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

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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

Strong Weekend for Ryan Blaney and Wood Brothers Racing at Michigan

Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

After a few frustrating weeks for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Ryan Blaney and his Wood Brothers Racing team, Michigan International Speedway brought the team a much welcomed fourth place finish in the Pure Michigan 400.

But, that fourth place finish wasn’t easily earned.

Blaney in his No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Fusion reported a flat right-front tire going into turn one on lap 62. Thankfully, the problem occurred during a round of green-flag pit stops which sent the driver to pit road for service. Continue reading

Kyle Larson Captures Emotional First Victory at Michigan

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In the last few laps of Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway, tears began to well up in Kyle Larson’s eyes.

When Larson subsequently took the checkered flag to win the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of his career, the emotion was all but overwhelming—and for good reason.

The victory came in Larson’s 99th start in the series, long after most observers expected Larson to record his first win. It also broke a 99-race drought for Chip Ganassi Racing, dating to Jamie McMurray’s victory at Talladega in October 2013. Continue reading

Record Streak Comes to Crashing End for Kurt Busch at Bristol Motor Speedway

Photo - Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Kurt Busch’s impressive streak of finishing on the lead lap in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series came to an abrupt end at 22 in Sunday’s postponed Bass Pro Shops NRA Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Busch, driver of the No. 41 Monster Energy / Haas Automation Chevrolet got loose on the backstretch and spun out of control entering turn three spawning a crash that eliminated Busch, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Paul Menard among others on lap 373. Continue reading

Kevin Harvick Wins Action-Filled NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Bristol

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For most of the final 200 laps of Sunday’s rain-interrupted Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick was where he needed to be – out front and in control of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

Behind Harvick, who took the checkered flag 1.933 seconds ahead of runner-up Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the race was often out of control, as the essence of traditional Bristol made an emphatic appearance at the 0.533-mile concrete short track. Continue reading