NASCAR XFINITY Series
Next Race: Owens Corning AttiCat 300
The Place: Chicagoland Speedway
The Date: Saturday, June 20
The Time: 9:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 9:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90
Distance: 300 miles (200 laps)
Father’s Day Weekend a Highlight for NASCAR XFINITY Series’ Family Values
NASCAR has always treasured the family aspect of the sport and this Father’s Day weekend the sport shines a bright light on the relationships between fathers and their children. Below is a look at some of the active drivers this weekend at Chicago and their fathers that have also participated in NASCAR
One of the most famous father-son duos in the NASCAR XFINITY Series today is JR Motorsports driver Chase Elliott and his father NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott. Both have had careers that are quite impressive, though Chase is the only one with a XFINITY Series title. Bill Elliott’s career was primarily focused on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series but he did moonlight in the XFINITY Series 43 times, posting one win (Watkins Glen), eight top fives and 18 top-tens. In Chase Elliott’s short career he has started in 46 series races posting three wins (Texas, Darlington and Chicago), 22 top fives and 37 top-tens.
Or how about Richard Childress Racing and how they have made competing in NASCAR a family affair. Richard Childress is the grandfather of drivers Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon and the father-in-law to Mike Dillon, Austin and Ty’s father. All four men have competed in NASCAR’s national series competition and continue to work in the organization today. Richard Childress made 285 starts in the NSCS and Mike Dillon has made 154 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, posting three top fives and 15 top 10s. Austin Dillon has made 88 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, posting one championship (2013), four wins, 38 top fives, 62 top 10s and 14 poles. He also won the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title. Ty Dillon is now second in the XFINITY Series standings. His series-career has seen 58 starts with one win (Indianapolis), 11 top fives and 37 top 10s.
Another driver following in his father’s footsteps is Ryan Blaney. Ryan’s father, Dave Blaney is a renowned dirt racer that has competed in all three NASCAR national series (just like his son). Dave Blaney has made 121 NXS starts posting one win (Charlotte) and 31 top 10s. Ryan Blaney will be back in the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske this weekend. Blaney has made 34 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, posting two wins and 26 top 10s.
The newest duo to the father-son NASCAR group are the Kenneth’s. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth will get the chance to watch his son Ross Kenseth make his series début this weekend at Chicago. Matt Kenseth has made 289 starts in the NXS posting 29 wins, 137 top fives, 200 top 10s and 16 poles.
Buescher’s Points Lead Grows
Winston Churchill once said,
“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”
And that’s kind of what Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher is doing this year.
With two wins and three top fives in the last four races, Buescher has seen his points lead grow to 25 points ahead of second-place Ty Dillon 13 races into the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. Buescher has held the points lead for the last four consecutive races.
As the series heads to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend for the Owens Corning AttiCat 300 on Saturday, July 20 for the 14th race of the season, Buescher boasts the two wins (Iowa and Dover) and a series-leading seven top fives. He also holds the best average finish through the first 13 races among championship contenders with a 7.5.
But Buescher’s ascension to a possible Title Town residency might be tempered this weekend due to his moderate success at Chicago. In two starts at the 1.5-mile speedway he has posted one top-ten and an average finish of 10.0. His pre-race loop data suggest he will have another solid race this weekend, among championship contenders he is fourth in average running position (9.553), and fifth in driver rating (94.2). His nearest competitors in points, Dillon and Chase Elliott, are higher in both categories.
Defending Winner Elliott Returns To Chicago Looking For First Win Of 2015
Last season’s NASCAR XFINITY Series champ Chase Elliott returns to Chicagoland Speedway to defend his win at the 1.5-mile track and score his first trip to Victory Lane in 2015.
At this time last season, he had already posted two wins (Texas and Darlington) and was on top of the series standings. This season has been a different story though; Elliott has climbed from 20th in the standings to third in the last 12 races and has done so without a win.
