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Tag: XFINITY Series

  • NASCAR’s Future Dependent on a Successful 2017 Season

    NASCAR’s Future Dependent on a Successful 2017 Season

    As the 2017 NASCAR season approaches, fans can expect to see significant changes both on and off the track.  With Monster Energy leading the way as the new entitlement sponsor coupled with the recent exit of high-profile drivers such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards, this year could prove to be a defining moment in the future of NASCAR. Add the recent race format changes into the mix and you have a recipe for either spectacular success or dismal failure.

    The partnership with Monster Energy is an effort by NASCAR to reach a younger demographic and expand its fan base.

    NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France described Monster Energy as “a dynamic brand that reaches different places and different audiences. They are going to do things that are going to be fun. They’re going to be impactful. They’re going to be exciting for our drivers and our teams.”

    It’s a sound theory but NASCAR’s enthusiasm may not be shared by their current fans whose average age is 48 and who are typically resistant to change.

    Steve Phelps, NASCAR executive vice president and chief global sales and marketing officer, however, is convinced that the fans will embrace Monster Energy.

    “We have the good fortune of finding a brand that we believe works for our sport,” Phelps said. “They’re going to bring their lifestyle to their activation. They’re going to bring their brand, their excitement, their energy to this partnership, and the fans are going to be the winners. It’s all about engaging the fans and having the fans have unique, fun experiences whether at the race track or through different mediums, through social, digital, content.”

    Another hurdle that NASCAR faces this year is the loss of Gordon, Stewart and Edwards. Will fans switch their allegiance to a different driver or will they follow these drivers into retirement?

    On the plus side, there is an outstanding rookie class joining the Cup Series this season, including Daniel Suarez, the defending XFINITY Series champion, who will be taking over for Edwards in the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

    Erik Jones, the 2015 Camping World Truck Series champion, is also moving up to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. He will drive the No. 77 Toyota for Furniture Row Racing. Jones had four wins in the XFINITY Series last year and finished fourth in the year-end standings.

    Ty Dillon will be another rookie to follow as he moves up to the Cup Series in the No. 13 Germain Racing Chevrolet. Dillon finished fifth last year in the XFINITY Series with nine top fives and 17 top 10s.

    One of the biggest obstacles to NASCAR’s success could be the revamped race format that was revealed on January 23 and will be implemented in all three of its national series.

    It was met by favorable responses from most of the drivers, including Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    “I love the fact that the bonus points or the playoff points will carry through the playoffs all the way to the last round,” he said. “So everything you do throughout the season is really going to help you throughout the playoffs. That’s a great change.”

    But the fan response has been mixed, at best. The format changes, which include running the races in three segments with playoff points awarded to the segment winners as well as the overall race winner, are the basis for a playoff structure that seems to get more convoluted each year.

    For many longtime fans, this may be the final straw.

     

  • Martin tabbed for NMPA Hall of Fame

    Martin tabbed for NMPA Hall of Fame

    DARLINGTON, S.C. (Nov. 23, 2016) – Mark Martin, winner of 40 NASCAR premier series races and a runner-up in the championship battle on five occasions, has been selected for induction into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

    Martin, 57, will be inducted Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017.

    He was named on 95 percent of the ballots cast by the NMPA membership.

    The Batesville, Ark., native competed in NASCAR for more than three decades. His 40 career victories currently rank 17th on the all-time list for the series while his 882 career starts rank fifth overall for the sanctioning body’s top series.

    In addition to his premier series efforts, Martin also enjoyed success in NASCAR’s lower national series, winning 49 times in what is now the XFINITY Series and seven times in the Camping World Truck Series.

    He is also a five-time winner of the IROC (International Race of Champions) title.

    Others receiving votes but falling short of the required 65 percent necessary for induction were veteran crew chiefs Kirk Shelmerdine (61 percent), Buddy Parrott (59 percent) and Larry McReynolds (51 percent); and long-time Martinsville Speedway public relations director Dick Thompson (59 percent).

    “Those guys are heroes of mine,” Martin said of his fellow nominees. “It is just such an incredible honor to be considered along with them. I feel very fortunate and blessed but most of all I’m thankful. Very thankful.”

    Former statistician Bob Latford and driver Dan Gurney were also named as write-in candidates on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot.

