Johnson Wins at Atlanta, Ties Earnhardt Sr with 76th Victory

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

With wrecks erupting behind him, Jimmie Johnson took the checkered flag in overtime under caution in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway—and then he remembered.

Almost lost in the euphoria of Johnson’s second straight victory at the 1.54-mile track was the realization that, with his 76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory, he had tied the late Dale Earnhardt for seventh on the all-time wins list.

But as the No. 48 Chevrolet rolled around the track on its victory lap, heading in a clockwise direction à la Alan Kulwicki, the six-time champion thrust his arm out the driver’s side window with a three-finger salute to the crowd, acknowledging the bond he now shares with The Intimidator. Continue reading

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Folds of Honor Quik Trip 500 at Atlanta Preview

316325

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

The Place: Atlanta Motor Speedway

The Date: Sunday, Feb. 28

The Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 12:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 500.5 miles (325 laps)

 

Daytona Drama: Hamlin Wins Great American Race by Closest Margin in its History

Denny Hamlin provided viewers more drama in the closing moments of the Daytona 500 than fans have seen in the race’s history. Literally and statistically.

The No. 11 Toyota driver made a move from his fourth position with less than two laps remaining in Sunday’s Daytona 500, dove between Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., then beat Truex to the start/finish line by 0.010 seconds – the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the history of The Great American Race.

Read – Joe Gibbs Racing Pumped for Atlanta Motor Speedway

Hamlin’s MOV on Sunday also ranks tied for the seventh closest in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history.

Don’t be surprised to see another tight finish in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuickTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Two of the top-ten closest finishes in NASCAR history are at the Georgia track. Continue reading

Kurt Busch Leads Stewart-Haas Racing to Atlanta

Photo - Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Photo – Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images

Kurt Busch will attempt to tie Jimmie Johnson for the active Atlanta Motor Speedway wins lead when he goes for his fourth victory at the 1.54-mile track in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500.

In addition to his three wins, Busch claims five top-fives and ten top-tens in 24 Atlanta starts. He owns the fifth-best average finish (14.7) and driver rating (94.3) among active drivers at Atlanta. Busch kicked off the season with a tenth-place showing in the Daytona 500. Continue reading

Stewart Haas Racing Switches to Ford in 2017

SHR-Ford

Team Will Field Ford Fusions in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Stewart-Haas Racing, winners of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships and 30 point-paying races, will campaign Ford Fusions beginning in 2017. The four-car team will compete with Ford engines prepared by Roush Yates Engines. Continue reading

Five Potential Candidates to Fill in for Tony Stewart

Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

The farewell tour for three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart is not going the way anyone in the sport could have imagined.

Stewart, who suffered a burst fracture in his back while driving a dune buggy Sunday, January 31, will miss the beginning of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

The entry list shows Ricky Stenhouse Jr will race in lieu of the no. 14 for Stewart in the pre-season, non-points paying event, the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona on February 13th. Also racing in lieu of the no. 24 for the Jeff Gordon, who is now retired, is Casey Mears. Both drivers will continue racing with their existing teams for their season opener, the Daytona 500 on February 21st and beyond.

So now, the biggest question that remains is, who will fill in for Stewart beyond the Sprint Unlimited? There are many drivers without a full-time ride in Sprint Cup or without a ride in any NASCAR division and several candidates from the XFINITY or Camping World Truck Series. Here is a list of five candidates I feel have the best shot to get the ride for at least some of the races, that Stewart will miss.  Continue reading