NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Round Of 12 Begins At Charlotte
The
Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Round of 12 kicks off this weekend with
Saturday’s Bank of America 500
at Charlotte Motor Speedway (7 p.m. ET on NBC). The drivers, who
advanced following last Sunday’s race at Dover were Brad Keselowski,
Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards,
Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch,
Kevin Harvick and Austin Dillon. Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Chris
Buescher and Jamie McMurray were all eliminated from the Chase.
All advancing drivers have had their points reset to 3,000. Any Chase-eligible driver who wins one of the three
Round of 12 races – Charlotte, Kansas or Talladega – automatically advances to the Round of 8.
Joey Logano won last year’s Charlotte Chase race, which took place during the daytime on Sunday due to rain.
Kevin Harvick won the Charlotte fall race the last time it was held at night.
Martin
Truex Jr. set a Charlotte track record leading 392-of-400 laps on his
way to victory in the Coca-Cola
600 earlier this year. He also set a NASCAR record for miles led in a
single race (588). He will attempt to become the first driver to sweep a
track this season.
Queen City King: Johnson Tries To Build On Charlotte Track Record
Jimmie
Johnson will try to add to his Charlotte Motor Speedway record of seven
wins in Saturday’s Bank of America
500. The No. 48 Chevrolet driver also boasts 14 top fives and 18 top
10s in 30 career starts there. Johnson’s last win at Charlotte came in
the Coca-Cola 600. Among active drivers at Charlotte, Johnson ranks
first in average running position (8.3), driver
rating (109.6) and laps led (1,740).
Johnson has won the fall race three times (all in the Chase). No other driver has won the Charlotte Chase race
more than once.
In 2003, the Californian set another Charlotte record by winning the spring race from the 37th starting position
– the deepest a race winner has begun a contest at the 1.5-mile track.
Logano Looks For Charlotte Race Repeat
It’s
that time of year again for Joey Logano. October has come and the Round
of 12 is here. Since the new Chase
format was implemented in 2014, the Team Penske driver has won four of
the six Round of 12 races, including a sweep of last year’s events
(Charlotte, Kansas and Talladega).
On Saturday, Logano will attempt to defend his 2015 victory at Charlotte where he led 227-of-334 laps.
For his career, Logano owns one win, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes, as well as a series-best 9.5 average
finish in 15 Queen City starts.
Logano’s
teammate Brad Keselowski is also strong at Charlotte. He has one win,
three top fives, six top 10s
and an average finish of 13.9 at the 1.5-mile track. Keselowski has
registered a top-10 finish in five of the last six Charlotte races,
including a win in fall of 2013.
Truex Establishes Himself As Championship Favorite In Chase’s Opening Round
Only one word can be used to describe Martin Truex Jr.’s performance since his win at Darlington, and especially
in the opening round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – dominant.
The
No. 78 Furniture Row Racing driver has won three of the last five races
to join Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski
at the top of the leaderboard with four wins this season. In the two
races Truex didn’t visit Victory Lane – at Richmond and New Hampshire –
he led the most laps with 193 and 141, respectively.
Truex
has established himself as the driver to beat for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series championship and it doesn’t
look like he’ll slow down any time soon. He heads next to Charlotte
Motor Speedway where he set the track record by leading 392-of-400 laps
on the way to Victory Lane in the Coca-Cola 600 in May. His 588 miles
led were a single-race NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
record.
A loop data machine, Truex leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in driver rating (107.6), fastest laps run (886)
and laps led (1,594), and ranks second in average running position (8.7).
Elliott Ups Performance in Chase
Sunoco
Rookie of the Year frontrunner Chase Elliott has not allowed the
pressure of his first Chase for the
NASCAR Sprint Cup affect him. In fact, it actually might be making him
better. After completing the regular season with only two top-10
finishes in its final 11 races, Elliott has upped his performance in the
Chase with two third-place showings (Chicagoland
and Dover) and a 13th-place result (New Hampshire).
Just one of three rookies to ever make a Chase, Elliott is trying to best Denny Hamlin’s championship finish
of fourth from his rookie season. The No. 24 Chevrolet driver is also the youngest driver to ever make the Chase.
Elliott placed eighth at Charlotte in the spring and heads there next for the opening contest of the Round
of 12.
Kyle Busch Attempts To Put A ‘1’ In The Win Column At Charlotte
Kyle
Busch is only 31 years old, but already boasts 38 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series wins. The No. 18 Toyota driver
has visited Victory Lane at every active track except for Pocono and
Charlotte – the site of Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
Although
Busch has never won at Charlotte, he is statistically strong there.