    Martin, who retired from competition following the 2013 season, earned 35 premier series wins with team owner Jack Roush. His final five victories came in 2009 after joining Hendrick Motorsports.

    Alan Gustafson served as crew chief for Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and Martin at Hendrick. He is currently the crew chief for 2016 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Chase Elliott.

    “Mark drove so much by just raw feel,” Gustafson said. “His ability just to flat out drive a car, no markers, no signs no nothing, he was really good at that, which produced some amazing lap times.

    “We’ve all seen it. Mark Martin, first lap on the track, is just insane. Because he doesn’t have to figure out where he’s at, he just drives by feel. He was open to working on things and doing things but he just did it a different way than drivers like Jeff and Kyle and Chase.”

    The National Motorsports Press Association was formed more than 50 years ago and its membership consists of motorsports writers, broadcasters and photographers from throughout the U.S. and abroad.

    The NMPA Hall of Fame, established in 1965, is located on the grounds of Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

  • Sadler Reflects on Missed Opportunity

    Sadler Reflects on Missed Opportunity

    Elliott Sadler’s season came to a disappointing end Saturday night as he saw the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series championship slip from his grasp.

    As Daniel Suarez won the race and the coveted championship trophy, Sadler, along with the other Chase contenders, Erik Jones and Justin Allgaier, was left pondering what might have been.

    It all came down to the final restart with three laps remaining. Cole Whitt, who did not pit during the final caution, would lead the field to green with Sadler starting in second place. Whitt elected to start on the outside but spun his tires on the restart, which meant the cars behind him, included Allgaier and Jones, were unable to immediately accelerate.

    Sadler’s team had requested the outside lane and he thought that it might have made a difference, especially because he only had two fresh tires, but blamed himself for a slow restart that allowed Suarez to take the lead.

    “I was asking for it. I was asking for it because with the two tires, you kind of want to be on the high line. I don’t know, Daniel’s car was really fast, but I was going to try to hold him down, and then when the 14 didn’t go on the restart, I actually kind of stopped and hesitated. The green flag was waving, but he really wasn’t going, so I didn’t know really what to do.”

    “So,” he continued, “I kind of hesitated, and I think that allowed Daniel to get a good run on me and cost me the championship. I’ve been pretty good on restarts all year, and I felt like I didn’t do my job to the best of my ability on the last restart, and really wanted Daniel to have to fight for it a little bit harder than what he did. I knew he had a little better car on four tires, but I felt like I could have done a better job to put up a fight.

    “All that being said, I’ve had more fun this year than I’ve had in a long time and it’s neat being in this position, and my family is here with me. But I really wanted to hand those guys a trophy.”

    This has arguably been Sadler’s best year since he began running full-time in the XFINITY Series, claiming three wins, 14 top fives and 29 top 10s in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevy. It’s also the third time he’s finished as runner-up at season’s end in the series. But, for Sadler, this has been the most difficult loss.

    “This is by far the hardest because I feel like this is the best team I’ve probably ever worked with,” Sadler said. “Before when I’ve come to Homestead, I’ve been a few points back, and like if certain situations happened, you know, you might could win, but it’s a long shot, but here with four guys even, we all wanted to win. We all felt like we all had a chance of winning.

    “With the team I have now, love them to death, and we’ve had such good race cars all year. We felt like we could come in here and compete and we made a great pit call there at the end to get some clean air, but yeah, it hurts, because I felt like we have prepped for so long for this race, and it didn’t go as well as we want through the middle part of it. Of course, it hurt not having Kevin on the box some, but I wanted to be able to look my guys in the eye and give them a championship, and I told Kelley that after the race, and she was very supportive, and she’s got my back. I really wanted to hand her a trophy, and not doing that just — it hurts and stings a little bit and makes you wonder what you could have done different.”

    It may be a while before Sadler stops thinking about what he could have done differently but his last comments to the media probably summed it up best.

    “It’s just part of this format, but it’s great for the fans. I think it’s great for our sport. It shows a lot of emotion and I think tonight’s race played out the way it should be. But all four of us really raced hard with each other up front,” and Daniel,” Sadler admitted, “just got the better of us tonight.”

