NASCAR Clinch Scenarios for Homestead-Miami Speedway

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NASCAR

NASCAR Clinch Scenarios for Homestead-Miami Speedway

Below are the finishes each driver/owner/manufacturer needs in this weekend’s races at Homestead-Miami Speedway to clinch their respective championships, regardless of the finish of any other driver/car/manufacturer.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Sunday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC)

Driver
The first to the finish line among the Championship 4 – Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. – will win the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship.

Owner
The same rule applies to the owner championship, which involves the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet. Continue reading

Kevin Harvick Dominates Dover to Preserve Sprint Cup Title Hopes

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By Jove, he’s done it again!

Forced to win at Dover International Speedway to keep his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship hopes alive Sunday, Kevin Harvick did just that, dominating Sunday’s AAA 400 to stave off elimination from the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

In a virtual carbon copy of last year’s Chase race at Phoenix, where the 2014 premier series champion had to win to advance to the Championship Round at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Harvick led 355 of 400 laps – a career best at any track – in winning for the third time this year and the 31st time in his career.

“I think we’re better than we were last year, just because of the experiences and things that we’ve had,” Harvick said after the race. “I think when we look at everything that’s gone on over the last couple of years, it’s just been a lot of fun.

“So, it’s just that never-quit attitude. That’s what (team co-owner) Tony Stewart said when we went to Homestead last year. He said, ‘Whatever you do, do not quit until they throw that checkered flag.’”

Continue reading

Hamlin Survives Spin, Steals Win in First Chase Race at Chicagoland

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In the theater, using the expression ‘Break a leg’ is a way to wish an actor good luck on opening night.

Twelve days before Sunday’s opening Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway, Denny Hamlin tore the ACL in his right leg playing basketball.

Late in the myAFibRisk.com 400 at the 1.5-mile track, Hamlin found his good fortune in the form of a serendipitous pit call on the part of crew chief Dave Rogers.

Staying out on old tires, Hamlin grabbed the lead moments after a restart with five laps left and streaked away to a .963-second victory over Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Carl Edwards, who surged from sixth to second during that restart on lap 263 of 267.

Hamlin saw an opening as the cars roared toward turn one on the restart. Continue reading

Logano Holds Off Harvick to Defend Bristol Night Race Title

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With Kevin Harvick hounding him mercilessly for 63 laps, Joey Logano kept his No. 22 Team Penske Ford out front after taking the lead on a lap 438 restart and held on to win Saturday’s Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Successfully defending last year’s victory at Thunder Valley, Logano won his third race of the season, his second at the .533-mile short track and the 11th of his career.

Harvick recovered from two pit road speeding penalties to finish second, a mere 0.220 seconds behind Logano. Polesitter Denny Hamlin ran third, and Clint Bowyer got a much-needed fourth place result in his No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota. Continue reading

Tony Stewart Searching for Answers with a ‘Never Give Up’ Attitude

Tony Stewart and his fans aren't giving up any time soon, despite a disappointing season so far. Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Tony Stewart and his fans aren’t giving up any time soon, despite a disappointing season so far. Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

With just eight races left to run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season, three-time champion Tony Stewart is searching for answers on how to get his team on the right track.  To say this has been a ‘disappointing season’ is most likely an understatement considering Stewart’s stats from 18 starts this year which include three races he didn’t finish because of issues.  With an average start of 17.2, an average finish of 25.1 and a 33rd-place finish at Kentucky Speedway with a new low downforce package, Stewart and his fans are left wondering when a more positive direction for his No. 14 team will come.  Continue reading