Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service

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Brendan Gaughan Set to Enjoy his Favorite Month of Racing

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News Xfinity Series
Brendan Gaughan, the driver of the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, signs autographs during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Zippo 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 5, 2017, in Watkins Glen, New York. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

If Brendan Gaughan qualifies for the XFINITY Series playoff, the month of August likely will play a large part in his success.

Three of the next four XFINITY races take place on road courses, broken up only by a short-track event at Bristol. But this weekend’s Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International, followed by trips to Mid-Ohio (Aug. 12) and Road America (Aug. 27 after Bristol) are the events that have Gaughan’s attention. Continue reading →

Cameos by NASCAR Stars Add Spice to New Soderbergh Film

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service

Joey Logano isn’t a movie star, but he clearly got a kick out of some facetious preening at Tuesday night’s screening of Logan Lucky. The new Steven Soderbergh film starring Channing Tatum was unveiled in Charlotte to a small NASCAR industry audience in advance of its nationwide release on August 18. Continue reading →

Pocono Jinx Clobbers Jimmie Johnson Again

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Jimmie Johnson, the driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2017, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

What used to be an excellent track for Jimmie Johnson has turned into a jinx of late.

The seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has three victories at the Tricky Triangle, but in the last four races at the 2.5-mile speedway, Johnson has crashed out three times. Continue reading →

Bowyer Picks Up Stage Win with Contrarian Strategy

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Clint Bowyer, the driver of the #14 Nature’s Bakery/Feeding America Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2017, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

When every car running ahead of Clint Bowyer came to pit road on lap 96 – in a group that included race winner Kyle Busch, runner-up Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Chase Elliott, Bowyer inherited the lead.

Four laps later, Bowyer collected his first stage win and first playoff point of the season.

But that wasn’t the highlight of Bowyer’s day. Forced to pit under caution at the end of the stage, Bowyer restarted 11th and never advanced higher than fifth during the final 60 laps of the race. He finished sixth after Brad Keselowski passed him for the fifth position in the closing laps.

Bowyer, who is fighting for a spot in NASCAR’s playoff, was pleased with the speed in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

“It was a big pit strategy day, for sure, and you know that going into a race like this,” Bowyer said. “Our car was good all weekend. We unloaded a fast car. This is the best car that we’ve unloaded in quite some time.

“A little bit different build. Hopefully, this is what we’re looking for, what I’m looking for and (we can) build on this.”