RACE RECAPS- MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY AND ROAD AMERICA

Pure Michigan 400

Michigan International Speedway– Brooklyn, Michigan

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Race Winner: Kyle Larson

Age: 24

Team: No. 42 – Target Chevrolet

Owner: Chip Ganassi Racing

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “I was teared-up that whole last few laps because I could just feel it. It was finally going to be it. This one is for the Clauson family. We really miss Bryan. We love you guys. We’re going to miss him. We parked it for him, so that’s really cool."

-       Kyle Larson

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·       Kyle Larson won the 47^th Annual Pure Michigan 400 Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday. For Larson, it is his first victory in 99 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

·         It is Larson’s eighth top-10 and fifth top-5 finish in 2016.

·         It is Larson’s third top-10 finish in six races at Michigan International Speedway.

·         Larson is the first graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

·         With the victory, Larson now clinches a spot in the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

·         Chip Ganassi Racing ends a wins drought of 99 races, extending back to Jamie McMurray's win on October 20, 2013 at Talladega.

·         Chase Elliott (second) matched his best career finish, which also occurred at Michigan International Speedway in on June 12, 2016.

·         It is Elliott’s 12^th top-10 and seventh top-5 showing this season.

·         Brad Keselowski (third) posted his eighth top-10 finish in 15 races at Michigan International Speedway.

·         Ryan Blaney finished fourth on Sunday, giving him his ninth top-10 and third top-5 finish through 24 races this season.

·         Kevin Harvick (fifth) posted his 10^th top-10 finish in the last 12 races. It is also his third top-5 in the last four races.

·         Kyle Larson’s win on Sunday caps off a race weekend where each series saw a first-time race winner. Brian Moffitt won the Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway and Michael McDowell won the XFINITY Series race at Road America.

·       Kevin Harvick (799) leads the 2016 Sprint Cup Series points standing by 25 points over Brad Keselowski (774).  The following are the top-5 drivers in points with two races to go in the regular season:

Driver                                           Wins                           Points

1.    Kevin Harvick                                  2                                 799          

2.    Brad Keselowski                             4                                 774             

3.    Carl Edwards                                  2                                 724 

4.    Kurt Busch                                      1                                 721        

5.    Joey Logano                                   1                                 716                             

·      Twelve drivers have qualified for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which includes Kyle Larson, Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., all of who have taken checkered flags this year. 

·         As a result of his victory in the Pennsylvania 400 in Pocono on August 1, Chris Buescher would also qualify so long as he finishes in the top-30 in points after the season’s 26 regular season races. Buescher currently sits in the 30^th spot with 334 points, seven points ahead of David Ragan (327), who is in 31^st.  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         In three Sprint Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Larson has one top-5 showing, finishing fifth in the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400. Also, Larson won the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Starting this year, the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. Below are Race Recaps from Saturday’s XFINITY Series race at Road America and the Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway:

XFINITY Series

·         Michael McDowll won the 7^th Annual Road America 180 Fired Up by Johnsonville XFINITY Series race at Road America Saturday. It was his first victory in 94 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.

·         It is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2016.

·         It is his first victory and second top-10 finish in five races at Road America.

·         Richard Childress Racing has won the last three consecutive races at Road America – McDowell (2016), Paul Menard (2015) and Brendan Gaughan (2014).

·         Michael McDowell is the third first-time winner of the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series season joining Daniel Suarez (Michigan) and Justin Marks (Mid-Ohio).

·         Michael McDowell is the fourth first-time NASCAR XFINITY Series winner at Road America joining Nelson Piquet Jr. (2012), AJ Allmendinger (2013) and Brendan Gaughan (2014). 

·         Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 47 points over Daniel Suarez

·       Through 23 races this season in the XFINITY Series, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler have qualified for the 2016 XFINITY Series Chase following their victories. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have also won an XFINITY Series race this season but are ineligible for the XFINITY Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series. Sam Hornish Jr., Michael McDowell and Justin Marks are also ineligible because they are not full-time drivers in the XFINITY Series.