In Elliott’s first 13 starts he has posted six top fives, 11 top-tens and an average finish of 9.5. He now sits ten points behind second-place Ty Dillon in the series standings and 35 back from points leader Chris Buescher.
Elliott looked as though he might win last weekend’s race at Michigan, leading during the closing laps. He was ultimately passed by Kyle Busch, relegating him to a runner-up finish – his second of the season.
This weekend at Chicago could be the one Elliott breaks through. In two starts at Chicago, Elliott has one win (2014), two top 10s and an average finish 5.5. He also leads the series in pre-race Driver Rating with a 126.9.
Ross Kenseth, Son Of Matt Kenseth, To Make His Series Debut
When you hear the name Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth usually comes to mind, but that could all start to change come Saturday, June 20 when Matt’s son Ross makes his NASCAR national series début.
Ross Kenseth hails from Little Chute, Wisconsin, and is at the ripe age of 22 years-old. Just like his father, Ross Kenseth will be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 20 Toyota with crew chief Michael Wheeler.
Prior to this opportunity the young Kenseth has cut his teeth on local short tracks around the country and has made three ARCA Series starts. He won last weekend at Michigan International Speedway in the ARCA Series after starting second and leading a race-high 51 laps.
It will be interesting to see if Ross Kenseth can do better than his father did in his series début. Matt Kenseth’s series début came back in 1996 at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving for car owner Carl Wegner. He started 37th and finished 31st.
Erik Jones Pulling Double Duty This Weekend
Erik Jones will be pulling double-duty this weekend, competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway on Friday night (July 19) and the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday night (July 20).
On Saturday, Jones will be climbing in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Toyota at Chicago; which just it just so happens the car that won last weekend at Michigan in a triumphant return for driver Kyle Busch.
Jones has made 12 series starts this season for JGR posting one win (Texas), six top fives, seven top 10s and three poles. Expect another solid performance from the 19 year-old this weekend; in Jones’ lone start at Chicago he finished seventh.
Sunoco Rookie Update: Wallace Continues To Hold Slight Edge Over Suarez
After 13 races, Daniel Suarez sits 11 points behind Darrell Wallace Jr. in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings as the series heads to Chicagoland Speedway. Both standout rookies have been impressive this year but Wallace continues to hold a slight edge over Suarez.
Wallace has accumulated one top five and four top 10s this season. Ironically, so has Suarez, but they differ in the amount of DNFs. Suarez has one; Wallace has none.
Suarez’s experience might give him an opportunity to close the points gap this weekend. It will be Wallace’s series début at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend; a track Suarez started 18th and finished 15th at last season.
Celebrity Grand Marshall:
New England Patriots All-Pro tight end and Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski will kick off Father’s Day weekend along his four brothers and father at Chicagoland Speedway. It will be a family affair as Rob and his brothers; Gordie Jr., Chris, Dan, and Glenn serve as co-Grand Marshals for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race. Rob’s father, Gordy Sr. will serve as the race’s Honorary Starter, and Rob will then lead the field to green as the official pace car driver for the Owens Corning AttiCat 300.
Cassill Out For Triathlon, Chastain In:
After 46 consecutive starts in the XFINITY Series Landon Cassill will be taking this week to take part in a triathlon this weekend, opening up his seat in the No. 01 to Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Ross Chastain.
Cassill tweeted Chastain about this weekend … @LandonCassill: “Enjoying this week off with my family for Ironman 70.3 Mont Tremblant. Take care of my 01 ride in Chicago @RossChastain! You’ll do great!”
Milestones:
Ryan Sieg will attempt to make his 50th XFINITY Series career start this weekend at Chicago.
Brian Scott will attempt to become the first driver in series history to post three consecutive Coors Light poles at Chicagoland Speedway.
JR Motorsports (2014 sweep) is looking to become the second team in series history to post three consecutive wins at Chicagoland Speedway, joining Joe Gibbs Racing (2008, 2009 and 2010).