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CRAFTSMAN truck seriesarca menards series NTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS

CRAFTSMAM truck series 

 

www.nascar.com

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Enfinger locks up spot in Championship 4 with victory at Talladega

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

 

TALLADEGA, Ala. – The home crowd favorite, Grant Enfinger claimed the victory in Friday afternoon’s Love’s RV Stop 225 Playoff race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway – the Alabama native’s second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at the big track and the most important, as the victory delivers an automatic entry into the season championship finale next month.

 

Enfinger’s No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet led a race best 34 of the 85 laps, won Stage 2 and held the point on the final lap when a caution came out ending the race.

 

“We knew stuff was going to get dicey,’’ the 39-year old Enfinger said of having to hold the field off following a restart with nine laps remaining to claim his first victory of the season - first ever for the team - and 11th of Enfinger's career.

 

“We didn’t make all the perfect decisions today, but we had a Champion Power Equipment Chevy that was fast enough to get it done today, so even though we chose the outside [lane for a restart] once or twice and maybe we shouldn’t have. ... it’s just Talladega right there and hopefully all the fans enjoyed it.

 

“There’s nothing like winning at your home track. Got my family here and first win with my daughter and my son here. On top of that we get to race for a championship in Phoenix.’’

 

It was a typically wild event on the sport’s biggest track (2.66-mile) with the race once again decided in a final frantic push for the checkered flag – with Enfinger leading fellow Playoff driver, Tricon Garage’s Taylor Gray across the finish line under caution.

 

Daniel Dye and Tyler Ankrum made contact while running fifth and sixth – causing a multi-car accident spinning about 200 yards before the finish line, bringing out the yellow and checkered flag to officially end the event.  The McAnally-Hilgemann driver Dye slid across the line in third, Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth, also a Playoff driver, finished fourth. Reaume Brothers Racing’s Lawless Alan scored a career best fifth place finish.

 

McAnally-Hilgemann’s Christian Eckes, the regular season champion, finished sixth, followed by Ryan Reed, Stefan Parsons, Bret Holmes and Spencer Boyd.

 

Playoff drivers, Tricon Garage’s Corey Heim and ThorSport’s Ty Majeski finished 11th and 12th. McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum was 14th.

 

“We had a fast truck and made a bad decision," a frustrated Majeski said. "I hopped out of line and cost ourselves some Stage 2 points, so I don’t know where that puts us in the points, but I guess it could have been worse if we finished 12th. We’ll move on to Homestead.”

 

Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez, who led 10 laps, finished 22nd after an eventful day. He was involved in multiple incidents and ultimately called to pit road by NASCAR on that final restart with nine laps remaining for an equipment check.

 

Enfinger’s win marks the first time in nine Talladega Playoff races that a Playoff driver won the race. He was not Playoff-eligible when he won at the track in 2016. This win lands him one of four positions in the championship race at Phoenix on Nov. 8 – the third time the popular Alabama driver has competed for the championship trophy.

 

“Obviously we can start focusing on Phoenix right away and that’s a huge advantage I think,’’ Enfinger said. “The way I look at it, we don’t have to worry about points for the next two races.’ … very very proud of what this win means but realistically, we still have a lot to do to prepare for the championship."

 

With two races remaining in this Round of 8 to decide which three drivers join Enfinger in the Championship race, Heim leads Eckes by a single point. Majeski is 25 points back but only five points ahead of Caruth.

 

Gray is 13 points behind Majeski, Sanchez 20 points back and Ankrum 23 points back. A win by any of these seven is the automatic ticket for a shot at the title.

 

The series has a three-week break before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Race at Homestead-Miami on Oct. 26 at South Florida’s 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway (noon ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Carson Hocevar is the defending race winner.

 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race - Love’s RV Stop 225

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega, Alabama

Friday, October 4, 2024

 

                1. (4)  Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 85.

                2. (5)  Taylor Gray (P), Toyota, 85.

                3. (35)  Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, 85.

                4. (13)  Rajah Caruth (P), Chevrolet, 85.

                5. (16)  Lawless Alan, Ford, 85.

                6. (15)  Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 85.

                7. (22)  Ryan Reed, Chevrolet, 85.

                8. (23)  Stefan Parsons, Chevrolet, 85.

                9. (19)  Bret Holmes, Chevrolet, 85.

                10. (20)  Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 85.

                11. (9)  Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 85.

                12. (3)  Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 85.

                13. (26)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 85.

                14. (7)  Tyler Ankrum (P), Chevrolet, 85.

                15. (21)  Clay Greenfield, Chevrolet, 85.

                16. (25)  Cory Roper, Chevrolet, 85.

                17. (28)  Danny Bohn, Chevrolet, 85.

                18. (29)  Mason Maggio, Toyota, 85.

                19. (18)  Kaden Honeycutt, Chevrolet, 85.

                20. (27)  Jason White, Ford, 85.

                21. (31)  Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 85.

                22. (11)  Nick Sanchez (P), Chevrolet, 85.

                23. (17)  Matt Crafton, Ford, 85.

                24. (30)  Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 81.

                25. (6)  Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 71.

                26. (24)  Keith McGee, Chevrolet, Accident, 70.

                27. (1)  William Sawalich, Toyota, 64.

                28. (33)  Layne Riggs #, Ford, Accident, 61.

                29. (10)  Jake Garcia, Ford, Accident, 61.

                30. (34)  Tanner Gray, Toyota, Accident, 61.

                31. (8)  Matt Mills, Chevrolet, Accident, 61.

                32. (14)  Dean Thompson, Toyota, Accident, 61.

                33. (12)  Connor Zilisch(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 61.

                34. (36)  Johnny Sauter, Toyota, DVP, 42.

                35. (2)  Ben Rhodes, Ford, Accident, 38.

                36. (32)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, Rear Gear, 17.

 

Average Speed of Race Winner:  125.148 mph.

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 48 Mins, 24 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.041 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  4 for 25 laps.

