NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Smoke Show: Stewart Fires Up Win At Sonoma
Even Smokey the Bear couldn’t have prevented the fire performance Tony Stewart produced in Sunday’s Toyota / Save Mart 350.
Stewart,
who paced the field for 22 circuits, lost the lead to Denny Hamlin on
the final lap, but moved him off the 11th turn to win his first race
since June 2, 2013 at Dover
– 110 events ago. The triumph marked Stewart’s first win in 84 starts.
Now
with 49 career wins, Stewart will attempt to notch his milestone 50th
victory – arguably NASCAR’s equivalent to 3,000 hits or 500 home runs –
in Saturday’s Coke Zero 400
Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway. The three-time
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion’s four Daytona wins are tied with Dale
Earnhardt Jr.’s title for the most among active drivers. All of
Stewart’s Daytona victories have come in its summer
race. His 369 laps led in July at Daytona are the most by an active
driver.
Importantly
for Stewart, who’s in his final season, the Sonoma win assures he can
make a run at his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title. Right now, he
is only nine points
behind 30th-place Brian Scott in the series standings, the minimum
position to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Kyle Busch made
the Chase last season – and won the championship – after facing a
136-point deficit to 30th following his first win of
the year at Sonoma.
There is the chance Stewart could race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title in his final race – the Championship 4 at Homestead – like Jeff Gordon did last year.
Coincidentally
… or not … Stewart’s 2016 season currently parallels his 2011
championship campaign. He’s competed in races nine through 16 this
season, recording an average
finish of 17.125. In races nine through 16 in 2011, he logged the same
exact average finish. The only difference between the two stretches is
2011 included Darlington, while 2016 contained Talladega instead.
A
50th win would tie Stewart with NASCAR Hall of Famers Junior Johnson
and Ned Jarrett for 11th on the all-time list. Every eligible driver
with as many wins as Stewart is
in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
This Is Dale’s Town: Earnhardt Eyes First Win Of Season At One Of His Top Tracks
Only one of the 11 active drivers who visited Victory Lane last year has yet to win so far in 2016 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The
restrictor-plate ace – and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series leader in
runner-ups, with four – gets his next best shot at a win in Saturday’s
Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola
at Daytona International Speedway.
Earnhardt
ranks tied with Tony Stewart for the active wins lead (4) at “The
Birthplace of Speed.” On restrictor-plate tracks, Earnhardt boasts
double the victories of the
next-closest drivers – Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, who both have
five. Brad Keselowski, Jamie McMurray and Michael Waltrip each claim
four restrictor-plate victories.
The No. 88 Chevrolet driver also paces all active drivers in top fives (13), top 10s (19) and average finish (13.4) at Daytona (33 starts). He owns the second-best driver rating (95.3) and average running position (13.618).
Right now, Earnhardt sits 12th on the Chase Grid, 39 points ahead of Ryan Blaney on the cutoff line.
An
Earnhardt win would give Hendrick Motorsports 14 victories at Daytona,
tying it with Wood Brothers Racing for the most wins at Daytona.
Earnhardt
will be without his famed superspeedway car, “Amelia,” which he piloted
to two victories in 2015 (Talladega-1, Daytona-2), along with a third
(Daytona 500) and runner-up
(Talladega-2). The 13-time most popular driver wrecked “Amelia” in this
year’s Daytona 500 where he finished 36th and crashed her for good in
the Talladega spring race where he placed 40th.
It’s Hamlin Time: Denny Hopes He Can’t Be Touched As He Vies For Daytona Sweep
Following
a slip-up on the final lap at Sonoma that allowed Tony Stewart to pass
him for the win, 2016 Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin hopes his luck
changes when he attempts
to become the sixth driver to sweep the races at “The World Center of
Racing.”
The
five drivers who have achieved the feat are Jimmie Johnson (2013),
Bobby Allison (1982), LeeRoy Yarborough (1969), Cale Yarborough (1968)
and Fireball Roberts (1962).