 Camping World Truck Series

·         Brett Moffitt won the 17^th Annual Careers for Veterans 200 Presented by The Cooper Standard Foundation & Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation Camping World Truck Series race at Michigan International Speedway Saturday. It was his first victory in six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.

·         It is his third top-10 finish in 2016. He finished third (Pocono) and second (Bristol) in the previous two races.

·         It is his first victory and first top-10 finish in two races at Michigan International Speedway.

·         Timothy Peters (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in ten races at Michigan International Speedway.  It is his ninth top-10 finish in 2016.

·         Daniel Hemric (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Michigan International Speedway.

·         William Byron leads the point standings by 36 points over Daniel Hemric.

·         Through 14 races this season in the Camping World Truck Series, Ben Kennedy, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek and Johnny Sauter have qualified for the 2016 Camping World Truck Series Chase as a result of their victories. Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson have also won a Camping World Truck Series race this season but are ineligible for the Camping World Truck Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series. Brett Moffitt’s win in the Camping World Truck Series does not make him eligible for the Camping World Truck Series Chase because he does not have full-time status in the Camping World Truck Series.

SNAPCHAT TO BRING LIVE STORY TO NASCAR’S SPRINT CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP RACE AT HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

MIAMI, Fla. – There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being at a championship event in sports, and coming this November, people from all over the world will get an inside look at what that experience is like at NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series championship race. The popular social media app, Snapchat, will be covering all the sights and sounds of NASCAR’s premier division season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a Live Story, NASCAR announced today.

Fans will be able to share their race-day experiences with millions of Snapchat users from the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, when NASCAR will crown its 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. In addition, Snapchat will also be covering the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 8.

“There’s no experience in sports quite like attending a NASCAR race, especially during the Chase,” said Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Snapchat’s Live Story coverage provides young audiences with a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the real Chase race experience, through the lens of our fans and drivers.”

“With Snapchat highlighting the Sprint Cup Series championship race with a Live Story, it will give users from all around the world an inside look at NASCAR from its biggest stage,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “Having the Live Story at our race introduces yet another engaging feature for fans that they can interact with and contribute to during Ford Championship Weekend.”

The announcement comes as the NASCAR industry celebrates Kids Drive NASCAR, a new initiative created to engage the sport’s young fans and featuring kids-focused events and activities. All this week, the sport’s rising stars as well as drivers with young children will be hosting driver takeovers on the NASCAR Snapchat account. 

Later this fall, Snapchat users at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway will contribute their race-day perspectives through video and photo Snaps submitted to collective Live Stories, capturing the real NASCAR story, straight from the fans.

The thousands of submitted Snaps from each event will be curated and packaged by Snapchat into a video stream that is shared globally with Snapchat’s more than 100 million daily active users. Each NASCAR Live Story will be available to view on Snapchat for 24 hours.

In February, NASCAR announced its first-ever partnership with Snapchat doubling the platform’s coverage of NASCAR premier race events in 2016. The 2016 Daytona 500, which set records for NASCAR social media engagement, and May race at Talladega Superspeedway featured Live Stories this season.

Snapchat is available on iOS and Android.

Tickets for 2016 Ford Championship Weekend, November 18-20, are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 866-409-RACE (4223) or visiting www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com.

RACE RECAPS- BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

RACE RECAPS- BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race

Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tennessee

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Race Winner: Kevin Harvick

Age: 40

Team: No. 4 – Busch Beer Chevrolet

Owner: Stewart-Haas Racing

Crew Chief: Rodney Childers

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “I’ve got to thank Busch Beer, Jimmy John’s, Chevrolet, and Mobil 1 and everybody at Stewart-Haas Racing on this Chevrolet. We should have won a lot of races this year but we just had things not go our way. We made mistakes, or whatever the case may be. But, to get back into Victory Lane here at Bristol feels really good. We’ve had some good cars here over the last few years. And to have Busch Beer on the car; we’ve had crummy luck with these guys on the car and so I’m just really happy for Busch and Jimmy John’s and really proud of these guys on the No. 4 team.”