Lead Changes:  27 among 12 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   W. Sawalich 0;G. Enfinger (P) 1;C. Purdy 2;M. Mills 3;G. Enfinger (P) 4;M. Mills 5-9;G. Enfinger (P) 10-12;M. Mills 13-14;G. Enfinger (P) 15;M. Mills 16-17;G. Enfinger (P) 18-19;M. Mills 20-23;S. Friesen 24;N. Sanchez (P) 25-29;G. Enfinger (P) 30-32;N. Sanchez (P) 33;G. Enfinger (P) 34;N. Sanchez (P) 35;G. Enfinger (P) 36-42;M. Crafton 43;R. Caruth (P) 44-45;D. Dye 46-48;C. Eckes (P) 49-56;D. Sutton 57;J. White 58-64;K. Honeycutt 65-67;N. Sanchez (P) 68-70;G. Enfinger (P) 71-85.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Grant Enfinger (P) 9 times for 34 laps; Matt Mills 5 times for 14 laps; Nick Sanchez (P) 4 times for 10 laps; Christian Eckes (P) 1 time for 8 laps; Jason White 1 time for 7 laps; Daniel Dye 1 time for 3 laps; Kaden Honeycutt 1 time for 3 laps; Rajah Caruth (P) 1 time for 2 laps; Chase Purdy 1 time for 1 lap; Matt Crafton 1 time for 1 lap; Dawson Sutton 1 time for 1 lap; Stewart Friesen 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 42,9,13,7,1,5,98,33,17,15

Stage #2 Top Ten: 9,13,33,19,5,71,11,15,32,38

 

 

 

Corey Heim completes season sweep at Kansas in NASCAR Truck elimination race

getty images

eptember 27, 2024

 

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

 

KANSAS City, Kan.— Corey Heim won Friday night’s Kubota Tractor 200 in the fastest truck, but he needed help from fellow Playoff driver Ty Majeski to secure the victory in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 10 elimination race at Kansas Speedway.

 

Majeski ran out of fuel approaching the white flag while leading, allowing Heim to surge past in his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota and claim his sixth victory of the season in a race that saw reigning series champion Ben Rhodes and Playoff rookie Daniel Dye eliminated from title contention.

 

Under the third and final caution on Lap 78 of the 134-lap race, Majeski came to pit road for tires and fuel, along with ThorSport Racing teammate Rhodes and eventual fourth-place finisher Kaden Honeycutt.

 

Heim, runner-up Layne Riggs and third-place finisher Christian Eckes stayed on track during the caution and made green-flag pit stops within the final 30 laps. Heim, who started the race from the rear of the field after hitting the outside wall and cutting a tire in practice earlier in the day, was chasing Majeski when the latter ran out of fuel.

 

Majeski, who had clinched a berth in the Round of 8 with his win in Stage 1, rolled home in 15th, the last driver on the lead lap.

 

“We were the best truck all night—it’s my favorite track, I love coming here,” said Heim, who won at the 1.5-mile speedway in the spring. “I look forward to this. I had a smile on my face all week coming to this place.

 

“I just thought we could sweep the year here. It’s an awesome place to come. I certainly thought we had it lost there to the 98 (Majeski), almost making it on fuel, but it just shows my team made the right call.”

 

The victory was Heim’s second at Kansas and the 11th of his career. He led a race-high 64 laps in an event that featured 10 lead changes among three drivers.

 

Heim, Eckes and Nick Sanchez had clinched spots in the Round of 8 in the second race of the Round of 10 at Bristol. Majeski, seventh-place finisher Rajah Caruth, ninth-place Grant Enfinger, 14th-place Tyler Ankrum and 18th-place Taylor Gray advanced on points Friday night.

 

In the closing laps, there was real suspense regarding the fortunes of two-time series champion Rhodes and Enfinger. Rhodes was on the same strategy as Majeski and ran as high as third as the race neared its conclusion.

 

But Enfinger gained positions as Rhodes lost them in the late going, and the die was cast when Rhodes ran out of fuel.

 

“We qualified fourth, and at the start of the race—massive changes with the truck,” said Rhodes, who won titles in 2021 and 2023. “We could not get it tightened up… Still kind of unacceptable. If we’d have gotten our stage points, it would have taken care of itself.”

 

Rhodes came home 22nd after running out of fuel and fell 25 points short of Enfinger for the final spot in the Round of 8.

 

“It was definitely a little bit stressful, definitely too close for comfort there,” Enfinger said. “This is a round we want to forget. We snuck through here, and now we’re looking forward to going to Talladega next week (for the first race in the Round of 8).”

 

Dye scraped the outside wall twice during the first stage and made multiple pit stops, falling three laps down. He finished 27th and, like Enfinger, was 25 points away from advancing to the next round.

 

Riggs, who didn’t qualify for the Playoffs in his rookie season, added the runner-up finish to his two victories in the previous two races.

 

Dawson Sutton ran fifth, followed by Tanner Gray, Caruth, Bayley Currey, Enfinger and Connor Mosack.

 

--30—

 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race - Kubota Tractor 200

Kansas Speedway

Kansas City, Kansas

Friday, September 27, 2024

 

                1. (33)  Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 134.

                2. (13)  Layne Riggs #, Ford, 134.

                3. (3)  Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                4. (6)  Kaden Honeycutt (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                5. (5)  Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 134.

                6. (21)  Tanner Gray, Toyota, 134.

                7. (16)  Rajah Caruth (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                8. (22)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 134.

                9. (19)  Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                10. (2)  Connor Mosack (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                11. (15)  Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 134.

                12. (7)  Nick Sanchez (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                13. (11)  Dean Thompson, Toyota, 134.

                14. (14)  Tyler Ankrum (P), Chevrolet, 134.

                15. (1)  Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 134.

                16. (20)  Bret Holmes, Chevrolet, 133.

                17. (29)  Conor Daly(i), Chevrolet, 133.

                18. (17)  Taylor Gray (P), Toyota, 133.

                19. (32)  Nathan Byrd(i), Chevrolet, 133.

                20. (23)  Brenden Queen, Toyota, 133.

                21. (9)  Jake Garcia, Ford, 133.

                22. (4)  Ben Rhodes (P), Ford, 133.