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Homestead

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Homestead

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup, XFINITY and the Camping World Truck Series travel to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend for the season finale. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Wednesday, Nov. 16:

    Live Stream: (Watch live)
    11 a.m. ET: Championship 4 Crew Chief Video Conference

    Thursday, Nov. 17:

    Live Stream:
    3:05 p.m. ET: Media Day (Watch live)
    4:10 p.m. ET: Miss Sprint Cup Championship 4 Chat (Watch live)

    Friday, Nov. 18:

    On Track:
    8:30-9:30 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice – FS1
    10:30-11:25 a.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS1
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    2-3:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    5-5:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    6:15 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    8 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 (134 laps, 201 miles) – FS1

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

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    10:15 a.m.: Darrell Gwynn Foundation
    11:45 a.m.: Tony Stewart
    2 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship 4 owners – Joe Gibbs, Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske
    7:30 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)
    10 p.m.: Post-Camping World Truck Series Race (time approx.)

    Saturday, Nov. 19:

    On Track:
    10-10:55 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – CNBC/NBC Sports App
    11:15 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – CNBC/NBC Sports App
    1-1:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBCSN/NBC Sports App

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    2 p.m.: Sprint Cup Championship 4 manufacturers – Jim Campbell, Ed Laukes and Dave Pericak
    6:30 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, Nov. 20:

    On Track:
    2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11 a.m.: NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France
    7 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race (time approx.)

     

    Find NBCSN in your area | Watch live online at NBCSports.com

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • Alex Bowman Continues to Impress with Sixth Place Finish at Phoenix

    Alex Bowman Continues to Impress with Sixth Place Finish at Phoenix

    What a difference a few months can make.

    Bowman has gone from being jobless in January to joining JR Motorsports for eight XFINITY races to becoming the interim driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for what will be 10 Sprint Cup Series events.

    It has been a dream come true and he has embraced the opportunity with determination and focus.

    “If you would have asked me at any point in the last year if I would have a Cup pole in my career, I would have told you, you were crazy,” Bowman said. “So I’m very thankful to get this opportunity, obviously, not under the circumstances that anyone would want. But I’m trying to make the most of it and having a lot of fun. I have to thank the Hendrick engine shop. Obviously, we have great horsepower. Everybody on this team did an awesome job.”

    Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a huge supporter of Bowman, saying that he was helped their qualifying program immensely and praising the talents of his interim driver.

    “Well, I’m not very good at qualifying,” Earnhardt admitted, “so he has been in the car and he has really helped our team get better on the qualifying front, as well as in the racing also. I’m not that great of a qualifier, so this is good for the team, good for Greg and the guys, great for Alex. Alex has really helped our program. Jeff (Gordon) helped it a lot, but Alex has been a great treat for the guys to work with and obviously he is a great driver.”

    The 23-year-old has achieved three top-five and seven top-10 Sprint Cup finishes to date this season. In what may have been his most impressive performance this year, Bowman scored his first Sprint Cup Series pole at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday, leading the most laps (194) and earning a hard fought sixth place finish in the Can-Am 500.

    He was in contention for the win for much of the race but after a pit stop for a caution with 57 laps remaining, Bowman lost the lead after a team decision to take four tires while pitting as some teams stayed on the track or took only two tires. He restarted fifth but with 15 laps to go had advanced to second place. The race went into overtime and on the restart, Matt Kenseth and Bowman made contact. Kenseth hit the wall and Bowman fell back to fifth place. After a second overtime restart, he finished the race in sixth place.

    Bowman described his day as enjoyable but was clearly unhappy that he fell short of a win. He also spoke about the contact with Kenseth.

    “It was a really fun day,” he said. “Greg (Ives, crew chief) and all the guys made great changes all day. We had the best car all day long, really disappointed. I hate that we got into Matt (Kenseth) like that, just really disappointing end to the day, but one of those deals, just a racing deal. I don’t know if his spotter cleared him or what, but I was up against the inside wall when we made contact. It says a lot about Hendrick Motorsports and Greg Ives and the whole Nationwide Chevy team. We were so strong all day, fastest car, but the fastest car didn’t win the race this weekend.

    “Man, it’s just really disappointing. But everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, the Hendrick engine shop, Nationwide, Axalta, it just means so much for them to put faith in me. I don’t think I have ever led a Cup race before and to lead as much as we did and to run like we did today is amazing.”