-       Kevin Harvick

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·       Kevin Harvick won the 56^th Annual Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race Sunday. For Harvick, it was his 33^rd victory in 561 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

·         It is Harvick’s second victory and 18^th top-10 finish in 2016. Harvick ended a streak of 18 races without a win, with his last victory coming at Phoenix International Raceway on March 13, 2016.

·         It is Harvick’s second victory and 15^th top-10 finish in 32 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. His last win at Bristol came April 3, 2005.

·         Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in eight races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

·         Stenhouse’s second place finish matched his best showing of his career, which also came at Bristol Motor Speedway in March 2014.

·         It is Stenhouse’s fifth top-10 and third top-5 showing of the 2016 season.

·         Denny Hamlin (third) posted his 10^th top-10 finish in 22 races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

·         Austin Dillon finished fourth, giving him his 10^th top-10 and fourth top-5 showing through 23 races this season.

·         Chris Buescher (fifth) posted his second top-10 finish this year. He was also the highest finishing rookie at Bristol Motor Speedway.

·       Kevin Harvick (762) leads the 2016 Sprint Cup points standing by 27 points over Brad Keselowski (735).  The following are the top-5 drivers in points through the first 23 races:

Driver                                           Wins                           Points
1.    Kevin Harvick                              2                                  762          
2.    Brad Keselowski                         4                                  735          
3.    Kurt Busch                                   1                                  692         
4.    Carl Edwards                               2                                  689        
5.    Joey Logano                                1                                  684                             

·      Eleven drivers have qualified for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which includes Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., all of who have taken checkered flags this year. 

·         As a result of his victory in the Pennsylvania 400 in Pocono on August 1, Chris Buescher would also qualify so long as he finishes in the top-30 in points after the season’s 26 regular season races. Buescher currently sits in the 30^th spot with 328 points, 13 points ahead of David Ragan (315), who is in 31^st.  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         In 15 Sprint Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kevin Harvick has recorded 12 top-10 and seven top-5 finishes. Also, Harvick celebrated his 2014 Sprint Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway after winning the Ford EcoBoost 400.

Starting this year, the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. Below is a race recap from Friday’s XFINITY Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Camping World Truck Series raced on Wednesday at Bristol:

XFINITY SERIES
·         Austin Dillon won the 35^th Annual Food City 300 XFINITY Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Friday night. It was his eighth victory in 111 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.

·         It is Dillon’s second victory and 12^th top-10 finish in 2016.

·         It is Dillon’s first victory and fourth top-10 finish in seven races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

·         Justin Allgaier (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 12 races at Bristol Motor Speedway. It is his 18th top-10 finish in 2016.

·         Kyle Larson (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in seven races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

·         Brandon Jones (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.

·         Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 51 points over Daniel Suarez

·       Through 22 races this season in the XFINITY Series, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler have qualified for the 2016 XFINITY Series Chase following their victories. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have also won an XFINITY Series race this season but are ineligible for the XFINITY Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series. Sam Hornish Jr. and Justin Marks are also ineligible because they are not full-time drivers in the XFINITY Series.

RACE RECAP- BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

RACE RECAP

UNOH 200

Bristol Motor Speedway – Bristol, Tennessee

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Race Winner: Ben Kennedy

Age: 24

Team: No. 33 – Jacob Chevrolet

Owner: Maurice Gallagher, Jr.

Crew Chief: Joey Cohen

Starting this year, the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. Below is a race recap from Wednesday’s Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series will compete this weekend at Bristol:

·         Ben Kennedy won the 19^th Annual UNOH 200 Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway Wednesday night. It was his first victory in 63 Camping World Truck Series races.
 
·         It is Kennedy’s sixth top-10 and second top-5 finish through 13 races this season.
 
·         It is Kennedy’s first top-10 finish in four races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
 
·         Brett Moffitt (second) posted his second top-10 finish in 2016.
 
·         Daniel Hemric (third) posted his second top-10 finish in two races at Bristol Motor Speedway.
 
·         William Byron (fourth) was the highest finishing rookie.
 
·         Byron leads the point standings by 37 points over Daniel Hemric.
 
