NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service

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Sonoma Holds Fond Memories for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Champion

Martin Truex Jr., the driver of the #78 5-hour ENERGY/Bass Pro Shops Toyota, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 22, 2018, in Sonoma, California. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

SONOMA, Calif. – Martin Truex Jr.’s 2013 victory at Sonoma Raceway holds a special place among the 17 wins the reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has accumulated since his full-time debut in 2006. Continue reading

Hamlin Expects Strong Showing in Next Ten Weeks

Denny Hamlin, the driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, signs autographs for fans during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 22, 2018, in Sonoma, California. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota hasn’t had the speed this season to match the Stewart-Haas Racing Fords, but Hamlin expects that to change as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season winds toward the Playoffs.

It’s not that Hamlin hasn’t been consistently fast this year. After all, he has six top-five finishes in 15 races and currently is eighth in the series standings. But Hamlin hasn’t had the race-winning speed to match the Stewart-Haas cars – or teammate Kyle Busch, for that matter.

“I think, at worst any weekend, we’ve been an eighth-place car and at best, we’ve been a second-or-third-place car,” said Hamlin, who was second fastest to Stewart-Haas driver Kurt Busch in Friday’s final practice at Sonoma Raceway. “Certainly, the results I don’t think show the speed we actually do have.

“I’m pretty confident the second half of the year we’re going to be pretty strong. I feel like we’ve really made gains over the last month or so. I’d like to get inside the top-five in points before the end of the regular season and win a couple races – that’s a goal that we have that is achievable in the next ten weeks or so.”

Allgaier Holds off Bell to Lock Up Playoff Spot with Win at Iowa Speedway

Justin Allgaier, the driver of the #7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet, with the trophy after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at Iowa Speedway on June 17, 2018, in Newton, Iowa. Photo – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

NEWTON, Iowa — The green flag would soon wave, but before Justin Allgaier went elbows up, he draped his arms around his four-year-old daughter, Harper Grace.

The tender embrace painted a poignant Father’s Day image moments before the outset of the hotly-contested eighth annual Iowa 250 presented by Enogen at the 0.875-mile Iowa Speedway. Continue reading

Hometown Hero Moffitt Dodges Daring Move by Gragson for Iowa Victory

Brett Moffitt, the driver of the #16 Destiny Homes Toyota, poses with the trophy after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series M&M’s 200 presented by Casey’s General Store at Iowa Speedway on June 16, 2018, in Newton, Iowa. Photo – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

NEWTON, Iowa — Heat and humidity. Three-wide action. One race-changing wreck — and a rousing triumph for a local favorite.  Continue reading