NASCAR Michael McDowell

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Ryan Blaney Wins First Career Pole by a Whisker

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, signs a backdrop during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 12, 2017 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Improving in each round of knockout qualifying in relation to other cars, Ryan Blaney won the pole for Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1), claiming his first career pole by a mere 0.009 seconds over Joey Logano.

During a Friday qualifying session in which 11 cars failed to make it to the grid because of inspection issues, Blaney toured the 1.5-mile speedway in 28.481 seconds (189.600 mph) in the final round to earn the first Coors Light Pole Award for the No. 21 Woods Brothers Ford since Ricky Rudd earned the top starting spot at Talladega in April 2004. Continue reading →

Polls are Open for Monster Energy All-Star Race Fan Voting

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Track News

If your favorite driver isn’t currently eligible for the May 20 Monster Energy All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, you can lend a helping hand.

Simply go to NASCAR.com/fanvote on the web and cast a ballot. The polls are open, and the driver with the most votes at the cutoff (11:59 p.m. on May 19) will earn the final spot in the exhibition race that will make an instant millionaire of the winner. Continue reading →

After Daytona Disappointment, Elliott Still Waiting for his Day to Come

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR NASCAR Hall of Fame NASCAR Wire Service Track News
Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 4, 2017 in Hampton, Georgia.
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Chase Elliott had seen that movie before.

Having qualified for the playoff as a Sunoco rookie last year, Elliott was leading the first postseason race at Chicagoland Speedway when Michael McDowell’s spin in turn four brought out the fourth and final caution on lap 263 of a scheduled 267.

Elliott lost the lead on pit road and lost the race in overtime to Martin Truex Jr. Continue reading →

Truex Triumphs in Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Opener at Chicagoland

NASCAR NASCAR Wire Service Sprint Cup Series Track News

You could see it coming from a mile-and-a-half away.

On new tires, Martin Truex Jr. rocketed around the outside lane after a restart in overtime at Chicagoland Speedway and pulled away to win Sunday’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400, the opening race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

With the victory—his first at the 1.5-mile track, his third of the season and the sixth of his career—Truex also rocketed into the Chase’s Round of 12. But Truex wasn’t satisfied with a ticket into the next round and the prospect of racing stress-free at New Hampshire and Dover, the final two Round of 16 events. Continue reading →