    Bowman has done an excellent job of showcasing his talent this year and making his presence known on the track but does not have anything lined up for the 2017 season. He says he is “still waiting for the right opportunity to come along.”

    Maybe an endorsement from NASCAR’s most popular driver will help.

     

     

  • Kyle Busch Wins at Phoenix, as Championship 4 XFINITY Field is Set

    Kyle Busch Wins at Phoenix, as Championship 4 XFINITY Field is Set

    By Reid Spencer
    NASCAR Wire Service

    AVONDALE, Ariz. – It was just another routine Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway for Kyle Busch.

    But nothing else in the Ticket Galaxy 200 was at all ordinary.

    All the drama unfolded behind Busch, as eight drivers scrambled for four positions in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase’s Championship 4 Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

    Busch led 190 of 200 laps on the way to his 10th NASCAR XFINITY Series victory of the season, his 10th at the one-mile track and the 86th of his career, extending his own series record.

    Busch beat runner-up Austin Dillon to the finish line by 6.115 seconds. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ran third in his first XFINITY Series start since 2013.

    “It means a lot,” said Busch, who won his 170th race across NASCAR’s top three touring series. “That’s what we set out to do tonight, and we’ve been really fast here at Phoenix.

    “We’ve had some great race cars and Chris Gayle (crew chief) and all these guys do such a great job each and every week preparing these things – and it’s fun to win here.”

    Justin Allgaier and Daniel Suarez secured spots in the Championship 4 with respective fourth and fifth-place finishes, as did Erik Jones, who recovered from a pit road mistake on Lap 93 to finish 10th.

    But the real tension waited until after the race, when Elliott Sadler sat anxiously on pit road as NASCAR officials decided whether loose lug nuts would cost Sadler, the 13th-place finisher, the services of his crew chief, Kevin Meendering, in the season finale.

    NASCAR found two loose lug nuts, and that means Meendering will serve a suspension next week. Sadler did not know who his crew chief will be at Homestead – though he was lobbying, somewhat facetiously, for team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take over the pit box.

    “The emotions of the last 30 minutes have been tough,” Sadler said. “We knew one was loose, and one was in question. Kevin’s pretty much become my best friend, and Kevin’s made me a race car driver again this year.

    “We’ve saved our Darlington car – our best car – for Homestead. We’ve put all our eggs in that car. We’ve done everything right as a race team to go to Homestead with a legitimate shot of walking away a champion. Now that we know he’s going to be suspended, it’s going to be tough.”

    NASCAR XFINITY Series Managing Director Wayne Auton said there was never a possibility of Sadler losing his spot in the Championship 4.

    “At the end of the race, we bring all the cars down to the entrance of pit road for inspection of the wheels and the lug nuts,” Auton said. “We observed that the No. 1 car had two lug nuts not secured to the wheel. With that being said, all the teams were very much aware at the start of the Chase of the violations that could come about.

    “We’ve advised the team that they’re going to be looking for a crew chief for next week and a monetary fine of about $10,000. It’s clearly in the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series rule book.”

    Blake Koch finished eighth and lost the final Championship 4 position to Sadler by four points. Joining Koch on the Chase sidelines were Ryan Reed, who finished sixth, and Brendan Gaughan and Darrell Wallace Jr., who were wrecked and eliminated before the race was 150 laps old.

    Gaughan, who needed a victory to advance to Homestead, was playing fuel strategy when his right front tire went flat on the frontstretch on Lap 138. Gaughan pounded the Turn 1 wall and retired in 35th place.

    “It was about to play out the way we wanted,” Gaughan said after exiting the infield care center. “Did not want to be the caution. Did not want to hit that hard – but we took a shot.”

    Wallace’s grandmother had passed away during the week before the race, and the No. 6 Ford carried her name, “Granny Jan,” above the driver’s door. On Lap 148, Koch ducked to the inside off Turn 4 and knocked Wallace’s Mustang into the inside frontstretch wall.

    “My grandmother was giving me the ride of my life,” Wallace said, his voice breaking with emotion. “That was the most fun I have had all year. Just circumstances took us out. It’s just hard. Thanks, Granny, I love you. We will go on to Homestead and let her ride again.”

    NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – Ticket Galaxy 200
    Phoenix International Raceway
    Avondale, Arizona
    Saturday, November 12, 2016

     

    1. (1) Kyle Busch(i), Toyota, 200.
    2. (8) Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 200.
    3. (13) Ricky Stenhouse Jr(i), Ford, 200.
    4. (9) Justin Allgaier (C), Chevrolet, 200.
    5. (6) Daniel Suarez (C), Toyota, 200.
    6. (3) Ryan Reed (C), Ford, 200.
    7. (22) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 200.
    8. (4) Blake Koch (C), Chevrolet, 200.
    9. (11) Brad Keselowski(i), Ford, 200.
    10. (2) Erik Jones (C) #, Toyota, 200.
    11. (14) Brennan Poole #, Chevrolet, 200.
    12. (17) Aric Almirola(i), Ford, 200.
    13. (10) Elliott Sadler (C), Chevrolet, 200.
    14. (15) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 200.
    15. (19) Justin Marks, Chevrolet, 200.
    16. (20) Cole Whitt(i), Toyota, 200.
    17. (24) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 199.
    18. (16) Brandon Jones #, Chevrolet, 199.
    19. (12) Dakoda Armstrong, Toyota, 199.
    20. (21) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 199.
    21. (30) Brandon Gdovic, Chevrolet, 199.
    22. (26) Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 199.
    23. (33) Alex Labbe, Chevrolet, 197.
    24. (32) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 197.
    25. (36) BJ McLeod #, Ford, 197.
    26. (37) Brandon Hightower, Dodge, 196.
    27. (35) Austin Theriault(i), Chevrolet, 196.
    28. (40) Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 191.
    29. (39) Mike Harmon, Dodge, 190.
    30. (38) DJ Kennington, Ford, Engine, 165.
    31. (23) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, Accident, 150.
    32. (5) Darrell Wallace Jr (C), Ford, Accident, 148.
    33. (18) Corey LaJoie, Toyota, Accident, 148.
    34. (34) Garrett Smithley #, Chevrolet, Accident, 145.
    35. (25) Brendan Gaughan (C), Chevrolet, Accident, 136.
    36. (27) Ray Black Jr #, Chevrolet, Accident, 103.
    37. (28) Jeff Green, Ford, Accident, 90.
    38. (7) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, Accident, 54.
    39. (31) Timmy Hill(i), Toyota, Brakes, 14.
    40. (29) Matt DiBenedetto(i), Toyota, Vibration, 3.

     

    Average Speed of Race Winner:  97.31 mph.
    Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 03 Mins, 19 Secs. Margin of Victory:  6.115 Seconds.
    Caution Flags:  6 for 39 laps.
    Lead Changes:  6 among 4 drivers.

    Lap Leaders:   K. Busch(i) 0; E. Jones (C) # 1-3; K. Busch(i) 4-95; T. Dillon 96-100; K. Busch(i) 101-152; J. Allgaier (C) 153-154; K. Busch(i) 155-200.

    Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  K. Busch(i) 3 times for 190 laps; T. Dillon 1 time for 5 laps; E. Jones (C) # 1 time for 3 laps; J. Allgaier (C) 1 time for 2 laps.

    Top 10 in Points: D. Suarez (C) – 3,111; E. Sadler (C) – 3,102; E. Jones (C) # – 3,097; J. Allgaier (C) – 3,096; B. Koch (C) – 3,092; R. Reed (C) – 3,089; D. Wallace Jr (C) – 3,048; B. Gaughan (C) – 3,032; B. Poole # – 2,178; T. Dillon – 2,174.

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Phoenix

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Phoenix

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series all head to Phoenix International Raceway for a full weekend of competition. Please check below for the full schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, Nov. 11:

    On Track:
    11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice – FS2
    12:30-1:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    1:30-2:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3-3:50 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice – FS2
    4:30-5:55 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    6:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    8:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS2
    10 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 150 (150 laps, 150 miles) – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    1 p.m.:  Sprint Cup Series
    4 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11:45 a.m.: Alex Bowman
    Noon: Joey Logano
    12:15 p.m.: Kurt Busch
    12:30 p.m.: Matt Kenseth
    3:15 p.m.: Elliott Sadler, Erik Jones and Ryan Reed
    3:30 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
    3:45 p.m.: Kyle Busch
    6 p.m.: Austin Dillon and Richard Childress
    7:30 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Qualifying (time approx.)
    11:45 p.m.: Post-Camping World Truck Race (time approx.)