                23. (30)  Timmy Hill, Toyota, 132.

                24. (8)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 132.

                25. (26)  Matt Crafton, Ford, 132.

                26. (27)  Justin Mondeik, Chevrolet, 131.

                27. (10)  Daniel Dye (P), Chevrolet, 131.

                28. (28)  Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 129.

                29. (31)  Frankie Muniz, Ford, 129.

                30. (24)  Lawless Alan, Ford, 128.

                31. (34)  Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, Electrical, 89.

                32. (18)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, Accident, 75.

                33. (12)  Matt Mills, Chevrolet, Accident, 75.

                34. (25)  Marco Andretti, Chevrolet, Brakes, 43.

 

Average Speed of Race Winner:  125.843 mph.

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 35 Mins, 50 Secs. Margin of Victory:  7.638 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  3 for 20 laps.

Lead Changes:  10 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   C. Eckes (P) 1;T. Majeski (P) 2;C. Eckes (P) 3-7;T. Majeski (P) 8-32;C. Heim (P) 33;C. Eckes (P) 34-44;C. Heim (P) 45-106;C. Eckes (P) 107-108;T. Majeski (P) 109-133;C. Heim (P) 134.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Corey Heim (P) 3 times for 64 laps; Ty Majeski (P) 3 times for 51 laps; Christian Eckes (P) 4 times for 19 laps.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 98,19,11,45,38,2,17,15,52,7

Stage #2 Top Ten: 11,38,19,98,17,2,15,45,41,71

 

 

 iNTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS

 

Known as IROC (International Race of Champions), a series of races was held annually from 1973 to 2006. IROC brought together the greatest drivers from all forms of motorsport to compete against each other in iconic cars on historic tracks. Although the annual events ended in 2006, the legacy and recognition of the IROC brand has continued throughout the years. IROC Holdings plans to bring the historic brand back to life. In 2024, NASCAR Hall of Fame member Ray Evernham and former NASCAR Cup Team Owner and venture capitalist Rob Kauffman, announced their acquisition of the rights to the IROC brand and plans to bring the historic brand back to life.

www.iroc-racing.com

 

 

arca menards series 

 

www.arcaracing.com

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

 

 

National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing

www.nascar.com

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series™, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour™), one local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series™) and three international series (NASCAR Pinty’s Series™, NASCAR Mexico Series™, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series™). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

 

 

NASCAR WIRE: Saturday Las Vegas Notebook

 

October, 19, 2024

 

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

 

 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – As the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 begins with Sunday’s South Point 400 (2 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, drivers insist there is still no absolute championship “favorite.” However, one driver that no one would be surprised to see advance to the Championship 4 for a shot at the big trophy is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell – the only driver who has advanced to the title round the last three seasons.

 

“I got asked the question last week, like who’s the guy, and I mentioned four or five people without mentioning Christopher (Bell), and like, he’s so good; sneaky., like very sneaky, quiet, good. I mean that’s his personality, too. Just quiet,’’ championship leader, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson said. “He’s not out talking about how good he’s doing; he’s just doing it. Him and his team are super strong. Yeah, I think they’ve been doing a great job over the last three years, or whatever it’s been.

 

“I’ve raced with Christopher for so long, so I know how good he is. He is just a quiet, just a smooth, person. smooth racer. Yeah, for whatever reason, he’s flown under the radar his whole NASCAR career, I feel like.”

 

Bell said he genuinely doesn’t care how much people are talking about him or even if they regard him as a favorite. The 29-year old Oklahoman remains confident and optimistic about his chances to hoist his first NASCAR Cup Series championship trophy. And he's scored top-10 finishes in the last four Playoff races entering the weekend – his last win coming at the Charlotte oval, New Hampshire and …. Phoenix Raceway, where the championship will be decided on Nov. 10.

 

“I’ve won three races and 10 stages, so I feel we are every bit as capable as anyone,’’ said Bell, driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota, adding, “I love our chances.

 

“I just think the way these Playoffs have gone, and the points position we’re in, we’ve been in a conservative mode of just collecting the points that have been given us and moving on. But looking at the regular season, we accumulated the second-most bonus points and put ourselves in a really good spot and Phoenix is probably our best track on the schedule. So if we can make it there, I feel really confident that we’ll have a good shot at it, at least.”

 

Hamlin Goals

Bell’s JGR teammate Denny Hamlin conceded Friday that he has a lot going on as both a veteran driver for JGR and the 23XI Racing team owner. But Hamlin says he’s just fine with all the balls in the air. The driver of the No. 11 JGR Toyota has three wins on the season but that last trophy came 22 races ago (at Dover, Del).

 

He enters this round of the Playoffs, ranked sixth (eight points out of the fourth-place transfer position) among the eight Playoff drivers. He’s earned three top-10s in the first six Playoff races – a best showing of fourth at Bristol, where he won this Spring.

 

He has a 12.5 average finish at Las Vegas and is one of four Playoff drivers (also Larson, Joey Logano and William Byron) to have won at all four remaining tracks.

 

But as busy as Hamlin is managing a busy life, he says he prefers and thrives in that pace.

 

“I don’t know if I do better, but it is just what I choose, right? “ said Hamlin, a 54-time winner in the series. “I’m a work-acholic in every way, shape and form. It is just what I like to do. I like to set goals and then figure out how the process to achieve those goals, so it is self-inflicted in some instances, but in others, things pile on and you have this going on and that going on, what have you, you just put it in the tackle box, and it is stored away in its own little section, when I have to address it, I go back in there and open up that section of the tackle box and I work on that problem.

 

“I’d like to think my tackle box is pretty deep, and certainly, got a lot of storage in there. At my age, it is still something that I love to do, there is not a lot that I would like to eliminate from my daily life. As time goes on there is always going to be things that pop up that you just don’t plan for, but it is how do you react in those situations, and how do you manage them.”

 

Under the Radar

While Larson is coming off a win at the ROVAL last weekend and scored a dominating victory at the Bristol, Tenn. Playoff race four weeks ago (leading 462 of 500 laps), his Hendrick Motorsports teammate – and fellow former series champion – Chase Elliott likes his chances for a second title too.

