Double Duty for Five NASCAR Drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
A new week has dawned, and it’s nearly time to go racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The 2016 NASCAR Weekend at the 1.5-mile superspeedway is shaping up as another epic experience, with drivers set to race in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 on Saturday and Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt 400. Five drivers – Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola – are expected to pull double duty and compete in both races over the weekend. Continue reading →
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, takes the checkered and yellow flags to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 under caution at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 28, 2016 Photo – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 28, 2016 Photo – Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 28, 2016 Photo – Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
With wrecks erupting behind him, Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in overtime under caution in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway—and then he remembered.
Almost lost in the euphoria of Johnson’s second straight victory at the 1.54-mile track was the realization that, with his 76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, he had tied the late Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the all-time wins list.
But as the No. 48 Chevrolet rolled around the track on its victory lap, heading in a clockwise direction à la Alan Kulwicki, the six-time champion thrust his arm out the driver’s side window with a three-finger salute to the crowd, acknowledging the bond he now shares with The Intimidator. Continue reading →
Daytona Drama: Hamlin Wins Great American Race by Closest Margin in its History
Denny Hamlin provided viewers more drama in the closing moments of the Daytona 500 than fans have seen in the race’s history. Literally and statistically.
The No. 11 Toyota driver made a move from his fourth position with less than two laps remaining in Sunday’s Daytona 500, dove between Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., then beat Truex to the start/finish line by 0.010 seconds – the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the history of The Great American Race.
Hamlin’s MOV on Sunday also ranks tied for the seventh closest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.
Don’t be surprised to see another tight finish in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two of the top-ten closest finishes in NASCAR history are at the Georgia track. Continue reading →
Kurt Busch will attempt to tie Jimmie Johnson for the active Atlanta Motor Speedway wins lead when he goes for his fourth victory at the 1.54-mile track in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.
In addition to his three wins, Busch claims five top-fives and ten top-tens in 24 Atlanta starts. He owns the fifth-best average finish (14.7) and driver rating (94.3) among active drivers at Atlanta. Busch kicked off the season with a tenth-place showing in the Daytona 500. Continue reading →
