Sprint Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Preview

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When Will Johnson, Kenseth Quench Wins Thirst?

Here’s a stat that properly illustrates how weird this Jimmie Johnson/Matt Kenseth “drought” is: The last time neither won any of the first eight races, Johnson wasn’t even in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series yet.

The year was 2001. Johnson was in his second full season of NASCAR Nationwide Series competition. Kenseth was in his second full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and battling a bit of a sophomore slump. He went winless and finished outside the top-ten in the last championship standings. Continue reading

Bristol Sprint Cup Series Notes & Quotes

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Check out this week’s Sprint Cup Series Notes & Quotes heading into Bristol Motor Speedway for the Food City 500. (Updated up to Race Day)

The Food City 500 is televised live on FOX on Sunday, March 16, beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET, starting with the pre-race show. It is also broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network (PRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90. Continue reading

A Year to Turn Up the Notch is Ahead for Richard Petty Motorsports

Richard Petty (right) speaks to the media as Marcos Ambrose (center), driver of the No. 9 Stanley Ford, and Aric Almirola (left), driver of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford, look on during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour at Charlotte Convention Center on January 29, 2014  Photo - Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images

Richard Petty (right) speaks to the media as Marcos Ambrose (center), driver of the No. 9 Stanley Ford, and Aric Almirola (left), driver of the No. 43 Smithfield Ford, look on during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour at Charlotte Convention Center on January 29, 2014
Photo – Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images

With the emphasis on winning in 2014, a team like Richard Petty Motorsports needs to step up their game. To stay competitive, RPM has to contend on a whole new level this season. They haven’t been known to rack up the wins, so doing everything in their power to make that more of a possibility is crucial for their success. Marcos Ambrose and Aric Almirola have enough talent to get to victory lane, so proving that is important for them in 2014. Continue reading

JTG Daugherty Racing Technical Alliance with Richard Childress Racing

JTG-Daugherty-LogoJTG Daugherty Racing team officials announced today a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing that includes receiving ECR engines and engineering services during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season with driver AJ Allmendinger behind the wheel of their No. 47 entry. Continue reading

McMurray Hangs on for Talladega Victory

Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Cessna Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 20, 2013  Photo - Getty Images

Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 Cessna Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 20, 2013
Photo – Getty Images

For the second straight week, a non-Chaser emerges victorious. It was restrictor-plate master, Jamie McMurray, grabbing the Talladega victory on Sunday. McMurray brought his car to the front in the late going and hung on for his first victory since 2010.

Championship contenders, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson, paced the field in the beginning of the afternoon. They faded as the laps went on, but both managed to survive the biggest obstacle in the Chase.

Surprisingly, only four cars found wrecks throughout the afternoon. The first occurred on lap 72 when Marcos Ambrose got loose in the tri-oval and spun down the track right into Juan Pablo Montoya. Continue reading