Chase Elliott Breaks 39-Race Drought with Richmond Victory

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Reigning NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott was first off pit road under caution on lap 218 of 250 and held the top spot the rest of the way in breaking a 39-race winless streak on Friday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Elliott’s victory in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 trimmed his deficit to 21 points behind series leader Chris Buescher, who finished tenth. Elliott’s first victory of the season was also the first in 24 races for an XFINITY Series regular at Richmond. Continue reading

NASCAR XFINITY Series Virginia529 College Savings 250 at Richmond Preview

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NASCAR XFINITY Series

Next Race: Virginia529 College Savings 250

The Place: Richmond International Raceway

The Date: Friday, Sept. 11

The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 7 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 187.5 miles (250 laps)

Buescher Commands Championship Lead with Nine Races Remaining

After watching his point lead dwindle for three consecutive weeks in August, Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher needed to turn up the heat at Darlington.

And he succeeded.

Buescher placed fifth for his 11th top-five this season, while his closest championship contender – Ty Dillon – finished 15th. He now leads second-place Dillon by 29 points and third-place Chase Elliott by 35 points.

On Friday, the 22-year-old Texan returns to the site of his worst finish of the 2015 season – Richmond International Raceway where he finished 20th in April – for the Virginia529 College Savings 250. In four career starts at Richmond, Buescher has two top-ten finishes with a best result of seventh last spring. 

Meet Virginia: Sadler, McClure Right at Home at RIR

Local fans will likely cheer for two drivers entered in the Virginia529 College Savings 250 who have their home state recorded as Virginia – Elliott Sadler and Eric McClure.

Sadler, currently fifth in the XFINITY Series standings, hails just down the road from Richmond International Raceway in Emporia, Virginia. He is searching for his first win this season, but has four top-five and 12 top-ten finishes in 24 starts. Sadler has never won a national series race in his home state. In 24 XFINITY Series starts at Richmond, he claims two top-five and ten top-ten finishes.
McClure calls Chilhowie, Virginia home. He has competed in all 24 XFINITY Series races this season with a highest finish of 17th at Daytona. Continue reading

Denny Hamlin Gets Dominating-But-Serendipitous Win At Darlington

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You could call polesitter Denny Hamlin’s victory in Saturday’s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway ‘dominating,’ but the NASCAR XFINITY Series event wasn’t without its share of drama—courtesy of a fuel shortage and Hamlin’s own Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Daniel Suarez.

Hamlin Led 117 of 147 laps at the 1.366-mile speedway, but he didn’t make the winning pass until lap 145, when he surged past Suarez, who was stretching fuel after foregoing a final pit stop in hopes of stealing the victory. Continue reading

NASCAR XFINITY Series, VFW Sports Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Preview

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NASCAR XFINITY Series

Next Race: VFW Sports Clips Help a Hero 200

The Place: Darlington Raceway

The Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

The Time: 3:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBC, 3 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 200.8 miles (147 laps)

 

Dash 4 Cash Final Round Culminates At Darlington

Largely considered a success among the competitors, the fourth and last round of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash program will be held this Saturday, Sept. 5 at Darlington Raceway in the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200. The four drivers competing for the last $100,000 cash bonus in the Dash 4 Cash finale are Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez, Richard Childress Racing teammates Brian Scott and Ty Dillon, and JR Motorsports driver and 2014 series champion Chase Elliott.

Elliott is the defending winner of last season’s race at Darlington and is still looking for his first victory this season. Continue reading

NASCAR XFINITY Series Road America 180 Fired Up by Johnsonville Preview

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NASCAR XFINITY Series

Next Race: Road America 180 Fired Up by Johnsonville

The Place: Road America

The Date: Saturday, Aug. 29

The Time: 3 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 2:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 182.16 miles (45 laps)

 

Points Tighten as Dillon Capitalizes on Buescher’s Fuel Mileage Mistake at Bristol

When Chris Buescher’s Roush Fenway Racing Ford faltered on the front row of the green-white-checkered restart last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, the points leader faded to an 11th-place finish, as championship contender Ty Dillon motored to a third-place showing, closing the standings lead gap between first and second to 19 points.

Buescher was visibly upset about finishing outside the top-ten; his sixth in the last eight races. Continue reading