Aric Almirola, driver of the #43 STP Ford, races Erik Jones, driver of the #77 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota, and Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Okuma Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on April 2, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo – Jared C Tilton/Getty Images
Ryan Newman’s victory at Phoenix Raceway, made possible by staying out on old tires, seemingly came out of nowhere. After all, no Richard Childress Racing driver had won an event in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series since 2013 before Newman took the checkered flag at Phoenix.
But the speed in the RCR cars has improved, as both Austin Dillon and Newman proved in Sunday’s STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Dillon came home fifth, his first top-five since running fourth at Bristol last August. Continue reading →
Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, walks on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 10, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo – Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
It’s early in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, but it looks like the ultra-talented Kyle Larson is poised for a breakout year.
He led on the final lap of the DAYTONA 500 before running out of gas and has finished runner-up in the last two races. Dating back to last season’s penultimate race at Phoenix Raceway, Larson boasts three runner-ups and a third-place finish in his last five starts. Continue reading →
Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 11, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images
Ryan Reed has been the surprise of the NASCAR XFINITY Series season so far.
The 23-year-old Roush Fenway Racing driver won the season-opener at Daytona and sits second in the points standings – four points behind Elliott Sadler – following his ninth-place finish at Las Vegas.
Reed will continue his run at the top spot in Saturday’s DC Solar 200 at Phoenix Raceway at 4 pm ET on FOX. He finished sixth in the fall race there last year.
“Phoenix is obviously a really cool race track and I think a lot of drivers like it, being one of the few short tracks,” Reed said. “For me, being on the west coast is that much more special. I have a ton of family every time I go out there. I watched my Dad race there growing up and last year at the second Phoenix race we had one of our best races of the year, qualifying third and finishing sixth. I have a lot of confidence going to Phoenix and I’m looking for another good run.”
Reporter Kelli Stavast (L-R) hosts a panel discussion with drivers Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney during NASCAR West Coast Media Day at Hyde Bellagio at Bellagio on January 7, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo – Isaac Brekken/Getty Images
Optimism and excitement were the common themes that flowed through NASCAR’s West Coast Media Day at The Bellagio’s Hyde night club in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney joined Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Chris Powell, Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen and Phoenix Raceway President Bryan Sperber to speak to the media at the exclusive club. NBC’s Kelli Stavast hosted the event, which featured a Q&A session and one-on-one time with the assembled media. Continue reading →