 

The 2020 season champion has wins at both Martinsville and Phoenix and a career-best runner-up showing at Las Vegas in 2021 – his last top-10 here.

 

“Yeah, I think we have a great opportunity for sure and I also feel that if you get to the Round of 8, I truly believe it’s anyone’s game at that point in time. All it takes, is just getting in a good little groove,’’ said Elliott, who is ranked seventh of the eight Playoff drivers – a slim nine-points behind his teammate William Byron in the fourth position entering this three-race round.

 

“There’s only four races left, so if you get in a good groove this time of year you’re fortunate enough to still be around and have a shot, I think anyone’s whose left could be dangerous.

 

“I feel we’re in a good spot. I feel good about it and excited about the opportunity.’’

 

Hometown Favorite

Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch did not qualify for this year’s Playoffs, but he is still highly motivated as the season closes out – and especially so at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his hometown track.

 

The 39-year old two-time series champion currently boasts a series-best 19-year victory streak. But the driver of the No. 8 RCR Chevrolet hasn’t wo since June 4 of last season (at Gateway, Ill.) – 53 races ago. This season his best work is back-to-back runner-up showings this summer at Daytona Beach and Darlington, S.C. He’s had only a single top-10 (at Atlanta) during this six-race Playoff portion of the schedule.

 

He is a past winner at his hometown 1.5-miler – winning from pole position in 2009 and scoring six top-10 finishes in the last eight races at the track. Among the four remaining venues – also Homestead-Miami, Martinsville, Va. and Phoenix – Busch said he was optimistic about his chances to visit Victory Lane again.

 

“You know, you kind of come down towards the closing stages of the regular season, and we had some pretty good runs, we’ve had a couple second-place finishes; some close opportunities and some missed chances there, which really hurt being able to get into the playoffs, for one,’’ Busch said. “But two, to just scratch-off the 20 year question mark. And so here we are again - the last few weeks of the season and trying to get that victory.

 

“All you can do is try each week and go through the best you can; execute and put yourself in the right spot to have that shot to win. If it doesn’t happen, then you were beaten by others that were better than you. So it’s just all you can do.”

 

Playoff Disappointment for Bowman

Hendrick Motorsports' Alex Bowman finished 18th at the Charlotte ROVAL last week thinking he had advanced to the Playoffs' Round of 8 - only to find out hours later that his No. 48 Chevrolet did not pass post-race inspection. The resulting penalty - last place points - was enough to drop Bowman out of the Playoff mix and move the ROVAL's eighth place finisher – Team Penske's Joey Logano – into the championship mix.

 

Bowman brought a good attitude about the disappointment with him to Las Vegas this weekend, frustrated he's no longer racing for a title, but holding onto perspective.

 

"[Crew chief] Blake [Harris] called me and wasn't sure about things and then the next thing I got was [a] tweet and I proceeded to throw my phone in the pool and my phone proceeded to call 911 and tell them I was in a car crash,'' Bowman said, managing a smile. "So my Sunday night was not too good.

 

"Part of life and just moving on and going to do my best this weekend,'' he added. "Honestly, it's just part of the deal. We win and lose as a team. We worked really hard and have done a lot of things right and unfortunately, that situation we did something wrong and really no way around that. Really all we can do is run well the rest of the year and continue doing what we've been doing and I think this is a good place for us to go try to win and hopefully, we'll have a shot at it.''

 

 

 

NASCAR Weekend Preview: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

 

October 17, 2024

 

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

 

Cup Playoffs' Round of 8 gets underway this weekend at Las Vegas

 

The penultimate round of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begins this week with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with a shake-up atop the standings and an important three-race slate in front of the Playoff competitors.

 

The last four NASCAR Cup Series champions are among the eight-driver group vying for a position in the Championship Four that will compete for the title Nov. 10 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson, the 2021 series champion, won his series’ best sixth race of the year at the Charlotte ROVAL road course Sunday and now leads the standings by a healthy 33 points over defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, who enters this round in fifth place, just below the cutoff line.

 

“For myself and I think our team it's no statements that we're trying to send to the field, I think the field knows that we're strong. I think the field knows that we could win at any track," Larson said after his win Sunday.

 

“It is nice to win and really more than anything just gain five more points that rolls into the next round. We've won stages. We've won a couple of races since the Playoffs have started, and that really helps. I'm just excited to kind of get ourselves to the next three great tracks for us and hopefully we can make that final four.”

 

Just behind Larson in the standings – 13 points back - is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. Regular Season Champion, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick is third, 10 points back and Larson’s Hendrick teammate William Byron holds that all-important fourth position, a mere four points ahead of Blaney.

 

JGR’s Denny Hamlin is sixth, eight points behind Byron with Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, the 2020 series champ, nine points off the line. And the final Playoff driver, Joey Logano is 11 points off the title pace after a dramatic day at Charlotte.

 

The two-time series champion Logano initially missed out on the final transfer position by a mere four-points - only to receive news a couple hours after Sunday’s checkered flag that his No. 22 Team Penske Ford team was “in” after the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team and driver Alex Bowman – who had initially clinched the eighth Playoff position - were disqualified for failing post-race inspection.

 

Logano insisted this week he will race no differently going forward now as a championship contender versus how he would have raced if he was eliminated, as he initially thought.

 

“The same way we would have if we’d made it any other way," Logano said of the mindset. “You go out there and you attack. The positives, I feel like we’ve been steadily getting better and improving throughout the season to where we are now.

 

“The stats may not look like it - it may look like we’re underdogs from the outset looking in, but internally we feel very confident in our race team that we can make a run at this thing and get ourselves into the Championship Four," Logano continued. “We’ve seen it in the past where you get in there and anything can happen at Phoenix.

 

“The goal right now is to look at the next three races and how do we maximize that. We can point our way in. We’re only 11 out, so it’s not a lot of points by no means. It can happen very quickly, so one race at a time. Right now, the focus is Vegas and we’ll try to maximize the day there.”

