Denied victory at Daytona by an inopportune pit call last Sunday, Kurt Busch drove like lightning in a two-lap overtime dash to the finish to win Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.
Continue reading
Chad Knaus, crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet, sits in the pit box during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 14, 2018, in Sparta, Kentucky. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images
SPARTA, Kentucky—The quest for eight continues. Continue reading
Martin Truex Jr., the driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 14, 2018, in Sparta, Kentucky. Photo – Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
In years past, the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Motor Speedway has been a challenge for the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series. The banking in turns three and four is different than the banking in turns one and two. The long sweeping turns of this track, along with the differences in banking can really shake a drivers confidence. However, the race on Saturday night told a different story. Continue reading
Martin Truex Jr., the driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, poses in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 14, 2018, in Sparta, Kentucky. Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
SPARTA, Kentucky – Martin Truex Jr., made it a clean sweep at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. Continue reading
Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images
NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell responded to Brad Keselowski’s Saturday comments following a wreck at Kentucky Speedway, saying he was “a little disappointed” in the remarks from the 2012 series champion.
Keselowski, after a wreck that ended his night early, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio he was “frustrated” after his early exit.
“I am probably as much frustrated with myself as I am frustrated with the situation and frustrated with the sport that we can’t design a better car than this that you can race without having to do everything on the restart,” he said at the time. “That is all part of it I guess. It is where we are right now.”
“I was a little disappointed in the comment for sure,” O’Donnell told hosts Mike Bagley and Pete Pistone. “Brad’s a leader in our sport. I understand it was heat of the moment, but definitely disappointing to see that.”
The Generation-6 stock car was introduced for the 2013 season, with key improvements from its predecessor in the way of brand identity, safety enhancements and total weight.
NASCAR has experimented with different rules packages since the introduction in an effort to produce the best side-by-side racing. Currently, the 2017 rules package focuses on a further reduction of downforce (namely a smaller spoiler) and additional safety enhancements.
“My immediate (feedback) is Brad Keselowski had input on this rules package,” O’Donnell said. “I think he was frustrated, he had a tough night. The cars are supposed to be hard to drive. These are the best drivers in the world.
“I chalk that up with frustration, heat of the moment. But, yeah, we always work on improve the racing. We are working, as we always do, with the industry to put together what could be that future car, but that’s down the road. That’s years in the making.”
Later, Keselowski backed off his initial statements, sending a message on social media following Saturday’s race.
I lost “Truth and Grace” after wrecking out today so I wrote a Follow up on my post wreck comments- pic.twitter.com/LmORJArdjp
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 9, 2017