NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

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Truex, Keselowski See Championship Hopes Go Up in Smoke

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Track News
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 23: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, drives to the garage after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 23: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, drives to the garage after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Two drivers who were among the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season’s most productive winners won’t be in the race for the championship.

Former champion Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr., winners of four races apiece this year, fell out of Sunday’s Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway with blown engines and failed to qualify for the Round of 8 with four races remaining on the schedule.

Also knocked out of the championship group Sunday were Austin Dillon and rookie Chase Elliott.

The Chase will continue next weekend at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Continue reading →

‘Secret’ Allies Help Hamlin Hold Chase Berth

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, walks on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo - Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, walks on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Patrick Smith/Getty Images

With his three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates running at the back of the field throughout Sunday’s race to protect Round of 8 spots, Denny Hamlin had no obvious friends at the front of the field to help him join his teammates in the next round of the Chase.

But Hamlin revealed after finishing third behind Joey Logano and Brian Scott that he had received help from unexpected quarters in doing just enough to beat Austin Dillon for the final berth on a tiebreaker. Continue reading →

Dillon’s Tiebreaker Loss of Chase Spot is also a Heartbreaker

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 23: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 American Ethanol Chevrolet, races Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 23: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 American Ethanol Chevrolet, races Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Facing an overtime restart with two laps left in the Hellman’s 500 on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, crew chief Slugger Labbe reminded driver Austin Dillon of the relevant numbers.

Dillon had to finish no more than five positions behind Denny Hamlin to secure a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup’s Round of 8—as long as Hamlin didn’t win the race.

Dillon had done everything right to that point. He had earned a bonus point by staying out for an extra circuit and leading lap 117 under the second caution of the afternoon. He gained three spots after a restart on lap 186 and was 11th when the green flag waved for the final time on lap 191. Continue reading →

Brian Scott Earns Career-Best Sprint Cup finish at Talladega Superspeedway

Catchfence Chris NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Track News
Brian Scott, driver of the #44 Goody's Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo - Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Brian Scott, driver of the #44 Goody’s Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Richard Petty Motorsports’ Brian Scott nearly pulled off an upset Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway.

After hovering in the top-five for the latter stages of Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500, a caution sending the race into NASCAR overtime found Scott second for the restart, next to leader Joey Logano and ahead of friend Denny Hamlin.

That friendship with Hamlin paid off with drafting help from the Joe Gibbs Racing driver that sealed a career-best second place finish for Scott in his rookie Sprint Cup season. Continue reading →