Earnhardt Exits Brickyard Early after Chain-Reaction Crash

Dale Earnhardt Jr., the driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 23, 2017, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a fast, competitive race car on Sunday, a rare occurrence in his star-crossed last full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

And for once, Earnhardt was enjoying himself behind the wheel of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Continue reading

Kasey Kahne Snatches Improbable Victory at the Brickyard

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In semi-darkness, as the sun set behind the front-stretch grandstand at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kasey Kahne did all he could to dispel the shadow overhanging his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season and his racing career.

With a phenomenal restart in the second overtime of Sunday’s Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400, Kahne cleared race leader Brad Keselowski through the first two corners and crossed the overtime line on the backstretch before NASCAR called the record 14th caution of the race. Continue reading

XFINITY Rookie William Byron Holds Off Paul Menard in Brickyard Debut

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

With a new competition package that produced a race-record 16 lead changes and the closest NASCAR XFINITY Series finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, William Byron threw more blocks than an NFL fullback in holding off charging Paul Menard to win Saturday’s Lilly Diabetes 250.

Byron made the decisive pass for the lead on lap 85, surging past JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler into the top spot. Menard gained two spots, from fourth to second over a six-circuit stretch from laps 90 to 96 but couldn’t overtake Byron, who blocked each of Menard’s attempts to make a winning pass. Continue reading

Alex Bowman Tabbed to Replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. in No. 88 Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, the driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid before the weather delayed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring from full-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing next season, and a young driver he’s long championed has earned his ride.

Alex Bowman will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet next season, Hendrick Motorsports announced today. Bowman, 24, impressed the 12-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion team last year, piloting the No. 88 in ten of the last 18 races for the injured Earnhardt. He notched three top-ten finishes, including a sixth-place showing at Phoenix where he won the Coors Light Pole and led a race-high 194 laps. Continue reading

Alex Bowman Driving the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports in 2018

Photo – HMS

One year after his impressive debut with Hendrick Motorsports, the team has named Alex Bowman full-time driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series with a 19-race majority sponsorship from Nationwide beginning in 2018. Continue reading