NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service

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After Daytona Disappointment, Elliott Still Waiting for his Day to Come

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Hall of Fame NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 4, 2017 in Hampton, Georgia.
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Chase Elliott had seen that movie before.

Having qualified for the playoff as a Sunoco rookie last year, Elliott was leading the first postseason race at Chicagoland Speedway when Michael McDowell’s spin in turn four brought out the fourth and final caution on lap 263 of a scheduled 267.

Elliott lost the lead on pit road and lost the race in overtime to Martin Truex Jr. Continue reading →

Daniel Suarez Still Leans on Carl Edwards for Help with Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Racing

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Former NASCAR driver Carl Edwards looks on during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 3, 2017 in Hampton, Georgia.
Photo – Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Back in January, Carl Edwards stepped away from Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Racing, but apparently it wasn’t a giant step.

The former driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is still close enough to mentor his successor in the car. In fact, Edwards flew to Atlanta on Friday to offer some assistance and advice. Continue reading →

Does Kurt Busch Want Another Shot at the Indy Double?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, speaks with the media prior to practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 3, 2017 in Hampton, Georgia.
Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

The club comprised of drivers who have won both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 currently has two members – Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt.

Kurt Busch, who won the Daytona 500 last Sunday, may have his sights set on joining that exclusive clique.

Three of the of the congratulatory texts Busch received after the Daytona win came from the Andretti clan – Mario, Michael and Marco. It was Michael, you’ll recall, who fielded the Andretti Autosport entry Busch drove to a sixth-place finish in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 in his only IndyCar start. Continue reading →

Despite the Crash that Took him Out, Earnhardt Encouraged by Strong Performance

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Returning to action from a concussion that sidelined him for the second half of the 2016 season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was leading Sunday’s Daytona 500 at the halfway point, having passed Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for the top spot on lap 97 of 200.

But both Earnhardt and Johnson were off-cycle on pit stops, and a trip to pit road was imminent. What Earnhardt needed was a caution.

What Earnhardt didn’t need was to be part of the wreck that caused the yellow.

On lap 105, Earnhardt was trailing a trio of Toyotas into turn three when Kyle Busch spun as his right rear tire deflated. Earnhardt tried to steer around the wreck but clipped the rear of Busch’s Toyota, severely damaging the right front suspension of Earnhardt’s Chevrolet. Continue reading →