In
21 starts at Daytona, Hamlin owns one win, six top fives and seven top
10s. Among active drivers, he ranks third in Daytona driver rating
(91.5) and fourth in average running
position (14.4).
He
has finished sixth or better in his last five races at the 2.5-mile
track. (Hint, hint… pick Hamlin if you play fantasy NASCAR)
I’ma Let You Finish: Daytona Has Had Some Close Margins Of Victory
Denny
Hamlin’s win over second-place Martin Truex Jr. in this year’s Daytona
500 (.010 seconds) was the closest margin victory in the race’s history
and tied for the seventh-closest
margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series record books since
the advent of electronic scoring in 1993.
Overall,
it was the third-closest finish in Daytona International Speedway
behind the 2007 Daytona summer race (Jamie McMurray over Kyle Busch,
.005, tied for third all-time)
and the 1994 Daytona summer race (Jimmy Spencer over Ernie Irvan, .008,
sixth all-time).
Almirola Attempts To Bring Home The Bacon At Daytona For Second Time
Daytona is known as a place for producing first-time winners, many of whom are surprises.
One
of these first-time surprise winner was Richard Petty Motorsports’ Aric
Almirola. The No. 43 Ford driver won the rain-shortened 2014 Coke Zero
400 – 30 years to the day
team owner Richard Petty won his 200th race. The victory also got
Almirola into his first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, an event he
wouldn’t have made on points.
Almirola, currently 25th on the Chase Grid (107 points behind the cutoff line) needs a win again to get into the Chase.
Other
past Daytona winners who need a win to get into or solidify a spot in
the Chase include: Jamie McMurray, Trevor Bayne, Greg Biffle, Ryan
Newman and David Ragan.
Keselowski Attempts To Add Daytona To His Hefty Restrictor-Plate Wins List
Brad
Keselowski has exhibited restrictor-plate prowess at Talladega with
four victories – tied with four drivers for the fourth-highest total at
the 2.66-mile behemoth.
Despite
his success at Talladega, Keselowski has still never won at Daytona.
His best finish was third-place showing in the 2014 Daytona 500.
Keselowski snapped his six-race top-10 streak by finishing 15th at Sonoma.
10 To Go: Wins In High Demand With Time Running Out In Regular Season
With
10 races left in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season, only five
berths remain for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Wins are in high demand with time running out for drivers to solidify their spots in the Chase or steal a bid from afar.
Below are the remaining tracks and the winless drivers who have visited Victory Lane at them:
Daytona: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Trevor Bayne, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, David Ragan
Kentucky: None
New Hampshire: Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Greg Biffle, Kasey Kahne
Indianapolis: Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard, Ryan Newman
Pocono: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman
Watkins Glen: AJ Allmendinger
Bristol: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Michigan: Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne
Darlington: Greg Biffle
Richmond: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman
Kurt Busch Extends Top-10 Streak
Kurt
Busch extended his top-10 streak to 10 straight races, become the
second driver in as many seasons to do so. Joey Logano boasted a string
of 11 straight top 10s last
season.
Busch’s
consistency puts him second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points
rankings, 35 markers behind his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin
Harvick.
Busch
will try to earn his first restrictor-plate track victory in Saturday’s
Coke Zero 400 Presented By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR To Honor Victims Of Orlando Tragedy
Following
the recent attack in the Orlando community, NASCAR has shared plans to
remember the victims of this tragedy during the race weekend at Daytona
International Speedway.
An #ORLANDOUNITED decal will be placed on the A-Post of all cars in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Etc.
Montgomery Gentry, Jaguars Linebacker Telvin Smith Headline Daytona Pre-Race Festivities
Montgomery
Gentry, the multi-platinum country music duo comprised of Eddie
Montgomery and Troy Gentry, will perform a 60-minute pre-race concert
prior to Saturday’s Coke Zero
400 Powered By Coca-Cola. The country music duo has released 11 albums,
three of which have gone platinum: Tattoos & Scars, My Town and You
Do Your Thing.
