NASCAR Toyota Racing Development

25 posts

Kyle Busch: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, signs autographs for fans ahead of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9, 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

When it comes to having a high-profile, ultra competitive driver like Kyle Busch in the sport, fans can expect to have a variety of headlines focused on the individual.  NASCAR fans have seen the younger Busch brother grow from a highly sought after teenage hot shoe through an adored underdog.  Two years ago, fans watched his comeback from an injury resulting in the 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR championship and then mature to a veteran industry leader, spokesman, and father.

Along the way, fans have glimpsed three very different personalities of the complex young man known as ‘Rowdy.’ Continue reading

Jones, 5-hour Energy Team Make First Laps at PIR Test

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones addresses the media during NASCAR testing at Phoenix International Raceway on January 31, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona.
Photo – Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

New Furniture Row Racing team prepares for 2017 NASCAR season  

It’s the hours and hours a person spends preparing for the opportunity ahead that creates success.

Furniture Row Racing’s No. 77 5-hour ENERGY team spent Tuesday and Wednesday at Phoenix International Raceway becoming familiar with the new Toyota Camry as well as each other as a new team for the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season. Driver Erik Jones and crew chief Chris Gayle have a brief history together in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with Joe Gibbs Racing though both are entering their rookie seasons in NASCAR’s premier class. Continue reading

Truex, Keselowski See Championship Hopes Go Up in Smoke

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 23:  Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, drives to the garage after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama.  Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
TALLADEGA, AL – OCTOBER 23: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, drives to the garage after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images

Two drivers who were among the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season’s most productive winners won’t be in the race for the championship.

Former champion Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr., winners of four races apiece this year, fell out of Sunday’s Hellman’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway with blown engines and failed to qualify for the Round of 8 with four races remaining on the schedule.

Also knocked out of the championship group Sunday were Austin Dillon and rookie Chase Elliott.

The Chase will continue next weekend at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Continue reading

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Preview

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will take to the track on Sunday, October 23rd at 2 pm ET to race 500.8 miles over 188 laps in the Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. NBC Sports Network begins their coverage at 1:30 pm ET and radio coverage is on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

What to Watch For: Heading into Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 cutoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, Austin Dillon (ninth, tiebreaker), Denny Hamlin (tenth, -6 points below Joey Logano on the cutoff line), Brad Keselowski (11th, -7) and Chase Elliott (12th, -25) are on the outside looking in for advancement to the Round of 8.

Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski can break their tie for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins lead by getting a fifth victory. Continue reading