Rain Forces Postponement of Charlotte Chase Races to Sunday

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Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

Persistent rain, a far-reaching effect of Hurricane Matthew, and a deteriorating forecast have forced postponement of the Bank of America 500 from Saturday night to Sunday at noon.

NBC will broadcast the first race in the Round of 12 of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

The NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for the Cure 300, originally scheduled for Friday night, will run after the conclusion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and will be televised on NBCSN. Continue reading

Rain Forces Cancellation of Friday’s Track Activity at Charlotte

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Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Persistent rain, and the forecast for more of it, forced NASCAR to cancel all of Friday’s on-track activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase Round of 12 finale.

The Drive for the Cure 300 will now run Sunday at 4 pm ET, (or after the Sprint Cup race, whichever comes first) and will broadcast on NBCSN.

The starting lineup for Sunday’s rescheduled race will be determined by the XFINITY Series rule book, which sets the field by fastest-to-slowest practice speeds from both of Thursday’s sessions. During final practice, Kyle Larson turned the fastest practice lap (185.198 mph) of the day and will start on the pole.

Erik Jones, who currently sits outside the top 8 cut-off line for advancement into the next round, will start second on Sunday.

Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 — the first race in the Chase’s Round of 12 — remains scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams are preparing for racing 501 miles over 334 laps in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday October 9th. NBC coverage begins at noon ET with radio coverage on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

What to Watch For: Martin Truex Jr. tries to defend his spring Charlotte victory. He has won three of the last five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races and led the most laps in the two he didn’t win.

Joey Logano attempts to repeat as the Charlotte fall winner.

Jimmie Johnson looks to add to his track-record seven wins. Continue reading

Penske Teammates aren’t Worried about Lack of Practice Time at Charlotte

Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

With all track activity canceled because of rain on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway – a far-reaching effect of Hurricane Matthew – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers won’t have an opportunity to practice between Thursday evening’s knockout qualifying session and Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 (7 p.m. ET on NBC).

No problem, according to Team Penske drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, both exuding confidence entering the first race of the Round of 12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. After all, both drivers spent the vast majority of Thursday’s opening practice in race trim, anticipating the rain. Continue reading

Kyle Busch Optimistic about his Chances at Charlotte

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries/ABC Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 6, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo - Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries/ABC Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 6, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Kyle Busch has won a points race at every active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series track with only two exceptions: Pocono and Charlotte.

But that could change on Saturday night – at Charlotte, at least – If Busch’s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota lives up to the expectations of the defending series champion. Even though Busch has never won in 25 starts at Charlotte, he’s always been quick under the lights at the 1.5-mile track. Continue reading