Jacksonville
Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith will serve as the race’s honorary pace
car driver. A former Florida State standout, Smith owns the NFL’s
longest active streak
of 16 straight games with six-plus tackles. …
ADWEEK Names Lesa France Kennedy And Danica Patrick To Its 30 Most Powerful Women In Sports
International
Speedway Corporation CEO and Vice Chairperson of NASCAR Lesa France
Kennedy and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick were named to
ADWEEK’s inaugural
30 Most Powerful Women in Sports list.
Kennedy
spearheaded the $400 million Daytona Rising Project that upgraded
Daytona International Speedway into the world’s first motorsports
stadium with a series of upgrades
designed to revolutionize the fan experience.
"Being
chosen along with such an incredible group of women is testament to the
relevancy and popularity of NASCAR and motorsports," Kennedy said. "I'm
particularly pleased
to be joined by NASCAR driver Danica Patrick who is inspiring the next
generation of women drivers and competitors. A profound thank you to the
ADWEEK team." …
NBC To Air First NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Broadcast Of Season
The
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to NBC for the second straight season
of NASCAR and NBC’s 10-year landmark broadcast agreement on Saturday,
July 3 with the airing of
the Coke Zero 400 presented by Coca-Cola.
Coverage starts with the pre-race show at 7 p.m. ET and the race broadcast begins at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Rick
Allen (play-by-play), 21-time NSCS winner Jeff Burton (analyst) and
Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte (analyst) will commentate
from the booth, while Dave
Burns, Mike Massaro, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast will report from
pit road.
Krista
Voda will host the pre-race show with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett
and eight-time NSCS winner Kyle Petty providing analysis.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
NASCAR XFINITY Series Salutes U.S. Military Units With Tribute At Daytona
In
a show of appreciation for the United States Armed Forces, NASCAR
XFINITY Series drivers will bear the names of active military
units and installations on their race car windshields during Friday’s
Subway Firecracker 250 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International
Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
NASCAR:
An American Salute™ (#NASCARSalutes) is the industry’s collective
expression of reverence, respect and gratitude for those
who have served and continue to defend the United States today.
“NASCAR’s
long-standing tradition of honoring the U.S. Armed Forces will never
waver – it is woven into the fabric of our sport,”
said Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer. “We have a unique
opportunity with the NASCAR XFINITY Series to pay tribute to the
military units and bases integral to preserving our country’s freedom.”
50th Running At Daytona Has XFINITY Series Excited To Return
The
World Center of Racing is nestled in Daytona Beach, Florida and the
2.5-miles of asphalt banked at 31 degrees in the turns welcomes
the NASCAR XFINITY Series for the 50th series race at Daytona -- the
Subway Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.
The
series has competed at Daytona International Speedway 49 times
producing 36 different pole winners; led by Joe Nemechek with five.
Also during those 49 races, the series has witnessed 25 different
drivers enjoying the spoils of victory, led by Dale Earnhardt and Tony
Stewart with seven wins each.
With
14 races in the books this season, the series has seen 10 different
winners and six different pole winners. Chase Elliott, the
2014 series champ, won the season-opener at Daytona, and will return to
defend his win in the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro.
The
series started racing two events per season at Daytona in 2002, and
since then only one driver has been able to sweep both races
– Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2003. Elliott is looking to become the second
driver in the series to sweep both races at Daytona this weekend,
joining his car owner.
Elliott has made five starts at Daytona, posting one win (2016 season opener), two top fives and an average finish of 13.4.
Jet Setting: Suárez Visits South Florida On His Way To Daytona
Joe
Gibbs Racing’s Daniel Suárez is garnering a lot of attention lately,
and rightfully so. The Monterrey, Mexico, native not only
leads the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings, but he also recently won his
first career national series race, locking himself into the Chase. With
all that is going for him, Suárez made time to visit with media in
South Florida this week as he prepares for Daytona.
Suárez’s
recent accolades are impressive by any standard. He graduated from the
NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs
before winning NASCAR XFINITY Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors
last season. A few weeks ago, he became the first Mexican-born driver to
win a NASCAR national series race when he pulled into Victory Lane a
Michigan International Speedway.
