Rookie Cole Custer Sets Up the XFINITY Series Playoff as One to Watch

Cole Custer, the driver of the #00 Haas Automation Ford, walks through the garage area during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series TheHouse.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, 2017, in Joliet, Illinois Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Heading into Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, rookie Cole Custer with Stewart Haas Racing wasn’t one to get a lot of attention, but it’s clear Custer is a quick study, soaking up what it takes to race in one of NASCAR’s top-three series. After leading 41 laps of the race, his seventh-place finish at Chicagoland on Saturday afternoon puts him in eighth-place for the first race of the XFINITY Series playoff season.  Continue reading

NASCAR XFINITY Series’ TheHouse.com 300 at Chicagoland Preview

Aside

NASCAR XFINITY Series teams are gearing up for their last race of the regular season at Chicagoland Speedway for TheHouse.com 300 on Saturday, September 16th at 3:30 pm ET. Coverage begins at 3 pm ET on NBC Sports Network with radio coverage available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Drivers will race 300 miles over 200 laps with Stage 1 ending on lap 45, Stage 2 on lap 90 and the last Stage ends on the last lap 200. Continue reading

Chase Elliott’s Playoff Game Plan: Improvement and Consistency

Chase Elliott, the driver of the #24 NAPA Brakes Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, 2017, in Joliet, Illinois. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

In his final ten races in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Chase Elliott doesn’t feel he can afford to look beyond his own efforts and his own team during his second run in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff (Sunday, Sept. 17 at Chicagoland Speedway at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN). Continue reading

Fued with Patrick could Complicate Dillon’s Playoff Run

Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, 2017, in Joliet, Illinois. Photo – Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

One of most widely quoted clichés from mob movies is

“Keep your friends close,” but keep your enemies closer.”

Continue reading

Bubba Wallace Hopes RPM Ride Materializes for 2018

Darrell Wallace Jr., the driver of the #98 Nickelodeon Green Slime Ford, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series TheHouse.com 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, 2017, in Joliet, Illinois. Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

As far as Richard Petty Motorsports is concerned, there are two known quantities where the legendary race team is concerned.

First, Aric Almirola will not be behind the wheel of the No. 43 RPM Ford next season. Second, sponsor Smithfield Foods has opted not to renew its support for RPM next year, choosing instead to shift its backing to Stewart-Haas Racing. Continue reading