Tag Archives: Ricky Rudd

Fuel Shortage Puts Harvick in Dire Straits, Kenseth in Victory Lane

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Kevin Harvick clarified his championship status on Sunday—but not the way he had planned.

After dominating the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for most of the afternoon, Harvick ran out of fuel while leading on lap 298 of 300, handing the top spot and the victory to Matt Kenseth, who joined teammate Denny Hamlin as an automatic qualifier for the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Despite leading 216 laps on Sunday, Harvick, the defending series champion, heads to next Sunday’s Chase race at Dover almost certainly needing a victory at a track where he has never won, to escape the Challenger Round of the Chase and keep his title hopes alive.

Kenseth, who came to pit road for fuel and tires on lap 239, triumphed for the fifth time this season (tops in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series), for the second time at the Magic Mile and for the 36th time in his career. He finished 8.941 seconds ahead of Hamlin, who nursed his car to a runner-up finish despite a late-race issue with the right front wheel. Continue reading →

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Sylvania 300

The Place: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Sept. 27

The Time: 2 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 1:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 317.14 miles (300 laps)

 

Gordon Set to Become NASCAR’s All-Time Consecutive Starts Leader

When Jeff Gordon starts his engine in Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he will pass Ricky Rudd as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series consecutive starts leader by beginning his 789th straight race.

NASCAR’s new Iron Man has not missed a start since making his series debut at Atlanta on Nov. 15, 1992 – a span of 22 years, 10 months and 12 days. Continue reading →

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: MyAFibRisk.com 400

The Place: Chicagoland Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Sept. 20

The Time: 3 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBCSN, 2:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps)

 

‘Chasing’ Earnhardt And Petty: Johnson Sets Sites on Seventh Series Title

Ten races separate Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup No. 1 seed Jimmie Johnson from potential immortality. If Johnson wins NASCAR’s 16-driver, four-knockout round playoff, he will capture his seventh series title, tying Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the all-time lead.

Johnson begins his quest in Sunday’s MyAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. He has never won at the Windy City track, but boasts seven top-fives, and seven top-tens to go along with the series-best average running position (7.129) and driver rating (115.5) there. Chicago remains one of four active tracks at which Johnson has not won – Homestead, Kentucky and Watkins Glen.

The No. 48 Chevrolet driver has won four races this season, but has made 13 starts since his last victory. He tends to elevate his élite skill to an even higher level during NASCAR’s playoffs though, as he leads all drivers with 25 total Chase wins.

Johnson is the only driver to make all 12 Chases since NASCAR first implemented the playoff format in 2004. Click here to see how others compare to Johnson in terms of Chases made. Continue reading →

Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix Preview

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Camping World COM 500 4C Trap

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: CampingWorld.com 500

The Place: Phoenix International Raceway

The Date: Sunday, March 15

The Time: 3:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: FOX, 3 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 312 miles (312 laps)

Bloomin’ Onions May Become Scarce After NASCAR Visits Phoenix

Every time Kevin Harvick finishes in the top-ten, customers at Outback Steakhouse can get a Bloomin’ Onion the following day. If there is not a Bloomin’ Onion shortage already – since Harvick is riding a streak of six straight top-two finishes dating back to Texas last year – there will likely be one following Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. The No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing driver has won the last three events at PIR and holds the all-time track record with six victories.

How historic is Harvick’s run of top-twos? Continue reading →

Throwback Thursday – Cup Series Makes First Visit to Sonoma

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Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images

Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series made a visit to a California road course every year from 1958 to 1988.

Drivers weaved left and right around Riverside International Raceway.  Greats such as Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip and even road-course greats like Dan Gurney and Mark Donohue all won at the track. Continue reading →