AJ Allmendinger Captures Third Straight Top-Ten Finish at Martinsville

Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

With the rumors swirling on whether JTG-Daugherty Racing will move to two cars in 2017, AJ Allmendinger is certainly giving early indications that the team may be ready to do so.

After delivering two top-ten finishes the past two weeks at Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, Allmendinger came to Martinsville and made it three-for-three with a tenth-place showing in Sunday’s Goody’s 500. Continue reading

After Blown Tire, Edwards Faces Uphill Battle

Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

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

Jimmie Johnson’s Win at Martinsville Brings Talk of Seventh Title to Forefront

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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

Logano Advances with Win in Wild Talladega Race; Chase Field Cut to Eight

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If Joey Logano’s victory in Sunday’s Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway was decisive—in relative terms—the race between Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon for the final pot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup’s Round of 8 was anything but.

In an overtime race that went four laps past its scheduled distance, Logano surged ahead after a restart on lap 191 at the 2.66-mile track and beat runner-up Brian Scott to the finish line by 0.124 seconds.

Hamlin’s margin over Dillon for the eighth spot in the Round of 8 was much smaller. At the end of 510.72 miles, Hamlin outraced Kurt Busch for third place by 0.006 seconds—roughly two feet—to score the exact number of points he needed to eliminate Dillon from the Chase on a tiebreaker. Continue reading

Kevin Harvick Unhappy with Stewart-Haas Racing Teammate Kurt Busch Following Talladega Race

2016 NSCS Stewart-Haas Racing Drivers, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch Photo - Christian Petersen/Getty Images

2016 NSCS Stewart-Haas Racing Drivers, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch Photo – Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Despite both Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick earning top-ten finishes in Sunday’s Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, there was apparent tension between the two drivers post-race.

2015 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick was upset with teammate Kurt Busch following Sunday’s 192-lap race after he claimed Busch hit his car after the checkered flag flew. Continue reading