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

Matt Kenseth’s Championship 4 Aspirations Evaporate with Late Accident

AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 13: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, leads Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 13: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, leads Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 13, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

In one moment, Matt Kenseth was leading Sunday’s Can-Am 500 and seemed destined to race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A moment later, he was wrecked and out of the Chase.

Kenseth led the field to green on the first attempt at overtime, with polesitter Alex Bowman to his inside. Kyle Busch made a move to the inside of Bowman from the third position, and Bowman blocked. Continue reading

Joey Logano Advances to Championship 4 with Hard-Fought Win at Phoenix

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Joey Logano earned a return trip to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway after a year’s absence.

Kyle Busch will head to the South Florida track to try to defend his 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title.

And Kevin Harvick won’t be competing for the title for the first time since NASCAR debuted its elimination Chase format in 2014. Needing a victory to advance, as it turned out, Harvick finished fourth in Sunday’s Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Continue reading

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship 4 Clinch Scenarios for Phoenix

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Pro Services Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 12, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo - Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 12, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Jimmie Johnson and Carl Edwards are clinched in the Championship 4 for Homestead Miami Speedway next weekend. The next two drivers to secure their chance at racing for the Sprint Cup title is decided this weekend in the Can Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and the six drivers and their clinch scenarios are listed below. 

Joey Logano (0 Wins, 4074 Points) – Would clinch on points with a second-place finish and at least one lap led.  With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

Kyle Busch (0 Wins, 4074 Points) – Would clinch on points with a second-place finish and the most laps led.  With a win, would clinch a next round spot on wins.

The following drivers can only guarantee a clinch with a win. The could also clinch on points with help:

Matt Kenseth (0 Wins, 4073 Points)

Denny Hamlin (0 Wins, 4072 Points)

Kevin Harvick (0 Wins, 4056 Points)

Kurt Busch (0 Wins, 4040 Points)

Carl Edwards Resurrects Title Chances with Win in Rain-Shortened Texas Race

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Back from the dead.

With a Lazarus act that was delayed and then shortened by rain, Carl Edwards revived his moribund championship hopes the only way he could—with a victory in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Last in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings after a hard crash and a 36th-place finish last week at Martinsville, Edwards took the lead under caution on lap 257 when his crew dashed off an 11-second pit stop.

Edwards beat Martin Truex Jr. out of the pits, and that proved the difference, as the No. 19 Joe Gibbs racing Toyota held the top spot the rest of the way until a rain shower halted the proceedings after 293 of a planned 334 laps. Continue reading