    Saturday, Nov. 12:

    On Track:
    3-3:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    4:15 p.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    6-6:50 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    7:30 p.m.: XFINITY Series Ticket Galaxy 200 (200 laps, 200 miles) – NBCSN/NBC Sports App

    Press Conference: (Watch live)
    10 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, Nov. 13:

    On Track:
    2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am 500 (312 laps, 312 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

    Press Conference: (Watch live)
    6 p.m. approx.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race (time approx.)

     

    Find NBCSN in your area | Watch live online at NBCSports.com

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Texas

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Texas

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series and the Camping World Truck Series all head to Texas Motor Speedway for a full weekend of competition. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Thursday, Nov. 3:

    On Track:
    3:30-4:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series First Practice
    5:30-6:25 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Final Practice

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    2:30 p.m.: Christopher Bell and Ben Kennedy

    Friday, Nov. 4:

    On Track:
    12:30-1:55 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    2:30-3:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3:45 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying – FS1
    5-6:25 p.m.: XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBC Sports App (will air tape delayed at 12 a.m. ET on NBCSN)
    6:45 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBC Sports App (will air tape delayed at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
    8:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Longhorn 350 (147 laps, 220.5 miles) – FS1

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    Noon: Sprint Cup Series
    2 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences: (Watch live)
    11:30 a.m.: Kyle Larson
    11:45 a.m.: Matt Kenseth
    Noon: Matt Tifft
    12:15 p.m.: Brendan Gaughan, Blake Koch and Daniel Suarez
    2:05 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    2:30 p.m.: Trevor Bayne
    3 p.m.: Kyle Busch
    3:30 p.m.: Michael McDowell
    7:45 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Qualifying (time approx.)
    10:15 p.m.: Post-Camping World Truck Series Race (time approx.)

    Saturday, Nov. 5:

    On Track:
    10:30-11:25 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – CNBC/NBC Sports App
    11:45 a.m.: XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – CNBC/NBC Sports App
    1:30-2:20 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3 p.m.: XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

    Press Conference: (Watch live)
    5:15 p.m.: Post-XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, Nov. 6:

    On Track:
    2 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 (334 laps, 501 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

    Press Conference: (Watch live)
    6 p.m.: Post-Sprint Cup Series Race (time approx.)

     

     

    Find NBCSN in your area | Watch live online at NBCSports.com

    Complete NASCAR TV Schedule

     

  • Hot 20 – NASCAR’s Cup Drivers Runneth over to Swamp the XFINITY and Camping World Series

    Hot 20 – NASCAR’s Cup Drivers Runneth over to Swamp the XFINITY and Camping World Series

    Bless NASCAR’s pea-pickin’ hearts. You have to admit that they keep on trying. With both the junior and truck circuits pretty much irrelevant these days due to the inclusion and the total domination of Cup drivers, NASCAR once again is trying to do the right thing.

    Cup drivers are already banned from the season finales in both minor leagues. Now those with five years Cup experience, not registered to drive for points, can not race in any of those other versions of the Chase, their regular season finales, or the XFINITY “Dash 4 Cash” events. Still, that leaves Cup drivers eligible to race in 10 of the remaining 21 junior races, along with seven of the remaining 15 truck races.

    That means that instead of racing 16 junior contests and winning nine, defending Cup champion Kyle Busch gets to start only 10 times next year. Then he could turn the seat over to, say, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin to fill in for the other 11 rides available. Cup drivers could still dominate for much of the season, though next year they would have to share those opportunities. It is a step forward, but we will have to see if it will be enough to return the spotlight on those who should be showcased in those divisions.

    In 29 events, regular XFINITY drivers claimed 11 of them. Erik Jones took four, Elliott Sadler three, Daniel Suarez a couple, with the others going to Justin Marks and Sam Hornish Jr. Eighteen went to Cup drivers, with half of that total taken by Busch, including their Chase race at Kansas. Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson have also won and, with less than five years Cup experience, the restrictions would not apply to either of them. Still, it beats doing nothing but will it be enough to stop the major leaguers from moonlighting to kick some minor league butt most weeks?

