Elliott has his Marching Orders for Talladega

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 14, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo - Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 14, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images

After disastrous results in the first two races of the Chase’s Round of 12, Chase Elliott will be on a win-or-bust mission next Sunday at Talladega.

It’s not that Elliott has run poorly. At Charlotte, he led 103 laps before being swept up in a late wreck not of his making.

In Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, he passed eventual race winner Kevin Harvick for the lead on lap 169, only to see his winning chances disintegrate six laps later when he returned to pit road for an unscheduled stop after a tire rub flattened his left rear. Continue reading

2016 Sprint Cup Series Round of 8 Clinch Scenarios — Talladega

Aside

h1

Clinching for Talladega

Note: Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick have already clinched a spot in the Round of 8. With only one race remaining in this round, a new winner would be a win by Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski or Chase Elliott. A win by any other driver would be considered a repeat winner for the clinching requirements (so, Johnson/Harvick, or a non-Chase driver, or a driver ahead of Logano in points).

Matt Kenseth (0 Wins, 3074 Points) – Would clinch on points with 13 Points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner,  would clinch on points with 11 Points (30th and no laps led, 31st and led at least one lap, 32nd and led most laps). With a win,  would clinch a next round spot on wins. Continue reading

PEAK Becomes Title Sponsor of NASCAR Mexico Series

Aside

Steve O’Donnell (NASCAR, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer) and Daniel Suarez (NASCAR XFINITY Series, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota with Joe Gibbs Racing) pose during the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series announcement at the InterContinental Presidente Hotel in Mexico City on October 18, 2016. Photo - Getty Images

Steve O’Donnell (NASCAR, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer) and Daniel Suarez (NASCAR XFINITY Series, No. 19 ARRIS Toyota with Joe Gibbs Racing) pose during the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series announcement at the InterContinental Presidente Hotel in Mexico City on October 18, 2016. Photo – Getty Images

NASCAR announced on Tuesday, a multi-year agreement with Old World Industries (OWI) to make PEAK title sponsor of the NASCAR Mexico Series, which will run a full slate of races in 2017 and ensuing seasons.

The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will kick off with an exhibition race on Dec. 3-4 in Mexico City. Its tenth season will begin in 2017 with a full championship schedule that will be announced at a later date. Continue reading

Alex Bowman Recovers from Troubles for Career Best Sprint Cup Finish at Kansas Speedway

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, sits in his car prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo - Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, sits in his car prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Alex Bowman had a topsy-turvy day at Kansas Speedway, but when the checkered flag flew in Sunday’s afternoon Hollywood Casino 400, the Hendrick Motorsports driver earned a career-best seventh place finish.

But what made the accomplishment that much more incredible was that the 23-year-old battled the highs and lows while battling a severe stomach bug.

The Tucson, Arizona native qualified inside the top-five for the second consecutive weekend and despite falling through the field with an ill-handling race car in the early stages, Bowman had a resilient attitude. Continue reading

Logano Atones for Charlotte Catastrophe

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, signs autographs for fans prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo - Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, signs autographs for fans prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Joey Logano got the absolute most from his No. 22 Team Penske Ford on Sunday, and, as was the case with Austin Dillon, a strong run at Kansas put Logano in position to advance in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with a solid performance next Sunday at Talladega.

Logano didn’t have a car to compete for the win on Sunday, but he ran third behind Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards to ameliorate the effects of a 36th-place finish at Charlotte a week earlier. Logano goes to Talladega tied for the last transfer spot with the Chase field to be cut there from 12 drivers to eight. Continue reading