 

When it comes to Vegas, Larson has been a high-roller, winning the last two NASCAR Cup Series races there – three in all. In just the last two races, his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has led 314 of 534 combined laps – 58 percent of the total laps.

 

Playoff drivers have won eight of the last 11 Las Vegas races – including Larson (three wins), Logano (three wins), Hamlin and Byron. Larson (2018) and Logano (2017) also have NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at the track.

 

Six of the eight current Playoff drivers finished in the top-10 in March at the track. Reddick was runner-up to Larson. Blaney was third, followed by Hamlin (eighth), Logano (ninth) and Byron (10th).

 

Logano’s 9.9 average finish in 22 Vegas starts is his best mark at tracks he’s raced at least 10 times. Larson’s 9.3 average finish in 16 races there is tops among the Playoff eight.

 

Logano and Larson are two of four Playoff contenders to have past victories at all four of the upcoming tracks to close the season – also including Byron and Hamlin.

 

Among those added to the race entry list this week are Legacy Motor Club’s owner-driver, seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson and Kaulig Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen.

 

Practice is Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 5:20 p.m. ET, - both sessions are available on USA Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and the NBC Sports App. Bell, who finished runner-up to Larson in last year’s Playoff race, is the defending race polesitter. Logano started on pole in the March race this year.

 

Las Vegas is the first chance for Xfinity Playoff contenders to lock into the Championship Four

 

A week after the NASCAR Xfinity Series first thrilling Playoff elimination race, the series moves to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway 1.5-miler for Saturday’s Ambetter Health 302 (7 p.m. ET on the CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

JR Motorsports Justin Allgaier, who claimed the final Playoff transfer position a week ago at the Charlotte ROVAL, now leads the newly reseeded eight-driver standings by 18 points over the Championship 4 Round's cut line with races at Las Vegas, Homestead-Miami and Martinsville, Va. to ultimately decide which four drivers will compete for the season trophy in the Nov. 9 Phoenix finale.

 

Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith are nine and eight points – respectively – above the cutoff line entering this round.

 

Challenging those four are last weekend’s ultimate clutch race winner, JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer (-8), RCR rookie Jesse Love (-12), Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger (-18) and a third JR Motorsports driver, Sammy Smith (-19), who won the Talladega, Ala. Playoff race two weeks ago.

 

“The win last week was a true testament to how hard this team works," said Mayer, who had to win at the Charlotte ROVAL to advance in the Playoffs. “We knew we had one job and we did just that to keep ourselves in contention for the championship. Vegas has been hit or miss for me in the past, but it is a fun track to run at and I think we have great momentum to keep up the speed and effort to have a solid finish in the end.”

 

While this is a re-set for the Playoff drivers such as Mayer, there remains major motivation for the entire race field to change a strong trend at the track. However, the Vegas high-banks have historically been kind to the championship contenders since it became a part of the Playoffs seven years ago.

 

Five of the six previous Fall Vegas races have been won by Playoff drivers. Last Fall is the lone exception with SHR’s Riley Herbst claiming an emotional first career victory at his home track. He was one of four drivers just eliminated from 2024 Playoff contention at the ROVAL.

 

Among the Playoff drivers, Hill has celebrated the most in Las Vegas’s flashy Victory Lane with a NASCAR Xfinity Series win there last February and a pair of NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins in the spring of 2019 and 2020.

 

Allmendinger won the 2021 Spring NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Chandler Smith won the 2022 Spring Truck race at Vegas.

 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series fulltime drivers Daniel Dye, Taylor Gray and Corey Heim join former NASCAR Cup Series regular Aric Almirola on the entry list this weekend.

 

Practice for the Ambetter Health 302 is Friday afternoon at 6:35 p.m. ET followed by qualifying at 7:05 p.m. ET – both sessions will be on USA Network and the NBC Sports App.

 

--30--

 

Saturday Charlotte Notebook

 

 

October 12, 2024

 

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

 

 

Chase Briscoe is clear-eyed about approach to Sunday’s elimination race

CONCORD, N.C.—It might seem strange, but Chase Briscoe asserts he’d rather be 32 points below the cut line for the next round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs than 15.

Why? Because it provides clarity in his approach to Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400, the Round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

The 32-point deficit isn’t hypothetical. It’s the unfortunate reality for the driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, who enters Sunday’s race 12th in the Playoff standings. Only the top eight drivers will make the cut for the next round.

 

“I think, for us, it's honestly better that we're kind of in the position that we are, being 32 out, or whatever it is, versus 15, just because if you're 15 to even 20, that is doable,” Briscoe explained. “Where we're 30, at least for us, we're just looking at it as a must-win. You could maybe point your way in, but a lot of things would have to go your way.

 

“I think it honestly opens up a lot for us from a strategy standpoint of just going in with the approach of flipping the track position and everything else. So, yeah, to be below the cut line is obviously unfortunate, but honestly, I would much rather it be 30-something points than 15, just because I think it makes it a little clearer of what you need to do from a strategy standpoint.

“And out of all the tracks in this round, this is the one where I feel the most confident to come and battle for the win, so hopefully we can do that.”

 

Briscoe can be forgiven if his mind hasn’t been focused on racing this week. On Wednesday, he announced that wife Marissa had given birth to twins—Cooper Banks Briscoe and Collins Ivy Briscoe.

 

And how much sleep has Briscoe gotten?

 

“More than Marissa, for sure,” he said. “I would say four or five hours a night maybe. That's being generous though.” 

 

Denny Hamlin sees potential for chaos in new Turn 7 on Charlotte Roval

In common sports parlance, the “hot corner” typically applies to third base on the baseball diamond.

 

But the new configuration at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course—notably Turn 7—has the potential to produce action that’s equally torrid.

 

That particular corner, which leads back onto the banking on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval, is a flat 180-degree hairpin. NASCAR Cup Series drivers universally agree that the new turn will give them an additional passing zone.

 

How passing in Turn 7 is accomplished provides the potential for chaos, with “dive-bombs” and hard braking expected to be the order of the day.

