Author Archives: NASCAR Wire Staff Report

New Playoff Tracks Highlight NASCAR’s 2018 Schedule Announcement

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Photo – Getty Images

NASCAR today announced the 2018 schedule for all three of its national series, and the lineup includes an array of changes to the tracks that make up the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

NASCAR will add a second short track to the playoff slate, as the 0.75-mile Richmond International Raceway hosts the second playoff race for the first time. In a surprising twist, Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as the first cutoff race, but it won’t be the 1.5-mile layout. For the first time, NASCAR will run on the Charlotte road course oval – a.k.a. the roval –  marking the first time the playoffs will see a road-course layout among its ten races. Continue reading →

Ryan Blaney Wins First Career Pole by a Whisker

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Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, signs a backdrop during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 12, 2017 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Improving in each round of knockout qualifying in relation to other cars, Ryan Blaney won the pole for Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1), claiming his first career pole by a mere 0.009 seconds over Joey Logano.

During a Friday qualifying session in which 11 cars failed to make it to the grid because of inspection issues, Blaney toured the 1.5-mile speedway in 28.481 seconds (189.600 mph) in the final round to earn the first Coors Light Pole Award for the No. 21 Woods Brothers Ford since Ricky Rudd earned the top starting spot at Talladega in April 2004. Continue reading →

Elliott Ready to Get Back on Track at Kansas

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Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Hooters Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Most drivers would be happy to be fourth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings.

Chase Elliott, a 21-year-old rising star, is not one of those drivers.

After sitting second in the standings for five consecutive weeks, Chase Elliott has dropped to fourth in the rankings after poor finishes at Richmond (24th) and Talladega (30th). Continue reading →

Christopher Bell Hopes to Continue Early-Season Success at Kansas

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Christopher Bell, driver of the #4 SiriusXM Toyota, stands in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway on May 11, 2017 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Early season outcomes show Christopher Bell has made the sophomore jump in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

After finishing third in the championship standings as a rookie last year, Bell has started the 2017 campaign with an eighth-place showing (Daytona), a win (Atlanta) and a third-place finish (Martinsville) in the first three races. He paces the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with 201 laps led – 87 more than next-best driver Johnny Sauter. Continue reading →

Dale Earnhardt Jr Goes for First Win of Season at ‘Dega

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

No active driver boasts more wins at Talladega Superspeedway wins than Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s six.

In fact, only one competitor claims more victories at the 2.66-mile behemoth overall – his father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, who amassed ten victories there. Continue reading →