Clint Bowyer is Feeling the Playoff Pressure

Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Clint Bowyer enters Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway (on NBCSN at 3 p.m. ET) 17th in points, 28 behind Matt Kenseth for the final playoff spot in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points race. To qualify for the postseason, he must either pass Kenseth and hope nobody below him wins, or win himself. Continue reading

Truex Wins the Strategy Game, Grabs First Victory at Watkins Glen

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At a track where his father raced, and a track where he was a “garage rat” as a child, Martin Truex Jr. won Sunday’s I Love New York 355 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race by slowing down over the closing laps.

Truex let Brad Keselowski pass him for the lead on lap 77 of 90. On instructions from crew chief Cole Pearn, Truex also let Ryan Blaney past his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota on lap 83. Continue reading

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ I Love New York 355 at The Glen Preview

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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams are ready for the I Love New York 355 at The Glen on Sunday, August 6th at 3 pm ET. Coverage begins at 2:30 pm ET on NBCSN, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Drivers will race 220.6 miles over 90 laps with Stage 1 ending on lap 20, Stage 2 on lap 40, and the last stage ends on the last lap 90. Continue reading

Joey Logano Hopes to Take Advantage of Favorable Schedule

Joey Logano, the driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, walks on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2017, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

The current five-race part of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule couldn’t come at a better time for Joey Logano.

That at least is the hope that buoys the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford as he tries to force his way into NASCAR’s playoffs. Continue reading

Bowyer Picks Up Stage Win with Contrarian Strategy

Clint Bowyer, the driver of the #14 Nature’s Bakery/Feeding America Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 30, 2017, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

When every car running ahead of Clint Bowyer came to pit road on lap 96 – in a group that included race winner Kyle Busch, runner-up Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Chase Elliott, Bowyer inherited the lead.

Four laps later, Bowyer collected his first stage win and first playoff point of the season.

But that wasn’t the highlight of Bowyer’s day. Forced to pit under caution at the end of the stage, Bowyer restarted 11th and never advanced higher than fifth during the final 60 laps of the race. He finished sixth after Brad Keselowski passed him for the fifth position in the closing laps.

Bowyer, who is fighting for a spot in NASCAR’s playoff, was pleased with the speed in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

“It was a big pit strategy day, for sure, and you know that going into a race like this,” Bowyer said. “Our car was good all weekend. We unloaded a fast car. This is the best car that we’ve unloaded in quite some time.

“A little bit different build. Hopefully, this is what we’re looking for, what I’m looking for and (we can) build on this.”