    This Sunday, the contenders and pretenders of the Cup circuit head to Martinsville, Virginia. A win earns a free pass to race for the title in Homestead next month. A wreck, and then Texas and Phoenix get a lot more stressful. Eight contenders, but only four will be in the running when it counts.

    Among our Hot 20, Kevin Harvick has been best over the course of the season. That means nothing come Sunday.

    1. KEVIN HARVICK – 4000 PTS
    Would have a 37 point lead if season-long points were still the determining factor…over Keselowski.

    2. DENNY HAMLIN – 4000 PTS
    If you see him in a photo with good friend Michael Jordan, Denny is the short one.

    3. JOEY LOGANO – 4000 PTS
    Last year, he was the guy to beat coming out of Talladega…and so they did.

    4. KYLE BUSCH – 4000 PTS
    Four Cup wins, nine XFINITY triumphs, and a pair of truck flags…he will beat up on anybody.

    5. KURT BUSCH – 4000 PTS
    Harvick was just trying to help me with my contact lenses in pit road. What a pal!

    6. CARL EDWARDS – 4000 PTS
    Some days you race, and some days you ride. Guess what kind of day he had at Talladega.

    7. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 4000 PTS
    Eight-time Martinsville winner will duel one more time with 9-time…Jeff Gordon.

    8. MATT KENSETH – 4000 PTS
    Spent a lovely Sunday with Kyle and Carl, but he probably will need to race at Martinsville.

    9. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 2191
    Driving a magic dragon last week. Its name was Puff.

    10. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 2168 PTS
    Next year, Kansas replaces Talladega as the elimination race. Good for him, but boring for us.

    11. AUSTIN DILLON – 2163 PTS
    His last win was back in August in Bristol’s Xfinity race.

    12. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2156 PTS
    His last win was back in February in Daytona’s Xfinity race.

    13. KYLE LARSON – 2155 PTS
    Sure, he won back in June in Pocono’s Xfinity race, but don’t forget that Cup win at Michigan.

    14. TONY STEWART – 2141 PTS
    Down to his final four.

    15. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2110 PTS
    23rd in the spring, but second last fall. Time to turn that frown upside down?

    16. CHRIS BUESCHER – 2109 PTS
    A single win leaves Blaney, Bayne, Patrick, Menard, Biffle, Almirola, and Bowyer far behind him.

    17. KASEY KAHNE – 803 PTS
    Hendrick drivers have won the past four Martinsville Chase races. Why not another?

    18. RYAN NEWMAN – 794 PTS
    #noneckguysmatter

    19. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 717 PTS
    Back among the cool kids after a good run at Talladega.

    20. A.J. ALLMENDINGER – 717 PTS
    Second at Martinsville this spring gives hope for this fall run.

  • NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kansas Speedway

    NASCAR Racing Schedule for Kansas Speedway

    The NASCAR Sprint Cup and XFINITY Series travel to Kansas Speedway this weekend while the Camping World Truck Series is off. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

    All times are Eastern.

    Friday, Oct. 14:

    On Track:
    1-2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Results)
    2:32-3:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series First Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Results)
    4:35-5:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    6:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – NBCSN/NBC Sports App

    Garage Cam: (Watch live)
    12:30 p.m.: Sprint Cup Series
    2 p.m.: XFINITY Series

    Press Conferences:  (Watch live)
    11:45 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
    Noon: Jimmie Johnson
    12:15 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
    12:30 p.m.: Brendan Gaughan
    2:35 p.m.: Carl Edwards
    3 p.m.: Clint Bowyer
    3:15 p.m.: Greg Biffle
    7:30 p.m.: Post Sprint Cup Qualifying (time approx.)

    Saturday, Oct. 15:

    On Track:
    11-11:50 a.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Second Practice – NBC Sports App
    Noon: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying – CNBC/NBC Sports App
    1:30-2:20 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final Practice – NBCSN/NBC Sports App
    3 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Kansas Lottery 300 (200 laps, 300 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

    Press Conference:  (Watch live)
    6 p.m.: Post XFINITY Series Race (time approx.)

    Sunday, Oct. 16:

    On Track:
    2:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) – NBC/NBC Sports App

    Press Conference:  (Watch live)
    6 p.m.: Post Sprint Cup Race (time approx.)