    NASCAR heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway with all three series for a full weekend of competition. The NASCAR XFINITY Series (2 p.m.) and the Camping World Truck Series (4:30 p.m.) races will be televised on FS1 Saturday. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 will be broadcast on FOX at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

    The Cup Series event will be comprised of three stages. Stage 1 and 2 will consist of 85 laps each with a final stage of 155 laps (325 laps total).

    Jimmie Johnson, the defending race winner, has the most victories at Atlanta among active drivers, with five, and swept the 2015-2016 races. He also has the series-best driver rating of 107.1. Daytona 500 champ, Kurt Busch, won the Atlanta pole last year and has three victories at the 1.54-mile track.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, March 3

    On Track:
    10-10:55 a.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    11-11:55 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    Noon-1:25 p.m. Cup Series Practice – FS1
    1:30-2:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Practice – FS1
    2:30-3:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Practice – FS1
    3:30-4:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    4:30-5:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    5:45 p.m.: Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    10:15 a.m.: Chase Elliott
    10:30 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
    10:45 a.m.: Kurt Busch
    11:30 a.m.: William Byron
    11:45 a.m.: Brandon Jones
    2:30 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson
    2:45 p.m.: NASCAR announcement
    6:30 p.m. (approximately): Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    11:30 a.m.: Cup Series
    3 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Saturday, March 4:

    On Track:
    9:15 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    10:40 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    Noon-1:20 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice – FS1
    1:30 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay: XFINITY Series – FS1
    2 p.m.: XFINITY Series Rinnai 250 (163 laps, 251.02 miles) – FS1
    4:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Active Pest Control 200 (130 laps, 200.02 miles) – FS1
    6:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Post-Race Show – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    4:30 p.m. (approximately): Post-XFINITY Series Race
    6:30 p.m. (approximately): Post-Camping World Truck Series Race

    Sunday, March 5:

    On Track:
    12:30 p.m.: NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show – FS1
    2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FOX Pre-Race Show – FOX
    2:30 p.m.: Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (325 laps, 500.05 miles) – FOX

    Press Conference: (Watch live)
    5:30 p.m. (approximately): Post-Cup Series Race

    Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 TV/Radio Coverage:

    Broadcast Booth: Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon
    Pit Reporters: Jamie Little, Chris Neville, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum
    In-Race Analyst: Larry McReynolds
    Race / Hollywood Hotel Host: Chris Myers
    Analysts / Hollywood Hotel: Jeff Gordon, Darrell and Michael Waltrip
    Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90

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

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

    Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Entry List:

    [pdf-embedder url=”http://www.speedwaymedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Atlanta-entry-list-C1702_PREENTNUM.pdf” title=”Atlanta entry list C1702_PREENTNUM”]

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona 500

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona 500

    The 2017 season officially begins this weekend as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series compete at Daytona International Speedway for the 59th running of the Daytona 500. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    Chase Elliott won the pole position this past Sunday during qualifying. He will be joined on the front row by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. in second place. The remainder of the field will be set Friday, Feb. 23 in the Can-Am Duels. These twin 60-lap races will determine the field as well as the full lineup for the Daytona 500.

    There are 36 Charter teams that are locked into the race, leaving four open spots and six contenders hoping to secure one of those four positions.

    Thursday, Feb. 23:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    2-2:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice – FS1
    4-4:55 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    7 p.m.: First Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles) – FS1
    9 p.m. (approx.): Second Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles) – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    1:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Drive for Diversity
    3 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    10 p.m. (approximately): Post-Can-Am Duels Races

    Friday, Feb. 24:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – FS1
    1-1:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice – FS1
    2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    3-3:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice – FS1
    4:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) – FS1
    7:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles) – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    11:30 a.m.: XFINITY Series
    12:30 p.m.: Cup Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11 a.m.: Team Penske
    11:30 a.m.: Team Chevrolet and owners (Jim Campbell, of Chevrolet, U.S. VP, Performance Vehicles and Motorsports; Richard Childress of Richard Childress Racing; Chip Ganassi of Chip Ganassi Racing; and Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports)
    10 p.m. (approximately): Post-Camping World Truck Series Race

    Saturday, Feb. 25:

    On Track:
    10:30 a.m.: XFINITY Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Final Practice – FS1
    3:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Powershares QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    10 a.m.: Ford Performance and team owners (Raj Nair of Ford Performance Executive VP, Product Development and Chief Technical Officer; Roger Penske of Team Penske; Jack Roush of Roush Fenway Racing and Tony Stewart of Stewart-Haas Racing)
    12:30 p.m.: Toyota Racing and team owners (Ed Laukes, the VP of marketing, performance and guest experience, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.; Joe Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing; and Barney Visser of Furniture Row Racing
    6 p.m. (approximately): Post-XFINITY Series Race

    Sunday, Feb. 26:

    On Track:
    2 p.m.: Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles) – FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    10:20 a.m.: Honorary Race Official Mario Andretti
    10:40 a.m.: USAF Thunderbirds
    10:55 a.m.: Daytona 500 Grand Marshal Owen Wilson
    11:05 a.m.: Daytona 500 National Anthem Singer Jordin Sparks and Honorary Starter LaDainian Tomlinson
    11:30 a.m.: Daytona 500 Pre-Race Performers Lady Antebellum
    6:00 p.m. (approximately): Post-Cup Series Race