Heading
into Daytona this weekend, Suárez holds a 21-point lead over
second-place Elliott Sadler and a 35-point advantage over third-place
Ty Dillon in the series standings.
In
14 starts this season, Suárez has posted one pole, one win, six top
fives and 12 top 10s (tied with Sadler for series-most). In
three starts at Daytona he has posted one pole and one top 10 – an
eighth-place finish earlier this season.
Sadler’s Restrictor-Plate Skills Could Bring Him Second Win Of the Season
JR
Motorsports’ Elliott Sadler currently sits second in the standings with
a gap of 21 points between he and standings leader Daniel
Suárez. Sadler can close that points gap this weekend with a win at
Daytona.
The
JRM veteran captured his lone win this season at Daytona’s sister
track, Talladega Superspeedway. Not to mention, his teammate
Chase Elliott won at Daytona earlier this season, proving the JR
Motorsports Chevrolet power plant has some steam.
But
it’s been Sadler’s skills in the draft that has his 14 starts at
Daytona yielding five top fives and seven top 10s. His average
finish at Daytona is 14.5 (fifth-best among active drivers). He
finished runner-up in this event last season.
Dillon Brothers Both Have A Chance At The Checkered
Richard
Childress Racing has the second-most series wins (six) at Daytona
International Speedway, and this weekend the Dillon brothers
look to add to the total.
The
elder of the two Dillon brothers, Austin, won this event last season by
taking the lead with eight laps to go and never relinquishing
it. This weekend, Austin can make it back-to-back July race victories
as he will be wheeling the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Camaro. It won’t be easy for Dillon to accomplish though; the last nine
series July races at Daytona have seen nine different
winners.
Austin
Dillon has made seven series starts at Daytona, posting two poles, one
win (2015), six top fives and an average finish of 6.4
(series-best).
The
younger of the two Dillon brothers, Ty, currently sits third in the
series standings – 35 points behind the series lead. Ty Dillon
is hungry for his first win of the season; it’s been 61 races since his
last victory (Indianapolis, 2014).
In
14 starts this season, Dillon has posted five top fives and nine top
10s. He has made six starts at Daytona, posting one top five
and two top 10s.
Earlier
this season at Daytona, Ty Dillon sat on the pole and ran in the top
five for the majority of the race, but was shuffled back
on the last restart. He ultimately finished 13th.
NASCAR XFINITY Series Etc.:
Former Champ Joe Nemechek Returns –
Back in the saddle of the NEMCO Motorsports No. 87 Toyota Camry will
sit 1992 series champion Joe Nemechek for his second start of the
season. ‘Front Row’ Joe made his lone start in the series season-opener
at Daytona, starting 28th and finishing 19th. Nemechek,
a Lakeland, Florida native, has made 33 series starts at Daytona
International Speedway, posting five poles (including three-straight),
two wins (1998, 2002), four top fives, seven top 10s and an average
finish of 20.9. …
Doubling Their Duty:
Five NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series drivers will compete in the Subway Firecracker 250
Powered by Coca-Cola on Friday night – Austin Dillon, Joey Logano, Josh
Wise, Aric Almirola and Chase Elliott. All, except Wise, have won at
least one race in a NASCAR national series at
Daytona. …
NASCAR in Florida –
A
total of 360 NASCAR national series races have been run in the state of
Florida (NSCS, 181; NXS, 74; NCWTS 39). The NASCAR XFINITY Series has
held 74 races among
three tracks in the state of Florida (Daytona International Speedway,
49; Homestead-Miami Speedway, 21; Volusia County Speedway, four). The
first NASCAR XFINITY Series race held in the state of Florida was at
Daytona International Speedway in 1982 and won
by Dale Earnhardt (Pontiac).