·         Through 13 races this season in the Camping World Truck Series, Ben Kennedy, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek and Johnny Sauter have qualified for the 2016 Camping World Truck Series Chase as a result of their victories. Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson have also won a Camping World Truck Series race this season but are ineligible for the Camping World Truck Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series.

Race Recap - Mid-Ohio Challenge

XFINITY Series

Mid-Ohio Challenge

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Race Winner: Justin Marks

Age: 35

Team: No. 42 – Katerra Chevrolet

Owner: Chip Ganassi

Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett

Starting this year, the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. Below is a race recap from Saturday’s XFINITY Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The Sprint Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series were off this weekend:

•  Justin Marks won the 4^th Annual Mid-Ohio Challenge XFINITY Series race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Saturday afternoon. It was his first victory in 25 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.

• It is Marks’ first victory and first top-10 finish in 2016 through 12 races this season.

• It is Marks’ first victory and second top-10 finish in three races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

• Erik Jones (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.

• Elliott Sadler (700) leads the XFINITY points standings by 25 points over Daniel Suarez (675).

• Through 21 races this season in the XFINITY Series, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler have qualified for the 2016 XFINITY Series Chase following their victories. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have also won an XFINITY Series race this season but are ineligible for the XFINITY Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series. Sam Hornish Jr. and Justin Marks are also ineligible because they are not full-time drivers in the XFINITY Series.

NASCAR XFINITY Series AND Camping World Truck Series Testing

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Monday 8/8 and Tuesday 8/9

3:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Get your taste of NASCAR in early this season. The NASCAR XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series testing will be open to the public for grandstand viewing today and tomorrow from 3:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.  Testing is weather permitting. Drivers scheduled to appear:

• Kyle Busch Motorsports – NCWTS #4 Christopher Bell & #9 William Byron
• Kyle Busch Motorsports – NCWTS #9 William Byron
• JR Motorsports – NCWTS #00 Cole Custer
• Joe Gibbs Racing – XFINITY #20  Erik Jones

We hope to see everyone out at the track!

Race Recaps - Watkins Glen International

Sprint Cup Series

Cheez-It 355 at The Glen

Watkins Glen International – Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin

Age: 35

Team: No. 11 – FedEx Freight Toyota

Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Mike Wheeler

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “It means a lot (winning the first road course race of his career). I can’t tell you how disappointed I was we didn’t win the first one. I just tried the best I could and overshot the corner and I didn’t want to do it this time and so I probably under drove and let those guys be a little closer than I should’ve. But, hated to see the 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) turned around down there. They’ve been great Toyota teammates of ours and thanks to all of our teammates who tested here and obviously gave us a good baseline setup and a fast car.”

-       Denny Hamlin

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• Denny Hamlin won the 31^st Annual Cheez-It 355 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International Sunday afternoon. For Hamlin, it was his 28^th win in 384 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. It was his first win on a road course track.

• Prior to today, Hamlin had never led a lap in 10 previous starts at Watkins Glen.

• For Hamlin, it was his second win of the year and his first since the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 21.  It was his 11^th top-10 finish of the year and his fourth in-a-row.

• It is the second straight year that the Daytona 500 champion also won the Cheez-It 355 as Joey Logano won both in 2015.

• Joey Logano (second) posted his fifth top-10 finish in eight races at Watkins Glen.  It was his 14^th top-10 finish of 2016 and his eighth top-10 finish in the last ten races.

• Brad Keselowski (third) posted his fifth top-10 finish in seven races at Watkins Glen.  For Keselowski it was his fourth top-5 finish in the last six races and fifth top-5 in the last eight races.

• Chase Elliott (13^th) was the highest finishing rookie. 

• Jeff Gordon finished 14^th today in the 800^th start of his NASCAR Sprint Cup career.

• Brad Keselowski (727) leads the 2016 Sprint Cup points standing by nine points over Kevin Harvick (718).  The following are the top-5 drivers in points through the first 22 races:

      Driver                                           Wins                           Points

      1.    Brad Keselowski                         4                                  727          

      2.    Kevin Harvick                              1                                  718                                  

      3.    Kurt Busch                                   1                                  689                            

      4.    Kyle Busch                                  4                                  670        

      5.    Carl Edwards                               2                                  653                

             

• Eleven drivers have qualified for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which includes Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., all of who have taken checkered flags this year. 

