NASCAR Jason Ratcliff

18 posts

Gordon Celebrates Martinsville Win After Kenseth Wipes Out Logano

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Track News

Yes, Jeff Gordon celebrated his 93rd career victory in the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Yes, Gordon will compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Yes, there were tears of joy in Victory Lane for Gordon, who’s at the tail end of his last season in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

But Sunday’s race at Martinsville had so much more — most notably, ‘Matt Kenseth’s Revenge.’ Continue reading →

Fuel Shortage Puts Harvick in Dire Straits, Kenseth in Victory Lane

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Track News

Kevin Harvick clarified his championship status on Sunday—but not the way he had planned.

After dominating the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for most of the afternoon, Harvick ran out of fuel while leading on lap 298 of 300, handing the top spot and the victory to Matt Kenseth, who joined teammate Denny Hamlin as an automatic qualifier for the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Despite leading 216 laps on Sunday, Harvick, the defending series champion, heads to next Sunday’s Chase race at Dover almost certainly needing a victory at a track where he has never won, to escape the Challenger Round of the Chase and keep his title hopes alive.

Kenseth, who came to pit road for fuel and tires on lap 239, triumphed for the fifth time this season (tops in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series), for the second time at the Magic Mile and for the 36th time in his career. He finished 8.941 seconds ahead of Hamlin, who nursed his car to a runner-up finish despite a late-race issue with the right front wheel. Continue reading →

Kenseth Makes it Four Wins in First Race to the Chase

Fan4Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

 

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway on June 30, 2013 Photo - Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway on June 30, 2013
Photo – Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Pit strategy enables Matt Kenseth to Sprint Cup Series best – a fourth win

After postponing the Quaker State 400 from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, due to rain at Kentucky Speedway, Matt Kenseth and his team raced to their fourth victory of the season.

On a restart on lap 247 – 20 laps short of the race total – Kenseth took advantage of a spin by the race’s dominant #48 car with Jimmie Johnson.  Kenseth took over the lead by taking no tires during his earlier pit stop on lap 242, collecting his 28th career victory. Continue reading →

National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement

Fan4Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel Statement 

The National Stock Car Racing Appeals Panel today heard and considered the appeal of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team.
The penalties concern Sections 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 12-4J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR rule book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the event; and 20-5.5.3E: Only solid magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted. Connecting rod failed to meet minimum connecting rod weight.
The penalties stemmed from a post-race engine inspection April 23 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center. Continue reading →