Among active drivers, he claims
the second-best Queen City driver rating (104.6) and average running
position (9.9). In 25 Charlotte starts, Busch claims 10 top fives, 14
top 10s and a 15.8 average finish.
Charlotte Spoilers
Just
because a driver is not Chase-eligible doesn’t mean he/she is
disqualified from winning. Five non-Chase
drivers have won at Charlotte: Kasey Kahne (four victories), Jamie
McMurray (2), Tony Stewart (1), Clint Bowyer (1) and Casey Mears (1).
Chase spoilers often make the latter races of a round even more interesting because they eschew an automatic
qualifying spot that can be earned by a Chase-eligible competitor.
Look out for Kahne this weekend. A one-time Charlotte fall winner, he leads all drivers with 581 laps led in the track’s Chase races. Kahne has run strong lately with four top 10s in his last five starts and no finish lower than 14th in his last seven starts.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, etc.
Annett Set For 100th Career Start
HScott Motorsports driver Michael Annett is scheduled to become the 197th driver in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
history to make 100 or more starts when he takes the track this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Suarez, Sadler Only Two Chase Competitors Feeling The Comforts Of ‘Win And You’re In’
In
the inaugural elimination-style NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase the
ultimate prize in each round is to win and advance to the next round
to have a shot at the title in Miami. That means former winners Daniel
Suarez (Dover) and Elliott Sadler (Kentucky) are the only two drivers in
the Chase Round of 12 who have the luxury of rolling into Charlotte
Motor Speedway this weekend with few apprehensions
about their Chase implications.
Following
his win last weekend at Dover, Suarez is now the Round of 12 NASCAR
XFINITY Chase standings leader by two points over Elliott
Sadler. In 28 starts in his sophomore season, Suarez has posted two
poles, two wins (Michigan and Dover) and a series leading 14 top fives.
Expect
Suarez’s recent success to continue this weekend at Charlotte. In three
starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, he has posted one top five,
two top 10s and an average finish of 7.3.
In
position to advance to the next round with a win, Sadler can enjoy this
final race of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 12. Sadler
has made 28 starts this season, posting three wins (Talladega,
Darlington and Kentucky), 11 top fives and a series-leading 25 top 10s.
Sadler has finished in the top 10 at Charlotte in three of his last four
starts there.
Suarez (6.6) and Sadler (8.9) lead all championship contenders in average finish on 1.5-mile tracks this season.
Round Of 12 Cutoff Race: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Charlotte
Motor Speedway is the last chance for the Chase contenders without wins
to lock themselves into the Round of 8. Below is a look
at the Chase contenders in position to advance to the next round, but
are not locked in with a win.
3.
Justin Allgaier – 2,071 (+17)
No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro – leaped three spots in the Chase
standings from sixth to third following his third-place finish at Dover
last weekend. Now Allgaier has the largest
points cushion (+17 points) ahead of Ty Dillon in ninth among chase
contenders without a win. Allgaier’s 2016 season has seen 12 top fives,
23 top 10s and an average finish of 9.2. Allgaier’s on-track consistency
should advance him to the next round. In his
last nine starts at Charlotte he has posted seven top 10s and an
average finish of 9.6, including a fifth-place finish earlier this
season.
4.
Brendan Gaughan – 2,068 (+14)
No. 62 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – dropped one spot in
the Chase standings from third to fourth following his ninth-place
finish at Dover last weekend. Gaughan currently
is 14 points ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon as the series heads to
Charlotte for the final race of the Round of 12. Gaughan has made 28
starts this season posting four top fives, 15 top 10s and an average
finish of 10.7. Gaughan has been exceptional on 1.5-mile
tracks this season posting the third-best average finish among title
contenders with a 10.3. Gaughan has made nine starts at Charlotte
posting an average finish of 15.1; including a 10th-place finish earlier
this season.
5. Ryan Reed
–
2,065 (+11) No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang – fell one spot
from fourth to fifth in the standings following his 10th-place
finish at Dover; his second top 10 of the Chase. Reed now sits fifth in
the Chase standings just 11 points ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon. In
Reed’s third full season there is no doubt his skills have progressed.
In 28 starts he has posted one top five, six
top 10s and an average finish of 14.6 (a career-best). Reed faces an
uphill battle this weekend at Charlotte even though he has an 11-point
cushion. Among the 12 Chase contenders, Reed has the second-worst
average finish on 1.5-mile tracks this season with
an 18.4. Reed has made six starts at Charlotte posting an average
finish of 14.2, including a career best at Charlotte (11th) in this
event last season.