Florida Drivers In NASCAR –
A
total of 177 drivers who have made at least one start in a NASCAR
national series race have their home state recorded as Florida. Of the
177 Florida drivers, 47
have competed in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Of the 47 Florida drivers
who have competed in the XFINITY Series, only four have won: Joe
Nemechek (16), Rick Wilson (two), David Reutimann (one) and Aric
Almirola (one). Almirola (Tampa), Nemechek (Lakeland), Ross
Chastain (Alva), BJ McLeod (Wauchula), Ray Black Jr. (Palm Coast) and
Blake Koch (West Palm Beach) are the six Florida natives entered this
weekend at Daytona. Nemechek is the only Floridian to win in the NASCAR
XFINITY Series at Daytona (1998, 2002).
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Bell Rings In First Victory Of Season; KBM Ties For First On All-Time Wins List
Christopher
Bell won Saturday’s Drivin’ For Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park
to earn the fifth berth in the NASCAR Camping World
Truck Series Chase. The win was Bell’s first of the season and the 50th
for Kyle Busch Motorsports, tying the organization with Roush Fenway
Racing for the most victories in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
history.
The
four other Chase berths are owned by Bell’s KBM teammate William Byron,
Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter and John Hunter Nemechek.
Seven
races remain until the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase. If the
season ended today, Timothy Peters (30 points ahead of Tyler Reddick on
the cutoff line), Daniel
Hemric (+25) and Ben Kennedy (+1) would clinch the remaining three
berths.
On the cusp of the Chase spots are Reddick (-1), Ben Rhodes (-11), Spencer Gallagher (-16) and Cole Custer (-20).
Rhodes Roars To Career-Best Finish
Ben
Rhodes powered to a career-best runner-up finish after earning his
second career 21 Means 21 Keystone Light Pole at Gateway Motorsports
Park.
The No. 41 ThorSport Racing driver’s previous career-high showing was a fourth-place finish recorded the race before at Iowa.
On
the season, Rhodes owns two top fives and four top 10s in seven starts.
He ranks ninth on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase Grid – 11
points behind Ben Kennedy
on the cutoff line.
“A
career-best finish of second is great, but after tasting it (victory)
four times now, and not being able to go home and get it – that’s been
tough, but hopefully here soon,”
Rhodes said. “We’re just going to keep pushing forward.”
Rhodes,
a Louisville native, next heads to his home state of Kentucky for the
Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 on Thursday, July 7 at Kentucky Speedway
(8:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
Dan The Man: Hemric One Of Camping World Truck Series’ Most Consistent
Daniel
Hemric recovered from a mid-race spin to place third in Saturday’s
Drivin’ for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park to tie Matt Crafton
for the NASCAR Camping World
Truck Series lead in top 10s with seven.
Currently,
Hemric ranks seventh on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase
Grid, 25 points above Bead Keselowski Racing teammate Tyler Reddick on
the cutoff.
“My
Brad Keselowski Racing team gave me a really great Draw-Tite Ford
F-150,” Hemric said. “We knew we had something for the rest of the field
from the time we unloaded. We
had a great balance and a lot of speed at the beginning of the race,
but unfortunately, I put us in a hole early when I spun; that’s all on
me. But we still had an extremely fast truck, we made the right calls on
pit road, and I’m glad we were able to rebound
like we did. There is no ‘quit’ in this team; I’m so proud of our
entire effort here tonight at Gateway Motorsports Park.”
GMS Racing Continues Strong Season With 3 In Top 10 At Gateway
GMS
Racing placed three drivers in the top 10 of Saturday’s NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series race at Gateway Motorsports park: Johnny Sauter
(fourth), Kaz Grala (eighth)
and Ben Kennedy (ninth). Its fourth driver, Spencer Gallagher, finished
22nd.
Grala’s showing was a career-best performance.
At
the moment, GMS has Sauter locked into the NASCAR Camping World Truck
Series Chase. Kennedy would earn the last Chase berth on points (+1
points above Tyler Reddick on
the cutoff line) if the season ended today. Gallagher, only 16 points
behind Kennedy for the final berth, ranks 11th on the NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series Chase Grid.
Kyle Busch Motorsports is the lone other team that would have two drivers in the Chase if the season ended today.
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