Truex Wins at Las Vegas; Kyle Busch, Logano Brawl on Pit Road

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In a race whose aftermath left hometown driver Kyle Busch with a bloody forehead, Martin Truex Jr. passed the faltering car of Brad Keselowski on the white-flag lap and cruised to a sweep of all three stages in Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

As Truex approached the checkered flag to win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time this season and the first time at LVMS, Joey Logano’s Ford slid up into Kyle Busch’s Toyota in a battle for third position. Busch spun into the inside wall on pit road and limped across the finish line in 22nd place. Continue reading

Opportunistic Logano claims victory in wild Clash at Daytona

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

When Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin collided in turn two on the final lap of Sunday’s rain-delayed Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway, Joey Logano was there to seize the moment.

Charging to the outside and grabbing the lead near the entry to the Superstretch at the 2.5-mile speedway, Logano took the checkered flag 1.121 seconds ahead of runner-up Kyle Busch, who beat third-place finisher Alex Bowman to the stripe by 0.018 seconds.

Danica Patrick dodged the turn two mêlée to surge from tenth to fourth on the final lap to post her first top-five finish in any Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, though the result is not official because the Clash is an exhibition event with a limited field. Continue reading

The Daytona 500: A Race Like No Other

Photo – Ford Performance

The Daytona 500 is recognized as the greatest stock car race in the world and on February 26, 2017 the 59th running will take place at Daytona International Speedway.  Ever since drivers ran up and down the famed beach course from 1936-58, Daytona has been synonymous with speed.  The first Daytona 500 at the newly-constructed Daytona International Speedway took place on February 22, 1959 with a field of 59 cars and crowd of over 40,000.  Since then, the race has grown to become one of the top sporting events in the country.

The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season begins on February 26 with the 59th running of the Daytona 500, a race that Ford has won 14 times overall, including four times in the past eight years.

This marks the first in a series of videos that will highlight Ford Performance’s involvement in “The Great American Race”. Continue reading

Busch, Patrick Look Forward to Ford Power

January 24 2017: during the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. .
Photo – HHP/Andrew Coppley

Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Danica Patrick discussed their team’s move from Chevrolet to Ford during the 35th Annual NASCAR Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway on Tuesday at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Busch, who won Ford’s most recent Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship while with Roush Fenway Racing in 2004, drove Dodges for Team Penske from 2006-’11. Busch piloted Chevrolets for Phoenix Racing, Furniture Row Racing and Stewart-Haas prior to his return to Ford, the manufacturer with whom he entered the series in 2000.

“It is a special homecoming feeling to head back to work with Ford and to have them (work) with our power and bodies at Stewart-Haas Racing,” Busch said. “It really feels neat to come back to a place where I’ve seen the faces before and the structure has been polished. There’s more depth with Ford Performance. The whole gang is ready and willing to help in all areas and directions.”

Patrick has driven Chevrolets since she debuted in NASCAR’s top series in 2012. SHR’s manufacturer switch, Patrick said, should benefit her team.

“The goal is to do better all the time,” said Patrick, who finished 24th in points in 2015 and ‘16. “Hopefully some of the things that have changed within our team, the big one being changing over to Ford, will open up some opportunities and possibilities and just pure potential for the team and we can improve. Hopefully there’s more room to improve now.

“That’s exciting to me. I’m optimistic and hopefully it will be something that makes a difference.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kevin Harvick Stumbles in Martinsville

Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Like the first two rounds in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick likely finds himself in a must win position to send him into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in three weeks.

Harvick’s No. 4 Chevrolet was never a factor in Sunday’s Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway, in fact, none of the Stewart-Haas Racing cars were. Harvick led the SHR brigade with a 20th place finish, while teammate and fellow Chase Kurt Busch were 22nd followed by Danica Patrick 24th and co-owner Tony Stewart 26th. Continue reading