6. Darrell Wallace Jr.
– 2,064 (+10) No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion – like RFR teammate
Ryan Reed also dropped one spot in the Chase standings from fifth to
sixth following an 11th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Wallace now
sits 10 points ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon.
Wallace’s 2016 season has been quite productive. In 28 starts he has
posted three top fives, nine top 10s and an average finish of 14.6.
Again, much like his teammate Reed, Wallace has struggled on 1.5-mile
speedways this season, posting an average finish
of 18.0. But don’t count him out this weekend at Charlotte, a track he
has made three series starts, notching one top five, two top 10s an
average finish of 13.3.
7. Blake Koch
– 2,058 (+4) No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro – is just above the
cusp of elimination in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 12 after
he moved up one spot to seventh following a 14th-place finish at Dover
last weekend. Only four points separate seventh-place
Blake Koch from ninth-place Ty Dillon. Koch has made 28 starts this
season posting three top 10s and an average finish of 17.7 (a
career-best). Unfortunately, 1.5-mile tracks have been the bane of
Koch’s success this season; posting a 19.1 average finish on
those specific speedways – the worst among Chase contenders. Koch has
made six starts at Charlotte posting an average finish of 26.7;
including a 14th-place finish earlier this season.
8. Brennan Poole
– 2,057 (+3) No. 48 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro – must be
mistake free this weekend at Charlotte because his three-point cushion
ahead of ninth-place Ty Dillon is a slim margin to bank on. Poole fell
one spot to Blake Koch in the Chase standings following
his 15th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Poole has made 28 starts
this season posting four top fives, 15 top 10s and an average finish of
12.1. Poole has the eighth best average finish (13.2) on 1.5-mile
speedways this season among Chase contenders. In
two starts at Charlotte, Poole has posted an average finish of 15.0,
including a ninth-place finish earlier this season.
Cutoff Race For Round Of 12 Has Tension To Advance Running High
The
following four drivers will be faced with elimination from the NASCAR
XFINITY Series Chase if they do not win or move into the top
eight in Chase points this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Below
is a look at the drivers in positions ninth through 12th in the Chase
standings.
9. Ty Dillon
–
2,033 (-3) No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – finds
himself on the edge of elimination, just three points behind
eighth-place Brennan Poole. Following his runner-up finish at Dover,
Dillon jumped three spots from last in the Chase (12th) to ninth. Dillon
has been digging himself out of a Chase standings hole since his
accident in the first Chase race at Kentucky relegated
him to a 27th-place finish. This season has been filled with ups and
downs for Dillon. In 28 starts, he has posted eight top fives, 15 top
10s and an average finish of 10.6. Among the 12 Chase contenders, Ty
Dillon has the sixth-best average finish on 1.5-mile
speedways (11.1), which is better than four of the Chase contenders who
are currently ahead of him in the standings (Poole 13.3; Wallace 18.0;
Reed 18.4; and Koch 19.1). Dillon has made five starts at Charlotte
posting four top 10s and average finish of 12.2.
10. Erik Jones
– 2,053 (-4) No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry – fell another spot
in the standings from ninth to 10th just four points behind eighth-place
Blake Koch. Despite winning the pole and leading 54 laps at Dover last
weekend, Jones finished 16th. Jones has made
28 starts this season posting four wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s and a
rookie-record nine poles. His average finish this season is a 12.2.
Anticipate Jones to flex his muscle on track this weekend as the Sunoco
Rookie looks to fend off elimination. Jones
has the fourth-best average finish (10.2) on 1.5-mile tracks among
Chasers this season. In three starts at Charlotte, Jones has posted one
pole and one top five. He finished second in this event last season.
11. Ryan Sieg
– 2,047 (-10) No. 39 RSS Racing Chevrolet Camaro – has 10 points
standing between himself and the Round of 8 in the NASCAR XFINITY Series
Chase. Sieg was bumped from 10th to 11th in the Chase standings
following a 19th-place finish at Dover last weekend. Sieg
has made 28 starts this season posting one top five, two top 10s and an
average finish of 18.0. Sieg faces an uphill climb in the Chase points
but one that is not insurmountable. Sieg is ranked ninth among Chase
contenders in average finishing position (14.4.)
at tracks 1.5-miles in length, which is better than three drivers who
are ahead of him the Chase standings (Wallace 18.0; Reed 18.4; and Koch
19.1). Sieg has made five starts at Charlotte, posting an average finish
of 18.2, including a 13th-place
finish earlier this season.