 

“It will certainly be different for sure,” Denny Hamlin said. “As time goes on, everyone is going to adapt their style to a very similar style, as we do on most tracks.

 

“It’s inviting to go in there and dive-bomb, and that will get rewarded sometimes, and sometimes it won’t. It’s the same track for everyone, someone is going to win, so you just hope you are it.”

 

Hamlin enters Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 fourth in the standings, 30 points above the cutoff for the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. But that may not be a cushion sufficient to guarantee advancement.

 

“If I don’t have a horrible day, yes,” Hamlin said of his position. “But I’ve had horrible days here. I feel better about it than I did with five to go at Talladega, certainly. I think that I just have to do my part in all of this. That starts (Saturday) and goes on to (Sunday).

 

“I just need to do my job to the best of my ability, and if so, then we will be fine. If not, we will see how it all stacks up, but 30 points—if you would have asked me before Talladega (the second race in the Round of 12), would you be all right with 30 points to the good going to the Roval, I would have said yes.”

 

Longer lap times may enhance strategic choices at Charlotte Road Course

William Byron, the only Playoff driver already locked into the Round of 8, thinks the course changes at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course may affect strategy in Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 (2 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

Specifically, it might enhance the efficacy of short-pitting the ends of the first two stages to set up track position for the finish.

 

“Yeah, I think if we’re not very good tomorrow, then we might try and go for the stage win,” said Byron, whose primary interest in the Round of 12 elimination race is collecting Playoff points. “But it’s tough here, because pit road only takes 30 seconds, I believe, including the pit stop. So it’s a big advantage to short-pit here because you can still come out and get stage points.

 

“I think the No. 20 (Christopher Bell) did that last year. When he came out, he lost like three positions. I think the lap times being slower this year, it might be more that way. So it will be tough for these guys that don’t—if you’re not running well, I don’t think you’re going to just luck into some stage points. I think you’re going to have to be up front. So it’ll be interesting, but I’m excited to watch everyone else; see how nervous they are and just go race.”

 

That’s the luxury Byron has after scoring enough points in the first two races of the round to assure his advancement.

 

“Yeah, it’s great.. it’s awesome,” Byron said. “It changes the whole mood and vibe for the weekend, for sure. I mean, I haven’t really thought a lot about it, in terms of just trying to do the normal preparation and be ready for the race and try to go win.

 

“But, yeah, there aren’t consequences for us, so that’s a great feeling, and I feel like it’s one that we can take advantage of. We don’t have to worry about going out here in practice and try to ease into it. We can just try to send it and see what happens.”

 

--30--

 

NASCAR Weekend Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course

 

 

October 10, 2024

 

By Reid Spencer

NASCAR Wire Service

 

 

The Charlotte Road Course has been a serendipitous track for Hendrick drivers

For Hendrick Motorsports drivers, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course can be a place of good omens.

 

In 2020, when the 2.280-mile, 17-turn circuit hosted the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Chase Elliott won that Round of 12 elimination race and went on to win the series championship.

 

A year later, in his first season with Hendrick Motorsports, Kyle Larson duplicated his teammate’s feat, winning at the Roval and claiming the title with a victory in the Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway.

Interestingly, all four Hendrick drivers—Elliott, Larson, William Byron and Alex Bowman—are above the current cut line entering Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 (2 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

The four drivers, however, come to the newly configured road course with different agendas. Byron is the only driver to have clinched a spot in the Round of 8, a feat he accomplished on points after a third-place finish last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

After matching his career-best finish (fourth) at Talladega, Larson can advance to the next round of the Playoffs by scoring 16 points on Sunday, no matter who wins the race.

 

Bowman is 26 points above the current cutoff and likely will try to score points in the first two stages to secure his spot in the Round of 8. Elliott is eighth in the standings, just 13 points ahead of Joey Logano in ninth, a position that may dictate a more aggressive approach to Sunday’s race.

 

Complicating the issue are dramatic changes to the layout. Instead of approaching the main grandstand, Turn 6 now directs the drivers toward the condominiums in Turn 1 on the NASCAR oval. It’s an uphill corner where drivers won’t be able to see the apex before they reach the braking zone.

 

The new Turn 7, which leads up to the banking of the oval, is a tight hairpin that Christopher Bell (second in the Playoff standings and the 2022 Roval winner) says has the potential to be a new “calamity corner.”

Turn 16, in the frontstretch chicane, has been tightened to a sharper radius.  

 

“I kind of look at it like it’s a new race track, truthfully,” Elliott said. “That section of the track (Turns 6 and 7) is going to change the entire flow of the lap there, so I’ve been kind of approaching it as a new track with my preparation. I’ve spent some time in the simulator, just trying to really memorize the track and where the little bumps are.

 

“Typically, those track scans are pretty good. I think that’s probably one of the best things about the simulator, that a driver can go and get familiar with the track layout—surface content, roughness, so on and so forth. It’s really about all I feel like I can do until we get some time on track.”

 

Drivers will get their first non-virtual track time on Saturday during practice, with each competitor getting 40 minutes on the new layout before qualifying.

 

“I was able to turn some laps on the Roval in the simulator last week,” Larson said. “The changes to the track create another passing zone (Turn 7) but could also create chaos if drivers make late moves there.

 

“With our finish at Talladega, we’re in a much better points position entering this race than years past, but we still have to execute and put together a solid race this weekend.” 

 

Needing more than just a solid race are the remaining Ford drivers in the field—Logano, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe and Ryan Blaney. Of the four, only Blaney, the reigning series champion, remains above the current cutoff at +25.

 

Briscoe and Cindric are 29 and 32 points below the line, respectively, likely needing a victory on Sunday to advance.

 

“We kind of have to go in here with the mind-set of winning the race, which simplifies things in a lot of ways,” Cindric said. “It certainly simplifies strategy thoughts and thoughts in preparation for the race. 

 

“It’s not the situation you want to be in, but it’s something we’re certainly prepared to go after and fight for.”

 

NASCAR Xfinity elimination race has all the ingredients for intense drama

It would be difficult to imagine a tighter race for the final spots in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Round of 8 entering Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.

