Tag Archives: Geico 500

Kyle Busch’s Win Streak Hinges on Unpredictable Talladega

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Kyle Busch, the driver of the #18 M&M’s Flavor Vote Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 21, 2018, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s a big deal and rare achievement when any driver reels off three consecutive wins in the premier Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. And only nine races into the 2018 season – that’s happened twice already. Continue reading →

Elliott Ready to Get Back on Track at Kansas

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Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Hooters Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Most drivers would be happy to be fourth in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings.

Chase Elliott, a 21-year-old rising star, is not one of those drivers.

After sitting second in the standings for five consecutive weeks, Chase Elliott has dropped to fourth in the rankings after poor finishes at Richmond (24th) and Talladega (30th). Continue reading →

Loose Wheel Dashes Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hopes at Talladega

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Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 7, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Tom Bradbury/Getty Images

Dale Earnhardt Jr. lined up third for a restart on lap 174 of Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, after a massive 18-car wreck on the backstretch thinned the field.

The anticipation in the air was palpable, as Earnhardt rolled through the tri-oval toward the start / finish line, but what happened next had fans in the front grandstands ripping the radio headphones off their heads and throwing them to the ground.

As the field came up to speed, Earnhardt pulled out of line and moved to the top of the track, coming perilously close to the outside wall. As the pack sped away, Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevrolet slowed and rolled gingerly to pit road. Continue reading →

Bold Move Propels McMurray to Runner-Up Finish

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Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 McDonald’s $1 Any Size Soft Drink Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Race winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wasn’t the only driver who made a strong move on the final lap of Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

After Stenhouse took the lead from Kyle Busch, thanks in part to a push from Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray threaded the needle between Johnson’s Chevrolet and Busch’s Toyota to vault into second place.

McMurray held the spot, trailing Stenhouse to the finish line by 0.095 seconds and beating Busch to the stripe by 0.004 seconds. Continue reading →

Danica Patrick had a Feeling about Boyfriend’s Prospects

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, kisses his girlfriend, Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 7, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Danica Patrick said she had positive vibes about boyfriend Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s chances in Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, and not just because Stenhouse had won the pole during Saturday’s time trials.

But Patrick was otherwise occupied when Stenhouse took the checkered flag for the first time in his 158th start in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Continue reading →