12. Brandon Jones
–
2,039 (-18) No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro – heads
to Charlotte with one thing on his mind – win. Sunoco rookie, Brandon
Jones plummeted to last in the Chase standings following his 17th-place
finish last weekend at Dover. Jones is now
12th in the Chase standings, 18 points behind eighth-place Blake Koch
as the series heads to Charlotte. Jones has made 28 starts this season
posting 11 top 10s and an average finish of 13.5. Jones will most likely
have to win this weekend to advance to the
next round. Jones is ranked seventh among Chase challengers in average
finish (11.4) on 1.5-mile tracks this season. Jones has made his series
debut at Charlotte earlier this season starting 12th and finishing
seventh.
NASCAR XFINITY Series Etc.:
Fresh Faces In The NASCAR XFINITY Garage –
The
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has a fresh crop of talented drivers
budding to get into the NASCAR XFINITY Series
and several of those fresh faces will be attempting to compete this
weekend. Matt Tifft returns to the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota this
weekend with crew chief Chris Gayle. Tifft has made seven starts this
season posting one top five, three top 10s and
an average finish of 16.9. Spencer Gallagher will be making his seventh
series start this season with crew chief Joey Cohen. Gallagher’s
previous six starts have seen one top five and an average finish of
20.5. Cole Custer will be making his fourth start of
the season for JR Motorsports this weekend at Charlotte. Custer has
posted one top five, two top 10s and an average finish of 14.0 in his
three previous starts.
Double Duty –
Seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will be pulling double duty this weekend Kyle Larson, Matt DiBenedetto and Josh Wise
will be joined by four active Chase contenders – B \rad Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick.
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase Update
A
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase-eligible driver did not clinch
an automatic berth to the Round of
6 in last Saturday’s DC Solar 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as
non-chaser Tyler Reddick played spoiler to take the checkered flag. The
highest finishing Chase driver was runner-up Daniel Hemric, who was
followed by Ben Kennedy (fourth), William Byron (fifth,
clinched berth in Round of 6 with win at New Hampshire), Christopher
Bell (sixth), Johnny Sauter (seventh), Matt Crafton (eighth), Timothy
Peters (ninth) and John Hunter Nemechek (16th).
The
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads next to Talladega Superspeedway
on Oct. 22 for the fred’s 250 (1
p.m. ET on FS1) – the Round of 8 cut-off race. Byron sits first in the
Chase standings and is the only driver who has clinched a spot in the
round of eight. He is trailed by Bell (25 points above Hemric on the
cutoff line), Crafton (+24), Kennedy (+18), Peters
(+16), Sauter (+15), Hemric (15 points below Sauter on the cutoff line)
and Nemechek (-15).
Talladega Dreamin’
Here’s a look at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase drivers’ stats at Talladega:
- William Byron – Byron has never made a start at Talladega.
- Christopher Bell – Bell finished 13th in his lone start at Talladega last season.
- Matt Crafton – In 10 starts at Talladega, Crafton claims one top five, three top 10s, a 16.2 average finish and 50 laps led. His best finish at the 2.5-mile behemoth was a fourth-place showing in 2010.
- Ben Kennedy – Kennedy has made two starts at Talladega, finishing 28th (2014) and 25th (2015).
- Timothy Peters – Peters has won the last two races at Talladega. In seven starts there, he boasts two wins, three top fives, four top 10s and an 11.0 average finish.
- Johnny Sauter – In seven starts at Talladega, Sauter owns one win (2013), three top fives, four top 10s and a 15.7 average finish.
- Daniel Hemric – Hemric finished 28th at Talladega in his lone start there last year.
- John Hunter Nemechek – Nemechek finished 11th at Talladega in his lone start there last year.
Reddick Leads Brad Keselowski Racing To First 1-2 Finish
Tyler Reddick led a race-high 70-of-146 laps to win last Saturday’s DC Solar 250 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
His Brad Keselowski Racing teammate Daniel Hemric finished runner-up, giving the organization its first-ever 1-2 finish.
Reddick won two races last season and finished second in the championship standings, but failed to make the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase this year. On the season, he’s registered six top fives and 10 top 10s in 18 starts.
Hemric, who sits 15 points behind Johnny Sauter for the final transfer spot to the Chase, is tied with Sauter
for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series lead in top 10s with 14. He ranks second behind William Byron in top fives with nine.
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