Crash in Practice Puts a Crimp in Kyle Busch’s Effort in Texas

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo - Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

The suddenness of the accident took Kyle Busch by surprise.

And an hour later, with work complete on a backup car, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team was still feeling the aftershock.

Busch hadn’t completed a lap in opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice when his Toyota chattered over the bumps in turn three at Texas Motor Speedway and smacked the outside wall. Continue reading

Edwards Finds Bright Spot in Challenging Position

Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Sport Clips Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Carl Edwards, driver of the #19 Sport Clips Toyota, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 4, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Count on Carl Edwards to find the silver lining in last Sunday’s hard crash at Martinsville.

The wreck left Edwards last in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, 32 points behind Joe Gibbs Racing teammate in fourth place.

Realistically, Edwards must win either on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway or the following week at Phoenix to preserve a shot at the Sprint Cup championship. But Edwards found a source of optimism—namely the two tracks that chose out the Chase’s Round of 8. Continue reading

Texas, the Next Stop on Kyle Busch’s Title Defense Tour

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Halloween Toyota, looks on prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2016 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota, looks on prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2016 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

No driver has swept a track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season.

Kyle Busch will attempt to become the first as he continues his championship defense in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway at 2 pm ET on NBC. Busch enters the race off a fifth-place finish in the Round of 8 opener at Martinsville last Sunday and is four points ahead of Joey Logano for the final advancement spot to the Championship 4 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He visited Victory Lane in the April Texas race by speeding away from the field on a restart with 33 laps left to break Jimmie Johnson’s three-race wins streak at the 1.5-mile track. A win on Sunday would mean an automatic berth in the Championship 4, and a chance for a repeat championship. Continue reading

Fan4Racing NASCAR Weekend Preview Texas with Hot Topic Sound Off – Thursday, November 3, 2016

Every Thursday 8:30 to 10:30 pm ET with host Sharon Burton and co-host Aaron Bearden

Every Thursday 8:30 to 10:30 pm ET with host Sharon Burton and co-host Aaron Bearden

Join host Sharon Burton and co-host Aaron Bearden on Fan4Racing NASCAR Weekend Preview8:30 to 10 pm ET for your complete guide for the upcoming Chase races at Texas Motor Speedway

We’re previewing the NASCAR Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series Chase races at Texas this weekend and will include audio from Jimmie Johnson after winning at Martinsville and with his preview of Texas.

During NASCAR Hot Topic Sound Off, we’ll discuss the latest news and hot topics from the Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series as well as the K&N Pro Series and ARCA Racing Series.

Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite or @AaronBearden93 with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.

Our show begins at 8:30 pm ET on Thursday, November 3, 2016.

As always…Thanks for listening!

Kevin Harvick Stumbles in Martinsville

Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Like the first two rounds in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick likely finds himself in a must win position to send him into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in three weeks.

Harvick’s No. 4 Chevrolet was never a factor in Sunday’s Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway, in fact, none of the Stewart-Haas Racing cars were. Harvick led the SHR brigade with a 20th place finish, while teammate and fellow Chase Kurt Busch were 22nd followed by Danica Patrick 24th and co-owner Tony Stewart 26th. Continue reading