Fuel Shortage Puts Harvick in Dire Straits, Kenseth in Victory Lane

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Kevin Harvick clarified his championship status on Sunday—but not the way he had planned.

After dominating the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for most of the afternoon, Harvick ran out of fuel while leading on lap 298 of 300, handing the top spot and the victory to Matt Kenseth, who joined teammate Denny Hamlin as an automatic qualifier for the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Despite leading 216 laps on Sunday, Harvick, the defending series champion, heads to next Sunday’s Chase race at Dover almost certainly needing a victory at a track where he has never won, to escape the Challenger Round of the Chase and keep his title hopes alive.

Kenseth, who came to pit road for fuel and tires on lap 239, triumphed for the fifth time this season (tops in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series), for the second time at the Magic Mile and for the 36th time in his career. He finished 8.941 seconds ahead of Hamlin, who nursed his car to a runner-up finish despite a late-race issue with the right front wheel. Continue reading

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Preview

309830

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Sylvania 300

The Place: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Sept. 27

The Time: 2 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 317.14 miles (300 laps)

 

Gordon Set to Become NASCAR’s All-Time Consecutive Starts Leader

When Jeff Gordon starts his engine in Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he will pass Ricky Rudd as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series consecutive starts leader by beginning his 789th straight race.

NASCAR’s new Iron Man has not missed a start since making his series debut at Atlanta on Nov. 15, 1992 – a span of 22 years, 10 months and 12 days. Continue reading

Blaney Soars to Second Kentucky Win in XFINITY Series Overtime Showdown

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ryan Blaney would not be denied Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway.

In fact, Blaney may owe a pushing Regan Smith dinner after a green-white-checkered restart became the saving grace for the driver of the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang, who won his second NASCAR XFINITY Series win of the season in Saturday night’s VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300.

Blaney was heading toward Victory Lane, but an attack from Ty Dillon on a restart with eight laps to go sent him from first to third.

Then, a caution waved with four laps remaining and reset the field into overtime. Continue reading

Austin Dillon Prevails as Truck Series Reaches Major Milestone

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The milestone 500th race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series produced important ‘firsts’ for two key figures on the winning team.

When Austin Dillon took the checkered flag in Saturday’s UNOH 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he delivered the first victory in the series to both team owner Maurice Gallagher of GMS Racing and to crew chief Shane Huffmann.

Dillon pulled away after a restart on lap 167 of 175, a resumption that followed the sixth caution of the race, for Tyler Reddick’s spin off turn two on lap 161. Dillon, who had stayed out on older tires while most other lead-lap trucks came to pit road under caution on lap 142, crossed the finish line 1.054 seconds ahead of two-time defending series champion Matt Crafton. Continue reading