     

    DUEL 1 LINEUP
    STARTING POSITION DRIVER TEAM
    1. Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports
    2. Brad Keselowski Team Penske
    3. Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing
    4. Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing
    5. Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing
    6. Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
    7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing
    8. Daniel Suarez Joe Gibbs Racing
    9. Joey Logano Team Penske
    10. Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing
    11. Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing
    12. Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing
    13. Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports
    14. Landon Cassill Front Row Motorsports
    15. Matt DiBenedetto Go Fas Racing
    16. Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing
    17. Brendan Gaughan* Beard Motorsports
    18. Cole Whitt TriStar Motorsports
    19. Reed Sorenson* Premium Motorsports
    20. Joey Gase BK Racing
    21. Corey LaJoie* BK Racing

     

    DUEL 2 LINEUP
    STARTING POSITION DRIVER TEAM
    1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports
    2. Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing
    3. Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing
    4. Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports
    5. Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing
    6. Ty Dillon Germain Racing
    7. Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports
    8. Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing
    9. Ryan Blaney Wood Brothers Racing
    10. Erik Jones Furniture Row Racing
    11. Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing
    12. Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing
    13. Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing
    14. AJ Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing
    15. Michael McDowell Leavine Family Racing
    16. David Ragan Front Row Motorsports
    17. Michael Waltrip Premium Motorsports
    18. Elliott Sadler* Tommy Baldwin Racing
    19. D.J. Kennington* Gaunt Brothers Racing
    20. Jeffrey Earnhardt Circle Sport – The Motorsports Group
    21. Timmy Hill* Rick Ware Racing
    * Non-Charter Teams

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona Speedweeks

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Daytona Speedweeks

    The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series will open the 2017 season at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.

    Analyzing The Advanced Auto Parts Clash At Daytona:
    Unlike previous years, the starting field for the 2017 Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona will not be a predetermined number of cars; rather, the field is limited to drivers who meet more exclusive criteria.  The 2017 Eligible Participants Include:

    2016 Coors Light Pole Winners: Greg Biffle, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Carl Edwards, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.

    Former Clash Winners: Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Tony Stewart

    Former Daytona 500 Pole Winners: Danica Patrick

    2016 Monster Energy Playoff Participants: Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson and Jamie McMurray

    Breakdown of Clash at Daytona Winners:

    Year Driver Year Driver
     1979 Buddy Baker 1998 Rusty Wallace
    1980 Dale Earnhardt 1999 Mark Martin
    1981 Darrell Waltrip 2000 Dale Jarrett
    1982 Bobby Allison 2001 Tony Stewart
    1983 Neil Bonnett 2002 Tony Stewart
    1984 Neil Bonnett 2003 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    1985 Terry Labonte 2004 Dale Jarrett
    1986 Dale Earnhardt 2005 Jimmie Johnson
    1987 Bill Elliott 2006 Denny Hamlin
    1988 Dale Earnhardt 2007 Tony Stewart
    1989 Ken Schrader 2008 Dale Earnhardt Jr.
    1990 Ken Schrader 2009 Kevin Harvick
    1991 Dale Earnhardt 2010 Kevin Harvick
    1992 Geoff Bodine 2011 Kurt Busch
    1993 Dale Earnhardt 2012 Kyle Busch
    1994 Jeff Gordon 2013 Kevin Harvick
    1995 Dale Earnhardt 2014 Denny Hamlin
    1996 Dale Jarrett 2015 Matt Kenseth
    1997 Jeff Gordon 2016 Denny Hamlin

     

    Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, Feb. 17:

    On Track:
    5-5:55 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice for The Clash at Daytona – FS1
    6:30-7:25 p.m.: Cup Series Final Practice for The Clash at Daytona – FS1

    Saturday, Feb. 18:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-3:25 p.m.: Cup Series First Practice – FS1
    8 p.m.: Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona (75 laps, 187.5 miles) – FS1

    Sunday, Feb. 19:

    On Track:
    3:10 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) – FOX

    TV Schedule Feb. 13-19

     

     

     

    Thursday, Feb. 23:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – FS1
    2-2:55 p.m.: Truck Series First Practice – FS1
    4-4:55 p.m.: Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    7 p.m.: First Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles) – FS1
    9 p.m.: Second Can-Am Duel race (60 laps, 150 miles) – FS1 (time approx.)

