A blown tire late in Sunday’s race almost certainly put Carl Edwards in a win-or-bust position for the next two races in the Round of 8 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Edwards was running ninth when the blown tire sent him hard into the outside wall on lap 358 of 500. Ultimately, Edwards finished 36th, 23 laps down and trails teammate Kyle Busch by 32 points for the final spot in the Championship 4 finale, set for Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Continue reading →
Jeff Gordon doesn’t plan to race again in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car – unless team owner Rick Hendrick twists his arm.
But Gordon hopes circumstances won’t force him into another substitute role. Competing in place of ailing Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the last time this season, Gordon finished sixth on Sunday in his Martinsville swan song.
“Well, I had a lot of fun out there,” Gordon said after the race. “It’s great to be here in front of all these awesome short track and Martinsville NASCAR fans. It’s just a special place to me, and I had a lot of fun and had a great car. This No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet was really good. I knew we didn’t have the short-run speed for some of those Gibbs cars…
“I would rather have won. I felt like we had a fourth-or-fifth-place car the run before that (last run), so I always wanted to get the most out of it. I was a little disappointed it didn’t take off there at the last yellow, but very proud of this team proud of my performance. Best finish I’ve had in this car (subbing for Earnhardt). Good way to finish my run this year in the No. 88 Chevy.”
Notice Gordon said “my run this year” and not “my career.”
Mr. Martinsville is back – and with him, a realistic shot at a record-tying NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Winless at the 0.526-mile short track since the spring race of 2013, Jimmie Johnson ended his “drought” on Sunday with a victory in the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 and earned a berth in the Championship 4 race, set for Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
In winning for the ninth time at Martinsville, the fourth time this season and the 79th time in his career, Johnson didn’t take the lead until he passed Denny Hamlin for the top spot on lap 409 of 500. Continue reading →
NASCAR SPRINT CUP PLAYOFF ROUND OF 8 SUNDAY AT 12:30 P.M. ET
NBC Sports kicks off its second consecutive standalone Sprint Cup coverage Friday with Sprint Cup practice at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. An on-site edition of NASCAR America from Martinsville Speedway wraps up the day at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Saturday’s coverage includes practice at 9 a.m. ET on CNBC, followed by final practice at noon ET on NBCSN. Race Day coverage begins on NBCSN with NASCAR America at 12 p.m. ET followed by Countdown to Green at 12:30 p.m. ET. Race coverage of the first playoff race in the Round of 8 begins at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The checkered flag is immediately followed by an on-site post-race show, as well as a trackside edition of Victory Lap beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
Race announcer Rick Allen calls this weekend’s action alongside analysts Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. Pre- and post-race coverage is handled by host Krista Voda, and analysts Kyle Petty and Dale Jarrett. Marty Snider, Mike Massaro, Dave Burns and Kelli Stavast report from pit road. Rutledge Wood contributes to NBCSN’s coverage Friday and Sunday.
After last week’s successful visit as a guest analyst in the NBCSN broadcast booth in Talladega, Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns this Sunday to lend his knowledge as an analyst during NBCSN’s coverage from Martinsville Speedway. Earnhardt will again work alongside his former crew chief Steve Letarte, race announcer Rick Allen and fellow analyst Jeff Burton.
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