Johnny Sauter Holds Off Chase Elliott to Advance to Championship Race

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

With a finish that was the diametric opposite of his last run at Martinsville Speedway, Johnny Sauter punched his ticket to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship race with a victory in Saturday’s Texas Roadhouse 200 at the 0.526-mile short track.

After a restart with 18 laps left, Sauter, who finished last at Martinsville in April, held off pole winner Chase Elliott, beating the No. 71 Chevrolet driver to the finish line by 0.316 seconds. Continue reading

Hamlin Hopes to Lock Up Championship 4 Berth

Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

Denny Hamlin’s championship aspirations came 0.006 seconds away from evaporating at Talladega last Sunday. Fortunately for the No. 11 Toyota driver, he beat Kurt Busch to the finish line by 0.006 seconds (approximately two feet) for a third-place result that earned him the final spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Round of 8 over Austin Dillon.

Now holding the same amount of points as the remaining eight Chase-eligible drivers, Hamlin is back at square one heading into Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at his hometown track – and also one of his best tracks – Martinsville Speedway at 1 pm ET on NBCSN. Continue reading

NASCAR Updates Driver Participation Guidelines for 2017

Aside

Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

New Guidelines Further Elevate Next Generation of Stars; Strengthen Series Identity

In an announcement that will put an even brighter spotlight on the next generation of stars and bolster the identity of all three of its national series, NASCAR announced on Wednesday driver participation guidelines for the 2017 season. The new guidelines limit the number of events a premier series driver can race in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Starting next season, premier series drivers with more than five years of full-time experience will be eligible to compete in a maximum of ten races in the XFINITY Series and seven races in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Continue reading

Kevin Harvick Unhappy with Stewart-Haas Racing Teammate Kurt Busch Following Talladega Race

2016 NSCS Stewart-Haas Racing Drivers, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch Photo - Christian Petersen/Getty Images

2016 NSCS Stewart-Haas Racing Drivers, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch Photo – Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Despite both Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick earning top-ten finishes in Sunday’s Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, there was apparent tension between the two drivers post-race.

2015 Sprint Cup champion Kevin Harvick was upset with teammate Kurt Busch following Sunday’s 192-lap race after he claimed Busch hit his car after the checkered flag flew. Continue reading

Gray Gaulding Looks to Make NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Debut at Martinsville Speedway

Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

Gray Gaulding announces new partner, new series, and new team

18 year old NASCAR Next alumnus, Gray Gaulding will take the next step in his career making a debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS.) Gaulding will drive the No. 30 Feed the Children Chevrolet for The Motorsports Group (TMG) at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2016.
Continue reading