• As a result of his victory in the Pennsylvania 400 in Pocono on August 1, Chris Buescher would also qualify so long as he finishes in the top-30 in points after the season’s 26 regular season races. Buescher currently sits in the 31^st spot with 292 points, three behind David Ragan (295), who is in 30th.  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

•  In 11 Sprint Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Denny Hamlin has recorded seven top-10 finishes, four top-5s and two wins (2009, 2013).  He was part of the Championship 4 in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2014.

XFINITY Series

Zippo 200 at The Glen

Watkins Glen International – Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Starting this year, the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. Below is a race recap from Saturday’s XFINITY Series race at Watkins Glen International. The Camping World Truck Series was off this weekend:

•  Joey Logano won the 22^nd Annual Zippo 200 at The Glen XFINITY Series race at Watkins Glen International Saturday afternoon. It was his 26^th victory in 156 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.  It was his 1^st win and ninth top-10 in the XFINITY Series this year.

• It marked his third in win in-a-row at Watkins Glen overall, as he won both the XFINITY and Sprint Cup races at Watkins Glen in 2015.

• Elliott Sadler (668) leads the XFINITY points standings by 11 points over Daniel Suarez (657).

• Through 20 races this season in the XFINITY Series, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler have qualified for the 2016 XFINITY Series Chase following their victories. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have also won an XFINITY Series race this season but are ineligible for the XFINITY Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series. Sam Hornish Jr. is also ineligible because he is not a full-time driver in the XFINITY Series.

FUN-FILLED FIELD TRIPS

Here at Homestead-Miami Speedway we are always looking for different ways to be involved in the community and help the development of all young people. Through various programs such as “Driving for a Cause,” which raises funds to support charitable organizations in South Florida that focus on education and youth development, and “Racing to Read,” which encourages the importance of reading for students, we have been able to reach out to the community and help develop the next generation of youth.

In continuing our efforts of enabling and inspiring young people, at the beginning of this month we launched Homestead-Miami Speedway’s youth field trip program that provides groups of students a full-scale educational experience at the track. The field trip program is based off NASCAR’s Acceleration Nation, the sport’s first-ever national learning and entertainment platform created just for kids.

Thus far, we have hosted more than 175 elementary and middle school students from across the South Florida community, including four students groups located in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The field trip program, in conjunction with NASCAR Acceleration Nation, works to educate groups of children in the South Florida community through the different sciences taught in school, specifically STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. The content focuses on teaching the key aerodynamic principles in racing—Drag, Downforce and Drafting, the NASCAR Three D’s of Speed. To help the kids further understand and visualize the principles, the curriculum includes interactive activities and games, giving the kids the ability to craft their own simulators.

In addition to the educational elements exhibited in the classroom, the field trip program features a track tour through the Speedway’s Victory Lane, car garages and media center. Also throughout the tour, the kids are educated on the basics of NASCAR and the history of Homestead-Miami Speedway. At the end of the tour, the groups are given a ride around the championship track in their own vehicle.

Homestead-Miami Speedway’s youth field trip program is year-round and is geared for young people 

eight years and over. We welcome all student groups and children organizations to partake in this unique learning experience. For those interested, please e-mail Stephanie Gonzalez-Solis at sgonzalez@homesteadmiamispeedway.com for more information.

RACE RECAPS- POCONO RACEWAY AND IOWA SPEEDWAY

RACE RECAPS -  Sprint Cup Series

Pennsylvania 400

Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, Pennsylvania

Monday, August 1, 2016

Race Winner: Chris Buescher

Age: 23

Team: No. 34 – Dockside Logistics Ford

Owner: Front Row Motorsports

Crew Chief: Bob Osborne

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “(This is) pretty awesome, wild circumstances here at Pocono. This is gonna change our whole year right here, so this puts us in a good situation where we had a good day. It was a lot of fun. The guys really toughed it out. We got a flat tire, but we’re headed in the right direction now, so that will help in points. We got a win here, so we’ll take it any way we can get it.”