    Friday, Feb. 24:

    On Track:
    Noon-12:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – FS1
    1-1:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice – FS1
    2-2:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – FS1
    3-3:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Practice – FS1
    4:30 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds), FS1
    7:30 p.m.: Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), FS1

    Saturday, Feb. 25:

    On Track:
    10:30 a.m.: XFINITY Series Qualifying (single vehicle/two rounds) – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Cup Series Daytona 500 Final Practice – FS1
    3:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Powershares QQQ 300 (120 laps, 300 miles) – FS1

    Sunday, Feb. 26:

    On Track:
    2 p.m.: Daytona 500 (200 laps, 500 miles) – FOX

     

  • Finley Factor: 2017 Championship Picks

    Finley Factor: 2017 Championship Picks

    NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion: Timothy Peters

    Peters’ situation in the Truck Series is one of the most stable in all of NASCAR. Since winning his first race for Red Horse Racing in his first start for the Truck Series team in 2010, he hasn’t missed a single race. Last season was the first time since 2008 that the veteran didn’t find victory lane, but it was statistically his best season since finishing runner-up in points in 2012. Peters made the inaugural Truck Series Chase and the championship four but his ninth in the season finale was behind the other three Truck drivers. Peters has been a model of consistency, with only one points finish outside of the top-five since 2011. The 36-year-old from Virginia is the best Truck series veteran to have never won the series championship- expect that to change in 2017.

    NASCAR XFINITY Series Champion: William Byron

    With Matt Tifft being the lone full-time JGR Toyota and just about everybody else in the series either being a fellow rookie, a teammate of Byron’s, or in a relatively underfunded ride, Byron has to be the favorite. When it comes to drivers moving teams, Byron’s decision to leave Toyota to go over to Hendrick Motorsports was the surprise of last year’s Silly Season. Byron was dominant last year, winning seven truck races after entering the season with just one career start in the series. He just missed out on making it to the championship four at Homestead but won the race anyway. Byron was so good that NASCAR’s new playoff point structure seems to be structured more to prevent such a dominant driver from being so easily eliminated in the Chase, rather than an answer to Jimmie Johnson’s season last year as some in the media argued.

    Of the entire flock of full-time drivers this season in the XFINITY Series, Byron is probably the favorite to win a championship in most people’s eyes and there’s no real argument against that. JR Motorsports does a great job of teaching young drivers, with Brad Keselowski being its first graduate and Chase Elliott being its latest. Byron is even stepping into the same car that Elliott drove to a championship his own rookie year; there’s not a lot to go against Byron with besides “He’s a rookie!” or “He’s never even made a start in the series!”, none of which will matter when we get to Homestead and he’s one of the final four.

    Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion: Erik Jones

    I love making risky picks. I picked Kyle Larson to win it all last season; it was a genius pick at Richmond when Larson was red hot entering the Chase and it was a stupid pick at Dover when Larson was one of the first eliminated in the Chase.

    This isn’t a risky pick.

    Erik Jones is a rookie who will be competitive out of the gate. Erik Jones will win races. Erik Jones will become the first driver to win a championship in their rookie season.

    Jones has been fast in everything he’s gotten into. When Kyle Busch went down at Daytona in 2015, it speaks volumes that Gibbs wanted Jones to sub for him on day one but had to wait because he was a Truck Series rookie with little experience running big racetracks.

    In three races subbing for Busch in 2015, Jones performed very well for an 18-year-old Truck Series rookie. He was on his way to contending for a win in his very first start at Kansas before spinning out. That’s pure insanity. He won a Truck Series championship that season with an average finish of 6.3, then came up to the XFINITY Series in 2016. Jones had consistency problems but was seemingly unstoppable if the car that week was good-to-great and didn’t lose out on strategy.

    Toyota seems to be in the best position of the three manufacturers this season. Ford teams are a huge question mark right now. We don’t know if adding four teams will be too big of a strain on the Roush-Yates engine department and we don’t know if Stewart-Haas Racing is going to be able to just continue being great immediately following the move to the blue oval.

    Meanwhile, on the Chevrolet side, Hendrick Motorsports presents the biggest challenge to the Toyota dominance of the series but with possibly only two teams. Dale Earnhardt Jr. might take a while to get back up to speed and there are no real signs that show Kasey Kahne significantly improving this season. Chip Ganassi Racing will be interesting to watch, but Larson may be distracted by contract talks and cars get slower if the driver is leaving after the season. Finally, Richard Childress Racing and its satellite teams are probably a year or two from becoming a race-to-race challenge for the rest of the competition.

    Now, this pick has one caveat to it. It’s assuming that Furniture Row Racing will receive the same level of support as it did last season when Martin Truex Jr. basically ran the fifth JGR car. As long as this new second car team is getting the same attention as Truex’s team this year, there’s no reason the No. 77 won’t be running at full speed by Charlotte in May.

    Jones should be able to get over his consistency problems. Chris Gayle will be a rookie crew chief to go along with his rookie driver, but he isn’t new to being a crew chief; he won 12 races last season working with a variety of drivers in the No. 18 on route to making it to Homestead in the championship four in owner’s points. JGR crew chiefs who move up to the Cup Series rarely strike out; Gayle might not have Kyle Busch in his car this season but he will have a younger, somewhat similar driver.

    Jones has a lot to prove. With William Byron’s dominant season in the Truck Series, Daniel Suarez winning the XFINITY Series championship, and Chase Elliott’s impressive rookie season, Jones will be out to prove himself as the best of the young coup invading NASCAR. He hasn’t proven many people wrong so far.