 

Only 23 points separate seventh-place AJ Allmendinger from 12th-place Parker Kligerman as the series prepares to trim its Playoff field from 12 drivers to eight. Justin Allgaier, who entered the Playoffs as the top seed, is seven points below the cut in ninth place, followed by Shane van Gisbergen (-10), Sam Mayer (-13) and Kligerman.

 

Initially, all eyes will turn to Allmendinger, who is undefeated in four Xfinity starts at the 17-turn, 2.280-mile circuit, which has undergone significant changes to Turns 6, 7 and 16 since last year’s race.

 

"I’m always super pumped to get to the Roval,” said Allmendinger, who did not run last year’s Xfinity race but picked up his first NASCAR Cup Series win there. “The last five years we’ve made such great memories, and hopefully we can continue to make some more.

 

“The new layout will be a little bit different compared to what we have run in the past, so that will be a new challenge. Overall, we’re going there with the mentality to try to get as many points as possible in the stages and get the best finish we can to hopefully get us into the next round of the Playoffs."

 

Allmendinger’s main competition is likely to come from his Kaulig Racing teammate, Van Gisbergen, who like Allmendinger, also is racing in the Cup series this weekend. The three-time Australian Supercars champion has three Xfinity Series road course victories this season—at Portland, Sonoma and the Chicago Street Course.

 

“It’s going to be a big challenge, as it’s not like anything I’ve ever driven before,” Van Gisbergen said. “The track is a hybrid, not really a road course, and the cars are compromised to run on the oval as well. Going to be a fun weekend, but also going to be tough.

 

“We are on the other side of the playoff cut line than we want to be on, so just want to be up there at the front and get as many points as possible, which should hopefully put us in a good position for an awesome result in my WeatherTech Chevy.”

 

Mayer, who won last year’s Roval Playoff race from the pole, hopes to erase his 13-point deficit. Both Sammy Smith and Chandler Smith already have clinched spots in the Round of 8, leaving six berths up for grabs on Saturday.

 

 

 

NASCAR Weekend Preview: Talladega Superspeedway

 

October 3, 2024

 

By Holly Cain

NASCAR Wire Service

 

Highly anticipated Talladega could shake-up the Cup Playoffs

 

The NASCAR Cup Series takes the 2024 Playoffs to one of the most anticipated races of the season this weekend, Sunday’s YellaWood 500 (2 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) on the world-famous Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway high-banks.

 

With a non-Playoff driver, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain claiming the trophy last weekend at Kansas Speedway, now only two races – at Talladega and at the Charlotte ROVAL next week - remain in this round for the 12 Playoff eligible drivers to score a win and automatic ticket to the Playoffs’ Round of 8.

 

With his runner-up showing at Kansas, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron has taken the lead in the Playoff standings – six points ahead of reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. Hendrick’s Kyle Larson is ranked fourth.

 

JGR’s Denny Hamlin, Hendrick teammates Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott and Team Penske’s Joey Logano complete the top eight drivers. Elliott and Logano, however, have only a four-point advantage on the Regular Season Champion, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick for that final spot to advance in the Playoffs.

 

Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (-14), Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (-25) and Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (-29) are all below the cutoff line heading into the weekend. But when it comes to racing on the Talladega high banks anything can happen. And typically, does.

 

Blaney is the defending race winner, the victory last year setting him up for a Championship 4 Round appearance where he ultimately claimed the title in the Phoenix season finale. In fact, Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford is a three-time winner at the big track and joins Elliott – the 2020 series champion – as the only multi-time Talladega winners in the last 10 races at the track.

 

Owner-driver Brad Keselowski is the winningest active driver at Talladega – scoring his first career NASCAR Cup Series win there in 2009 and making five additional trips to Victory Lane since. He finished runner-up to Reddick this spring.

 

Only three current Playoff drivers – Reddick, Byron and Bowman - finished among the top-10 this May.

 

Among the current Playoff contenders, Blaney, Elliott (two), Hamlin (two) and Logano (three) all have multiple Talladega victories.

 

Among those four drivers below the cutoff line and needing a solid performance at Talladega to advance their Playoff run, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe brings a strong resume with him this weekend. In seven NASCAR Cup Series starts on the big track, his best finish was fourth in the 2023 spring race and he has finished worse than 15th only once. Briscoe’s average finish of 14.4 is fourth best in the field among drivers with multiple starts – behind only Beard Motorsport's Anthony Alfredo (9.3), Front Row Motorsports’ Todd Gilliland (12.8) and Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott (13.7).

 

Instead of fearing the unpredictability of a track like Talladega, Briscoe, 29, said he has developed a calm mentality about the style of racing. And interestingly, since 2014 eight of the 10 Talladega Playoff races have been won by drivers ranked below the Round of 8 cutoff line – as Briscoe finds himself this weekend.

 

“I think you have to have a short memory," the two-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner said. “I’ve gone through different kinds of spectrums of superspeedway racing. I’ve taken the conservative route and I’ve gone the super-aggressive route. And every time I’ve gone the conservative route, I typically end up crashed.

 

“So, I’m just going to go back to being on the aggressive side. It’s a little tougher with this Next Gen car just because you can’t take runs or do things like you typically would. You’re going to have to try to be up in the mix for stage points and try to just finish the best you can.

 

“… I’m just going to go with the mindset of being aggressive and trying to lead every lap and trying to make every move I can and hopefully, stay out of the chaos."

 

Fifteen different drivers have won the 20 Talladega Playoff races. Team Penske teammates Blaney and Logano are the only current Playoff contenders to win multiple Playoff races at Talladega – both claiming two Playoff victories.

 

Of note, NASCAR has issued a technical bulletin for the Talladega race weekend with changes to the cars designed to increase safety at the big track. Modifications will be made to the Rocker skirt, Right side roof flap fabric and the Ride side roof rails will be extended to 2” with polycarbonate.

 

Busch Light Pole Qualifying is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET (USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App). Aric Almirola won the pole position for this race last year. Michael McDowell started on pole at Talladega this spring.

