Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Wins Second Straight Plate Race in Wild Coke Zero 400

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The major story of Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola – Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final run at his beloved Daytona International Speedway in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – turned out to be a footnote to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s masterful victory in a war of attrition that produced a race-record 14 cautions.

The driver of the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, who got his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory in his 158th career start two months ago at Talladega, established himself as a restrictor-plate wizard with his second straight superspeedway win, this one after three laps of overtime. Continue reading

Unconventional Strategy Propels Brad Keselowski to Third-Place Finish

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Freightliner Elite Support Ford, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 25, 2017 in Sonoma, California. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

No one has ever accused Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski and his No. 2 team of following conventional wisdom when it comes to race strategy.

Even with crew chief Paul Wolfe missing Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 to be with his wife for the birth of their second child, substitute pit boss Brian Wilson took up the beat of a different drummer. Continue reading

Superb Restarts Propel Kyle Larson to Victory in Michigan

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Two weeks ago at Dover, Kyle Larson took a painful master class in restarts from Professor Jimmie Johnson.

In Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, Larson graduated with high honors, using a series of exceptional restarts to win his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season and his second in a row, dating to last August, at the two-mile track in the Irish Hills. Continue reading

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan Preview

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The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will race the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 18th at 3 pm ET. Coverage begins at 2 pm ET on FOX Sports 1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Drivers will race 400 miles over 200 laps with Stage 1 ending on lap 60, Stage 2 on lap 120 and the last Stage ending on the last lap 200. Continue reading

Kyle Larson Edges Martin Truex Jr. for Michigan Pole

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Cars 3/Target Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the pole award for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr. thought he had the pole for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400—until Kyle Larson made the last run in the final round of Friday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series knockout qualifying at Michigan International Speedway.

Driving the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Larson, who won the first Cup race of his career last August at MIS, covered the two-mile distance in 35.616 seconds (202.156 mph), edging Truex (202.117 mph) for the top starting spot by a scant 0.007 seconds. Continue reading