-       Chris Buescher

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• Sprint Cup Series rookie Chris Buescher won the 43^rd Annual Pennsylvania 400 at the Pocono Raceway Monday afternoon. For Buescher, it is his first victory in 27 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, and it is also his first top-10 finish in 2016.

• It is Buescher’s first victory and first top-10 finish in two races at Pocono Raceway.

• Buescher is the first rookie to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since Joey Logano’s victory at New Hampshire Speedway, June 28, 2009.

• Buescher's win is the second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win for Front Row Motorsports - the first was with driver David Ragan at Talladega Superspeedway in 2013.

• Brad Keselowski (second) posted his seventh top-10 finish in 14 races at Pocono Raceway.  It is his 13th top-10 finish in 2016. 

• Regan Smith posted his best showing of the season finishing third at Pocono Raceway, giving him his first top-5 and second top-10 finish of the season.

• Kevin Harvick (fourth) posted his ninth top-5 and 17^th top-10 finish this year.

• With Tony Stewart’s fifth place finish, he now has three top-5 showings in his last four races.

• Kevin Harvick (709) leads the 2016 Sprint Cup points standing by 22 points over Brad Keselowski (687).  The following are the top-5 drivers in points through the first 21 races:

Driver                                           Wins                           Points

1.    Kevin Harvick                              1                                  709          

2.    Brad Keselowski                         4                                  687                                  

3.    Kurt Busch                                   1                                  658                            

4.    Kyle Busch                                  4                                  634         

5.    Carl Edwards                               2                                  626                            

• Eleven drivers have qualified for the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, a list which includes Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex Jr., all of who have taken checkered flags this year. As a result of his victory, Chris Buescher would also qualify so long as he finishes in the top-30 in points after the season’s 26 regular season races. Buescher currently sits in the 31^st spot with 281 points, six behind David Ragan (287), who is in 30th, and nine points in front of 32nd place Regan Smith (272 points).  The Chase culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship race on November 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

•  As a result of Chris Buescher’s rookie status, he has not competed in a Sprint Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, Buescher celebrated his 2015 XFINITY Series championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway following the Ford EcoBoost 300 last November.

XFINITY Series

US Cellular 250

Iowa Speedway - Newton, Iowa

Saturday, July 30, 2016

• Starting this year, the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series will feature championship races at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 19 (NXS) and November 18 (NCWTS).  Four drivers will compete amongst a full field for their respective title. The following are race recaps from Saturday’s XFINITY Series race at Iowa Speedway and the Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway.

• Erik Jones won the 8^th Annual U.S. Cellular 250 XFINITY Series race at Iowa Speedway Saturday. It is his 5^th victory in 45 NASCAR XFINITY Series races.

• It is his third victory and 12^th top-10 finish in 2016. 

•  It is his first victory and third top-10 finish in four races at Iowa Speedway.

• Elliott Sadler leads the point standings by 14 points over Daniel Suarez.Through 19 races this season in the XFINITY Series, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler have qualified for the 2016 XFINITY Series Chase as a result of their victories. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin have also won an XFINITY Series race this season but are ineligible for the XFINITY Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series. Sam Hornish Jr. is also ineligible because he is not a full-time driver in the XFINITY Series.

Camping World Truck Series

Pocono Mountains 150

Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, Pennsylvania

Saturday, July 30, 2016

•   William Byron won the 7th Annual Pocono Mountains 150, his fifth victory in 13 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. 

• It is his fifth victory and seventh top-10 finish in 2016.

•    It is his first victory and first top-10 finish at Pocono Raceway.

• William Byron leads the point standings by 25 points over Matt Crafton.

• Through 12 races this season in the Camping World Truck Series, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek and Johnny Sauter have qualified for the 2016 Camping World Truck Series Chase as a result of their victories. Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson have also won a Camping World Truck Series race this season but are ineligible for the Camping World Truck Series Chase due to their full-time status in the Sprint Cup Series.