 

Xfinity Series returns to the unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway

 

For the first time in two years, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Talladega Superspeedway for a Playoff race – the United Rentals 250 Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (The CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

Aric Almirola won last week’s 2024 Playoff opener at Kansas Speedway but because he is not Playoff eligible- this second race of the three-race round becomes even more pivotal in deciding which eight drivers will advance to the next round.

 

Playoff driver A.J. Allmendinger won the last Fall Playoff race at Talladega in 2022. Jordan Anderson Racing’s Jeb Burton is a two-time Talladega winner and joins Playoff rookie Jesse Love, who won at the big track this Spring as the only current fulltime drivers to hoist a Talladega trophy.

 

Entering the race, Regular Season Champion, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill, JR Motorsports Sam Mayer, JGR’s Sheldon Creed, Kaulig Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen, RCR’s Love and SHR’s Riley Herbst sit above the Playoff cutoff line.

 

Meanwhile, a pair of preseason title favorites – JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier and Kaulig’s Allmendinger are currently just below that cutoff line. Allgaier, a two-time race winner this season, is a single point behind Herbst, has only four top-five finishes in 17 Talladega starts and has never hoisted a trophy there.

 

A victory this week would similarly go a long way for Allmendinger, who is still racing for his first win of the season and currently sits 10th in the Playoff standings, 13 points below the cutoff line.

 

“Anything can and usually does happen at Talladega. JR Motorsports has always had an incredibly strong superspeedway program and I know that that will be the case once again on Saturday," Allgaier said.

 

“We just need to be smart out there and not get ourselves caught in a bad position in the middle of the pack. If we can keep our nose clean and run up front all day long, I see no reason why we won’t be fighting for the win with our JRM teammates and get ourselves into the next round of the Playoffs once the checkered flag falls.”

 

Qualifying is set for 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday (USA Network, NBC Sports App). Austin Hill won the pole position in the Spring race. Mayer won the pole for the last Playoff race at Talladega two years ago.

 

CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs' Round of 8 starts now

 

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series begins the final three-race Playoff round to set the Championship Four with Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway (4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

Last weekend’s Kansas winner Corey Heim arrives at the 2.66-mile superspeedway now boasting six wins on the season - double that of any other competitor, The 22-year-old TRICON Garage driver scored the win in the final race of the opening round last week when race leader, ThorSport’s Ty Majeski ran out of gas on the final lap. Heim finished just ahead of Front Row Motorsports’ Layne Riggs, who had won the previous two races but is not among the Playoff drivers.

 

Regular Season Champion , McAnally-Hilgemann’s Christian Eckes, Majeski and REV Racing’s Nick Sanchez sit safely atop the cutoff mark entering the first race of this all-important round. Rajah Caruth trails Sanchez by eight points just outside the Playoff bubble with Tyler Ankrum and Grant Enfinger both -11 points and Taylor Gray -15 points back.

 

Enfinger is the only current Playoff driver with a previous Talladega win, earning his trophy in 2016. Former series champion Johnny Sauter – the 2013 Talladega trophy winner – will be competing this weekend for Hattori Racing Enterprises. Brett Moffitt is the defending race winner.

 

There have been eight different winners in the last eight Talladega races. Heim, Eckes and Enfinger (2) are the only Playoff drivers to have scored top-five finishes at the big track.

 

Among those entered this week, William Sawalich (No. 1 TRICON Garage Toyota) and 18-year-old Connor Zilisch (No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) are hoping to make their first career superspeedway start. And crowd favorite, veteran Norm Benning is hoping to qualify for his first race of the season. 

 

Cometic Gasket Qualifying is set for 1 p.m. ET Friday (FS2). Chase Purdy is the defending polesitter.

 

 

CRAFTSMAN truck series arca menards series NTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS

2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

Friday, February 16

Daytona International Speedway

FS1

7:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, February 24

Atlanta Motor Speedway

FS1

2:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, March 1

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

FS1

9:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, March 16

Bristol Motor Speedway

FS1

8:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, March 23

COTA

FS1

1:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, April 5

Martinsville Speedway

FS1

7:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, April 12

Texas Motor Speedway

FS1

8:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, May 4

Kansas Speedway

FS1

8:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, May 10

Darlington Raceway

FS1

7:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, May 18

North Wilkesboro Speedway

FS1

1:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, May 24

Charlotte Motor Speedway

FS1

8:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, June 1

World Wide Technology Raceway

FOX

1:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, June 28

Nashville Superspeedway

FS1

TBD

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, July 12

Pocono Raceway

FS1

5:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, July 19

Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

FS1

8:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, August 10

Richmond Raceway

FS1

7:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Sunday, August 25

Milwaukee Mile Speedway

FS1

4:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Thursday, September 19

Bristol Motor Speedway

FS1

8:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, September 27

Kansas Speedway

FS1

8:30 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, October 4

Talladega Superspeedway

FS1

5:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Saturday, October 26

Homestead-Miami Speedway

FS1

Noon

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, November 1

Martinsville Speedway

FS1

6:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

Friday, November 8

Phoenix Raceway

FS1

8:00 p.m.

MRN/SiriusXM

 

  

2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

 

Date

Race / Track

Friday, February 14

Daytona

Saturday, February 22

Atlanta

Friday, March 14

Las Vegas

Friday, March 21

Homestead-Miami

Friday, March 28

Martinsville

Friday, April 11

Bristol

Friday, April 18

Rockingham

Friday, May 2

Texas

Saturday, May 10

Kansas

Saturday, May 17

North Wilkesboro

Friday, May 23

Charlotte

Friday, May 30

Nashville Superspeedway

Saturday, June 7

Michigan

Friday, June 20

Pocono

Saturday, June 28

Lime Rock Park

Friday, July 25

Lucas Oil IRP

Friday, August 8

Watkins Glen

Friday, August 15

Richmond

Saturday, August 30

Darlington

Thursday, September 11

Bristol

Saturday, September 20

New Hampshire

Friday, October 3

Charlotte Roval

Friday, October 17

Talladega

Friday, October 24

Martinsville

Friday, October 31

Phoenix (Championship)

 		  
       

 

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