Tag Archives: Chase for the Sprint Cup

Martin Truex Jr. Wins Pole for Chase Cutoff Race at Talladega

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TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 22: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Toyota, poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the pole position for the NNASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 22: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/TRACKER Boats Toyota, poses with the Coors Light Pole Award after qualifying for the pole position for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 22, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Just 13 points to the good entering Sunday’s Round of 12 cutoff race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Martin Truex Jr. gave himself as much of a cushion as possible, winning the pole for the Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway during Saturday’s knockout qualifying session.

Seventh in the Chase standings, and 13 points ahead of Joey Logano and Austin Dillon, Truex covered the 2.66-mile distance in 49.508 seconds (193.423 mph) to claim the Coors Light Pole Award for Sunday’s race at 2 pm ET on NBCSN that will trim the Chase field from 12 drivers to eight. Continue reading →

Struggling Pit Crew Keeps Kevin Harvick from Victory Lane at Darlington Raceway

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Photo - Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Kevin Harvick had to be gutted as he watched Martin Truex Jr. pull away in the closing laps in Sunday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway to win his second race of the season.

But, it wasn’t an ill-handling car or contact with the “Lady in Black” that kept the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) champion from his third win of the season, it was a growing evolution of slow pit stops from the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team that cost Harvick 17 positions overall during the course of 367-laps at the track dubbed “Too Tough To Tame.” Continue reading →

Strong Weekend for Ryan Blaney and Wood Brothers Racing at Michigan

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Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

After a few frustrating weeks for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Ryan Blaney and his Wood Brothers Racing team, Michigan International Speedway brought the team a much welcomed fourth place finish in the Pure Michigan 400.

But, that fourth place finish wasn’t easily earned.

Blaney in his No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Fusion reported a flat right-front tire going into turn one on lap 62. Thankfully, the problem occurred during a round of green-flag pit stops which sent the driver to pit road for service. Continue reading →

Runner-Up Finish Important for Many Reasons for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Bristol

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Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. earned his season-best finish at his best track on the Sprint Cup Series circuit with a runner-up performance in Sunday’s postponed Bass Pro Shops NRA Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Stenhouse’s second place finish after 500 laps in Thunder Valley was the best finish for Roush Fenway Racing as an organization since teammate Trevor Bayne wheeled to a fifth place run at Bristol in April. Continue reading →

Chris Buescher Officially Claims Provisonal Chase Spot with Superb Bristol Finish

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Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Weeks after winning his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Chris Buescher vaulted to inside the top-30 in driver points with a gratifying fifth-place finish in Sunday’s postponed Bass Pro Shops NRA Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

The driver on loan from Roush Fenway Racing to Front Row Motorsports used his best starting position of the season as traction for 500 laps in Thunder Valley.

Buescher’s team led by veteran crew chief Greg Osborne held their own under the lights Saturday night before Mother Nature invaded the speedway and forcing the postponement until late Sunday afternoon. Playing their cards right and avoiding late race attrition, Buescher challenged Austin Dillon for fourth, but settled for fifth when the checkered flag waved. Continue reading →